Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 512

Lambert remained completely unfazed. When he noticed Ariana glancing his way, he even flashed her a grin, prompting her lips to twitch even more violently.

By the time the elders finished handing out envelopes, little Lucian had already amassed a small fortune. Beaming like a happy fool, he suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to his great-grandmother with a worried frown. "Great-Grandma, are all these really for me?"

The elderly woman gently patted his adorable little head, smiling warmly. "Of course."

Lucian's mouth fell open. "But what if Dad tries to take them?"

Lambert, who had been lounging nearby with an air of boredom: "..."

Hearing this, the old lady's smile deepened, her lips curling in amusement. "Don't worry. If your father dares to steal from you, just tell me. I'll make sure he gives every last bit back."

Instantly reassured, little Lucian beamed.

He excitedly planted a kiss on his great-grandmother's cheek before carefully gathering all his envelopes, already plotting his grand scheme to raise his younger brother.

Lambert shot a sidelong glance at the little traitor but lazily looked away, choosing not to dignify the slander against his own father with a response.

Soon, the rest of the children arrived—Alvin, Collin, and Lambert's twin sons.

Compared to Collin and Alvin, Ariana's twins naturally drew more attention. Or rather, the sons of Ariana and Lambert were the center of interest—after all, they were the future heirs of the family's main lineage.

Yet, Old Mr. Stone clearly had higher expectations for Lucian.

Kevin and Carson were barely a year old, while Collin was only a month or two older than them. Alvin, on the other hand, was about the same age as Lucian, just a few months younger. But compared to Lucian's lively demeanor, Alvin was noticeably timid. He eyed the crowd warily, his large eyes brimming with fear and hesitation, as if he might bolt from the unfamiliar faces at any moment.

Khloe's expression darkened slightly, though it was nothing compared to the storm brewing on Arnold's face. Khloe was merely irritated at the second branch of the family for raising her grandson to be so timid. While she was somewhat displeased with the boy, her anger was mostly directed at others. Arnold, however, was utterly repulsed. He had always disliked this son, and seeing him like this only deepened his disgust—how could a son of his be so spineless? It was an embarrassment.

The second uncle's brow furrowed briefly, but he masked it well. Quickly, he beckoned to Alvin with a smile and said, "Come here, Alvin, and greet your great-grandfather and great-grandmother properly."

Alvin was terrified. His slightly gaunt little face was etched with unease and dread. Helplessly, he glanced back at the maid who usually cared for him. Under the weight of everyone's gaze, he finally took a hesitant step forward and approached the old man, murmuring in a tiny voice, "G-Great-grandfather... Great-grandmother..."

The old man's frown deepened as he studied Alvin, but remembering the boy's frail health, he let it pass with a curt, "Hmm." Without another glance, he scooped up Carson, the more curious of the twins, who had been looking around restlessly, and asked cheerfully, "How about Great-grandfather teaches you to play chess?"

Of course, Carson had no idea what chess was.

Not even a year old yet, he was curious about everything around him.

Unlike his cautious older brother, this little one was bold and full of energy from the start. When he felt someone lifting him up, he immediately burst into delighted giggles, babbling excitedly—a stark contrast to Alvin's timid nature. The old man's eyes softened with affection; he always had a soft spot for children who weren’t afraid of him.

The eldest uncle’s expression stiffened slightly.

Meanwhile, Alvin had already scurried into a corner as if granted a pardon, which only deepened the eldest uncle’s frown.

A thought crossed his mind:

In an instant, all eyes turned toward the second branch of the family.

The faces of the second branch immediately darkened, especially Aster’s, which turned an ugly shade of crimson. Normally, she doted on her precious grandson, but at that moment, her affection paled in comparison to the humiliation she felt.

She was on the verge of snapping.

Gwen cast a concerned glance their way before rising from her seat and approaching her mother-in-law. "Mom," she offered gently, "Let me take care of Collin for a bit."

Already in a foul mood, Aster forgot the occasion entirely. Without thinking, she slapped Gwen’s hand away and snapped, "You? You think you can take care of him? I’d be thanking the heavens if you didn’t do something to harm him!"

Lately, Gwen had been making efforts to get closer to Collin, and Aster assumed she had finally realized which child would be her true support in the future.

But old grudges ran deep, and Aster couldn’t resist lashing out.

Only after the words left her mouth did she realize her mistake—

Sure enough, Old Mr. Stone and his wife frowned in disapproval. The matriarch, in particular, was visibly displeased. At such gatherings, even if one harbored grievances, they were expected to maintain decorum. No one dared to air their dirty laundry in public. Seeing her daughter-in-law treat her granddaughter-in-law so harshly, the old woman’s expression darkened.

"Second daughter-in-law," she said sharply, "What is the meaning of this? Gwen was only trying to help. Is this how a mother-in-law should behave?"

Meanwhile, Gwen wore just the right expression—wounded, with a bitter smile.