Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 566

566 /671

Damon first glanced at Fanny, who was happily munching away, before shifting his gaze to Ariana. His tone was indifferent as he said, "I have some matters to attend to, so I'll be taking Fanny home first. Until next time, Mrs. Stone."

Ariana was momentarily taken aback, then let out a soft chuckle. "Until next time."

Fanny, however, blinked in confusion, completely oblivious to the situation. When realization finally dawned, her eyes lit up instantly. "We're leaving?" she excitedly asked.

Damon maintained his cool exterior, but his heart softened briefly. He gave a slight nod. "Mm-hmm."

Fanny's face immediately brightened with joy. Without hesitation, she abandoned her husband standing conspicuously beside her and turned to Ariana. "Perfect! Let's go, Ariana!" she chirped.

Ariana: "..."

Damon: "..."

The faint warmth that had just returned to Damon's expression vanished in an instant. His eyes darkened ominously, and the air around him turned icy cold.

Ariana cleared her throat awkwardly, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Shaking her head helplessly, she said, "Why would I go with you? You should be leaving with your husband."

It was as if Fanny had only just realized this. She pouted slightly and replied, "I meant going back to your place! I want to stay with you for a few days and chat. How about it?"

Ariana: "...Next time."

'Can't you see Damon standing right there with a face darker than thunder, girl? If you've got a death wish, don't drag me into it!'

Now she finally understood why Damon's expression had soured every time he saw her after their initial pleasant encounters.

At that moment, Lambert arrived.

He had been keeping an eye on Ariana's situation all along. After wrapping up his own affairs, he intended to take her and leave. He knew full well that she probably didn’t enjoy these kinds of banquets—and if she wasn’t having a good time, there was no point in staying.

But the moment he turned around, his gaze landed on Ariana, Damon, and Fanny standing together, deep in what seemed like an intense conversation.

Lambert’s brow furrowed instantly.

Without hesitation, he strode toward them, completely ignoring Irene, who had just approached nearby, hoping to exchange a few words with him.

Irene’s smile faded slowly as she watched Lambert, his expression tense, heading straight for Ariana. Her fingers clenched tightly around the hem of her gown, her knuckles turning white with the force of her grip. The pleasant mask on her face threatened to crack, but she drew a deep breath, forcing down the jealousy and bitterness churning inside her. With practiced ease, she turned to a young man who happened to approach her and struck up a casual conversation, pretending nothing was amiss.

...

Meanwhile, things were heating up on Ariana’s end.

At first, Ariana had assumed Fanny was just clueless—that her lack of emotional intelligence kept her from realizing how thoroughly irritated Damon had become.

But as the exchange dragged on, it dawned on her.

This girl knew exactly what she was doing. She was fully aware of Damon’s mood and was deliberately playing dumb, using Ariana as a shield.

Clearly, she was desperate to avoid him at all costs.

Ariana couldn't help but feel exasperated. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed Lambert striding purposefully toward her. He stopped right in front of her and asked coolly, "What were you talking about?"

Ariana cleared her throat lightly. "Nothing much. Um... why are you here? Did you finish your business?" She was referring to the reason for Lambert's attendance today.

He was supposed to meet a business associate to discuss some matters, and since the Harper family's banquet happened to be today, he had chosen to combine the two engagements.