Reborn To Ruin Her Rivals - Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Arielle wondered, 'If I say the same thing as Meredith—that she got hurt all by herself—what will happen?
'Obviously, no one will believe it. They'll just think I'm flat-out lying.'
Meredith knew that too. If Henry and Sharon didn't believe her, Arielle would end up with the full blame: hurting her sister, hitting her mom—heartless, unfilial, cruel.
But if they did believe Arielle, then Meredith would earn herself a shining reputation.
After all, Meredith would be the sweet sister who cried through the pain just to protect her older sister. Who wouldn't love a daughter like that?
In Arielle's old life, Meredith used tricks like this over and over, pushing Arielle into a corner until everyone turned on her.
Arielle held out her hands. "She stabbed herself with the scissors."
Henry and Sharon were about to explode when they saw how indifferent she looked, like she couldn't care less.
Meredith's eyes flashed with satisfaction. She immediately stepped in front of them, spreading her arms to shield Arielle behind her.
Meredith said, "Dad, Mom, what Arielle said is true. Why don't you believe her? I really did hurt myself. I would never lie to you."
As Meredith spoke, her head slowly dropped and tears spilled from her eyes. Her arms fell weakly to her sides.
Choking back sobs, Meredith said, "Please stop blaming her. It's all my fault. Just go, okay?"
The first part almost sounded sincere—Arielle almost thought she'd finally given up.
But then came the second half, and Arielle laughed. 'Unbelievable. Some things really never change.
'There it is—Meredith's last sentence once again pushes me straight into the fire.
'That's what makes her so good at playing the victim.'
Henry snapped coldly, "Arielle, you've really let me down. Apologize to your sister right now!"
At this point, Sharon was already considering sending Arielle back to the countryside.
'She's this young and already this malicious? That's terrifying,' Sharon thought.
Almost before Henry finished speaking, Sharon cut in, "Forget the welcome dinner. I don't need a daughter like this bringing bad luck into my life."
"Apologize!" Sharon crossed her arms, ready to put this disobedient girl in her place.
Arielle rolled her eyes at both of them, full of contempt. "Are you guys serious right now?
"You're telling the victim to apologize to the attacker? What's wrong with your brains?"
Arielle thought, 'Even if I say Meredith charged at me with the scissors and missed, hurting herself in the fall, they will never buy it.
'They won't believe me either way. So what's the point of explaining? Actions speak louder than words.'
Just as Henry and Sharon were about to explode again, Arielle raised her hand and stopped them. "Don't rush. Let's stick to the facts."
Sharon snapped, "Still trying to lie your way out of this? I guess you've had it too easy lately. You've lost your mind! If you won't apologize today, then go back to where you came from. I'll pretend I never gave birth to you."
Hearing this, Arielle didn't even feel hurt anymore. She just felt numb. Cold.
So this was Arielle's mother. A stranger wouldn't be this heartless.
'How could Sharon treat her own daughter—someone she's just gotten back—the way she did?' Arielle thought.
Arielle looked straight at Meredith and slowly walked over.
Meredith quickly pushed down the smug look in her eyes. 'See? She's finally coming to apologize. That fall? Totally worth it.'
Everyone thought Arielle was going to apologize. But instead, she bent down and picked up the scissors from the floor.
Arielle stepped in front of Meredith, then backed up two steps, quietly calculating the distance.
Then Arielle started reenacting what had just happened.
Arielle said, "I was sitting in this chair. Meredith fell like this. Now think—how could she have fallen in my direction?
"You all say I stabbed her. What am I, a mutant? I got eyes in the back of my head?"
As she spoke, Arielle demonstrated with her hands. "What was I supposed to do, twist around like this and stab her backwards?
"Or maybe I used some kind of magic teleporting stab move? Are you really this clueless?"
When she finished, Arielle let the scissors drop again with a clatter.
Everyone was stunned. The maids hiding in the corner had their jaws practically on the floor.
'Ms. Bradford has completely lost it—is she seriously mocking them with metaphors?' Lexi thought.
Meredith hadn't seen this coming at all. Totally unprepared.
Henry, being a calculating man, started putting things together. He looked at Meredith with suspicion in his eyes.
The moment he looked at her like that, Meredith lowered her head. She felt a flicker of guilt and whispered softly through the pain, "Mom, it hurts."
In her head, Meredith sneered. 'Why's he looking at me like that?
'I already said I hurt myself. He didn't believe it and now he's blaming me?'
Sharon finally snapped out of it and pulled Meredith into her arms, furious.
'This rebellious brat just keeps pushing my limits, even putting on some fake reenactment,' Sharon muttered.
Sharon was about to go off, and Henry tugged on her arm. He said, "None of you make any damn sense."
Sharon blinked, totally confused. 'Meredith is the one who got hurt. Why is he yelling at her? Shouldn't he be yelling at Arielle?'
Sharon complained, "Honey, Meredith's your daughter too. She's hurt, can't you see that?"
Henry rubbed his temples. He seriously wondered what he ever saw in Sharon. He didn't even want to talk to her.
Henry shot back, "Do you have a single working brain cell? Arielle was sitting in the chair the whole time—how the hell could she have stabbed anyone?"
Sharon took a second to process that. She still didn't believe Arielle's version of the story. She grabbed Meredith's arm and demanded, "Meredith, did she stand up and stab you?"
Meredith froze, her mind racing. She'd almost fallen for that bitch Arielle's trap. Luckily, Sharon caught on in time.
Meredith always left herself a way out—she never backed herself into a corner.
Faced with Sharon's question, Meredith just fumbled out a vague answer. "I… she… no, she didn't…"
Meredith was dodging again, playing the pain card, putting on a pained expression.
When Sharon saw how much pain Meredith was in, her heart ached. The way she looked at Arielle was full of resentment and hatred.
Suddenly, Arielle slapped her forehead. "Oh, I just remembered—there's a camera in my room. I totally forgot!
"It records everything, no blind spots. We'll see the truth crystal clear. Why don't we all take a look together?"
The other three were completely shocked.
Sharon thought, 'When does her room get a camera? Why the hell does she install surveillance—is she guarding against thieves or family?'
As they stared in disbelief, their eyes followed Arielle's gaze to the ceiling.
Sure enough, there was a camera up there.
Sharon pointed at Arielle and screamed, "You've got some nerve, installing a camera without permission—how dare you!"
Arielle shot back, "What was I supposed to do? I just bought a bunch of new stuff for my room. What if someone stole it? The camera's for security. And it's in my room. How is that your business?"
"You—!" Before Sharon could blow up again, Arielle cut her off and brought the conversation back.
Arielle looked straight at Sharon. "I'll pull up the footage right now."
Then Arielle reached into her pocket and took out her phone.