Rebirth Revenge Is Everything (Ariana) novel Chapter 527

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The Harper family was once a prominent lineage.

Though now in decline, during Madam Stone's youth, the Harper family was at the height of its prosperity, even surpassing the Stone family in influence. Unfortunately, the heir chosen to inherit the Harper Group, Irene's grandfather, turned out to be far from ideal.

He was the epitome of extravagance, indulging in luxury without a shred of business acumen. By the time the family fortune passed to Irene's father, it had already crumbled beyond repair. That was why the Harper family had arranged a marriage alliance for Irene at such a young age—and with a powerful overseas conglomerate, no less, in hopes of salvaging their fading prestige.

Back when Irene was still a child, the Harper family had managed to maintain some semblance of their former glory. That was how Madam Stone came to know her.

Even now, though the Harper family had fallen far from grace, they still fared slightly better than the White family.

Only when Madam Stone spoke did Lambert finally notice Irene standing nearby. As his gaze met hers, Irene's lips trembled faintly, as if words teetered on the edge of speech. But she swallowed her emotions, offering only a soft, composed smile. "Lambert," she said, "it's been a while."

Their connection ran deeper than mere university classmates.

They had known each other since childhood.

Though by the time Irene's father took over, the Harper family had lost its former dominance as the leading force in S City, a withered camel is still bigger than a horse—back then, they were only slightly less influential than the Stone family.

So it was natural that Lambert and Irene had crossed paths in their younger years.

But after Irene's family moved away, they lost touch—until they reunited at university.

Back then, they had been lovers, and Irene had visited the Stone Family household once or twice.

Lambert cast a fleeting glance at Irene before replying indifferently, "Yeah, long time no see." With that, he averted his gaze and addressed the elderly matriarch, "Grandmother, if there's nothing else here, I'll take Ariana and head back now."

The old lady shot him a displeased glare. "What's the rush? Can't you see we have guests?"

His expression remained impassive. "Aren't the guests here to see you? Ariana and I are just in the way. We'll take our leave now and return with Luci for dinner." Having said his piece, he rose to his feet.

The matriarch was both exasperated and amused, though she knew all too well her grandson's temperament. Waving him off with a look of mock annoyance, she huffed, "Go on then, as if I wanted you here anyway!"

A faint chuckle escaped Lambert as he took Ariana's hand and strode out. The others watched their retreating figures, with Aster remarking sweetly, "Seeing how devoted Lambert and Ariana are warms my heart." Having fallen out of the old lady's favor, she'd adopted a new tactic—lavishing praise on the couple to paint herself as magnanimous in the matriarch's eyes.

Though the old lady paid her little heed, the strategy bore some fruit. At the very least, the matriarch no longer regarded her with the same irritation as before.

Khloe felt a pang of bitterness but kept her attention elsewhere. Her thoughts drifted to her son, Arnold, and Madelyn, hoping their meeting was going well. This potential daughter-in-law seemed presentable enough—someone who wouldn't embarrass the family, unlike that disgrace Beverly, who'd become the laughingstock of their household.

...

Meanwhile, Arnold walked slowly beside Madelyn.

Though the Olson family's status left something to be desired, seeing Madelyn's striking beauty—no less impressive than Ariana's—eased his initial reluctance. After all, even Ariana's background was nothing extraordinary, and his second brother's wife, Gwen, was merely a Castro family bastard.

So when he married Madelyn, no one could really say anything against it.

It wasn’t as if she were beneath his status.