Layna stared at Pattie''s wild hand gestures, rolling her eyes. "What are you


    pping about, Pattie? Cat got your tongue? Honestly, you look like a monkey in a zoo—it''s hrious. Come on, why are you being so stingy? Just show me


    already!"


    She couldn''t hide her jealousy. Layna had just heard from Jonah that Justin had given Pattie a painting, and it burned. If Justin hadn''t given her a gift, then Pattie shouldn''t get one either.


    Without another word, Layna lunged for the painting. Pattie gripped it tight,


    refusing to let go. They struggled, each pulling harder, until-rip-the painting tore right down the middle.


    Pattie''s eyes filled with anger as she saw the ruined painting. She waved her hands furiously: You broke my painting!


    Layna just smirked and shrugged, feigning innocence. "Hey, you''re the one who ripped it. Don''t look at me."


    She straightened up, full of swagger. "By the way, Justin''s mine. You can''t even talk, and you think you deserve his presents? Dream on."


    Pattie felt her heart sink. She''d really loved that painting-Justin was her first real friend, and now the gift he''d given her was destroyed because of Layna. Worse, it wasn''t even the first time Layna had done this.


    "Whatever," Layna scoffed, turning to leave.


    But Pattie had reached her limit. She tossed the torn painting aside, grabbed a fistful of Layna''s hair, and yanked it back hard.


    "OW!" Layna screeched.


    Seeing red, Pattie started swinging. Her expensive tiara fell off, but she didn''t care -she just wanted to teach Layna a lesson.


    Pattie''s fistsnded with force-her self-defense lessonsing in handy.


    Layna howled, thrashing and screaming for help. “Aunt Juliana! Help! Somebody!"


    Down the hall, staff came running, but the moment they saw who was fighting- the Salstrom heiress and Ms. Stranz-they froze. No way were they getting between those two.


    One staffer whispered, "Go get Mrs. Salstrom and Mr. Salstrom, quick!"


    Meanwhile, Juliana was chatting with friends when she noticed themotion. "What''s going on over there? Has anyone seen Layna?"


    A flustered staffer stammered, "Um, Miss Stranz and Miss Salstrom are... fighting in there."


    Juliana''s eyes widened. She hurried down the hall, Layna''s shrieks echoing.


    "Layna! Layna Juliana called out,


    breaking into a run. A few society


    between Ms. Stranz and the Salstrom princess was sure to be the talk of the town.


    Inside, the room was chaos. Gifts were smashed, wrapping paper everywhere: Juliana arrived just in time to see Pattie on top of Layna, both hands tangled in Layna''s hair. Layna was yelling, still spitting insults: "Paradise, you mute! Let go! Mute!"


    Every time Layna called her "mute," Pattie got angrier-being unable to speak already made her feel left out.


    "Paradise, let go of Layna!" Juliana shouted, grabbing Pattie and pulling her off with adult strength. Pattie lost her bnce and hit her head on the corner of the table—a big bump swelled up in seconds.


    Thedies watching gasped. This was about to blow up.


    Pattie sat on the floor, hand pressed to her throbbing forehead, ring daggers at Layna and Juliana.


    Juliana pulled Layna to her feet, gasping at the scratches on her niece''s face and neck, her hair a mess, her dress torn. Furious, she turned to Pattie. "Paradise, what''s gotten into you? Why are you attacking Layna?"


    "Pattie!" Anastasia burst in, her heart sinking at the sight of her daughter''s swollen forehead. She rushed over and gently moved Pattie''s hand to check the bruise, her eyes zing with anger.


    Anastasia red at Juliana and Layna. "Did you do this to my daughter?"


    Layna immediately started crying, putting on her best innocent act. "She started it! Paradise went nuts and attacked me, Aunt Juliana! My face hurts, my neck too— what if I''m scarred for life?"


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


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!