A Bride’s Revenge: No Longer The Back Up Novel

Chapter 228 +25 BONUS If Brian and Ariana had actually gotten married , would they end up like this couple decades from now ? The shop owner handed him the neatly packed buns and smiled .

I hope your girlfriend has a speedy recovery ! Brian returned a faint smile before scanning a QR code to pay .

When the owners checked the amount , they froze .

He had paid ten thousand dollars ! By the time they rushed outside , Brian was already getting into a taxi .

In the hospital room , Ariana had finished the chicken noodle soup .

When Brian walked in and turned on the light , he noticed the empty bowl on the table .

Without a word , he placed the bag of buns on the bedside tray .

Seeing the amount of buns , Ariana raised her brows .

Why so many ? .

I didnt know which flavor you liked , so I got two of each , he said nonchalantly , as he began tidying up the remnants of her meal .

You took so long .

Im already full .

Ariana said .

Oh , Brian replied flatly .

Ariana frowned .

Youre not angry ? I know you were messing with me .

Considering youre injured , Ill let it slide this time .

Brian finished cleaning up and moved to the nearby sofa to relax .

Eat them if you want .

If not , throw them away .

His calmness caught her off guard .

Annoyed that her little prank hadnt gotten to him , Ariana opened the bag , grabbed a random bun , and took a bite .

.As he watched her from across the room , Brian asked , When was the last time you ate at that bun shop ? Ariana paused mid bite .

Her tone cooled noticeably as she replied , I dont remember .

Was it when your father was in the hospital ? The moment those words left his mouth , her expression turned icy .

What does that have to do with you , Mr.

Lodge ? Were no longer engaged , so my personal affairs are none of your business .

Ariana set the bun down , her appetite entirely gone .

The memories of her fathers hospitalization came rushing back .

She had been the one running herself ragged to care for him , while Gwen only showed up to feign concern and waited to inherit the family fortune .

The so called friends and business partners of the Torrey family had circled like vultures , eyeing her fathers assets even before his passing .

Ariana felt like a defenseless rabbit , vulnerable and lost as she faced the overwhelming burden of her fathers Illness .

At that time , Belinda had already chosen her as the future daughter in law of the Lodge family .

But Brian , in his defiance of his grandmother , had treated her with cold disdain .

She still remembered her father , gravely ill , had asked to see his future son in law .

Desperate to fulfill her fathers wish , she had gone to Lodge Co herself , pleading for Brian to visit her father even if only as a formality .

But he had refused , coldly and unfeelingly , leaving her father to pass away with lingering regret , worried about her future .

The most laughable part ? Back then , she had naively believed she could win over Brians heart with time and effort .

+25 BONUS Chapter 228 But all her sacrifices had led to nothing but heartbreak .

Brian noticed a change in her demeanor , and an inexplicable wave of guilt washed over him .

Perhaps if he had been there for her back then , even just a little more kind to her , maybe things wouldnt have turned out this way between them .