Reborn to Ruin the Scumbag Who Made Me His Second Wife

2:

I looked at Mavis Cobb and felt nothing but disgust.

In my last life, the reason I let myself be half-pushed, half-persuaded into kneeling to serve that tea was that Mavis was so good at putting on an act.

I knew she'd cried herself sick every day since the eldest Cox brother died, grieving for him and for herself. And I thought, women should stand by each other. I trusted Henry Cox, and I believed Mavis was a good sister-in-law.

That was why I agreed. Why I agreed.

But I never expected it.

She could act better than any movie star. In front of Henry and Stella Finch, she was the good sister-in-law who was kind to me, who thought of me at every turn.

She rushed to take on all the dirty, heavy work, and it broke Henry's and Stella's hearts to watch her.

But the moment Henry and Stella weren't around, she'd come down with a headache or a fever and lounge at home like she owned the place, ordering everyone about.

At first I only thought she was afraid I'd bully her, so she was striking first.

In less than half a year her belly was swollen, and she jabbed a finger in my face and called me the concubine, using the child to threaten the whole family, forcing me to swear I'd never have children of my own, or else she'd take the baby and die...

And now she had the nerve to come begging me, dragging everyone along to accuse me, cornering me until there was no way down.

And Henry ate this up more than anyone.

The instant he saw Mavis on her knees, he stepped forward and pulled her up.

He tucked her behind him, his face full of heartache for her, and looked at me like I was his enemy.

"Beth Harding, you've already exchanged vows with me. You're my wife now. When I tell you to do something, you do it."

"I said you and Mavis would be equals, no higher or lower. But we haven't even been husband and wife yet, and here you are bullying Mavis. It's outrageous."

"I can let go of you slapping me just now, but not this. Today you're going to kneel and kowtow, and you won't stop until Mavis forgives you."

I almost laughed from the anger.

But I didn't argue. I just looked at him, dead serious.

"Go on, then. Tell me. Where exactly did I bully her?"

3:

Henry opened his mouth to speak.

But I didn't give him the chance.

"She wants me to be a concubine, and I said no. Is that bullying her?"

"Or is it that she knelt to me, begging to be my concubine, and I said no. Is that bullying her?"

Henry's mouth worked, and he came up with nothing.

Stella spat.

"Quit talking nonsense. What does a dual-household heir arrangement have to do with any concubine?"

"We've told you, from now on you and Mavis hold the same place in this house. You won't even spare Mavis a bite of food?"

I let out a cold laugh.

"A moment ago Mavis dropped to her knees in front of me for no reason, and I hadn't said a single word, but Henry was already forcing me to kowtow and apologize. That's treating us the same?"

Stella opened her mouth to go on.

I knew there was no reasoning with her, so I reached up, pulled the red flower off my own head, and pinned it into Mavis's hair.

"Mavis Cobb, you're not the lesser one. You and Henry are properly married, with the certificate and everything."

"You don't need to beg me for a way out. If anything, I'm the one who should be begging you for a way out, begging you not to make me some modern-day concubine. My parents may have died young, but if they knew I'd become a concubine, they wouldn't rest easy even in heaven."

"So I'm begging you. For the sake of the respect and kindness I showed you all this time, let me go."

The relatives and friends around us broke into a buzz.

But I was an orphan, and my parents had come from somewhere far away, so not one of my relatives was there.

The crowd never minds a bigger show, and one after another they took Henry's side and pressed in on me.

"A dual-household heir is something the ancestors handed down. Saying no isn't your choice."

"You're only lucky it's these times. In the old days, a jealous woman like you would've been drowned in a pigsty basket."

"Having Mavis to help you honor your mother-in-law and keep the house running, isn't that a good thing? How do you not know a blessing when you see one?"

I didn't argue with that either.

I just found the few who'd worked themselves up the loudest.

"Since you're so willing, then marry your own daughter in as the concubine."

"I'll hand this blessing to your daughter instead."

"How about it?"