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Chapter 228
Bab terkait
A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 229
The next morning, Brian had arranged for the housekeeper and driver to escort Ariana back to the Lodge residence while he headed to the office for a meeting. Despite sitting through the meeting, his mind was elsewhere, replaying the scene of Ariana lying in bed the night before, deliberately cursing him in her sleep. The realization that she had been faking it amused him, and unconsciously, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. The room fell silent as everyone in the meeting stared at him in shock. What was wrong with Brian?"Ahem!" Emily coughed twice, subtly reminding Brian to maintain his composure. Noticing the eyes on him, Brian quickly composed himself. He straightened and said coldly, "Alright. Proceed with negotiations with this proposal." "Mr. Lodge, there's one more thing." A department manager spoke up. "We've started excavation on the land at South Gleaston. Just yesterday, we received news that a natural spring was discovered there. "This conflicts wit
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Seeing that Brian had uncovered the news, Ariana feigned an innocent expression and said, "Mr. Lodge, I don't understand what you're implying. How could I possibly predict the government's plans? There's no way I could have known about this in advance." "You didn't know? Then what's this?" Brian tossed another newspaper onto the table in front of her and said "Natural spring discovered in South Gleaston! You didn't know about this either?""Really?" Ariana replied, acting surprised. "No way! I just randomly bought a piece of land. Am I going to be rich now?" "Ariana Torrey!" Brian's expression darkened even further. Ariana, however, remained completely nonchalant, lounging in bed without moving an inch.Finally, his patience wore thin and he said in a low voice, "Lodge Co. will take this land. I'll have the contract sent to you—just sign it." "Sorry, but I never said I'd agree." Seeing her unwillingness to cooperate, Brian's tone grew colder. "You can't possibly be unawar
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When Ariana said William had taken that plot of land, Brian abruptly stood up. "What did you just say?""Mr. Lodge, I'm just a woman. What do I know about investing? Besides, I didn't buy it. Mr. Kingsman did. You already know I had no real power in the Torrey family back then. Where would I have gotten five billion? If you really want that land, you should talk to Mr. Kingsman. Maybe he'll be willing to sell it to you."Ariana put on an innocent look, but Brian heard no trace of goodwill in her words."Ariana, are you kidding me? You were the one who wanted that land. Now you're just handing it over?""Mr. Lodge, that's not entirely accurate. Mr. Kingsman was the one who paid for it at the time. Now he's taking it back. What can I say? I have to let him have it."She let out a sigh and continued, "To tell you the truth, I do regret it. Had I known this land would turn out so valuable, I would've bought it myself. Now look, I'm left with nothing.""You..."Brian didn't know what
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"Such a serious incident calls for expulsion!""I'm in favor of expulsion too."...The teachers raised their hands one after the other.Meanwhile, Maddie was waiting anxiously for news. She was sweating all over from nervousness.In the classroom, Maddie clung to Evelyn's arm and asked, "Evelyn, do you think they'll actually expel me? Will they really kick me out?"Lila tried to calm her. "Maddie, don't freak out. You just accidentally stepped on her hand. They can't expel you for that. Besides, Evelyn must have already talked to Mr. Lodge for you. I'm sure they'll just let it drop."As she finished speaking, Lila glanced at Evelyn, who had remained silent. "Evelyn, isn't that right?"Evelyn forced an awkward smile. She had never asked Brian for help with Maddie.Yesterday, she was rushed to the hospital, only to be questioned by Brian. She hadn't even managed to settle her own problems, let alone fix someone else's.Still, stepping on Ariana's hand didn't sound like a big d
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All the students assumed William had come about Evelyn's study abroad opportunity. Instead, William singled Maddie out. "Maddie Hicks."Maddie's entire body went stiff. "Yes..."She stood nervously, not knowing what William was here for.Just then, one of his bodyguards handed William a freshly printed notice. Without even looking at it, he tossed it to Maddie. "You're expelled."The paper fell straight to the floor in front of Maddie.She blurted out, "That's impossible!"She hurriedly picked it up and tore open the envelope. Inside was indeed an official notice of expulsion.Seeing this, she froze, unable to believe her eyes.Expelled...Why?Maddie turned desperately to Evelyn.Evelyn's face had also gone pale.Everyone knew Maddie was Evelyn's close friend. For William to walk in and toss an expulsion notice at her in front of the entire class was like giving Evelyn a public slap in the face."Mr. Kingsman, there must be some misunderstanding. This has to be a mistake!
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Noticing William's gaze, the group immediately fell silent.William turned to leave, but Evelyn sprang up. "Mr. Kingsman, I have something I'd like to discuss with you in private."She intended to stand up for her friend in front of everyone. However, before she could finish, William said indifferently, "By the way, Ms. Granger, you can forget about studying abroad. That spot has gone to someone else. But I think, with your family connections and finances, going abroad on your own shouldn't be a problem."Evelyn's face turned stark white.Lila was equally stunned. "That's impossible! Evelyn has the best grades in the entire class. How could she not get the study-abroad slot?""That's right. She has the top grades. They already said she'd be the one going, didn't they?"Her classmates looked at each other, confused. Everyone knew Evelyn had ties to Brian. Why would the slot go to someone else?"Mr. Kingsman, what do you mean by that?" Evelyn asked, pretending to stay calm.She h
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"Understood, Mr. Kingsman," Anna replied.With that, William turned and left the classroom.Everyone looked at Evelyn with pity, but they had no idea how much she hated that particular look."Evelyn..."Lila wanted to comfort her but Evelyn left the classroom with tears in her eyes.That evening, Ariana slowly got out of bed, walking with a slight limp.A maid opened the door and was so startled to see Ariana on her feet that she almost dropped the bowl in her hand. "Ms. Torrey! Mr. Lodge said you need to stay in bed for a few days to recover. You shouldn't be walking around on your own!"The maid hurried over to steady Ariana, but Ariana didn't seem too concerned. "I've been lying down for a whole day. If I keep this up, I'll end up crippled.""But Mr. Lodge said...""He isn't even here right now, so who cares what he says?"Before Ariana could finish, Brian's cold voice rang out from the doorway. "Oh? I'm standing right here. Do you still not care?"Ariana frowned. Wasn't
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In the past, Belinda would have been pleased to see such a scene. Now, however, her expression turned cold. "Martha, why are you just standing there? Hurry and help Ms. Torrey downstairs!"Calling her "Ms. Torrey" was a clear sign of the distance Belinda now kept. Before all this, she always addressed Ariana warmly as "Ari."It seemed that after the scandal, Belinda no longer intended to treat Ariana kindly.Martha rushed forward to support Ariana.Ariana, anxious to get away from Brian, accepted her help without hesitation.Brian noticed how eager she was to get out of his arms, not even sparing him a glance, which left a sour feeling in him.Was it really so unpleasant for her to be carried in his arms?Ariana stood to one side. "Madam Mackle...""I heard you were injured."Belinda eyed Ariana from head to toe. She was bruised in many places.Normally Belinda would be distressed to see her like this, but this time she simply asked, "How did you end up at the police station?
Bab terbaru
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
