Reborn To Ruin Her Rivals - Chapter 6: Chapter 6

"Sorry, Arielle, but… these two rooms? They're my parents'," Meredith mumbled, trying to keep her cool.
At home, she was the princess, Henry and Sharon's favorite. She needed Arielle to know some things were off-limits, no questions asked.
Arielle's brows lifted slightly, a sharp glint in her eyes. "Oh, so you're saying I should grab a room on the third floor?
"Hmm, I can work with that. Those rooms are pretty big. I'm not too picky—third floor it is!"
Meredith's face twisted as Arielle played dumb. She waved her hands like she was shooing off a bad idea. "No, hold up, sis! That's not what I meant.
"Mom and Dad's rooms? Those are theirs. You can't have them."
Arielle tilted her head, her face blank, innocent. "So, what's your point? Which room should I pick? These two are the only ones I vibe with. The others? Nah, not for me."
"Any room but those two!" Meredith snapped, her irritation spilling out.
Arielle didn't even blink.
'Oh, you wanna flex how Henry and Sharon spoil you rotten?'she thought. 'How your closet's bigger than my whole room? Trying to get a rise out of me?
'Alright, game on. I'll take what you're so proud of—or trash it. What, already losing it? Pfft.'
"I don't like the other rooms. It's these two or nothing. If you don't want me here, I'll just crash at a hotel," Arielle added.
Meredith's jaw dropped. "That's not what I said! Geez, why you gotta be so extra?" She was steaming, baiting Arielle now.
She believed if Arielle went too far, it'd make her look awful to their parents.
'My room? Yeah, good luck. No way Mom's letting that happen,' she thought.
Just then, Meredith spotted Sharon and Henry coming up the stairs.
Sharon caught the vibe instantly, eyeing Meredith's pouty face. Something was off.
Before Sharon could ask, Meredith bolted over, hooking her arm through her mom's, her voice all sweet and sad.
"Mom, Arielle's dead-set on my room or yours. I told her to pick any other one, but she's not having it," she pouted.
Her soft tone dripped with just enough hurt—the kind of sneaky jab that used to get Arielle in trouble. Back then, it'd cost her everything.
Not anymore.
Arielle was done caring what they thought. Henry and Sharon's opinions? Didn't mean squat.
As long as she was in the Bradford house, Meredith wasn't getting a moment's peace.
Sharon turned to Arielle, her face tight. "Arielle, seriously? These are our rooms. We've lived in them forever. You can't just take them."
"I want a bigger room. These are the biggest," Arielle said, calm as ever.
Sharon, glancing at Henry, kept her voice soft but firm. "There are other big rooms. Pick one." It wasn't a suggestion.
Arielle didn't miss a beat, her words sharp. "Wow, you guys are really my parents, huh? You'll let your foster kid have the best rooms, but your actual daughter?
"Can't even get this one little thing. Tsk. Wonder what people would say if this got out."
She leaned in, sarcasm on full blast. "Some stranger gets to live my life for years, and you're still kissing up to her. Guess I don't belong here, do I?"
Sharon froze, at a loss. Because Arielle was right. Their real daughter was back.
'Yeah, we gotta hook her up with the best—fancy room, killer wardrobe, the works—to make up for all those lost years,' she thought.
Meredith's face burned with anger, her nose practically twitching. She couldn't believe Arielle had the gall to call her a stranger.
Her jaw clenched tight. 'No one's ever disrespected me like this.'
Sure, the Bradfords adopted her, but she'd been part of this family for over a decade—closer to Henry and Sharon than their own kid.
To Meredith, Arielle was just some small-town girl waltzing in, already trying to steal her spot. She was floored.
Still, she held onto hope. 'Mom's got my back.'
Sharon's eyes darted to Henry. When it came down to it, only the head of the family's word mattered.
Then Henry spoke. "Arielle, why don't you take Meredith's room?"
Meredith's head whipped up, eyes wide with shock. Tears stung her eyes as she bit her lip, holding back a flood of hurt.
After a long pause, she choked out, "Dad, you…" A tear slipped down her cheek. "Fine. If it makes ArielleSis happy, I'll give it up."
She knew Henry would never let Arielle take a third-floor room.
Her heart seethed with resentment. 'Why am I the one losing out? Why?'
That room wasn't just a space—it was hers. Years of memories, her safe haven.
'And now this girl shows up, throwing her weight around. What's next? Kicking me out completely?' she mused.
Sharon saw the pain in Meredith's eyes and pulled her into a hug. "Arielle, you're the older sister. You're supposed to look out for her. What's your deal?"
Arielle flashed an innocent grin, like she didn't have a care in the world. "Y'all are a riot. You drag me back here, then act like I don't get a say.
"I pick what I want, and suddenly she's crying? What's that about? Clearly, I'm not welcome."
Sharon's face tightened. "We told you to pick an empty room. What, you want me and your dad's room too?"
"Yeah, why not?" Arielle smirked. "It's nice. Let's s You're not that stingy, right?"
"You—" Sharon started, but Henry cut her off.
"Let's settle this. Move soon," he said.
His word was final. Sharon and Meredith, despite their frustration, stayed quiet.
Sharon squeezed Meredith's shoulder, her voice soft. "Sweetie, don't cry. We'll hit the mall later—new clothes, bags, whatever you want. Mom's got you."
"Mhm," Meredith mumbled, wiping her tears. She forced her perfect smile. "I need make way for her, right? I'm okay."
Sharon's heart broke. In his mind, Meredith was too kind, too good. She'd give her the world if she could.
'My princess doesn't deserve this,' she fumed.
Her resentment toward Arielle festered. 'This girl's feral. No manners, no tact, no clue what to say.
'Thinking she could claim the third-floor room? Who does she think she is?'
If Sharon had known Arielle would be like this, she'd have left her where she was.
Meredith was enough—more than enough. Arielle? Sharon felt nothing for her.
But now she was here, carrying the Bradford name. Sharon thought that attitude needed fixing, or she'd drag the family's reputation through the mud.
Meredith cleared out her room fast, packing up her things.
Arielle, meanwhile, scribbled a list of stuff she wanted for her new space, already making it her own.