The Queen Back From Hell - Chapter 45: Chapter 45

What was Henry doing then?
Henry was out entertaining clients. He had work—understandable, at least for now.
But Sharon? She was just a pampered housewife lounging at home.
When her own daughter had a raging fever that wouldn't go down, all Sharon said was that Arielle probably had too many viruses in her body, which was why the fever wasn't breaking.
Sharon rushed Arielle to the hospital that night—not because she was worried about her daughter, but because she was scared the illness would pass to Meredith.
For three whole days, Sharon went shopping and had afternoon tea with Meredith. Not once did she go to the hospital to check on Arielle.
Back then, did Sharon even think of the girl lying in that hospital bed?
Arielle scoffed silently, 'What a two-faced hypocrite.'
Arielle lowered her gaze, burying everything from the past—every humiliation, every heartbreak, every shred of disappointment.
Whether it came from family, friends, or love, Arielle shoved it all into the ground.
When Arielle looked up again, her eyes met Sharon's furious glare. She stared back coldly. "Ms. Bradford, you're really something else.
If Mr. Bradford didn't sleep well, it's probably because there's something wrong with his health. You should call a doctor, not bother me. If you want me to treat him, I'm afraid I'd end up killing him.
"As for Meredith's injury—she hurt herself. What, do you expect me to smash my own forehead just to match her?"
The maids were already used to these verbal battles between Sharon and Arielle.
No one dared to step in. They all hid in the kitchen, ears perked, listening to the chaos outside.
Lexi, a long-time member of the Bradford family, couldn't bear to see Sharon so angry, but also felt sorry that Arielle never received any of her mother's love.
Caught in the middle, Lexi could only stand quietly off to the side.
No matter who she helped, Lexi would be the one paying the price.
Sharon had been furious for days. Just seeing Arielle made her blood boil.
And now, hearing Arielle argue instead of admitting fault only pushed Sharon further over the edge.
"You're already this vicious at your age," Sharon snapped. "I should've strangled you the moment you were born. Do you think I matter to you at all? Do you even see me as your mother?
"You're always running your mouth, targeting your sister again and again. Is that what you want? For something bad to happen to her?"
Arielle scoffed, 'Wow. Regret? Strangle? Sharon regrets giving birth to me.
'But I also regret having Sharon's blood run through her veins.'
Arielle would've preferred Sharon had just ended her life at birth—that way, she wouldn't have had to suffer through this miserable existence.
Then Arielle wouldn't be so bitterly disappointed in the world.
'This… is a curse from a mother to her daughter.' Arielle let out a silent laugh. 'Does Sharon really not know what she's doing, or does she just hate me from the very start?'
Meredith was living the life that should've been hers. And Arielle had taken on the pain she never deserved.
Arielle thought, 'All those years out on the streets—who ever cares about me?
'In everyone's eyes, I'm nothing but a stray, a bastard. I lived a life where getting beaten up by other homeless people was just normal.
'The only thing I ever hold onto is the will to survive. As long as I'm alive, that's enough. But in the end?'
In her old life, Arielle had been taken back into the Bradford family. Only to face more disgust, rejection, betrayal, and pain.
Arielle would've rather never returned. In their eyes, Meredith was the golden child. Arielle was nothing.
Wherever Meredith was, Arielle was always just some extra—unimportant and unnecessary.
Sharon looked down on Arielle, said she was cheap and shameful, said she lacked class, said she couldn't do anything right.
Sharon said Arielle was no match for her precious Meredith.
Sharon said Meredith was some heavenly angel. And Arielle? Just an ugly little duck that no one wanted around.
Meredith had been given elite education from the start. How was that ever a fair comparison?
Arielle had been heartbroken for so long. She'd thought Sharon's harsh words were just tough love, trying to push her to improve.