Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 531

Aster let out a soft chuckle, not uttering a single word, but the disdain in her eyes was unmistakable.

Her expression clearly said: 'She’s the future matriarch of the family—what can you possibly do if she tells you to step aside?'

Khloe felt that piercing gaze like needles against her skin, a surge of frustration and resentment threatening to burst from her chest. But she held it in. The year she had spent exiled from the Stone family had taught her a lesson—she wasn’t as reckless as before. Shooting Aster a venomous glare, she turned on her heel and stormed off.

A flicker of surprise crossed Aster’s face.

But it was quickly replaced by even deeper contempt. Clearly, she didn’t consider the brainless Khloe worth another thought.

Now, she had nothing left to fear.

Her unlucky daughter-in-law, Gwen, had already fallen out of favor with the old lady. All Aster wanted now was for Finley to divorce that wretched woman—

If only he could remarry someone respectable, like Arnold had, then all the humiliation she’d endured would be worth it.

But the Castro family had too much influence.

And that Gwen, barren as she was, still clung to her position as Finley’s wife, even talking about some ridiculous IVF plan—and worst of all, Old Mr. Stone and Old Mrs. Stone had agreed to it. Aster knew there was little chance of Finley divorcing Gwen now. The more she thought about it, the more her irritation festered.

Regret gnawed at her. She truly regretted ever choosing Gwen in the first place.

If she had known the woman would bring such misfortune, she would *never* have allowed Finley to marry her!

---

Meanwhile.

In an exquisitely decorated hotel suite, soft moans and ragged breaths occasionally drifted through the air, enough to make anyone who heard them flush with heat.

The lingering tension didn't dissipate until the early hours of the morning.

Arnold, his eyes half-lidded with satisfaction, glanced at the still-unconscious Madelyn before a triumphant, exhilarated smile curled at his lips. With a deliberate flick of his brow, he traced his fingers over her chest one last time, then closed his eyes in languid contentment and sank into a deep sleep.

The next morning, a piercing scream shattered the silence—

Madelyn clutched the sheets to her chest, her face deathly pale as she stared at Arnold in shock and fury.

Tears spilled from her eyes like scattered pearls.

"You!" she shrieked. "What are you doing here? What happened to me? Did you—did you drug me?"

Arnold, still unclothed, met her tearful gaze before adopting an expression of remorse and concern. "I'm sorry… Madelyn," he said softly. "Last night, I was having dinner with friends here when I saw you being carried away by a stranger."

Madelyn's face drained of even more color.

Arnold stole a glance at her before continuing, measured and deliberate. "You didn’t seem right, so I went closer and realized you were barely conscious. I had my bodyguards drive the man off and tried to take you home, but you…" He hesitated, feigning discomfort, then looked at her with feigned helplessness. "You were affected by whatever he gave you. You clung to me, and then… I couldn’t help it. Besides, I’ve always had feelings for you, and the way you were acting, I lost control."

Yet she had never imagined—

That the purity she had guarded for so long would be stolen from her. And in such a ridiculous, humiliating way.

…

By the time Irene rushed to the hotel after hearing what had happened, all she saw was a disheveled bed and Madelyn, fully dressed but eerily silent. She sat motionless on the edge of the mattress, her expression lifeless, though a closer look would reveal the storm of hatred and fury churning beneath that hollow calm.

It was as if she were drowning in it.

Irene’s eyes flickered with emotion before she slowly approached and whispered, "Madelyn…"

Madelyn turned slightly at the sound of her voice.

Irene’s throat tightened, her eyes reddening with unshed tears. "Madelyn, I’m so sorry… If you hadn’t stayed behind for me last night, none of this would’ve happened. This is all my fault."

Seeing her friend’s guilt-ridden anguish, Madelyn pressed her lips together.

"It’s not your fault," she said, her voice trembling between a sob and a whisper. "Blame the person who set me up like this." Her voice dropped lower, laced with venom. "If I ever find out who it was… I’ll make them pay."

Irene wrapped her arms around Madelyn, her remorse deepening. "I’m sorry," she choked out, over and over. "I’m so sorry."