HIS REPLACEMENT BRIDE

MOTHER'S BACK.

ARIANA'S POV.

I chugged down the water in my bottle quickly as I took in hurried breaths. I just came back from

my morning run and I was literally drained. I dropped my bottle on the cabinet before asking a

maid to bring my breakfast upstairs, she nodded before I made my way upstairs. After my bath, I

went out to eat. It was my favourite omelette with bacon. I was scrolling through my pinterest

when I heard voices downstairs, I sat up immediately as I rushed out of my room and down the

stairs. Mum stood in the middle of the living room complaining about something, I smiled and

she still looked like the goddess she was. I rushed over to hug her as she gasps, “Ari?” She

asks as her hands come around me. I wanted to tell her how much I had missed her, I wanted to

shriek to show my excitement but I couldn't, I just pulled away all giddy as I signed. You're An Hour Later,

I knocked a while after I heard her response before I walked in. “Hey baby,” mum says, making

me smile. Hi mum, I replied she patted the space next to her as I went to sit next to her, “Tell

me.” She says and I pout, Is it so obvious that something is bothering me? I ask and she nods.

“You're easy to read Ariana,” she says and I bite my inner cheek, Dad is making me marry

Nicolai. I sign, waiting for her reaction, “He's what?” She asks and I raise my head, I'm not

against it. I signed and she visibly froze. “Ariana, listen to me I'm not letting you get married to

that man” she says “I'll talk to your father, no way I'm letting you marry someone who doesn't

love you” she adds. Mum wait , please listen to me, I want this, I signed. “No you don't, your

father is the one talking you into this isn't he?” She asks. I haven't even spoken to dad about this

yet, Tasha was the one who told me about it, I signed. “He's not over his late wife yet, he has a

child! What are you thinking?!” She exclaims, “You're just twenty years old Ari” she adds. “You

have better things for you,” she continued, What? I signed. Who would want to get married to a

mute woman? No one wanted me when I was in Toronto mum and now I have the one chance

at marriage and you don't want me to take it? I add my hand shaking as I inhale. I've loved

Nicolai since I was thirteen, I thought it was just a crush but it wasn't, I continued. “I love him

mum” I whispered. She stares at me before pulling me into a hug, “I'm so sorry” she says

stroking my hair, “I still have to talk to your dad about this though” she adds and I nodded.

back! Oh God I've missed you so much! She laughs holding my wrist, “Relax baby, I can't keep

up.” She says and I hug her again, “I missed you too baby, so much.” She adds and I nod before

pulling away. There's so much I want to tell you, there's so much mum I signed and she nods.

“I'll listen to everything, let me just freshen up okay?” She asks and I nod. Good Lord! Mum was

the definition of perfect, she looked like mother nature, her green eyes and long black hair

accompanied by the piercings on her ears and nose just gave her an ethereal look. Dad usually

says I was her exact look alike, I get it because I took her eyes and hair but that ethereal look? I

hadn't unlocked it yet. “Mum!” Tasha's voice came from behind me as I turned, she rushed down

the stairs before crashing into her arms. “Oh my God! My big baby,” mum says as Tashs laughs,

she squeals before hugging her back. “I missed you so much mum!” Tasha says “I can tell

baby,” mum replies. Sometimes she felt like our older sister, having Marcelo to dad at nineteen

then Tasha at twenty one me at twenty three. “I have a lot of things for you girls but I need to

rest first okay?” She says and I nod. “Where's your father?” She asks “I'm so mad right now, he

couldn't even come pick me up?” She adds as Tasha and I throw a known look at each other.

My parents were the exact reasons I believed in love, although they were arranged for each

other the love they showed each other was immense. So mum being mad at dad wasn't new

because immediately dad apologized or decided to fall at her feets with praises she'd be

completely gone. I loved their relationship, it wasn't perfect, they argued a lot but they always

knew how to come back to each other and make the other comfortable. I smiled as we stopped

in front of her room, “Have a good rest mum,” Tasha says. “I'll be up in an hour, you can come

see me then” mum replies and we both nod before leaving towards our rooms.

“Will you tell her?” Tasha asks and I nod. Once she's well rested, I'll go to see her. I signed and

she nodded.

An Hour Later,

I knocked a while after I heard her response before I walked in. “Hey baby,” mum says, making

me smile. Hi mum, I replied she patted the space next to her as I went to sit next to her, “Tell

me.” She says and I pout, Is it so obvious that something is bothering me? I ask and she nods.

“You're easy to read Ariana,” she says and I bite my inner cheek, Dad is making me marry

Nicolai. I sign, waiting for her reaction, “He's what?” She asks and I raise my head, I'm not

against it. I signed and she visibly froze. “Ariana, listen to me I'm not letting you get married to

that man” she says “I'll talk to your father, no way I'm letting you marry someone who doesn't

love you” she adds. Mum wait , please listen to me, I want this, I signed. “No you don't, your

father is the one talking you into this isn't he?” She asks. I haven't even spoken to dad about this

yet, Tasha was the one who told me about it, I signed. “He's not over his late wife yet, he has a

child! What are you thinking?!” She exclaims, “You're just twenty years old Ari” she adds. “You

have better things for you,” she continued, What? I signed. Who would want to get married to a

mute woman? No one wanted me when I was in Toronto mum and now I have the one chance

at marriage and you don't want me to take it? I add my hand shaking as I inhale. I've loved

Nicolai since I was thirteen, I thought it was just a crush but it wasn't, I continued. “I love him

mum” I whispered. She stares at me before pulling me into a hug, “I'm so sorry” she says

stroking my hair, “I still have to talk to your dad about this though” she adds and I nodded.

Dinner.

I walked downstairs as I heard my mum's laughter from the kitchen. I rolled my eyes, so much

for being upset I thought, they both walked out hand in hand making me smile. “Let's have

dinner,” mum says and I nod, Tasha joins us and a while later mum's voice breaks the silence.

“Stefan, what's this I'm hearing?” She asks, “It's handled my love” dad replies already knowing

what she was talking about.

“Handled? You handled our daughter's life without me?” She asks, “Nicolai is a good man, he

can protect her” he replies. “Exactly! Protect not love her,” she says “look at her does she even

have a say in this?” She adds.

“Ariana loves him, it's a win for her” he replies, “Really? Then why is there a condition?” Mum

asks “That was the only way,” dad says. “He doesn't love her, he never will!” Mum yells, I

listened to them argue and I couldn't help but think it was my fault. Maybe mum was right but I

wanted this, “E… enough.” I whispered but they didn't hear me, “Enough! Please!” I yelled as

they turned to look at me, I reached for my throat as I started feeling the burning sensation that

always came with me talking. “That's enough, both of you,” I say before pushing my chair

backwards and storming upstairs.

I crashed into my bed as my tears finally dropped, why was my life like this?

Next Day,

It was becoming real, this morning I woke up to a ruckus downstairs and by the time I got

downstairs I was welcomed by colours. Tons of gowns stood on a rack as mum and Tasha

searched through dresses, What's going on? I signed. “You're up, Nicolai said he want the

wedding to happen tomorrow” mum replied and I froze. What? I signed, “He will be here soon to

drop off Zikorah so you can also pick a dress for her” Tasha adds and I swear I had a literal

heart attack. I was about to sign something again when I heard his voice, I raise my head and

our eyes met.