(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

Days passed by just like that. The agreement they made slowly began to take shape. Ariana tried to get to know Gerald, attempting to understand his daily life, his favorite foods, and dislikes. Trying to figure out what Gerald hated. And Gerald did the same.

They now tried to understand each other better. Ariana started being friendly to Gerald, and Gerald had stopped trying to control Ariana. They both tried their best to make this relationship work. After intense negotiations, Ariana agreed to live in Zeroun’s residence because she didn’t want Mrs. Isidora to hate her even more, thinking that she was trying to separate the woman from her beloved granddaughter.

But even though they lived together, slept in the same bed, they still held onto the agreement not to engage in a husband-wife relationship. Although, deep down, they both started to find it hard not to touch each other. But Ariana insisted that she wouldn’t give herself to Gerald until she believed that his feelings were genuinely pure. Not because Ariana suspected that he wanted revenge on Karenina through her.

Their seemingly stable relationship still didn’t receive a positive response from Mrs. Isidora. The woman’s face still frowned every time she saw Ariana, especially when Ariana started dominating the kitchen and preparing breakfast or dinner for them. Especially when Mrs. Rosaline praised Ariana’s delicious cooking. However, both Ariana and Gerald chose to ignore it.

Axel, of course, was happy. He could have both of his parents together. The little boy, oblivious to everything, just enjoyed his happy moments with Ariana and Gerald. Ariana and Gerald even took the time to go on vacation with Axel to the amusement park he had wanted to visit for a long time.

As for Karenina, ever since Gerald’s confrontation, those two guests never came to Gerald’s residence again. Or perhaps they came and went when Gerald wasn’t around. Ariana didn’t know; maybe Yosef and Gerald knew what happened at home when they weren’t there. Discussions about them were something to be avoided. Karenina’s name seemed to be labeled forbidden in that house now.

Now, about Chris. Like he said, he would disappear when others least expected it, and he truly did. One day, Adel caused a scene in a restaurant, saying that Chris had disappeared just like that. Consequently, their planned arranged marriage fell apart. Afterward, Adel returned home, no longer staying in the apartment with Amber. Although it seemed like even if Chris hadn’t left, Adel would still have left the apartment because she couldn’t stand Amber’s constant jealousy.

Yes, Amber was the broken-hearted one here again. Chris’s departure made Amber truly despondent. How could she not be? Initially, she believed that Chris would never run away again, and she planned to make him fall in love with her in various ways in her mind. But now, Amber had to crush her own hopes again.

Ariana entered the restaurant. As usual, Gerald dropped her off at the front of the restaurant, even though he didn’t get out of the car due to his restrictions. At first, she felt uneasy. She felt like a hypocritical woman who initially rejected him outright but now enjoyed all his attention and kindness.

Her arrival was met with Dara’s sad smile. Ariana furrowed her brow, looking at her employee. “What’s wrong?” Ariana asked silently with her mouth’s movements. Dara shrugged, then nodded her head toward where Amber was sitting at one of the tables in the corner of the room, chin propped up on her arms. Ariana approached. “What’s bothering you?” Ariana asked her friend and cousin.

“Nothing,” she replied curtly.

“Are you missing Chris?” Ariana asked again. She didn’t mean to mock, but perhaps that’s what Amber thought, because the girl responded curtly again.

“Don’t pity me. I’ve known all along that Chris never saw me. All he ever saw was Ariana, Ariana, and Ariana. Even though Ariana Leonidas never liked him, he was still fixated on you. And now he’s gone, heartbroken because his Ariana Leonidas is married to someone else,” she replied.

Ariana sat in front of Amber, looking at her with a furrowed brow. But regardless, Ariana tried to face it patiently. “That’s not the truth, Amber. I’ve told you many times that Chris’s feelings for me aren’t romantic. It’s more like a brother’s love for his sister,” Ariana replied calmly.

“That’s just camouflage. Many people say their relationship is just friendship, but they end up glancing at each other and hugging behind the scenes. Jealous without speaking. And that’s what happened between you and Chris too, right?” Amber challenged.

Ariana shook her head. “The reality is not like that, Amber. I’ve told you if Chris did have feelings for me, it wasn’t romantic. He should have fought for me before I married Gerald. If he really had feelings for me, he should have stayed here and tried to change my mind and attempted to separate me from Gerald. And if I really liked him as a man and a woman, I should have accepted when he said he would help me leave Gerald and take me away from here. But that didn’t happen, did it?”

Amber glared at her angrily. “So it’s true, isn’t it? He invited you to go with him because he only wanted you. No one else.”

“Amber, that’s not what I meant. What I meant…” Ariana began.

Amber waved her hand dismissively. “Forget it. Don’t mind me. I need a break. Don’t contact me until my mood is really good,” her friend said as she grabbed her bag and left the restaurant abruptly.

Dara, who had been silently observing the two of them, now sat in front of Ariana. “Mba…” the girl’s voice sounded hesitant. “Is Amber really that in love with Chris?” Dara asked again.

Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. She then nodded her head. “Amber has liked Chris since the first time we met. Many years ago,” Ariana replied.

“If Chris likes Mba, why does Amber have to get angry? Feelings can’t be controlled, right? Besides, she also can’t stop liking Chris even though she knows Chris doesn’t like her back. Why does she get mad at you if the reality is that Chris prefers you?” the girl commented.

Ariana shook her head. She looked at Dara with a sad smile on her face. “Don’t always believe in what you see, Ra. Because what you see might not be the truth. It could be just a mirage your mind creates to make you feel calm or jealous. Chris and I don’t have the kind of feelings you all assume,” Ariana replied sadly. She then got up and left Dara, who was confused by her words.NôvelDrama.Org owns this text.