The Bound Between Us

Chapter 952

Layna sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down her cheeks. Judging by the state of her, she definitely looked worse off than Pattie.

Her crying made it look like Pattie was the troublemaker, as if she'd picked on Layna for no reason at all.

Juliana, standing tall behind the Stranz family's reputation—and with Layna looking like the picture of innocence-felt completely justified as she spoke up. "Mrs. Salstrom, we came here to celebrate your daughter's birthday out of kindness, and now my Layna ends up attacked. Just look at these bruises! Layna's a girl-what if she's left with scars?"

The message was clear: she wanted Anastasia to do something about it.

Pattie, red-faced and furious, waved her arms frantically, desperate to explain: Layna tried to steal my drawing, I caught her, and she tore it up!

There was no way Pattie was going to let Layna play the victim. If Juliana wanted to paint Pattie as some bratty, out-of-control bully, Pattie was just as determined to make everyone see Layna as a thief.

Only problem was, Juliana and the other society ladies had no idea what Pattie's wild gestures meant. She might as well have been speaking Martian-all she got were confused stares.

Juliana, flustered and still upset for Layna, lost her patience. "What are you even doing, Pattie? Who can understand you waving your arms around like that? You look ridiculous! And look at what you did to my Layna-honestly, where are your manners?"

Anastasia's face turned stone cold. She shot to her feet. "Mrs. Stranz, are you calling my daughter ill-mannered? Maybe you should take Layna home and teach her some respect. She sneaks into the gift room and tries to steal something, and you call that polite? Pattie told me Layna was after the birthday presents, that's how this all started. The gifts are for Pattie, from our guests. If Layna wasn't up to something, what was she doing in there?"

still haven't

trouble?"

off just to ditch her. Of all the kids Anastasia had ever met, Layna was the worst-so bad it was

loss for words. She already regretted what she'd blurted out, and her regret only deepened

he felt like wringing Juliana's neck. Spoiling Layna was one thing, but picking now to shoot

and Scott now in the room, the other ladies quickly stepped aside, eager to see

was thinking the same thing: this is the kind of kid she is. The gossip would

the verge

it completely after

were more than she could take.

firmly to Pattie's side. After all,

in the gift room, and there were broken valuables

"Are you saying, Mrs. Stranz, that

room fell silent. No one even

she threw a desperate

But Juliana had blown it all up. If this got out, the Stranz and Salstrom