Chapter 1103

Ever since that awful incident, Anastasia couldn't help but feel constantly on edge.

She was terrified someone else might be out to get her. Back when Dailey was around, she always felt safe, but it was the holidays now-Dailey and Nelson had both taken time off, leaving her alone.

When the light turned green, Anastasia hit the gas, hoping to lose the Volkswagen that had been tailing her. She was in the straight-ahead lane, but to shake it off, she had to swerve right at the last second. She knew she'd get docked points for ignoring the traffic signs, but at this point, she didn't care.

The Volkswagen driver clearly hadn't expected her sudden turn. With more cars behind, he had no choice but to keep going straight. A while later, the car finally pulled over to the curb. Sandy leaned out the window, a sly smile playing at her lips. Anastasia was more cautious than she'd thought.

Sandy had been lurking around Riverdale for ages, keeping a close eye on Anastasia and the entire Salstrom family-well, everyone except Herman. She wouldn't dare tail Herman; if he caught her, she'd be toast.

She lit a cigarette, exhaling slowly into the cold air. Her business had tanked again, and this time, she didn't even have enough left to start over.

Her anxiety was almost suffocating. She couldn't help but resent Anastasia, who seemed to have it all: fame, success, and that air of effortless grace. Meanwhile, despite everything Sandy had tried, she was left with nothing.

Her phone rang. Sean's name popped up on the screen.

She answered, "Hey, Sean."

"When are you coming home?" His voice was flat, exhausted. "It's the holidays. You should come back."

"What's the point? There's no one at home anyway," Sandy replied, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Don't worry about me. I know what I'm doing. Just take care of yourself."

After her second failed venture, Sandy was drowning in debt-hence her low profile in Riverdale.

She hung up coldly. On the other end, Sean just sat there, gripping his phone, staring at the sleeping Ashley and the cold emptiness around him. Everything felt pointless.

He'd been getting sick more often lately. The doctors said his immune system was shot. Staring at Ashley's peaceful face, he whispered, "Mom, I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. How did our family and upke this? Dad left for Nabb Mount to become a monk, Sandy's completely lost... This family..."

His voice broke. He covered his face, trying to hide his tears.

Back in Riverdale, after losing track of Anastasia, Sandy ducked into a local coffee shop-one she knew Juliana frequented.

Sure enough, Juliana was there, sitting by the window, lost in thought over a cup of coffee.

Sandy was already up to speed on how Juliana had once sent Anastasia to the police. It was common knowledge the two had bad blood. To Sandy, Juliana was the perfect chess piece.

She sat at the next table, waited for her chance then pulled out her phone and started a staged call, her voice just loud enough for Juliana to hear: "Don't think I don't know-your whole family looks down on me, just because I can't have kids you want a divorce? It's not that easy. I'm not signing anything..."

Sandy knew all about the rift

between Juliana and Scott. Juliana's miscarriage wasn't exactly a secret everyone in their social circle had heard about it. Everyone knew how a woman who couldn't have children was treated in a rich family.

Sandy's performance had the intended effect. Juliana perked up, clearly listening in.

Covering her face, Sandy pretended to cry. “You're so ungrateful. What did I ever do to deserve this? Well, I'm not divorcing you. If anyone's leaving, it's in a coffin, not with divorce papers."

She “hung up,” and the act was so convincing Juliana moved to sit across from her, offering a tissue. "Hey, it's okay. Don't cry. I never thought I'd meet someone else going through this. Is your husband trying to divorce you too?"

Sandy took the tissue, seamlessly slipping into the conversation. “Yeah. But I'm not making it easy for his family. After all these years together, I finally lost a child, and now they treat me like I'm nothing? It's just not fair."

"It's really not fair," Juliana echoed, her outrage bubbling up. "Women shouldn't have to put up with this."

Sandy leaned in, feigning sympathy. "Are things bad between you and your husband too?"

“Just like you,” Juliana replied, her voice shaky. "His whole family wants us to split. I lost my baby, can't have kids anymore, and now they just want to toss me aside."