Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 680

Jolene froze momentarily.

Her gaze shifted between Ariana, whose weary eyes contrasted with her coolly polite tone, and Lambert. A frown involuntarily creased her brow.

Gilbert and Hugh remained oblivious to the undercurrents. Georgia, preoccupied with her own thoughts, paid no attention either. But Jolene sensed it—the subtle distance in Ariana's demeanor toward Lambert, as though an invisible barrier stood between them.

A shadow of concern crossed Jolene's face.

*Could Ariana have found out about that matter?*

But that seemed impossible. Ariana had just woken up, and no one had ever mentioned anything about her past with Irene from the Harper family.

Jolene clenched her teeth, sighed softly, and ultimately held her tongue. Without another word, she left silently with Hugh and the White couple.

*Fine.*

Let the young couple sort it out themselves.

Maybe it was just her imagination. And even if it wasn’t, they’d have to face this sooner or later. If Ariana had indeed caught wind of something… well, that was fate.

Only after they had all left did Lambert silently pour a glass of water and hand it to Ariana.

A man as sharp as him couldn’t have missed it.

If even his mother had noticed Ariana’s odd behavior, he had sensed it tenfold.

But he didn't ask, choosing instead to bury the question in silence for now.

He planned to explain the misunderstanding about Irene to Ariana later. He wasn't worried she would doubt him—he knew she trusted him enough to understand he hadn’t actually done anything wrong. Still, though his eyes dimmed slightly, what weighed heavily in them was guilt and regret.

Regretted that he hadn’t stayed by Ariana’s side. If he had, that fire would never have happened.

But as for those people…

He would make them pay.

A cold, ruthless glint flickered in Lambert's eyes.

Ariana glanced at the water he carefully handed her, her expression indifferent. She didn’t lash out or throw a tantrum—just gave him a detached look, murmured a quiet, *"Thanks, but I'm not thirsty,"* then lay back down and closed her eyes, feigning rest.

The reaction caught Lambert off guard.

For the first time, unease and panic prickled at him.

Ariana’s demeanor unsettled him enough that he couldn’t wait any longer. He abandoned all caution and spoke up right then. *"Ariana, I don’t know if you’re upset about what happened with Irene, but if you are, I’m sorry. I swear, I’d never betray you. Really."*

His voice was cautious, almost pleading—a tone that would have stunned his subordinates had they heard it.

Everyone knew Lambert’s reputation.

The man never softened his words for anyone, not even business partners.

Ariana kept her eyes shut.

Her heart ached unbearably, waves of intense emotion surging through her chest. The corners of her lips twitched in something between a smile and a sob. "I know," she said.

Yet her reaction was anything but understanding.

Lambert's heartbeat quickened. "Ariana, I swear nothing happened between us."

Ariana replied tonelessly, "I know."

Lambert fell silent.

In all their years of marriage, he had never seen her like this. When angered, she would either turn frosty, laugh bitterly at herself, or walk away without granting him a chance to explain. But this—this was different.

Her expression was eerily calm.

As if she truly knew and believed he hadn't betrayed her.

Yet her eyes held no reflection of him at all.

Lambert's eyes suddenly flashed with a chilling glint.

...

Meanwhile, at the Harper residence.

Nathan knelt on the floor, his face ashen. Trembling, he looked up at his adoptive parents and stammered, "Mom, Dad... I swear I didn't mean for this to happen..."

Irene stood calmly to the side, her expression indifferent.

She had already given up.

Since her parents were sending her abroad anyway, she had nothing left to fear.

No regrets.

Making Ariana—that homewrecker—suffer was worth every consequence. She stood there, bracing herself for the inevitable slap from either her mother or father. After all, she was their biological daughter. No matter how furious they were, they wouldn’t abandon her completely.

But this time, she was wrong.

Kendra sat silently on the sofa, her face eerily composed. Unlike her usual stern demeanor, the quiet intensity around her now was terrifying.

Irene sneered, "I forced my brother into this. Go ahead, yell at me if you want."

Earl was beside himself with rage—

His face twisted between fury and disbelief as he stared at his daughter, utterly speechless.

Irene shrugged, adopting an unshakable defiance. "I’m leaving for abroad tomorrow. If you can’t stand the sight of me, I can go today. It’s not like this wasn’t your decision in the first place. So if you’re going to hit me, do it now. You won’t get another chance."

Kendra studied the niece she had raised for over two decades.

Then, slowly, she spoke. "Do you really think you can still leave?"

Irene froze.