The Villainess Read The Comments Chapter 02

The Villainess Read The Comments Chapter 02

The next morning, I actually woke up feeling rested.

Every night before, I’d been the one initiating — and even though he never seemed willing, once he started, the man didn’t stop. I woke up sore every single morning.

Now that I didn’t have to share his bed, my whole body felt lighter. Clearly, I’d never been built for him — and honestly, a man that intense was too much for me to handle.

Arthur’s mother, Mrs. Sterling, to everyone else — had insisted I call her Mom since I was a little girl.

Mrs. Sterling spoiled me rotten — gave me whatever I wanted and never said no. She swore a psychic had predicted our marriage, and that being with me would help with Arthur’s condition.

So she went to my parents and begged them to let me move in. My parents’ company was struggling at the time, and Mrs. Sterling’s offer was impossible to turn down. My mom sat me down and asked whether I’d be willing to marry Arthur someday.

I was young and completely shallow — all it took was a pretty face. Arthur had been gorgeous since childhood, and unlike most people, he only got more unfairly attractive as he grew up. So I nodded without thinking twice. Basically, I sold myself for a jawline.

My parents never forgave themselves for it. They never had another child — they just poured everything into building me a safety net, making sure I’d never need anyone else’s money.

By now, my bank account had enough zeros to last me several lifetimes without the Sterlings. But Arthur was too damn pretty. Not once had I considered calling it off.

Mrs. Sterling seemed happier with every year I stayed. By the time Arthur and I were both in college, our engagement was official.

Looking back, Arthur had never actually agreed to any of it. Mrs. Sterling arranged everything. Of course he hated me — he’d been stuck with a fiancée he never chose, forced to see my face every day while I clung to him like he owed me love.

No wonder he’d been icing me out for years.

Mrs. Sterling spotted me and waved, beaming. “Come sit down, sweetheart.”

Arthur was already at the table, perfectly calm — like last night hadn’t happened. His eyes flicked to me, and my stomach tightened.

[Is the side character seriously about to sit next to the ML again?? He looks SO relieved — he finally got one night off from dealing with her.]

[Watch, she’s gonna sit right next to him and ruin his whole morning.]

Before, I would’ve planted myself right next to Arthur — made him fix my plate and cater to my every whim. He never looked happy about it, but he did it. I’d convinced myself that meant something. Turns out he just didn’t have a choice.

I sighed and looked at Mrs. Sterling’s warm, hopeful expression. I was about to break her heart.

I slid into the seat beside Mrs. Sterling instead. Everyone in the dining room turned toward me — including Arthur.

Mrs. Sterling lit up. She’d always felt guilty about how cold her son was to me — she knew Arthur was stone-cold. But I’d been too lovesick to notice, always chasing his approval instead of accepting hers.

She started piling food onto my plate before I could even unfold my napkin. Across the table, Arthur dropped his gaze once before he set his fork down. “I’m done.”

Arthur only ever said something when I’d pushed him too far. If he was leaving this quietly, he had to be thrilled. For once, I wasn’t glued to his side.

That familiar ache flared in my chest.

Mrs. Sterling didn’t even look his way. She finished breakfast with me like we were the only two people in the room, then dragged me out for a shopping spree.

The shopping trip actually helped. We bought so much my arms were shaking by the time we got back, and Mrs. Sterling floated off for her beauty sleep the second we walked through the door.

I handed the bags to the butler and headed for my guest room. When I got to the door, Arthur was standing there — holding a steaming mug of herbal tea and a heating pad.