(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

Gerald glanced at the wall clock once again; it was already ten o’clock, and Ariana still hadn’t returned. ‘Could she have gone back to her parents’ house?’ Gerald shook his head. From the information he had gathered, Ariana had been living with Amber ever since they set up the restaurant. ‘But she might have gone back to her parents’ place,’ he thought again, remembering how angry she had been when she left him at the restaurant. That possibility was still on the table.

Gerald looked at his phone. He had Amber’s number and Ariana’s father’s contact as well. But should he call them? If he did and Ariana wasn’t there, it would only emphasize that their relationship was not going well. Gerald ran his hand through his hair.

Or should he go back to the restaurant? At this hour, the restaurant probably hadn’t closed yet. Ariana might have returned there to pick up her wallet and phone that she left behind. Gerald glanced at his phone lying on the nightstand. So far, there hadn’t been any messages or calls. And he couldn’t unlock the phone; it was secured with a pattern and fingerprint lock. Double bad luck for him.

Alright, for the time being, Gerald would wait. Tomorrow, if he didn’t hear from her, he would use his resources to find her and bring her back to where she belonged. In his home. If necessary, he would make Ariana his captive. Determination settled in his heart.

Late into the night, Gerald finally decided to lie down. If he didn’t have to go back to work tomorrow, he might have chosen to stay up. Unfortunately, there were thousands of lives entrusted to Gerald’s hands. He couldn’t be selfish by neglecting them. Moreover, lack of sleep would only put him in a foul mood.

Gerald glanced at the empty side of his bed. It felt so vacant. Yet, Ariana had occupied it just last night. It didn’t feel this way before he married her.

Ariana, that girl, made everything feel different.

Gerald knew this was wrong. It shouldn’t be like this. Even before anything happened, he felt like he was already kneeling before her. He didn’t understand why. He had never felt like this before. Not towards anyone. Not towards any girl or woman.

Ariana was like a magnet of a different polarity. Different, yet it always made Gerald want to stick close.

Unfortunately, this time Gerald had been careless. That was what he realized. He hadn’t really gotten to know Ariana. Getting to know her through a note didn’t fully acquaint him with her.

Seeing no dark spots in her life didn’t mean she couldn’t rebel. Knowing that her character differed from her twin didn’t mean Gerald could predict this level of resistance.

Gerald grimaced.

Ariana. Her name echoed in his mind. What was it about her that was so intriguing?

Certainly. Ariana was much smarter than her twin, Karenina. Or was she just reckless? No, Gerald was sure that she wasn’t the type to do something without a plan. Ariana was systematic and liked order. But perhaps, someone as organized as him occasionally needed to break free from the constraints he had created for himself.

Ariana was bold. That was very clear. She dared to challenge anyone who stood in her way. She wasn’t even afraid to confront her biological mother and stepfather. And now, she had gone off so boldly, without taking anything with her. Without any plans. And without a single penny.

Unlike her sister, who foolishly left with her electronic card. Maybe she never imagined that Gerald could track her through every transaction she made. Yes, Gerald had the ability to do that. Unfortunately, Karenina was too naive to realize it.

Or perhaps the girl hoped Gerald would look for her, pleading for her to return if he found her trail? Hoping that Gerald would persuade her to come back? Assuming that she meant something to him?

Gerald sighed.

Such a shame. Gerald wasn’t as interested in her as she might hope. Not like his current fascination with Ariana. Similar but not the same. That phrase truly captured both situations.

Gerald didn’t know when he could truly close his eyes. All he knew was that he woke up with stiffness in his neck and back. Once again, he ran his hand over Ariana’s side of the bed. Cold, of course. He forced himself to get up despite his heavy reluctance. And in all his years, this was the first time Gerald felt this lazy. Even though, in the past, he was known as a hard worker.

Gerald left the bathroom and saw his assistant standing there.

“Find out where Ariana is,” he ordered without preamble. “She didn’t take her wallet or phone. Try to track her from any CCTV footage you can find. I want you to find her no matter what it takes.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

His assistant nodded before hurrying off.

Gerald walked to his walk-in closet. Unlike a typical workday where he greeted the day with optimism and high confidence, today Gerald just wanted to be left alone.

He descended and was greeted enthusiastically by Axel. Perhaps the boy thought Ariana would be behind Gerald. The excitement in the boy’s eyes dimmed when he realized Ariana wasn’t there.

Since afternoon until bedtime, the boy had been consistently asking about Ariana, a fact that annoyed Gerald to no end. But he couldn’t blame the child. He loved Axel too much and knew the boy was innocent. “Papa, Mommy hasn’t come home yet?” the boy asked with hopeful eyes. Gerald just shook his head.

“Mommy will come back, later,” Gerald replied, though he wasn’t certain. “Axel, go to school with Auntie. Be good, eat your lunch properly. Okay?” He gave a firm command. The boy just nodded listlessly.

“What have you done that made your grandmother’s granddaughter-in-law leave not even two days into your marriage?” His grandmother descended the stairs, staring sharply at Gerald.

“Well, this and that,” Gerald replied ambiguously.

His grandmother walked past him and led Axel to the dining table. “This and that,” she repeated when seated. “The first time in Zeroun family history that a groom has been abandoned twice.” She sneered.

Gerald could only glare at his grandmother in annoyance. Clearly, no Zeroun family member had been abandoned before. Maybe left, but abandoned? Gerald seemed to be breaking that record. Was someone cursing him?

“Where’s your mother? Why hasn’t she come down yet?” his grandmother asked again in her usual dry tone.

Gerald could only shrug. His mother and grandmother had never gotten along. While they hadn’t fought openly, they engaged in frequent cold wars. It always made him uncomfortable.

His late father once said that both his mother and grandmother wanted to be the queen of the Zeroun residence. That’s why they always tried to outdo each other.

Gerald was tired of it all. That was the reason he had chosen to live abroad all these years. He was weary of seeing them subtly insult each other. Why didn’t they just have an all-out fight? At least that would let their emotions truly surface. But then again, both were women raised with good manners. So, their fights stayed within their words.

What would happen when Ariana decided to stop avoiding them and accept the reality that she was now Gerald’s wife? Would she also engage in a cold war with the two ladies before him?

Gerald shook his head. More likely, Ariana would ignore both of them and focus on her own world.