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Chapter 114
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A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 115
Brian followed the path of the torn flyer toward the bulletin board. Then, he saw a piece of it still clinging there.At this, Brian's expression grew grim."B-Brian... This must be a misunderstanding." Evelyn grew nervous, trying to explain.Brian held the flyer up to Evelyn's face. "You knew about this, didn't you?"He wasn't a fool. From the way Evelyn had just defended Maddie and Lila, he could tell she'd been aware.Faced with his question, Evelyn bit her lip.Brian's suspicions solidified. "Eve, you've really let me down."With that, Brian turned away with the flyer in hand and walked off."Brian!"Evelyn tried to follow, but Emily blocked her. "Ms. Granger, please stay here."Then, Emily hurried after Brian.Downstairs by the classroom building, Emily asked, "Mr. Lodge, should we look for Ms. Torrey?"Glancing at the flyer in his hand, Brian's face grew even darker. "No need!"She'd clearly been wronged but didn't want to tell him. She hadn't even explained a single
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Before long, there was a knock at the door.Officers came in, showed their IDs to the teacher, and said, "We're from the Gleaston precinct. Which ones are Lila Lawson and Maddie Hicks?"Hearing their names, both Lila and Maddie stood up, bewildered."W-We're here."At the sight of them, the lead officer nodded to his colleagues. "Take them.""What? On what grounds? What gives you the right to take us?"Lila's face turned pale.The officer walked up to Lila and said, "Lila Lawson, Maddie Hicks, you maliciously spread false rumors at college, infringing on Ms. Torrey's right to her reputation. We're acting in accordance with the law. Please come with us."Hearing this, Lila and Maddie's faces grew even paler. Ariana had actually gone to the police? But earlier that morning, Brian had already stepped in to defend them! Was Ariana crazy?Lila blurted, "There must be a misunderstanding! Evelyn, please explain! This is a misunderstanding!""Exactly! Evelyn, this has nothing to do w
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All eyes turned to Evelyn again. Judging by Lila's reaction, who would believe Evelyn was completely innocent?"I... I really didn't know. If I had, I never would've let them do something so hurtful to Ms. Torrey."Evelyn tried to look innocent, as though she were the one being wronged. She'd always acted the part of the refined, kindhearted socialite on campus. It was hard to imagine she would go after Ariana out of jealousy, let alone using such cheap tactics.But with Lila and Maddie taken away, even if Evelyn said she didn't know anything, she couldn't escape being associated with it."Relax, Ms. Granger," the lawyer said. "I was simply asking in passing. Without concrete evidence, there's no reason to bring you in for questioning."As instructed by Ariana, he made a point of rattling Evelyn before leaving with the others.Evelyn was still shaking, unable to compose herself. If rumors spread that she'd played a role in this, how could she ever hold her head up again?Thinkin
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Brian hadn't expected Belinda to show up at the house. She'd moved out a few days earlier and said she wouldn't drop by unannounced.He noticed the stack of photos on the table and his expression darkened."This has nothing to do with Evelyn," he said, defending her without hesitation.Ariana just gave a mocking little smile. She should have known that even if Brian realized Evelyn was the culprit, he'd pretend otherwise.In Brian's eyes, right and wrong didn't matter. He would always side with Evelyn.However, Ariana wasn't about to back down this time. She wasn't the same foolish woman from her previous life, who let Evelyn's petty schemes leave her in total disgrace."If it's not Evelyn, then who?" Belinda's face darkened further. "I've told you to keep your distance from that woman! She's no better than her parents! She's just as fake through and through!"Belinda sat down on the couch, still fuming. "This incident has done real harm to Ariana! Those two who slandered her mu
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Torrey Co. really was in crisis, but its network and supply chain were well established. Otherwise, why would Brian agree to marry her?It was all for the decades-old Torrey brand, plus the skilled employees and those extensive connections."Madam Mackle, I'm not yet part of the Lodge family. My father left Torrey Co. to me. Igor is just a lazy bum with no real skills. If I handed the company to him, I'd be letting my father down.""Ariana, you...""Madam Mackle, my mind is made up," Ariana said calmly. "I can live here at the Lodge residence, but I absolutely will not hand the company over to Igor and Gwen.""You! When did you become so disobedient?"Belinda was clearly unhappy. In the past, Ariana hadn't shown any interest in her family business.Now, she was acting like a completely different person."Madam Mackle, if there's nothing else, I need to go upstairs and take care of some Torrey Co. matters."With that, Ariana headed upstairs.Belinda frowned as she watched Ari
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Hearing Isaac mention Ariana, Brian shot him a look. "If I were upset over someone, it definitely wouldn't be her!"Isaac could tell right away Brian was being dishonest. If it wasn't about Ariana, why would he be acting like this?Isaac said, "She's still your future wife. Even if she's not as good as Evelyn, at least she's devoted to you.""Devoted to me?" Brian sounded as though he'd heard a bad joke. He said to Isaac, "If she were truly devoted to me, why would she be so close to Victor and William? Why wouldn't she tell me when she's been wronged? That woman only cares about money! As soon as she sees money, she'll cling to it! The moment I show no interest in her, she throws herself at other men. You still call that devoted?"Isaac was momentarily at a loss for words.He stammered, "You… You sure have a lot to say about her. And you claim this isn't about Ariana?"Brian felt like he finally let out the frustration in his chest. He felt slightly better after speaking up."A
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30 minutes later, Ariana was working on her thesis at the Lodge residence. Wearing black-rimmed glasses, she searched intently for information on her computer.She had fallen behind academically after being away for months. Though she had three years of practical experience from her previous life, she still needed to study in a serious, methodical way.She would never make the same foolish mistake of dropping out for a man again, as she had in her previous life, naively thinking she'd found her happy ending. It was ridiculous.Right when Ariana was typing away at her paper, the door suddenly opened. A strong smell of alcohol wafted in. Ariana frowned and quickly closed her laptop.Brian noticed her closing the computer and asked, "What were you doing?""What I'm doing has nothing to do with you, Mr. Lodge," she said indifferently. "This is my room. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to barge in like this?""This is my house. I can go wherever I want."Suddenly, Brian walked to
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"You..."Brian fell silent. He really had no idea about the flyers on the bulletin board. He had assumed she was just abusing her status as his fiancée to bully others.He said, "I didn't know you were being slandered, but is that my fault? You could've just explained it to me!""And if I had, would you have believed me? I'm not so naive as to think you'd punish Evelyn for my sake."She'd learned her lesson in her previous life. There was no way she could ever be on equal footing with Evelyn in his eyes."In any case, I'm not backing down. If you think I'm petty or mean, that's on you. I won't let anyone walk all over me. If you're that upset about it, you could just call off the engagement. No matter how insistent your grandmother might be, if you call it off, we can go our separate ways. I promise you'll never have to see me again."Brian had almost begun feeling guilty, but the moment he heard what she said, his face darkened again. "Call off the engagement?""Yes, call it of
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A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 190
Since when did Ariana need someone with gastritis to teach her how to eat?"At night, you can eat less, but you can't skip it entirely. Two meals a day is unhealthy. From now on, whenever I have dinner, you should too," Brian said."Brian, I'm really not used to eating dinner. You're making things difficult," Ariana retorted.He coolly answered, "If you eat dinner every night on schedule, I'll pay you one million dollars a day."Ariana almost thought she misheard him. A million a day? Was he out of his mind?Brian noticed her skeptical look and frowned. "Is that not enough?""How about two million?" Ariana asked, testing the water.She looked up to gauge his reaction. She could tell it was too much."Alright, one million it is," she conceded."Skip dinner even once, and I'll deduct two million. If you eat properly every night for a month, you'll have a guaranteed 30 million."With that, Brian started eating. He preferred mild flavors, and he was extremely picky about food. Ve
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Hearing Emily's words, Brian was momentarily stunned.Had something like that really happened before?He had no memory of it, because in those days he barely paid attention to Ariana or anything she did for him.Hearing this now, Brian found it hard to believe. Had he really been so mean to Ariana in the past and done something so unreasonable?"Mr. Lodge, Ms. Torrey has every right to be upset with you."No one liked having their efforts dismissed, and Ariana was no exception. Emily had noticed her habit of skipping dinner, but Brian, her own fiancé, hadn't.Brian frowned. He lost his appetite.Seeing Brian get up, Emily was about to follow him. But he said, "Postpone tonight's work. You can leave now.""Yes, Mr. Lodge," Emily replied.Brian went upstairs. Ariana was still in that room, casually telling the workers what to do.At some point, she had even donned a cap and was helping out in person. She looked nothing like a pampered socialite, showing none of that usual reser
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"Yes, Mr. Lodge."Emily quickly left to get the exhaust fans.Downstairs, Brian wore a simple white robe and went to check the fridge. There were indeed a few simple dishes waiting, but he could tell at once that Ariana hadn't prepared them.He remembered how Ariana used to make all kinds of creative dishes for him when she stayed at the Lodge residence. She was worried he might lose his appetite.Back then, he would decide whether to eat or not depending on his mood. But now, he had to beg Ariana to cook, and she still refused.He had no desire to eat anymore, so he slammed the fridge door shut.Seeing this, Emily asked, "Mr. Lodge, are these dishes not to your liking?""What do you think?"He clearly looked displeased.Emily was puzzled. It shouldn't be. Brian had always liked Martha's cooking. Why didn't he like it now?"Mr. Lodge, should I order takeout for you?""No need."Brian frowned. "Has Ariana eaten anything tonight?""I believe not.""Tell her to come down and
A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 187
Evelyn couldn't just sit and do nothing.She couldn't just watch Ariana seize Brian from her.With that in mind, Evelyn quickly took out her phone and dialed a familiar number."Hello, I want you to come back to the country. I need you to help me with something!"In the evening, Brian returned to the Lodge residence.He found only one lamp switched on in the living room, and the sound of moving furniture was coming from upstairs.Frowning, he asked, "They're still not done?"Emily answered, "Ms. Torrey is quite particular. She's already sent back three batches of furniture this afternoon.""Where is she now?"Emily said uneasily, "She's... probably in there giving instructions.""Giving instructions? What exactly is she instructing?"Brian's face darkened as he headed upstairs, wanting to see what Ariana was playing at.The moment he got to the second floor, a cloud of white dust blew right into him.The worker immediately apologized. "Mr. Lodge, I'm so sorry. Ms. Torrey w
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Might not be true?Evelyn had heard it clearly.Brian had forced a kiss on Ariana, and the Lodge residence was being revamped for her.Thinking of this, Evelyn headed straight to Brian's office.When she reached the door, Emily stepped forward to stop her. "Ms. Granger, Mr. Lodge is in a meeting. He can't see anyone right..."Before Emily could finish, Evelyn pushed the door open.Inside, Brian was wearing a headset and speaking to an international firm via video call. He shot Evelyn a frown for barging in.He swiftly ended the call with a few short words."Eve, I'm working."Evelyn would never have been this impulsive before.Brian put down his headset and looked at her.Evelyn lowered her head and said, "I... I didn't mean to interrupt you.""What's the matter?" Brian asked."I came to pick you up from work," Evelyn replied, forcing a smile that looked incredibly stiff.Brian didn't seem to notice anything unusual about Evelyn's mood. "I've got something going on tonigh
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Brian thought Ariana was hinting at something. He said, "We're engaged. It's perfectly normal for us to share a room. My bed is big enough for three, so if you want...""Mr. Lodge, if you're trying to take responsibility for what happened earlier, there's really no need. I understand you acted on impulse because you were angry. It was just a kiss. I don't care at all."Hearing Ariana's words, Brian thought he must have misheard. "You... You said you don't care at all?""Of course. It's the 21st century. A kiss isn't a big deal. I'm not going to lose sleep over it."Brian was momentarily speechless. Ariana's words made him so angry that he just laughed.So, he was the only one who still cared about it?"You're right. I thought you cared about your chastity more than anything. Looks like I was wrong. Forget what I said before."Brian felt something tighten in his chest. He went upstairs, then stopped halfway, remembering he had come back specifically to talk about their relationsh
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At that moment, Brian's voice came from behind Ariana. "Alright. I agree."Hearing this, Ariana turned around. She hadn't expected him to come back at this moment.She turned too fast and bumped into his chest, banging her nose against the badge on his suit. She stepped back, rubbing her nose. "Mr. Lodge, did you really agree to all that?"From what she remembered, he was never so easy to deal with.Brian said calmly, "What's wrong? Now that I've agreed, you're not happy about it?""If you're on board, of course I'm happy."With that, Ariana acted as though she was afraid he might change his mind. She said to Emily, "You heard it, Ms. Weston. Mr. Lodge is fine with everything. I'll leave the arrangements to you.""Yes, Ms. Torrey."Emily hurried off to prepare Ariana's new room.Ariana looked at Brian. "Mr. Lodge, if there's nothing else, I'd like to go get some rest.""Hold on." Brian suddenly grabbed her arm.Ariana frowned and glanced at his hand, wishing she could slice
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Belinda had seen Gwen's true colors a long time ago. Yet, because Gwen was Ariana's stepmother and the lady of the Torrey family, Belinda treated her with courtesy.But when Belinda thought of Igor's disgraceful behavior from the previous night, she had no desire to humor Gwen any further.She asked indifferently, "Mrs. Torrey, how much money are you hoping to borrow?""Not a lot... just 90 million."Belinda froze. 90 million? That was a bold request indeed."Mrs. Lodge Senior, I know the Lodge family has immense resources. 90 million is just a drop in the bucket for you. Please have mercy on us. We really are facing a crisis, or else I wouldn't be begging for your help."Gwen was anxious to redeem the Aurora Pearls. The seller had said the price would rise again in a couple more days. If she waited too long, even 90 million wouldn't be enough."Mrs. Torrey, you're quite brazen. Do you think we're just a convenient ATM for the Torreys?"Belinda was already displeased with Arian
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Ariana's eyelid twitched as she asked, "Emily, what does this mean?""It's a gift from Mr. Lodge. He asked me to apologize for his impulsive behavior earlier..."Before Emily could finish, Ariana shut the door in her face.Emily called out urgently, "Ms. Torrey! Mr. Lodge really is sorry! He even sent someone to pick you up! Please don't make this difficult for us! We're just following orders! Ms. Torrey!"Inside, Ariana ignored Emily's shouts.However, Gwen hurried downstairs. She pointed at Ariana and snapped, "What's wrong with you? You dare turn away Mr. Lodge's secretary?"Since Igor had offended the Shaw family, Gwen was desperate to latch on to Brian now. She couldn't afford to offend him.Putting on a flattering smile, Gwen opened the door and said to Emily, "Ms. Weston, don't mind Ariana. She's just shy. I'll make sure she goes with you!"Ariana found it laughable to see Gwen currying favor with Emily.Gwen still owed Ariana money, yet she shamelessly suggested sendin
