Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 772

The statement was deliberately ambiguous, laced with an undertone of provocation.

Wrapped in such phrasing, it almost painted Arnold as the victim. Had this happened in the past, Old Mr. Stone might have indeed harbored a seed of doubt. But not anymore—Arnold had simply chosen the wrong moment.

By now, the entire Stone conglomerate was effectively under Lambert’s control. The old man’s authority had dwindled to almost nothing.

Even if he were to suspect that Lambert was purging potential rivals and systematically eliminating his brothers, there was little he could do. Moreover, judged by the standards of a successor, Lambert’s actions aligned perfectly with the old man’s expectations.

The patriarch shot a glance at Finley, whose earlier smugness had vanished from his eyes.

Arnold’s words had visibly shaken him; his face paled, and he glanced nervously toward the old man. Noticing this, Old Mr. Stone’s eyes darkened with deepened disappointment.

Jolene stood by, anxious and worried. She wanted to speak up for her son but struggled to find the right words.

All she could do was stand there, consumed by unease.

On the other hand, Khloe sensed an opportunity in her son’s statement and quickly chimed in, “Father, it’s true—Arnold might really have been framed. You know how ruthless Lambert can be. How could Arnold possibly pose a threat to him? If he were truly capable, the successor wouldn’t be Lambert—it would be Arnold!”

The living room fell into a dead silence.

The matriarch remained quiet, her expression unreadable.

As for Old Mr. Stone, he cast a cold, disdainful look at his eldest daughter-in-law before fixing his gaze squarely on his eldest grandson. “So, are you trying to tell me that Lambert fabricated all of this to frame you?”

Arnold knew better than to answer.

Since the evidence against him was undeniable, he clenched his jaw and forced a bitter, pained expression. His eyes dimmed with feigned remorse as he said, "No, it's true—I did those things. But deep down, I never wanted to. Grandfather, to be honest, I’ve always known Lambert is more capable than I am. But you taught me never to give up easily. Even though he’s already been named the Stone family’s successor, I still wanted to test myself against him. If he really is better, I would have accepted it. But I never expected to fall right into someone else’s trap."

Ariana’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. Her laughter dripped with sarcasm as she replied, "So what you’re saying, Eldest Brother, is that you wanted one last fair showdown—but when the other side fought back, it suddenly became a 'trap'? Is that it?"

Arnold’s face tightened, and a flicker of venomous resentment flashed in his eyes as he glared at Ariana.

But she showed no trace of fear.

She met his gaze calmly, her own eyes cold and unyielding.

She saw right through his word games—and she was certain Old Mr. Stone did, too. There was little risk of Old Mr. Stone being swayed by Arnold’s excuses. Still, she couldn’t stand by while he spun such a self-righteous tale, shamelessly trying to frame her husband. The very sight of him disgusted her.

The old man frowned, visibly irritated.

He waved a hand dismissively and said, "Enough. Let this matter end here."

A glimmer of hope lit up the faces of Arnold’s parents—was Old Mr. Stone really letting him off the hook? Even Arnold himself seemed stunned, as though he hadn’t expected such leniency. A surge of relief rushed through him.