The Queen Back From Hell - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

At first, she tried to be considerate, thinking Arielle was from the countryside and needed time to adjust. She held back, trying hard not to blow up.
But now, Arielle was getting way out of hand.
The maids in the living room wisely stepped out of the "roar zone." When Madam got mad, collateral damage was common.
Meredith stepped in, gently holding Sharon's arm and soothing her softly, "Mom, don't get mad and hurt your health over this."
Then, turning to Arielle, she remained as gentle as water. "Arielle, that's not right. How could you make Mom mad like this?"
Arielle slumped onto the sofa behind her, leaning back, quietly watching the loving scene of the mother and daughter, a cold smile escaping her lips.
Instantly, Sharon felt like her punch landed on air.
She was schooling Arielle, yet Arielle could still smile like that. It made her blood boil.
"What are you smiling about?" She pointed at Arielle, fuming.
'What have I done wrong to give birth to such a defiant daughter?' she said inwardly.
Meanwhile, Meredith kept comforting her. "Mom, don't get worked up. Arielle didn't mean it. Come, sit down first.
"Arielle, how can you treat Mom like that? She's an elder. You should respect her, not talk back so rudely."
Hearing Meredith's soft-spoken scolding, Sharon felt a bit better.
For her, Meredith was the true daughter, gentle and sweet.
'Why did Arielle have to be my daughter? My daughter should be like Meredith, elegant, refined, kind, and gentle,' she thought.
Arielle, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Every word, every expression, every move of hers was loathed by Sharon.
"What have I said wrong? I just made one comment, and you two started blasting away like a machine gun.
"Anyone who didn't know better would think we had some street harridans yelling at each other," Arielled shot back.
"What?" Sharon's heart raced, her face turning pale at Arielle's sarcastic and indifferent response.
No one had ever dared to talk back to her like this, to question her.
"How... how dare you?!" Leaning against Meredith, Sharon looked like she was about to faint from anger, glaring viciously at Arielle.
Meredith chimed in at that time, disagreeing and refuting Arielle's words. "Arielle, we're going to a high-society gathering. You're the eldest daughter of the Bradford family.
"And this outfit is way too plain. It doesn't match your status.
"Didn't I tell you to dress up? Why are you still wearing what you had yesterday? Geez, don't you even wash your clothes?
With that, she gave a disdainful look at Arielle on the couch.
"It's winter. Do I really need to shower every day? My clothes are clean, believe me. Go on, take a whiff. They're nice and fresh," Arielle replied.
Meredith was truly amazed today, cursing inwardly, 'How could she be so shameless? And making us smell her ratty clothes? Who knows if there's some virus on them?'
Sharon felt a moment of relief hearing Meredith's words. At least her Meredith was sensible and had good taste.
That was what a proper young lady of the Bradford family should be like.
But then Arielle's words came, and it was all Sharon could do not to faint from anger.
'We must have been enemies if there was a previous life for me to hate her so much,' she said inwardly.
"Arielle, you know what I meant. It's not just about the clothes being clean; you need to dress in elegant gowns like me," Meredith corrected.
Though her words were reproachful, she was secretly thrilled. Seeing her mom so furious, she sneered inwardly, 'Keep it up and die trying!'
Arielle suddenly seemed to understand, letting out a soft "oh." "I've changed my mind. I'm not going."
At this, Meredith's eyes widened, about to ask a question, when a steady voice cut through the room.