Chapter 5 She Is So Rude And Arrogant

• **POV: Harper**
• “You don’t sound too happy about it, Harper. If you’re not comfortable with my presence, I could leave right now. I can stay in a hotel if you don’t want me around. I don’t want to come between you and Ethan; I don’t want to cause any problems,” Serena lets out curtly, reaching for her purse, acting like she could find another place to stay if I didn’t like her. She makes it sound like I am threatened by her presence, and that is so annoying.
• “Don’t worry about me, Ethan. I will be fine on my own. I can stay in a hotel if my presence bothers your wife,” she told Ethan, sounding sad. He turned to me and pulled me aside, putting his arms around my hips.
• “Come on, my love. It’s just for a short time until she gets acquainted with this city and finds a place to stay. Please be nice to her, Harper; it means a lot to me,” he whispered to me, pleading softly. I had no choice but to agree. I love Ethan so much, and I would do anything to make him happy, even if it means accommodating Serena and putting up with her nasty attitude.
• “You don’t have to stay in a hotel, Serena. I will have the maids prepare the guest room immediately,” I told her, forcing out a smile. She responded with a smile of her own, turning to throw herself into my husband’s arms, expressing gratitude to him for letting her stay and completely ignoring me.
• I chuckled within and acted as though I wasn’t seeing her attraction to my husband. She finds every opportunity to throw herself into his arms, rubbing her body against him. I felt the urge to pull her by the hair and throw her out of my house. But I had to hide my anger behind a fake smile, ignoring her. Ethan had a call from work and had to leave immediately.
• The moment he stepped out of the house, the atmosphere became thick with tension. I hate being alone with her; she tends to show her true self when we are alone. I can’t stand her; I don’t want to get into an argument with her. So I stood by the huge floor-to-ceiling window, watching him drive away, fiddling with a trinket.
• Serena sat on the corner of the sofa, flipping through a magazine like it was a multi-million dollar contract, her expression a blend of disdain and condescension. The room, which is usually bright and cheerful, felt overshadowed by Serena’s presence. I could hear her murmuring to herself, expressing her disapproval of my taste and choice in interior design. I ignored her complaints, trying to keep the peace until Ethan arrived.
• “So, welcome to our home! Ethan will be back any minute. It’s so nice to have you here; I love meeting my husband’s old acquaintances,” I lied, giving her the best smile I could muster. She snapped her magazine shut, looking at me condescendingly, as if I had no right to speak to her at all. She always makes me feel inferior, making me feel like I don’t deserve to be happy with Ethan.
• “Oh? Does he always leave you all by yourself?” she scoffed, eyeing me pitifully.
• “Oh, well, I guess he is already bored. It’s quite a pity, though. I thought you would be a formidable opponent. You obviously aren’t all that pretty; I wonder what he sees in you anyway,” she blurted out, returning her gaze to her magazine.
• “You don’t know me, Serena!
• You have no right to speak to me that way in my house. Be warned, Serena; I will not let you walk all over me in my home!” I warned her, glaring daggers at her.
• “Soon, Harper… very soon…” she muttered under her breath, smiling to herself.
• “He must have left you to handle the interior decor and designs too. Are you even his wife or the help? I mean, honestly, who uses this shade of beige in a room with so much natural light? It's like living in a sandstorm,” she continued, trying so hard to infuriate me. I bit my tongue to keep from lashing out at her, even though she wouldn’t stop with her criticism.
• “Oh, well…
• I guess I will have to redecorate this house to Ethan’s taste. I know exactly what he likes because we come from similar backgrounds. I wonder what he sees in you anyway; he should have married someone of the same class, someone like me. If Ethan and I were together, he would never abandon me to attend a business call because I know how to make him happy,” she chirped happily, smiling to irritate me. I kept ignoring her; I will not let her get to me. I won’t.
• “Alright, Harper, take me to my room and be sure to bring my bags along too. I need to get some rest so I can start working on new designs immediately. Prepare my dinner as well; I would love pasta with chicken sauce, and for dessert, I would like creamy caramel cake, just the way Ethan likes it,” she ordered sternly, smiling to herself.
• “I am not a maid, Serena! You need a lesson in manners because it seems you have none. You are only a guest in this house, and you will behave like one. You will not redecorate my home, and you certainly will not order me around like a maid. Your bags will be brought to you by the maids, and when dinner is served, you will be informed,” I told her firmly, glaring angrily at her. I would have continued ignoring her ranting and complaints, but she crossed the line when she asked me to get her bags and fix her dinner. Who the hell does she think she is?
• “I am very close to becoming Ethan’s family, Harper. And soon, I will put you in your place and take what rightfully belongs to me. No one can take what is mine and get away with it. If my sister couldn’t take what is mine, then neither will you!” she told me venomously, glaring daggers at me. Serena kept acting like a spoiled child, saying silly things that make no sense. The mention of her sister reminded me that Ethan had confided in me that he used to be best friends with her sister, and he owed her a favor, which is why he decided to take care of Serena. What kind of friendship did they share that makes him owe her such a huge favor? Why do I have to put up with this bratty child?
• We stood glaring at each other, refusing to back down. The door creaked open, revealing Ethan, bustling in with his phone and briefcase in his hand. He stopped mid-step, sensing the tension in the air. He looked at her and then at me, then he walked toward her with a grin on his face. I turned to look at Serena, and there were no traces of hate or anger on her face. She was just smiling radiantly, her eyes fixed on Ethan. Now it seemed like I was the only one frowning at his guest. She must be really good at this game because she switches roles so easily.
• “Ethan, darling, thanks for letting me stay here. You have such a beautiful home; I love the lovely drapes and exquisite furniture. You always did have a taste for quality and elegance,” she told him with a smile as she narrowed her eyes to stare at me, daring me to refute her words. I crossed my arms, trying so hard to maintain my composure, silently cursing the fate that brought us together. Serena raised an eyebrow, a cruel smile playing at her lips.
• "What was happening here before I got in?" He asked, glaring at me. Before I could say a word, Serena walked up to him and stood in front of him, feigning sadness,
• " It's all my fault, Ethan. I was asking for too much from Harper. I know I'm intruding into your lives and demanding for too much. I'm so sorry, Ethan, I don't mean to intrude. I just need some time to get used to everything and settle in. I won't cause any problems with anyone, I promise. You know me, Ethan, I'm not troublesome. I just need someone to look up to whenever I need assistance with something around here. I'm so sorry if I'm making your wife uncomfortable, I'm so sorry, Ethan." She sobbed sadly, looking all innocent and charming.
• "Are you fucking kidding me right now?" I asked in annoyance, glaring at her.
• "Enough, Harper!
• Just give Serena anything she wants!" He yelled at me, looking so pissed. He did not even her from me, he just believed her, just like that. I felt so Furious with him and with her. I went upstairs to our room, leaving them both to have dinner. I suddenly lost my appetite!