"Mommy, it's Karen!" The voice of the boy whom Gerald had not noticed earlier came from outside. Not long after, a beautiful girl with a face Gerald knew stepped in with an arrogant attitude. The girl's gaze fell on the screaming boy.
There was no smile on her face, not like Karenina usually showed. There is no friendliness at all. They have similar faces and body shapes but are so different. Very different. Gerald thought. Even the way they dress is very different.
The Karenina that Gerald knew usually wore dresses and only occasionally wore pants. But Karenina in front of her now looks comfortable wearing long, tight jeans that wrap around her slender legs and hips.
And the white transparent blouse wraps a tank top of the same colour. It makes people want to look at what's inside those clothes.
And the girl's hair. Gerald frowned. The last time I saw Karenina's hair, the girl's hair was waist-length and dyed brown. Meanwhile, the girl in front of him had jet-black hair slightly shorter than Karenina. Who's she?
"Sorry, but I'm not Karenina." As if hearing the question in Gerald's mind, the girl spoke. Even the girl's voice was very similar. It's just that the intonation is different.
Karenina's voice always sounds gentle and friendly. Meanwhile, the girl in front of him seemed cynical. "I came here to meet Mrs. Caitlyn Brooks." She said in a flat tone. Her head was now directed towards one figure; who else could it be if not the hostess?
Gerald watched the debate between the hostess and the guest, who he now knew was the twin of his future bride. This new fact surprised him because, from the data he obtained about the Brooks family, he saw absolutely no record of the existence of Karenina's twin.
Every time he saw movement and heard the girl's sarcastic remarks, Gerald always smiled. That girl was much more attractive compared to his lost fiancee. And in Gerald's eyes, the girl also seemed very sexy.
"Fifteen years ago..." Fragments of sentences that came out of the girl's mouth made Gerald draw his conclusions.
They were separated twins, and the girl in front of him was the girl who was thrown away, while his fiancee was the girl who was picked up. Gerald smiled wryly at the temporary conclusion he had drawn.
OK, Gerald knows now. The puzzle pieces started to fit together. Mrs. Brooks is completely distraught by Karenina's departure. And he intended to use the girl before him as a backup.
Gerald smiled wryly again. Right now, he would be a spectator of this family drama.
He turned to his assistant, asking the man to come closer. "Find information about her." His assistant nodded to his order before returning to look at the mother and girl drama again.
While listening to the mother and daughter's drama, Gerald glanced at the Host. The old man who always acted superior was now making an 'offer'.
Money. Of course, that's what Old Brooks would offer, but what else? The funny thing is, doesn't that man realize that the source of the currency here is Gerald? But Gerald also noticed the girl's reaction, who now seemed interested in the Host's offer.
So, in the end, the girl will also lose like her twin sister? In fact, for a while, Gerald had concluded that they were different. But if money ultimately subdued the girl, Gerald would see the girl's cold response as mere drama.
The girl looked at Mr. Brooks defiantly. She will take as big a number as she's going to get. If Mr. Brooks couldn't give it, then Gerald felt he could as long as he could have the girl's body.
Yes, Gerald was attracted to the girl's body. Especially when the girl folded her arms in front of her chest, and her breasts looked perfectly lifted, it caught Gerald's attention. It makes his hands itch to touch and touch it. But the words the girl said were something Gerald had never expected.
"What if I asked for your child's heart in exchange for the request your wife would make?" She asked, which not only surprised the Brooks couple but also Gerald. It was clear that the man did not expect this to come out of the mouth of the girl in front of him. He thought the girl would say a number with lots of zeros after it. But his guess was wrong.
Gerald tried to hold back his mocking laughter. He needed clarification about who he wanted to direct his laughter at. He thinks that everyone is equally greedy for money. Or at the Brooks family, defeated by the cold-blooded young girl looking at the whole house with disdain before finally landing her gaze on Oliver Brooks.
"To hell with self-respect! We haven't had that since you left us. Since you left us begging and begging for you to come back. And your self-respect. That's your business. Not mine." Then the girl left.
Not in a dramatic style like television dramas. But it was Ariana's flexible attitude that attracted Gerald's attention. Even though the girl had been giving off a cold attitude and an aura of hostility, the sway of her hips as she walked made Gerald's lower body stiffen.
Well, the position is changing now. If initially, Gerald's mother had forced this marriage. So now Gerald wants it. Not the wedding. But he wanted the girl who had disappeared from before him.
Gerald looked at the middle-aged couple before him. The man's face looked so angry. Meanwhile, the woman looked so sad.
"So, can anyone explain to me the meaning of this drama?" He asked as if he still needed to be explained about the drama that had just happened. The two middle-aged people seemed surprised, seeming to have forgotten that Gerald was there.
Offended? No, Gerald wasn't offended at all. However, he felt that this was very funny.
"S-so. That." Mrs Brooks looked nervous again. "I think she could be a spare bride if Karenina hasn't returned." The answer was timid.
Gerald tried to hide his interest in the girl. "A replacement bride? Like that?" Mrs. Brooks nodded timidly. "So who is she?"
"She's Karenina's older twin." The answer was weak. One fact that Gerald finally found out and that he had already expected. So, all this time, his future wife had twins, but it was never known to the public. And Gerald was sure that there would be other facts that he would know if his assistant succeeded in completing his request.
Gerald could only smile. He will wait and act according to the results obtained.
Gerald looked at the folder in front of him. Four hours after the mother and child drama performance, his assistant got all the data he needed.How easy is the power of money? And networking, of course.Twins Ariana Leonidas and Karenina Brooks. Born in January twenty-five years ago. Father, Bradley Leonidas. Mother, Caitlyn Brooks. The divorce occurred fifteen years ago, and the Reason is economics.The second sheet contains even more specific data. Caitlyn left Bradley after her husband was declared bankrupt due to fraud. A month later, Caitlyn became Brooks' mistress despite the ongoing divorce trial. Meanwhile, since his wife left, Bradley's health has declined. He had a heart attack and ended with a stroke.Caitlyn took Karenina. Meanwhile, Ariana was left with Bradley. Little Ariana was raised by her father's co-worker named, Hestia. Hestia also looked after Bradley until the man was declared cured. Two years after his divorce, Bradley married Hestia. Who is a divorcee because s
The three women turned to him. Two stared, While one looked shy. Ariana cringed at the sight. "S-She. How could that be?" Asked the shoulder-length-haired woman. The woman is beautiful, white-skinned, with a sad face, and of course, if she smiles, she will give a warm impression. Of course, her skin was smooth from care, as was the woman sitting next to her."Ariana Leonidas?" The voice came from the oldest woman there."Yes it's me." Ariana nodded politely at her."I'm Rosaline Zeroun." The woman just nodded without intending to stand up and reach out her hand. Ariana followed her and just nodded slowly. "He's my daughter-in-law Isidora. And next to her, it looks like you know who.""Mrs. Caitlyn Brooks," Ariana answered flatly. The older adult nodded again. "What's the matter with three respectable women coming to my dingy place?" Ariana asked, seeming to be sarcastic."We heard bad news." Said the older adult."Is it true?" Ariana asked sarcastically. "Does it have anything to do w
Ariana was leaning against the wall, chatting with her employees who were busy cleaning the seafood that would be the main ingredient for their lunch. A sauce chef was working on the ingredients, while others were cleaning vegetables. Ariana's laughter stopped when Amber tapped her shoulder and pulled her away. "We need to talk," she said. Ariana turned and looked at Amber with her usual poker face. They headed towards the front of the restaurant. Amber gestured for her to follow without saying a word. Ariana finally got into the girl's sedan. Okay, the bespectacled girl was clearly in her annoyed mode. Ariana would just follow along. Before long, they parked at a cafe, ordered gelato, a few slices of cake, and some cold drinks. It seemed like Amber was trying to bribe her. "What do you want to know?" she asked, getting straight to the point. Honestly, Amber couldn't stay mad at Ariana for long. Because if she got angry, Ariana with her stubborn attitude would ignore her. Or worse,
"Are you sure you don't want to give your mother a chance?" Amber asked again. Ariana looked at her and then shook her head. Okay, Amber wouldn't persuade her anymore. If she was just ignored by Ariana, what if Ariana fired her later? She might also get scolded by Ariana's father. They returned to the restaurant. It was already 11 in the morning when they got back. Both Ariana and Amber entered their workspace, which also served as their private break room. Ariana, who had left her phone in her bag, was now checking it. She slid the screen, unlocked it, and saw several missed calls. "Mom?" Ariana pressed her mother's number and made the call. "Ariana, hello, dear." The voice on the other end sounded panicked and tearful. "Mom? Is there..." "Your father, dear," her mother interrupted before Ariana could ask. "What about Dad?" "Mom, you don't know. Dad called earlier, but suddenly the call got cut off. Mom went to Dad's office, but they said Dad left for an appointment. Mom checke
Gerald was dressed in a white suit with silver threads adorning the lapels. He looked even more handsome with his clean-shaven face, specially prepared for this occasion. His thick, black hair was neatly styled with expensive musk-scented hair oil. His grandmother sat beside him, holding his left hand with her wrinkled right hand. Gerald patted that hand reassuringly. He loved his grandmother deeply, even more than his mother. And this marriage wasn't the marriage they initially wanted, but after learning who his bride was, both of them had found new motivation. They had entered the grand estate. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, along with their son, were waiting at the entrance, along with several people Gerald didn't recognize. They were all dressed in expensive and classy attire, clearly tailored for the occasion. They welcomed Gerald and his family as if they were honored guests. And indeed, they were honored guests. The Brooks family had to flatter them, or else their family's nobility woul
Gerald had stopped pretending to be sick. He sat on the bed, supporting his body by placing his hands on either side of him. His legs crossed each other. His eyes looked at Ariana, scanning her from top to bottom. "You're beautiful," the man said. "No need to remind me. I already knew that. You're not the first person to say that," Ariana answered casually. She was now sitting with her back to the mirror. Her hips leaned against the dressing table, while her arms were folded in front of her chest, making her ample bosom look even puffier. "Besides, if 'she' is ugly, how would a man like you marry her?" The sentence referred to his identical twin sister, Karenina. "A man like me?" Gerald raised an eyebrow. "Yes, men like you. And people like you. People who prioritize reputation above all else. Respect seekers," Ariana mocked. Gerald smiled and nodded in agreement. "Yes, I think you're right," he said later. "But my wife," Gerald rose again from his seat and slowly approached. Aria
The night had grown so late. Ariana once again entered the room that had been used for her preparations earlier. The reception was not yet over, but she was exhausted. Extremely tired. Especially because she had been forced to look elegant by wearing stilettos all night. Something she had avoided for so long. And she had no idea when the event would end. She didn't care anymore. What mattered was that she had fulfilled her duties as a bride earlier. Welcoming the guests. And after that, it wasn't her obligation to accompany and engage with them all night long. After all, she didn't even know them. They were Brooks family guests and her unfamiliar husband's guests. Not hers. Fortunately, the peach dress she was wearing was easy to take off. The only thing that puzzled Ariana now was, where was her change of clothes? The jeans and shirt she had been wearing earlier were nowhere to be found. As a result, she sought out the housemaid who had been accompanying her since earlier, asking h
Ariana struck the man's hand hard enough that her own hand hurt afterward. "What are you doing?!" the man asked in a drowsy voice. Ariana turned over, her head turning to the right to look at the face of the stranger who was now her husband. "I should be asking you. What are you doing?!" she retorted sharply, accusingly. "Didn't you say last night that you would take me home?" Instead of answering, the man slid closer and nestled his head against Ariana's neck, wrapping his arms around her waist and entwining his legs tightly. He didn't seem bothered at all. "I did take you home, dear. I brought you to bed, and I even kindly took off your clothes. What's wrong?" he said with a muffled voice against the curve of Ariana's neck. Ariana shuddered at his breath. "But why bring me here? Why not take me to the apartment?" Ariana now spoke softly. "Because your home is here. Where your husband is," he replied curtly. "Don't forget that I married you as a stand-in for Karenina," Ariana r