(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

“What do you want to do after this?” Gerald asked Ariana, who was now leaning back in her chair, rubbing her rounded belly after eating to her heart’s content.

Ariana turned and then shrugged. “You still haven’t answered my question, where do you want us to stay tonight?”

She straightened her shoulders. “I’m confused,” she said softly, gazing at Gerald attentively. “What’s going on with you? You were clearly angry this morning, but now? Why are you so understanding?”

Gerald just shrugged. “Didn’t I explain everything earlier? We’re going to start fresh because I like you. I want to make you like me back. And because of that, I’ll do anything you like.”

Ariana could only shake her head in disbelief. Well, aren’t all men sweet when they want something, she thought to herself.

“I don’t know,” she replied afterward. “I don’t have anywhere else. Besides my dad’s house, the apartment, and the restaurant, I don’t have any other place.” Ariana answered honestly.

“Do you want to come to my house?” Gerald asked again. Ariana frowned. Hadn’t he said earlier that he wouldn’t take her back home because his mother was there? But it seemed like he understood Ariana’s confusion because he immediately clarified, “Not the house where Grandma and Mommy are. But my house. Gerald’s house. Not Zeroun’s residence,” Gerald replied.

“You have your own place?” Ariana asked. Gerald nodded. “An apartment?” Ariana asked again. Gerald shook his head. “Some people might call it a villa. But to me, it’s a home,” he answered.

Ariana still didn’t quite understand, but she nodded anyway. Gerald guided Ariana back to the car. Without much more conversation, Gerald drove Ariana to the place he referred to as his home.

They left the city’s busy streets. Gerald took Ariana to an area quite far from the city, passing through some open fields until they reached a building surrounded by a tall white fence.

Someone from inside opened the gate for them, and Ariana was amazed by what she saw behind that gate.

There was a small house right next to the gate. Ariana assumed it was the caretaker’s residence. Gerald continued to drive his car down a block-paved road, with tall, soothing plants growing on both sides. About a hundred meters down, Ariana could see what Gerald referred to as his home. It was a two-story building dominated by glass walls.

“Welcome home,” he said.

Gerald then stepped out of the car. Ariana didn’t even realize that he had circled back to the car and opened the door for her because she was too stunned by what she was seeing.

Wasn’t the house in front of her one of the types of houses she had always dreamed of? White-painted with walls adorned with glass. Even a quick peek inside told Ariana that there wasn’t too much furniture, except for essential items dominated by high-quality wooden pieces.

Gerald guided her to the front of the house. The living room, with a large leather sofa, welcomed them.

Turning to the side of the room, Ariana had to descend two steps to reach the middle area with a thick carpet and an extra-large flat-screen TV. Next to the living area was a kitchen furnished with complete appliances. The kitchen set was as luxurious as the one Gerald had in his residence in Zeroun.

And beside the kitchen, there was a small hallway that probably led to the back of the house. Next to the hallway was a curved staircase that would take them to the second floor.

“There are three bedrooms here. Do you want to look around?” Gerald asked again. Ariana just nodded obediently. He then led her to the polished wooden staircase with smooth, clear-coated wooden railings.

They reached the second floor. A spacious area greeted them, similar to the living room downstairs. Here, too, there was a large TV with a thick carpet in front of it.

On the left side of the staircase, there was a wall with two doors, while another door was located next to the second-floor living area.

“Those two rooms face directly towards the backyard. While the other one faces the front of the house,” Gerald explained. Ariana could only nod again.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Gerald guided her to one of the doors on the left side of the staircase. “This is my room, and the other door…” he trailed off.

Ariana turned towards him.

“Maybe we can use it for our future children,” he whispered.

Ariana widened her eyes and then slapped his arm in annoyance. She suddenly realized that he hadn’t let go of her hand since earlier. She looked at his large hand with feelings she found hard to explain.

Gerald opened the door to the room, and Ariana was once again taken aback. Two sides of the room were entirely made of wide glass panels with sliding doors leading to a balcony, which he said faced the backyard. Even the bathroom was visible from inside the room.

Wide white curtains served as the first layer of covering for the glass walls. Behind the white curtains, there were mocha-colored curtains, providing a stark contrast to the predominantly white walls.

A massive bed was intentionally positioned against one wall, facing a large television and a wardrobe. There was a door beside the TV.

“What’s that door?” Ariana inquired, curious. Instead of answering, Gerald guided Ariana again. Slowly, he opened it, surprising Ariana once more.

It turned out to be a door connecting to another room.

“For our future children,” the man whispered again behind Ariana.

“You’re crazy!” Ariana muttered.

She nudged him with her free hand. But before her elbow could reach Gerald’s stomach, he embraced her from behind, uniting her hands in front of her stomach.

“I’m not crazy. Just dreaming,” he replied, resting his chin on top of Ariana’s head. “Dreaming isn’t wrong, is it?” he asked again, as Ariana fell silent, contemplating his actions.

Ariana didn’t reply. She just observed the empty space in front of her, similar to the room Gerald admitted was his. The room in front of her also had two glass walls covered with white and mocha curtains.

“Why is the room empty?” Ariana finally asked.

“Because your stomach is empty too,” Gerald replied casually.

Ariana pinched his arm while he was still perched on her stomach. He only grunted softly and slightly loosened his embrace, allowing Ariana to free herself easily.

“Don’t you want to see the bathroom?” Gerald asked teasingly. “There’s a Jacuzzi; maybe you’d like to soak with me?” he suggested.

Ariana rolled her eyes. She glanced briefly at the transparent bathroom door and chose to walk to the other side of the room, heading for the balcony.

“You pervert. What’s the point of having a bathroom with glass like that? Are you planning to spy on people?” she mocked.

Gerald just nodded. Unbeknownst to Ariana, he spoke up. “I like to see women’s thighs and chests,” he said with a mischievous grin. Ariana turned, her eyes wide.

“You’re disgusting!” she exclaimed. Gerald just laughed heartily.