(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

“Pull over, Amber…” Ariana whispered softly.

But it seemed Amber didn’t hear her. Eventually, Jody had to tap her shoulder and command her to pull over. Without many words, Amber immediately steered and parked the car on the roadside as fast as she could. “What time…” Ariana glanced at Jody, who was still watching her silently.

Jody reached for his phone in his pants pocket. “A little past eight,” he replied softly.

Ariana nodded, choosing to close her eyes and lean her head back against the car seat. Besides the noise of passing vehicles outside, all they could hear inside the car was Ariana’s heavy breathing. Both Amber and Jody could only gaze at Ariana in silence.

“Ariana…” Amber released her seatbelt and turned around to face Ariana, looking at her with concern. “When was the last time this happened?” she asked, curious.

Ariana opened her eyes. Her gaze seemed distant, but then she lifted her head and looked at Amber, then smiled.

“This is the first time it’s happened since the last time,” Ariana replied softly.

Amber furrowed her brow, looking at Ariana in disbelief. But it wasn’t possible for Ariana to lie to her.

“I haven’t asked about this since earlier,” Jody broke the silence. “But what’s going on? Why don’t you want to go to the hospital? Why are we going to Gerald’s place instead?” Jody looked at Ariana and Amber alternately, hoping one of them could give him a satisfying answer.

“There was a survey from the Social Services today,” Amber replied curtly. “For what?” Jody asked, confused.

“Regarding Axel’s custody,” Amber continued. “The reason Karenina married Gerald was to gain full custody of Gerald’s younger sibling, Axel.”

“Yeah, I know about that. But can’t it be postponed?” he asked Ariana, who closed her eyes again.

“I asked for everything to be settled quickly,” Ariana replied quietly.

“Yeah, okay, but a one or two-day delay wouldn’t make a significant difference, right? You should prioritize your current condition,” Jody said, frustrated.

But Ariana shook her head. She opened her eyes again and looked at Jody. “Gerald told someone to tail me,” she answered in a hushed whisper. “If that person finds out I’m going to the hospital, everything will be a mess,” she continued.

“How do you know that?” Amber looked visibly surprised and glanced at Ariana in disbelief.

“Grandma,” Ariana replied.

Jody looked at Ariana again with a disbelieving furrowed brow. “I’m actually amazed by the lives of wealthy people. I thought things like this only happened in TV dramas or mafia movies. But it really happens, huh? Rich people spending their money to hire someone to tail someone else?” Ariana chuckled, and Amber snorted.

“Hello, Jody. Where have you been all this time?”

“I was out with Peter Quill to steal a mystical orb,” Jody replied casually. Amber rolled her eyes. Jody and his love for Marvel movies weren’t strange anymore to them. “I mean, I thought all of this was over. I thought your man already trusted you.”

However, Jody’s statement made Ariana laugh tiredly.

“From the beginning, there has always been doubt in our relationship,” she said sadly. “It’s not Gerald’s fault. It’s entirely mine,” she continued before Jody interrupted.

“Ariana…” Jody looked at Ariana sadly.

“Yes,” Amber chimed in. “The fault lies in you not being completely honest with him. Not being completely honest about your feelings. Not being completely honest about your fears.” This time, Amber answered with a sharp tone. “But that doesn’t mean it’s entirely your fault. He’s also at fault. It’s his fault for not being thorough, not being loyal. Gerald’s grandmother must have successfully bribed that person so they wouldn’t tell him a hundred percent about your current condition, right?” Amber looked at Ariana. But Ariana didn’t provide any response. “Who is his informant? Why didn’t Gerald tell that person to interrogate me and Jody instead?” she asked angrily.

Ariana chuckled again. “Ask Grandma about that,” she replied.

Amber glared at Ariana and then rolled her eyes.

“So, Gerald’s grandmother already knows about this issue?” Jody looked at Amber and Ariana, curious. Ariana nodded. “About your current condition?” he pointed to the IV hanging on the left side of the car, now two-thirds empty. Ariana nodded again, slowly. “And she didn’t tell Gerald? Why?” he asked in astonishment.

“I asked her not to,” Ariana replied. Both Jody and Amber now furrowed their brows, looking at Ariana confused. “I gave Grandma a choice. She could tell Gerald, with the possibility of losing her great-grandchild. Or she could stay silent and eventually get her great-grandchild and make Gerald happy in the end.”

“And I guess she chose her great-grandchild?” Amber asked, to which Ariana weakly nodded.

“Grandma Rosaline is one of the many mothers who want happiness for her children and grandchildren,” Ariana replied with a sad smile on her face.

“Ariana…” Jody squeezed Ariana’s hand, still holding her back. He had been silent the whole time, observing Ariana who occasionally gripped his hand tightly. Jody knew Ariana was in pain right now. But as usual, his friend always tried to hide her feelings and show her best side.

Ariana now focused her attention on Jody. “I know this isn’t polite, Jod,” she said softly, taking another deep breath. “After I asked you to come, now I’m asking you to get out here,” she said. Jody furrowed his brow in confusion. But then Ariana explained, “It will look strange if Gerald sees you here too.” She continued, “Amber’s presence still makes sense because she’s my apartment mate. But you?”

“I’m your assistant at the restaurant. If anyone asks why I’m here with you, just say I happened to be going to your apartment and wanted to borrow your car. But before that, you asked me to drive you to Gerald’s place,” Jody gave a reason he thought was rational.

“Amber can pick you up after everything is settled,” Ariana said again.

But Jody shook his head. “If you don’t want Gerald to know about your condition, you have to accept my presence, Ai. I don’t want to bear the risk if you have an episode in front of him. If you have an episode while I’m there, at least I can take you away, not Amber,” Jody said again. Although Amber’s face seemed displeased, she nodded and agreed with Jody’s words. “Don’t worry. As long as you handle your business there, I’ll wait for you in the car. Just consider me the driver right now,” the man continued. Ariana smiled, her hand gripping Jody’s hand again, and vice versa.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

Jody smiled back. “This doesn’t even begin to repay everything you’ve done for me,” Jody replied softly. “Are you ready to move forward now?” he asked to shift the conversation away from the melancholic topic.

Ariana glanced at the IV on her left side. “Wait until it’s halfway done,” she said with a heavy breath. “After that, remove it. I can’t possibly enter that house with a needle stuck in my hand,” she continued. Jody only nodded. And the three people in the car chose to lean back, their backs feeling stiff.Material © NôvelDrama.Org.