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74. Didn't Want To Know
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The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 75. Karenina's Word
"They arrived at Zeroun's residence just before breakfast. The quiet streets made Gerald drive faster than usual. Yusuf welcomed them at the door. The old man's forehead wrinkled when he saw Ariana and Gerald getting out of the car. Gerald immediately approached him to ask what was going on. But before his question could be answered, they already saw the answer. "Mommy!" Axel's shout made Ariana and Gerald turn simultaneously. The little boy ran towards Ariana and immediately threw himself into her arms. But what surprised them was the people following Axel. "Mommy, where were you? Why didn't you come home last night?" Axel asked curiously. While Ariana's attention was still on the other guests who were looking at her and Gerald alternately. "Just because you're newlyweds, it doesn't mean she can monopolize your time and even make you forget Axel, Gerald. She should remember that her presence here is to help you gain custody of Axel," Ariana's mother-in-law's words were thrown out
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 76. Eyes, Ears
The rectangular table had eight chairs. One chair was placed at each end of the table, and the remaining three chairs were arranged facing each other on each side. Gerald sat at one end of the table, and Mrs. Rosaline sat at the opposite end. Ariana sat to Gerald's right, and Axel sat to Ariana's right, leaving one chair empty. Meanwhile, on Gerald's left, Karenina, his mother, and Ariana's mother were seated. "It feels like a complete family, doesn't it?" Mrs. Caitlyn exclaimed loudly. It was clear that her gaze was directed at Karenina and Gerald. Ariana understood the implication. In truth, her heart stung a little due to her mother's blatant discrimination against her and Karenina. Yet, Ariana chose not to resist. "Of course," Ariana heard Mrs. Rosaline speak up. "In the end, my grandson gets a good wife, and Axel gets the mother he needs. What more could we ask for?" Mrs. Rosaline's gaze shifted towards Ariana, a warm smile on her face that made Ariana feel a bit warmer. A sco
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 77. Keep Watch
Ariana then laughed. Not a happy laugh, but a hysterical one. In the end, the trust she had placed in Gerald was once again tarnished. Because the fact was, he didn't believe her at all. It was clear that it wasn't Amber who would reveal the contents of Ariana and Karenina's conversation in her room yesterday. Ariana could be sure that Gerald must have hidden a listening device in his room. And that was why Gerald changed drastically afterward. Because he clearly heard what Ariana, Amber, and Karenina talked about that day. So the sweet demeanor he had shown before and all his promises were just empty words. None of it came from his genuine remorse. It wasn't because he wanted to redeem his mistakes. Instead, it was all manipulation based on what he had heard. And Ariana didn't like that fact. She felt like she was being played. Ariana looked at Axel; the boy seemed completely unfazed by his breakfast. She gently stroked Axel's head, making him look up. "Let's change your clothes,
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 78. Revenge
Ariana nervously swallowed her saliva as she noticed a different aura on Gerald's face. "I told you, I let her go," he growled. "If I truly wanted to keep her as my wife, I would have pulled her back even before she set foot at the airport. Which part of that sentence didn't you understand?" Gerald asked, clearly annoyed. Ariana looked at Gerald in confusion. What was going on? How could the situation flip so quickly? Wasn't she the one who had been upset with Gerald just a moment ago for violating her privacy? She should be the one angry with him. But why was he now the one annoyed with her? "Gerald..." Ariana called his name. Gerald ignored her. He, like a sulking child, chose to turn away. Ariana was left gaping. Dear God, was this the adult version of Axel? she wondered inwardly. "Are you now mad at me?" Ariana asked incredulously. Gerald shot her a glare and turned his face away. Ariana was stunned. "Are you angry with me? Because I mentioned Karenina's name?" Ariana asked ag
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 79. Eavesdropper
“Mommy!” Axel's shout, accompanied by banging on the door, made Ariana immediately push Gerald away. His tall frame fell onto the bed instantly. Ariana glanced at him briefly, noticing the annoyance on his face before she got up and walked towards the door that Gerald had locked from the inside. “What's the little one bothering us for at such an important moment?” Gerald's grumble was clearly audible behind her. He had risen too and was following her. Ariana opened the door and saw Axel, already dressed in his school uniform. His hair looked messy, either wet from a shower or perhaps he had applied too much baby hair oil. But Ariana loved the fragrance wafting around him. “Mommy said she'd take Axel to school. Why are you still here?” the little boy complained. "Sorry." Those were the only words that escaped Ariana's lips. She then extended her hand to Axel, asking him to hold it tightly. Gerald faithfully trailed behind Ariana. "Where are you going?" Ariana asked the man. "To tak
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 80. Chris Matchmaking
"You... with Chris?" Ariana instantly furrowed her brows. Adel nodded weakly. Ariana herself felt weak just hearing it. "But why? Who arranged this for you?" Ariana asked again. "Papa. He and Uncle Jason planned it all," the girl replied. Jason was Chris's father, a cousin of Ariana's stepmother. "But what about Daffin?" Ariana asked. Daffin was Chris's younger brother, born from a different mother. He was the one Adel had liked all these years, her first love since she was fifteen. Everyone knew how much Adel liked Daffin, including Adel's parents and Chris's parents. So why were they suddenly pairing Adel with Chris and not Daffin? "I know Daffin never liked me. He always saw me as a nuisance. But Chris? Am I really being forced to marry Chris? He's so old-fashioned. Adel doesn't like him," the girl whined. Then, a name popped into Ariana's head. "What about Amber? Does she know about this?" Ariana looked at Adel with a furrowed brow. Adel's sulking face nodded. Damn it. Amber m
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 81. Chris Matchmaking (2)
"That's my business, and I don't like my personal matters being interfered with," the voice said, causing Ariana and Amber to turn. Chris was standing behind them, his gaze sharp and directed at Amber. "Whether it's you or Adel, neither of you will be my choice for a wife." Chris then grabbed Ariana's arm and pulled her up. She stood up instantly, her knees aching from crouching for so long. "Chris..." Ariana tried to restrain him. Chris's words were unpleasant to hear, and Ariana was sure they would only make Amber more convinced that Chris had feelings for her. "I need to talk to you," he said. He then led Ariana out of the kitchen, pulling her towards the stairs, ignoring Adel who was staring at them in disbelief. Ariana followed Chris wherever he took her. She was no longer worried about Gerald listening to their conversation because she knew he had removed the listening device he had installed. Chris entered the room first, then let Ariana in before locking the door behind the
The Billionaire's Replacement Bride 82. Spoiled Girl
"I came back here with new hope, in the beginning," the man said seriously. "But then, that new hope vanished in an instant. And like you said, maybe this is the fate that God has planned for me." He continued softly, "Initially, I thought I wanted to try everything in a new way. With you," the man admitted. "But it turns out I was too late. Because you're already married to Gerald. Although I was hesitant at first, but now I know that you're captivated by his charm." Chris looked at Ariana teasingly. "You know, all of this feels funny to me. Only you know my story, and I hope this will always be our secret," Chris replied, looking hopefully at Ariana. Ariana smiled and nodded. "But leaving isn't the right choice, Chris," Ariana replied later. "You just came back recently. Don't you feel sorry for Uncle Jason?" she asked sadly. "I love my dad, Ana. You know that. But staying by his side isn't the right choice either. I just hope that when I come back again, Dad will finally realize
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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
