(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

Ariana angrily pushed the restaurant door open. Amber, who happened to be at the front office, looked at her in surprise. “Oh my God, look who’s here, the newlywed with such a sour face. What happened? Didn’t get your share last night?” Amber teased. Dara, who was next to her, chuckled.

“Where’s my phone?” Ariana asked, ignoring her cousin and best friend’s sarcasm. “Why are you asking me? Your husband took it home, didn’t he?” Amber replied honestly.

Ariana gaped. Then she rolled her eyes. She was really in a bad mood now. “Why didn’t he say anything?” she grumbled as she headed upstairs.

“You don’t want to handle the kitchen first!” Amber shouted. Ariana glanced at her and then glared.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“Why do you and Jody exist if I can’t have a vacation?” she jeered, glaring. “I don’t want to be disturbed! I want to meditate upstairs. Beware if anyone knocks on the door!” she yelled, continuing to climb the stairs to her private room.

Amber and Dara exchanged puzzled glances, but then they continued with their work.

Sementara itu, di kediaman Zeroun, Gerald glared sharply at Yosef. The middle-aged man had informed him that Ariana left the house after talking to her mother and mother-in-law. “Where did she go?” he asked. He deliberately didn’t go to the office, fearing something might happen to Ariana, especially with her sudden visit from her mother.

To compensate for his absence at the office, he had rescheduled meetings for video conferences, making them as brief as possible. Alright, he was the one who had asked not to be disturbed, and now he regretted giving that order. Damn! Was the girl planning to run away again?

Chris! That name made his mind fume. Could Ariana have gone to see that man again? Yes, it was entirely possible. “Did you instruct someone to follow her?” Gerald asked again. The older man nodded. “Have you found out where Ariana went?” Yosef seemed to be holding back his laughter as he nodded. “What’s going on? What’s so funny?” Gerald inquired, curious.

“Madam knows she’s being followed. She got angry and scolded our workers.” Gerald furrowed his brow. “You mean she’s upset because she’s being followed? Why are they so foolish? We pay them well so that they won’t be detected.” Gerald was growing increasingly frustrated with his employees. Why did everything they did since Ariana arrived feel so imperfect? Perfection used to be Gerald’s top demand.

But Yosef shook his head. “Madam isn’t angry because she’s being followed, Sir,” he said, still trying to hold back his laughter. Gerald looked at him, growing more puzzled, while Yosef was recalling the report from the two people who were following Ariana. “Madam is angry because they didn’t offer her a ride.” Yosef repeated his words. And Gerald could only gape at the revelation. He massaged his temples, which were suddenly pounding fiercely. “Sir, don’t worry; they safely escorted Madam to Leonida’s,” Yosef continued, trying to reassure him.

Gerald stared at the middle-aged man who still seemed amused by Ariana’s actions. “Make sure she stays there. Ensure they bring Ariana back safely. Also, monitor anyone approaching Ariana, especially if a man named Chris Alessandro comes to the restaurant. They must report immediately. I don’t want Ariana planning something bad with that damn man!” he ordered. Yosef nodded and turned to leave Gerald’s room. But just as Yosef was about to open the door, Gerald exclaimed, “Wait!”

Yosef turned back and faced Gerald. “Is my mother-in-law still here?” he inquired.

Yosef shook his head. “She left with your mother, Sir. About half an hour ago.” Gerald simply nodded and instructed Yosef to leave.

Gerald leaned back in his chair. For God’s sake. Was married life always this exasperating? he wondered inwardly. It hadn’t even been a week since he and Ariana got married, but it felt like he might die young. If not from stress, then maybe from a heart attack.

Ariana. Why did she always test him with various things? Couldn’t she go a day without making him worried and anxious? Couldn’t she just be a sweet, obedient girl for a day?

But then Gerald shook his head. She wouldn’t be Ariana if she became sweet and obedient. But Karenina would.

Karenina. Uttering her name made Gerald irritated. He knew another challenge would come when she returned. And Gerald wanted to know what reason she would present when she returned.

Would she beg him and plead to regain her position? Or would she be grateful that she no longer had to bother being Gerald’s bride?

Gerald smirked cynically. He listened again to the recording of the conversation in the living room. Who said Gerald didn’t know what happened to Ariana, his mother, and his mother-in-law? He knew it all. Because from the moment Ariana stepped into that room, Gerald witnessed and heard everything. Perhaps his mother or mother-in-law didn’t know that the entire room was equipped with recording devices and top-quality CCTV.

Even though Gerald heard Ariana say she would hand everything back to Karenina when she returned, he could be sure Ariana wouldn’t make it easy for Karenina. And if Ariana decided to truly leave, Gerald would ensure she wouldn’t go easily. Even if he had to confront Chris again. He didn’t care. To him, what was his wouldn’t be easily taken by someone else. Not unless he allowed it.

Di dalam restoran, Ariana lay on her bed, her mind heavy with the conversation with Gerald that had escalated into threats from her mother. It gave her an intense headache. Was there an easy way for her to return to her comfortable life, where she could live freely? Where she only had to be responsible for herself and her employees? Where she could solely focus on her work?

Everything, even though so far nothing – or not yet – had harmed Ariana aside from her status changing from single to a wife, made her sick. And she still had to confront her twin sister when the girl returned.

Karenina. Where was she? She was the cause of all this chaos.