Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 749

"I'm not making a fuss," Lambert said calmly. "You saw how that boy behaves—utterly spoiled by the family, with no sense of boundaries. If he dares speak to you so disrespectfully now, he needs to learn what manners mean." As he spoke, Lambert conveniently overlooked the fact that he had been even more stubborn and difficult as a child than his youngest son.

Ariana pressed her lips together. "I understand your point, and I won’t stop you. But… you need to know where to draw the line."

She knew Lambert all too well. He was the type who, if not reminded occasionally, would effortlessly spring an overwhelming "surprise" on you. Though they already had four children, Lambert showed not the slightest hint of paternal awareness. His approach to parenting had always been a source of unease for Ariana.

She didn’t want to see the children grow distant from their father, nor did she wish for any of them to develop a temperament like the young mistress of the Lohmann Corporation—whether son or daughter.

The dilemma left Ariana deeply conflicted.

Lambert glanced at her, then carefully placed a piece of deboned fish into her bowl. "I know. Don’t worry—he’s my son too." He emphasized the last few words slightly, as if expressing a hint of reproach.

Ariana couldn’t help a soft laugh, her worries easing.

The meal passed in warm harmony. It had been so long since the two of them had enjoyed such a relaxed dinner together. Most of the time, the children were around—a thought that flickered through Lambert’s mind, stirring regret over why they’d had so many in the first place.

Perhaps, he mused, he could look into transferring them to boarding schools. That might keep them from getting in the way of his time with Ariana.

Unaware of her husband’s childish scheming, Ariana took a few bites before a thought occurred to her. "By the way, did I cause any trouble for you?"

Lambert paused. "Hm?"

Ariana frowned, her expression troubled. "That Lohmann Corporation we just encountered... after thinking about it, I believe it must be the Lohmann family from L City, the ones in the internet industry, right?" Although she had no direct dealings with the Lohmann Corporation, it didn’t take her long to pinpoint exactly which Lohmann family it was.

She had no idea how a prominent conglomerate from L City had become connected to the Stone family, but for such a major corporation to send its heir to the Stone Group meant that whatever Lambert had discussed with them must have been significant.

A belated realization dawned on Ariana—she might have inadvertently caused Lambert to offend someone truly influential. Even though it was the other woman who had deliberately picked a fight, in these powerful business families, such details were trivial. What truly mattered were the consequences and the bottom line.

As someone well-versed in the corporate world, Ariana understood this all too well.

"Don’t worry about it," Lambert said, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "I, Lambert, have never been afraid of anyone. Besides, if someone dares to bully my wife, what kind of man would I be if I just stood by and did nothing?" He raised an eyebrow playfully, as if seeking her approval.

His lighthearted interruption instantly swept away Ariana’s worries, scattering them to the wind. She rolled her eyes at him in mock annoyance before speaking seriously again, "If you ever need my help, I’m ready to step in anytime." Even though she had been staying at home for nearly a year due to various reasons, Ariana knew she could re-enter the business world at a moment’s notice.

Lambert chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling like stars. "I know," he said with a wink. "I’ve always known my wife is a force to be reckoned with."

A faint blush crept across Ariana’s cheeks. She shot him a flustered, half-annoyed glare.

And indeed, the group before her was none other than Earl, Kendra, Nathan, and another young woman whose name Ariana didn't know. The girl bore a slight resemblance to Earl and appeared to be around 23 or 24 years old. She was quite pretty, but there was a certain lack of refinement in her demeanor. Every person carries a unique aura, shaped largely by their experiences and worldview. Take Kendra, for instance—no matter how stunning the woman standing beside her might be, it was always Kendra who commanded attention first. Her presence was simply too compelling to ignore.

This young woman, however, came across more like a decorative vase: beautiful on the surface, but lacking depth and substance. It was clear she wasn't a well-bred socialite from an affluent family.

Her eyes held a trace of curiosity as she studied Ariana.

Especially the way she kept glancing around with an air of wide-eyed astonishment led Ariana to surmise that this was likely the illegitimate daughter of the Harper family patriarch.

Ariana slowly withdrew her gaze and turned to Earl with a perfectly polite smile. "Uncle, Auntie. What a pleasant coincidence."

That smile of hers pierced Kendra's heart like a needle.

Though she maintained her usual aloof and composed facade, the fleeting shadow of hurt in her eyes didn’t escape Earl, who knew her temperament all too well. A pang of sympathy and frustration stirred within him, mingled with a trace of subdued anger—directed at Kendra herself.

Yet he didn’t dare voice any reproach, well aware of how deeply Kendra cherished her daughter.

Choosing to ignore Ariana’s detached demeanor, he continued cheerfully, "Since we’ve run into each other, why don’t you and Lambert join us for the meal? It’s a rare opportunity—I’ve been meaning to have a word with Lambert anyway."