CHAPTER 197: CHAPTER 197: LAYING THE GROUNDWORK

After Leona Sheridan finished speaking, the entire dining room fell into a deep silence.

Jared Langley was the first to speak: "Mom, isn’t the last rule a bit too much?"

Aren’t the others too much as well?

Juliana Jacobs withdrew her gaze from him.

Leona Sheridan said, "How is it too much? She’s a divorced woman who lured you into the Langley Family, and if she caused any more out-of-wedlock pregnancies, wouldn’t that be even more shameful for us?"

"Sorry," Juliana interrupted their conversation, "I want to know if these are Mrs. Langley’s rules, or the Langley Family’s rules?"

Leona Sheridan snorted coldly, "I am the matriarch of the Langley Family. My rules are the Langley Family’s rules."

Juliana put down her spoon, a mocking smile on her lips, "Mrs. Langley is so obsessed with the old times, why not crawl back into a coffin and keep dreaming? Remember to close the lid so you don’t dirty anyone else’s hands."

"What did you just say?" Mrs. Langley, infuriated, stood up abruptly.

At this moment, Victor Langley came down the stairs.

Leona Sheridan, instead of backing down, became even more aggressive, "As Jared’s fiancée, how much have you cared for him? Since you moved in, it’s been clear to me that you’re indifferent to him, which has done nothing to help his illness! You might as well move out sooner!"

"Mom!" Jared’s voice was low, his tone visibly displeased, "You still want to try to convince us to break up, don’t you?"

Since falling ill, Jared had hardly ever had such a low mood.

Leona Sheridan was stunned by his attitude, suddenly at a loss.

"I’m your mother, how could I..."

"I’m not denying that you’re my mother," Jared interrupted her again, "but you can’t control everything about me. If you really want me to accept your beloved Miss Caldwell, then bring her home."

As soon as Leona heard this, she was instantly excited, "Is it... true?"

Jared looked expressionless: "Of course it’s to make her my mistress, for free. As long as the Caldwell Family can accept such terms, I have no objections."

"That’s impossible!" Leona immediately refuted, "Without even a status, the Caldwell Family is a reputable family, how could they let their daughter suffer such grievance."

She paused for a moment, her tone softening slightly, as if she had thought of a "reasonable" solution,

"In my opinion, better that Miss Caldwell becomes the wife, and Juliana, if you like, you can stay as a concubine."

Jared scoffed, "For me, Miss Caldwell would just be a bed slave, so if Mother is happy, go ahead and arrange it."

Saying that, he didn’t even eat breakfast, got up, and left the dining room.

Juliana chuckled, "Mrs. Langley’s arrangement makes sense, if there were a gentleman in the family with such charm, you should definitely do the same, no double standards."

Victor Langley gave Juliana a deep look.

It was as if he tasted the warmth of being cared for, a warmth swelling in his heart.

Leona still wanted to target Juliana, but he interrupted, "Enough. I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, our Langley Family has always been open-minded, since when did we start arranging concubines like the old times? You’re becoming more and more like a feudal old lady."

"Are you saying I’m old?" Leona looked at him angrily.

Just then, the kitchen brought out breakfast for Victor Langley.

The porridge was too hot to drink.

Juliana pushed her porridge over, "Uncle Langley, I’ve only taken one sip, and I didn’t put the used spoon back, it should be uncontaminated, if you don’t mind, drink this bowl."

"It’s fine, I’ve suffered hardships before, I’m not that picky."

Before Leona could stop him, Victor Langley had already taken Juliana’s porridge.

Juliana stood up, nodded, and took her leave.

Victor Langley took a sip, and his features instantly scrunched together.

With a "bang," he slammed the spoon heavily back into the bowl!

"Who made this porridge!"

His gaze was calm yet carried an undeniable pressure, sweeping through the entire dining room.

Leona Sheridan wasn’t going to admit it, so she chose to keep quiet.

The housemaids didn’t dare make a sound.

Victor Langley snorted coldly, "Very well, no one admits it. From today on, anyone who entered the kitchen this morning will drink this porridge every meal, for a full month!"

...

Juliana didn’t know what happened afterward, nor did she want to know.

During her lunch break, she went to Celestial Vista.

Since Leona Sheridan seemed to love returning to feudal society so much, then let her have it.

"You mean you want me to be the bait?" Rosalind Linton asked.

Juliana nodded, "There will be some danger, but you’ll also gain more, like having an endless beauty budget every month, and... letting your son hold his ground in the Langley Family."

Upon hearing the last sentence, a glimmer appeared in Rosalind Linton’s eyes.

But then she calmed herself.

"I was born beautiful, I don’t need much of a beauty budget, but I must consider for my son’s sake."

Juliana slightly raised the corners of her lips.

"Don’t rush to answer. I’m asking you to get close to Victor Langley to force Leona Sheridan to show her hand, only by causing her to lose her composure can we find out if she’s the real culprit behind harming my friend. But be clear, this road is extremely risky. If you still hold old feelings for Victor Langley, she could turn it against you, and then you might not even be able to save your own life."

She deliberately paused, "So think it over before answering me."

But Rosalind Linton, due to Juliana’s words, tightened her fingers.

"That bastard deceived me by hiding his marital status when we were dating, and after I got pregnant, he vanished. I gave up my studies at nineteen to give birth to Aidan and never trusted any man since... I thought my life would be like this, until unexpectedly, there’s a chance to slap him in the face. Lately life’s been too dull, so it’s fine if you give me something to do."

Juliana’s eyes held a faint hint of a smile, "Very well, I can at most help you smoothly get back to Victor Langley’s side, ensuring Leona Sheridan can’t touch you. But as for what comes next, that’s up to you."

Rosalind Linton reminded her, "Victor Langley is very suspicious. If you make the slightest mistake, he won’t trust you at all, to plot against him, your thoughts must be even more meticulous than his."

Juliana nodded, "Don’t worry about that, it won’t affect your son in the slightest. Ms. Linton, prepare to go to the Langley Residence, compete for yourself and your son."

As soon as she finished speaking, a sudden cramp hit her abdomen, causing her to nearly kneel to the ground in pain.

"What’s wrong?" Rosalind Linton quickly stepped forward to support her.

Juliana pressed hard on her abdomen, her voice trembling: "My stomach... it hurts."

It hurt even more than last night’s episode

Rosalind Linton frowned, "Your menstrual cycle wouldn’t hurt like this, could it be you’ve eaten too much cold food recently?"

Juliana, sweating profusely, shook her head, "Since being diagnosed as difficult to conceive, I haven’t liked eating cold things."

Rosalind Linton pondered for a moment, her eyes turned sharp, "Could it be poisoning?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Juliana’s vision went black, and she collapsed...