"Mr. Lodge, It seems you have no evidence to back your claims, so please don't block the way. We still need to get to class."Just as Ariana was about to slip past Brian, he reached out and grabbed her arm.Ariana glanced at his hand on her arm and frowned. "Mr. Lodge, please be mindful. I didn't sign my body away to the Lodge family."With that, she led Selena away without another word.Brian was momentarily stunned by her remark.Beside him, Emily couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Lodge, could we have misunderstood Ms. Torrey?"Brian clenched his fists tightly.Misunderstanding or not, Ariana's attitude just now left him feeling deeply annoyed."Go and ask Fiona what's really going on!""Yes, Mr. Lodge."Emily quickly led a team upstairs, while Brian rubbed his temples, fatigue setting in.Meanwhile, Selena, still reeling from Ariana's confrontation with Brian, exclaimed, "Ari, I've known you for many years, and I have to say, that was the coolest thing you've ever done! Brian t
Gwen spoke as if everything she said was perfectly reasonable.Ariana recalled her past life. Around the same time, Gwen had thrown a birthday party for Igor. She had leveraged her position as the future in-law of the Lodge family to book another high-end hotel. That event had ended in utter embarrassment, further deepening Brian's disdain for Ariana.In her previous life, Gwen didn't dare overstep her bounds since Brian had no affection for Ariana. However, with Ariana already living in the Lodge residence in this life, Gwen became increasingly brazen, assuming that Ariana had secured her position."Ms. Lambert," Ariana said coolly, "I think we didn't even celebrate my birthday last year. Weren't you the one who told Dad that a young woman should keep a low profile instead of parading herself in public? Am I right?"Gwen remained shameless as ever, even after Ariana dredged up the past. "Guys and girls are not the same. Besides, you've already taken over the company. "What abo
Gwen's words irritated Brian to no end. Since when did he have to deal with such trivial matters?"Mrs. Torrey, I suggest you know your place. Stop taking yourself too seriously," Brian said bluntly with no intention of holding back.He hung up right after that.On the other end of the line, Gwen's face darkened even more as she stared at the disconnected call. She hadn't expected Brian's rejection on this matter. She had already shown off about the party to everyone. How could she maintain her standing in the high society of Gleaston if the party didn't go through?Moments later, Gwen's phone rang again. A member of the Gleaston's high society, Tina Barton, had called, her voice cheerful as she asked, "Mrs. Torrey, is it true Igor's birthday party will be held at the Royal Hotel? My husband says he wants to attend, too!"The question hit too close to the mark. Gwen forced a smile and replied, "Of course, it's true! Why would I lie about that? Ariana is Brian's fiancée, and Igor
"Yes."Gwen gave Jonathan a once-over, her gaze sharp as she realized he was only an assistant manager. She said, "Didn't I request to reserve seats in the event hall? Is everything ready? I want to inspect the venue."Hearing this, Jonathan offered an apologetic smile and replied, "Mrs. Torrey, I'm really sorry, but the event hall is currently fully booked, and it may not be possible to make arrangements for you.""Fully booked?" Gwen frowned, her tone sharp. "How is that possible? When I called earlier, your receptionist said there were still seats available."Jonathan smiled awkwardly and explained, "There were seats earlier, but... A gentleman has since reserved all our halls. So..."But Gwen wasn't willing to let it go. Her face darkened as she retorted, "Mr. Rhys, do you take me for a fool? There are only a handful of well-known figures in this city, and I haven't heard of anyone hosting a large event. Besides, this isn't exactly an affordable venue for most. How much did th
William's expression remained calm and devoid of any extra emotion. He mused, "Giving up a seat for Ms. Ariana's sake is not impossible."Hearing this, Gwen instantly brightened up. "I knew it, Mr. Kingsman! I knew you'd definitely make it happen!"William offered a faint smile and continued, "Since Mrs. Torrey has made the request, we should offer our largest event hall for Mr. Torrey's birthday celebration."At this, Gwen, oblivious to the implications, simply beamed. She smiled ear to ear. "Wonderful! This is the best possible outcome! Mr. Kingsman, you're truly a generous and kind man!"He was far better than that Brian, by any measure!Seeing Gwen's elation, William turned to Jonathan and instructed him, "Proceed as we discussed. Have the payment—double the price—transferred to my account.""Yes, Mr. Kingsman."Without sparing Gwen another glance, William turned and walked away.Gwen, taken aback at first by the mention of payment, thought of chasing after him but stopped
"Got it." William glanced at the payment notification on his phone and quickly messaged Ariana. "It's done."Ariana smiled at William's message. This time, Gwen would surely get what she deserved.That very day, the Torrey family had booked the largest hall at the Royal Hotel, and Gwen wasted no time spreading the word over the phone.Though reluctant to pay, Gwen smiled during her calls because she could flaunt her status. It was as if she was afraid others wouldn't know about the grand venue she had secured.That afternoon, Ariana decided to head back to the Torrey residence after school.When she entered, she heard Gwen on the phone, inviting the ladies from her social circle to the banquet. "Mrs. Lindt, my son's birthday banquet is at the Royal Hotel, and I've booked the largest banquet hall. You absolutely must come!"Ariana listened to Gwen's phone conversation quietly with a mocking glint in her eyes.Gwen might be over the moon now. But Ariana would have the last laugh d
Ariana didn't expose Gwen and played along. "Thank you for your concern, Ms. Lambert." "No need for thanks. Just be good in the future. With your looks, how could Mr. Lodge not like you? Just don't forget how kind I've been to you when you make it big," Gwen said."Your kindness is something I will always remember." Ariana smiled.That smile sent chills down Gwen's spine, and she swallowed her words.What happened to Ariana? How had she become so hard to control?"Mom, I'm back!" Igor walked in, dressed in trendy athletic wear. His outfit, complete with earrings and rings, screamed rebellious.Igor frowned at Ariana. "Why are you here? Who let you in?"Ariana had no intention of standing up or acknowledging Igor.Igor scowled. "Ariana! I'm talking to you. Are you dead?""Ariana! This is too much. Your brother is talking to you," Gwen chimed in.Ariana calmly replied, "I've said before, this is my home. Whether I come back or not is none of your concern.""Ariana! How dare
"Ms. Lambert, Igor is not a child. He's already an adult." Ariana cut Gwen off.Gwen was left speechless.Ariana continued, "Let me make this crystal clear while we're at it. Not only is the Torrey residence under my name but so is the company. Everything my father owned, aside from the five million dollars he left for you and your right to live here, belongs to me. Beyond that, you have nothing. If you keep yelling at me like this, don't blame me for kicking you and your son out. I promise… You won't win in court."Ariana's words left no room for negotiation. Igor and Gwen's expressions turned unpleasant.Seeing that both of them understood their position, Ariana stood up and went upstairs."What does she mean by that?" Igor smashed a cup onto the floor.Halfway up the stairs, Ariana paused at the commotion.Igor's outburst was clearly directed at her.Without turning back, she said, "Everything in the house is mine. Make sure you pay for everything you break. I'll be condu
The guests present all took in the scene before them. It was well known that Brian had always despised Ariana, but this time, he appeared visibly anxious about her in front of everyone.Ariana seemed unsurprised by the reactions of the guests around them. She withdrew her hand and said, "Thank you for your help, Mr. Lodge."Brian quickly realized that Ariana had just used him.Due to Lodge Co.'s stance toward Torrey Co., many had assumed that there was tension between the Lodges and Torreys. As a result, few corporate partners had been willing to initiate business dealings with the Torreys.Now that they have seen Brian and Ariana on better terms, many would likely approach the Torrey family."Ariana, did you just exploit me?" Brian had never realized just how cunning Ariana could be. He had always assumed she was clueless, but it was clear that he was the foolish one now."Didn't you say it yourself, Mr. Lodge? Mutual exploitation isn't a bad thing for either of us." Ariana shru
Ariana didn't refuse. After all, spending more time with Brian in public would be beneficial for the Torrey family."Mr. Lodge, I never expected that just one word from Mrs. Lodge Senior would be enough for you to put your pride aside and come see me," Ariana remarked.Her words dripped with mockery, and there were even some traces of disdain toward Brian. It was the same attitude that he'd used to have toward her.Alas, their roles were reversed."Ariana, do you really think it's a good thing that Grandma has taken an interest in you?" Brian asked.Belinda's intentions were clear to anyone with a sharp eye, and Brian knew that Ariana could tell as well.His eyes roamed over Ariana. Tonight, she was meticulously and elegantly styled in a long, gold-embellished gown. She was the very image of grandeur.When he looked at Ariana from the side, he frowned. Her appearance at the moment overlapped with the image of Susan in his mind.Suddenly, Brian halted in his tracks and firmly
Hushed whispers filled the surrounding area. Everyone wanted to know why Ariana had been invited to the Lodge family's gala.Inside the Royal Hotel, Emily knocked on the door of the second-floor break room. "Mr. Lodge, all the guests have arrived. We should head down now.""Got it," Brian replied and rubbed the bridge of his nose. The moment he closed his eyes, he could hear Ariana's words from the day before echoing in his mind.If it weren't for Belinda's insistence on hosting this gala, he wouldn't have wanted to see Ariana at all.…Meanwhile, downstairs in the banquet hall, all eyes were on Ariana the moment she appeared.It wasn't because of how extravagantly she was dressed, but rather the fact that she was now the sole heir of the Torrey family. Whoever married Ariana would stand to inherit everything she owned.If anything were to happen to Ariana, all of the Torrey family's assets would go to her husband, so every man in attendance had their eyes locked on her."Arian
Brian knew exactly what Belinda's words meant. In the past, his engagement with Ariana had been purely due to her suitable family background. But now, marrying her would mean gaining control over the entire Torrey family. At that moment, the things that Ariana said to him earlier today played back in his mind. His sense of pride flared once again. "Grandma, you don't need to concern yourself with this matter. We have already annulled our engagement, and there is no way I'll propose to her again." With that, he turned around and headed upstairs. Belinda was well aware of Brian's character. Her expression darkened. Since he was unwilling to let go of his pride, then she would make the necessary arrangements for him.The next day, the news of Gwen's imprisonment and Igor's expulsion from the Torrey family spread like wildfire within the high society. As the sole heir of the family, Ariana successfully assumed full control of the Torrey family. As the turmoil at school also began
"Ms. Piper, please follow me.""No! Mr. Lodge, I know you're a kind man. For old time's sake, please save Aunt Gwen!""I believe I already told you not to show up at my home again."Brian's eyes were cold. A single glance was enough to send a chill down Fiona's spine.Evelyn had already spoken to him a few days ago, informing him about the rumors circulating at school about him and Fiona. He was no stranger to the games women played, but he was simply too lazy to deal with it. After all, Fiona had nothing to do with him. Anyone in the right mind would recognize the vast gap in their social standing, and there was no chance they would be together. Those rumors were merely stories that Fiona had fabricated. He absolutely despised scheming women like her. Fiona still didn't know that Brian was already aware of her deeds. She cried, "But Aunt Gwen's imprisonment is also related to the Torrey family. Are you really not going to do anything about it?"Ms. Weston, what did I say earl
"Then let me make it clear to you, you aren't the heir of the Torrey family, and you aren't my father's son. From a legal standpoint, you and your mother have nothing to do with our family. You'd better accept the fact, Mr. Igor."Ariana's voice was full of mockery. In her past life, she had foolishly handed over the company Carson left behind to Gwen and Igor. But in the end, the company went bankrupt in less than three years. Worse yet, Gwen had even fled with Igor and John.This time, she swore she would never give Gwen and Igor the slightest chance to entangle themselves with Torrey Co. "Take him away." Ariana's voice was cold.The bodyguard swiftly grabbed Igor and dragged him toward the front gate. Still wearing his slippers, Igor was ruthlessly dragged out of the Torrey residence, unable to resist."Pack up all of Igor and Gwen's things and toss them out.""Yes, Ms. Torrey."To prevent Igor from making a fuss, Ariana deliberately stationed him at the security post by the e
It was already evening, and Igor had been waiting at home for Arian's call, but it never came. It wasn't until he saw a car from Torrey Co. pull up outside the gate that he immediately rushed out. The moment he saw Ariana get out of the car, he immediately snapped, "Why didn't you answer my call? Do you even know what has happened at home? Hurry up and come with me to the police station to bail my mom out!" Igor spoke in a commanding tone as he grabbed Ariana's hand and dragged her in the direction of the police station. But to his surprise, she pushed him away. Caught off guard by her move, Igor stared at her in disbelief. He sneered, "Ariana! Have you lost your mind? How dare you push me?" Igor had always had his way and never expected that Ariana would dare push him away.Just as he was about to grab Ariana again, Miranda stepped forward. With a simple move, she easily restrained Igor, rendering him unable to resist. "Ms. Ziegler! Have you lost your mind too? How dare you
Looking over the money and goods in his possession, Jeremy nodded in satisfaction. He left the Torrey residence with his group of lackeys.Gwen's legs finally gave out and she collapsed onto the floor. She had only borrowed money from the loan sharks just once. She couldn't believe that it would lead her to become completely penniless.Meanwhile, Ariana, who was still at the office, received a call from Jeremy."Ms. Torrey, it has been done. All that's left is to wait for the goods to be exchanged into cash.""I understand. Thank you for your hard work.""You're welcome. We were just following Mr. Smith's orders."Ariana smiled lightly. It was indeed all thanks to Victor's efforts. Without Victor's help, she wouldn't have been able to reclaim all of Gwen's and Igor's wealth and assets so easily. This was the wealth and assets that rightfully belonged to her father.Ariana lifted her head to look at Miranda after she disconnected the call. "It's done. Start the next phase," she s
"Ms. Lambert, this is all so sudden. Did something happen?" Ariana asked.No matter how terrible the circumstance she was in, Gwen would never tell Ariana that she had borrowed money from loan sharks. It was part of the Torreys' principles to never come into contact with them.If word about this got out, Gwen would never be able to live it down. Ariana might even use it against her to kick her out of the family.Ariana knew from the beginning that Gwen would never come clean to her about the loan sharks. She just smiled and said, "I'll send a contract to you. Once you put your signature on it, the contract will immediately go into effect. I'll have someone in the finance department transfer the money to you. "However, Ms. Lambert, please be informed this also means that you and Igor will give up the right to all of the inheritance my father left behind."Being face to face with the terrifying loan sharks, Gwen couldn't even spare a moment to think about the consequences of signin