Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 702

Gilbert nodded thoughtfully. "Right. But don't let taking care of Gracie make you neglect Lucian and the others either."

If there was one regret that haunted him throughout his life, it was not spending enough time with Ariana when she was little. That lingering remorse as a father made him determined not to let his daughter repeat his mistakes.

Though he knew Ariana wasn't the type to do so.

Still, with so many children, all still very young, even the slightest neglect of any one of them could leave emotional scars.

"I know," Ariana replied softly.

...

The next day, Ariana stayed by her daughter's side at the hospital for hours. Only after the doctor confirmed the child was in perfect health did she finally exhale in relief.

She didn't prepare to leave until Assistant Hills arrived.

"Madam," Assistant Hills greeted politely.

Ariana smiled sheepishly. "Sorry to trouble you, Assistant Hills."

Adjusting his glasses with meticulous precision, Assistant Hills replied with practiced professionalism, "No trouble at all. This job is both leisurely and well-paid. If you have similar assignments in the future, just say the word."

Ariana knew he was joking, but couldn't help chuckling in response.

Lambert understood how deeply the hospital fire had shaken his wife, leaving her anxious about their daughter's safety. So when Ariana decided to return home, he immediately dispatched his assistant to watch over their little girl. Assistant Hills had been utterly dumbstruck when receiving those orders.

He'd heard of all-around assistants who handled far more responsibilities than he—like that legendary assistant from the Castro Corporation, for instance.

It seems his responsibilities extended beyond corporate affairs—he was also tasked with delivering meals whenever the CEO and his wife ran out of food. He even doubled as a chauffeur, truly the epitome of a jack-of-all-trades executive assistant. So, he had long been mentally prepared for anything. But never in his wildest dreams did he expect his boss to assign him babysitting duties.

Assistant Hills fell silent for a couple of seconds before nodding in understanding.

*Well, as long as the paycheck is good, I can handle it.*

He wasn’t afraid.

Assistant Hills chuckled warmly. "Rest assured, Mrs. White, I’ll take excellent care of the young miss. Not a single mishap will occur." As the assistant handpicked by Lambert, Assistant Hills’s competence was undeniable—and Ariana knew it. Seeing him eased much of her lingering worry.

Ariana smiled softly. "Good. Thank you."

...

When Ariana returned to the villa, the butler and the staff were visibly startled.

The butler hurried over, beaming. "Madam, you’re back!"

Ariana smiled. "I’ve been away for a while. Thank you for holding down the fort."

The butler chuckled. "Just doing my job, madam. The young masters aren’t home at the moment—they’re at kindergarten and school."

Ariana nodded. "I know. I just came back to change and then pick them up."

For the butler, the return of the lady of the house was a stabilizing force. At least the villa no longer felt oppressively lifeless. Especially with Mr. Stone’s icy glares—those alone had nearly driven him to resign and retreat to the Stone family’s main residence. Now that Madam was back, he could finally breathe easier.

Ariana changed quickly. She had never been one for excessive fuss.

As long as she looked presentable, that was enough.

The butler had been waiting downstairs. As soon as Ariana emerged, he hurried forward and said, "Madam, the driver is ready for you. Also, the young master has returned to the main residence. Since he's grown accustomed to Sheryl's care, she accompanied him and will return tomorrow morning."

The servants immediately fell silent, scattering back to their tasks with practiced haste, anxious to avoid the butler overhearing any gossip.

...

Inside the car, Ariana kept glancing at her watch, her attention drifting.

A faint smile tugged at her lips as she imagined Lucian's delighted expression upon seeing her.

After gazing out the window for a moment, she finally addressed the driver, "Does Lucian finish school at four?"

The driver replied, "Yes."

Ariana nodded.

The journey wasn’t long, and soon they arrived at their destination. Stepping out of the car, she checked the time—perfect—before heading toward the school gates.

Meanwhile, Lucian was strolling toward the exit with his classmates.

The chubby boy beside him piped up, "Lucian, come over to my place tonight! I heard your parents aren’t home. Since that’s the case, why not hang out at my house?" This was the same little fatty from the Castro family—the one who had once clashed with Lucian but later reconciled.

With Shawn and Stefan abroad, the chubby boy had become Lucian’s current companion.

Lucian shook his head. "No, my little brother’s still at home."

As the elder brother, how could he leave his sibling behind to go play?

The chubby boy waved it off. "Oh, come on! Your brother’s old enough to take care of himself. Besides, you’ve got servants at home. Let’s go! My mom bought me a bunch of new toys—we can check them out together. It’s not like you’ve got anything fun waiting at home anyway."