(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

Ariana shrugged. She walked closer and asked what she could help with. She didn’t want to discuss the woman who had annoyed her all day and had even ruined her appetite.

Mrs. Rosaline didn’t give her any tasks and instead ordered Ariana to sit on one of the chairs there. Ariana complied without protest.

“Don’t you want to know who she is?” Mrs. Rosaline asked as she stir-fried minced beef. “Is it necessary?” Ariana replied with a question of her own.

“At least by asking, it shows that you care,” Mrs. Rosaline replied again.

Ariana shook her head. She picked up a tempting red tomato and bit into it, producing a sound that made others salivate upon hearing it.

“Caring isn’t always marked by the number of questions asked,” she replied between bites. “Some people ask not because they care, but because they need a story to listen to, which they can later use as a topic of conversation when they meet others,” she continued and bit into her tomato again.

“Are you not curious at all about my grandson’s past?” Mrs. Rosaline asked.

Ariana shrugged. “Even if I’m curious, it won’t change anything. The more I ask, the more facts I know, the hotter my chest feels. And I clearly dislike that,” she replied coldly.

Mrs. Rosaline smiled. “So, do you already have feelings for Gerald?” she asked with an amused expression. Ariana shrugged again. “Like it’s habitual?” she said to herself. “Maybe.”

Mrs. Rosaline chuckled at her response. “Young people these days are indeed different,” she muttered as she added other ingredients to the pan in front of her. “What happened between you two? Are you fighting?” Mrs. Rosaline asked casually.

Ariana shrugged once more. “Not fighting. Just giving each other time to digest the situation,” she replied calmly.

“You both are indeed equally stubborn. Why don’t you do everything the simple way?” “Simple in what way?”

“You know he likes you. And you also like him now. Why don’t you just say that you like him and you don’t want to see him with anyone else but you?”

Ariana snorted. She reached for another tomato and bit into it. “Would he listen if I said it?” Ariana shook her head with a sigh. “From what I know, women are not something he can avoid. Didn’t you say that yourself a while ago?” Ariana countered.

Mrs. Rosaline fell silent for a moment, trying to remember. “But that was in the past. Not anymore. Because now he is a husband and also a father.”

Ariana shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. The proof is, he didn’t mind at all when that woman clung to him. If he really considers himself a husband, he should be aware. Even if his wife isn’t there to see, he should still protect himself from the touch of other women. And he should also be mindful of others’ eyes so they don’t assume things about him. But the reality is, he acts so casually. He doesn’t even know that his own employees suspect that they’re a well-matched couple. Hah, where’s the husband in him if everyone still sees him as a bachelor?” she sneered.

Mrs. Rosaline was already preparing the second dish. “How do you know all this?” she inquired curiously. “I was lucky enough to see and hear everything firsthand, with my own ears and eyes,” Ariana replied. Mrs. Rosaline chuckled again. “So that’s why you’re jealous?”

Ariana shrugged. “Not jealous. Just uncomfortable,” she replied. There was no more conversation between the two of them. Mrs. Rosaline was busy with her cooking, and Ariana chose to observe and inquire about some of the ingredients she was using.

Half an hour later, they were sitting at the dining table in their usual Mommyr dining area.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

This time, Mrs. Isidora formally introduced Ariana and the woman named Shelma. Gerald’s absence at the dining table seemed to make his mother-in-law show her fangs without fear of anyone retaliating with intimidation.

“Mendengar kau seorang pemilik restoran?” The question was clearly just small talk. Ariana knew it. She nodded in response. “And I heard you’ve been cooking at this house lately?” Ariana nodded again. “I can’t cook. Will you teach me?” she asked, again feeling irritated that Ariana didn’t give her any response.

“Why do you want to cook?” Ariana suddenly asked.

Shelma shrugged. “Just feel like it,” she replied casually.

Ariana smiled. “Well, then you can hire a professional chef to teach you. Because I’m not a patient person. I’m not fit to instruct anyone. Especially someone who can’t distinguish galangal, ginger, galangal, and turmeric,” she replied sarcastically.

Shelma looked at her irritably. “Your cooking isn’t all that great. Just look at what’s served here. You claim to be a restaurant owner, but the food you serve looks more like street food.”

Ariana glanced at the menu. Stir-fried beef with sliced bell peppers and broccoli. Slices of mendoan. Fried tofu and shrimp paste sambal. Which part of this did she call street food? But Ariana didn’t bother. She preferred to continue her meal.

“So, I heard from Auntie that you replaced your twin sister to marry Gerald?” the woman asked in what Ariana considered an arrogant tone. Ariana looked at her without intending to answer. “What do you call yourself then? Replacement bride? Or exchanged bride?” she said.

Ariana shrugged. “Call it whatever you want,” she replied.

“Replacement bride, a more elegant term,” the woman replied. Ariana shrugged again as she continued to eat. “So, after this, do you plan to separate?” she asked again when she didn’t get any response from Ariana.

Ariana looked at her again. “Do you want to take my place as Gerald’s wife?” Ariana asked, raising an eyebrow.

Shelma fell silent. She looked at Mrs. Rosaline, as if seeking support. Before finally looking at Ariana enthusiastically. “Of course. Gerald should have married me from the start. If only my dad hadn’t intervened. Maybe we would have our own child by now,” she replied passionately.

Ariana continued to eat, her eyes still fixed on Shelma. “So what can you offer me to make me leave my position?” the same question she had posed to her mother, her sister, and her mother-in-law.

Shelma looked at Ariana in disbelief. Then a smile spread across her face. “Anything you want. I can provide it. You should know, I am my father’s only daughter. My father will give me anything I want,” she replied proudly.

Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. “Is that so? You’ll give me anything I want?” Ariana challenged her again. Shelma nodded eagerly. “In that case, I want both of your hands,” Ariana replied flatly.

Shelma widened her eyes. She looked at Ariana in disbelief. “Y-you?” she stuttered. “Me, what?” Ariana challenged her.

“How can you ask for something so absurd?” she exclaimed.

“I don’t understand what you mean. I only accept the offer you gave,” Ariana replied casually. “But why do you want my hand?” Shelma looked at Ariana warily.

“Let me ask you something,” Ariana placed her spoon and fork upside down. Wiping her mouth with a tissue in the slowest and most graceful motion possible, she asked, “What would you do with something you don’t like and never want to see again?” She inquired.

Shelma looked puzzled but then answered, “Of course, get rid of it, what else?” Ariana then smiled. “But what does that have to do with my hand?”

Ariana shrugged. “Because I don’t like it, and I don’t want to see it touching Gerald again,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm and threat.

Shelma and even Mrs. Isidora were wide-eyed at her words. But Ariana didn’t care. Instead, she rose from her seat and took her empty plate. But before that, she spoke, “Thank you, Grandma, the commoner’s food you made suits my taste.” Her words made Shelma look at Mrs. Rosaline with a pale face.