(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

“They went to drop off Axel as usual. But there was something different about Gerald during their journey to school. The man frequently massaged his temples and even covered his mouth with his hand as if he was about to vomit. Ariana, who noticed this, could only furrow her brow.

When the car dropped Ariana off at the restaurant, she finally mustered the courage to ask, ‘Are you okay?’ Ariana asked, her brow furrowed.

‘It seems I caught a chill,’ Gerald replied weakly. ‘I’ve had a headache and felt nauseous since earlier.’

Ariana snorted. ‘Spoiled rich people. Given regular air conditioning and you catch a cold from the breeze.’ She teased. Gerald responded with a glare at his wife. ‘I’ll go in first, I’ll make you some warm ginger tea or hot lemon.’ She offered. Gerald just nodded. He followed Ariana into the restaurant. However, later, they were surprised to find Amber there. ‘Are you awake?’ Ariana asked flatly.

Amber only answered Ariana’s question with a shrug. ‘Why? Miss me?’ she retorted.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Ariana snorted again. ‘Ge-er.’ Ariana replied. She then glanced at Gerald. ‘You go upstairs. I’ll make the ginger tea first.’ She requested. Gerald nodded silently. He climbed upstairs, holding onto the staircase railing due to his increasing dizziness. ‘Where have you been during the vacation?’ Ariana asked, walking towards the kitchen, leaving Amber to her own devices.

‘Nowhere special. Just hanging out here and there and ended up burning through my funds.’ Amber replied curtly.

Ariana chuckled. ‘That’s why, if you’re jealous, don’t follow trends.’ She replied. She washed and started peeling the ginger before crushing it.

‘How’s your relationship? Better?’ Amber, now standing next to Ariana, inquired, leaning her hip against the edge of the table.

‘According to you?’ Ariana retorted.

‘It seems fine. Have you fallen in love with him?’ Amber asked again.

‘Why? Do you want to make sure Chris and I have no connection?’ Ariana replied.

Amber sneered. ‘Can you just answer? Stop throwing questions back at me.’ She snapped. Ariana chuckled. She saw the boiling water in the pot and started putting the ginger in it.

“Lan, Chris and I never had any connection. And you know that. Chris just sees me as a sister. And I see him as a brother. My reason for preventing you from liking him wasn’t because I don’t want to see you in a relationship with him. But there’s a secret Chris has that I know of, which is the reason he can’t be with you.” Ariana explained.

‘Why? Does he have a girlfriend he likes? Who is it? Tell me.’ Amber demanded. ‘Amber…’

‘You don’t know what it’s like to hope for someone because you’ve never been in love, Ariana. You don’t know what it’s like to be me.’ Ariana just nodded. ‘Yes. I don’t know what falling in love means. And I’ve stopped hoping for people a long time ago. Because I don’t know what your feelings are like. But at least, you can use your common sense, Amber. You’ve known from the start that Chris never gave you any feedback even though he knows how you feel. And you should know that what you’ve been doing to Chris all this time is in vain.

The principle is, if you and Chris are meant to be, then someday, somehow, Chris will be yours. And from that moment on, you have to move on. Wait until that time comes. Instead of hoping more and more.’ Ariana’s explanation made sense. ‘But love doesn’t always follow logic. And you know that.’

‘Yes. And that’s why I don’t want to fall in love. Because as Agnez Mo says, love has no logic. And I don’t want to be someone who’s overly emotional. Like you!’ Ariana poured the ginger water into a large glass. ‘Luckily, you realized to come back here. If you hadn’t realized and got lost, you would regret it for losing such a beautiful and kind friend like me.’ Ariana replied before walking away with a large glass of ginger water in her hand.

Ariana climbed the stairs carefully. She saw her bedroom door open, but there were no signs of Gerald. Ariana furrowed her brow and called her husband’s name softly. But there was no response at all. Usually, if Gerald came to her place, he would sit on the couch and turn on the TV. Although he didn’t really pay attention to it because he was busy with Ariana’s laptop or his own phone. But this time, the TV in the room was still off.

Ariana walked into the room. And she was truly surprised to see Gerald lying there. What was wrong with him? she wondered. How could he be sleeping? Wasn’t he supposed to go to the office?

But Ariana remembered that Gerald had complained about feeling unwell earlier. Ariana walked closer. She placed the glass on the nightstand and then sat on the side of the bed. She touched her husband’s forehead, which seemed to be sweating coldly. His face was pale. He looked really miserable.

Maybe because he felt Ariana’s touch, Gerald slowly opened his eyes. ‘Ana…’ he called softly.

‘Hmm… what’s wrong with you? still feeling dizzy?’ she asked. Gerald nodded weakly. His large body shifted forward and he moved closer. His head rose to Ariana’s lap, and he chose to hide his face in Ariana’s stomach. ‘Still feeling nauseous?’ Ariana asked again. Gerald just nodded tiredly. ‘Should I rub some aromatic oil for you?’ Ariana offered again. Gerald shook his head.

‘Maybe the dizziness will go away soon.’ He replied. Ariana just nodded. ‘If you want to sleep, then go back to sleep. Did you contact Vivan?’ she asked. Gerald just nodded. ‘Alright, drink the ginger water first. So your nausea will go away.’ Ariana took the glass from the nightstand. Gerald opened his eyes and then slowly sat up. He took the glass and started drinking it bit by bit. The warmth from the ginger and the sweetness from the brown sugar did calm his queasy stomach. ‘Go back to sleep, I’m going downstairs.’ Ariana said again. But before Ariana could really get up from the bed, Gerald stopped her. He even lay back on Ariana’s lap with his arms circling his wife’s waist. ‘Gerald?’ Ariana felt uncomfortable with Gerald’s childishness. Not that she had anything against it, but Amber was back now, and she didn’t want her friend to suddenly come in and see Gerald acting so childishly.

‘Please, don’t go. Keep me company here.’ He begged with a childish whine.

‘I have to work.’ Ariana replied. She tried to refuse Gerald’s request. But he hugged Ariana even tighter.

‘Just for a while.’ He whined. Ariana could only sigh deeply.

‘Just a while, okay.’ Ariana warned. Gerald just smiled and buried his face even deeper into Ariana’s stomach. Smelling his wife’s scent that had actually eliminated his nausea and dizziness.”