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Chapter 154
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A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 155
Gwen had always advised Igor to bring up the Lodge family if he ever ran into trouble.Hunter merely laughed and twisted even harder. "Stop," a voice demanded.Ariana turned around and saw Brian walking toward them.Brian said coldly, "There's no need for Mr. Smith to handle Lodge family matters."Victor remained silent and signaled Hunter, who then released his grip.Igor thought Brian was there to help him. He gained a flicker of hope but it was short-lived. Emily stepped forward and punched him.The two men behind Igor tried to flee. However, Brian's men were quick and immediately caught them.Victor let go of Ariana's arm and pushed her toward Brian. "This is your family's matter. Handle it yourself."With that, Victor turned and left, with Hunter closely following him.As they departed, Hunter even glared at Brian."What happened?" Brian asked Ariana coldly.Ariana was covered in mud from head to toe. She glanced at the trio and said bluntly, "Aside from the uncon
A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 156
"If you didn't contact Victor, then how did he arrive to save you so quickly?" Brian was doubtful.Ariana was baffled. "How would I know? Mr. Lodge, you should ask Mr. Smith that question, not me.""Fine. Let me ask you this. Did this already happen when you called me?" Brian pressed."Not yet…" Ariana mumbled."Then why didn't you call or try to contact me?" Brian growled."My phone wasn't with me!" Ariana couldn't understand Brian.She had just been kidnapped, and it was already a struggle to free herself. Why was Brian making a fuss over this?"Even your useless brother knows to use my name to scare off trouble. Yet the first thing you think about is running away! You never even considered contacting me!" Brian was frustrated."Mr. Lodge, shouldn't saving yourself be a priority rather than relying on someone else? Was I supposed to be a sitting duck if you didn't arrive?" Ariana defended herself.Brian's expression turned unpleasant. "What do you mean by that? Are you imply
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Emily was stunned. She noticed Victor glance over at them provocatively before getting into his car.Brian's expression turned ugly. Emily hesitantly asked, "Mr. Lodge... Should we...""Go!" Brian snapped. "From now on, Ariana and I are over!"Sensing Brian's anger, Emily stopped herself from defending Ariana.Meanwhile, Ariana had already gotten into Victor's car. Victor removed his jacket and placed it over her shoulders.Ariana adjusted the jacket. "Thank you, Mr. Smith. I'll wash it and return it to you tomorrow.""Just throw it away. I don't reuse dirty clothes," Victor replied nonchalantly.Ariana smiled, choosing not to comment further.Victor continued, "By the way, Brian saw you get into my car just now.""What?" Ariana instinctively leaned toward the window to look, but Victor stopped her."They've already driven off." He shrugged."...You knew and didn't tell me?" Ariana was exasperated."Why would I? Or do you wish to ride in his car?" Victor cocked a brow.Ari
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Ariana glanced at Gwen. "Ms. Lambert, what does his birthday have to do with me? If he has broken the law, don't expect me to show any mercy.""Ari!" Gwen quickly grabbed Ariana's hand. "Let's talk this through... There's no need to get so angry. Igor was in the wrong, and I'll apologize on his behalf. Or... Wait! I have a few pieces of jewelry I've been meaning to give you..."Seeing that Gwen was trying to buy her off, Ariana quirked a brow curiously.Of course, she didn't plan to stir up trouble before Igor's birthday. After all, she had another scandal prepared for the celebration, and she wouldn't ruin the perfect stage for it. However, using this opportunity to pressure Gwen and gain some benefits wasn't a bad idea.Ariana remembered how Gwen had hoarded much of her mother's jewelry after marrying into the family and said, "If I remember correctly, most of the jewelry in your possession belonged to my mother, right?"Gwen grew awkward at the accusation. "Well... Those were o
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Seeing how clearly Ariana remembered the Aurora Pearls, Gwen slapped her forehead. "Oh, my memory is awful! I can't even recall where I put those pearls. But you're right, I think I do have them somewhere. I must have forgotten. Don't worry, Ari. I'll send them to you in a couple of days.""All the other jewelry is here, except for those pearls." Ariana smiled coldly. "Ms. Lambert, you didn't sell them, did you?"Gwen's face fell.Ariana knew the truth. Gwen had once lost a lot of money to gambling. She was desperate for funds and unable to leave the gambling den. So, she pawned the pearls she was wearing at the time. Unfortunately, her luck didn't turn, and she never managed to reclaim them.Gwen feared Ariana might expose her gambling habits and the truth about the pearls. "How ridiculous. I would never sell your pearls! They were your mother's, and she left them to you.""That's good to hear." Ariana glanced around Gwen's room. "The house isn't that big so it shouldn't take muc
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Including the ten million dollars and the money needed to reclaim the Aurora Pearls, Gwen was now forced to cough up all the wealth she had hoarded from the Torrey family over the years."I'll wait for the results tomorrow, Ms. Lambert." Ariana smiled. "Igor will return safe and sound once the pearls are in my hands."Gwen nodded and forced a smile. "Yes, I'll have the pearls ready first thing tomorrow morning and deliver them to you."Ariana left Gwen's room.Gwen's smile vanished as soon as the door closed. It was replaced by a look of anxiety and helplessness.Those pearls had long been pawned during one of her gambling losses! How could she possibly reclaim them now?"That brat! She's so greedy!" Gwen muttered angrily to herself.But things would spiral out of control if Ariana went to the police. Gwen had no choice but to call the man she had pawned the pearls to during her gambling days."Mr. Stone, remember the Aurora Pearls I pawned to you back then? I want to reclaim t
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Ariana handed over a contract she had prepared in advance to Gwen. Seeing that Ariana had already arranged everything, Gwen's expression darkened.Ariana, however, remained unfazed and continued, "Ms. Lambert, I've already reviewed the contract thoroughly. All you need to do is sign it. Within seven days, I expect that pair of Aurora Pearls to be delivered to me. Seven days should be enough time for you to retrieve them, right?""Of course…" Gwen replied, though she couldn't stop the faint trembling in her heart.It was 80 million dollars! Where was she supposed to find that amount of money? Even after years of skimming from the Torreys and the company, it hadn't added up to 80 million!But for the sake of her son, Gwen gritted her teeth and signed the contract. As Ariana took the signed contract, a satisfied smile spread across her face."Ari, I've signed the contract, so you can trust me. Please, rescue your brother first. What am I supposed to do if something happens to him w
A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 162
Ariana quickly arrived at the entrance of Lodge Co.As she stepped out, the employees outside the building instinctively moved aside, trying to avoid her. Their peculiar gazes made her feel as though she was some sort of fearsome beast.Ariana ignored their stares and walked toward the entrance with her head held high. Within moments, Emily walked out of her office and quickly approached her."Ms. Torrey," she said politely, "Mr. Lodge is currently in a meeting. Perhaps you could wait here for a moment?""Wait here?" Ariana glanced around.All eyes were now fixed on her, and the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. They were clearly curious to see what drama was going to unfold.Everyone here knew her reputation. Over the years, Ariana had caused quite a few spectacles at the office, and gossip about her "chasing after" Brian was widespread. Seeing her here now, it was clear that there was some drama about to unfold."You mean to tell me that the Lodge Co. doesn't even have
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A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 192
Brian was stunned when he saw Ariana in her bold punk outfit—a short jacket, a cropped top baring her midriff, and tight black denim shorts. To complete the bold look, Ariana even wore black stockings.Those long legs would turn heads wherever she went, and her hourglass figure was impossible to ignore.Brian asked, "Why are you dressed like that?"He still remembered how Ariana used to dress in her elegant and modest tweed dresses, exuding the grace of a lady from a respectable family.But she was utterly different today."Well, I actually prefer dressing in this style. It's quite cool and comfortable," she said, deliberately adding a hint of flirtiness to her tone as she stepped closer to Brian.Her ample bosom was faintly visible beneath the thin straps of her top, like a hint of snow peeking through a frosted window. Her long hair cascaded over one shoulder, adding to her allure. Her every movement was hypnotic, her smooth skin and soft, supple waist inviting thoughts one s
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Finally, Brian could no longer hold back his frustration and swung the door open. He strode toward the room with the light on inside.Did Ariana not know it was nighttime? Who would choose to have renovations this late and disturb everyone's peace?"Ariana! You—"Brian stopped abruptly as he saw Ariana perched on a ladder, drilling something with an electric drill.There were no renovation workers in the room.With music blasting from a pair of headphones, Ariana was completely oblivious to Brian's presence.Noticing her phone on the desk nearby, Brian walked over without hesitation and paused her music.Ariana's world instantly fell silent."Why did my Bluetooth disconnect?" she muttered, puzzled, while taking off her headphones.Suddenly, Brian's voice roared from below, "Ariana! Get down here right now!"His words startled her so much that her foot slipped. Both she and the ladder tipped backward.Brian instinctively tried to dodge, but the ladder came crashing down squar
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
A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 188
"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
A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 185
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
