The Villainess Read The Comments Chapter 08

The Villainess Read The Comments Chapter 08

Arthur stopped right in front of me and held out his hand. 

“Come on. There’s someone I want you to meet.” 

What? When did this turn into a meet–and–greet? 

I just stood there. Arthur sighed, reached over, and took my 

hand himself. 

He pulled me forward like that – right into the center of the 

room, stunned silence and all. Mrs. Sterling was beaming so 

hard her eyes crinkled, radiating pure maternal joy. 

Harper looked caught off guard, her eyes darting between 

Arthur and me. 

Arthur’s grandfather went pale with rage and pounded his 

cane against the floor. 

“Arthur, what is the meaning of this? She isn’t a Sterling yet!” 

Every instinct told me to back away. The old man’s face‘ was 

terrifying – I was half–convinced that cane was about to come flying at my head. 

But Arthur dropped my hand – only to wrap his arm around my waist instead. 

“Grandfather. She’s the one I chose, and she’s the only one I’ll ever marry. If you want any part in my future, don’t say another word against her.” 

That last line landed like a threat – because it was one. Arthur’s grandfather sputtered, face blotched with fury, until Harper went over and gently rubbed his shoulder, trying to 

calm him down. 

Mrs. Sterling sat through the whole thing without so much as blinking. She calmly asked the kitchen for another cup of 

chamomile tea. 

Arthur’s grandfather glared daggers at her. Mrs. Sterling laughed. 

“Dad, I was just about to transfer the money for that trip you wanted next month.” 

The old man shut his mouth. His glare shifted to me instead. 

Arthur stepped in front of me without a word. This was the first time he’d ever claimed me in public – in front of everyone, no hesitation. 

Back in college, whenever someone asked whether we were together, he’d look away. He’d close up like he’d rather not 

answer. 

But… we were supposed to be breaking up. Why would he say all that? 

[What is this garbage plot?? The FL is RIGHT THERE and the ML completely ignores her to protect the side character in front of everyone?? I’m fuming. If this doesn’t end with a grovel arc I’m giving it one star.] 

[Relax lol it’s literally the first time the ML and FL have met. He’s probably just keeping attention off her for now. The Sterling engagement party is coming up – they’ll swap her in then.] 

[Am I the only one who thinks the ML and the side character 

actually have chemistry?? A hot mess x cold CEO is literally a 

top–tier trope. Plus when the ML was talking to the FL earlier, 

he kept bringing up the side character. Just saying.] 

[Non–canon shippers get OUT. Delusional shippers get OUT. 

ALL of you get OUT.] 

Wait, were the comments fighting with each other now? That was actually kind of entertaining. 

I sat back and watched the drama unfold like a live show. 

Arthur’s grandfather caught the look on my face, and his 

scowl deepened. 

From the way he looked at Harper, it wasn’t hard to guess he felt he owed her something. She was his old friend’s granddaughter. And Arthur was his pride and joy. Arthur had turned out exceptional, even though the old man had barely 

had a hand in raising him. 

Sterling genes, clearly. 

The problem, apparently, was stubborn–brat Arthur. Why couldn’t the boy see his grandfather was only looking out for 

him? 

Harper was everything a grandfather could want – smart, poised, perfect for Arthur. Chloe was spoiled and lazy. There was no comparison. 

“I’m feeling awful over here, and you can’t even be bothered to fetch me a cup of tea? Is that any way for the future Mrs. Sterling to behave?” 

He didn’t dare push too far with Mrs. Sterling in the room. She 

held the purse strings, and his monthly travel budget depended entirely on staying in her good graces. 

But surely she couldn’t stop him from making the girl fetch him a simple cup of tea. 

I froze. The problem was – I had no idea how to prepare a proper cup of tea. I’d tried to learn once, and my parents told me not to bother; Arthur could handle things like that. 

I was still standing there, agonizing, when Harper spoke up. 

“Mr. Sterling, your stomach’s already acting up – tea will only make it worse. Here, have some water instead.” 

Before the old man could argue, a glass of water was already placed firmly on the table beside him. He’d been so thoroughly outmaneuvered he couldn’t get a word out. 

When no one was looking, Harper glanced my way. She 

winked. 

Huh. The FL was actually… kind of great? I’d expected the whole catfight trope, but something told me she wasn’t interested in Arthur at all. 

That was weird. If she didn’t want Arthur, then why was she here? 

Harper and I kept trying to communicate through increasingly frantic eye contact. Neither of us understood the other, but it was weirdly fun – except Arthur kept stepping into my line of sight, which was incredibly annoying.