Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 581

Lucian's eyes burned with undisguised hostility, leaving Madelyn momentarily stunned.

Irene, though seething with humiliation, kept her composure. After a brief silence, she forced a bitter smile and said, "Lucian, you've misunderstood. Your mother and I were just talking. Your aunt might have thought we were arguing."

Madelyn gradually snapped out of her daze, her face twisted in displeasure, a flicker of hurt flashing in her eyes.

But Lucian stood his ground, unwavering.

Though young, he had seen with his own eyes how his aunt had berated his mother. No matter the reason, his mother was still sick—how could she shout at her like that? Didn’t she care if it worsened her condition?

The thought of his younger brothers crying for their mother these past few days only deepened his resentment.

Frowning, he glared at Madelyn without backing down an inch.

Ariana watched her fiercely protective eldest son, the corners of her lips curling into a faint smile. But she didn’t intervene, content to observe the scene unfold.

Madelyn swallowed her bitterness.

She shot Ariana a venomous glare, convinced that Lucian’s defiance was all her doing.

What a shame.

He used to be such an obedient, sensible child.

If only he didn’t have a mother like her.

Lucian had no idea what was going through Madelyn's mind, but he didn't miss the venomous glare she'd just shot his way. Instantly, his internal alarms blared louder. His eyes remained fixed on his aunt, unblinking, as if she were a predator about to strike.

He was terrified she might do something to hurt his mother.

Meanwhile, Irene, observing from the sidelines, couldn't help but frown. 'Madelyn is such a fool,' she thought.

But since Madelyn was her friend, she bit her tongue. Suppressing her irritation, she forced a pained smile instead. Her gaze lingered on Lucian, a mix of bitterness and sorrow flickering in her eyes before she finally spoke. "Alright, your aunt and I should head back now. Hospitals get cold at night—make sure you take care of yourself. My phone will be on all the time. If you can’t sleep or feel too uncomfortable, just call me. I’ll come pick you up."

Her tone was so presumptuous, so *maternal*, it was as though Ariana, Lucian’s actual mother, didn’t even exist. She might as well have declared herself his real mother right then and there.

Ariana’s expression darkened further.

This time, her anger wasn’t just simmering—it was boiling over. Pure disgust coiled in her chest.

For any woman, the thought of another scheming after her husband would be infuriating. But if that same woman tried to worm her way into her child’s affections? That was unforgivable.

Including for Ariana.

Before this, she hadn’t paid Irene much mind.

Sure, there’d been a flicker of irritation at the very beginning—after all, Irene had been Lambert’s *first love*. She knew exactly what that meant to a man. But once Lambert had reassured her, she’d dismissed her own doubts. She trusted him. He would never betray her or their family.

So even when Irene kept making a spectacle of herself—dragging along Madelyn, now her new sister-in-law, in the process—Ariana had simply rolled her eyes and moved on.

But now?

Now, she was *furious*.

With a faint, ambiguous smile, Ariana watched Irene deliberately flaunt her intimacy with Lucian right before her eyes—her own biological son. A dark, chilling storm began brewing in Ariana's gaze.

Yes.

But she didn't realize that such forbearance would only make the other party push their luck even further!

Having composed herself, Madelyn glanced at Ariana and said, "Ariana, if you're truly a good mother, I hope you'll raise Lucian properly. He's still young—just a blank slate. Don't let him turn out like you."

Ariana: "..."

Meanwhile, Irene, who had snapped out of her daze, adjusted her expression and let out a long, weary sigh at Ariana.

She seemed utterly exasperated.

Ariana's lips twitched slightly. She had no idea what these two were up to—performing a double act on her turf?

Lucian, too, had grasped some of Madelyn's implications.

Though he hadn't completely lost his goodwill toward her, the last shred of it vanished the moment he heard those words. He looked at Madelyn earnestly and said, "My mom is a good person, Aunt Madelyn. I hope you'll mind your words. She's still a patient and shouldn't be subjected to too much stress. If you're here just to upset her, then you're no longer welcome. And for the record, my mom has raised me just fine."

Madelyn's expression darkened for a split second.

Staring at the displeased child before her, she felt as if she were looking at a younger version of Lambert.

Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, she replied, "I know you don’t want to hear this, Lucian, but children your age don’t understand adult matters. Anyway, take good care of your mother. We’ll come see you both tomorrow." With that, she lifted her gaze to meet Ariana’s.

Her eyes conveyed a silent message.

Madelyn was certain Ariana would understand what she meant.

And indeed, Ariana did. A faint, mocking smile curled at the corners of her lips—though whether it was directed at Madelyn or, indirectly, at Irene, remained unclear.