A woman without children has nothing to rely on.


    In high society, heirs mean everything.


    Right then, Juliana felt a fire light up inside her. She was determined to raise Layna well-Layna would be her pride, her answer to everyone who looked down on her.


    Mrs. Goad snorted. "She''s just a girl. What good is that? The Stranz family needs a boy to carry on the name."


    Layna was her own granddaughter, but Mrs. Goad barely seemed to care.


    Hiding around the corner, Layna overheard it all. Her cheeks burned with indignation and shame. She silently vowed she''d never forget what her grandmother said.


    Juliana''s eyes were red with anger, but Mrs. Goad didn''t stop. "Juliana, you know as well as I do that you can''t have children. The Stranz family can''t just end with you. We won''t indulge you forever. I''ll have Wesley find another woman—either you step aside, or you pretend you don''t know."


    Was she supposed to just ept her husband having another woman?


    "Is this Scott''s idea?” Juliana demanded, desperate. "He agreed to this?"


    "There are three great failures in life, but not having a child is the worst. This is Wesley''s decision," Mrs. Goad said, firm and cold. "For now, you''re still the Stranz family''s young madam. So act like it. Don''t embarrass us by moping around in wrinkled pajamas. And this year-don''t bother showing up at the family memorial."


    With that, Mrs. Goad turned on her heel and left.


    She clearly didn''t want to see Juliana a second longer.


    The Stranz family memorial was a big deal-everyone showed up unless they had a real excuse. By telling her not toe, Mrs. Goad was making it clear: Juliana was no longer wee as a Stranz.


    Juliana snapped after Mrs. Goad left. She broke things, yelled until her voice was hoarse. The housekeepers just watched from a safe distance.


    "She''s gone too far! That old witch. I''m not leaving this family—we''ll see who gives in first."


    Back when she was pregnant, Mrs. Goad had showered her with gifts. After she lost the baby, Mrs. Goad took everyst one back.


    "Aunt Juliana." Layna showed up, trying tofort her. "I''ll study hard and make you proud."


    Of course, that was just talk.


    Layna wasn''t cut out for academics.


    She just wanted to cheer Juliana up.


    She''d seen Justin speak Russian and begged Scott for a tutor, but every time ss started, she nodded off. It was all gibberish to her anyway.


    Beingpetitive can be good, but take it too far and it turns into stubborn pride. That never ends well.


    "Layna, from now on, I''m counting on you," Juliana said, grabbing her hand like a lifeline. "Don''t call me è ''auntie'' anymore. Call me Mom. I help you win back everything that should be yours in the Strang family."


    Juliana was determined to fight. She refused to swallow this humiliation.


    "Mom, I''ll do my best!" Layna said sweetly, making Juliana break down in grateful tears.


    Once she calmed down, Juliana washed up, put on fresh makeup, and headed out. Mrs. Goad''s words had reawakened her fighting spirit.


    She drove straight to a giant mall,


    determined to buy a whole new wardrobe Store by store, she snatched up designer clothes, shoes, bags-she spent millions without blinking Walking out of one boutique, her eyes happened tond on her own housekeeper leaving the Chanel store across the way.


    There was no way a housekeeper could afford Chanel.


    Juliana was still puzzling over it when she spotted Anastasiaing out of the same store. The housekeeper was chatting with her like they were old friends, then


    walked off carrying two delicate shopping bags.


    Why was her housekeeper so chummy with Anastasia?


    The housekeeper was only supposed to clean, nothing else.


    Suddenly, Juliana remembered her


    growing suspicions. When she''d


    fallen on the stairs, they''d been


    strangely slick. Later, Anastasia had said god things telling her not to


    mention the pregnancy to anyone, urging her to recuperate at the mountaintop vi.


    That vi was isted and eerily quiet―Juliana had hated it and refused to go.


    She and Anastasia had never gotten along. Since when did Anastasia care about her well-being?


    There had to be something more.


    A chilling thought shed through Juliana''s mind: Anastasia and the housekeeper had worked together, tampering with the stairs, causing her to fall.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!