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Ending
Two days later, after receiving proper treatment, Ariana’s condition was declared stable enough to be transferred from the ICCU to a regular hospital room. To her surprise, while she had been alone with Gerald during her stay, she now received visits from several people.
Mrs. Rosaline, whom Gerald hadn’t allowed to meet Ariana before, was now revealed as Axel’s caregiver during her hospitalization. Amber, who had faithfully accompanied her from the beginning, came with Adel. Jody came with her mother and her sister. Ariana’s father also came with her stepmother. Only her mother and her twin sister didn’t show up, and honestly, Ariana didn’t mind. She had long considered the two of them absent from her life, although deep down, she still recognized them as family. After all, blood ties could never truly disappear.
They had decided to name the beautiful baby girl in Ariana’s arms Clemira Haniyah Aarzu Zeroun, which meant a brilliant, gentle, and joyful daughter. The baby Gerald described as having a strong cry was now breastfeeding eagerly in her mother’s arms. Fortunately for Ariana, during her two-day stay in the ICCU, the nurses had helped her pump breast milk, which could now be given to Clemira. So, her baby no longer needed to rely on formula milk.
Ariana felt a pang when her baby was taken back to the special unit. The nurse said they could be together once Ariana was deemed truly healthy and able to take the baby back home.
When night fell, Gerald, the only one waiting for her at the hospital, shared his hopes for Clemira’s future. He hoped their daughter would be a girl with a strong mind and determination, firm yet loving, just like Ariana.
“What will we do after this?” Ariana asked, curious about their future plans.
“What do you mean, what will we do?” Gerald retorted, his brow furrowing in annoyance.
“I’ve given birth, and I can be divorced now,” she said softly, a statement that triggered Gerald’s anger, though he seemed to be holding it back.
“I will not divorce you. Ever. You’ll be my only wife, the mother of my children, and I will love you for the rest of my life, and I will be the only husband you will love for the rest of yours,” he said forcefully, making Ariana chuckle. “Never bring this up again. I’ve tried to be a better man. I don’t want to play with our marriage for any reason. Our marriage has never been wrong from the start, Darling. I made you my bride because I wanted to, and you accepted me as your husband because you wanted to, even if you didn’t admit it.”
Ariana smiled and reached out her right hand to touch her husband’s face. “But what if I can’t give you many children like you want?” she asked. Ariana was aware of her health condition. Although she wanted to have a large family as Gerald wished, she knew her body might not be up for it.
Gerald held Ariana’s hands with both of his own. “Don’t worry about that. Axel and Clemira are enough for me, and seeing you healthy again is the greatest gift I could ask for after all the sins I’ve committed. I just want all of us to be healthy. You and I growing old together happily, watching our children grow up, seeing them get married, and giving us many grandchildren someday.
Or if you do want more children, we can adopt babies from orphanages whose parents don’t want them. Raise them as our own. Anyway, we can think about that later. For now, let’s focus on your recovery and going back home.”
Hearing the word ‘home’ made Ariana furrow her brow. “Home, you mean the apartment?” Ariana asked, confused.
Gerald shook his head. “No, we’re going back to the house. I’ve decided that we won’t return to the apartment. Axel and Clemira need to socialize with people and kids their age. I don’t want them confined to an apartment, only knowing their school friends. I want them to be independent individuals and explore the outside world. So yes, I’ve decided to move Axel’s school, and we’ll live in the house. Do you like that?” he asked, to which Ariana responded with a smile and a nod. “In that case, get well soon, and let’s go back home,” Gerald said, ending his sentence with a kiss.
Several days later, after Ariana was deemed fit to leave the hospital with the condition of continuous monitoring, Gerald took her to his home. It was a two-story building dominated by glass, a sight that made Ariana fall in love at first sight.
Sitting in a wheelchair, Ariana was led by Gerald on a tour. Besides the master bedroom on the upper floor, the entire house had been transformed. There were more furnishings than before, and Gerald had even filled the room he said was meant for Axel and Clemira. In the backyard, Ariana also saw a dedicated play area for Axel and Clemira, complete with swings, slides, a seesaw, and several other toys.
“If you’re worried about the kids playing outside, let their friends play here,” Gerald said when Ariana inquired about the setup. He also introduced two new assistants in addition to the person who had been managing the house for her.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
The next day brought a surprise. Gerald invited Ariana’s friends and her grandmother to the house, along with some neighbors, for a celebration of their move and Clemira’s naming ceremony. It was also an opportunity to introduce their family. Ariana had never noticed how easily her husband could socialize with others. Nevertheless, she was truly grateful. She was happy to be Gerald Aarzu Zeroun’s wife, to be the mother of Axel and Clemira. Even though she knew their marriage began with her being a replacement bride for her runaway twin, she had accepted it all in the end because she knew it was the fate given to her by the Almighty. She loved her husband, and he loved her in return. She only hoped that the happiness they felt now would last forever.
A few years later:
“Think it through, Axel,” Ariana looked at her eldest son. “Consider it carefully. Is your feeling truly love from a man to a woman, or is it the love of a brother for his sister?”
Ariana looked at Axel, hoping that her eldest son would change his mind about proposing to Clemira. It wasn’t because she didn’t love Axel or couldn’t accept him as her son-in-law. It just felt taboo to see the child she had raised on her own-all though not her biological or stepchild-asking to marry her daughter. Her own cousin’s younger sister, no less.
“I’m sure, Mommy,” the 23-year-old man said, his gaze as sharp as Gerald’s. “That’s why I’m asking you to look after Clemira for me until I return.” His eyes were misty with emotion.
Ariana hadn’t told Gerald about this, afraid that her husband, who was also the young man’s father and uncle, would become angry. Yet, she couldn’t make a hasty decision herself.
“Let time provide the answer, whether you are destined to be together or not,” Ariana said, her gaze fixed directly on Axel. “Mommy will look after her because that’s Mommy’s duty. But Mommy can’t guard her heart. That’s her business and the business of the Heart’s Owner to decide where it belongs.” Her words could only be met with a slow nod from Axel.
“Whatever happens in the future, remember that Mommy wants the best for both of you, my children,” she said, opening her arms and inviting Axel into an embrace.