Reborn To Ruin Her Rivals - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Arielle didn't even think twice before refusing, "No."
She knew exactly what Meredith was plotting, just like in her previous life. This birthday party made her infamous among the socialites.
Meredith had already lined up her suitors, just waiting for her to fall into their trap.
Meredith wasn't surprised that Arielle turned her down, thinking, 'I still haven't settled the score with Arielle for deliberately stepping on my foot yesterday.
'Arielle even had the nerve to say it wasn't on purpose?! Did she think I was blind? She was clearly doing it on purpose.'
A calculating gleam flashed in her eyes as she stepped closer, continuing to coax gently, "Arielle, you just came back and need to make new friends.
"It'll be helpful for you to have someone to rely on when you go out.
"Besides, you're the lady of the Bradford family. It's important to integrate into this circle and befriend them. It'll be beneficial for your future."
Arielle pondered for a moment.
Meredith leaned in slightly, flashing a bright smile. "Don't worry, Arielle. I'll take care of you. There's nothing to be afraid of; they're all very nice."
'Hmph! Nice?' Arielle sneered inwardly.
For tomorrow's birthday party, Meredith had already arranged with her clique.
Before she time-traveled, they treated her like a plague, mocking and laughing at her.
Meredith deliberately went upstairs, leaving her friends to push Arielle into the cold pool. No one came to save her.
After she struggled to climb out of the pool, a waiter approached, offering to take her to change clothes.
She believed him.
But instead, he led her to a restroom, locking the door behind her when she wasn't paying attention.
She was trapped until the next day when a cleaning staff found her.
At that moment, Meredith came running over with teary eyes, gripping her hand tightly, her voice trembling with anxiety. "Arielle, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault for not taking good care of you.
"I just went upstairs to find a friend, and when I came back, you were gone. They said you left the party. I didn't think much of it at the time, but when I got home and found you weren't back, I panicked. We searched for you all night."
Before she could finish, Meredith started sobbing.
Initially, Arielle was a bit angry, but hearing Meredith's explanation, she felt it was her fault, blaming herself for wandering off and causing trouble for her parents and sister.
Little did she know, it was all part of Meredith's scheme. Looking back now, she realized how much of an idiot she was back then.
Soon, her thoughts returned to the present.
Arielle nodded. "Alright, but since it's my first time at a party, I don't know anything. You'll have to guide me."
Seeing her agree, Meredith couldn't hide her excitement.
She immediately stood up, her eyes scanning Arielle. "Don't worry, Arielle. I'll take good care of you," she said with a smile.
'Life's a stage, and we're all just actors.' Arielle's lips curved into a faint smile as she gave a grateful look.
"Okay, I'll get ready then," she replied.
Upon hearing her words, Meredith smiled like a blooming flower and gently took her hand. "It's a deal then. I'll get ready too."
Overjoyed, she even complimented, "Arielle, though you're a bit thin, your face is so pretty, and your skin is so flawless. If you dress up well tomorrow, you'll definitely be a stunner."
Then, she caressed Arielle's hand, staring at her perfect face.
'Her hands were quite rough, though. But with proper care and daily hand cream, they'd soon recover,' Meredith said inwardly.
What she hated were those eyes and smooth complexion. She couldn't understand—wasn't Arielle always on the farm, exposed to wind and sun? How could her skin be so good?
Smooth and rosy, not a single pore visible, and to top it off, Arielle was stunningly beautiful. Even without makeup, her beauty was impeccable.
And those expressive eyes, the more Meredith looked at them, the angrier she got, almost wanting to gouge them out.
Both were the same age, yet Arielle's face had no blemishes.
Looking at herself, she had two pimples near her mouth and large pores near her nose.
If not for makeup, people would think she was the older sister, and Arielle the younger one.
She was just buttering up Arielle to lower her guard, but it seemed like what she said was actually true—that vixen Arielle was kinda pretty.
'Damn! How dare a lowlife from some stinky gutter live under the same roof as me?! Tomorrow, I'd make sure her reputation is ruined.' Such malicious thoughts ran through Meredith's mind.
Meanwhile, Arielle caught her expression crystal clear, and her lips curved into a smile. "Yeah, I was born with great skin, never tans, no pimples.
"But you, look at your face, already spotting at your age, and those zits by your mouth, dull skin, clogged pores... Uh, did you even wash your face?"
She even gave Meredith a look of disgust.
Meredith nearly lost it. Fuming, she was ready to let out a stream of curses.
Her anger surged, and she clenched her back teeth in fury.
But finally, she let out a forced laugh and bolted out like a bat out of hell.
When the sound of the door closing reached her ears, Arielle's upturned lips gradually lost their smile.
She walked to the vanity.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she touched her brows, nose, and every inch of her skin.
This wasn't a dream, nor an illusion. It was a brand new Arielle, flesh and blood, alive and well in the mirror.
She was finally back.
No more humiliation. No more cowardice.
Now, her enemy was right in front of her. How could she not hate her?
It must be that the heavens heard her prayers and granted her a second chance.
With such a rare opportunity, she had to plan carefully.
She would strengthen herself, step on all those who had hurt her.
If she was meant to be ordinary, then before she went to hell, she was dragging them all down with her.
Her enemy was still alive; she had no right to die before them.
Soon, a noise came from a room not far on the second floor.
Meredith was in her room, fuming.
The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became, and the anger and hatred she had been suppressing exploded.
She tore clothes one by one from the wardrobe, stomped on them, and kicked over chairs and stools in the room, as if they were her worst enemies.
The hatred in her heart grew stronger.
She was determined to reclaim everything that was rightfully hers.
No one was going to take it away.
'Bitch, just wait! I'll make you suffer. So what if you're the real daughter of the Bradford family? Your mom still likes me the most. One word from me and you're out.
'I just don't want to leave a bad impression on mom. Everything you have now is what I've given you. The Bradford family belongs to me.
'Soon, I'll send you back to that remote village. You're meant to be poor, a country bumpkin.
'Want to compete with me? Hmph, just enjoy your few days of glory,' she cursed inwardly.
That night, Meredith slept very uneasily, dreaming of Arielle taking her things.
She woke up countless times, only falling asleep as dawn broke.