HIS REPLACEMENT BRIDE

HER ARRIVAL.

NICOLAI'S POV.

Steafan and I stopped a few feet from the girls. “Princess won't you even say hello?” He asks as

Ariana moves forward, she hugs her father as he chuckles, I missed you so much dad she

signed as I followed her hands. “I missed you too princess,” he replies with a soft smile. “Nicolai,

you remember Ariana right?” He asks and I nod, “It's nice to have you back kid” I say as she

nodded in reply.

“You should go upstairs to rest, Nicolai and I will be back before dinner.” Steafan says she nods

walking past us as I go towards my daughter, “Listen to Tasha, okay?” I say crouching softly in

front of her. “I'll be a good girl daddy, don't worry” she replies making me smile, I kissed her

forehead before walking out behind Stefan.

“What did you decide on?” Stefan asks as we walk towards the car waiting for us, “We have to

import more munitions from the phakan” I reply and he nods. “About Ariana, what did you

decide on?” He asks, I pause before looking at him. “I'll marry her only after talking to her,” I

replied, “Good choice,” he says.

♡

We were back by dinner, “Daddy!” Zikorah yells as she runs up to me, I crouched hugging her

as she giggles. “I had so much fun daddy,” she says and I raise my brow. “Oh?” I ask and she

nods, “Look! Aunty Ari taught me how to sign,” she says before moving her fingers, making me

smile. She was so smart. “You're so smart mia vita,” I say as she smiles, her deep eyes

sparkled reminding me of her mother making me brush her hair back. “Dinner is ready,” a maid

said. I raised my head before standing to follow her while holding Zikorah's palm in mine, she

immediately went to sit next to Ariana whispering something in her ear that made them both

smile.

Zikorah started talking about school, about her teachers, her work and annoying classmates. “I

don't like Clara,” she says “Because she's so mean.” She adds scrunching up her face, “We

need to visit this Clara and teach her a lesson,” Tasha says and Zikorah nods in agreement. “I

think so too,” she replies as Ariana smiles. I had caught her gaze a few times, it seemed like her

sister had told her about what her father was making me do, dinner was over and the maids

came to clear the table. Tasha stood up lifting Zikorah in her arms as Ariana followed when I

called her name, she paused as I walked towards her.

I stopped in front of her as she raised her brow. “Has your father told you anything?” I ask and

she shook her head, I nod placing my hands in my pocket. “He wants us to get married,” I say

calmly, watching her expression, she was like an open book so easy to read.

So? She signed, “I'm not interested in you Ariana,” I says and she swallows. “I'm telling you this

so you don't expect some fairytale love from me, I'll only ever love my wife, okay?” I asked, she

stares at me before signing, I understand. “Good, the main reason I'm getting married to you is

for my daughter, you're to take good care of her and never bother me. If we are out at public

events we can pretend to be in love or whatever you want but stay out of my personal life.” I

said, Will you stay out of my personal life too? She signs, “I'm going to be your husband if you

do anything to ruin the families image there's no way I'll stay out of your personal life” I replied

calmly, she frowns. What right do you think you have? She asks, “The right as your husband, I

don't care about you or anything I've made myself clear. One more thing, we are not sleeping

together, got it?” I asked and she nods.

“Good, I like that you're smart,” I say “Good night kid.” I add before walking away.

The drive back to my mansion was quiet, Zikorah had fallen asleep on the back seat. Coming to

a stop I stepped out to lift my daughter before taking her upstairs, I placed her in the bathroom

as I took off her clothes. “Zizi,” I called as she hums, “I'm gonna give you a bath okay?” I say

“Okay daddy,” she replies her voice, tired from sleep.

After her bath I wore clean clothes for her before tucking her into her bed. “Daddy?” She calls

and I look at her, “Yes mia vita” I replied. “Is mummy ever coming back from her better place?”

She asks, I stare into her blue eyes before shaking my head. “No Zizi, she's not” I replied,

“Why?” She asks.

I've forgotten how curious my daughter could be. “Sometimes you have to let things go,” I reply

hoping she'd understand, “Can I have a new mummy?” She asks, “No” I say standing up. “Bu…

but daddy!” She whines and I shake my head, “Go to bed Zikorah,” I say and she sits up folding

her arms. “All my friends have mummies,” she says, “It's just me.” She adds and I look at her

before going to sit next to her again. “It doesn't work that way Zizi,” I say “It does daddy, Kelly

has a new mummy and she's so pretty daddy” she replies and I shake my head. “Kelly is

different,” I say, “I want to be different too daddy, aunty Tasha can be my new mummy” she

replies “Oh! Or Aunt Ariana, she's so cool” she adds, making me laugh at the irony of it. “You

have school tomorrow Mia vita, we can continue this mummy talk tomorrow” I say standing to

leave her room. “I love you daddy!” She says, “I love you too princess,” I reply before leaving

her room.

Well now I had no other choice.