(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

Ariana entered the restaurant and was greeted by Amber’s sharp gaze and furrowed brows. “What are you doing?” Ariana asked with her usual calm demeanor.

“Isn’t that Karenina?” Amber inquired, curious.

Ariana just nodded. “Are you planning to chat and gossip with her? Go ahead, she might leave soon,” she said.

Jody, who heard Ariana’s voice, immediately emerged from the kitchen. The same goes for Adel, whom Ariana momentarily forgot was present.

“Who?” Jody asked, displaying an extraordinary level of curiosity. Ariana pointed with her thumb over her shoulder.

Jody and Adel walked closer to the window and were shocked to see a more feminine version of Ariana outside.

“Oh my God, she looks amazing,” Jody unintentionally praised. Amber scoffed upon hearing the tone of admiration.

Meanwhile, Ariana ignored them and continued to the second floor. Since earlier, she had been trying to hold back the tightness in her chest and the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.

Today – not even past the morning – she had experienced a torrent of emotions. Starting from Axel’s words, her mother-in-law’s insults, and now the arrival of her twin sister whom she hadn’t seen in fifteen years.

Ariana closed her door as quietly as possible, locking it from the inside, and then leaned against it wearily. Ariana’s emotions were in turmoil, a mix of sadness, humiliation, longing, and anger. Her head felt like it was about to explode.

She couldn’t process all these emotions at once. But what could she do except accept it all, as she had always done?

Suddenly, she missed her father, her Mommy, and her siblings. She wanted to go to her father’s house and hug them. But would they still accept her there? Or had her presence never been wanted anywhere?

Ariana wiped her tears, which suddenly flowed so heavily. She collapsed on the floor, and at that moment, she cried uncontrollably, overwhelmed by all the sudden pain that came rushing back to her.

All the memories seemed intentionally replayed in her mind. Memories of when she was abandoned by her mother and twin sister.

When she pleaded with her mother to come back, but was ignored. When her father was depressed and even contemplated suicide, leaving Ariana alone. When she had to struggle to care for her father who suffered a stroke.

And then the memory of her father briefly forgetting her due to the birth of her sister, Zelda. Everything intertwined, making Ariana’s already painful head ache even more. Then, her forced marriage to Gerald. Her mother’s request to replace her sister just to save the face of the new family. And her mother-in-law’s condescending attitude. It all made Ariana’s chest tighten.

Was Ariana really so worthless? Was that why they only came to her when they needed her? Would they be there for Ariana when she needed them?Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

She was tempted, by Gerald’s promise not to replace her with Karenina when her twin returned. She was touched and thought this marriage might end happily despite its forced beginning. She believed that he wanted her. Ariana Leonidas. But now, all those fantasies, hopes, and trust seemed to vanish with Karenina’s return.

All the sweet promises from him would ultimately be empty words. In the end, Ariana would just be Ariana. A replacement who had to fill the roles of everyone who needed her. Ariana sat down, hugging her knees.

Her tears wouldn’t stop, echoing the deep heartache caused by all the memories. Little did she know that outside, Amber could only listen, unable to do anything, to the quiet cries of her best friend and cousin.

Amber had anticipated this. She sat down on the other side of the door, silently accompanying Ariana. She wouldn’t ask if Ariana was ‘okay’, because she knew Ariana wasn’t okay right now. All she could do was pray that the pain would soon be replaced by happiness.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Gerald sat casually, his hands folded in front of him, his eyes fixed on Karenina’s bowed face. Whether out of shame, guilt, or just pretending to feel both, it was hard to tell.

“I want to apologize,” she said softly.

“Apologize for what?” Gerald pretended not to understand.

“For everything. I feel guilty for leaving abruptly before our marriage,” she replied.

Gerald shook his head. “I’m actually grateful to you,” he replied. “Because of your departure, I found out that you have a twin sister,” he said calmly.

Karenina was taken aback. She looked at the man in front of her in disbelief. “Mom said the marriage was just a sham. She asked Ariana to replace me temporarily,” she said, her tone pleading.

Gerald raised an eyebrow. “Is that what your mother said?” he asked, puzzled. Karenina nodded eagerly. “Has she forgotten that the person who signed the agreement and the marriage certificate was Ariana, not Karenina?” he asked sharply.

“Besides, from the beginning, I told you that this marriage wouldn’t be temporary. Haven’t I made it clear to you? This marriage, with or without love, will last forever. Because I don’t believe in divorce,” Gerald replied casually.

“But how can you say that? You don’t consider my feelings. I married you, even though you promised this marriage would last forever, but you didn’t promise your loyalty to me. You clearly stated that you’re free to approach any woman you want after we’re married,” Karenina retorted accusingly.

“I did say that,” Gerald admitted. “But it doesn’t mean I will do it, right? I just said that to test you. But don’t you understand the implied meaning behind it? That I will be faithful to you if you manage to make me fall in love with you.

“But what did you do? You tried to play with fire, Karen,” Gerald replied coldly. Karenina’s eyes widened instantly.

“You even wanted to get revenge on me, even before we got married, huh?” Gerald asked. “Do you think I don’t know that you went out there with your lover, whom you admitted to my mother was your ex?”

“I-I…” Karenina stammered.

“I haven’t even done anything, but you’ve already betrayed me. What can I expect from you afterward? Loyalty? I don’t think that exists in your dictionary.”

“You’re selfish!” the woman shouted loudly.

Gerald merely raised an eyebrow. “Me?” he pointed to himself. “From the start, this marriage wasn’t my choice either. Your mother and mine decided everything. My mother did it for Axel, and yours did it for money. So which side would you call selfish? We all get benefits from the choices we make.

“By me seeking other women out there, haven’t you agreed to compensate for all these deceptions with abundant wealth, social status, and other advantages by bearing the Zeroun name behind your back? Wasn’t that what your mother told you before we agreed to this marriage?”

Gerald’s words once again made her wide-eyed. Perhaps Karenina didn’t expect that Gerald knew everything. But Gerald knew. His power allowed him to obtain any piece of information he needed, no matter how small.

“Now it’s too late for you to want back the position as the youngest Mrs. Zeroun. Because that title has been taken by Ariana. Your twin sister. And coincidentally, she turned out to be an intriguing woman,” Gerald replied with a mocking smile at Karenina.

“What she has, it’s truly genuine. Not deception, not acting.” Gerald didn’t say much more. He got up from his seat deliberately, leaving Karenina who still couldn’t find words to say.