Take Revenge After My Rebirth

My father's mistress was incredibly kind to me-always generous with money and eager to cater to my every whim.

So when my parents got divorced, I didn't hesitate to choose my father. I even held the mistress's hand and called her "Mom."

My real mother called me a traitor and said I'd regret it one day.

I just smiled and said nothing.

I had already regretted it.

I regretted not making those two bastards face justice, fall to their knees in shame, and pay the price for what they did-in my past life.

1

I was a junior in high school when my father got caught cheating. Soon after, he and my mother divorced.

My mother looked at me, eyes full of hope. "Ariella... who will you stay with?"

I glanced at my well-dressed father and his seductive mistress, Talia Johnson, then shook off my mom's hand. "I'll go with Dad. He's rich. Talia lets me play on my phone. Of course I choose him?"

The room went silent.

My father hadn't expected me to abandon the one person who had always treated me the best. Talia was clearly uncomfortable. And my mother... she looked like her heart had just been ripped out.

In the end, my mother walked out of the house with the divorce papers and a card loaded with five million dollars, never once looking back.

I smiled faintly. But my fists were clenched tight. Memories of my past life came flooding back.

"Mom, don't look back. Go live your life in peace.

Leave the rest to me. I'll make them pay-every last one of them." I thought to myself.

2

My name was Ariella Watson, and three months ago, I was reborn.

In my past life, my father fell for a female subordinate at his company. To make sure my mother left the marriage with nothing, he secretly transferred all their assets long before the divorce.

When he finally insisted on leaving her, my mother was heartbroken. She didn't take a single cent. She just walked away and worked three jobs a day to pay for my education.

His betrayal during my college entrance exam broke me. I fell for the trap set by Talia and her daughter, failed the exam, and spiraled into depression. In the end, I took my own life.

And my mother followed me soon after.

In this life, I made sure my mother walked in on my dad and his mistress in the act.

We kept the evidence and then filed a lawsuit in court to claim half of the property.

Then I used my cold heart and calculated betrayal to make my mother despise me.

Without a burden like me, she could finally live freely, without regrets.

I chose to stay behind and take my time ruining the people who'd hurt us.

After watching my mother walk away for good, I turned around and threw my arms around Talia. "Talia! From now on, you're my mom!"

Talia flinched, clearly startled. But I held her too tightly, and she had no choice but to stiffly smile and go along with it.

My father watched this whole scene, looking deeply satisfied.

I let go of Talia and held out my hand to her. "Mom, I called you that-don't I get something for it?"

Talia froze, eyes darting toward my father like she needed backup.

Still feeling a bit guilty, my father frowned and nudged her with a look. "Ariella called you 'Mom'-at least give her something. Show some sincerity."

Talia's expression darkened. Reluctantly, she pulled out her phone and transferred me a thousand.

I frowned. "Mom, seriously? That's it? You can do better than that."

She stood there, staring at me.

So I started chanting. "Mom! Mom! Mooom!" Louder and louder, until my voice echoed through the entire villa complex.

My father, already on edge, slammed his hand on the table. "Send 5, 000! Right now! Haven't I given you enough? Why are you being so stingy?"

Startled, Talia immediately sent over five thousand.

Watching her stand there, looking like she'd just taken a massive hit and couldn't even complain-I felt absolutely satisfied.

Making her squirm like that? Pure satisfaction.

3

For the next week, I made it my mission to bleed Talia dry.

YSL lipstick sets, designer handbags? I took them and sold them on secondhand platforms.

Wanted a game skin? 10, 000.

Phone and laptop running slow? 30, 000.

Whenever she hesitated, I flipped out-accused her of abusing me, of being two-faced. I threatened to tell my father everything.

Talia and my father weren't even legally married yet. She didn't dare fall out with me completely. So she endured it all, swallowing her anger day after day.

In just one week, I squeezed 50, 000 dollars out of her.

I looked at my bank balance and grinned. Then I invested the money into the stock market.

I'd done it in my past life too. But that time, I got careless and let everything fall apart. Now, with all the memories of my previous life, making money was laughably easy.

This morning, Talia got bold. She smeared honey on my toast-knowing full well I was allergic.

When I caught her, she muttered a half-hearted apology, her eyes smug and unapologetic.

Clearly, she was feeling cocky. My father had finally agreed to make it official with her.

I didn't get angry. Instead, I lowered my head in silence, hiding the smile in my eyes.

Talia thought I was scared. She looked so pleased with herself.

But she had no idea that I was just getting started. When she wasn't around, I sat down with my father for a heart-to-heart. "Dad, I think you should hold off on getting married for now."

My father frowned. "Ariella, I know you're still upset, but I've already divorced your mother. You've even started calling Talia 'Mom'. As long as you behave, there'll always be a place for you in this family."

I held back a sneer. Instead, I put on a sincere face. "Dad, I'm only saying this for your own good. Wouldn't it be smarter to wait until Talia gets pregnant with a son before making it official?"

My father had always dreamed of having a boy. In my past life, it was only after Talia got pregnant with a boy that he started transferring assets and forced my mother into a divorce.

They hadn't even been together a year in this life. I was betting his feelings for Talia weren't all that deep yet.

Sure enough, he hesitated.

I pressed on. "Talia is great and all, but... she is thirty-five. That's a bit old, you know? Way past the ideal age for having kids. Who knows if she can even give you a son?"

The look on my father's face told me everything. He understood exactly what I meant.

The next day, I watched as Talia beamed with joy, dragging my father out to get married. But only a few hours later, I saw her return with red eyes, sobbing uncontrollably.

Of course, the marriage never happened.

To make it up to her, my father kicked me out of the biggest bedroom and redecorated it for Talia's daughter, Megan Watson.

Yes, even though Talia wasn't officially married into the family, her daughter was already using our last name, Watson.

As I packed my things, my father gently patted my head and gave me a fake smile. "Ariella, you've had the best room for so long. Your step-sister has had nothing. Why don't you let her have it?"

I glanced at the alarm clock I had conveniently left in the corner, then nodded obediently, playing the role of the good girl.

Pleased with how well I behaved, my father fixed up a previously abandoned small room for me.

To welcome Megan, he even bought her a necklace worth fifty thousand dollars as a gift.

A week later, Talia brought her daughter back from the countryside.

Standing in front of me, Megan looked at my father with sparkling eyes and called out sweetly, "Hi, Dad!"

My father handed her the necklace with affection. "Megan, this is a gift for you. I hope you like it."

Megan's eyes lit up, and her voice got even more sugary. "Thank you, Dad!"

My father patted her head. "This necklace looks beautiful on you. We're going out for dinner today. I bet everyone will be amazed when they see you wearing it."

Megan was all smiles, then turned to glance at me with a smug little challenge in her eyes.

I smiled back, gently took her hand, and said sweetly, "I have a gift for you too."

I pulled out a cheap, ugly dress and held it out to her. "You'll love it, right?"

Her expression froze. She didn't move. It was obvious she hated it.

I put on my most pitiful face. "What's wrong? Don't you like it? I saved up my breakfast money to buy it for you. I've never treated anyone this nicely before."

Megan bit her lip and looked at her mother for help.

Just as Talia opened her mouth, I stomped my foot and turned to my father. "Dad! You said she would like me a lot. But she won't even take my gift. I'm just a motherless burden. Not even my family wants me anymore!"

I had to give them a good lesson if I wanted my plan to work.

So I started screaming, running around the living room. "Now that I have a stepmom, even my dad doesn't love me! No one cares about me! I might as well just die!"

The neighborhood was full of wealthy families, most of whom did business with my father.

If this turned into a scandal, it would ruin his image completely.

As expected, my father panicked. He snatched the dress from me and shoved it into Megan's hands. "This is Ariella's gift. Just take it!"

But was that the end? No way!

I kept going. "Megan, you should wear the dress today so everyone can see how much we love each other."

Megan opened her mouth to refuse, but my father cut her off. "Ariella's right. Go change into it."

In the end, Megan wore that ugly dress to a fancy restaurant.

Everyone there was dressed to impress. Surrounded by elegance and style, Megan's outfit stood out like a sore thumb. People couldn't help but stare.

Talia and Megan sat across from me, practically grinding their teeth to dust. Their knives and forks screeched against the plates like they were ready to kill.

Meanwhile, I was in a fantastic mood. I even asked the waiter to take a family photo for us.

Later, I had that photo printed in the largest size available and hung one in every single room of the house.

After that day, Talia and Megan officially became my enemies.

Talia finally realized where she stood in this house. So she became even more desperate to have a son, hoping she could secure her place in the family once and for all.

Talia started trying every fertility remedy she could find and clung to my father every night.

The walls at home were thin. Anyone could hear the sounds coming from their bedroom-sounds that would make even the boldest person blush.

Meanwhile, I made it my mission to keep her on edge, finding new ways to get under her skin every single day.

The more I provoked her, the more desperate she became to get pregnant. And the more desperate she became, the more reckless her actions grew.

I watched, quietly satisfied, as she pushed her luck further and further, heading straight toward her own downfall.

4

That evening, Talia prepared a simple dinner-some roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and vegetable soup.

I didn't touch the chicken or the vegetables. I just picked at the plain bread on my plate.

Talia noticed and quickly placed a piece of chicken on my plate with a smile. "Ariella, no need to be shy. Help yourself to the meat. We're family."

Megan took a big bite of chicken herself and chimed in, "Yeah, don't be so polite."

I picked up the piece of chicken Talia had given me and set it down in my father's plate. Then I smiled at the both of them. "I'm not refusing to eat. I just want Dad to have more. If I eat less, he gets more."

I turned to Megan with a half-smile. "You really are ungrateful. After a long day at work, Dad deserves to eat well. And here you are, only thinking about feeding yourself instead of showing any respect."

Talia and Megan's faces stiffened instantly, frozen mid-bite, not knowing whether to chew or spit.

My father had always been a traditional man, self-centered and controlling.

Naturally, my little performance pleased him. He gave me a satisfied look, then turned to Talia with a frown. "I give you more than enough money each month. And this is all you can cook? It's barely enough for the kids. At least Ariella is thoughtful enough to leave the best for me. From now on, I expect proper meals on the table. That's what Ariella's mother used to do."

Talia froze at the mention of my mother. Her face went stiff, and she replied with a soft voice, "I get off work and come home to cook right away. I'm tired, I..."

My father slammed his fork down. "Then quit your job. It's not like I can't afford to support you."

Talia's lips trembled. She lowered her head and said nothing more.

Of course, she didn't actually quit. She wasn't that stupid. Without a ring on her finger, she knew better than to give up her income.

So every day after work, she rushed around the house, cleaning and cooking.

Watching her struggle wasn't enough. I had to twist the knife a little deeper. "Mom, this dress is made of pure cotton. It really should be hand-washed."

"And the curtains in the living room? They're handmade from Yandoria. They gather dust easily, you'll want to clean those yourself."

"Oh, and the wool blanket? It needs to be brushed with a special tool. You need to clean it thoroughly without damaging the fibers."

Talia finally snapped. She asked my father if she could hire a housekeeper.

Before he could answer, I cut in quickly. "Dad, my mother used to take care of all these chores herself. I'm sure Talia can too. You're running a business, and every penny counts. Why spend on something we can handle ourselves?"

He seemed convinced and turned Talia down without hesitation.

She lost weight quickly after that. Her face went pale and tired, a far cry from the glamorous beauty who first stepped into our home.

Just as I expected, she began to fall apart. Desperate and unstable, she started visiting psychics and so-called spiritual healers, drinking odd herbal brews and lighting candles for fertility blessings.

Watching her fall apart like that gave me the kind of satisfaction that stayed with me even in my dreams.

What I didn't expect, though, was for my mother to call me again.

5

"Ariella, are you doing okay? I was so angry that day... but I know you. You've always been a kind, loyal girl. There's no way you could've changed that much." My mother's voice was full of guilt.

A month had passed. She had finally calmed down.

My heart ached, but I kept my tone light to comfort her. "Mom, I'm doing really well, I promise. Please take care of yourself too. Be happy."

She had gone back to work and was slowly becoming the confident, independent woman she used to be before the marriage.

She even asked if I wanted to move in with her. I turned her down, though I didn't explain why.

She didn't push. After a pause on the other end of the line, she said softly, "Ariella, stay safe. One day, I swear I'll make that bastard beg for forgiveness."

I told her I believed her.

I'd always known my mother wasn't someone who gave up easily. If it hadn't been for me, she never would've let my father off so easily in my previous life.

I looked up at the sky. Soon, the night would break. And dawn would come.

The new school year arrived quickly. My father had transferred Megan to my school, and somehow, we ended up in the same class.

I was a year older, but like me, she was starting her junior year.

Before school started, my father gave me a little speech. "Ariella, you're older than Megan. Be sure to take good care of her."

He'd said the exact same thing in my previous life.

He had betrayed my mother and me, and still had the audacity to ask me to take care of the other woman's daughter.

It only made me hate Megan more.

Back then, Megan knew exactly how to provoke me. I couldn't take it, and we ended up fighting in front of the whole class. But I didn't want anyone to know she was my step-sister, so I stayed quiet. Naturally, everyone saw Megan as the innocent one. And me? I became the bully who picked on her for no reason.

People always loved to side with the weak.

So this time, I decided to play it smart. Let them see me as the gentle one.

I would play her game, and when she wouldn't have a move left.

I looked at my father seriously and said, "No problem, Dad. I'll take good care of Megan."

He smiled, satisfied, completely missing the flash of resentment in Megan's eyes.

On the first day of school, our homeroom teacher walked in with Megan by her side.

Just like in my previous life, the moment she entered, everyone's eyes were on her. She instantly became the center of attention.

Back then, I had just gone through my parents' divorce, and was constantly targeted by her. My emotions spiraled out of control, and without realizing it, I fell right into the traps she had set for me.

In the end, I was completely isolated by my classmates, gave up on myself, and died in the most miserable way.

But now, in this second life, the roles were reversed.

This time, I wouldn't give her any chance to turn things around.

Megan was dressed even more exquisitely than in my previous life, standing graceful.

I overheard a couple of boys whispering loudly.

"Wow, she's gorgeous. She's totally going to be the new queen of the class."

"Looks like our class rep's days are numbered."

Megan shot me a smug glance and began her introduction in her soft, sugary voice. "Hi, I'm Megan Watson..."

This was my moment!

I stood up with a bright smile and cut her off, "Hey everyone, maybe you don't know this yet, but Megan's my step-sister. Please take good care of her!"

The entire class turned to look at me.

Megan's face went pale, her expression frozen in shock.

I kept my tone gentle and pleasant. "Megan's mom is my new mom. They just moved into our house. Both my dad and I really like them."

Silence fell over the classroom.

Everyone had always known I was an only child. Now, suddenly I had a step-sister and a "new mom"? The implication was clear.

The news hit hard, and the way everyone looked at Megan suddenly changed.

The boys who were just hyping her up suddenly shut their mouths, their expressions awkward.

The teacher gave Megan a quick glance, clearly unsure what to say. "Well... let's all make sure to welcome our new classmate."

Still trying to claw back the attention, Megan walked over to the boy who'd been praising her loudly and pretended to trip in front of him.

But the guy who'd been loudest didn't even flinch. He didn't offer a hand or even look in her direction.

No one in this school wanted to be associated with the daughter of a homewrecker, especially not in a private school like this, where image was everything.

Megan sat there on the floor, stunned. She looked around in disbelief.

Not a single person moved to help her. She had no choice but to scramble up on her own and return to her seat, her eyes burning with anger as she shot me a glare when no one was watching.

After class, my desk was surrounded.

Classmates leaned in, concerned and eager.

"Ariella, is Megan's mom... the other woman?"

"Are you okay? Has your step-mother ever treated you badly?"

"Don't be afraid. If anything's going on at home, we've got your back!"

The same classmates who had once led the charge in isolating me...And now, here they were again, full of sympathy.

I looked at their faces without a flicker of emotion. It was laughable, really.

But for now, I needed them. They'd be the perfect tool in my hand.

I glanced over at Megan, who looked visibly uneasy. And that was when my performance truly began.