(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

The next morning, the atmosphere at Zeroun’s residence seemed tense. Since leaving Axel’s room, Gerald spent his night intoxicated. Meanwhile, Axel cried in his grandmother’s arms until he fell asleep, his sobs fading away. Now, when they met at the breakfast table, both avoided each other. Axel didn’t want to greet his father, and neither did Gerald. The older man deliberately kept his distance from Axel. Mrs. Rosaline knew that Gerald’s actions were not driven by anger towards Axel but by the immense shame his grandson felt.

“Axel, why?” Shelma’s soft voice made the little boy glance briefly and frown.

“Axel, did Grandma teach you to be disrespectful to your elders?” Mrs. Isidora asked sternly. Axel looked at his grandmother and then frowned again. “Axel!” Mrs. Isidora exclaimed, her voice raised.

“Be quiet!” Mrs. Rosaline replied sharply. Immediately, Mrs. Isidora fell silent. “Can’t you all be calm? If Axel doesn’t want to talk, don’t force him.” She continued, addressing Mrs. Isidora intentionally. “And there’s no need to pretend to be friendly just to get his attention. Children know better who is sincere and who is not,” she added, directing her words more towards Shelma. “Besides, don’t you have your own home, or can’t the staff at your house provide a decent breakfast? Why do you always appear in my place?” she asked, clearly displeased.

“Mommy…” Mrs. Isidora attempted to interrupt, but Mrs. Rosaline silenced her with her gaze.

“If you want to be a guest, then be a polite one. Don’t be a guest who interferes in the host’s affairs. I hope your family taught you about good ethics,” she said to Shelma. “And you,” she said to Mrs. Isidora, “realize who you are here. Act like a good daughter-in-law. Don’t make me lose my patience and kick you out of this place.” She continued, her tone ice-cold. Mrs. Isidora, who had intended to reply, reluctantly kept her mouth shut.

She glanced at Gerald and Axel again but chose not to say much. Mrs. Rosaline accompanied Axel to school. During the journey, the boy remained silent. His mood still seemed unchanged, and witnessing the argument at the breakfast table surely made him even sadder.

“Axel, listen to me,” Mrs. Rosaline said gently. Axel, who had been silent all along, looked up and gazed at Mrs. Rosaline. “Axel, has Axel ever been upset when Axel was left to play with his friends?” Mrs. Rosaline asked, making it easier for him to understand. Axel nodded his head. “Right now, Papa Axel is also angry with Mommy because Papa is upset that Mommy left to play without inviting Papa.”

“Why did Mommy go to play without inviting Papa?” Axel asked innocently.

“Axel, Uma is asking Axel. Sometimes Axel doesn’t like to play alone, doesn’t want to be with anyone else? Doesn’t want to be with Auntie, doesn’t want to be with Grandma, Papa?” she asked gently again. Axel seemed to think for a moment and nodded. “When Axel was secretly drawing, Axel didn’t want others to see?” Mrs. Rosaline asked again. The boy nodded. “Well, Mommy is feeling the same way now towards Papa.” Mrs. Rosaline said.

“Is Mommy going to surprise Papa?” Axel asked, his eyes sparkling. Mrs. Rosaline nodded.

“Because this surprise is only Uma, Axel, and Mommy’s secret, so Axel shouldn’t tell Papa yet. Does Axel understand?” Mrs. Rosaline asked again. Axel immediately nodded. “Axel shouldn’t tell anyone about Mommy’s surprise. Not Grandma, not Aunt Shelma. Not Auntie or anyone else. Because only Axel, Uma, and Mommy know about this. Does Axel understand?” Axel nodded again. Mrs. Rosaline gently ruffled the boy’s hair.

“But what’s the surprise, Uma?” the boy asked curiously.

“Well, it’s called a surprise for a reason. Axel also doesn’t want his drawing to be shown to others before it’s finished, right?” Axel nodded again. “Well, Mommy feels the same way. If it’s revealed beforehand, it won’t be a surprise anymore.”Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“Oh, I see,” Axel said shyly. Mrs. Rosaline lovingly ruffled the boy’s hair again. At Ariana’s place.

Amber just stared at her friend’s face. Ariana was better than yesterday. Even the oxygen tube and pulse oximeter had been removed from her body. Her complexion was no longer as pale as yesterday.

Yesterday, she was furious with Jody, who apparently knew about Ariana and Mrs. Rosaline’s secret. Angry, of course, Amber was angry. She had lashed out at Jody, throwing everything she could find in front of her friend.

“It’s not that we don’t believe you, but your unpredictability makes us afraid that you might eventually spill the beans,” Jody said flatly.

Amber looked at her with eyes full of anger. “That’s the same as not believing in me! Your words are just different. It means the same!” Amber shouted in anger. Jody tried to hold back her laughter. Amber’s anger always made her want to laugh.

“Enough, Amber. Don’t be offended like that. Don’t you feel sorry for Ariana?” Jody asked more gently.

“I do feel sorry for Ariana. That’s why I’m reacting like this. Do you think spelling ‘Ambern’ and hiding my pregnancy away from people I know is enjoyable?”

“She won’t go alone, Amber. She’ll be accompanied by people she knows well. Do you think I’m that heartless towards Ariana?” Jody challenged Amber back.

“But why? Why does she have to go? Especially given her condition?” Amber asked softly.

“Because she doesn’t want pity,” Jody replied sadly. “You know her. Do you think why until now she’s been hiding her health condition from her family? It’s all because she doesn’t want extra attention. She doesn’t want to be pitied. She doesn’t want to be dictated. We who know already make her uncomfortable; what more if others find out.”

“Why doesn’t she say anything to Gerald, then?”

“That’s exactly what she doesn’t want to do. She knows Gerald loves her, and she feels the same way. She never expected her pregnancy to happen this soon, Amber. She isn’t ready. But after realizing the possible risks she might face, she started thinking ahead. She doesn’t want Gerald to be sad because of her situation.”

“So she chooses to be hated by that guy?” Amber asked incredulously. Jody nodded her head. “What a fool! Why don’t you make her realize that her choice is wrong?”

Jody shook her head. “Ariana isn’t wrong,” Jody replied softly. “Even though her chosen method isn’t right either. She loves Gerald too much; she doesn’t want to make Gerald sad because of her. Her choice is between making Gerald hate her or live with him with his pity. She knows the risks she

might face, as well as the baby inside her. All we can do is pray that her wish, all of our wishes, come true.”

“But what if Gerald refuses to accept her later?” Amber asked softly.