Chapter 3

Arabella watched quietly, feeling completely numb inside.

She had seen this scene countless times in her past life.

Back then, she only felt envious — envious that Regina could get along so easily with her brothers, while she, their own sister, felt more and more like an outsider.

It was only later that she understood. It was nothing but one of Regina's tricks to push her out and take what was hers.

Just then, Regina spotted her. She immediately dropped her smile, climbed off the swing timidly, and called out in a small voice, "Arabella."

Arabella let out a cold laugh. "Sorry to ruin the fun."

Regina's expression fell for a moment, then she lowered her head, her voice carrying a hint of grievance. "I'm sorry. I'll go clean up now."

"Clean up what?" Easton frowned. "Arabella, stop making Regina work all the time. It's her first day. Let her settle in."

Arabella glanced at him but said nothing.

"Oh, right." Easton seemed to remember something. "Arabella, you're heading to school today, aren't you? While you're there, help Regina get enrolled too. She's the same age as you — you two can keep each other company."

Arabella's hand tightened slightly. This had to be Regina's idea.

In her past life, Easton had made the same request, and she had agreed, helping Regina get into the school.

Then Regina joined, and before long she had built her own little clique. She spent every day talking behind Arabella's back — saying Arabella used her family's money to push people around, saying she was jealous of a housekeeper's daughter and had it out for her.

Almost every rumor floating around school had started from Regina's mouth.

And back then, Arabella had foolishly believed that if she was just kind enough to Regina, she could eventually change her.

What a joke.

"Arabella?" Easton grew impatient when she didn't respond. "Did you hear me?"

"I heard you." Arabella snapped back and gave a nod. "Don't worry. I'll talk to the school."

Easton seemed satisfied and made a sound of approval.

Regina looked up and flashed Arabella an excited smile. "Thank you, Arabella."

Arabella smiled back, but the moment she turned away, her smile froze.

Regina still wanted to go to school? Keep dreaming.

---

When Arabella arrived at school and walked into the classroom, a figure came rushing toward her.

"Arabella! You're finally here!"

It was Flora Carter, her best friend at school.

Flora grabbed her arm and leaned in close, lowering her voice like she had a big secret. "Did you hear? Another girl sent Theodric a love letter!"

Theodric Boleyn.

Arabella's brow furrowed slightly at the name.

He was the person she had been set up to marry in her past life. She had chased after him for five whole years.

The Boleyn family couldn't compare to the Obelon family in terms of status, but that hadn't stopped Arabella. She had bent over backwards to please Theodric while begging her brothers and parents to make it happen.

Eventually, the Obelon family gave in and agreed to the match.

Theodric hadn't wanted it from the start. He had always been cold toward Arabella, but she hadn't cared. She had stupidly told herself that she just wasn't good enough yet, and tried even harder to win him over.

Then, the moment Arabella fell out of favor, Theodric wasted no time asking the Obelon family to break off the engagement — and threw himself into chasing Regina.

Looking back now, it was almost funny.

"Arabella?" Flora waved a hand in front of her face when she didn't respond. "Hey, what's wrong? Are you so heartbroken you can't even speak?"

"Why would I care," Arabella said flatly, coming back to herself.

Flora froze.

The old Arabella would have exploded at news like this and gone straight over to fawn over Theodric.

What was going on with her today?

Flora opened her mouth to say something, but a commotion at the door cut her off.

Arabella looked up without thinking, just in time to see Theodric walk in.

He had on a simple white shirt. His features were sharp and clean, with a cool, distant look in his eyes.

A blonde girl with green eyes stood beside him. They were talking about something, and she was laughing, practically glowing, her hand resting naturally on his arm.

In the past, that sight would have twisted something in Arabella's chest. She might have even cried on the quiet.

But right now, she felt nothing. She looked back down and kept flipping through her notes.

As the two of them passed by her, Theodric's steps slowed.

He glanced over. Arabella had her head down and hadn't even looked up. His brow creased.

Shouldn't she be fuming right now? Why was she so quiet today?

Theodric felt oddly off-balance. He took a few more steps, then stopped in front of Arabella's desk and knocked on it.

Arabella looked up, met his eyes, and said calmly, "Something you need?"

His frown deepened.

Usually when he talked to her first, she lit up like she'd won something.

Was she playing hard to get?

"You saw me just now, didn't you?" Theodric asked, his tone edged with irritation.

"I did," Arabella said simply.

"Then why didn't you say hi?"

Arabella looked at him like the question was strange. "Why would I? Are we that close?"

Theodric was caught completely off guard. He never expected Arabella to talk to him like that.

Just then, the blonde girl walked over and slipped her arm through his, beaming. "Theodric, what's going on?"

Theodric glanced at her but didn't pull away. Instead, he drew her closer, then lifted his chin toward Arabella, his voice carrying a hint of showing off. "Arabella. This is my girlfriend. So stop coming after me from now on."

"Oh." Arabella didn't even look up from her book. "Good for you."

Theodric stood there, his expression going completely dark.

He wanted to say more, but with everyone around them staring, he swallowed it and went back to his seat, seething.

The blonde girl followed, bouncing with excitement. "Theodric, did you mean it? You're really making me your girlfriend?"

He had no patience for her right now. She was grating on his nerves. "Get lost," he said coldly.

Then he went back to staring at Arabella's back, unable to shake the feeling that something about her was very different today.