(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

“Are you trying to break out of your shell, Nara?” Airrin asked nonchalantly. She stared at the woman through the large mirror in front of her. “I thought you were seeking sympathy from people with the story your husband told about you and your stepsister willingly accepting polygamy. If I didn’t know who you were, I might have felt sorry for you. Unfortunately, I know you well enough, so that feeling never crossed my mind.” Ariana flicked her wet hand, deliberately splashing the woman’s dress before placing her hand under the dryer.

“But I’m curious, when did your husband marry Tanisha? I thought she disappeared all this time, and I was genuinely surprised to hear she’s back. And when did their marriage take place? A week after your wedding? A month later? Because I thought your marriage hadn’t lasted long. I still remember how you flaunted your big diamond ring in front of me at the restaurant a while back,” Ariana continued in her flat tone.

Lunara looked at Ariana with hatred in her eyes. “You can mock me now, but you don’t know what will happen later,” the woman began to show her fangs. “You must know who Shelma is. She’s not an ordinary woman. Shelma is confident that Gerald will leave you one day, and after that, she and my husband will be back together,” she said with disdain.

“Is that so?” Ariana showed a panic-stricken expression.

A sinister smile spread across Lunara’s face. “Of course. Shelma is the sole heir of a coal tycoon. If she wants, she could buy a hundred restaurants like yours. What are you? Nothing more than dirt stuck to the bottom of her expensive shoe. And when Gerald regains his senses, he’ll leave you just like he left Karenina.”

Ariana nodded. “I see…” she said flatly. But then, Ariana shrugged. “But why do I feel completely unbothered?” She said with a thin smile on her face. “If in the end, I’ll be back with Shelma willingly, I will step aside voluntarily. Isn’t it widely known that I’m just a replacement bride?”

Moreover, I’m not a woman without dignity like you, Nara. Even when you knew your husband didn’t love you, you still wanted to be with him, licking his feet. Why? Because you love him too much?” Ariana sneered. “I think it’s all nonsense. You should be friends with my sister because you both are the same type. Both money-worshipping women. Unfortunately, I’m not like that.” Ariana walked away, leaving the woman behind. But the woman’s voice stopped her steps.

Lunara stared back at Ariana sharply. “That’s why you deserve to be friends with Tanisha. Because you and she are both willing to be the second women,” she taunted. Ariana turned back to face Lunara. A mocking smile played on the woman’s lips. “Everyone knows you were just a backup bride because your twin sister was absent. In other words, if you weren’t considered the replacement bride, then you would be the woman who shamelessly took her own sister’s future husband. You and Tanisha are the same; you both are women who took their own brothers’ men.”

Ariana walked closer, standing right in front of the slightly shorter woman and stared at her sharply. “At least, Tanisha and I share the same fate. They-those men, clearly desired us. While you and Shelma are shameless women begging for a man’s attention. Both of you are shamelessly claiming men who don’t want you. Haven’t you heard what your husband said? Or are you pretending not to know? To him, you’re nothing more than a decoration to run the company. The woman he loves is Tanisha, the stepsister you and your mother so heartlessly discarded. To me, you, my sister, and the woman named Shelma are nothing more than harlots.” Ariana hissed.Exclusive content from NôvelDrama.Org.

Lunara raised her hand and tried to slap Ariana, but Ariana was quicker, catching the woman’s hand and squeezing it hard until the woman whimpered. Her face, already red from anger, now started to tear up from the pain. “You…” she hissed.

“I what? A barbaric woman? You’ve clearly said all of this to everyone since our school days. Or if you forget, you once told everyone that I’m a lesbian. I remember that vividly in my mind, Nara. And don’t think I forgave you since then. Because I’m not a forgiver, and you know that. And about what I said, that’s the harsh reality, Lunara,” Ariana replied again, her mouth twisting with a sense of triumph. Ariana slammed the woman’s hand until the back of her hand hit the sink, and Lunara cried out in pain. But Ariana paid no mind. “You don’t need to pretend to be a victim, Nara. You don’t have to put on that pleading face for everyone. Because everyone knows who you are and what your behavior is out there. No need to act like someone who’s been hurt because clearly, in front of me, I know how accustomed you are to hurting others. Either with your actions or your words. And don’t make me hate you even more by always mentioning Karenina and Shelma. Because you don’t know what I can do in front of your husband who doesn’t love you to bring you down,” she threatened coldly. And this time, Ariana truly turned and left the woman who was still holding her hand in pain.

Unbeknownst to Ariana, someone emerged from one of the bathroom stalls and stared at Lunara with a disgusted expression. “I thought I could trust you,” the woman snorted. Just like Ariana, the woman casually washed her hands and glanced at Lunara in the large mirror in front of her. “I thought you could handle her, but apparently…” the woman also splashed her hands in front of Lunara. “You can’t rely on you at all,” she said sharply. She then turned and left the bathroom.

Gerald raised an eyebrow when he saw Ariana. He had been worried when his wife went to the bathroom and took so long to return. He was afraid she would come back alone, angry after hearing Sheraz’s words. Or perhaps something worse. He feared his wife might be accosted by an unknown man who wanted to get to know her. Gerald hated that thought because, in any case, he couldn’t ignore Ariana’s extraordinary charm. But then, a more terrifying thought crossed his mind. What he feared most was Ariana hearing unpleasant remarks from the guests. Whatever those remarks might be, they could relate to Karenina or Shelma. Gerald didn’t want that to happen and eventually strain his relationship with Ariana. After all, he had tried so hard to make her believe. Was it a mistake to bring Ariana here? Was the idea of introducing Ariana to everyone wrong?

Then Gerald saw his wife walking with a smile on her face. He then knew Ariana was fine. And all the worries in his head were just needless anxieties.