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Chapter 236
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A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer the Backup Chapter 237
Brian wouldn't let Ariana get her way so easily."Brian, Ms. Torrey has made her position clear. Let's not force her," Belinda said coolly, clearly wanting to sever ties completely. "Since Ms. Torrey wants to focus on her studies, arrange for her to rent a place near Glea College so she can recover in peace.""Grandma, she...""That's enough! That's what we'll do."Belinda had the final say in the Lodge family. She looked at Martha and said, "Martha, go gather Ms. Torrey's things.""Yes, Madam..."Martha glanced at Brian with a troubled expression.Brian said, "Grandma, it's already late. Ariana is hurt and can't just be sent out like this. Tomorrow morning, I'll have Emily find a suitable place. Then Ariana can move."Belinda didn't really want Ariana to stay here at all. Yet, seeing her injuries, kicking her out immediately would look heartless. She gave a mild nod."Ms. Torrey, please come here. I have a word for you."Belinda moved to sit on a couch that was as far from A
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Elise was the ideal refined lady. She was exactly the type Belinda favored.This was good news for Ariana. She wouldn't have to deal with Brian constantly watching her anymore.Brian didn't miss the look of delight on Ariana's face. Seeing this, a surge of anger flared in his chest.Was she really that eager for him to meet another woman?Belinda continued, "Originally, I had high hopes for you two, but these few months of interaction prove you're just not compatible. Brian needs someone who can manage household affairs for him. Ms. Torrey, you have your own aspirations, so there's no point trying to force you to stay together."It was obvious that Belinda blamed Ariana for failing as a fiancée.Ariana nodded, not bothering to argue.Belinda wanted Brian to have a wife who was both stunning to show off in public and dependable at home.Ariana remembered how she used to cook and clean for Brian, putting his needs above everything. She felt foolish just thinking about it.Why di
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Brian's grip on Ariana's arm suddenly tightened.Ariana felt a sharp pain that forced a hiss through her teeth, cold sweat instantly beading on her forehead. "Brian, you're hurting me!"Brian realized he'd lost control, noticing his hand was pressing on one of her injuries. He quickly let go.Ariana seized that chance to back away from him."Whether it's William or Victor, none of that concerns you. We've already called off our engagement, so you have no right to question me. That was our agreement, remember?"Seeing how determined she was to cut ties with him, Brian let out a cold laugh. "Looks like you really did latch on to those two men.""Think whatever you want." Ariana had no desire to waste more words on him."Ariana, neither of them is someone your status can handle. I'll wait for the day you come begging me.""Don't worry. That day will never come, Mr. Lodge."With that, Ariana picked up the crutch off the floor and hobbled toward the stairs.A maid wanted to help h
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A blind date. So, that was it."Ms. Torrey?"Martha was momentarily stunned as she looked at Ariana.How could she be happy about her ex-fiancé going on a blind date?"Martha, I've got it. Thanks."Ariana's mood brightened at once. She guessed she wouldn't be stuck in the Lodge home much longer.Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from William. She quickly unlocked it to check.William's message was brief: "I'll send someone to pick you up at noon."Ariana guessed it must be about the South Gleaston land project. Neither the Torrey residence nor the Lodge residence was a suitable place for such a discussion. William's message came at just the right time.Ariana quickly replied with an "ok" emoji.At Lodge Co., just before lunch, Brian leaned back in his office chair, looking tired.Before Brian could take a moment to rest, Emily walked in and said, "Mr. Lodge, Madam Mackle sent someone to remind you that Ms. Quinlan is already on her way. It wouldn't look good to k
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Brian stepped into Evergreen Hotel. The manager quickly approached to greet him but was stopped by Emily before getting too close.Elise was seeing Brian in person for the first time. At her family's level, she had never had any chance to meet him.Brian looked even more striking than in the photos. Elise felt her cheeks flush slightly.It was no exaggeration to say that Brian's looks were even more captivating than those of top celebrities."Mr. Lodge..."Elise rose to greet him, but Brian simply took a seat opposite her.Seeing him put on a straight face, Elise could only sit back down."I'm short on time, so let's get this over with."Emily brought Brian a coffee. He sipped it and then gestured for the staff to bring the dishes.Seeing that Brian showed little interest in her, Elise patiently said, "Mr. Lodge, Mrs. Lodge Senior arranged for us to meet, but I still don't know anything about you.""I don't have many likes, but there are lots of things I dislike," Brian repli
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Elise knew all about Ariana, the woman who was rumored to have shamelessly chased after Brian.She had always scoffed at Ariana's behavior, but now she realized that even giving her all had only ended with a canceled engagement to Brian.Wouldn't it be worse for Elise if she failed?"If you can't accept that, then go home."Brian had no interest in talking to Elise any longer. Just as he was about to leave, a familiar figure caught his eye across the hotel."This way please, Ms. Torrey," the waiter said, offering her arm to support Ariana as they headed toward the private room.With her injured leg, Ariana could only rely on the waiter's help to make her way to William's private room.As soon as the door opened, Ariana saw William dabbing at his mouth as if he'd just finished eating. "You're late."When William looked up, he saw Ariana limping in, her body covered in injuries. His brows furrowed deeply at the sight.After a long pause, he finally asked, "Were you in a car acci
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Hearing Ariana's response, William frowned. "What, you can't do all that?"If it were before, she definitely couldn't do all that. But she had those three extra years from her previous life.In her previous life, she learned a lot about finance to have common ground with Brian. She also picked up various foreign languages to act as his partner at social events. She wasn't fully fluent, but she could manage a discussion."Fine. I'll make do. Thanks for the help, Mr. Kingsman.""You're welcome. You gave me 5% of the shares. We each get what we need," William said, keeping things very clear.Ariana said, "Now that I have the documents, I feel better. I sneaked out without Brian knowing, so I have to hurry back. If Martha sees I'm missing before two o'clock, she'll definitely tell him.""You two have already broken off the engagement, and he's still meddling?""Who knows what's going on in his head? He keeps saying he's taking responsibility."In her previous life, Ariana had done
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A cold smirk played at the corners of Brian's lips.He had clearly seen a woman who looked just like Ariana appear on this floor. He refused to believe she could vanish into thin air.Just as he stepped closer to the table, Emily rushed over looking anxious. "Mr. Lodge, Madam Mackle is here!"Brian stopped in his tracks.William said casually, "Mr. Lodge, people say we don't get along, but we're both well-known in Gleaston. If you want to cause trouble for me, at least use a better excuse. Accusing me of secretly dating your ex-fiancée is such a tired cliché."Brian's frown deepened. Emily quickly added, "Mr. Lodge, Madam Mackle is waiting. Also, causing a scene with Mr. Kingsman here at the Evergreen Hotel might not be a good idea. Maybe we should..."Staring down William, Brian saw the mocking gleam in his eyes. Brian's expression turned even colder. "Let's go.""Yes, sir."Elise had hoped to say a polite goodbye to William, but Brian spun around and strode off. She had no ch
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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
