(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

“Your mother-in-law is here, Sir.” Instantly, Ariana exploded into laughter. It wasn’t a joyous laugh, but a cynical one she directed at Gerald. She had suspected who would come to this place.

Her step mother ? Certainly not. Her step mother wouldn’t do something like this. But to convince herself, she asked the household assistant, “Who came? Is it Mrs. Caitlyn?” Her question clearly startled the household assistant.

Which child referred to their own mother as “Mrs.”? Gerald himself called his mother “Mom.” That’s what Ariana suspected was causing turmoil in the mind of Gerald’s household assistant.

“Y-yes, Ma’am,” the assistant stammered nervously.

“Who does she want to meet? Me or your Master?” Ariana asked again.

The household assistant looked shocked once more. “S-she wants to meet you, Ma’am,” she replied. Ariana smirked. She glanced at Gerald, who was also staring at her in surprise.

“Can you guess what she wants to say?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. Gerald frowned. “I’ll tell you what we talk about.” Ariana said, tapping her chest lightly. “Later.” She continued before leaving Gerald and following the household assistant downstairs to the first floor.

Mrs. Caitlyn looked incredibly elegant in her expensive attire. Even the handbag she held, Ariana was sure, could be worth a brand-new motorcycle. The woman appeared to be accompanied by Gerald’s mother, Ariana’s impromptu mother-in-law.

Deliberately, Ariana tapped her house slippers louder on the floor. She did this, of course, to attract the attention of the two women.

“I heard I have a visitor. Little did I know you came here to see me. Is there something I can help you with?” Ariana asked skeptically.

Mrs. Caitlyn rose from her seat and approached. Perhaps she wanted to engage in the customary small talk they usually did – cheek kisses and pleasantries. But sorry, Ariana was not from the elegant circles. So before the woman could approach, she chose to sit in the farthest chair.

“I think you two could talk privately,” said her mother-in-law, a suggestion nodded to by Mrs. Caitlyn. Ariana watched her mother-in-law leave the living room, intentionally closing the door behind her. Now, she was alone with the woman who had given birth to her.

“So, what brings the honorable Mrs. here? Surely not just to check if I’m still alive, right?” Ariana asked bluntly.

“I heard that you left home,” the woman said, getting straight to the point. Ariana simply smiled. She could guess who had provided that information.

“And let me guess, you rushed here immediately after being informed that I’ve returned?” Ariana asked, one eyebrow raised. “I’m back in one piece, I’m sorry if that disappoints you,” Ariana replied with her cynical smile.

“Ariana…” the woman said softly. “Is there something else you want to ask?”

“This is about Karenina,” the woman said again.

“Why? Has she returned? And you want her back in her position, as Gerald’s wife?” Ariana challenged. Mrs. Caitlyn looked at Ariana, clearly confused.

“She hasn’t returned yet,” Mrs. Caitlyn replied, her demeanor now embarrassed.

Ariana feigned surprise, clutching her chest. “Oh, what a shame. Her mother seemed so eager to restore her position,” Ariana said mockingly. “But don’t worry. If you’re concerned that I might forget who I really am, you don’t need to worry. I’ve promised myself that I will leave this place as soon as your beloved daughter returns.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not you or your child who enjoys such extravagance,” Ariana looked around the luxurious living room. “I’m not a lover of wealth and respect. I’d rather live in a humble home and eat what I have than live in a house coated in gold and diamonds but consume bitterness every day,” she jabbed. Ariana then stood up, intending to leave the woman when she said, “You can’t blame me for wanting a better life.” She said it a bit roughly. Ariana stopped in her tracks and turned.

“Am I blaming you, Madam?” she asked, her lips curling slightly. “I have never blamed anyone. When you chose to leave, I didn’t blame you. Everyone has their own obsessions. And I understand, as a human being, you have yours too. But honestly, I am ashamed of you. And that shame turns into rooted hatred, here.” Ariana pointed at her chest. “At the very least, as a human being, you should have gratitude. Even a stray dog can become loyal to the person who feeds it. But you? You even disregarded someone who, with a kind heart, gave you love and affection. You cast him away like trash when he had nothing. And treated him as if he were nobody, even though he had given you everything all this time.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“And do you know that your actions right now are revealing who you truly are? After you, who requested – no, more accurately, forced, because you and your beloved husband held my father hostage – my position as your daughter, you now openly warn me to remember who I am and what my rightful position should be. But you should know, even without your warning, I won’t stay here any longer. Because even if your daughter doesn’t return, I will find a way to leave this place,” she said coldly. After that, Ariana opened the door and left the woman standing there, still lost in her thoughts.

Ariana wasn’t surprised to see her mother-in-law standing outside the living room. Whether the woman had eavesdropped or not, Ariana gave her a sweet smile. “Thank you for taking the trouble to be an informant for Mrs. Caitlyn, Mother-in-law. You don’t need to worry. Just like I told your friend, I will restore your beloved daughter’s position to its rightful place. So, both of you don’t need to devise unnecessary strategies to get rid of me from this place. Because truly, from the beginning, I never dreamed of living here.” Ariana shocked someone again with her words, but she chose to ignore it.

She walked away from the house, ignoring the greetings of the servants. She didn’t care if she was labeled as arrogant or cruel. She didn’t need their politeness. She didn’t care about their flattery. She would only care about herself, her own happiness. She kept walking toward the main gate. ‘Why does the distance from the door to the gate have to be this far?’ she muttered to herself. Just look at this garden; if they built an orphanage here, how many rooms could it have?

Ariana stared at the security guard and asked him to open the gate. The man in his thirties seemed surprised but still opened the gate for Ariana. And as the main gate opened, Ariana became aware once again. She was far from civilization.