Chapter 62
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Lila shot Ariana a seething glare. Then, she raised her hand and delivered a hard slap to Ariana’s left cheek.
Evelyn quickly stepped forward to pull Lila back. “Lila, don’t do that!”
“Stay out of this!” Lila shook off her hand and turned to Ariana, whose cheek was now flushed from the slap.”
Ariana, did you pay online trolls to smear Evelyn's name?”
The commotion drew attention in the cafeteria. Soon, all eyes were on Ariana and the others.
Ariana slowly lifted her head in the face of Lila’s questioning. She couldn’t recognize either Lila or Maddie and
took a moment to size them up.
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They were wearing trendy brands and accessorized with luxury items, but not the top-tier pieces. From this,
Ariana could infer that their families were moderately wealthy and might be pulling in small six-figure monthly
incomes.
They hadn't attended Evelyn's birthday party two days ago because they weren't worthy of an invitation, not
because they didn’t want to.
Ariana replied, “And you are...”
“Don’t worry about who | am! You're just bullying Evelyn because you think you're the heiress of the Torrey
family, aren't you?
“Lettell you, Mr. Lodge loves Evelyn, and not you. You're the one ruining their relationship! You're the
mistress!”
Ariana watched her act all so righteous and laughed. “Do you even understand what a business marriage
means? Don't you think your words are too ridiculous for a top student at Glea College?”
Lila’s face darkened. “What did you just say?”
Ariana calmly replied, “Everyone here at Glea College is exceptional. The marriage between the Lodge and
Torrey families is a business marriage that mutually benefits both companies.
“This is an arrangement among adults, and that’s why I'm legally recognized as Brian's legitimate fiancée and
future wife. Now who were you saying is the mistress in this relationship?”
“You're contorting the truth!” Lila couldn't find the right words to revoke Ariana. Her face was flushed with anger
as she snapped, “You wouldn't have stood a chance if Mrs. Lodge Senior approved of Evelyn. How dare you act
so high and mighty?”
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“You're right. Mrs. Lodge Senior doesn’t approve of Ms. Granger, so that would mean Ms. Granger doesn’t have
the status or the right to be the lady of the Lodges. She never will.
“It’s like marrying someone you don’t love. You can’t possibly say that the legal wife is the mistress just because
the man loves another woman.”
Ariana continued, “Imagine if your husband sleeps with another woman. You'd call her a homewrecker and
accuse her of stealing your husband, rather than admit you're the mistress and in the wrong”
“How dare you!” Lila was at a loss for words. She had nothing more to say than that.
“Stop pretending to be all righteous, Ariana. | heard the Torrey family is on the brink of bankruptcy, and whether
the Torrey family is qualified to join the Lodge family in a business marriage is still up for debate.
“When you go bankrupt, Mr. Lodge will be the first to dum you,” Maddie chimed in.
“I'm not sure if Brian will dump me, but | do know that he’ll definitely dump Evelyn.”