(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

“What makes you rush?” Mrs. Sri asked again. “Just so I can feel at ease,” Ariana replied honestly.

Mrs. Sri looked at her again with a scrutinizing gaze. “Your marriage is still in its early days. From what I know, marriage isn’t easy, especially for those who are arranged like you and Mr. Gerald. Don’t you need more time to get to know each other?” She asked again.

Ariana just smiled. “In the end, I realized that we will never fully know someone who is close to us 100%. Throughout the marriage, we will always adapt to each other. And waiting for us to be perfectly matched might take a long time. Meanwhile, I can’t wait. Axel will slowly grow up, and when his mind starts to comprehend the situation, he will question his status. And I don’t want to give him ambiguous answers.”

Mrs. Sri nodded her head. “But you know that Axel also has family on his mother’s side?” Ariana nodded. “That means you also know that it’s not just your and Mr. Gerald’s obligation to take care of Axel?” Ariana nodded again. “Especially now that you are pregnant with Mr. Gerald’s child. Won’t you favor that child? Blood is thicker than water. No matter how much we love an adopted child, we love our biological child more. That’s what I know. Because in any case, Axel’s position right now is just a cousin to the baby you are carrying and just a nephew to you and Mr. Gerald.”

Ariana smiled again. “What I know about feelings is that they will grow over time,” she replied softly. “I can’t promise that I will be fair because the measure of feelings cannot be determined by anything. But I can assure you that I, especially my husband, will do our best for him. Honestly, I grew up in a broken home.” Ariana answered with a bitter smile on her face. “I know how it feels to be abandoned. And I don’t want that to happen to Axel. In this house, he will receive so much love. Not just from me and Gerald. But also from his grandparents. In this house, he will also get a lot of attention. Because clearly, financially, you can see for yourself the state of the Zeroun family.” Ariana said again.

Mrs. Sri nodded her head. “Alright, I think I’ve heard your opinion. Thank you, Mrs. Ariana. I hope your pregnancy goes smoothly,” the woman said. Ariana just smiled, whispering her thanks before leaving the room.

Shortly after she left, Mrs. Rosaline entered. Ariana sat back in the living room, in the same chair she had occupied before, where Amber now looked at her anxiously. “Is everything okay?” Amber whispered. Ariana just nodded her head slowly. Her head felt so light, and her vision was starting to blur. All she wanted right now was to leave this place and return to her home.

“How’s your pregnancy?” the question came out of Mrs. Isidora’s mouth casually. Ariana looked up, directing her gaze at her mother-in-law and the woman sitting next to her. Without bothering to glance at Gerald, who seemed to be watching her intently, she replied flatly, “Fine.”

“You don’t look fine; is your craving severe?” the woman asked again. Not a tone of concern, but what Ariana heard clearly in her ears was a tone of mockery.

“Not really,” Ariana replied again. She didn’t want to discuss all of this. She felt truly exhausted. Even speaking seemed to drain all the remaining energy from her.

“I’m actually curious. When Shelma said you were pregnant during our last breakfast together, you didn’t say anything. And you chose to leave on the same day? What’s the matter, Ariana? Is it true what Shelma predicted, that it’s not Gerald’s baby?” Mrs. Isidora asked in a low whisper. Ariana suspected the woman was trying to make sure she wasn’t overheard by social workers who might suddenly appear.

“It’s indeed not Gerald’s baby,” Ariana replied coldly. “The child in my womb is mine. I don’t need to tell anyone who the father is.” She continued. She tried to take a deep breath without attracting attention. Suffocating. That’s what she felt right now. Was there a way she could leave this place quickly?

Amber seemed to realize it because before Mrs. Isidora could ask another question, Amber spoke first. “Ariana is experiencing severe morning sickness, especially at this time of night,” she said with a tone that could be considered harsh. “Can she rest for a while? Maybe there’s a room she can use?” her gaze was directed at Gerald. Just as Gerald was about to speak, Mrs. Rosaline appeared.

“Going upstairs will only make her more tired. Go and take Ariana to the guest room,” she ordered Amber. Amber just nodded and got up to guide Ariana. “If you can’t help her go to her room, ask Vivan to take her there,” the older woman ordered her granddaughter.

Gerald frowned. He looked at his grandmother and then at Ariana alternately. But Ariana’s voice interrupted. “No need, Grandma. Just Amber is enough,” she refused. And indeed, Ariana seemed to avoid him. His wife chose to accept Yosef’s hand when the man suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

“Let me help, Madam,” the elderly man said. Ariana smiled gently at him and nodded. Gerald’s chest suddenly felt tight.

Ariana, Amber, and Yosef left the living room and headed to a guest room that was quite far from there. Not the guest room Shelma had used before. Gerald was sure Yosef wouldn’t take his wife there.

“If you’re worried about her, go and check on her condition. If you’re not worried, sit back, Gerald,” Mrs. Rosaline said again. Gerald shifted his gaze to his grandmother, who was now sitting in her chair. He didn’t answer his grandmother’s statement and sat back in his place even though his feelings were still in turmoil.

Meanwhile, on the way to the guest room, Ariana gripped Amber and Mr. Yosef’s arms tightly. The nausea in her stomach, coupled with the pain in her chest and her vision starting to blur, became a combination of feelings she didn’t want to experience right now.

“Madam, are you alright?” Yosef asked worriedly. He opened the door slowly and guided Ariana in.

“Sir, is there a way for my friend to enter here without anyone else knowing?” Amber answered Yosef’s question with another question. “Ariana is not okay. But she doesn’t want others to know about her condition, especially when there are people from the Social Services here. She doesn’t want to jeopardize their survey,” Amber reasoned.

Yosef didn’t say much. He just nodded and gave Amber instructions on what to do.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g