HIS REPLACEMENT BRIDE

HER DECISION.

ARIANA'S POV.

TORONTO,

“You know how Nicolai comes here often?” Tasha's voice rang out from my pad. I nodded as I

continued to pack into my suitcase, “Dad told him if he wanted to be Don he has to marry you,” I

froze. What? I signed, and she nodded with a smile, Why are you so happy? I signed and the

smile slowly disappeared from her face. “Why? Aren't you happy?” She asks Of course not, I

signed as she frowned. “Why? You love him don't you?” She asks and I shake my head, I do, I

really do but this is wrong. I signed, “Wrong? Ariana, what's wrong with you?” She asks Tasha,

listen to me if dad is forcing him to marry me he's going to make my life a nightmare, I signed.

“What makes you think so?” She asks, He loved his wife Tash there's no way he's going to

replace her not to talk of with a mute woman. I sign and she sighs, “Ariana, you've loved him

since we were teenagers,” she says I know, I know but if he's going to pick me it should be from

his heart not because of some crazy condition! I signed wishing I could scream. I really wanted

to but it was going to hurt like crazy after I did.

“Ariana this is your chance to finally be with someone you love, you don't have to agree but I

don't want you to be a cat lady for the rest of our lives” she says as I laughed silently, “Nothing is

funny Ari, I'm talking about your life right now” she says and I shook my head. I'm sorry I signed,

Try to see things from my perspective Tash I added. “Ariana I'm not forcing you to do anything

you don't like” she says, “you're my little sister I'll always want you happy so think about this.”

She adds. “I…I want this I swear, but it's going to hurt too,” I force out ignoring the pain after

each word, I held my throat as it burned I inhaled. Tasha looks at me to scold me for sure,

“What's wrong with you?!” She exclaims and I shake my head, I'm sorry I signed quickly. It's just

been so long I had a conversation with it. I add, “You're not meant to use your voice Ari and you

know that” she says in her stern voice.

I know, and I'm sorry. I signed, “Fine!” Let's talk about something else,” she says. Is mum home?

I asked, “She's in the Maldives,” she replied and I nod, “How are you?” She asks for the

umpteenth time today, was it so obvious that I didn't get enough sleep? I'm fine Tasha I signed

but she raised a brow, “You hesitated that means you're lying,” she says. I've forgotten how well

she knew me. I thought as I looked at her, I had a nightmare. I signed and she pressed her lips

into a thin line, “Same thing?” She asks and I nod. I just wish I could forget about it but everyday

is a constant reminder Tash, I can't use my voice well, sometimes I wonder what if I listened to

Dad when he told me not to go. I signed “Don't let the pressure get to your head Ari, we are all

here for you okay?” She says and I nod. Thank you, I signed and she smiled, “What are you

doing this evening?” She asks, My friends are throwing me a party, I signed and she nodded.

“What are you wearing?” She asks and I move towards my closet going to bring out my dress,

“You'll look good in that Ari” she says. Yeah, thanks I signed.

“I have to go, don't over think. I love you!” She says I love you too, I signed before hanging up.

My screen went blank as I plopped onto my bed, I was so excited I was going back home, now

I was dreading every passing minute. Why did dad have to give him that condition? What if he

hates me? What should I do? I thought as I turned burying my face in my pillow I let out a low

groan.

Okay, I've loved this man since I was thirteen. I thought it was a crush but growing up I never

had interest in any boy or man. Even here in Toronto no man has ever caught my interest the

way Nicolai did and now that I had the chance to be with him I wasn't going to let go.

♡

Next Day,

I stood in line for boarding, and I was finally leaving Toronto. Last night could have been one of

the best nights I had there, my friends made sure it was memorable for me. I actually cried, I

was such a cry baby, I thought as I smiled to myself. The line moved slowly as I finally found my

seat, it was a window seat, my favourite. I settled in and soon the plane was taking off. I looked

out the window as I smiled. I was going to see my family after a long time but that wasn't what I

cared about as a particular man with grey eyes filled my dreams as I drifted off.

The pilot's voice woke me up, I frowned slightly as I rubbed my eyes. We were landing, Oh God,

I'm finally back home! I thought as I grinned, staring out the window I couldn't wait to see

everyone.

I rolled my suitcase as I looked around for the river dad had arranged for me. I finally found him,

he had my name on a huge cardboard as I rolled my eyes. “Miss, I'll help you,” he said as I

nodded. He lifted my suitcase into the trunk before opening the door for me, I got in as I brought

out my phone. I texted Tasha and she replied almost immediately, I smiled, I couldn't wait to see

her and everyone.

The car rolled to a stop as I stepped out, finally the cool air of Italy. “ARIANA!!!” I heard the

loudest shriek ever as I looked forward, Tasha was running down the front steps as she crashed

into my arms. I laughed as I returned the hug, God I'd missed my sister so much. “I missed you

so much, there's so much to talk about,” she says as we walk I. “Aunty Tasha!” I heard a tiny

voice as a girl walked over, “My bad this is Zikorah.” She says as I look at the girl in front of me,

“Aunty Tasha is this your sister?” Zikorah asks, “Yeah the cool one I told you about, her name is Ariana.” Tasha replied as I smiled before waving slightly, if she was here that meant her father

was also here somewhere, and I was right as soon as I raised my head I saw him walking in

from my father's office.

He had changed, his features were sharper and he looked more handsome than I

remembered, our eyes met for a brief second before I looked away. He still had the same effect

he had on me years ago, I was definitely not over him yet.