(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

“Mommy!” Axel’s shout, accompanied by banging on the door, made Ariana immediately push Gerald away. His tall frame fell onto the bed instantly. Ariana glanced at him briefly, noticing the annoyance on his face before she got up and walked towards the door that Gerald had locked from the inside.

“What’s the little one bothering us for at such an important moment?” Gerald’s grumble was clearly audible behind her. He had risen too and was following her.

Ariana opened the door and saw Axel, already dressed in his school uniform. His hair looked messy, either wet from a shower or perhaps he had applied too much baby hair oil. But Ariana loved the fragrance wafting around him.

“Mommy said she’d take Axel to school. Why are you still here?” the little boy complained.

“Sorry.” Those were the only words that escaped Ariana’s lips. She then extended her hand to Axel, asking him to hold it tightly. Gerald faithfully trailed behind Ariana. “Where are you going?” Ariana asked the man. “To take you both,” he replied shortly.

Ariana furrowed her brow. She looked at Gerald, who was still in his casual clothes. “Aren’t you going to the office?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gerald nodded. “To the office. Why?”

“To the office dressed like that?” Ariana accused. “What would your loyal rims say if you went to the office in those clothes?” Ariana shook her head. “Go, change your clothes.” She ordered.

Gerald raised an eyebrow in response. “If I change, are you planning to leave with the driver and leave me?” he asked.

Ariana hesitated. “Don’t act childish, Gerald. Besides, my workplace and Axel’s school are clearly in the same direction. Are you afraid I’ll run away again?” Ariana taunted.

“I don’t care. Wait for me downstairs. We’ll go together,” he said again. Ariana didn’t respond to his command and instead guided Axel back down to the first floor. Gerald went back into his room, and Ariana somehow heard him locking himself inside.

They were now back on the first floor. Another confrontation was about to begin. Her mother, her twin sister, and her mother-in-law were sitting casually in the living room, each holding a steaming cup of something in their right hand.

“Where are you going, Sweetie?” her mother-in-law’s voice rang out.

“Axel is going to school, Grandma. Mommy is going to take Axel,” Axel replied innocently.

“Axel doesn’t need to go with Mommy. Axel will go with Grandma. It’s usually like this anyway. Besides, it’s too early for Axel’s school. Why leave so early?” Mrs. Isidora looked at Ariana, who was still standing with Axel’s tiny hand in her grasp.

“I will take him and go to the restaurant at the same time,” Ariana replied.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

“So, to arrive at the restaurant earlier, you intentionally let Axel wait at school longer?” The question was a clear accusation from her own mother-in-law.

“What’s going on here?” Mrs. Rosaline came from the opposite side. Ariana turned and saw the woman had changed clothes and looked refreshed. Perhaps she had showered while Ariana and Gerald were in their room, arguing in their own ways.

“Ariana will take Axel to school, even though it’s still early for school, Grandma,” Ariana heard Karenina answer Mrs. Rosaline’s question. Mrs. Rosaline glanced at the classic clock standing in one corner of the room.

“Better early, dear. Axel’s school starts at eight thirty.” Hearing Mrs. Rosaline address Ariana by her nickname was surprising for Ariana herself.

“It’s fine. Who knows, there might be traffic. Gerald and Ariana will wait for him at school. If necessary, until the school bell rings.” Gerald, now neatly dressed, stood beside Ariana. “Let’s go.” He commanded both Ariana and Axel. Axel kissed Mrs. Rosaline’s hand, then Mrs. Isidora’s. After that, he greeted Karenina and Mrs. Caitlyn. “Remember what Gerald said, Mom,” Gerald warned his mother.

Mrs. Isidora looked pale, but Ariana chose to pretend not to notice. Axel’s nanny was already standing next to the car that would take them to school. Just like the day before, Ariana saw Vivan standing next to the car Gerald usually used to go to the office. Meanwhile, Yusuf, Vivan’s father and Gerald’s household manager, was nowhere in sight.

If the day before they had used Axel’s car, this time Gerald guided Ariana and Axel into his own car. He politely opened the door for Ariana. Ariana sat at the edge, with Axel in the middle, acting as a barrier between her and Gerald.

“So, when are you going to remove all those spy devices?” Ariana asked without preamble. Her eyes glanced disapprovingly at Vivan through the rearview mirror.

“Soon, dear,” Gerald replied. A smile crept onto his face.

“I don’t want a ‘soon’ answer, sir. I want all those devices removed before we arrive at the restaurant,” Ariana turned to look at Gerald. Gerald nodded, a gesture Ariana knew was meant for Vivan, who was watching them from the front mirror. “You don’t know how nerve-wracking it is to know someone is watching you. I’m hesitant to even fart now,” she said sarcastically. Her reply elicited a chuckle from Gerald. He reached out, ruffling Ariana’s hair in exasperation.

“Fine, by the time you get to the restaurant, all the devices will be gone. I promise.”

True to his promise, they waited for Axel at the school until the bell rang. They did nothing but watch Axel play with the toys in the schoolyard. And afterward, Gerald fulfilled his other promise that all the devices were removed from Ariana’s room.

What surprised Ariana was not just one or two devices used by Gerald in his private space. There were eight recording devices. Seeing all those devices piled up on Ariana’s desk, she couldn’t help but growl in annoyance. What an authoritarian and paranoid man, she thought angrily.

Ariana went downstairs after hiding all the listening devices in a locked drawer. She was quite surprised to see Adel there. The girl’s face looked weary, far from her usual cheerful self. Ariana approached her. “Why are you still here? Don’t you plan to go home?” she asked the girl.

Adel lifted her head and looked at Ariana with a sad expression. “Sis…” she started, her voice whining. “I’m being forced into an arranged marriage with Chris.”

Ouch. That statement made Ariana freeze momentarily.