Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 631

It wasn't until the next day that Lambert brought Ariana back to the Stone family estate.

The elderly Madam Stone looked at Ariana with concern. "Lambert mentioned you had some pregnancy complications. What happened? Are you feeling better now?"

Ariana smiled and shook her head lightly. "It's nothing serious, just a minor issue. Everything's fine now."

The living room of the main villa was bustling with activity.

Members from both the eldest and second branches of the family were present.

Though the senior generation was absent, only Gwen and Madelyn remained. Their respective children were being held by maids nearby, and the two women appeared to have been chatting with the old matriarch moments earlier. Madelyn gazed at Ariana with an inscrutable expression, while Gwen was far more direct. With a cheerful laugh, she said, "Third sister-in-law, you must take extra care with the baby in your belly. Don’t assume experience makes you invincible—caution is still necessary."

Madam Stone nodded approvingly at Gwen’s words, pleased to see her acting the part of a responsible elder sister-in-law.

"Yes, your second sister-in-law is absolutely right," the old woman chimed in warmly.

Ariana simply smiled without responding.

She tilted her head slightly, glancing at Madelyn—just as the latter had been staring intently at her. Their eyes locked in midair. Madelyn was the first to speak, her voice smooth but laced with something unreadable. "Third sister-in-law is truly blessed, always having Third Brother to look after her."

When she uttered "Third Brother," a flicker of complicated emotions—perhaps even pain—passed through Madelyn’s eyes.

But she masked it instantly.

No one else noticed.

Except Ariana, who, by sheer coincidence, caught that fleeting anomaly. She narrowed her eyes briefly before turning her gaze toward Lambert. Oblivious, he arched an eyebrow at her in silent inquiry.

Ariana shot him a glare before looking away.

Lambert: "?"

Madelyn's remark was clearly meant to stir the old lady's dissatisfaction towards Ariana. Had it been Old Mr. Stone standing here instead, he might have genuinely taken offense by now.

Though Ariana was currently pregnant, Lambert had been doting on his wife to such an extent that he rarely showed up at the corporate office these days. The old master would have long been displeased with such behavior.

But the old lady was the complete opposite. With a gentle smile, she said, "Lambert knows how to cherish his wife. Seeing you two so devoted to each other puts my heart at ease." As a grandmother rather than a mother-in-law, she naturally felt no jealousy toward her granddaughter-in-law. On the contrary, witnessing their marital bliss filled her with contentment.

Her greatest affection was reserved for her great-grandson, Lucian. Nothing mattered more to her than ensuring the boy's well-being and privileged upbringing.

After all, children raised in loving families generally grew up healthier.

At her age, she couldn't be bothered with corporate affairs anymore.

Family harmony was all she cared about now.

Yet a subtle unease flickered through her mind. She had always believed this granddaughter-in-law from the main branch was different from that Beverly of the past—more sensible and agreeable. But now it seemed this one had her own schemes too. The old lady sighed inwardly. In a powerful family like the Stone family, it was impossible to survive without some cunning. Perhaps she had hoped for too much.

She resolved to keep a closer watch on little Lucian from now on.

Lucian was the exception, having received slightly more attention.

The twins, however, had mostly been left at the main residence. Now, seeing his youngest son defiantly glaring at him with no regard for respect, Lambert’s eyes turned icy in an instant. The sudden chill startled the little boy, who immediately cowered and cast a pitiful look toward his great-grandmother.

The old lady’s heart melted. "If he doesn’t want to go back, then let him stay. That temper of yours—why must you take after your grandfather?"

Though Lambert and Old Mr. Stone couldn’t stand each other, there was no denying that his stubborn personality was a carbon copy of the elder’s.

Ariana sighed. Noticing the stormy expression on her husband’s face after their son’s antics, she quickly stepped in to mediate. Gently ruffling Carson’s hair, she coaxed, "Come home with Mom and Dad. You can visit Great-grandma again tomorrow. If you keep making a fuss here, she might feel unwell."

Carson lifted his teary eyes to his mother before lowering his head again, muttering stubbornly, "No... You’ll have a new baby brother or sister soon, and then you won’t want me and Brother anymore. You never liked us much before, and now you’ll like us even less." His resentment stemmed from bad timing—his parents had been at their busiest when he and his twin were born.

When they were a bit older, the incident with Allison occurred, leaving Ariana truly stretched thin with her responsibilities.

But these words...

No one could have taught him this—he absolutely wouldn't have understood it on his own.

Not only did Ariana and Lambert's expressions darken, but even the old lady's face shifted slightly. Though Kevin was still very young, his unusually high emotional intelligence for his age made him sense something amiss. His small brow furrowed in displeasure—Mom and Dad treated him, his little brother, and their eldest brother exactly the same.

Who had been whispering such things to his brother...

At that thought, little Kevin narrowed his eyes and cast a sharp glance in his aunt's direction.