(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

The sound of rustling accompanied by a loud bump disturbed Gerald’s sleep. “Dad! Move over!” The irritated voice was followed by a rather strong push on Gerald’s chest and thigh. It turned out the kid was pushing Gerald’s thigh with both of his feet while his hands pushed Gerald’s chest from behind his back.

“What’s wrong with you?” Gerald asked groggily.

“What’s wrong with Dad,” grumbled Axel. “Last night, Axel slept cuddling with Mommy. Why is Mommy rolling away now?” The kid complained.

Annoyed, Gerald finally opened his eyes and saw Ariana’s back, which was now a whole arm’s length away from him, while Axel was in between them. He glared at Axel, as if the child had taken away his favorite toy. “You! Can’t you see Dad’s happy for a bit?” he grumbled irritably.

Axel turned, looking back at his father with equal annoyance. “This is Axel’s place, Dad,” the boy retorted, making Ariana chuckle. She had been presumed to be still asleep.

Ariana slowly turned, stretching her arms and allowing Axel to enter her embrace. “He’ll beat you someday,” she whispered to Gerald. Gerald snorted and then lay back, staring at the ceiling. It was morning already; after Fajr, both of them had chosen to lie back down, and that was about an hour and a half ago. Gerald’s intention was to laze around today with Ariana. But once again, Axel ruined his plans.

“Mommy, tonight, sleep with Axel again, okay?” The child’s voice sounded so sweet in Gerald’s ears, and Gerald didn’t like it.

“No way. Last night was a special treat for you because Dad came home late. There won’t be any more nights when Mommy sleeps in your room.” Gerald replied irritably.

Axel turned, looking at his father, and then sneered. “Axel talks to Mommy, not Dad,” he said, then redirected his attention to Ariana. “Right, Mommy?” the child whined again. Ariana just smiled.

“If Axel behaves, you’ll get proper food. You can learn, and Mommy will sleep here again.” Ariana replied.

But suddenly, Gerald rose from his bed and looked at Ariana sharply. “It can’t be like that,” he complained again. “Anyway, tonight and every other night, you’ll sleep with me, not Axel.”

Then a knock on the door made the three of them turn. The face of Axel’s nanny appeared from outside the door. “Mrs. Isidora is asking if Mr. Gerald would like a special breakfast,” the nanny said hesitantly.

Both Gerald and Ariana exchanged puzzled glances. It wasn’t Ariana’s mother-in-law’s habit to inquire about such trivial matters. But then Gerald answered, “No. Just make breakfast as usual.” He said flatly. The woman then nodded and withdrew, closing the door gently.

“Did your mother get some kind of enlightenment?” Ariana asked Gerald. Gerald shrugged as a response.

“Come on, Boy. It’s time for breakfast,” Gerald pulled Axel away from Ariana’s hug. The child resisted by tightening his grip on Ariana. But Gerald was much stronger. With one pull, he managed to release Axel’s hold and then carried the child’s small body on his shoulders.

“Dad is mean!” the child exclaimed. but didn’t struggle as he should have.

The three of them walked to the dining room. There were Mrs. Rosaline and a guest Ariana disliked, once again. Who else but Shelma.

“Good morning,” Shelma greeted with her cheerful voice that somehow always disgusted Ariana.

Neither Gerald nor Ariana responded to her greeting. Gerald pulled out a chair for Ariana, allowing his wife to sit before then lowering Axel into the chair beside his mother. He then took his own seat.

“I asked Axel’s nanny if you wanted something special for breakfast this morning, but it seems you’re okay today,” Mrs. Isidora said in her always gentle but sharp voice. “I’m fine. When am I not fine?” Gerald asked, puzzled.

Mrs. Isidora shrugged. “Wasn’t it yesterday that you wanted to have mango for breakfast? And now you want to eat starfruit instead of carambola. I thought maybe this morning you’d want strawberries or something else.” She replied nonchalantly. “Because you really seem like a woman with cravings, Ge.”

Gerald raised an eyebrow, looking at his mother-in-law sharply. Cravings and pregnancy were sensitive words that Gerald wanted to avoid at the moment. He didn’t want those words to worsen Ariana’s mood like they did yesterday.

“Maybe Gerald is indeed having cravings; Ariana might be pregnant,” Shelma’s remark came out. Gerald could see his wife’s shoulders tensing. Ariana was now looking at Shelma and Mrs. Isidora alternately.

“That’s impossible,” Gerald replied. “Ariana is not pregnant, and she’s not ready to be. So, can we stop talking about this issue?” Gerald asked again.

“Axel, do you want to have a sibling?” Mrs. Isidora asked her grandson.

Axel, who was busy eating his cereal, looked up and then nodded enthusiastically. “A cute baby, boy or girl,” the child said, his face lit up with excitement.

“Don’t you hear that? And if you guys have a child now, Ariana’s old enough, isn’t she?” Mrs. Isidora directed the question at Ariana.

“Ariana isn’t ready to have a child,” Gerald answered, representing his wife.

Mrs. Isidora snorted. Meanwhile, Shelma seemed to chuckle with her mocking tone. “Gerald, no one is ever ready for the first time. Everything begins with reluctance and trying,” Mrs. Isidora replied again. “Not every woman is ready to be a wife. Not every wife is ready to be a mother. And not every mother is ready to give birth and have children. All of that has its own fears. Like you. As a businessman, you didn’t start everything being ready, did you? You started everything out of obligation because of your status as the only remaining child. And the rest, you tried. After that, you were trained and accustomed. Am I wrong?” Mrs. Isidora then shifted her gaze to Mrs. Rosaline. There was no response from Gerald’s grandmother.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Or maybe, you don’t really love Gerald to the point that you don’t intend to have a child with him?” Shelma’s question was thrown out again. “Yes, considering this marriage happened without love and you had to replace your twin sister. I thought you were still hesitant to cement your relationship with a child. Especially since I heard rumors that you have another ideal man.” Shelma’s words made Gerald’s forehead furrow in annoyance. Ariana felt the same way.

“What do you mean?” Shelma shrugged. “I don’t mean anything. I just heard rumors that Ariana has been waiting for her lover to return from abroad. And that man has returned. But unfortunately, he was arranged to marry another woman by his family. Why? Wasn’t your relationship not approved by his family? But why?” the girl asked with a curious expression that Ariana knew

was just a mask.

“Who are you referring to?” the question came from Mrs. Isidora.

“Aunt knows. The richest clothing and sports equipment producer in our country?” Shelma looked at Mrs. Isidora with her fake innocent face. “The man who is lucky enough to marry the wealthiest woman from France?” she continued. Instantly, Mrs. Isidora’s face lit up. “Yes. I heard Ariana has a very special relationship with the eldest son of the Alessandro family.” Shelma’s gaze shifted back to Ariana. “Didn’t Ariana go with him when you were supposed to spend your first night?” she asked, her tone mocking.