Chapter 1139

What does it mean to take a winning hand and play it all wrong?

Just look at Juliana.

She had everything going for her her family backing her up, marrying into the powerful Stranz family, and her husband Scott was the definition of tall, dark, and handsome. Best of all, he was faithful.

When Juliana got pregnant, that was it—her throne as the lady of the Stranz family was secure. Her in-laws adored her, her husband doted on her.

But Juliana's soft spot for Layna? That's where she started throwing it all away.

The moment she became unable to have children, her worth in the Stranz family's eyes plummeted. For their legacy, Scott would have no choice but to find someone else to carry on the family name. It was inevitable.

But Juliana refused to see the truth.

Sandy tried to talk sense into her. "Do you really want to end up tossed out by the Stranz family, left with nothing like me? Juliana, I'm telling you this because I care. I've been through it. Sometimes, as women, we have to learn to play the game. If you show you're understanding, your husband will feel guilty, your in-laws will be happy, and no one will touch your position."

Juliana shook her head firmly. "No way, Sandy. I can't do it. Just thinking about my husband with another woman makes me want to throw up. We're married. I'm not divorcing him, and he's not divorcing me."

Sandy was left speechless-trying to reason with Juliana was a lost cause.

It felt like talking to a wall.

"Anyway, Sandy, you're starting at Goad Group tomorrow, right? You're my best friend, so you have to help me keep an eye on Scott, okay?" Juliana was so innocent, still hoping someone else could keep tabs on her husband for her.

But men's hearts-and desires-aren't that easy to guard.

If Scott really wanted to stray, he'd do it right under her nose, and there'd be nothing Juliana could do.

Sandy had never even met Scott before. Back in Willowbrook, her business and the Stranz family's never overlapped, so their paths never crossed.

She nodded anyway. "Sure, don't worry. I'll watch him for you."

Juliana finally relaxed, smiling. "That's perfect. Sandy, you're amazing. I really do love my husband. Everyone thinks our marriage is just a business deal, but no one knows I liked him even before we got married. He's such a good man, so gentle. When I was pregnant, he took such good care of me. I felt like the luckiest woman in the world. Even after I lost the baby, he was there for me....”

As she reminisced, happiness and longing flickered across Juliana's face.

She desperately wanted to go back to how things were, but deep down, she knew there was no way.

She understood Scott's heart wasn't truly hers at least, she wasn't his number one.

Listening to Juliana, Sandy found herself getting curious about Scott.

"People say Herman from Elysian Technologies is crazy about his wife, but your husband sounds just as amazing."

"Of course! My husband is the best

man out there." Juliana was totally oblivious to the effect her praise was having on Sandy. She just kept. going Compared to Scott, Herman's nothing Just Tagkat wife-Anastasia is jealous and spiteful, she caused me to lose my baby. I'll never forgive her for that."

Sandy knew perfectly well that Anastasia had nothing to do with Juliana's loss, but

Juliana's grudge worked in Sandy's favor.

She sipped her coffee, already plotting her next move.

She couldn't go back to Willowbrook. She'd burned every bridge there-even her own father was ready to turn her in to the police. If her family had no loyalty, she had none to give.

She couldn't keep running forever. Maybe the Stranz family was her best shot now.

After leaving Juliana, Sandy returned to her apartment and started digging into Goad Group.

The more she learned, the more she realized Goad Group was just as influential as Elysian Technologies.

Scott was handsome, successful, and crucially-still had no children. With his marriage to Juliana on the rocks, there were probably tons of women waiting to pounce.

Sandy figured, why not her?

If she didn't make a move now, she'd lose her chance.

The next day, Juliana pulled some strings and whipped up a fake resume for Sandy,

letting Scott know she was sending an old classmate his way.

Scott was in the middle of a call and didn't want to argue-giving someone a job

was no big deal to him, so he agreed without a second thought.

That same day, Sandy showed up at Goad Group with her forged credentials. Thanks to Juliana's recommendation, she breezed through the hiring process and landed herself a spot in the secretarial department. .net