Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 524

At this thought, his pace quickened instantly.

But the moment he stepped into the living room and saw the source of the voice, the smile on his face froze.

Jane, of course, had also noticed Gilbert's return.

She hastily stood up, her voice timid and laced with guilt as she murmured, "Uncle..."

Georgia smiled as well when she saw Gilbert return. However, a quick glance at her husband's expression made her heart sink. Suppressing her unease, she forced a cheerful tone and said, "Gilbert, you're finally back. Jane was released from prison today, and she had nowhere else to go, so I brought her home."

With that, she subtly signaled Jane to say more.

Georgia didn’t want any rift to grow between Jane and her husband.

Taking the hint from Georgia’s gaze, Jane mustered her courage and spoke to Gilbert, "Uncle... I—" But before she could finish, she saw his expression darken instantly. He turned away abruptly and called out sharply, "Where’s the butler? Come here!"

The butler had been observing the situation from a distance. The moment he heard the anger in Gilbert’s voice, he knew trouble was brewing.

He hurried out from the kitchen and asked cautiously, "Sir?"

Without a flicker of emotion, Gilbert commanded, "Escort this young lady out."

Jane froze for a moment before her face crumpled into a look of deep sorrow. She swayed slightly on her feet, her fragile demeanor enough to tug at anyone’s heartstrings.

And Georgia, of course, was the most affected.

"Gilbert, what are you doing?" she protested. "The New Year is just days away. Jane... she may have made mistakes in the past, but she’s changed. She won’t repeat them. Even if you’re still angry, at least let her stay through the holidays. If you throw her out like this, what will she do all alone? If your late brother and sister-in-law saw Jane like this from beyond, their hearts would break. Even if not for Jane’s sake, for them, please tolerate her just this once."

Her voice trembled slightly, thick with emotion.

Like a doting mother.

Gilbert gazed at his wife with a mix of helplessness, bewilderment, and quiet resignation. After a long pause, he finally spoke in a measured tone, "It's precisely because you've spoiled her rotten that she's turned out this way. If brother and sister-in-law could see this from beyond, they wouldn't be comforted—they'd be furious. What's the difference between what you're doing and setting her up for failure? She needs to take responsibility for her mistakes. She's not a child anymore."

His patience with Jane had worn dangerously thin.

The awkward position he now faced at the company was largely due to her meddling. There was no way he could simply brush it aside and welcome her back with open arms.

Georgia froze, her tear-filled eyes searching her husband's expression. When she realized the depth of his disgust toward Jane, panic surged through her. She bit her lip. "At least... wait until after the New Year."

Gilbert scoffed. "After the New Year? How do you think Ariana would react if she found out?"

He was exhausted.

There was a time when he admired his wife's kindness, but now, this excessive soft-heartedness had become unbearable. Ariana still hadn't reconciled with the family, yet instead of trying to mend their fractured relationship, Georgia spent every waking moment fretting over a niece who had betrayed both her husband and daughter.

This saintly indulgence of hers was downright infuriating.

Had Jane been a quiet, well-behaved girl like Kiara, things might have been different.

But she wasn't.

He was the man Georgia loved, wasn’t he?

And Ariana was their daughter—how could she not love her? Yet now, seeing how she doted on Jane and recalling how she had treated Ariana before, he couldn’t help but question everything.

Hearing his words, Georgia froze in shock.

She froze in place.

Gilbert walked straight past her without a glance, heading for the stairs. Georgia stared silently at his retreating back, her entire body turning ice-cold from head to toe. Seeing this, Jane hurried over and asked timidly, "Auntie... are you okay? Maybe I should leave. I don't want to cause trouble between you and Uncle." She played the part of a considerate child perfectly.

Jane had expected Georgia to brush it off with her usual "Don't mind him, it's nothing" response. But this time, Georgia remained silent for two long seconds after hearing her words.

Then, slowly, she said, "Perhaps... you should stay elsewhere for a few days. I'll talk to your uncle around."

Jane's expression instantly stiffened.

Georgia's mind was in turmoil—a mix of panic and unease. The terrifying thought that Gilbert might have discovered something consumed her. How could she possibly spare any attention for Jane now? Her protectiveness toward the girl served two purposes: maintaining her image as the kind-hearted woman Gilbert believed her to be, and securing her own future safety net.

She'd always thought Jane was filial and dependable.

But if Gilbert had learned the truth... all her efforts would be for nothing.

For the first time, Georgia found herself unable to suppress her rising panic.