(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

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 answered with a smile on her face. “I need time, so I can clear my head.” “And distance yourself? Go to a place where you don’t know anyone?” she asked again.

Ariana glanced at Jody. Amber also looked at Jody, and her anger flared up again. “Is there something else I don’t know about here?” she asked coldly, staring at Ariana, Jody, and Mrs. Rosaline in turn. “Are you still holding a grudge against me for what happened with Chris earlier? Is that why you didn’t include me in your plan? Don’t you trust me, Ariana?” Amber accused Ariana. Jody grabbed the girl’s arm, which she promptly shrugged off harshly. “And you too! You’re mean to me, Jody. I hate you!” she shouted and immediately left the room.

Jody glanced at Ariana and received a nod from her. He then left the room and chased after Amber.

In the room, only Mrs. Rosaline and Yosef remained. “Are you sure? Have you made up your mind?” Mrs. Rosaline asked softly.

Ariana nodded. “I’ve thought about it, and I think your plan is the best way forward for me right now,” she replied in a soft voice, but she was confident Mrs. Rosaline could hear her.

“Thank you,” said Mrs. Rosaline and held Ariana’s hand tighter. “Grandma knows this is difficult for you. But Grandma promises, Grandma will give you both the best.” The elderly woman’s gaze was directed at Ariana’s still-flat stomach. Ariana just nodded and laid her head back on the pillow.

Meanwhile, at Zeroun’s residence.

“Papa, is Mommy not coming back?” Axel asked, his eyes filled with hope.

Gerald returned late in the evening. He deliberately sought out Axel in his room just so his heart could feel a bit comforted. He hoped that his anger towards Ariana would vanish when he saw Axel. But it seemed his choice to visit his son was wrong. Because instead of making him forget about Ariana, Gerald felt his anger rising again.

“Mommy won’t be coming back, sweetheart. From now on, Axel, you don’t need to ask about Mommy anymore,” Gerald said softly. He tried to hide his resentment towards Ariana in front of Axel. However, Axel didn’t know anything. He was just a child longing for a mother who was not ready to be a real mother.

“Papa, is Papa mad at Mommy?” Axel’s voice brought something Gerald was trying to suppress to the surface. Should he admit to his son that he wasn’t just angry? He was truly furious and deeply disappointed in the woman he loved.

Yes, Gerald did love her deeply, and she knew it. But even with that knowledge, she managed to kill his feelings by intending to kill their unborn child.

Yes, Ariana was that heartless. How could she destroy their child like that? Even after Gerald assured her that he would take care of the baby. All Ariana had to do was endure for nine months, keep the baby in her womb. And then, it would be over. Gerald would be overjoyed if, after the baby was born, her heart was moved, and she was willing to take care of their child with her own hands. If that happened, Gerald would feel incredibly happy. He would be grateful above all else. But…

From the beginning, Ariana never wanted it. She never wanted to be tied to him. Despite her kindness towards Axel, the intention to separate was always rooted in her mind. And now, with the adoption process for Axel getting closer, their separation was also drawing near.

Was Gerald willing? If one day Ariana vanished from his life. Could he? Could he be single again and experience the other side of his cold, unoccupied bed? Or should he force her? Demand that Ariana continue to be with him even though he knew she didn’t want it? Should he beg for Ariana’s love? Then where was his self-respect? He, who had been admired by many women, now had to lower himself in front of someone who consistently rejected him. His ego was clearly wounded.

As if there were no more women out there who desired him. As if there were no women out there willing to be his wife. If he really wanted it, there would be many women lining up to be with him. But did he want them by his side? Warming his bed? Was he willing to look at a face he didn’t love every morning and night?

If he did want that. There was still Shelma, who clearly volunteered to replace Ariana. But clearly, Gerald’s heart couldn’t be swayed by that woman. Even if she did everything in front of him to bind him, Gerald’s thoughts always returned to Ariana.

“Papa…” Axel’s voice brought him back from his reverie. Gerald looked at his son again.

“Yes?”

“Is Papa mad at Mommy?” the child repeated the same question.

“No, Axel, Papa is not mad at Mommy,” Gerald said softly.

The child’s face lit up with a wide smile. “I told Mommy the same thing. I told her Papa isn’t mad at her. Papa loves Mommy, right?” he asked again. Gerald couldn’t possibly tell his son that right now, he wanted to hate Ariana. Instead, he nodded his head. “Papa loves the baby, too, right?” he asked again. Gerald was about to nod his head. But his movement paused. He turned, furrowing his brows, and looked at his son.

“The baby?” Gerald inquired, curious.

Axel nodded. “Because Mommy has a baby in her tummy,” Axel replied innocently.

Gerald fell silent. How could Ariana say that to Axel when she intended to terminate the pregnancy? Why did she give Axel hope? Allowing the child to believe he would have a sibling. Why was Ariana so cruel? The anger he had been holding back surged to the forefront of his mind.

“There’s no baby in Mommy’s tummy, Axel,” Gerald snapped. Axel looked at Gerald, confused, with his innocent face. “But Papa… Mommy said…”

“Stop mentioning Mommy in front of Papa. Stop looking for her because she won’t be with us for much longer, she’s leaving us, leaving you, leaving this house. She won’t be your Mommy anymore. Do you understand?” Gerald said, his voice rising, making Axel frightened. Axel looked at him with teary eyes, his face turning red as he tried to hold back his tears.

The bedroom door opened suddenly, and Mrs. Rosaline’s face appeared. The elderly woman was still wearing the same clothes she had on when the officials visited. “What’s going on, Gerald?” she asked her grandson. Her aged body approached her great-grandson. Axel immediately threw himself into Mrs. Rosaline’s arms, hiding his face in the old woman’s chest, and then he cried.

“Tell him that from now on, Ariana is no longer his Mommy and won’t give him the sibling he wants!” she said harshly and walked away, leaving the two of them in silence.