Reborn To Ruin Her Rivals - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Vanna's face softened, a warm glint in her eyes. "Ms. Bradford, you—"
"Just Arielle, okay?" Arielle cut in with a quick grin, waving off the formal vibe. She was a first-name kinda gal—none of that stuffy surname stuff.
Honestly, she wasn't wild about the Bradford name. Maybe once she settled her score, she'd pick a new one.
Vanna tossed her a small, chill smile, unfazed by Arielle's energy.
Vanna mulled over the name Arielle. Total blank. She studied the woman, dead sure they'd never crossed paths at the Bygones Club.
Vanna never forgot a face, especially one as stunning as Arielle's. No way she'd miss that.
So why was Arielle sticking her neck out? That was the real puzzle.
Sure, Vanna had made a promise, but spilling secrets about those people? It didn't add up, and Vanna's gut was raising red flags.
"You're telling me about my kid… just for a promise?" Vanna asked, her tone skeptical, one brow arched.
"Relax, I'm not asking you to rob a bank or burn down a house," Arielle shot back with a sly smirk, catching Vanna's distrust. She couldn't exactly say, "Oh, by the way, I'm back from the future!"
Vanna didn't seem too stressed. A promise from a young thing like Arielle? Probably no biggie.
"You're one of the Bradfords? From Theoria City?" Vanna asked, sounding unsure.
As far as she knew, the Bradfords had one daughter—Meredith. Arielle didn't ring any bells.
In Theoria City, the Bradfords were big shots. They were the only ones she could think of.
Arielle nodded, keeping it light. "Yeah, they just found me."
That hit Vanna like a punch. That was a huge news. 'Why isn't it all over town?' she wondered.
For a family like theirs, one'd expect a massive party, showing off their kid to every big name in the city. Most parents would want to give their kid the world.
'Maybe they are keeping it quiet to shield her from the gossip,' Vanna thought.
"You're Henry Bradford's daughter," Vanna said, her voice firm, eyes steady. "I trust you."
She didn't know the Bradfords personally, but their rep was solid.
Rumor had it their daughter was engaged to a Boone family guy. Thanks to her connection with William, Vanna kept an ear out for Boone family tea.
With the real daughter back, she wondered if the engagement would shift. Not her business, though—she wasn't about to stir the pot.
Her only worry was her daughter. Nothing else mattered.
"Is my girl… okay?" Vanna asked, pulling the talk back to what counted.
"She's hanging in there," Arielle said, going off what Eve had told her before. Right now, Eve was still alive. Barely.
Locked in a filthy basement, she took a beating every day. Her body was a mess of bruises and scars, not a single spot untouched.
The only thing keeping her going was her mom. Eve was dead sure Vanna would find her and get her out.
But that hope got crushed. In Arielle's old life, Eve never got her rescue. Instead, she got news her mom was gone—dead in the streets.
This time, though, things were looking up.
Arielle sought out Ivanna for two reasons: to save Eve from being sold to North Lugra again and because Ivanna was the only one she trusted. The only one who'd fight for a kid like her life depended on it.
Henry and Sharon? Total letdown.
They were her parents on paper, but they only cared about themselves. To them, Arielle was nothing but baggage.
Meredith, though, she was their golden girl, their pride and joy. Arielle's rough years in Cloud Town? Just a dirty secret they wanted buried.
Arielle was done with this world. Two go-arounds were plenty. She'd tasted every kind of hurt, seen the ugliest sides of people. Her verdict? Life wasn't worth it.
Vanna sniffed, Arielle's words hitting hard. Her daughter's situation sounded grim, but alive meant hope.
"Alright, Arielle," Vanna said, her voice low and fierce. "I'm counting on you. Lie to me, and you're toast."
She wasn't playing. Nobody messed with her kid.
Arielle gave a faint smirk. "You won't have to worry."
They shared a quick smile, like old pals catching up.
Arielle left Bygones Club, strolling down the bustling sidewalk. People rushed by, lost in their own lives.
She checked her phone—too late to keep wandering. Shopping could wait. She dialed Ethan, her driver, for a pickup.
It was 10 p.m. when she got home. Henry and Sharon were already out cold, the house quiet as a grave.
Lexi stirred at the sound of footsteps, spotting Arielle's shadow climbing the stairs.
She'd left the living room light on for her.
Without Arielle's number, Lexi had called Ethan to check in.
He said she went shopping alone, told him to stay put. So he waited in the car, even dozed off, until she called for a ride.
Lexi hadn't slept, worried Arielle might feel lost in this big, unfamiliar house. Seeing her safe, she could finally relax.
Arielle pushed open her bedroom door. Across the hall, Meredith heard the noise and came flying out, slippers slapping the floor.
She squeezed through the door before it shut.
Arielle's face darkened, her voice sharp. "Ever hear of knocking? Get out."
Meredith froze, stunned. 'Arielle has the nerve to snap at me?'
In the Bradford family, Meredith went wherever she wanted. No one dared give her attitude.
She was fuming but flashed her usual sugary smile, ignoring Arielle's words. "Hey, Arielle, what'd you grab at the mall? Show me!"
Her voice was all bubbly, like a kid begging for a peek at a new toy. But Arielle saw right through her. Meredith didn't care about her bags.
She was just flexing, reminding everyone she was the Bradford family's princess. The one who ran the show.
Arielle leaned against the doorframe, smirking. "What, you deaf? I gave you a chance. Don't whine later."
Before Meredith could blink, Arielle grabbed her arm, yanked her hard, and—oops—stepped on her foot.
"Oh, dang, my bad. Did I step on you?" Arielle said, her tone pure fake sugar.
Next thing, she shoved Meredith out the door with one hand.
Meredith hit the floor hard, butt-first, pain shooting through her foot like it'd been crushed.
Tears stung her eyes as she grabbed her foot.
"Scram!" Arielle snapped.
Then the door shut in her face.