Not The Billionaire's Replacement Bride

Ariana looked at the luxurious house. The house that caused the woman who gave birth to her left her and her father. The house is like a palace but contains monsters inside. Ariana smiled wryly. Ariana would have been reluctant to set foot there all her life if only her father hadn't forced her to come to that place to hand over her wedding gift. Ariana exhaled and then got out of the car with heavy steps. How long has it been since he saw the woman who was his biological mother? A year? Two years? Oh, yeah. It had been fifteen years since Ariana last saw her. And that made her smile wryly. Ariana doesn't hate her 'mother'. Or rather, his father forbade him from hating that woman. The woman who abandoned her and her father just because Mr Bradley Leonidas fell ill was down and poor. Mr. Bradley Leonidas is a good man in Ariana's eyes. He is a man who always forgives even though, in the end, he becomes an abandoned figure. Meanwhile, Ariana grew up to be a girl with a cold and cunning personality, much like her mother. That's what she admitted to herself. The servants of the luxurious house stared at Ariana with their mouths agape. Why? Maybe because they were surprised that the bride-to-be they knew was gentle, loving, and ethical, who should now be enjoying a bachelorette night or perhaps getting treatment before the wedding, was walking around freely. One other fact you should know. Ariana has a twin sister—identical twins born five minutes later than Ariana. Just like she doesn't like her mother, Ariana doesn't like her twin sister, Karenina Leonidas, who has now changed her name to Karenina Brooks. Like mother like daughter, that's what Ariana often calls the two of them. Just as she was cunning, Karenina was no less cunning. Even the twin sisters' cunning had been visible since they were little. It was proven that when she was only ten, the girl could choose who would give her a more profitable life. It was clear that living with her poor and sick father was not an option, so she chose to go with her mother to live a new, more comfortable life. Hate? No, just like she was forbidden to hate her mother, Ariana was forbidden to hate her twin sister. "Hatred will only make your heart rotten." That's what her father told him. And Ariana doesn't hate her twin sister. She just felt disgusted. That's okay. The tapping sound of the stiletto hitting the expensive marble floor echoed throughout the room. Or just in her ears because it was clear that currently, Brooks' palace seemed to be busy with people going back and forth preparing for the 'eldest daughter's' luxurious party. The large double mahogany doors with beautiful carvings opened wide. Uniformed servants were seen going in and out with objects in their hands. Some craftsmen put up decorations there. With steady and confident steps, Ariana stepped deeper. Looking for a figure, she hopes she can still recognize even after fifteen years has changed many things, whether in the shape of his body or face. "Mommy, it's Karen!" A boy suddenly pointed at Ariana. Ariana glanced at him. She frowned and tried to pay closer attention. Ariana guessed that the little boy was only ten or eleven years old. And yes, the boy's scream when he called his mother attracted several people's attention to Ariana. Smile? No, Ariana is not that friendly, so she shows a straight face and tends to be arrogant. "Sorry, but I'm not Karenina." The answer was cold. "I came here to see Mrs. Caitlyn Brooks." She said in a flat tone. A beautiful woman shorter than Ariana with a slim body shape like a teenager wrapped in a beautiful dress, which was expensive, came closer to Ariana. "Ariana..?" called the woman doubtfully. Fifteen years ago, Ariana thought her mother was tall, like a model. Now that she is an adult, it turns out that his mother is not as big as the woman in her memories. "Yes, I'm Ariana." Ariana confirmed. Should she feel grateful that the woman still knew his name? It doesn't feel like it. Isn't it normal for parents to remember their biological child's name? The smile on the woman's face grew wider. Ariana saw the twinkle in her eyes. Her small arms stretched out to hug Ariana, but Ariana moved back instantly. Sorry, in Ariana's eyes, the woman looks more like a germ she must avoid than a 'mother' figure who must be loved. "Don't. You. Dare. Come closer. And touch me." She ordered with a low hiss, which she pronounced with full emphasis on every syllable. The woman froze, stopping in her tracks right then and there. So did the people there. "I didn't come here to get a warm connection that was clearly just an act. I just came here to hand this over." Ariana placed the envelope on the table closest to her. "This is the check that father left for my beloved twin sisters. The prospective bride." She said with a mocking smile on her face. Her eyes looked around, looking for the figure in question, but she knew that the figure was not there if she recalled the words the boy had given her when she entered earlier. Mrs Caitlyn grabbed the envelope and was then seen sobbing. Ariana raised an eyebrow at the woman. 'Sad?' She asked herself. She didn't care because she was already numb to her; hence, she didn't feel touched. "I've finished my business. If that's the case, I'll excuse myself." Ariana said goodbye as she turned to leave. But suddenly, the woman grabbed her arm. "Wait," she asked in a pitiful tone. Ariana was silent for a moment in her place. Stunned by the scene that had just happened to her. "Please, Ariana. Help me." The woman asked in a low, pitiful tone. Ariana looked at her with sharp eyes while the woman looked back at her hopefully. "Ka-Karen disappeared. She goes." The woman said, explaining. "Disappear?" Ariana asked sarcastically. The woman nodded her head many times in response. Then Ariana raised the corners of her mouth, deliberately smiling mockingly. "What does it have to do with me?" She asked back while slapping the woman's hand roughly until she fell and screamed in surprise. Ariana snorted in disgust. Even the impact of his hand on the woman's hand was not so strong that it could make the woman fall like that. But something suddenly hit Ariana's body, causing her to stagger two steps backwards. She saw the stocky little boy as the culprit. Who else, if not her half-brother? "Why are you being rude to Mommy!" snapped the boy standing before his mother. He seemed to be standing up to defend the woman who had given birth to him. And Ariana’s saw a middle-aged man who seemed to be helping the woman and lifting her to her feet. "Can't you see that your mother is fine?" Ariana asked in a cold tone and sharp gaze that made the boy shrink, losing his courage. "Don't act like a lost bear cub, little one." It was his sarcasm that made the boy step back. "Ariana, please. Just help me this once." The woman who had stood up straight again complained again. Ariana looked at him with a flat gaze. "Why should I help you?" she asked coldly. "When I asked you to help me fifteen years ago, even by kowtowing and begging, did you ever pay attention?" She asked, which made the woman freeze with her face turning pale. "No," Ariana answered coldly. "You turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to me. And you even said, 'I have no more relationship with you or your father. I only have one daughter, that is Karenina. So whatever happens to your father, I no longer care.' That's what you said the other day, ma'am. So sorry. As you said, we have no relationship, nor am I obligated to care about you and my twin sister." Ariana turned around again and was about to leave, but the woman's hand stopped her again. But this time, she gripped her leg instead of gripping her hand. 'So, this woman is back in a drama as a beggar?' Ariana asked disgustedly. "Ariana, please help me just this once. Karenina leaves. He ran away while the wedding was going to take place tomorrow. Help me, Ariana. Please." The woman said in a sobbing tone that Ariana knew were not real tears. "I don't know what I can do to help and I certainly don't want to ask or make it happen. I will not provide any help, no matter how small." Ariana answered again, trying to remove the woman's hand from her leg. "I will pay you. Whatever you want." The voice came from the mouth of the man who had previously helped the woman who was now begging Ariana. "How much can you afford?" challenged Ariana. "Whatever you want. Or whatever you ask," Mr. Brooks answered confidently. A smile was etched on his face, and Ariana said he still looked handsome even though he was over five years old. "Whatever?" The man's face lit up even more, and he nodded happily. "Whatever." "What if I asked for your child's heart in exchange for the request your wife would make?" Ariana asked defiantly. The older adult's forehead furrowed while the woman's grip on her leg loosened. "Why? You said you were willing to give 'anything' right? Doesn't that mean you're going to ask for something that's important to you? So instead I asked for something that you consider important too." Ariana answered with a sweet smile on her face. "Ariana..." Mrs Caitlyn sighed softly. Ariana crouched in front of her. She was aligning her face with the beautiful face of a woman who, even though she has aged, still looks youthful because of the diligent care she undergoes. The woman was still trying to show a pitiful face. 'Her eyes are exactly like mine.' Ariana muttered to herself. She flashed the friendliest smile she could muster before answering. "Sorry, Ma’am. But I'm not the poor girl you abandoned before. So, if you offer me money, it doesn't mean anything to me. And even if I'm still poor right now, I won't accept a penny of money that you gave." Ariana rose to her feet. She was looking down at the woman who was still acting with a cold gaze. "Pride?" she asked quietly. "To hell with self-respect. We haven't had that since you left us, who begged and begged for your return. And your self-respect. That's your business. Not mine." And without further ado, Ariana chose to leave.

Moments before. Gerald looked at his assistant with a sharp gaze. "Repeat what you said?" he asked sharply. The middle-aged man who had worked since he was a baby looked at him and said flatly. "Your fiance, Miss Karenina Brooks has disappeared, sir." He answered again. "Disappear?" He repeated the word. Not because Gerald's hearing was impaired, but to make sure that what he heard was wrong. "Disappeared, you say?" The old man nodded again, "The day before the wedding?" Again, the older adult nodded. "How so?" He asked in a cold tone that usually made his opponents falter. "Our informant said that your fiancé disappeared quietly right before dinner." Said the middle-aged man without feeling the slightest pressure from his employer's arrogant and cold attitude. He was used to seeing changes in the attitude of the billionaire owner of a venture company known for his astuteness in business and investment. Yes, he is Gerald Zeround—the owner of a multinational venture company with unimaginable wealth. The young billionaire is predicted to be the successful businessman of the century. A handsome man full of charm who is still single at thirty-two. Or it could have ended his bachelor life in hours if his prospective bride hadn't disappeared like the news they were receiving. "How dare she." Said Gerald as he sat back down in his oversized chair. His right hand was clenched tightly on the table. His eyes looked sharp and full of threat. "Prepare the car! We're going there right now. I have to confirm this news in person." The order was harsh. The middle-aged man bowed and walked away. "Oliver Brooks. How dare you embarrass me." He hissed sharply. The car had arrived at the Brooks family residence. The announcement of his arrival caused the hostess to open the door with her own two hands. Her beautiful, well-groomed face looked at Gerald with panic and pale eyes. "M-Mr Zeroun." Her sentences stammered, seeming to be trying to smile and get rid of his nervousness. The arrogance and elegance that usually appeared had now faded because the woman was aware that the trouble her daughter had caused, she believed, had reached the tycoon, the prospective groom. "Good evening, Mrs. Brooks." Greet Gerald with extraordinary friendliness. Gerald could see the woman wringing her hands together and swallowing hard because she was nervous. "N-night." She was still stuttering. The older adult swallowed her saliva again before speaking again. "Mr. Zeroun, what are you doing here?" "Why? Can't I stop by my bride's house? Even if it's just to check what percentage of our wedding preparations have been completed?" Gerald asked casually, which made the woman shake her head nervously. "N-it's not like that. It's just that it is said that the bride and groom should not meet each other before the wedding." Mrs. Caitlyn answered with an excuse. Gerald raised the corners of his mouth and shook his head. "This is not an ordinary wedding; we are also not a typical wedding couple. It is not like that?" Gerald reminded. "Or actually, you're trying to hide something from me. Because I heard my prospective bride disappeared a few moments ago." He said in a low voice, but it sounded like lightning striking Mrs. Caitlyn's ears. "T-that's not true." She stuttered her answer with her eyes wide open. "Wh-where did you hear such fake news? That's a terrible rumor." She said while holding her chest like someone who was in shock. "It's good if the news isn't true," Gerald said with a sweet smile, which made the woman smile back in relief. He entered the room that Mrs. Caitlyn opened, where a middle-aged man greeted him with an equally wide smile. "But even if it is true, I hope this news has not reached my grandmother, Madame. Because I don't know what she will say later if she finds out that her future grandson-in-law just left the day before the wedding," he said in a warning tone that shocked the middle-aged man. Gerald casually walked towards the empty single sofa. He was sitting on it with arrogance, like the house's owner. His hand reached out for the empty glass on the table and poured ice cubes into it before pouring the golden liquid over it. Gerald casually shook his glass. The sound of ice cubes clinking against glass fills the silence. Gerald slowly sipped the expensive whiskey that his 'future in-laws' had. He felt a hot sensation spread across his throat. Gerald seemed very relaxed compared to the couple currently looking at him with anticipation. He didn't want this marriage, so for him, it didn't matter even if it didn't happen because it was an arranged marriage made by his mother and Mr. Brooks' wife. His grandmother, Rosaline Zeroun, like Gerald, never agreed to the idea of this marriage. However, for one or two reasons, this marriage is the solution they consider the best. Mrs. Brooks stepped hastily towards another sofa near Gerald. The look in her eyes seemed increasingly panicked. Clearly, the woman could no longer hide what was happening at her residence. Both hands gripped the sofa handle tightly. Gerald could even see that her red nail-covered knuckles were turning white from her grip strength. "N-no. Please don't say anything to Rosaline ," she asked stammeringly. "Karenina is not missing. Maybe she is relaxing because she has been locked up at home for a week. She will come back. I promise." Again, Mrs. Brooks looked at him with pitying eyes. Gerald leaned back relaxed, and placed his right hand, which was holding the glass, on the arm of the sofa, before positioning his right leg over his left leg. He shook his whiskey glass before taking another sip. "Is that true, Mr. Brooks?" Gerald looked at the lady's husband with a flat but intimidating gaze. The older adult sitting far across from him seemed to straighten up in his seat but could not answer. "Well well well, how is it Mrs. Brooks? Why don't I get a definite answer?" he asked, which made the woman look back at her husband angrily before looking back at Gerald with pitiful eyes. "No, really. Karenina is not missing and I ensure that tomorrow's event will continue as it should. Karenina will return. Tomorrow she will be your bride at the altar." The answer is sure. Gerald raised an eyebrow. "If not?" he challenged. "There's no saying no. I guarantee that he will be there." Mrs. Brooks answered firmly. Gerald raised the corners of his lips. "Okay, I'll take you at your word. But if he doesn't return, you know the consequences, right?" Gerald's question, this time, scared the woman. The hostess glanced at her husband, asking for help. But didn't get any support at all. "If this marriage is cancelled, then I will look for another bride and that means the financial injection from our family will be cancelled." Gerald said with extraordinary calm. "I'm not just making empty threats, Mr. Oliver Brooks. You know how I work. And this 'business' idea was a suggestion from your wife. So if this marriage fails, I won't be harmed. But maybe you and your family will be the ones who will become beggars on the streets." Gerald showed a smile in his eyes while his lips sipped the remaining whiskey in the glass. He got up, and simultaneously, a scream was heard.