CHAPTER 50: TROUBLE

Back at the mansion, Marylyn paced up and down, waiting for the retinue that had gone to pick up Arianna to return home.

It had been a few days, and she had been missing her daughter terribly. Paulo had reassured her that she would be fine and that she had nothing to be concerned about, but now that her daughter was returning, she was terrified and didn't know what to do.

She was curious about everything and just wanted to know what was going on and if everything was and would be okay now that trouble was brewing everywhere.

It didn't take long for a maid to rush up to her with good news: "Duchess, they're here!" exclaimed the maid.

When Marylyn heard that, she burst out laughing and said, "Set the table now, my baby will be starving when she arrives."

She didn't want her Madam to go crazy on her so the maid hurry away to do exactly what she had been told.

Marylyn exited the lounge quickly after issuing the command and dashed outside to where the black limousine was parked in front. The bodyguard opened the door as soon as the limo arrived, and the first person out was Leah, who was holding a tablet.

Arianna quickly followed out, holding a small purse in her hands and a smile on her face that made everything Marylyn was about to throw at her vanish.

"There you are, Mommy! How is my favorite person doing?" Arianna quickly developed a passion for licking boots.

How could she not notice that her mother was wearing the same expression she had when she awoke from the hospital? When Marylyn saw her daughter in this state, she was at a loss for words.

She couldn't help but laugh and shake her head as she opened her arms to welcome the young girl in her arms, "come over here!"

Arianna flew into her mother's arms as soon as she heard that and brushed for brownie points, which she quickly received.

"Because it's a little windy outside, let's go inside. I had a feast prepared just for you," Marylyn said, smiling as she looked at her daughter.

Arianna's eyes lit up with excitement when she heard the word "food," and she grabbed her mother's hands with her small ones, saying, "then let's go inside mom."

She could only shake her head and follow her daughter in after seeing how excited she was when food was mentioned.

Arianna ran inside and headed straight for the dining room, where her eyes nearly popped open and her mouth gaped open as she examined the food on the table.

It took her a while to process everything before she turned to her mother and kissed her on the cheek. Arianna took a seat right away and let the maid wash her hands before diving into the first dish as if no one was watching.

"Darling, where you being starved?" Marylyn asked as soon as she sat down next to Arianna, whose cheeks were puffy from overeating.

"Umm, I...it's not like that at all," Arianna said as she swallowed her food and looked at her mother with pleading eyes, "I just missed home food, that's why. You should have seen how much food I ate out there."

Arianna boasted about her exploits openly and shamelessly, as if she hadn't done anything wrong. Marylyn decided not to disturb Arianna's peaceful moment and instead let her eat before asking any questions.

Arianna ate most of the food heartily and happily because she wasn't being interrogated, and she was preparing herself for that later.

Arianna had no choice but to follow her mother to the salon, where she sensed that the moment was catching up with her.

"Sit!" Marylyn gave the order, and Arianna sat down on the couch like an obedient little girl, her legs close together and her small hands on her lap, her eyes fixed on her mother.

"Are you aware of what you did wrong?" Marylyn questioned, her gaze fixed on Arianna.

Arianna lowered her gaze for a moment before turning to face her mother with a gentle smile, "mother, I am very sorry for worrying you, but it wasn't me this time. It was that little vixen who framed me and had all those people gang up on me; I just stood up for myself because no one was taking my side," Arianna grumbled to her mother, a wronged expression on her face.

Marylyn couldn't help but stifle a laugh; thinking that her baby was so adorable when expressing how wronged she had been because she had been bullied made her want to pinch those cheeks and ruffle her hair.

"So you went through all of that for what?"

"I needed to make a point, but more importantly, I wanted to show those Stalwart girls that Lexus girls aren't easily bullied, and no matter where I am, I will never let anyone trample on me again!" Arianna told her mother, with a solemn expression on her face, that Marylyn could tell she was serious.

Marylyn agreed with Arianna and nodded her head. Those girls certainly outdid themselves in thinking they could easily bully a young lady simply because she wasn't in her territory. She was so proud of Arianna for standing up for herself, even if her methods were a little unethical.

"All right, I'll take that explanation, but what about the love part? Who are you duking with this time?" Marylyn was most concerned about this, so she decided to ask the question last because she wanted to hear everything from her.

She didn't want to hear hearsay but wanted to hear it straight from the horse's mouth; this was her youngest daughter, and she wanted to know everything this time because surprises weren't something she was getting used to.