Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 414

The girls trailing behind Lexi were utterly bewildered. They couldn’t quite grasp what was happening, but the air was thick with tension as if a storm was brewing.

They all knew Ariana. She had been quite active in the upper echelons of society in recent years. The Stone family was one of the three major conglomerates in the city, so Ariana, having married Lambert, naturally drew a lot of attention. Not to mention the lengths Lambert had gone for her back in the day. Many girls had envied her at the time.

After all, she had not only tamed such a notorious playboy but also made him forsake his status and position for her. That was no ordinary feat!

Back then, Ariana was the envy of many, and even now, she still was. As for her younger sister, Jane, they were all aware of her too. She had tried to seize control of the White Group but ended up getting caught. Now she was serving a seven-year sentence. Who knew what she’d be like once she got out?

But none of them had expected that Lexi, the mayor’s daughter, would have any connection to Jane.

After Allison’s remark, their faces paled even further. It was a blatant jab, insinuating that Lexi and Jane were cut from the same cloth…

At this thought, their eyes flickered with varying emotions. Some were gleeful, others furrowed their brows in thought. Of course, most pretended not to understand, keeping their distance from the drama.

If they had caught the implication, Lexi certainly had. Her expression shifted instantly, but she remembered the setting and refrained from any undignified behavior. Instead, she fixed Allison with a cold stare and said, “So you must be Mrs. Morris. I heard you had a son last year. I apologize for not sending a gift; I hope you won’t hold it against me. But… if I may say so, Mrs. Morris, while it’s understandable after childbirth, you really should pay more attention to your figure. If I hadn’t gotten a closer look at your face just now, I might have mistaken you for Stef’s older sister.”

Stefan didn’t have any biological sisters, but he did have a cousin who was about six years older than him. Due to complications from her first pregnancy, which was twins, she had been in poor health for over a year before gradually recovering. However, despite her efforts, she hadn’t been able to shed the weight.

Not that she particularly cared. After all, it was just a marriage of convenience.

Before having a child, she had already been indifferent to her husband, and after the child was born, she paid even less attention to him. In their social circle, marriages were often arranged for business interests, and having a child was seen as the completion of their duty. As long as their extramarital affairs weren’t too blatant, no one interfered in each other’s lives.

Lexi’s remark was clearly a blatant jab at Allison’s weight gain. This caused Allison’s expression to freeze momentarily before darkening with anger. The girls standing behind Lexi stifled their laughter, which only intensified Allison’s sense of humiliation.

Being young, Allison’s first reaction to such a situation was to feel utterly enraged. She glared fiercely at Lexi, standing rooted to the spot, speechless, as if trying to come up with a retort. But in reality, her mind had gone completely blank.

Allison was well aware of her weight gain. It had always been a sore spot for her. In the past, she would occasionally grumble about it, but after Stefan had reassured her that he didn’t mind, she had felt somewhat at ease. Still, deep down, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy. After all, everyone wants to be perfect in the eyes of their beloved. Now, being openly mocked by her rival felt like a knife to the heart.

"Allison, what are you doing here? I've been looking all over for you." A voice tinged with amusement came from behind as Stefan strolled over casually. He naturally wrapped his arm around Allison's waist, then sighed with a helpless smile. "I told you to stay put and not wander around. What if you trip or bump into something while you're pregnant?" His tone was dripping with affection, and his eyes were filled with tender exasperation. The depth of his love was palpable to everyone present.

In an instant, the group of girls standing behind Lexi couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy and jealousy.

As for Lexi, she stood frozen in place. Watching Stefan treat Allison with such gentleness felt like a thousand needles piercing her heart. Her face twisted slightly, her eyes brimming with intense jealousy and resentment. She wanted to say something, but words failed her.

Observing Stefan's smooth and natural actions, Ariana immediately understood what was going on. A faint smile played on her lips as she decided to step back and let Stefan take the stage. She thought to herself, *This is his chance to stand up for Allison—or rather, his chance to play the hero. He seems to need it.*

As she stepped back, however, her foot caught on something, and she nearly lost her balance. At that moment, a strong hand steadied her. A deep, slightly exasperated voice murmured, "Be careful."

Ariana turned her head to see Lambert, who had naturally caught her. Her ears turned red as she met his gaze.