Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 718

Ariana shook her head. "It's nothing."

With the nanny and servants keeping watch upstairs, the child would be perfectly safe. These people were professionals—Ariana wouldn’t have hired them otherwise.

Lambert nodded. "Good. By the way, has Georgia called you again?" Ever since learning that Georgia wasn’t her real mother-in-law, Lambert had stopped referring to her as such. Besides, the way she had treated Ariana hardly qualified her as a mother. Not outright cruel, but far from kind. At best, their relationship was neutral—practically strangers.

Ariana’s hand stilled for a moment before she nodded. "No, but she won’t let this go. Irene’s trial is the day after tomorrow, right?"

Lambert confirmed with a nod.

A faint, sardonic smile tugged at Ariana’s lips. "Looks like we’re in for a show tomorrow." The bitterness in her tone wasn’t directed at Irene but at herself. She could already imagine the lengths Georgia would go to save her daughter now that the sentencing was near. Ariana had seen it coming—and she was prepared.

Still, a dull ache lingered in her chest.

It wasn’t that Georgia didn’t know how to be a mother. It was just that her love had never been meant for Ariana.

The realization was almost laughable.

Suddenly, Lambert pressed a light kiss to her cheek. Ariana blinked, turning to him in surprise. His voice was low and steady. "Don’t worry. I’m here."

She stared at him for a long moment.

Then, her lips curved into a radiant smile. "I know." *I’ve always known.*

In their relationship, Ariana was rarely the one to initiate affection. Maybe it was the emotional weight of the evening, or maybe she’d momentarily lost her senses—before she could second-guess herself, she rose onto her toes and brushed her lips against his in a fleeting kiss.

Even as her mind reeled in stunned confusion, a hazy thought drifted through her daze…

The sensation of initiating a kiss versus receiving one felt distinctly different...

When Lambert had kissed her, she'd felt entirely enveloped by his presence, her ears tingling with warmth. But this time, as she took the lead, she noticed something new—his lips were cool and surprisingly soft, carrying a faint, crisp fragrance.

A spark flickered in Lambert's eyes, sharp and sudden.

Ariana remained oblivious, still lost in the lingering sensation.

Lambert narrowed his gaze, his voice low and edged with warning. "What do you think you're doing?"

Finally snapping out of her daze, Ariana met his heated stare, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Don't—we're in the kitchen," she muttered, shifting uncomfortably. If any of the servants happened to pass by, she'd never live it down.

Amused by her audacity, Lambert let out a dry chuckle. "Oh? Then what was *that* just now? Trying to provoke me?"

Ariana coughed lightly. "...That was an accident."

Seeing her genuine fluster, Lambert decided against teasing her further. Suppressing the restless heat coiling inside him, he gritted out a command: "Wash the vegetables." The words came out strained, barely restrained.

Knowing she was at fault, Ariana obediently murmured, "Okay," before shuffling off like a chastened wife to do as told.

Lambert exhaled sharply, torn between irritation and amusement. Yet the more he tried to rein in his emotions, the more they slipped out of his control. Finally, with a frown, he seized her wrist just as she reached for the knife to chop vegetables.

---

As Ariana had anticipated, Georgia could no longer contain herself.

The thought of her daughter being imprisoned, pleading desperately while she—as a mother—stood helpless, twisted like a knife in her heart.

Georgia knew all too well that Kendra would never lift a finger to help.

She wished nothing but ill upon her own daughter.

Yet she couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. So, after lying low for a couple of days, Georgia finally made a call—not to Ariana, but to Gilbert. When Gilbert saw her name flash on his screen, his first instinct was to ignore it. But against his better judgment, he answered, his voice icy. "What do you want?"

Georgia let out a soft chuckle on the other end.

It was a hollow laugh, laced with bitterness.

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Gilbert, deep down, I know you still care about me, don’t you?" After so many years together, cutting ties completely was impossible. Even if he was utterly disappointed in her, he couldn’t have moved on this fast.

A strange unease prickled at Gilbert. She had said similar things before since their divorce, but never had it unsettled him like this.

His brow furrowed. "What are you getting at?"

Georgia’s tone was eerily calm. "I don’t want anything. Just pass a message to Ariana for me. Even if Irene was in the wrong, she’s still her sister, and I’m still the mother who raised her all these years. If she’s determined to drive me to ruin, then fine—I’ll give her exactly what she wants."