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62. Beginning
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The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 63. Why
After snapping out of her trance, Ariana hit Gerald with the nearest pillow within her reach. "You pervert!" she exclaimed. Ariana then got up from the bed and walked towards the bathroom quickly. "Where are you going?" Gerald asked with teasing tone and smile. "Taking a shower! Suddenly I feel so hot!" Ariana replied from the bathroom door. "Need any help? Maybe I could assist you in scrubbing your back or something else?" Gerald offered, his tone playful. Ariana stopped in her tracks. She turned around and looked at Gerald with a raised eyebrow. Gerald looked back at her with a hopeful expression. "In your dreams!" Ariana muttered before closing the door with a rather loud thud. Gerald burst into laughter. Meanwhile, inside the bathroom, Ariana sat back on the toilet seat, holding her chest that was beating so rapidly. How could she not? The conversation she had just had with Gerald was like giving their relationship a chance. Ariana didn't know why she could do that, especially
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 64. Impressed
With a quick motion, Gerald turned off the television and stood up from his seat. Now, Ariana could clearly observe the man. Gerald was still dressed in his work attire: a long-sleeved white shirt that he had folded up to his elbows and black trousers. His tie had been loosened, and the top two buttons of his shirt seemed deliberately undone. Normally, such a sight would remind Ariana of salesmen for household products who typically went door to door selling their goods. Or it would bring to mind new interns who could be seen in various stores and even some offices. You know, their typical new employee attire, black and white. However, for some reason, seeing Gerald dressed like that made him look even more charming to her. Ariana couldn't quite understand her own thought process. And the man's jacket hung on the single sofa not far from where Ariana stood. Seeing his personal belonging in her room, he acted as if the room belonged to Gerald alone. Normally, this should have made A
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 65. Welcome Home
"What do you want to do after this?" Gerald asked Ariana, who was now leaning back in her chair, rubbing her rounded belly after eating to her heart's content. Ariana turned and then shrugged. "You still haven't answered my question, where do you want us to stay tonight?" She straightened her shoulders. "I'm confused," she said softly, gazing at Gerald attentively. "What's going on with you? You were clearly angry this morning, but now? Why are you so understanding?" Gerald just shrugged. "Didn't I explain everything earlier? We're going to start fresh because I like you. I want to make you like me back. And because of that, I'll do anything you like." Ariana could only shake her head in disbelief. Well, aren't all men sweet when they want something, she thought to herself. "I don't know," she replied afterward. "I don't have anywhere else. Besides my dad's house, the apartment, and the restaurant, I don't have any other place." Ariana answered honestly. "Do you want to come to
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 66. Spoiled
Ariana opened the door to the balcony, and instantly, the cool air rushed into the room, tousling her hair. The scent of damp earth wafted into her nose. Ariana stepped outside. The balcony was spacious, very spacious. Some parts of the floor were covered with wood, while others were covered with Japanese grass that tickled anyone who walked on it. A wooden swing was on one side of the high glass balcony railing. On one side of the balcony, there was a long chair that looked comfortable to sit on. In the middle, there was an empty area that seemed deliberately left unfurnished. "We can camp here," Gerald said casually. He was already sitting on the swing, cross-legged, his eyes fixed on Ariana. "You like camping, don't you?" he asked again. Ariana just turned towards him and shrugged. "Back then, you went with that jerk," she muttered. Ariana smiled. Was he jealous of Chris now? She wondered to herself. "Do you even have camping gear?" Ariana challenged. Gerald just shrugged. "If
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 67. Open Up
Ariana knew she had misspoken. She was upset with herself for saying it, but the words couldn't be taken back. "Why did you bring up your sister's name?" the man asked, clearly trying to contain his anger. "Didn't we agree to start fresh?" Ariana fell silent. She didn't know what to say. An apology wouldn't fix the situation at all, so she chose to remain quiet. Gerald seemed reluctant to continue the conversation. He pretended to be engrossed in the meat grilling on the barbecue. Soon, he placed the fragrant and delicious-smelling steak onto a plate, adding vegetables as a side. "Does camping like this remind you of Chris? Is that why you said Karenina?" Gerald asked sharply. Ariana looked up, and at that moment, he handed her the plate. Ariana accepted the plate and murmured her thanks. She placed it on the square table between them. "Chris and I don't have any relationship," Ariana replied flatly. Gerald continued to stare at her with sharp, probing eyes. "To me, he's just a
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 68. You Don't Have To
Gerald rose from his seat, pushing the table aside that had been separating them and moving it to the farthest corner. He then slid his chair closer to Ariana. "I'm not someone who has to be served all the time, Ariana," Gerald began. "But I can't deny that gradually, I have become accustomed to all of this," he confessed. "Once, I was an independent man, just like you. I lived abroad relying on my own body and mind. Although I don't deny that financially I depended on my father, but when I was a teenager, I found my true identity. "I stood on my own feet. I started everything from scratch. I mingled with people whose situations were far below mine. "So don't think that I can't socialize with carpenters, gardeners, or even rickshaw drivers. I mingled with them much longer than I have with socialites these days. "You need to know, all the socializing with socialites, it's not something I genuinely desire. It's just a demand of the role I'm playing right now. "Socializing is essen
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 69. Open
Ariana's smile faded. She turned and looked at Gerald. Truthfully, his ego was bruised because Ariana didn't offer any other response to his recent confession. It's foolish to say that genuine love doesn't need a reply. Because in reality, Gerald wanted an answer. But then, he faintly heard Ariana say, "Forgive me," her voice barely audible. Gerald furrowed his brow upon hearing this. She didn't need to apologize. Apologies were synonymous with the rejection he anticipated. And he didn't like that. "I've been trying to reject everything, honestly because I was afraid," her continued words clearly made Gerald sense something deeper. He gazed at Ariana, who seemed to be staring into the darkness far away. "I've been trying to shut myself off at every opportunity. I refused to like anyone. And I refused to fall in love. Falling in love was never in my vocabulary," she replied honestly. Gerald again gently rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. "Why?" he asked, curious to know.
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 70. We Can Try
"Are we going to start everything anew?" Gerald returned to his initial question. They had finished the fried rice Ariana had made, and now they were watching a TV show that didn't fully capture their attention. "I don't know," Ariana replied softly. Gerald raised one of his legs onto the sofa. He deliberately turned his body toward Ariana. As he had done before, he played with a strand of Ariana's hair and tucked it behind her ear. "We can give it a try," Gerald made the decision for both of them. Ariana looked up at him, staring at him intensely. "We can give it a try," Gerald repeated with confidence. "Me, you, and Axel. We can be a simple little family. I won't ask much of you. I'll give you my loyalty, and that's all I ask for in return," Gerald requested. "I won't force you to cater to me as a 'husband' in the bedroom," he said jokingly. "I'll wait until you're ready to give yourself. Well, with a sprinkle of spice, as usual, seems fair enough," he continued, teasingly. Re
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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
