(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

Gerald shrugged. “I don’t know either,” he replied flatly. “Maybe they were just guessing and hoping at the same time. Besides, who wouldn’t want to see little Gerald or little Ariana? I certainly do.” The man answered with a happy smile on his face. Ariana raised her eyebrows, staring at her husband with a look that Gerald found difficult to interpret. She then pushed her husband’s chest.

“I’m hungry,” she said. Gerald just chuckled, aware that his wife was trying to divert attention. He nodded, releasing his embrace and then sat down, getting ready to enjoy the meal Ariana had prepared for them.

“But I think it’s worth a try,” Gerald spoke again. Ariana, who was about to feed him, suddenly stopped and looked at Gerald in confusion.

“What do you mean by try?” she asked puzzled.

“Going to the doctor and consulting about pregnancy,” he said flatly. Ariana widened her eyes.

“Do you want us to plan a pregnancy?” she asked incredulously. Gerald nodded. “We’ve only been married for a few months, and you want to plan a pregnancy?” she repeated her question. Gerald nodded again. Ariana shook her head.

“Why? You don’t want to have our child?” the man asked with a disappointed expression.

Ariana shrugged. “I’m not even ready to be a mother. How can I agree to plan a pregnancy?” she answered casually.

“What makes you unready to be a mother?” Gerald asked again.Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

“I’m not a good prospective mother. I’m not cut out to be a mother. I’m not ready to be tied down with a baby. I want to be a mother who takes care of my child with my own hands. I want him to receive my full love and attention. And until now, let alone for someone else, even for myself, I haven’t fully experienced that. I don’t want to be a second Ariana. I don’t want to be a mother who hurts her own child because I’m still selfish and only care about myself.”

Gerald looked at Ariana, this time with a different perspective because he understood where his wife’s conversation was heading. “You will be a good mother,” he said reassuringly. “Our child won’t lack anything, not love, affection, or money,” he promised.

Ariana looked at him, then shook her head. “You know, one thing I’ve never held onto is human words,” she said coldly. “I never believe anyone’s promises, and I never put my hope in anyone, including myself,” she replied again. “So stop talking about children and continue your meal,” she ordered Gerald. Gerald fell silent, but he understood that continuing their conversation would only worsen Ariana’s mood. And he didn’t want that to happen. As a result, he chose to remain silent and continue his meal.

Ariana went back downstairs and resumed helping her friends in the kitchen. But Gerald’s words kept echoing in her head. A child? Could they have a child and take care of the child properly? But Ariana herself didn’t feel confident. What kind of mother would she be? Until they returned home close to midnight, that thought continued to haunt Ariana. Ariana walked into their bathroom and opened the cabinet inside. She frowned. Her gaze was fixed on one place there. A pack of sanitary pads.

Wait a minute. Ariana ordered herself. When was her last period? She asked herself. Ariana tried to count backward. Her last period was a day before the wedding. And that was almost three months ago. Three months? Ariana furrowed her brow. She was indeed used to having irregular periods. The doctor said it was due to hormones. And the doctor also said that it could happen. There were even cases where a woman didn’t menstruate for a year due to hormonal imbalances. It could be because of being overweight, stress, and other factors that couldn’t even be explained medically. And Ariana herself belonged to the type that couldn’t be categorized. But usually, not this long. She was usually late for one to two weeks. Not until a month like this.

Ariana still furrowed her brow, not understanding. Until then, her reverie was interrupted when someone knocked on the bathroom door. “Are you done?” Gerald appeared from behind the door. Ariana quickly closed the cabinet and looked at her husband, shaking her head.

“Not yet. Why? Do you want to use the bathroom?” Ariana wanted to know.

“Not really,” he replied, closing the door again. Ariana took a long breath. But suddenly, an uncomfortable feeling washed over her. Wait, she ordered herself. When was her last period? She asked herself. Ariana tried to count backward. Her last period was a day before the wedding. And that was almost three months ago. Three months? Ariana furrowed her brow. She was indeed used to having irregular periods. The doctor said it was due to hormones. And the doctor also said that it could happen. There were even cases where a woman didn’t menstruate for a year due to hormonal imbalances. It could be because of being overweight, stress, and other factors that couldn’t even be explained medically. And Ariana herself belonged to the type that couldn’t be categorized. But usually, not this long. She was usually late for one to two weeks. Not until a month like this.

Ariana still furrowed her brow, not understanding. Until then, her reverie was interrupted when someone knocked on the bathroom door. “Are you done?” Gerald appeared from behind the door. Ariana quickly closed the cabinet and looked at her husband, shaking her head.

“Not yet. Why? Do you want to use the bathroom?” Ariana wanted to know.

“Not really,” he replied, closing the door again. Ariana took a long breath. But suddenly, an uncomfortable feeling washed over her. She had to make sure of something tomorrow, she thought. And long after that, she could finally fall asleep well past midnight.

In the early morning, Gerald looked at his wife in confusion. Ariana usually didn’t talk much, but this time, her silence puzzled him. The smile she showed to Axel didn’t even touch her eyes. And Gerald wanted to know why. Maybe it was because of their conversation last night? Was his wife offended by that? But last night, she was fine. She didn’t seem angry as she usually did. But Gerald chose to stay silent. Later, he told himself. Later, if she still seemed the same, he would ask her why.

They went about their routine as usual, dropping Axel off at school before taking Ariana to the restaurant. “Are you coming here for lunch?” Ariana asked when the car stopped in front of the restaurant.

“Why? Tired of seeing my face?” Gerald teased, trying to lighten the mood so Ariana wouldn’t stay silent all the time.

Ariana smiled. Once again, her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I have an appointment this afternoon,” the woman said. “An appointment? With whom?” Gerald wanted to know.

Ariana looked at him disapprovingly. “What if I don’t tell you who I have an appointment with? Will you send your people to tail me?” Ariana asked, not pleased. Gerald fell silent. The thought did cross his mind momentarily, and Ariana seemed to realize that

too. “If you really intend to do that, just ask your people where I went and who I met,” Ariana replied curtly. “I’m leaving.” She said coldly and then opened the car door, leaving Gerald still looking at her in confusion.