(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

The rectangular table had eight chairs. One chair was placed at each end of the table, and the remaining three chairs were arranged facing each other on each side. Gerald sat at one end of the table, and Mrs. Rosaline sat at the opposite end. Ariana sat to Gerald’s right, and Axel sat to Ariana’s right, leaving one chair empty. Meanwhile, on Gerald’s left, Karenina, his mother, and Ariana’s mother were seated.

“It feels like a complete family, doesn’t it?” Mrs. Caitlyn exclaimed loudly. It was clear that her gaze was directed at Karenina and Gerald. Ariana understood the implication. In truth, her heart stung a little due to her mother’s blatant discrimination against her and Karenina. Yet, Ariana chose not to resist.

“Of course,” Ariana heard Mrs. Rosaline speak up. “In the end, my grandson gets a good wife, and Axel gets the mother he needs. What more could we ask for?” Mrs. Rosaline’s gaze shifted towards Ariana, a warm smile on her face that made Ariana feel a bit warmer.

A scoff was heard. Ariana glanced at Mrs. Isidora and her own mother.

“But why do I see it as if he’s a child and she’s his nanny?” Mrs. Isidora blurted out.

Mrs. Rosaline chuckled. “Why? Does it remind you of your past with Gerald?” Mrs. Rosaline asked, her expression amused. Ariana could see her mother and twin sister looking surprised. “Maybe the same story will repeat itself, albeit in a different sequence,” Mrs. Rosaline replied in her usual calm tone.

Meanwhile, Ariana didn’t see Gerald make any comments. But for some reason, she hoped he would at least say something in her defense. Some kind of defense, perhaps? She silently pleaded in her heart. But Gerald seemed engrossed in his own world, completely focused on the tablet in front of him, which Yusuf had given him a while ago.

Ariana chose to close her ears to it all. If Gerald indeed wanted to ignore all those remarks, why should she care? If he truly didn’t care, then Ariana would consider him indifferent. Even though deep inside, frustration settled in her chest. Where was the sweet Gerald from last night? And seeing Gerald’s behavior only reinforced what Karenina, her mother, and her mother-in-law had said moments ago.Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

“Mommy, are you taking Axel today?” Axel asked with his mouth full.

Ariana looked down at the little boy. “Mommy Karen will be taking Axel later,” she replied before Axel could finish his question. Ariana looked up and met her mother-in-law’s warm smile directed at Axel.

‘Mommy Karen.’ Wasn’t that nickname what eventually drove Ariana away from home the last time? Was the confrontation starting now? Openly? Ariana wondered within herself.

“No Mommy Karen, Mommy. Axel’s mother is just Ariana. Mommy Ariana,” Gerald stated firmly, his gaze piercing his mother after placing his tablet on the table. “Papa and Mommy will take Axel to school. After that, Papa and Mommy will go to work. Okay?” Gerald looked at Axel, who also looked back and nodded in agreement. “And Gerald will also inform all of you. Gerald, Ariana, and Axel will move out of this house tomorrow,” he continued, causing the three women at the dining table to straighten up.

“B-but why? Are you intending to separate Axel from Mommy? Axel’s grandmother, Gerald,” Mrs. Isidora protested, her eyes welling with tears.

“Gerald won’t separate Mommy from Axel. Because no matter what, she’s Mommy’s grandmother. But if Mommy doesn’t want Axel to move from this place, Mommy should think twice about inviting guests into this house,” Gerald’s gaze was still on his mother, but it was clear whom his words were directed at.

“But they are Mommy’s guests. Mommy has the right to invite them,” Mrs. Isidora complained again.

“And Gerald also has the right to decide where his wife and child should live. Because their comfort is the top priority for Gerald,” Gerald replied.

“Is all of this because of her?” Mrs. Isidora openly accused Ariana. Ariana looked up and stared at her mother-in-law with a raised eyebrow. “How can you monopolize Gerald like this? Did you give him some sort of cheap magic potion?” she accused again. Ariana furrowed her brow deeper. “If you had married Karenina, all this wouldn’t have happened. You would have lived here comfortably. How can a wife separate her husband from his own family?” Mrs. Isidora complained again.

Ariana laughed bitterly. She placed her spoon down harshly on her plate. “If that’s what you truly wanted, Karenina to be Gerald’s wife, then why did you come to me and ask me to replace her?” Ariana asked sharply.

She was truly fed up with being the accused party. It’s not like she hadn’t fought back. But why did it feel like all of this kept happening to her repeatedly? Why did she feel like a broken record playing the same words in different scenes?

“T-that’s because,” Mrs. Isidora stammered.

“Because you didn’t want to be embarrassed?” Ariana asked harshly. “Just because I have the same face as hers, you thought you wouldn’t lose face in public because everyone would assume that I’m her. But why didn’t you consider that eventually, I would decide to stay? Did you forget, when you asked me to replace her, you said ‘until an undetermined time’? Ariana looked at her mother.

“And did you forget that you even begged me to do it unconditionally? So, is this all my fault if until now I haven’t chosen to trade my position with hers?” Ariana asked harshly. “Try to remember with your supposedly intelligent brains. Who manipulated things and left me with no choice but to marry Gerald? Was it me who kidnapped my own father? Please, wake up. If there’s anyone to blame, just blame that person. If only he hadn’t been a coward and run away when the wedding was about to take place, all of this wouldn’t have happened,” Ariana replied firmly.

“If that’s the case, why don’t you give yourself up? Relinquish your status so I can reclaim my position?” Karenina spoke up.

Ariana was about to reply, but then Gerald interrupted. “What can you offer in exchange for Ariana? Hasn’t my mother already offered a fantastic sum to Ariana? Can you provide a better deal?” Gerald looked at Karenina with one eyebrow raised and a sharp glint in his eyes.

Both Ariana, Karenina, and Mrs. Isidora stared at Gerald with gaping mouths. They assumed that the conversation was happening internally, and they were quite surprised when those words came out of Gerald’s mouth.

“You need to know that I have eyes, a mouth, and ears that can tell me anything. So don’t think just because you do things discreetly, I’m clueless,” Gerald stared at Karenina, Mrs. Isidora, and Ariana in turn. Ariana still looked at Gerald, this time not with a confused gaze, but with frustration etched on her face.