Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 601

Georgia's expression froze instantly.

Ariana made no move to console her.

She lifted her gaze briefly, then said coolly, "Anything else? If not, now that we've seen each other, I'll head back. I've been busy lately. When Dad gets home, let him know I stopped by."

Georgia pressed her lips together.

She watched as Ariana rose to leave, a mix of irritation and bewilderment stirring in her chest.

She couldn't fathom what she'd done to upset her daughter.

Had she said something wrong?

Was it that earlier remark? But she'd only meant well. She'd assumed that girl was Ariana's friend—why else would she have asked?

The thought sent a chill through her.

*All these years raising her, and for what?*

She exhaled quietly before forcing a smile. "If you're busy, I won't keep you. But must you leave so soon? Stay a little longer."

Ariana's face remained impassive as she took in Georgia's strained attempt at warmth.

Georgia studied her daughter before pressing on. "I was wrong earlier. At my age, memory isn't what it used to be. That girl just seemed sweet, and since she visited you, I thought she might be a friend."

Ariana met her gaze in silence, then gave a faint, noncommittal hum.

At least she wasn't pressing the issue further.

Georgia let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Yet, a flicker of discontent stirred in her heart. What kind of mother had she become? How many mothers out there had to tread carefully around their own daughter’s moods? Probably just her.

The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Her mind drifted to the girl who should have been her eldest daughter—the one with a smile so gentle, so achingly familiar, it mirrored her own from years past.

Ariana, on the other hand, bore no resemblance to her at all.

After that, Georgia avoided mentioning Irene again. She feared saying too much might tip off Ariana, who would undoubtedly report back to Gilbert. This daughter had never been on her side, and there was no point in confiding in her. The more she dwelt on it, the more unsettled she felt.

Even as she forced a gentle tone and tried to keep the conversation going with Ariana, the words fell flat.

Ariana simply watched in silence.

She observed her mother’s strained attempts at small talk, the growing impatience barely concealed beneath Georgia’s polite facade. Only when the irritation in her mother’s eyes became unmistakable did Ariana let out a quiet, self-deprecating laugh and suggest leaving. This time, Georgia didn’t stop her—relief was plain on her face.

Still, at the last moment, Georgia managed a tender reminder: "Don’t overwork yourself. When you have time off, remember to bring Lambert and the children home. Your father and I only have you—it’s not right for you to stay away so often."

Ariana met her gaze briefly before nodding with a quiet, "Mm."

A closer look might have revealed the fleeting complexity in her eyes.

But in the end, it all dissolved into stillness.

...

Georgia couldn't shake off a nagging feeling that something was off about Ariana's account of her eldest daughter. A subtle unease crept into her heart. After some deliberation, she decided against pressing Ariana further for information.

The man across from her furrowed his brows slightly before speaking, "There's plenty more in the files. Feel free to go through them yourself."

Georgia nodded and continued flipping through the remaining documents.

Truthfully, knowing that her daughter had grown up in a comfortable environment had already eased her mind. The rest hardly mattered. But Georgia still wanted to learn everything she could about her child, so she scrutinized each page carefully.

Then, when she saw the photograph of Mrs. Harper—Irene’s mother—Georgia froze.

The man opposite her noticed her sudden stillness but paid it no mind. He’d seen this kind of reaction countless times before—probably some detail that struck a nerve. Since this client was particularly generous, he added smoothly, "If there’s anything else you’d like us to look into, we’d be happy to assist."

Cases like these—simple background checks without digging into anything too sensitive—were their favorite kind of job.

Georgia remained motionless for a full two minutes.

Finally, she snapped out of her daze, her voice hoarse as she murmured, "...Alright."

The man brightened immediately.

With a practiced smile, he extended his right hand. "Looking forward to our next collaboration." After a brief handshake, he turned and left without another word.

Georgia, however, stayed rooted in her seat, staring blankly ahead as if the world around her had ceased to exist.

At the Harper residence...

Everyone knew that while the Harper family appeared to be led by its patriarch, the true power behind the throne was Mrs. Harper. Her business acumen was formidable, and under her management, the company had flourished over the years. When Chairman Harper married her, the family business had already been on the verge of collapse—a hollow shell of its former self.

But after their marriage, Mrs. Harper stepped into the corporation. Gradually, through her shrewd strategies, the Harper Group made a remarkable turnaround.

This was precisely why, despite her lack of an influential background, not a single soul in the Harper family dared oppose her.