Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 514

The old man frowned slightly. "Is that so?"

Finley's legs nearly gave out beneath him. His face turned deathly pale as he stammered, "Y-yes, Grandfather. I go to the office every day... You must have heard wrong." Ever since realizing his chances of becoming the heir were slim, Finley had rarely shown up at the company. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected the old man to suddenly bring this up.

His entire body stiffened.

Yet a flicker of hope ignited in his chest.

Was Grandfather asking because... he still had expectations of him? Was that disappointment he saw in the old man's eyes? Instantly, the embers of Finley's long-dead ambition flared back to life.

But then the memory of Grandfather's earlier announcement crashed over him like icy water, dousing that fragile flame.

He stared at the old man helplessly, utterly lost.

Or was this...

Was Grandfather fishing for mistakes, clearing the path for Lambert?

The thought made his blood run cold. His face drained of color as he gazed at the old man, eyes brimming with terror.

Fortunately, the old man didn't press further. After those few words, he dropped the subject entirely, leaving Finley suspended in agonizing uncertainty.

......

Later, the old lady amused herself with her great-grandchildren.

Ariana's twin boys also received her doting attention, though she preferred the quieter older brother. Still, none could compare to Lucian—her undisputed favorite, irreplaceable in her heart.

The atmosphere among the gathering was palpably subdued.

After all, Old Mr. Stone had just dropped that bombshell announcement, and everyone was still struggling to process it.

Well, almost everyone.

The third branch of the family remained remarkably composed, or rather, Lambert and Ariana did. Even Hugh wasn’t as unflappable as his son. The moment the old man made his decision, Hugh had fallen into an uneasy silence, his expression torn between worry and discomfort, as if unsure how to react. Jolene, on the other hand, was overjoyed for her son, though her happiness was tinged with fear that Lambert might now become a target for the first and second branches. A quiet unease gnawed at her.

But Lambert and Ariana paid no mind to the others’ reactions.

After another half hour or so, Ariana announced to Old Mr. Stone and his wife that they would be taking their leave.

The rest of the family seized the opportunity to say their goodbyes as well.

Exhausted from the evening’s events, the elderly couple didn’t object.

Lambert and Ariana were the first to leave. As the couple walked away, the first and second branches watched their retreating figures with unreadable, shadowed gazes.

Only once they were safely back home did Arnold finally snap.

His eyes burned crimson with something between despair and fury. Voice hoarse, he turned to his father and demanded, "Is there really no chance left for me? Am I supposed to spend the rest of my life depending on that bastard Lambert, living at his mercy?"

If the second branch decided to act against Lambert, he could discreetly lend a hand without exposing his own family. But if they showed no such intentions, the elder branch certainly wouldn’t stick their necks out first.

A new broom sweeps clean.

While others might target their subordinates, that damned Lambert might just aim his fire at his own uncles.

Arnold, after all, wasn’t a fool.

After hearing his father's words, he nodded in understanding.

Yet the look in his eyes still burned with unmistakable resentment. His uncle noticed but merely sighed, choosing not to press further.

Khloe, seeing her husband had already made his decision, didn’t dare argue. She glanced between the two men before cautiously steering the conversation elsewhere. "Darling," she said softly, "I was thinking—perhaps it’s time for Arnold to remarry. Now that Old Mr. Stone has declared Lambert the heir to the Stone family, we should settle Arnold’s marriage as soon as possible. Once the family assets are divided, things might get... complicated."

Once the division took place, their branch of the family would be left powerless, weaker than even the most insignificant collateral relatives. And given the longstanding tension between them and Lambert, who would still be willing to ally with Arnold through marriage?

So this matter had to be handled quickly. Ideally, Arnold would be wed before Lambert fully took control of the Stone Group. That way, they could avoid unforeseen troubles and secure a strong in-law family to back Arnold—something that might make even Lambert think twice before crossing them.

For once, the uncle felt his wife had shown some shrewdness. He gave a faint nod of approval. "Good. I was thinking the same."

Khloe exhaled in relief.

Then, hesitantly, she added, "I’ve taken a liking to the Olson family’s child—Madelyn Olson."