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Chapter 218
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A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 219
At Lodge Co., it was already 9:00 pm, but no one in the meeting room dared to leave.Brian's expression remained grim when he returned to the meeting. He seemed distracted and lost in thought. And everyone could tell that his mind wasn't on the discussion.After a long while, even Emily had enough. She whispered, "Mr. Lodge, it's 9:00 pm."Brian snapped back to reality and glanced at his watch."Let's end the meeting," he said coldly.Noticing his absent-mindedness, Emily hesitated. "Mr. Lodge, about the proposal just now…""We'll revisit it later," he said before leaving the room.The people in the meeting room exchanged nervous glances. Revisit it later? Then was their meeting earlier for naught?Brian's demeanor was unnerving. He had never seemed this intimidating before.Inside the lift, Brian asked nonchalantly, "How's Ariana's interrogation going?""There's no news yet. I can call to follow up," Emily offered."No need. I'll check myself." Brian dismissed her."What?"
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The leader was about to hit Ariana when a shout came from nearby. "Stop!"The leader froze. She turned and saw Brian, dressed impeccably in a suit, walking toward them with a stormy expression.Mick hurriedly opened the cell door, allowing Brian to enter.It was a chilling sight. The floor was smeared with blood, and strands of hair were scattered everywhere. Ariana lay in the corner, half-conscious. Her clothes were partially torn, her entire body battered, and her right hand had turned a shade of black and blue. The blood on her arm was especially horrifying.Brian's gaze sharply, and he paled at the scene.Mick was equally stunned, his face turning red with anger at the female inmates. "Who told you to go this far?""Wasn't it you who said… It was fine as long as she didn't die?" the leader stammered.Brian's expression darkened. "Wow, impressive work. I can't believe you would use your power for this.""No! It's a misunderstanding!" Mick stammered.But Brian wasn't interes
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Brian, what do you mean? Are you doubting Evelyn?"Brennen frowned. "We've known each other since we were kids. You know Evelyn's character—she wouldn't lie."Brian shot Brennen a cold glance and said, "I'll ask you again, Evelyn."Brennen seemed ready to argue further, but Evelyn gently pulled on his arm. Looking at Brian, she said softly, "Brian, I really don't know who broke into my house. But… The only person I can think of is Ms. Torrey. After all, Maddie and Lila upset her earlier today, and William stood up for her. Or maybe, it was William? Who knows?"Evelyn deliberately brought up William. Everyone in Gleaston knew about the long-standing rivalry between William and Brian. The two were sworn enemies.She expected Brian to react with the same displeasure he had shown in the past whenever William's involvement with Ariana was mentioned. But instead, his expression turned colder. "So, you're saying you didn't actually see who trashed your house?"Evelyn froze. His calm, pr
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In Gleaston, Evelyn had always enjoyed a level of protection due to her status as "Brian Lodge's most beloved woman". No one would dare to bully her.But lately, Evelyn's actions had become increasingly puzzling to Brian.A staged suicide attempt, her scheming against Ariana at Glea College, summoning Brennan back to Gleaston, and even her secret attempts to approach Victor. Brian was aware of it all.One by one, these actions didn't align with the Evelyn he once knew—the Evelyn who would never resort to such underhanded tactics. "Mr. Lodge, perhaps you shouldn't dwell on the past. Ms. Granger was very worried when she heard you were at the hospital," Emily interjected cautiously. "She was worried. She was worried about how much I cared about Ariana," Brian replied coldly.The lights above the operating room door remained red, and Brian sat on a bench in the hospital corridor, waiting silently. When he was cradling Ariana and rushed her out of the police station earlier, he rea
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At the hospital, Brian waited for what felt like an eternity before the light above the operating room finally turned green.The lead surgeon and several nurses emerged, wheeling Ariana on a gurney. Seeing her lying there, Brian immediately moved toward her. But a quick-handed nurse stepped in front of him and said, "I'm sorry, sir. The patient needs rest, and she specifically said she doesn't want to see you."Those words hit Brian like a hammer. His heart sank.Just then, Emily received a call from the police station and approached Brian. "Mr. Lodge, our people just arrived at the police station, but the female prisoners are already dead.""How did they die?""It was Victor."Brian let out a cold laugh. Of course. Victor Smith. Ariana must have been closer to him than he thought. Victor rarely acted personally unless it was for someone truly important to him."Forget it. I'll deal with her later. Right now, her recovery is the priority.""But, Mr. Lodge, It's already late.
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Richie had immediately dressed and rushed to the City Hospital as soon as he heard Brian was there. The Lodge family was the hospital's largest investor and provided the hospital with the medical infrastructure. He couldn't afford to offend them.The nurse turned pale with fear after realizing the man before her was Brian."If you have anything to say, take it outside. Don't disturb her rest," Brian said coldly."Of course, Mr. Lodge. Right this way," Richie said, stepping aside deferentially.Brian walked out of the room and the nurse quickly clamped her mouth shut, saying nothing more.Once outside the room, Richie began speaking in a fawning tone. "Mr. Lodge, allow me to introduce Dr. Cooper, the lead physician. He's exceptionally talented. He's young and highly accomplished…" "Get to the point," Brian interrupted curtly. "I want to know the extent of her injuries." Richie immediately turned to Dr. Cooper, who adjusted his glasses before speaking."Ms. Torrey's injuries ar
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By this time, Emily had sent all the material for the next day's meeting to Brian's phone. Brian had no choice but to return to his seat and begin reviewing the documents on his phone.Suddenly, Ariana began to cry out as if trapped in a nightmare. "Don't hit me! Stop! Stop hitting me!" Brian immediately got up and walked to her bedside. He wasn't good at comforting people, but he instinctively took her hand in his. His voice softened as he said, "I'm here. I'm right here. No one will dare hurt you." Hearing his words, Ariana seemed to calm down. Watching her, a flicker of heartache flashed through him. After all, she was just a young woman. What has happened today must have terrified her.As he leaned closer, intending to brush a stray lock of hair from her forehead, Ariana suddenly raised both arms in her sleep. Brian froze, startled.Then she mumbled clearly, "Damn it! Who do you think you are? I'll kill you, you bastard!" "Brian Lodge, you son of a b*tch!" "Brian Lodge
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Brian knew he was at fault, so he was silent for a long moment. Finally, he took a deep breath and said, "You've had your say. Tell me what kind of compensation you want." "Good. Straight to the point," Ariana said, her tone icy. This was precisely the moment she had been waiting for."I want you to promise never to go after the Torrey family again. And don't bother me anymore. Since we've already called off the engagement, let's settle this once and for all. My injuries were because you wrongfully accused me, so you're covering all my medical expenses." "That's all?" "That's all," Ariana said sharply. "Although, if your conscience nags at you and you want to offer some financial compensation, I wouldn't say no. Think of it as a breakup fee." The mention of a "breakup fee" made Brian's expression darken. For reasons he couldn't explain, those words stung more than he'd anticipated."What's wrong? Feeling reluctant?" Ariana teased."I'll pay you," Brian said through gritted
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A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 404
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
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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
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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
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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
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"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
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"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
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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
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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
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"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
