(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

Ariana was leaning against the wall, chatting with her employees who were busy cleaning the seafood that would be the main ingredient for their lunch. A sauce chef was working on the ingredients, while others were cleaning vegetables. Ariana’s laughter stopped when Amber tapped her shoulder and pulled her away. “We need to talk,” she said.

Ariana turned and looked at Amber with her usual poker face. They headed towards the front of the restaurant. Amber gestured for her to follow without saying a word. Ariana finally got into the girl’s sedan. Okay, the bespectacled girl was clearly in her annoyed mode. Ariana would just follow along.

Before long, they parked at a cafe, ordered gelato, a few slices of cake, and some cold drinks. It seemed like Amber was trying to bribe her. “What do you want to know?” she asked, getting straight to the point.

Honestly, Amber couldn’t stay mad at Ariana for long. Because if she got angry, Ariana with her stubborn attitude would ignore her. Or worse, she might lash out at her. And Amber didn’t want that to happen. She took a slow breath. “So, what was the deal with you leaving the restaurant last night?”

Ariana shrugged. “Dad asked me to give a check as a gift. That’s what Mrs. Brooks requested from him. The respectable lady wouldn’t even allow Dad to attend her daughter’s wedding.” Ariana replied coldly.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Amber asked sharply.

“It’s not that I didn’t want to. But you were already asleep,” Ariana replied honestly. Last night, after the drama between her and Mrs. Brooks, Ariana didn’t immediately go to the apartment she and Amber had been living in for the past two years.

Instead, Ariana chose to hang out and grab some street food along the way. She didn’t realize she had entered the apartment well past midnight.

Amber wasn’t the type to stay up late like Ariana, so Ariana chose to postpone the conversation.

“So, what do we do now?” Amber looked panicked. “Does Uncle Bradley know?” Ariana raised an eyebrow. “About Karenina’s disappearance?” Ariana shrugged. “She didn’t disappear. She just ran away.” Ariana corrected herself.

“Meaning?”

“Please expand your vocabulary, Miss Amber Quinn,” Ariana chided. “Disappeared means gone, vanished. While ran away means intentionally left.”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” Amber said impatiently. “So, does Uncle Bradley know?”

Once again, Ariana shrugged. “Dad doesn’t need to know. Besides, why should he? Karenina is probably fine somewhere. And I have no intention of becoming a replacement wife. Sorry, Ariana only plans to get married once in her lifetime. Even if we have to part ways, let it be because of death.” Ariana poked at her gelato and sighed with delight.

Amber observed her friend and cousin.

Back when they were children, Ariana was a friendly, energetic, and always curious girl. She loved socializing with anyone, regardless of their status or age. The opposite of Ariana was Karenina, her twin sister, who was a shy, reserved, and difficult-to-approach child. There always had to be Ariana accompanying Karenina wherever she wanted to go.

Then, one day, everything changed suddenly. Amber didn’t know what happened, but Ariana became quiet all of a sudden. Her parents often argued. Until one day, Uncle Bradley arrived with Ariana at their house, without Karenina and his wife, Caitlyn.

And at that time, Amber learned from her parents that Uncle Bradley had been deceived and had gone bankrupt. Not long after, Uncle Bradley received divorce papers that were secretly filed by Aunt Caitlyn in court, and then he suffered a heart attack that eventually led to a stroke.

Ariana, who was 10 years old at the time, was clearly in shock. She then tried to find her mother without anyone knowing, except for Amber, who was following Ariana at that time.

Young Ariana begged her mother and pleaded for her to return. “Have mercy, Ma. Dad is sick. Dad had a stroke.” Her young cousin even knelt before her own mother. Amber knew now that perhaps, at that time, Ariana didn’t know what a stroke was.

But instead of being moved by Ariana’s tears, Aunt Caitlyn drove her away and said that Ariana and her father had no more connection with her. Little Ariana could only cry all the way home. And a week later, Ariana and Amber found out that Ariana’s mother had remarried a wealthy man and left their town, along with Ariana’s twin, Karenina.

Ariana changed from that moment on. She became withdrawn. And a few months later, Ariana became a mere puppet. Going to school without any joy on her face. The girl even seemed reluctant to socialize with her peers anymore. Those who knew the old Ariana mourned with her. Even Amber’s parents tried to persuade Ariana, but the child remained the same.

“Poor Ariana’s dad if Ariana remains gloomy,” that was Amber’s mother’s persuasion at the time.

Ariana, who was initially plump and well-nourished, became thin. Nevertheless, she diligently cared for her father. Doing the things Aunt Caitlyn should have done. Cleaning her father’s body. Feeding him. And even disposing of her father’s waste, as he was completely unable to do anything at that time.

After taking care of her father, she would help Amber’s mother with household chores. Even when Amber’s mother told her to stop, the little girl insisted on helping.

Ariana became skilled at doing household chores at an age when children her age were still playing house and buying dolls. Amber often heard her mother complain to her father about Ariana. Not in a negative way, but out of pity. Her mother sometimes felt embarrassed because young Ariana behaved this way. However, young Ariana always said that all the household chores she did were purely a way to express her gratitude because her uncle and aunt were willing to take her in.

Then came Aunt Hestia. The beautiful and gentle-hearted woman had just returned to their town after her divorce. Somehow, Aunt Hestia managed to get close to Ariana. Ariana even learned how to cook from the former nurse who decided to open the restaurant. Somehow, Aunt Hestia also frequently visited Amber’s home and helped Uncle Bradley with therapy. Months later, Ariana’s father returned to normal and was able to work again.

The amount of time they spent together brought the three of them closer. And eventually, Ariana’s father proposed to Aunt Hestia and restarted his business.

Only God knows. Aunt Hestia, who was divorced because of infertility, turned out to be able to give a child to Ariana’s father. Ariana welcomed this with joy. Their happiness was finally restored. Slowly, Ariana forgot about her birth mother and her twin sister who had left her. And her father succeeded in rebuilding his business.

Even Aunt Hestia’s business, which initially started as a small restaurant, had now become a large chain with branches in several cities.

Ariana’s family returned to their former glory. However, now, as if to reopen old wounds, the past seemed to be on the verge of disturbing the happiness of their friend’s family.

One day, Amber accidentally stumbled upon the social media profiles of Ariana’s twin sister. With hesitation, Amber showed it to Ariana. Ariana acted normal, just smiling and expressing gratitude that her sister was doing well.

Then, a week ago, Ariana’s family was surprised by the arrival of someone who claimed to be a message from Mrs. Caitlyn. She threatened Uncle Bradley not to attend their daughter’s wedding, fearing it would tarnish her and her new husband’s reputation.

Uncle Bradley, who was not present at the time, was quite shocked. However, considering that Karenina was also his daughter and because he wanted to show his love, he asked Ariana to deliver the check as a gift, the one Ariana had mentioned the previous night.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Remarkably, Amber had to admire Ariana’s behavior when she faced those wealthy people. “Giving away her daughter’s heart, or bankrupting her mother’s family?” It was truly something Amber couldn’t have imagined before. Did Ariana hate her mother that much?