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136. Mirror
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The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 137. Emergency Room
Mrs. Rosaline called the nearest servant to her. "Where is Yosef?" she asked the servant, who turned back to look at Mrs. Rosaline with fear in his eyes. Understandably so, her Christian face clearly displayed anger. "Um, ma'am, Mr. Yosef went out with Mrs. Ariana's guest earlier," the young servant stammered. Mrs. Rosaline simply nodded and went back into the living room, closing the door behind her. She grabbed her phone and searched for Yosef's name there. He picked up the call on the first ring. "Where are you?" she asked the middle-aged man who had devoted more than half his life to their family. "On the way to the hospital, ma'am," Yosef replied from the other end. He was now sitting in the car being driven by Jody, looking back where Ariana was held in Amber's arms. "Which hospital?" Mrs. Rosaline asked again. Yosef mentioned the name of a hospital well-known to Mrs. Rosaline. "Very well. Do as we discussed earlier," commanded Mrs. Rosaline before ending the call. Yo
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 138. I'm Leaving
"From the EKG results we've obtained, for now, we can confirm that Mrs. Ariana is experiencing tachycardia. This is a condition where the heart beats faster than it should," he continued quickly as three pairs of eyes stared at him with confusion. "Have you ever experienced your heart beating faster during exercise?" the young doctor's question was directed more towards Jody. Jody nodded. "That's what's happening to Mrs. Ariana right now. But clearly, it's not because of her exercising." "There are many reasons why someone might experience tachycardia aside from exercise. Hypertension, anemia, stress, and several other factors can cause a patient to experience something like this," the senior doctor explained again. "We need to conduct further tests on Ariana's condition." The three people in front of the doctors nodded. "Do your best for them, Doctor. I want my granddaughter-in-law and future great-grandchild to be under the best care," Mrs. Rosaline said. The two doctors nodded si
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 139. Tell Him
Amber stared at Ariana with a sharp gaze. "What do you mean?" she asked, unsure. "I'm going away," Ariana replied again, deliberately repeating her words even though she knew Amber had heard them before. "As soon as the adoption papers are out, I'm leaving." Amber continued to look at her, confused. "Where are you going?" she asked, anger rising again. "Where do you want to go? Your family, your home, everything is here," she reminded her. "I've consulted with a doctor, Amber. I can't stay here for long," Ariana said softly. "So where are you going?" she asked again, her voice filled with frustration. "You want to leave? To whom? Your family, your home, everything is here," she reminded her. "I've consulted with a doctor, Amber. I can't stay here for long," Ariana said softly. "So where are you going?" she asked again, her voice filled with frustration. "You want to leave? To whom? Your family, your home, everything is here," she reminded her. "I need to go far away," Ariana answ
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 140. What If
The next morning, the atmosphere at Zeroun's residence seemed tense. Since leaving Axel's room, Gerald spent his night intoxicated. Meanwhile, Axel cried in his grandmother's arms until he fell asleep, his sobs fading away. Now, when they met at the breakfast table, both avoided each other. Axel didn't want to greet his father, and neither did Gerald. The older man deliberately kept his distance from Axel. Mrs. Rosaline knew that Gerald's actions were not driven by anger towards Axel but by the immense shame his grandson felt. "Axel, why?" Shelma's soft voice made the little boy glance briefly and frown. "Axel, did Grandma teach you to be disrespectful to your elders?" Mrs. Isidora asked sternly. Axel looked at his grandmother and then frowned again. "Axel!" Mrs. Isidora exclaimed, her voice raised. "Be quiet!" Mrs. Rosaline replied sharply. Immediately, Mrs. Isidora fell silent. "Can't you all be calm? If Axel doesn't want to talk, don't force him." She continued, addressing Mrs.
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 141. Story
Amber stared at Ariana with a jumble of thoughts in her mind. "I don't understand your thoughts," she said softly. Ariana, who was reading a book in front of her, looked up to gaze at her cousin and friend. "What don't you understand, Amber?" she asked just as softly. "You! I don't understand your thoughts!" Amber huffed in frustration. Ariana just smiled. Amber's explosive emotions were oddly entertaining to her. "We've kept this secret for years. Even your dad doesn't know anything about your illness. You let everyone believe you're fine, when in fact, you're not. And now, you're pregnant with the person you love, and he loves you too. But why are you keeping all of this a secret from him? Isn't love supposed to be accompanied by facing hardships and joys together, sickness and health? Why do you want to bear it all alone?" she asked again. Amber knew, she understood what Jody had said earlier. But still, she was curious about Ariana's mindset, and she wanted to hear it all from A
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 142. Story (2)
"Mom!" called Amber's mother again. They seemed unaware of the two little heads peeking out from behind the nearby wall. "That's the truth. She never really considered Bradley her husband, just a replacement husband. She only saw Bradley as a substitute for Anton, especially financially. To her, Bradley was just a walking bank account. She asked him for this and that for her needs but never appreciated Bradley the way she should have. Bradley indeed became a perfect father in the eyes of their two daughters. But not a perfect husband in her eyes. More than that, she treated Bradley like trash. I can't blame Bradley; love is blind. But that doesn't mean he couldn't redirect his feelings to another woman. He was wrong, why stay in love with a woman who was already married to his own twin brother? But I can't justify Caitlyn's actions either. I don't know what was going through her mind when she accepted Bradley's proposal. Maybe she needed to feel financially secure, but if in the end
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 143. Divorce Proceedings Begin
A week after the arrival of the orphanage officials, the long-awaited decision finally came. Fortunately for Ariana, two days after being admitted to the hospital, she was allowed to go home. So, when the foundation representatives came to hand over the adoption confirmation documents, she appeared healthy, as if she didn't have any illness at all. "It's good to see you well, Mrs. Gerald," Mrs. Sri said with her usual smile. "I'm healthy, very healthy," Ariana replied, full of gratitude. She was aware of Gerald's sarcastic glances and soft scoffs beside her, but she chose to ignore them. "Alright, we can start signing the documents," she said, returning to the original topic. The woman then took something out of her leather bag and read it aloud. "Here, in this document, it is stated briefly that Axel's custody rights now fully belong to Mr. and Mrs. Gerald." She paused, looking at Ariana and Gerald alternately. Both Ariana and Gerald nodded in response. "This document was create
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 144. First Trial
Gerald's mood had worsened since he received a message from his lawyer about the schedule of the first hearing of his divorce case with Ariana. He had spent the previous night drinking and still had a headache. In his emotional state, he threw his phone against the wall, causing the screen to crack. Immediately, he shouted for the household staff, who rushed to his room in panic. "Why are her belongings still here?" Gerald scolded all his employees, who avoided eye contact out of fear. "Didn't I tell you to burn all her stuff? Why is everything still here?" he shouted again. Mrs. Rosaline, who had previously hidden Axel, now entered her grandson's room and observed the staff, who stood with their hands clasped in front of them, heads bowed in fear. Her gaze briefly shifted to Yosef before settling on her grandson, who was pacing back and forth with disheveled clothes from the previous night, bloodshot eyes, and a clearly angry expression. "I don't want to hear it! The room must be
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The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 163. Ending
Two days later, after receiving proper treatment, Ariana's condition was declared stable enough to be transferred from the ICCU to a regular hospital room. To her surprise, while she had been alone with Gerald during her stay, she now received visits from several people. Mrs. Rosaline, whom Gerald hadn't allowed to meet Ariana before, was now revealed as Axel's caregiver during her hospitalization. Amber, who had faithfully accompanied her from the beginning, came with Adel. Jody came with her mother and her sister. Ariana's father also came with her stepmother. Only her mother and her twin sister didn't show up, and honestly, Ariana didn't mind. She had long considered the two of them absent from her life, although deep down, she still recognized them as family. After all, blood ties could never truly disappear. They had decided to name the beautiful baby girl in Ariana's arms Clemira Haniyah Aarzu Zeroun, which meant a brilliant, gentle, and joyful daughter. The baby Gerald descri
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 162. Caesar (2)
"They were spending the evening snacking on treats Amber had sent from the restaurant. Amber, their friend and cousin, had deliberately visited, claiming to miss them. However, it seemed that missing them wasn't the real reason Amber had come, because tens of minutes later, Ariana felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, making it difficult for her to breathe right then and there. Amber quickly reached out to Ariana, calling Gerald, who was in his room at the time, busy with a conference call with his colleagues. Hurriedly, Gerald approached Ariana, whom Amber had purposely seated on the sofa, propped up with pillows behind her back. "How... how can this be?" Ariana asked amid her pain. She looked at Amber with concern, then gripped her friend's arm tightly as the pain resurfaced. Amber glanced at Ariana's legs, now covered in pinkish fluid. "You're going into labor," Amber replied, her face pale. She knelt down, holding Ariana's hand and squeezing it gently. Gerald, who had just co
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 161. Caesar
Ariana's pregnancy was progressing, her belly growing larger. Time seemed to pass incredibly fast as she savored these moments. She enjoyed the times when Gerald pampered her. Although they often disagreed when Gerald refused to fulfill Ariana's wishes, and vice versa, they always found a middle ground in the end. Axel also turned out to be a good child. He seemed content with his daily routine, alternating between school and their apartment. He wasn't fussy and didn't ask for his grandmother or his nanny. Ariana, Gerald, and the unborn baby seemed to be enough for him. During holidays, they spent time together. Gerald didn't dare take Ariana on exhausting trips. Instead, they mostly enjoyed watching movies, having meals together, or reading. If Axel wanted to go to the playground or swim in a public pool, his caregiver was always with him while Gerald and Ariana chose to stay back and enjoy their time in their own way. Gerald also regularly accompanied Ariana to her medical check-
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 160. Chaotic
The fact that Ariana is pregnant is no longer a secret. The news has reached her father and Mother. It also reached her mother and siblings. Especially Shelma. The woman looked furious when she heard that Ariana had dropped her divorce case and returned to Gerald. She intended to confront Ariana at Zeroun's residence. However, when she arrived there, she didn't see Ariana, Gerald, or Axel. When she asked Isidora, the woman replied that Gerald had taken his 'family' and left Zeroun's residence. Including his grandchild. Shelma went hysterical. Her dream of being with Gerald seemed shattered again because of Ariana. Meanwhile, Mrs. Caitlyn openly came to Zeroun's residence to ask for more financial help her husband needed. Of course, in the form of funds that would revive her husband's business. But again, she was disappointed because the person she was looking for was not there. Unintentionally, Mrs. Caitlyn, Karenina, and Shelma went to Zeroun's company to find Gerald. Once again,
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 159. Gina and Max
They had just arrived at the restaurant when Gerald's phone suddenly rang. Gerald glanced at the flat object and saw his friend's name displayed there. "Hello?" "How are you?" the man on the other side asked, clearly curious. "Estoy bien," Gerald replied, making Ariana furrow her brows. "He's my friend from Spain," he whispered to his wife. Ariana just nodded and continued walking inside the restaurant. "Have you returned to Spain?" Gerald inquired. "Not yet. We are still in Indonesia. Gina keeps urging me to remind you of your promise," the man answered. "She still wants to meet you and your wife. It's as if she hasn't met you yet." Maximilan said with a chuckle. "Meet? Who? Gina and Ariana?" Gerald asked, confused. "Who else do you think?" Max snorted rudely. "You know, her spy instincts kicked in at that moment. She deliberately made me go to your wife's restaurant, and suddenly she pretended to be sick, forcing us to borrow your wife's private room then." He explained with a
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 158. Prisoner
In the evening, Axel came to the penthouse with his nanny and also his personal driver. The couple, Gerald and Ariana, declared that they would stay in the penthouse and would not return to Zeroun's residence until Gerald allowed it. Gerald also hired the services of two completely new house assistants, not people he took from Zeroun's residence. Ariana was initially confused why there was no Vivan or Yosef or other house assistants who had previously worked at Zeroun's residence. However, she didn't dare to ask her husband. Ariana spent her time with Axel. The boy repeatedly asked Ariana if she would leave him again or not, or if Ariana would stay in the apartment and leave him with Gerald or not. Ariana promised Axel while looking at her husband that she would not leave the two of them no matter what happened. It took quite a long time to make Axel believe. The boy's questions had to stop when he fell asleep, of course, with Ariana by his side. Because once again, Axel was afraid A
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 157. I Promise
Ariana hung her head in defeat as she listened to the man's account. Both of them were wrong. Both she and the man were equally wrong. They had been overthinking without allowing fate to answer their questions. Because, in reality, no one knew what would happen afterward. Ariana feared the possibility of making Gerald sad if she didn't survive when their baby was born. Yet, she believed that Gerald would love the baby because it was his flesh and blood. Meanwhile, Gerald feared losing the woman he loved so much, so he chose to erase something that hadn't even happened yet. "I'm sorry," the words finally came out simultaneously from both their mouths. Ariana gazed at Gerald, and he did the same. Gerald moved closer and held his wife's hands in his own. "I know I was wrong. I was too selfish. I love you too much, so I'm afraid of losing you," he said softly. Ariana looked at her hands within his grasp. "I am also at fault. I have been too afraid of myself. I truly feared hearing wh
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 156. Arrogant Doctor
Gerald chuckled. "We don't know what Axel will be like in the future. He might follow in his father's footsteps. Besides, no one knows how smart he'll be. We need a backup to ensure the Zeroun family survives," the woman replied flatly. Gerald's chuckle turned into a booming laughter that sounded more like mockery than genuine happiness. "So, it's fine for me to lose the woman I love as long as Grandma can secure an heir for this rotten family?" he sneered. "Don't push it, Gerald!" his grandmother snapped, her voice barely contained. The woman clearly stood stiffly before him. Perhaps it was because of Gerald's loud voice, or maybe one of the servants had awakened her. Because now, behind his grandmother, stood another woman who was the second mistress in the Zeroun household. "What's going on here?" Mrs. Isidora asked Gerald with a puzzled look. However, her question was ignored by Gerald and the three others present in the room. "Isn't it enough for all my sacrifices all this
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 155. Child
"I won't ask if I already know. I'm not someone who pretends to be foolish," Gerald snapped. "Yes, but it seems like you enjoy pretending to be drunk in front of a woman with a heart condition. Why? To make her anxious and die in front of you?" "He-heart condition?" Gerald stuttered momentarily. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, confused. "Yes. Your wife has a congenital heart disease. She suffers from atrial fibrillation, a condition where the heart beats faster and irregularly," the young doctor explained. "Ho-how is that possible?" Gerald asked, bewildered. "From the patient's history, this happens due to genetic factors," the doctor said again. "History?" Gerald mentioned one word that seemed ambiguous to him. "Yes, Sir. History. Because this is not the first time she has been admitted to this hospital in the same condition," the doctor continued. "The previous patient experienced dizziness, shortness of breath, and chest pain that made her faint. Fortunately, the patien
