(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

They finally reached the top of the stairs. Gerald was truly out of breath. Yet, he hadn’t let Ariana down. When Yosef opened the car door, only then did Gerald drop Ariana onto the seat.

Under the car’s light, Gerald could finally see his wife. She was wearing a long-sleeved sweater and sports pants that looked warm. Her hair was tousled messily, a result of her resistance throughout the journey. And her feet? Gerald felt guilty seeing her barefoot, not even wearing socks.

“Get in,” he ordered Ariana.

However, Ariana didn’t move at all. She continued to gaze at Gerald challengingly. Gerald wasn’t clueless. He secured Ariana with a seatbelt before he himself got in and sat in the seat next to her.

“Drive!” he commanded the driver. The man in his forties nodded and immediately started the car.

Ariana paid no attention to the three men inside the car. She didn’t bother to tidy herself up. She preferred to look outside the dark car window rather than at Gerald. She sought a comfortable position, leaning back and sitting sideways with her hands folded in front of her stomach.

The night turned into morning, and morning into dawn. They were still on the highway when the dark blue sky brightened slightly.

“Pull over at the rest area,” he ordered the driver. “I need to use the restroom,” he said curtly, a remark aimed more at Gerald. The driver glanced at Yosef, and Yosef nodded at him.

A few kilometers later, they stopped at the rest area. Ariana paid no attention to Gerald at all. She unfastened the seatbelt Gerald had put on her from the beginning and walked barefoot toward the rest area’s toilets.

Some people who happened to be resting couldn’t help but stare at Ariana. How could they not? A beautiful woman, stepping out of a luxurious car, yet looking so disheveled. With tousled hair, an oversized sweater, and sports pants, Ariana appeared more like a madwoman. But Ariana didn’t care. It was Gerald who overreacted.

He glared challengingly at the onlookers, making them avert their gaze out of fear and embarrassment.

Ariana entered the women’s restroom. She completely ignored Gerald, although he continued to trail behind her. But when he saw Ariana enter the restroom, Gerald finally gave up and chose to stand guard outside.

Perhaps he was afraid Ariana might escape.

Ariana felt much fresher after washing her face. She noticed Gerald leaning against the car door. Earlier, due to the dark sky and her emotions, she hadn’t had a chance to notice his appearance. Now, with the sky brightening, Ariana could see him clearly.

The man was dressed as if he were about to climb a mountain: a long-sleeved warm top, comfortable climbing pants, and expensive shoes designed specifically for slippery and steep terrains. Ariana snorted.

The man had really come well-prepared. Or did he have a compass and a set of knives tucked in his pants pocket?

Ariana walked closer, again barefoot because the man hadn’t allowed her to wear her shoes. Damn. She had just bought those shoes using Chris’s money. And she still had to pay him back later. Hopefully, Chris would remember to bring them back.

“Are you hungry?” Gerald asked, full of concern.

Ariana chose to ignore him. She pushed the man aside and roughly opened the car door. Gerald followed her. Without many words, he sat next to Ariana’s seat.

“Do you want breakfast somewhere?” he asked again.

Ariana raised an eyebrow. “Let’s say I want breakfast in China. Are you going to rent a private jet for me?” she asked skeptically.

Gerald chuckled. “If you really want a Chinese breakfast, we can go to a restaurant in the Chinatown area. Why go far and take a flight there?

Don’t be extravagant like a character in a novel, Darling. I’m not a billionaire who will fund your private jet just for breakfast,” Gerald teased.

Ariana continued to look at him skeptically with a sidelong glance. Then she smirked.

“You know, if I asked Chris, he’d happily do it. You have no idea how rich Chris is,” Ariana said, clearly intending to mock Gerald. And her efforts succeeded. He glanced at her with a look full of anger.

Gerald didn’t like being compared to Chris. And Ariana needed to find out the truth about their past.

It was clear that the attitudes displayed by Chris and Gerald led Ariana to conclude that both of them had a rather complicated history. But after she learned the truth, Ariana was sure she would find it entertaining.

Ariana chose to do what she had done before: sit halfway sideways, facing the window, with her hands folded in front of her chest. But this time, she lifted both of her legs and folded them on the seat. She also opened the window, letting the fresh air flow into the car. Let the driver turn off the AC.

Right now, she really needed the fresh air to clear her mind. So she could devise a new strategy to fight against Gerald once they arrived home.

Home?

Hearing that word made Ariana furrow her brow. Where would she go back to? Her apartment? Her father’s house? A restaurant? Or that man’s house?

One thing was clear for Ariana: that man’s house wasn’t her home. If she were to revert to childhood, Ariana would consider herself playing house. Where she played the role of the lady, and Gerald played the role of the master. And in every game of house, there was a child character to complete the family. And that role would be played by Axel.

Yes, she was playing house, just like elementary school kids used to do in her childhood. She just had to play along until the scriptwriter, in her mind, got bored and started another game that she found more enjoyable.

Silence persisted throughout the journey. The car they were in had now exited the toll area and was getting ready to head towards Gerald’s residence. Toward his pretend house. And Ariana was ready to play her part. Until the day Karenina came back. That was her silent vow.

When the door opened, Axel ran out and greeted her, throwing his small body at Ariana. His mother-in-law followed from behind, along with his grandmother-in-law. Both women of different ages scrutinized Ariana from head to toe.

Perhaps they were both surprised to see Ariana looking more like a homeless person than the wife of a conglomerate.

“Where have you been all this time?” Mrs. Rosaline asked, her tone full of concern. Ariana stared back at her with Axel still in her arms.

“Just running around here and there,” Ariana replied nonchalantly.

“Have you had breakfast?” Mrs. Rosaline asked again. Ariana shook her head. “Come in, let’s have breakfast.” Ariana knew that this was well past the family’s breakfast time.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Still, she complied. Axel was still clinging to her. They, the grandmother-in-law, mother-in-law, Axel, Gerald, and Ariana, were all seated around the dining table. Warm cream soup and freshly baked bread were their breakfast menu. Ariana ate everything without leaving a trace.

“Aren’t you going to the office?” the question was clearly directed at Gerald.

Ariana didn’t look at him. She didn’t care about any answer he gave to her family. She preferred to excuse herself and go to her room – well, Gerald’s room, actually.

Axel still followed her. Perhaps the boy was afraid Ariana would leave without his knowledge.

“Mommy will take a shower first,” Ariana said. Then she fell silent. If she showered now, what would she wear? Should she ask her mother-in-law for new underwear, like the first day she came after being ‘forced’ to stay there?

“All your clothes are inside,” the voice made Ariana turn around.

Gerald was already at the door, leaning against the door frame with both hands folded in front of his chest. Ariana frowned, but then she walked towards the walk-in closet where Gerald kept his clothes. And she was quite surprised. Because now there were many women’s items inside – clothes, bags, sandals, and many others.

“Wow…” Ariana exclaimed, her fascination evident and unmasked.

“You can wear anything you like,” Gerald said, now standing remarkably close behind her. In fact, his head was almost leaning towards her neck, but Ariana chose to step away first.

“I’ll just borrow them,” she replied casually.

She then picked out the clothes she needed. Even though she was surprised at how Gerald managed to find clothes that fit her size, Ariana didn’t dwell on it. Gerald was wealthy, and as the modern saying goes, ‘The rich can do whatever they want,’ it perfectly applied to Gerald.

She entered the bathroom and locked the door. Once again, she was surprised by everything inside.

The first time she showered here, there were only Gerald’s essentials. Now, the supply cabinet contained items Ariana used regularly, including his shaving razor and her face cream.

Ariana chuckled, not because it was funny, but more out of hysteria. Oh God, this game of make-believe homes felt much more real this time.

Ariana deliberately took a long shower. She cleansed her body meticulously, considering that for the past three days, she had only showered hastily.

She didn’t care if Axel was waiting outside. This time, she would be more selfish. Yes, she would be more selfish for herself.

She was tired of being friendly and kind to others who ultimately treated her however they pleased, as if she were not a human being with desires and aspirations in her life.

Ariana spent who knows how long in the bathroom. She emerged wearing the new outfit she had taken from the closet. She thought Axel would get bored waiting for her, but it turned out the boy was now on the bed, seemingly engrossed in playing with none other than his newfound father.

“You’ve truly become lazy lately,” Ariana commented. She chose to sit on the couch and towel-dried her hair with the small towel hanging around her neck. She turned on the television using the remote she found on the small table next to the sofa.

Instantly, Axel jumped off the bed and sat next to her. “Mommy, look at this.”