Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 685

Ariana had been hospitalized for quite some time this round.

So long that even Lucian, usually the picture of composure, couldn't help but feel uneasy and scared. Thankfully, their great-grandmother reassured him that his mother would be fine, which kept him from throwing a tantrum to see her.

Being the eldest, Lucian had always been mature beyond his years. That self-control came naturally to him.

But Kevin and Carson, barely two years old, were nothing like their older brother. Though they'd spent most of their time at the main estate with their great-grandmother—far more than with their parents—Ariana had always made sure to bring them back to the family villa at night. Even on her busiest days, she never left them for more than two or three nights in a row.

So while they weren’t as close to their parents as they were to their great-grandmother or the household staff, they weren’t strangers either.

They just craved a little more affection.

Now, with Ariana absent for days on end and Lambert nowhere in sight, the two toddlers were on the verge of panic. No matter how much they adored their grandparents or great-grandparents, nothing could replace their parents in their hearts.

They were still just children, after all. The prolonged absence of their mother and father left Kevin and Carson restless and unsettled.

Terrified that their parents had abandoned them, they clung to each other in distress.

Carson, less emotionally resilient than his twin brother, paled as he tugged at Kevin’s sleeve, his lips trembling on the verge of tears. Though equally frightened, Kevin forced a brave face and declared, "Then let’s go find Great-Grandma. She’ll take us to Mom."

Carson’s eyes flickered with hope—before dimming just as quickly. He huffed and crossed his arms stubbornly.

"Maybe Mom just doesn’t want us anymore!" he sniffled, his voice thick with hurt. "She finally got rid of us, and if we go back, she’ll just throw us away again!" The more he thought about it, the more his heart ached. Tears welled up as he choked out, "W-Would’ve been better if Auntie was our mom instead… Waaah…!"

Kevin’s own anxiety spiked at his brother’s wailing.

"Mom would never abandon us!" he snapped, frustration boiling over. "And even if she did, it’d be because of you! Who asked you to be so stupid?!"

Carson froze for a moment before completely losing control, bursting into heart-wrenching sobs.

Hearing the commotion, the servants rushed over immediately, hoping to console the young master.

To their surprise, Carson pushed them away with flushed cheeks and shouted through his tears, "I don't need any of you! I'm going to Great-Grandmother!" With that, he dashed off toward the old lady's room, his little feet pattering against the floor. The servants gasped in alarm and hurried after him, terrified he might trip and tumble down the stairs in his haste.

Meanwhile, Kevin stood rooted in place, gnawing anxiously on his finger.

He swallowed back the tears welling in his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Mom wouldn’t abandon us... Carson’s an idiot. I’m smarter than him. Even if she did leave, she’d only leave *him*." Kevin had inherited his father Lambert’s restraint and his mother Ariana’s sharp intellect. Despite his young age, he vaguely understood that though he, his twin brother, and their eldest brother were siblings, their existence was inherently competitive.

For instance...

Father rarely held them or smiled at them, yet sometimes, he would embrace their eldest brother or laugh with him. Though Mother treated him and Carson the same, Kevin didn’t want that—he longed to be like his eldest brother, to have *one* parent’s undivided affection. But it was difficult, so he pushed himself relentlessly, striving to be the only one Mom loved.

Otherwise, if Father only loved the eldest brother, and Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother also favored him...

What was left for him?

He’d be the unwanted child.

Still, with Carson as a contrast, Kevin didn’t feel quite as desolate.

"Now, now," she said gently, "Didn't I already explain this to both of you? Your mother is at the hospital, bringing your little sister into the world. She needs time to recover before she can come home. Once they're settled, I'll send you over. But right now, the villa is empty—what would you even do there?"

Kevin's eyes lit up. He grabbed her hand, pleading, "Great-grandma... I want to go to Mom and Dad's villa. I want to wait for them there."

Back when their mother was still pregnant, she had offered to bring them over. But Carson had stubbornly refused—and dragged him along.

At the time, he had hesitated.

So in the end, the eldest brother went, and he regretted it terribly afterward.

He had assumed that Mom and Dad's villa would be just like the Stone family's main residence—just a short walk away. Never did he imagine it would be so far! Had he known, even if Carson had held him back, he wouldn’t have stayed. He wanted to be with Mom.

Carson opened his mouth, about to say the same thing.

But then he suddenly remembered how he had stubbornly refused to go to their parents' villa earlier, and his little face froze in realization.

His lips quivered, and he felt like crying again.

The old lady sighed helplessly and patted the two rascals' heads. "The villa only has servants. What would you even do there? Aren’t you scared staying alone, hmm?"

Kevin puffed out his chest. "I’m not scared! Great-grandma, I really want to go to Mom and Dad’s place. I want to wait for them to come back, and… and I want to see my little sister."

The part about seeing his little sister was a lie. He just felt uneasy. Another new member in the family—it filled Kevin with an overwhelming sense of insecurity. He was afraid of being left behind.