《(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride》


 Chapter 1 : Ariana Leonidas

    Ariana looked at the luxurious house. The house that caused the woman who gave birth to her left her and her father. The house is like a pce but contains monsters inside.


    Ariana smiled wryly. Ariana would have been reluctant to set foot there all her life if only her father hadn¡¯t forced her toe to that ce to hand over her wedding gift.


    Ariana exhaled and then got out of the car with heavy steps.


    How long has it been since he saw the woman who was his biological mother? A year? Two years?


    Oh, yeah. It had been fifteen years since Arianast saw her. And that made her smile wryly.


    Ariana doesn¡¯t hate her ¡®mother¡¯. Or rather, his father forbade him from hating that woman. The woman who abandoned her and her father just because Mr Bradley Leonidas fell ill was down and poor.


    Mr. Bradley Leonidas is a good man in Ariana¡¯s eyes. He is a man who always forgives even though, in the end, he bes an abandoned figure. Meanwhile, Ariana grew up to be a girl with a cold and cunning personality, much like her mother. That¡¯s what she admitted to herself.


    The servants of the luxurious house stared at Ariana with their mouths agape. Why? Maybe because they were surprised that the bride-to-be they knew was gentle, loving, and ethical, who should now be enjoying a bachelorette night or perhaps getting treatment before the wedding, was walking around freely.


    One other fact you should know. Ariana has a twin sister-identical twins born five minutester than Ariana.


    Just like she doesn¡¯t like her mother, Ariana doesn¡¯t like her twin sister, Karenina Leonidas, who has now changed her name to Karenina Brooks. Like mother like daughter, that¡¯s what Ariana often calls the two of them. Just as she was cunning, Karenina was no less cunning. Even the twin sisters¡¯ cunning had been visible since they were little. It was proven that when she was only ten, the girl could choose who would give her a more profitable life.


    It was clear that living with her poor and sick father was not an option, so she chose to go with her mother to live a new, morefortable life.


    Hate? No, just like she was forbidden to hate her mother, Ariana was forbidden to hate her twin sister. ¡°Hatred will only make your heart rotten.¡± That¡¯s what her father told him.


    And Ariana doesn¡¯t hate her twin sister. She just felt disgusted. That¡¯s okay.


    The tapping sound of the stiletto hitting the expensive marble floor echoed throughout the room. Or just in her ears because it was clear that currently, Brooks¡¯ pce seemed to be busy with people going back and forth preparing for the ¡®eldest daughter¡¯s¡¯ luxurious party.


    Therge double mahogany doors with beautiful carvings opened wide. Uniformed servants were seen going in and out with objects in their hands. Some craftsmen put up decorations there.


    With steady and confident steps, Ariana stepped deeper. Looking for a figure, she hopes she can still recognize even after fifteen years has changed many things, whether in the shape of his body or face.


    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s Karen!¡± A boy suddenly pointed at Ariana. Ariana nced at him. She frowned and tried to pay closer attention. Ariana guessed that the little boy was only ten or eleven years old. And yes, the boy¡¯s scream when he called his mother attracted several people¡¯s attention to Ariana.


    Smile? No, Ariana is not that friendly, so she shows a straight face and tends to be arrogant.


    ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m not Karenina.¡± The answer was cold. ¡°I came here to see Mrs. Caitlyn Brooks.¡± She said in a t tone.


    A beautiful woman shorter than Ariana with a slim body shape like a teenager wrapped in a beautiful dress, which was expensive, came closer to Ariana.


    ¡°Ariana..?¡± Call the woman doubtfully. Fifteen years ago, Ariana thought her mother was tall, like a model. Now that she is an adult, it turns out that his mother is not as big as the woman in her memories.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Ariana.¡± Ariana confirmed. Should she feel grateful that the woman still knew his name? It doesn¡¯t feel like it. Isn¡¯t it normal for parents to remember their biological child¡¯s name?


    The smile on the woman¡¯s face grew wider. Ariana saw the twinkle in her eyes. Her small arms stretched out to hug Ariana, but Ariana moved back instantly.


    Sorry, in Ariana¡¯s eyes, the woman looks more like a germ she must avoid than a ¡®mother¡¯ figure who must be loved.


    ¡°Don¡¯t. Dare. You. Come closer. And touched me.¡± She ordered with a low hiss, which she pronounced with full emphasis and decapitation in every syble.


    The woman froze, stopping in her tracks right then and there. So did the people there.


    ¡°I didn¡¯te here to get a warm connection that was clearly just an act. I just came here to hand this over.¡± Ariana ced the envelope on the table closest to her. ¡°This is the check that father left for my beloved twin sisters. The prospective bride.¡± She said with a mocking smile on her face. Her eyes looked around, looking for the figure in question, but she knew that the figure was not there if she recalled the words the boy had given her when she entered earlier.


    Mrs Caitlyn grabbed the envelope and was then seen sobbing. Ariana raised an eyebrow at the woman. ¡®Sad?¡¯ She asked herself. She didn¡¯t care because she was already numb to her; hence, she didn¡¯t feel touched.


    ¡°I¡¯ve finished my business. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll excuse myself.¡± Ariana said goodbye as she turned to leave. But suddenly, the woman grabbed her arm.


    ¡°Wait,¡± she asked in a pitiful tone. Ariana was silent for a moment in her ce. Stunned by the scene that had just happened to her. ¡°Please, Ariana. Help me.¡± The woman asked in a low, pitiful tone. Ariana looked at her with sharp eyes while the woman looked back at her hopefully. ¡°Ka-Karen disappeared. She goes.¡± The woman said, exining.


    ¡°Disappear?¡± Ariana asked sarcastically. The woman nodded her head many times in response. Then Ariana raised the corners of her mouth, deliberately smiling mockingly. ¡°What does it have to do with me?¡± She asked back while pping the woman¡¯s hand roughly until she fell and screamed in surprise.


    Ariana snorted in disgust. Even the impact of his hand on the woman¡¯s hand was not so strong that it could make the woman fall like that. But something suddenly hit Ariana¡¯s body, causing her to stagger two steps backwards. She saw the stocky little boy as the culprit.


    Who else, if not her half-brother?


    ¡°Why are you being rude to Mommy!¡± snapped the boy standing before his mother. He seemed to be standing up to defend the woman who had given birth to him. And Ariana¡¯s saw a middle-aged man who seemed to be helping the woman and lifting her to her feet.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you see that your mother is fine?¡± Ariana asked in a cold tone and sharp gaze that made the boy shrink, losing his courage. ¡°Don¡¯t act like a lost bear cub, little one.¡± It was his sarcasm that made the boy step back.


    ¡°Ariana, please. Just help me this once.¡± The woman who had stood up straight againined again.


    Ariana looked at him with a t gaze. ¡°Why should I help you?¡± she asked coldly. ¡°When I asked you to help me fifteen years ago, even by kowtowing and begging, did you ever pay attention?¡± She asked, which made the woman freeze with her face turning pale. ¡°No,¡± Ariana answered coldly. ¡°You turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to me. And you even said, ¡®I have no more rtionship with you or your father. I only have one daughter, that is Karenina. So whatever happens to your father, I no longer care.¡¯


    That¡¯s what you said the other day, ma¡¯am. So sorry. As you said, we have no rtionship, nor am I obligated to care about you and my twin sister.¡± Ariana turned around again and was about to leave, but the woman¡¯s hand stopped her again.


    But this time, she gripped her leg instead of gripping her hand.


    ¡®So, this woman is back in a drama as a beggar?¡¯ Ariana asked disgustedly.


    ¡°Ariana, please help me just this once. Karenina leaves. He ran away while the wedding was going to take ce tomorrow. Help me, Ariana. Please.¡± The woman said in a sobbing tone that Ariana knew were not real tears.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I can do to help and I certainly don¡¯t want to ask or make it happen. I will not provide any help, no matter how small.¡± Ariana answered again, trying to remove the woman¡¯s hand from her leg.


    ¡°I will pay you. Whatever you want.¡± The voice came from the mouth of the man who had previously helped the woman who was now begging Ariana.


    ¡°How much can you afford?¡± Challenge Ariana


    ¡°Whatever you want. Or whatever you ask,¡± Mr. Brooks answered confidently. A smile was etched on his face, and Ariana said he still looked handsome even though he was over five years old.


    ¡°Whatever?¡± Challenge Ariana again. The man¡¯s face lit up even more, and he nodded happily.


    ¡°Whatever.¡± The answer is sure.


    ¡°What if I asked for your child¡¯s heart in exchange for the request your wife would make?¡± Ariana asked defiantly.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    The older adult¡¯s forehead furrowed while the woman¡¯s grip on her leg loosened.


    ¡°Why? You said you were willing to give ¡®anything¡¯ right? Doesn¡¯t that mean you¡¯re going to ask for something that¡¯s important to you? So instead I asked for something that you consider important too.¡± Ariana answered with a sweet smile on her face.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Mrs Caitlyn sighed softly.


    Ariana crouched in front of her. She was aligning her face with the beautiful face of a woman who, even though she has aged, still looks youthful because of the diligent care she undergoes. The woman was still trying to show a pitiful face.


    ¡®Her eyes are exactly like mine.¡¯ Ariana muttered to herself. She shed the friendliest smile she could muster before answering. ¡°Sorry, Ma¡¯am. But I¡¯m not the poor girl you abandoned before. So, if you offer me money, it doesn¡¯t mean anything to me. And even if I¡¯m still poor right now, I won¡¯t ept a penny of money that you gave.¡±


    Ariana rose to her feet. She was looking down at the woman who was still acting with a cold gaze.


    ¡°Pride?¡± she asked quietly. ¡°To hell with self-respect. We haven¡¯t had that since you left us, who begged and begged for your return. And your self-respect. That¡¯s your business. Not mine.¡± And without further ado, Ariana chose to leave.

 Chap 2 : Gerald Zeroun

    Moments before.


    Gerald looked at his assistant with a sharp gaze. ¡°Repeat what you said?¡± he asked sharply. The middle-aged man who had worked since he was a baby looked at him and said tly.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Your fiancee, Miss Karenina Brooks has disappeared, sir.¡± He answered again.


    ¡°Disappear?¡± He repeated the word. Not because Gerald¡¯s hearing was impaired, but to make sure that what he heard was wrong. ¡°Disappeared, you say?¡± The old man nodded again, ¡°The day before the wedding?¡± Again, the older adult nodded. ¡°How so?¡± He asked in a cold tone that usually made his opponents falter.


    ¡°Our informant said that your fianc¨¦ disappeared quietly right before dinner.¡± Said the middle-aged man without feeling the slightest pressure from his employer¡¯s arrogant and cold attitude. He was used to seeing changes in the attitude of the billionaire owner of a venturepany known for his astuteness in business and investment.


    Yes, he is Gerald Zeroround-the owner of a multinational venturepany with unimaginable wealth. The young billionaire is predicted to be the sessful businessman of the century. A handsome man full of charm who is still single at thirty-two. Or it could have ended his bachelor life in hours if his prospective bride hadn¡¯t disappeared like the news they were receiving.


    ¡°How dare she.¡± Said Gerald as he sat back down in his oversized chair. His right hand was clenched tightly on the table. His eyes looked sharp and full of threat. ¡°Prepare the car! We¡¯re going there right now. I have to confirm this news in person.¡± The order was harsh. The middle-aged man bowed and walked away. ¡°Oliver Brooks. How dare you embarrass me.¡± He hissed sharply.


    The car had arrived at the Brooks family residence. The announcement of his arrival caused the hostess to open the door with her own two hands. Her beautiful, well-groomed face looked at Gerald with panic and pale eyes.


    ¡°M-Mr Zeroun.¡± Her sentences stammered, seeming to be trying to smile and get rid of his nervousness. The arrogance and elegance that usually appeared had now faded because the woman was aware that the trouble her daughter had caused, she believed, had reached the tycoon, the prospective groom.


    ¡°Good evening, Mrs. Brooks.¡± Greet Gerald with extraordinary friendliness. Gerald could see the woman wringing her hands together and swallowing hard because she was nervous.


    ¡°N-night.¡± She was still stuttering. The older adult swallowed her saliva again before speaking again. ¡°Mr Zeroun, what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Why? Can¡¯t I stop by my bride¡¯s house? Even if it¡¯s just to check what percentage of our wedding preparations have beenpleted?¡± Gerald asked casually, which made the woman shake her head nervously.


    ¡°N-it¡¯s not like that. It¡¯s just that it is said that the bride and groom should not meet each other before the wedding.¡± Mrs. Caitlyn answered with an excuse.


    Gerald raised the corners of his mouth and shook his head. ¡°This is not an ordinary wedding; we are also not a typical wedding couple. It is not like that?¡± Gerald reminded. ¡°Or actually, you¡¯re trying to hide something from me. Because I heard my prospective bride disappeared a few moments ago.¡± He said in a low voice, but it sounded like lightning striking Mrs Caitlyn¡¯s ears.


    ¡°T-that¡¯s not true.¡± She stuttered her answer with her eyes wide open. ¡°Wh-where did you hear such fake news? That¡¯s a terrible rumor.¡± She said while holding her chest like someone who was in shock.


    ¡°It¡¯s good if the news isn¡¯t true,¡± Gerald said with a sweet smile, which made the woman smile back in relief. He entered the room that Mrs. Caitlyn opened, where a middle-aged man greeted him with an equally wide smile. ¡°But even if it is true, I hope this news has not reached my grandmother, Madame. Because I don¡¯t know what she will sayter if she finds out that her future grandson-inw just left the day before the wedding,¡± he said in a warning tone that shocked the middle-aged man.


    Gerald casually walked towards the empty single sofa. He was sitting on it with arrogance, like the house¡¯s owner. His hand reached out for the empty ss on the table and poured ice cubes into it before pouring the golden liquid over it.


    Gerald casually shook his ss. The sound of ice cubes clinking against ss fills the silence. Gerald slowly sipped the expensive whiskey that his ¡®future inws¡¯ had. He felt a hot sensation spread across his throat.


    Gerald seemed very rxedpared to the couple currently looking at him with anticipation. He didn¡¯t want this marriage, so for him, it didn¡¯t matter even if it didn¡¯t happen because it was an arranged marriage made by his mother and Mr. Brooks¡¯ wife.


    His grandmother, Mrs. Rosaline Zeroun, like Gerald, never agreed to the idea of this marriage. However, for one or two reasons, this marriage is the solution they consider the best.


    Mrs. Brooks stepped hastily towards another sofa near Gerald. The look in her eyes seemed increasingly panicked. Clearly, the woman could no longer hide what was happening at her residence. Both hands gripped the sofa handle tightly. Gerald could even see that her red nail-covered knuckles were turning white from her grip strength.


    ¡°N-no. Please don¡¯t say anything to Mrs. Rosaline,¡± she asked stammeringly. ¡°Karenina is not missing. Maybe she is rxing because she has been locked up at home for a week. She wille back. I promise.¡± Again, Mrs. Brooks looked at him with pitying eyes.


    Gerald leaned back rxed, and ced his right hand, which was holding the ss, on the arm of the sofa, before positioning his right leg over his left leg. He shook his whiskey ss before taking another sip.


    ¡°Is that true, Mr. Brooks?¡± Gerald looked at thedy¡¯s husband with a t but intimidating gaze.


    The older adult sitting far across from him seemed to straighten up in his seat but could not answer.


    ¡°Well well well, how is it Mrs Brooks? Why don¡¯t I get a definite answer?¡± he asked, which made the woman look back at her husband angrily before looking back at Gerald with pitiful eyes.


    ¡°No, really. Karenina is not missing and I ensure that tomorrow¡¯s event will continue as it should. Karenina will return. Tomorrow she will be your bride at the altar.¡± The answer is sure.


    Gerald raised an eyebrow. ¡°If not?¡± he challenged.


    ¡°There¡¯s no saying no. I guarantee that he will be there.¡± Mrs. Brooks answered firmly.


    Gerald raised the corners of his lips. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take you at your word. But if he doesn¡¯t return, you know the consequences, right?¡± Gerald¡¯s question, this time, scared the woman.


    The hostess nced at her husband, asking for help. But didn¡¯t get any support at all.


    ¡°If this marriage is cancelled, then I will look for another bride and that means the financial injection from our family will be cancelled.¡± Gerald said with extraordinary calm.


    ¡°I¡¯m not just making empty threats, Mr. Oliver Brooks. You know how I work. And this ¡®business¡¯ idea was a suggestion from your wife. So if this marriage fails, I won¡¯t be harmed. But maybe you and your family will be the ones who will be beggars on the streets.¡± Gerald showed a smile in his eyes while his lips sipped the remaining whiskey in the ss. He got up, and simultaneously, a scream was heard.

 Chap 3 : Karenina Twins

    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s Karen!¡± The voice of the boy whom Gerald had not noticed earlier came from outside. Not long after, a beautiful girl with a face Gerald knew stepped in with an arrogant attitude. The girl¡¯s gaze fell on the screaming boy.


    There was no smile on her face, not like Karenina usually showed. There is no friendliness at all. They have simr faces and body shapes but are so different. Very different. Gerald thought. Even the way they dress is very different.


    The Karenina that Gerald knew usually wore dresses and only asionally wore pants. But Karenina in front of her now looksfortable wearing long, tight jeans that wrap around her slender legs and hips.


    And the white transparent blouse wraps a tank top of the same colour. It makes people want to look at what¡¯s inside those clothes.


    And the girl¡¯s hair. Gerald frowned. Thest time I saw Karenina¡¯s hair, the girl¡¯s hair was waist-length and dyed brown. Meanwhile, the girl in front of him had jet-ck hair slightly shorter than Karenina. Who¡¯s she?


    ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m not Karenina.¡± As if hearing the question in Gerald¡¯s mind, the girl spoke. Even the girl¡¯s voice was very simr. It¡¯s just that the intonation is different.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Karenina¡¯s voice always sounds gentle and friendly. Meanwhile, the girl in front of him seemed cynical. ¡°I came here to meet Mrs. Caitlyn Brooks.¡± She said in a t tone. Her head was now directed towards one figure; who else could it be if not the hostess?


    Gerald watched the debate between the hostess and the guest, who he now knew was the twin of his future bride. This new fact surprised him because, from the data he obtained about the Brooks family, he saw absolutely no record of the existence of Karenina¡¯s twin.


    Every time he saw movement and heard the girl¡¯s sarcastic remarks, Gerald always smiled. That girl was much more attractivepared to his lost fiancee. And in Gerald¡¯s eyes, the girl also seemed very sexy.


    ¡°Fifteen years ago¡­¡± Fragments of sentences that came out of the girl¡¯s mouth made Gerald draw his conclusions.


    They were separated twins, and the girl in front of him was the girl who was thrown away, while his fiancee was the girl who was picked up. Gerald smiled wryly at the temporary conclusion he had drawn.


    OK, Gerald knows now. The puzzle pieces started to fit together. Mrs. Brooks ispletely distraught by Karenina¡¯s departure. And he intended to use the girl before him as a backup.


    Gerald smiled wryly again. Right now, he would be a spectator of this family drama.


    He turned to his assistant, asking the man toe closer. ¡°Find information about her.¡± His assistant nodded to his order before returning to look at the mother and girl drama again.


    While listening to the mother and daughter¡¯s drama, Gerald nced at the Host. The old man who always acted superior was now making an ¡®offer¡¯.


    Money. Of course, that¡¯s what Old Brooks would offer, but what else? The funny thing is, doesn¡¯t that man realize that the source of the currency here is Gerald? But Gerald also noticed the girl¡¯s reaction, who now seemed interested in the Host¡¯s offer.


    So, in the end, the girl will also lose like her twin sister? In fact, for a while, Gerald had concluded that they were different. But if money ultimately subdued the girl, Gerald would see the girl¡¯s cold response as mere drama.


    The girl looked at Mr. Brooks defiantly. She will take as big a number as she¡¯s going to get. If Mr. Brooks couldn¡¯t give it, then Gerald felt he could as long as he could have the girl¡¯s body.


    Yes, Gerald was attracted to the girl¡¯s body. Especially when the girl folded her arms in front of her chest, and her breasts looked perfectly lifted, it caught Gerald¡¯s attention. It makes his hands itch to touch and touch it. But the words the girl said were something Gerald had never expected.


    ¡°What if I asked for your child¡¯s heart in exchange for the request your wife would make?¡± She asked, which not only surprised the Brooks couple but also Gerald. It was clear that the man did not expect this toe out of the mouth of the girl in front of him. He thought the girl would say a number with lots of zeros after it. But his guess was wrong.


    Gerald tried to hold back his mockingughter. He needed rification about who he wanted to direct hisughter at. He thinks that everyone is equally greedy for money. Or at the Brooks family, defeated by the cold-blooded young girl looking at the whole house with disdain before finallynding her gaze on Oliver Brooks.


    ¡°To hell with self-respect! We haven¡¯t had that since you left us. Since you left us begging and begging for you toe back. And your self-respect. That¡¯s your business. Not mine.¡± Then the girl left.


    Not in a dramatic style like television dramas. But it was Ariana¡¯s flexible attitude that attracted Gerald¡¯s attention. Even though the girl had been giving off a cold attitude and an aura of hostility, the sway of her hips as she walked made Gerald¡¯s lower body stiffen.


    Well, the position is changing now. If initially, Gerald¡¯s mother had forced this marriage. So now Gerald wants it. Not the wedding. But he wanted the girl who had disappeared from before him.


    Gerald looked at the middle-aged couple before him. The man¡¯s face looked so angry. Meanwhile, the woman looked so sad.


    ¡°So, can anyone exin to me the meaning of this drama?¡± He asked as if he still needed to be exined about the drama that had just happened. The two middle-aged people seemed surprised, seeming to have forgotten that Gerald was there.


    Offended? No, Gerald wasn¡¯t offended at all. However, he felt that this was very funny.


    ¡°S-so. That.¡± Mrs Brooks looked nervous again. ¡°I think she could be a spare bride if Karenina hasn¡¯t returned.¡± The answer was timid.


    Gerald tried to hide his interest in the girl. ¡°A recement bride? Like that?¡± Mrs. Brooks nodded timidly. ¡°So who is she?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s Karenina¡¯s older twin.¡± The answer was weak. One fact that Gerald finally found out and that he had already expected. So, all this time, his future wife had twins, but it was never known to the public. And Gerald was sure that there would be other facts that he would know if his assistant seeded inpleting his request.


    Gerald could only smile. He will wait and act ording to the results obtained.

 Chap 4 : About Her

    Gerald looked at the folder in front of him. Four hours after the mother and child drama performance, his assistant got all the data he needed.


    How easy is the power of money? Andworking, of course.


    Twins Ariana Leonidas and Karenina Brooks. Born in January twenty-five years ago. Father, Bradley Leonidas. Mother, Caitlyn Brooks. The divorce urred fifteen years ago, and the Reason is economics.


    The second sheet contains even more specific data. Caitlyn left Bradley after her husband was dered bankrupt due to fraud. A monthter, Caitlyn became Brooks¡¯ mistress despite the ongoing divorce trial. Meanwhile, since his wife left, Bradley¡¯s health has declined. He had a heart attack and ended with a stroke.


    Caitlyn took Karenina. Meanwhile, Ariana was left with Bradley. Little Ariana was raised by her father¡¯s co-worker named, Hestia. Hestia also looked after Bradley until the man was dered cured. Two years after his divorce, Bradley married Hestia. Who is a divorcee because she cannot have children.


    After that, they started the business again, which previously went bankrupt, and after thirteen years, Bradley Leonidas¡¯ business had be many times bigger than when it started. And the woman who became Bradley¡¯s second wife, previously dered barren, gave birth to two children. The first is a girl named Zelda Leonidas, who is 11 years old, and the second is Alexander Leonidas, who is seven years old. Strange? Maybe, but not ording to Gerald.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Suppose the meek and spoiled Karenina stays home after graduating from business management college. So Ariana is different. The girl spread her wings in the culinary field. It already has a fairly well-known restaurant. Gerald even made Leonida¡¯s one of his favourite ces to eat because the food is delicious. And, of course, that was before he found out that the owner was the twin sister of his forced fianc¨¦.


    The girl also opened a famous catering business. Even many officials and conglomerates use their services. Twenty-five years old and sessful in her field was a fantastic achievement. There was no description of the man in the data provided to him.


    Is that girl single, or is she too good at hiding her rtionship?


    ¡°There is no information about the man close to her?¡± Gerald looked at Vivan, his assistant. The thirty-year-old man shook his head. ¡°How¡¯s the Brooks family doing?¡±


    ¡°Still no sign ofing back, sir.¡± He answered in his usual t tone. Gerald nodded.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Gerald pped his thighs and stood up. ¡°We¡¯d better rest. It¡¯s not good if the groom-to-be looks ugly on their wedding day.¡± Gerald smiled faintly. ¡°And continue to tell them to monitor. Including monitoring the girl¡¯s whereabouts.¡± he order. Vivan nodded. Gerald entered his room. And the assistant went to the other side of the mansion-where he lives.


    Ariana¡­ Gerald muttered the name again in his head. Seeing the girl lying exhausted beneath his body would be fun. Ahh damn, just imagining how he would touch that girl made Gerald horny.


    ***


    The pick-up car hadnded smoothly at the back of the restaurant. Wendi, the driver and assistant in the kitchen, is ready to ask other employees for help unloading the raw materials and putting them into the kitchen.


    The restaurant managed by Ariana is not a luxury restaurant. But the system they use is like the Lunch and Dinner restaurant system like most other Western restaurants. As for the menu, it varies. Everyday. Before the restaurant opens, they always announce what menu they will make that day. A reservation system applies. They also ept menu requests as long as there is prior notification.


    His crew, totalling eight people, were waiting. They immediately got busy with raw materials and their respective job descriptions. Ariana entered her office. There was already Amber there. A friend who is also an administrator at his restaurant.


    ¡°Full book for dinner. And the remaining four table sets for lunch.¡± She said before Ariana even sat her butt on the sofa.


    ¡°Catering?¡± She asked whilebing her hair and trying tob her hair with her fingers. She had to wash her hair again. Earlier, a fish trader identally threw waste in front of her and dirty her clothes and hair.


    Yes, it¡¯s also called a traditional market. Certainly less clean than a supermarket. But Ariana loves it every time she goes to the traditional market. See colourful vegetables and fruits, see the fresh meat and fish. And conversations between fellow traders need to be rified. Be it personal discussions, politics and even artist gossip. Ariana likes crowds like that.


    ¡°There are two appointments for this Friday. If it¡¯s a goal then it¡¯s ours.¡± Amber answered. Ariana just nodded. She opened the cupboard and took out a change of clothes.


    ¡°I want to take a shower again. My hair smells fishy. If someone finds it, handle it.¡± Ariana said, to which Amber nodded.


    Ten minutester, Ariana was out of the bathroom. She wore faded blue jeans that fit perfectly and a ck long-sleeved shirt with folded sleeves to the elbows and half-buttoned buttons. Inside, she wore a camisole made from a T-shirt covering her chest¡¯s upper part. Tempt? She had no intention of teasing anyone, but she didn¡¯t show her cleavage. But if someone is tempted, it¡¯s not their fault.


    A knock on the door made Ariana rush to open it. ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Amber looked at her with a worried face. The small towel was still tied to her hair. She doesn¡¯t like using a hairdryer and prefers to dry her hair naturally. So Ariana wrapped her hair until it was half dry before shebed it.


    ¡°What?¡± Asked Ariana, who was applying moisturizer to her face.


    ¡°There¡¯s a guest. It looks like someone important.¡± Amber whispered. Ariana still saw Amber¡¯s worried face.


    ¡°Who?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°Just see for yourself,¡± Amber said again. Ariana walked ahead of Amber towards the workroom.


    Yes, Ariana¡¯s office has a special room for her and a bathroom. Not too big. It¡¯s small enough, too. But it was enough to make Ariana asfortable as she was in her home.


    Ariana opened her bedroom door without bothering to remove her towel.


    An older adult was seen sitting elegantly on Ariana¡¯s soft single sofa. He looks dignified and exudes a strong aura of nobility. A middle-aged man stood behind her firmly. Like a bodyguard. Or is it a bodyguard? But is a bodyguard that old still strong at martial arts? Ariana asked silently.


    Then there were two other figures, both women, who sat with their backs stiffly facing her. Ariana could only see one in a simple bun while the other had curly shoulder-length hair.


    Ariana took off her towel and threw it on the bed before quietly closing the door. She didn¡¯t botherbing and chose to go to his guests. They are not consumers because they would know business ethics if they were consumers. That is, make an appointment.


    ¡°Can I help you?¡± Ariana asked in a polite tone. But t.

 Chap 5 : Similar But Not The Same

    The three women turned to him. Two stared, While one looked shy. Ariana cringed at the sight. ¡°S-She. How could that be?¡± Asked the shoulder-length-haired woman. The woman is beautiful, white-skinned, with a sad face, and of course, if she smiles, she will give a warm impression. Of course, her skin was smooth from care, as was the woman sitting next to her.


    ¡°Ariana Leonidas?¡± The voice came from the oldest woman there.


    ¡°Yes it¡¯s me.¡± Ariana nodded politely at her.


    ¡°I¡¯m Rosaline Zeroun.¡± The woman just nodded without intending to stand up and reach out her hand. Ariana followed her and just nodded slowly. ¡°He¡¯s my daughter-inw Isidora. And next to her, it looks like you know who.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Caitlyn Brooks,¡± Ariana answered tly. The older adult nodded again. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with three respectable womening to my dingy ce?¡± Ariana asked, seeming to be sarcastic.


    ¡°We heard bad news.¡± Said the older adult.


    ¡°Is it true?¡± Ariana asked sarcastically. ¡°Does it have anything to do with me? Because as far as I know, I have no business with any of you. Even though I know one of you.¡± Ariana looked at the three women and stopped on Mrs Brooks¡¯ face for a long time.


    ¡°Sure. This has something to do with you. Because we need your help.¡± Said Mrs. Rosaline Zeroun again. There is not the slightest low tone like someone who needs help.


    Rich people and their arrogance make Ariana snorted in her heart.


    ¡°And what kind of help do you need from a poor person like me?¡± Ariana asked again. Amber, sitting next to her, reprimanded her by lightly patting her thigh. ¡°Sorry if I¡¯m rude. Understand, I grew up without a mother.¡± The answer was full of emphasis. ¡°So?¡± She looked back at Mrs. Rosaline.


    ¡°My grandson was supposed to marry your twin sister this afternoon.¡± said the woman. Ariana nodded. ¡°But it turns out your sister disappeared.¡± she continued again.


    Amber gasped in surprise. Not because Ariana has twin sisters but Because her best friend knew that. Not even because her sister was going to marry the son of a billionaire, But because of the news that her sister was ¡®missing¡¯.


    Ariana hasn¡¯t had the chance to tell her friend and cousin that yet.


    Oh yes, Amber is the daughter of her father¡¯s older brother. Of course, the girl also knew the esteemed Mrs. Caitlyn Brooks-her former aunt.


    Back to wedding matters. ¡°Then? Why are you rxing here? This is not a police station, and I am also not a psychic who can help you find out where he is. So I can¡¯t help you look for her.¡± Ariana answered again.


    The older adult smiled. ¡°You know the purpose of ouring here. You are a clever woman.¡± Compliment the woman. Even though it sounded cold and cynical, it sounded sincere in Ariana¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Sure. I understand. My twin sister¡¯s mother said sost night although not in detail.¡± Ariana¡¯s answer was no less cynical. ¡°But I can guess what she wants. Her husband even dared to give me whatever I asked for as long as I helped him. But it turns out, he couldn¡¯t give me what I asked for.¡± Ariana answered honestly.


    ¡°But what you¡¯re asking is unreasonable, Ariana.¡± Mrs. Caitlyn¡¯s voice interrupted.


    ¡°What¡¯s unreasonable, mdy? You¡¯re asking me to submit myself to pretending to be your daughter to an indefinite extent because we don¡¯t know when your beloved daughter will return and take her position. Isn¡¯t that what you want? Making me a recement bride just because ¡®Your Princess¡¯ and I have the same face. But sorry, I¡¯m not that cheap as to mortgage myself with some money.¡± Ariana said in disgust.


    This time, it was Mrs. Isidora Leonidas who gasped in surprise. She looked at Ariana and Caitlyn alternately. ¡°I asked for your son¡¯s heart to rece mine. That only makes sense.¡± Ariana hissed. The woman¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Why? You are not willing? Is your son too precious? To my father, I am also valuable. Madam.¡±


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Amber rubbed Ariana¡¯s thigh again. Trying to calm Ariana¡¯s emotions. But Ariana ignored her. She turned to the older woman in front of her.


    ¡°So, do you have a better offer for me, ma¡¯am?¡± Ariana asked again. ¡°As you said, I¡¯m a smart girl. I know, if this marriage is canceled, it will embarrass your family. Moreover, this whole n has already gone into the media. But I¡¯m sure, there are people who are more disadvantaged here.¡± she answered. A faint nod of the oldest woman¡¯s head was visible. ¡°So, let¡¯s negotiate.¡± she offered.


    ¡°What do you want, youngdy?¡± Asked Mrs. Rosaline. The older adult looked at Ariana with a look of admiration.


    Curious? Ariana couldn¡¯t read it.


    ¡°Withdraw all your investments. Sever all your family¡¯s cooperation with the Brooks family. Then I am willing to help you.¡± Ariana said with a wide smile on her face. A happy twinkle could be seen in her golden eyes.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± The voice came from Mrs. Caitlyn Brooks again.


    ¡°That¡¯s the best offer I can make you, Madam. Heart or soul breaker. Because if you offer me money. I don¡¯t need it. I can look for it myself. And if you threaten to bankrupt me and my father¡¯s business, I will not be afraid. If you forget, my father and I have experienced it. Being at the lowest point of our lives. And that¡¯s why you left us, right?¡± There is no fiery tone. Everything sounds t without emotion. But somehow, it can make people who hear it shiver.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°You are indeed a smart girl.¡± Praises Madame Rosaline with a smile on her face.


    ¡°Thank you, Madam. My father taught me to be intelligent. And my ¡®biological¡¯ mother taught me to be cunning and realistic.¡± Ariana answered without the slightest hint of sarcasm. ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°Ariana, can¡¯t you help Mama? Without any conditions? Or if necessary, I will beg you, darling?¡± The beautiful woman was pitiful. He even got out of his seat and stood between his knees.


    Mama? Darling? The call made Ariana shudder in disgust.


    Ariana just stared at him tly. ¡°Sorry, in business. We are advised not to y our hearts out. I¡¯m afraid the same thing will happen again. Beingpletely deceived by someone we think we know.¡± Ariana answered coldly. ¡°I think our conversation has ended here. I will help you if you ept my request.¡± Ariana rose to her feet. They thought that Ariana would open the door to throw them out gently. But not. The girl opened the door because she intended to leave the room. Her chest was tight, and her head felt like it would explode. Looking at her mother only disgusted her.


    Silence greeted the ce after Ariana closed the door. ¡°Amber, help Auntie.¡± Mrs. Caitlyn now looked at the cute girl with sses still sitting frozen in her ce. ¡°Please persuade Ariana to help Auntie. Please.¡±


    Amber swallowed hard. She looked at the three women in turn. Ariana is someone who takes work to control. That girl is stubborn. And if she wants something, she will work hard to get it. And if she likes something, she will take care of it; likewise, if she doesn¡¯t like something. She will show it. It¡¯s easier to persuade her if she intends to change her mind.


    Amber shook her head slowly. ¡°Sorry, auntie. I can¡¯t. Ariana now is not like Ariana from before. She has changed since auntie left her.¡± Amber answered honestly.


    Caitlyn went limp. Silent in ce. ¡°Married or not. The result will be the same.¡± Said Mrs. Rosaline Zeroun. She rose to her feet with the help of a cane. Her assistant helps her.


    Mrs. Rosaline held her assistant¡¯s arm as support before turning around. ¡°If you don¡¯t get married, you¡¯re broke. Even if you get married, you¡¯re still broke. But at least you¡¯ll still have a good name. And your proud son. Just decide on your choice.¡± Mrs. Rosaline left the two women.


    Ariana¡­ That name warmed Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s heart. Simr but different. That¡¯s what the older adult felt between Ariana and Karenina.

 Chap 6 : Little Ariana

    Ariana was leaning against the wall, chatting with her employees who were busy cleaning the seafood that would be the main ingredient for their lunch. A sauce chef was working on the ingredients, while others were cleaning vegetables. Ariana¡¯sughter stopped when Amber tapped her shoulder and pulled her away. ¡°We need to talk,¡± she said.


    Ariana turned and looked at Amber with her usual poker face. They headed towards the front of the restaurant. Amber gestured for her to follow without saying a word. Ariana finally got into the girl¡¯s sedan. Okay, the bespectacled girl was clearly in her annoyed mode. Ariana would just follow along.


    Before long, they parked at a cafe, ordered gto, a few slices of cake, and some cold drinks. It seemed like Amber was trying to bribe her. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± she asked, getting straight to the point.


    Honestly, Amber couldn¡¯t stay mad at Ariana for long. Because if she got angry, Ariana with her stubborn attitude would ignore her. Or worse, she mightsh out at her. And Amber didn¡¯t want that to happen. She took a slow breath. ¡°So, what was the deal with you leaving the restaurantst night?¡±


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Dad asked me to give a check as a gift. That¡¯s what Mrs. Brooks requested from him. The respectabledy wouldn¡¯t even allow Dad to attend her daughter¡¯s wedding.¡± Ariana replied coldly.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Amber asked sharply.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to. But you were already asleep,¡± Ariana replied honestly. Last night, after the drama between her and Mrs. Brooks, Ariana didn¡¯t immediately go to the apartment she and Amber had been living in for the past two years.


    Instead, Ariana chose to hang out and grab some street food along the way. She didn¡¯t realize she had entered the apartment well past midnight.


    Amber wasn¡¯t the type to stay upte like Ariana, so Ariana chose to postpone the conversation.


    ¡°So, what do we do now?¡± Amber looked panicked. ¡°Does Uncle Bradley know?¡± Ariana raised an eyebrow. ¡°About Karenina¡¯s disappearance?¡± Ariana shrugged. ¡°She didn¡¯t disappear. She just ran away.¡± Ariana corrected herself.


    ¡°Meaning?¡±


    ¡°Please expand your vocabry, Miss Amber Quinn,¡± Ariana chided. ¡°Disappeared means gone, vanished. While ran away means intentionally left.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, I get it,¡± Amber said impatiently. ¡°So, does Uncle Bradley know?¡±


    Once again, Ariana shrugged. ¡°Dad doesn¡¯t need to know. Besides, why should he? Karenina is probably fine somewhere. And I have no intention of bing a recement wife. Sorry, Ariana only ns to get married once in her lifetime. Even if we have to part ways, let it be because of death.¡± Ariana poked at her gto and sighed with delight.


    Amber observed her friend and cousin.


    Back when they were children, Ariana was a friendly, energetic, and always curious girl. She loved socializing with anyone, regardless of their status or age. The opposite of Ariana was Karenina, her twin sister, who was a shy, reserved, and difficult-to-approach child. There always had to be Ariana apanying Karenina wherever she wanted to go.


    Then, one day, everything changed suddenly. Amber didn¡¯t know what happened, but Ariana became quiet all of a sudden. Her parents often argued. Until one day, Uncle Bradley arrived with Ariana at their house, without Karenina and his wife, Caitlyn.


    And at that time, Amber learned from her parents that Uncle Bradley had been deceived and had gone bankrupt. Not long after, Uncle Bradley received divorce papers that were secretly filed by Aunt Caitlyn in court, and then he suffered a heart attack that eventually led to a stroke.


    Ariana, who was 10 years old at the time, was clearly in shock. She then tried to find her mother without anyone knowing, except for Amber, who was following Ariana at that time.


    Young Ariana begged her mother and pleaded for her to return. ¡°Have mercy, Ma. Dad is sick. Dad had a stroke.¡± Her young cousin even knelt before her own mother. Amber knew now that perhaps, at that time, Ariana didn¡¯t know what a stroke was.


    But instead of being moved by Ariana¡¯s tears, Aunt Caitlyn drove her away and said that Ariana and her father had no more connection with her. Little Ariana could only cry all the way home. And a weekter, Ariana and Amber found out that Ariana¡¯s mother had remarried a wealthy man and left their town, along with Ariana¡¯s twin, Karenina.


    Ariana changed from that moment on. She became withdrawn. And a few monthster, Ariana became a mere puppet. Going to school without any joy on her face. The girl even seemed reluctant to socialize with her peers anymore. Those who knew the old Ariana mourned with her. Even Amber¡¯s parents tried to persuade Ariana, but the child remained the same.


    ¡°Poor Ariana¡¯s dad if Ariana remains gloomy,¡± that was Amber¡¯s mother¡¯s persuasion at the time.


    Ariana, who was initially plump and well-nourished, became thin. Nevertheless, she diligently cared for her father. Doing the things Aunt Caitlyn should have done. Cleaning her father¡¯s body. Feeding him. And even disposing of her father¡¯s waste, as he waspletely unable to do anything at that time.


    After taking care of her father, she would help Amber¡¯s mother with household chores. Even when Amber¡¯s mother told her to stop, the little girl insisted on helping.


    Ariana became skilled at doing household chores at an age when children her age were still ying house and buying dolls. Amber often heard her motherin to her father about Ariana. Not in a negative way, but out of pity. Her mother sometimes felt embarrassed because young Ariana behaved this way. However, young Ariana always said that all the household chores she did were purely a way to express her gratitude because her uncle and aunt were willing to take her in.


    Then came Aunt Hestia. The beautiful and gentle-hearted woman had just returned to their town after her divorce. Somehow, Aunt Hestia managed to get close to Ariana. Ariana even learned how to cook from the former nurse who decided to open the restaurant. Somehow, Aunt Hestia also frequently visited Amber¡¯s home and helped Uncle Bradley with therapy. Monthster, Ariana¡¯s father returned to normal and was able to work again.


    The amount of time they spent together brought the three of them closer. And eventually, Ariana¡¯s father proposed to Aunt Hestia and restarted his business.


    Only God knows. Aunt Hestia, who was divorced because of infertility, turned out to be able to give a child to Ariana¡¯s father. Ariana weed this with joy. Their happiness was finally restored. Slowly, Ariana forgot about her birth mother and her twin sister who had left her. And her father seeded in rebuilding his business.


    Even Aunt Hestia¡¯s business, which initially started as a small restaurant, had now be arge chain with branches in several cities.


    Ariana¡¯s family returned to their former glory. However, now, as if to reopen old wounds, the past seemed to be on the verge of disturbing the happiness of their friend¡¯s family.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    One day, Amber identally stumbled upon the social media profiles of Ariana¡¯s twin sister. With hesitation, Amber showed it to Ariana. Ariana acted normal, just smiling and expressing gratitude that her sister was doing well.


    Then, a week ago, Ariana¡¯s family was surprised by the arrival of someone who imed to be a message from Mrs. Caitlyn. She threatened Uncle Bradley not to attend their daughter¡¯s wedding, fearing it would tarnish her and her new husband¡¯s reputation.


    Uncle Bradley, who was not present at the time, was quite shocked. However, considering that Karenina was also his daughter and because he wanted to show his love, he asked Ariana to deliver the check as a gift, the one Ariana had mentioned the previous night.


    Remarkably, Amber had to admire Ariana¡¯s behavior when she faced those wealthy people. ¡°Giving away her daughter¡¯s heart, or bankrupting her mother¡¯s family?¡± It was truly something Amber couldn¡¯t have imagined before. Did Ariana hate her mother that much?

 Chap 7 : Daddy

    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to give your mother a chance?¡± Amber asked again. Ariana looked at her and then shook her head. Okay, Amber wouldn¡¯t persuade her anymore. If she was just ignored by Ariana, what if Ariana fired herter? She might also get scolded by Ariana¡¯s father.


    They returned to the restaurant. It was already 11 in the morning when they got back. Both Ariana and Amber entered their workspace, which also served as their private break room. Ariana, who had left her phone in her bag, was now checking it. She slid the screen, unlocked it, and saw several missed calls.


    ¡°Mom?¡± Ariana pressed her mother¡¯s number and made the call. ¡°Ariana, hello, dear.¡± The voice on the other end sounded panicked and tearful.


    ¡°Mom? Is there¡­¡±


    ¡°Your father, dear,¡± her mother interrupted before Ariana could ask.


    ¡°What about Dad?¡±


    ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t know. Dad called earlier, but suddenly the call got cut off. Mom went to Dad¡¯s office, but they said Dad left for an appointment. Mom checked the ce where your father had an appointment, but he wasn¡¯t there. Mom is scared, and I have a bad feeling,¡± her mother spoke quickly between sobs.


    ¡°Mom, calm down. Maybe Dad¡¯s phone ran out of battery,¡± Ariana tried to reassure her mother, although she herself was disturbed by her mother¡¯s panic.


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible, Ana. Mom always charges your father¡¯s phone. Mom is sure something is wrong this time. Help Mom, dear. Please find your father,¡± the woman on the other end pleaded. Ariana massaged her temples.


    ¡°Yes, Mom, calm down first. Ariana will help you find Dad. If necessary, Ariana will ask the police for help. Just calm down, Mom. Take a deep breath¡­ exhale. Mom, just calm down. Ariana will look for Dad.¡± After calming her mother, Ariana tried to contact someone. But before she could reach out to her acquaintance, a pop-up message caught her eye identally.


    Ariana opened the iing message from an unknown number. She read the message and then downloaded the video it contained. After watching the video, Ariana cursed in frustration, gripping her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. ¡°Damn it!¡± she eximed angrily.


    Ariana grabbed her car keys and rushed to her car, ignoring Amber¡¯s continued calls. She sent a message to her mother, telling her that she had found her father and asking her to calm down.


    Regardless of the number of cars lined up in front of the house, Ariana parked her car haphazardly. Her sneakers allowed her to run silently. Ariana reentered the house she had visited the previous night. Fueled by anger, she entered without paying attention to the people who looked at her in surprise. Her long hair swayed with her swift steps.


    ¡°You damn family!¡± she spat sharply when she saw the Brooks family casually about to have lunch.


    ¡°Oh, hello, stepchild. Looks like you¡¯re back,¡± Mr. Brooks greeted her with feigned friendliness. ¡°Where¡¯s my Dad! How dare your dirty hands touch him!¡± she yelled in anger.


    ¡°Come on. I didn¡¯t touch your Dad. Your Dad is just stupid and fell into my trap,¡± the man said, without feeling disgusted, as he continued to eat his food. Ariana felt nauseated and wanted to vomit because of it.


    ¡°Tell me where my Dad is, you bastard!¡± she shouted harshly.


    ¡°Watch yournguage, or you won¡¯t see your father again,¡± Brooks replied. ¡°You¡¯ll see him at the wedding.¡± He answered casually.


    ¡°W-wedding? What do you mean¡­¡± Something foul-smelling hit Ariana¡¯s nose. It turned out that, without her realizing it, all of this had been nned. Ariana¡¯s head suddenly spun, and everything went dark.


    ¡°Bring her and the key upstairs. Instruct the makeup artist toe in and do her makeup. But don¡¯t let her wake up. If she wakes up, sedate her again!¡± Brooks ordered coldly.


    ***


    ¡°The wedding is about to happen. They¡¯ve already brought the bride into the house,¡± Gerald reported to his assistant. A sly smile adorned his face. ¡°Brought, not found,¡± he muttered to himself. It turned out that influencing Brooks with his twisted ideas was not a mistake. If he hadn¡¯t intervened, that foolish man would have ended up in misery. Gerald wanted tough.


    Gerald had heard the offer the girl had made to her grandmother. Ariana was indeed a brave girl. But bravery didn¡¯t mean she had no weaknesses. And those foolish people didn¡¯t realize Ariana¡¯s weakness.


    Yes, Ariana¡¯s weakness was her family, especially her father. How could they not realize that? Ariana loved her father so much, and Gerald was sure that because of her deep love, that rough girl would do anything as long as her father was okay.


    So, Gerald subtly influenced Brooks in that way. Let Brooks be the executor, even though Gerald was the mastermind. One thing was for sure, he wanted that woman, and he would marry her. Karenina and her family be damned. And if his fianc¨¦e returned someday? Gerald would deal with itter. Why bother with unnecessaryplications?


    My bride, wait for your future husband.


    Suddenly, the idea of getting married became something enticing for Gerald.


    ***


    Ariana woke up, her head pounding and her neck feeling heavy. She tried to blink, but couldn¡¯t recognize where she was. Her eyes felt difficult to open.


    Dad!


    The thought made her snap awake instantly. Shouts, warnings, and other sounds echoed in her head. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t wake up suddenly.¡± Ariana turned to a woman in her forties who looked at her with concern.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Ariana asked in return. She wanted to rub her eyes, which felt heavy, but the woman stopped her. ¡°You must not ruin her makeup. Otherwise, Mr. Brooks will be angry,¡± the woman pleaded in panic.


    Ariana frowned. Makeup? What makeup was the woman talking about? And now she realized that her shirt and jeans had been reced with a wedding dress that fit her perfectly. Oh God. Who undressed her and changed her clothes without her consent?


    Ariana attempted to get out of the bed, but the woman stopped her again. ¡°Take it slow, Miss,¡± she requested gently.


    Soon, the door opened. Ariana and the makeup artist turned their heads simultaneously. A woman in her thirties entered, followed by a figure Ariana didn¡¯t want to see. ¡°Mom asked you nicely. Don¡¯t me Mom if all of this happens. Mom just wants you to rece Karenina. At least until she returns,¡± Mrs. Caitlyn said with a pleading look in her eyes. Instead of responding, Ariana just stared at her with disgust.


    ¡°We will release your father if you ept all of this. And this.¡± The woman handed a leather folder to Ariana. ¡°Sign it as an agreement. You will see your father during the ceremony.¡±


    Ariana took the folder and opened it roughly. Her eyes scanned it quickly, and the more she read, the sicker she felt. ¡°What does this mean?¡± she asked harshly. She even pped away the woman¡¯s hand when it touched her hair.


    ¡°You have no choice, Ariana. Your father is in our hands. Sign it, marry Gerald, and your father wille back to you,¡± Mrs. Caitlyn said.


    Ariana felt tears welling up in her eyes, not because she was sad, but because she was furious. How could the woman in front of her trap her like this? For what? For her own pride and her new husband¡¯s sake. Ariana stared at the woman who had given birth to her with deep hatred.


    The agreement stated that Ariana Leonidas would be Gerald Zeroun¡¯s wife for an indefinite period. It included other uses that required Ariana to obey Gerald¡¯s wishes, be part of his family, and appear in public as needed. Ariana snorted in disgust. ¡°Think about your father, Ariana,¡± the woman said again. Ariana roughly pulled the pen from the woman¡¯s hand. She wouldn¡¯t do everything willingly.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Gerald, or whoever that despicable man was, should prepare to live in hell. Because Ariana had no intention of making his lifefortable, just as he had disrupted her peaceful life.


    ¡°Where¡¯s my phone? I need to contact my mother. I don¡¯t want to be a disobedient child who gets married without my parents¡¯ blessing,¡± Ariana said with a t tone as she signed the stamped document. ¡°And I¡¯m hungry! Bring me some food!¡± Arianamanded after tossing the folder and pen rudely. If you thought Ariana would act weak, you were mistaken. Ariana would fight to the bitter end. And fighting required energy, didn¡¯t it? So she had to replenish her strength first.

 Chap 8 : Married

    Gerald was dressed in a white suit with silver threads adorning thepels. He looked even more handsome with his clean-shaven face, specially prepared for this asion. His thick, ck hair was neatly styled with expensive musk-scented hair oil. His grandmother sat beside him, holding his left hand with her wrinkled right hand. Gerald patted that hand reassuringly. He loved his grandmother deeply, even more than his mother. And this marriage wasn¡¯t the marriage they initially wanted, but after learning who his bride was, both of them had found new motivation.


    They had entered the grand estate. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, along with their son, were waiting at the entrance, along with several people Gerald didn¡¯t recognize. They were all dressed in expensive and ssy attire, clearly tailored for the asion. They weed Gerald and his family as if they were honored guests. And indeed, they were honored guests. The Brooks family had to tter them, or else their family¡¯s nobility would be nothing more than a shadow.


    This wedding ceremony was deliberately kept low-key, and it was arranged suddenly, considering the change in the bride¡¯s name and, of course, because Gerald didn¡¯t want to attract too much attention. Except for their families, only the event organizing team was present in the house.


    However, Gerald was certain that things would be different at the reception they would holdter. Although it wouldn¡¯t be a grand party with thousands of guests, it would undoubtedly be luxurious because the invited guests were influential figures for both families. Some of the guests already knew the face of his soon-to-be wife, so this had to be done. After all, the Brooks family loved to showcase the beauty of their wife and stepdaughter to the public.


    A man Gerald recognized from the photo he obtained the previous night stood next to a man whom Gerald believed to be one of the Brooks family¡¯s guards. Gerald asked his assistant to take the man to a separate room because he wanted to have a private conversation with his prospective father-inw. The man in the ck suit was escorted by a burly figure, presumably hired by the Brooks family to ensure he didn¡¯t attempt to escape.


    ¡°I apologize for making this situation ufortable for you, sir,¡± Gerald said as he looked at the middle-aged man with a friendly demeanor, extending his hand politely. ¡°I¡¯m Gerald Zeroun.¡±


    ¡°Bradley Leonidas. I¡¯ve heard about you, although not in great detail,¡± Bradley replied honestly. Of course, everyone was familiar with Gerald as a ruthless and cold-hearted businessman, and Bradley had likely heard some of those stories as well.


    Gerald gestured for the man to sit as if he were the host of the meeting, and Bradley nodded and took a seat. They engaged in a serious conversation thatsted until Brooks knocked on the door, signaling that it was time for them to leave.


    ¡°Call the bride out!¡± Brooks¡¯smand was delivered quietly but reached Gerald and Bradley¡¯s ears. Bradley had already stood in front of the officiant, eagerly awaiting the arrival of his future bride.


    The door to a room swung open, revealing a beautiful woman in a stunning wedding gown walking alongside Mr. Leonidas. Her strikingly beautiful yet perpetually cynical eyes now locked onto Gerald¡¯s with a sharp gaze. Instead of bing angry, Gerald responded with a teasing smile in her direction.


    Oh God, the bride was incredibly beautiful. The wedding dress fit her perfectly, entuating her elegant curves. The modest neckline of the dress revealed her corbone and a portion of her delicate shoulder, which appeared fair and graceful. Her long, wavy ck hair, which Gerald knew usually cascaded down, was now elegantly styled in an updo, showcasing her slender neck. Gerald couldn¡¯t help but wonder how her neck would feel against his lips and what her scent would be like.


    Gerald dly took Ariana¡¯s hand. He turned to look at the soft, golden-hued hairs running along her jawline and neck. Even her nape appeared to have a soft fuzz. Gerald had a preference for women with such features. It looked sensual and tempting. He smiledsciviously once more, paying no heed to the onlookers. After all, the object of his lust was his soon-to-be wife, about to be hiswful spouse in a matter of minutes.


    The officiating priest cleared his throat and delivered a brief marriage sermon. Not long after, Gerald officially became Ariana¡¯s husband. After exchanging rings, Gerald finally had the pleasure of kissing Ariana¡¯s forehead.


    Once she freed herself from Gerald¡¯s embrace, Ariana hugged her father tightly. There were no tears of joy that typically flowed between a bride and her parents, just whispered exchanges.


    Absurd, indeed. But that was the reality of the situation.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°Let my father go,¡± Gerald heard the cold voice from his wife¡¯s mouth. Her sharp gaze pierced through Brooks and her birth mother. Brooks nodded. After all, Ariana had signed the contract. So, the girl couldn¡¯t refuse. Then, the two burly men who had been guarding Bradley guided him out of the house. Ariana just nodded to both of them before walking to a room where she had exited earlier.


    Gerald followed her without a word, locking the door from the inside. Ariana only nced at him briefly before turning her back to him. She chose to look out the window, watching her father¡¯s leave


    ¡°They will be safe until they reach their destination, don¡¯t worry,¡± Ariana tensed. She didn¡¯t realize that the man was already standing behind her. Even her back was now pressed against his chest, and his lips were dangerously close to her ear. His warm breath grazed her neck. ¡°Your scent, like a baby.¡± The man touched his nose to Ariana¡¯s neck and inhaled Ariana¡¯s body fragrance


    Ariana elbowed the man hard. The man groaned and took a step back. More because he was surprised because he didn¡¯t expect Ariana to be that rude to him.


    ¡°Oops, sorry. I did that on purpose.¡± He said without the slightest feeling of guilt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry husband, I married you because I had to. And considering the agreement you made, I¡¯m sure you also know everything. So there¡¯s no need to pretend to be a sweet husband in front of me because I don¡¯t need it.¡± Said the girl in one breath.

 Chap 9 : First Kiss

    Gerald had stopped pretending to be sick. He sat on the bed, supporting his body by cing his hands on either side of him. His legs crossed each other. His eyes looked at Ariana, scanning her from top to bottom. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful,¡± the man said.


    ¡°No need to remind me. I already knew that. You¡¯re not the first person to say that,¡± Ariana answered casually. She was now sitting with her back to the mirror. Her hips leaned against the dressing table, while her arms were folded in front of her chest, making her ample bosom look even puffier. ¡°Besides, if ¡®she¡¯ is ugly, how would a man like you marry her?¡± The sentence referred to his identical twin sister, Karenina.


    ¡°A man like me?¡± Gerald raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Yes, men like you. And people like you. People who prioritize reputation above all else. Respect seekers,¡± Ariana mocked. Gerald smiled and nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Yes, I think you¡¯re right,¡± he saidter. ¡°But my wife,¡± Gerald rose again from his seat and slowly approached. Ariana still maintained her casual attitude, although she was actually afraid that the man who was now her husband would do something irrational. ¡°Although what you said is true, but not entirely,¡± Gerald reached out and grabbed both sides of Ariana¡¯s upper arms, lifting her up so she stood in front of him.


    Ariana¡¯s body, which she thought was tall, turned out not to be as tall as she had imagined. She still had to tilt her head up to meet the man¡¯s eyes directly. ¡°You might think this is just a mere formality. But this marriage, it¡¯s more than that. Slowly but surely, you¡¯ll understand,¡± he said boldly as he gently brushed his fingers along Ariana¡¯s jaw and left neck.


    His head approached, whispering in Ariana¡¯s ear. ¡°And I am a monogamous man. I¡¯m a faithful man who wants one wife for my entire life. So get ready to be locked up with me forever,¡± he said before quickly nting a kiss behind Ariana¡¯s ear.


    Ariana widened her eyes and pushed the man¡¯s chest with full force. Unfortunately, the power is less powerful.


    The man¡¯s hands were now holding her waist, pulling her closer so the lower parts of their bodies met. ¡°I¡¯m even getting turned on just by looking at you.¡± He whispered again as he nibbled on Ariana¡¯s earlobe.


    Ariana swallowed her saliva because she was nervous. She tried to struggle. Both arms tried to push Gerald¡¯s chest. She even beat the man so that the man would dodge. But instead of going back. Instead, the man lifted Ariana¡¯s body and dropped her onto the bed, crushing Ariana¡¯s tiny body with hisrge body. Ariana squirmed, ufortable, feeling something protruding and pressing on her.


    Damn skirt! If only she had worn pants, she could have kicked the man. But the short skirt made it difficult to move. ¡°Let go, or I¡¯ll scream!¡± Ariana ordered in between her moans. Instead of letting go of Ariana. The man instead grabbed the second.


    Ariana¡¯s hands and lifted them until Ariana¡¯s two tiny hands were above her head. Ariana was still trying to escape, but she got a firmer grip instead. ¡°Let go of me, you bastard!¡± Ariana ordered again. But the man¡¯s grin looked increasingly frightening in Ariana¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°At least let me know how my wife feels.¡± Repeated the man.


    ¡°What do you mmmppppp¡­.?¡± The man covered Ariana¡¯s mouth before Ariana could utter another curse.


    Sweet. That was Gerald¡¯s first feeling when his first kissnded smoothly on Ariana¡¯s luscious lips. Soft and supple.


    Gerald continued his exploration. The girl was silent, did not fight back, nor returned his kiss.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    There are two choices. Ariana tried to deny it or had never done it before. Which means Gerald is Ariana¡¯s first. And he was proud of that.


    Gerald still held Ariana¡¯s hands above her head using one hand. Meanwhile, his right hand came down and grabbed the girl¡¯s jaw. Rubbing it gently, he pulled Ariana¡¯s chin, so the girl opened her mouth. And it worked. Ariana opened her mouth, and Gerald put his tongue in. He was looking for Ariana¡¯s tongue and teasing her. The girl was surprised at first, but Gerald continued to tease her.


    ¡°Reply to me,¡± he asked slowly. Then he kissed Ariana again, and the girl started to respond even though she felt hesitant. Gerald smiled inwardly. ¡®I¡¯ll train you so you¡¯ll be wild, darling.¡¯ he promised in his heart.


    Ariana was surprised. This was the first time someone had kissed her so intensely. But instead of being disgusted, Ariana felt even more curious. The man¡¯s tongue wrapped around her, and Ariana felt ticklish. Her body even felt goosebumps and tingling. Something hot felt spreading through his body.


    ¡°Reply to me.¡± The order sounded so sexy to Ariana¡¯s ears. When Gerald kissed her again, she did what he did to her. If Gerald sucked, then she sucked. If Gerald bites, she bites back; if Gerald licks and twists, she does the same.


    A groan was heard, and Ariana didn¡¯t know whose voice it was. The man¡¯s hand was no longer holding her hand. The man¡¯s lips also descended to her jaw, kissing the back of her ear and neck. Ariana shivered at that. Ticklish, delicious and wanting more at the same time.


    ¡°Ahh,¡± she moaned when Gerald licked behind his ear. And the man¡¯s hand also felt groping her chest. ¡°What are you, mmmhhh¡­¡± Ariana bit her lip, preventing the sound that was about to escape from her mouth when the man¡¯s mouth kissed her chest, which was still neatly wrapped in her wedding dress.


    ¡°Stop, aaahhh¡­¡± Ariana moaned again because the man¡¯s mouth had returned to her neck and was licking and biting a little.


    ¡°I can not wait.¡± the man growled. The man¡¯s face was now so close to hers. Ariana could see his greenish eyes: the bushy eyebrows and curly eyshes of the foreign man now her husband. And the thick ck hair that was previously neatlybed has now turned messy. Is that what she did?


    Ariana suddenly realized and pushed the man with all her might. Gerald, who was unprepared, finally fell andnded his buttocks on the cold floor. ¡°What are you doing? You trying to rub me?¡± Ariana noticed her clothes. And amazingly, her wedding dress was still intact. She remembered that the buttons on his clothes were behind her.


    Meanwhile, that guy? The top two buttons of his shirt were open, revealing many ck feathers. Ariana¡¯s eyes widened again. Was that also her doing? By God, if that were what she did, she would feel ashamed of herself.


    How could he be so aggressive?


    The man got up and grinned at Ariana. ¡°Making love would be even more amazing than before.¡± He said with a perverted smile on his face. Ariana stared again.


    ¡°That will never happen.¡± Reject Ariana.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ At first, you¡¯ll resist, of course. But once you know how it feels, I promise you¡¯ll be addicted,¡± the man said as he nced in the mirror, tidying up his clothes and hair, then smiled again at Ariana. Ariana, who was sitting upright, tensed up once more. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to go out?¡±


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°No. I am not obligated to go out.¡±


    ¡°But you are obliged to attend the reception, Darling,¡± Ariana grimaced at the word ¡®Darling¡¯ing from the man¡¯s mouth. ¡°It¡¯s part of the ¡®appearing in public¡¯ use in the contract.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Ariana grumbled.


    The man approached and caressed Ariana¡¯s head. ¡°Well then, rest up. Prepare your energy for tonight,¡± he whispered seductively.

 Chap 10 : Sleeping With The Stranger

    The night had grown sote. Ariana once again entered the room that had been used for her preparations earlier. The reception was not yet over, but she was exhausted. Extremely tired. Especially because she had been forced to look elegant by wearing stilettos all night. Something she had avoided for so long. And she had no idea when the event would end. She didn¡¯t care anymore.


    What mattered was that she had fulfilled her duties as a bride earlier. Weing the guests. And after that, it wasn¡¯t her obligation to apany and engage with them all night long. After all, she didn¡¯t even know them. They were Brooks family guests and her unfamiliar husband¡¯s guests. Not hers.


    Fortunately, the peach dress she was wearing was easy to take off. The only thing that puzzled Ariana now was, where was her change of clothes? The jeans and shirt she had been wearing earlier were nowhere to be found. As a result, she sought out the housemaid who had been apanying her since earlier, asking her to fetch Karenina¡¯s clothes for her to wear.


    The servant arrived carrying a sleeveless dress with a skirt that was slightly above the knee. Ariana pleaded. For God¡¯s sake, couldn¡¯t there be a simple outfit she could wear? She longed to wear her long pants again.


    Ariana emerged from the bathroom wearing Karenina¡¯s clothes, her hair still wet from showering. She would have to record tonight in her diary, a record for her as she had showered three times today. Imagine, three times. And it seemed like she might catch a cold because of it.


    Ariana was truly exhausted. It felt like she had never been this tired in thest fifteen years. Exhausted both mentally and physically.


    A wolf whistle caught Ariana¡¯s attention. Her unfamiliar husband was sitting leaning against the back of the bed, holding a phone in his hand. His navy suit jacket had been discarded, and the long sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up to his elbows. And his feet? In an impolite manner, he was still wearing his expensive shoes. Typical of rich people. So conceited.


    Fortunately, the buttons on the man¡¯s shirt were still intact, so Ariana didn¡¯t need to peek at the man¡¯s chest hair. Something she had always been curious about the feel of.


    Ariana shook her head to clear her thoughts. ¡°Have you seen my car keys?¡± she asked, searching around the room. The phone she had briefly held to call her mother had been taken back by Mrs. Brooks just before the reception. And Ariana was sure her car keys were taken by that woman as well.


    ¡°What do you need the car keys for?¡± Gerald asked without taking his attention away from his phone.


    ¡°To throw them away!¡± Ariana replied tly.


    ¡°If you want to throw them away, why are you looking for them?¡± Gerald looked at his wife with a suppressed smile. Ariana scowled, unwilling to engage with the man. ¡°Your car has been delivered to the apartment basement. Tonight, I will be the one to drive you home,¡± Gerald replied again.


    ¡°My phone?¡± Ariana scanned the room again. She saw Gerald shaking his hand. Oh God, so the phone the man had been holding earlier belonged to her? Ariana quickly walked over and tried to reach for her phone. ¡°How did you unlock my phone?¡± she eximed and forcibly snatched her phone back from Gerald. He just smiled.


    ¡°There are many ways to Rome,¡± he replied as sinctly as possible. Ariana sighed. ¡°I thought you had some nude photos. But it turns out you don¡¯t. Maybe I can see them in another way,¡± he said disappointingly. Ariana looked at him with a disgusted expression.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired. I want to go home and sleep,¡± Ariana looked at Gerald, who was still sitting in his position. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d take me home? Why are you just sitting there?¡±


    ¡°I want payment upfront,¡± he said again. Ariana frowned, and the man tapped his lips with his index finger. Ariana sighed. Instead of granting her husband¡¯s request, Ariana chose to y with her phone.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m not that poor. There are still plenty of online taxis I can order to take me home,¡± she muttered as she walked towards the door.


    Aware of what his wife was about to do, Gerald quickly rose and snatched the phone with his right hand. Meanwhile, his left hand grabbed Ariana¡¯s right arm, guiding her-or more urately, pulling her out of the room.


    They walked toward the front door. Gerald just nodded whenever he heard greetings from the workers or guests who were still there.


    Ariana was led to a ck sports car that she was sure must be very expensive. Gerald opened the passenger door for her. Ariana got in without saying much. Then the man walked towards the driver¡¯s seat.


    The scent of the car, a blend of Gerald¡¯s cologne along with tiredness and sleepiness fromck of rest, as well as the subtle hum of the car¡¯s engine, made Ariana feel like she was being rocked to sleep. Somewhere in the minutes that followed, she truly closed her eyes.


    Gerald observed the beautiful face of his wife, now free from all the makeup she had worn earlier. Her thick ck eyebrows arched beautifully, not drawn on like most women he knew. Her eyshes were long and curled. Her nose was small and pointed, perfectly ced on her face. And her lips, small, full, and seductively red. Her cheeks were rosy, blemish-free. She had fine golden hairs that reached her jawline and continued down behind her ears. Her chin was pointed, like a crescent moon.


    Beautiful.


    That was the word that came to Gerald¡¯s mind to describe his wife. He had never noticed Karenina in such detail, even though she had been his fianc¨¦e for the past three months. But Ariana, his wife. A girl he had only seen for twenty-four hours. Even though they had the same face, there was something about her that felt like a strong maic pull. So much so that Gerald hesitated to look away.


    They arrived at Gerald¡¯s residence. With no intention of waking his visibly exhausted wife, Gerald finally lifted her petite body with both hands and carried her inside the house. His mother and grandmother, who were still awake, simply watched in silence.


    Climbing the stairs to the second floor where their bedroom was located, a servant who had been following him since earlier helped him open the door. Without being asked, the servant also arranged a nket and ced pillows on the bed. Gerald gentlyid his wife¡¯s body down. He asked the servant to leave with a wave of his hand.


    After removing the high heels Ariana had been wearing, Gerald tilted her body to unzip the dress on her back. He slowly took off the knee-length dress, leaving her in a matching pink tank top andce panties.


    Seductive.


    Seeing her slender body with milky-white skin, who wouldn¡¯t be tempted? But Gerald could restrain himself. Waiting a few days wouldn¡¯t make a difference. He preferred to wait to make love to his wife when she was conscious, rather than forcing his desires and turning it into an act of assault.


    Gerald ced the dress on the sofa in his room. He then covered his wife¡¯s body and let her continue to slumber in her dreams.


    Gerald headed to the bathroom, choosing to freshen up before lying down beside his wife.


    ***


    Ariana felt something was different when she woke up. Did Amber start taking hair growth vitamins? Or had the girl gained weight since thest time? Because the arms and legs currently draped over Ariana¡¯s body felt much hairier. It also seemed heavier than thest time Amber sneaked into her room and slept there.


    Ariana tried to move, but Amber¡¯s embrace tightened even more. And the girl¡¯s head seemed to have nestled into her neck, rubbing against it ticklishly.


    Wait. Was that something moving at the lower back of her body? Was there a mouse sneaking into her nket? Ariana tried to move again, but Amber¡¯s arms and legs only tightened. ¡°Quiet, my love. You¡¯re waking up ¡®my little friend¡¯ like this,¡± a voice whispered from behind her.


    It was a man¡¯s voice, deep and sounding drowsy. Slowly, Ariana¡¯s awareness returned. She lowered her gaze and saw a strong, hairy man¡¯s arm. A man? She was sleeping with a man? Oh God, her father would be furious if he found out about this.


    But wait. Her father? Ariana began to remember the events of her wedding ceremony yesterday afternoon. So, that was real? Not just a dream. And that meant, the man behind her right now?

 Chap 11 : Experiment

    Ariana struck the man¡¯s hand hard enough that her own hand hurt afterward. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± the man asked in a drowsy voice. Ariana turned over, her head turning to the right to look at the face of the stranger who was now her husband.


    ¡°I should be asking you. What are you doing?!¡± she retorted sharply, usingly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you sayst night that you would take me home?¡±


    Instead of answering, the man slid closer and nestled his head against Ariana¡¯s neck, wrapping his arms around her waist and entwining his legs tightly. He didn¡¯t seem bothered at all.


    ¡°I did take you home, dear. I brought you to bed, and I even kindly took off your clothes. What¡¯s wrong?¡± he said with a muffled voice against the curve of Ariana¡¯s neck. Ariana shuddered at his breath.


    ¡°But why bring me here? Why not take me to the apartment?¡± Ariana now spoke softly.


    ¡°Because your home is here. Where your husband is,¡± he replied curtly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget that I married you as a stand-in for Karenina,¡± Ariana reminded him, her tone sharp. ¡°When she returns, she will be your wife.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget that the one who signed the contract and the one I proposed to in front of Mr. Bradley Leonidas, as well as the name I mentioned in front of everyone, is Ariana Leonidas,¡± the man said. ¡°And when your twin returns, you will still be my wife.¡±


    Gulp. Ariana swallowed hard. The man was right. One hundred percent right. Ariana had also signed the marriage certificate in her own name.


    Not Karenina¡¯s.


    But she would still be his wife?


    Disgusted, Ariana wriggled, trying to free herself, her eyes scanning to find the whereabouts of the wall clock. ¡°What now? It¡¯s still very early. I barely slept at two in the morning,¡± the man whispered again.


    ¡°What time is it now? Is it time for the morning prayer?¡± Ariana asked. She was still searching for the wall clock.


    ¡°It¡¯s only four in the morning. It¡¯s too early for outdoor activities.¡± Then suddenly, the man raised his head. ¡°Or do you want to engage in some husband and wife activities first? I¡¯d be more than happy to do it,¡± he said enthusiastically. His eyes gleamed.


    Ariana tried to shift her body to avoid it. But she lost quickly. The man turned her around, pinned her down and sandwiched Ariana¡¯s legs with his knees. Meanwhile, both of his hands were linked with Ariana¡¯s hands.


    Both of their eyes looked at each other. Ariana didn¡¯t feel afraid at all. Strangely, this position made her feel a strange tingling in his body. There was a feeling of warmth that suddenly spread to her sensitive part. And her chest was pounding faster, her breathing became rapid without being asked. ¡°W-what do you want to do?¡± Ariana looked at him uncertainly.


    The man lowered his head and kissed Ariana¡¯s neck. ¡°Gerald. My name is Gerald.¡± He whispered between the rub of his lips. Ariana felt her body shudder from the touch. ¡°Say my name, darling.¡± His request was smooth.


    ¡°Ge-Gerald?¡± She whispered with a sighs he was trying to hold back. Ariana bit her lower lip when Gerald returned to kissing the back of her ear, neck and shoulders. Without even realizing it, Ariana¡¯s body was rolling under there.


    Gerald knew that a touch like that could make a girl as innocent as Ariana aroused. Not wanting to waste the opportunity, Gerald released one of Ariana¡¯s hands and lowered the shoulder strap and bra strap that his wife was wearing.


    Her white breasts are so tempting. Gerald teased it by licking its surface. The girl let out a muffled sigh. Gerald then grabbed the girl¡¯s jaw, returning her face to him. Then, without warning, he kissed the girl. At first, slowly, gently, over time, he kissed her passionately. Ariana replied, following the rhythm that Gerald gave her. Gerald¡¯s hands dropped down. He was opening the girl¡¯s legs wide so he could freely rub her thighs and his ¡®little friend¡¯ against the girl¡¯s sensitive area.


    Ariana¡¯s body felt trembling beneath him and writhing wildly without the girl realizing it. Gerald had even managed to take off the girl¡¯s top and bra without the girl realizing it. His left hand caressed her smooth thighs while his right caressed her round and full breasts. ¡°Nggg¡±, She moaned between the kisses they shared.


    Gerald broke the kiss. He kissed the girl¡¯s neck again. Ariana¡¯s tiny hands now hugged Gerald. Dig into his hair and rub Gerald¡¯s back with gentle movements. It made Gerald tremble and be even more aroused. Gerald lowered his head. He was kissing the girl¡¯s breasts. The sound of her sighing made Gerald even more unable to think clearly. Gerald sucked the girl¡¯s nipple greedily. ¡°Aaahhh¡­ Gerald.¡± Ariana sighed loudly as she said his name. Her hands gripped Gerald¡¯s hair hard and pressed him deeper into her breasts. Ask Gerald to suck silently.


    Again, the girl writhed. Gerald slipped his hand under the pink underwear she was wearing. Warm and wet. Gerald rubbed the surface gently. The girl hissed again. Then, when Gerald inserted his middle finger. Ariana gasped, opening her thighs wider and moving her hips up. Gerald was getting more and more passionate. His hands and mouth continued to y. Touching, kissing and licking his wife¡¯s body. ¡°Ahh¡­ Gerald.. I¡­¡±


    Gerald knew his wife was about to reach the top. ¡°Just take it out, darling.¡± He ordered softly as he kissed the girl¡¯s neck again.


    ¡°Ahhh.¡± And Ariana vomited her liquid into Gerald¡¯s hand. Gerald smiled. The girl seemed to be squeezing the bed sheet tightly at release. Her face was flushed, looking so beautiful. Her breathing was ragged, and her chest was rising and falling. It looked even more tempting in Gerald¡¯s eyes.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn.¡± Gerald kissed Ariana again. His ¡®little brother¡¯, who had been standing upright for a long time, couldn¡¯t help but want to let go. But he didn¡¯t want to fuck Ariana yet. He was afraid that Ariana wasn¡¯t ready. He lowered Ariana¡¯s panties, rubbing his dick outside Ariana¡¯s surface. Just feeling the warmth, he grabbed Ariana¡¯s hand to help her speed up her release by massaging it slowly and ¡°ah¡±, Gerald managed to release his sperm onto Ariana¡¯s stomach.


    His body copsed on top of Ariana¡¯s body.


    Sweat covered his entire body, and his chest was pounding. Suddenly, Ariana hugged his body gently. She was hiding her face in the crook of Gerald¡¯s neck. ¡°Thank You,¡± She whispered. And Gerald could feel his wife kissing his jaw, neck and shoulders. Gerald stiffened. He lifted his body, supporting his weight with his elbows. His eyes looked at Ariana. So did that girl. Now look at him. Then, without Gerald expecting it. The girl kissed his lips. And a momentter, he pushed Gerald¡¯s chest hard. Until Gerald was lying on his back on the bed. And somehow, the girl ran to the bathroom and locked it from the inside.


    Gerald covered his eyes with one arm. Heughed. God, he waspletely lost for words. Ariana.. His wife is truly extraordinary.


    Gerald was silent. Hear the shower water running fast. Imagine Ariana soaking her body under a jet of warm water. Imagining his wife¡¯s wet body made his ¡®little brother¡¯ stiffen again. The thought of entering his wife from behind and squeezing her breasts must have felt¡­¡±Aaarrghhhh,¡± Gerald growled. He turned over,y on his stomach and tried to dampen his passion. Ariana¡­ Ariana.. I can¡¯t wait to fill you.

 Chap 12 : Someone Calling Her ‘Mother’

    Ariana lightly pped both of her cheeks. Oh God, what had she just done? Making out? It felt like more than just making out. It hadn¡¯t even been 24 hours since she became this man¡¯s wife, and she had already done such¡­ ¡°Aaarrrggghhhh¡­¡± Ariana stifled her restrained scream. She swore she felt embarrassed, even though she didn¡¯t want to admit it.


    The man had taught her such wicked things. For God¡¯s sake, Ariana had never been touched by any man before. So why had she behaved like a loose woman, allowing herself to be kissed and touched by a stranger?


    Okay, not entirely a stranger. He was her husband now. And Ariana hadn¡¯tmitted any sinful act, even though she had gone further than that.


    But the man was still a stranger. Despite his status as her husband. All Ariana knew about him was his name, Gerald Zeroun. She barely knew anything about his job, age, and she couldn¡¯t even remember the name of the old woman, Rosaline Zeroun, who was apparently his grandmother. As for the woman who was his mother? Ariana had already forgotten her name.


    The only reason she remembered Rosaline was because her name reminded Ariana of a flower she liked: a rose. Ariana didn¡¯t know Gerald¡¯s upation, his age, or any details about his family.


    Alright. Maybe for some people in the jet-set crowd, the name Zeroun wasn¡¯t unfamiliar. But Ariana wasn¡¯t part of that crowd. Although she could be categorized as upper-middle-ss, her social circle was more towards the middle ss. She didn¡¯t care about thetest gossip, whether it was about neighbors, celebrities, or even businesspeople.


    She didn¡¯t know if the Zeroun family was one of those families that frequently appeared on TV or not. Ariana¡¯s world revolved around food, work, and sleep. Okay, she asionally had fun if she had the chance.


    After her express shower-post-makeout session-was done, it was time to change. And she once again realized she didn¡¯t have any clothes with her. Thest option she had was to wear the bathrobe that she assumed belonged to her strange husband. It was dark and oversized, almost drowning her entire body.


    ¡®Besides, why did he bring her here in the first ce? Now she doesn¡¯t have any spare clothes. And she doesn¡¯t even have underwear. He should have prepared everything. Typical.¡¯ She monologued in her mind.


    Ariana left the room and found her husband already wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt and shorts above his knees. His hair was wet, and he looked ¡°awesome.¡± His firm chest was prominently defined, and his broad shoulders and muscles¡­ Ariana wanted to smack herself. ¡®Why is he being so seductive?¡¯


    ¡°Where are my clothes?¡± She asked, reverting to her sarcastic mode. Yes, she had to maintain that demeanor. Don¡¯t act too friendly; you might be misunderstood.


    Gerald stepped forward and grabbed the clothes that he had hung over the sofa the night before. Ariana frowned. ¡°You didn¡¯t bring my clothes with you? If you nned to bring me here, you should have brought my necessities too,¡± she grumbled.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have time,¡± he replied shortly, looking entirely unapologetic.


    ¡°That¡¯s not an answer,¡± she huffed. ¡°I also need new underwear. I can¡¯t possibly wear¡­¡± Damn it. Why was she getting flustered at a time like this? And why was he walking closer?


    ¡°Just wait a moment. Let me ask Mommy first,¡± he said, leaving Ariana shivering. Ariana reached for her bra. At least, she didn¡¯t mind wearing the bra she had on. But as for her panties, she¡¯d rather gomando than wear used ones.


    Ariana nced at the door across from the bathroom. There were no wardrobes in the room, so she was sure that the door led to a walk-in closet. She opened it, and she was right. She noticed several ss wardrobes attached to the wall, containing suits, shirts, and pants for the man. One of the wardrobes seemed to contain underwear and toiletries. In the middle of the room, there was a square-shaped closet with shelves that Ariana didn¡¯t want to explore.


    Ariana opened the first wardrobe in front of her and grabbed a long-sleeved ck sweater, putting it on. Was it her small frame or hisrge one? How could the sleeves of his clothing be this long?


    She then looked for a pair of pants, but she didn¡¯t dare choose one. If his clothes were this oversized, what about his pants?


    ¡°My pants will probably be too big too,¡± she muttered. The sound caught Gerald¡¯s attention. He was standing in the doorway with clothes in his hands. Gerald ced them on the closet in the middle of the room. Ariana reached for them. There was a brand new set of women¡¯s clothing, including a bra and panties. Ariana ignored the bra and grabbed the panties.


    ¡°Turn around!¡± she ordered. Gerald hesitated. ¡°I need to put on underwear. Turn around.¡±


    ¡°Why should I? I¡¯ve already seen you, and I¡¯ve even touched you,¡± he replied, unfazed.


    ¡°Ish¡­¡± Ariana muttered in annoyance.


    ¡°Should I help you with that?¡± Gerald approached and reached out his hand. Ariana pushed him away. Then quickly, she put on her underwear under the sweater that reached almost to her knees. Afterward, she put on the white skirt with Lily flower patterns that Gerald had brought. The skirt reached her mid-calf, and the sweater she was wearing covered part of it.


    Ariana still had a towel wrapped around her head, as was her usual habit. When Gerald approached to remove it, she refused.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°Do you see my phone?¡± She asked. Gerald walked over to the nightstand drawer and handed Ariana the dead phone. ¡°The battery is dead,¡± sheined. Gerald handed her the charger.


    The time had passed five-fifteen. Ariana checked her phone for messages, especially from her restaurant group. She should have been on her way to the market at this early hour, preparing all the fresh ingredients she needed. However, ordering an online taxi in the early morning like this seemed impossible. As for asking Gerald for help, she felt embarrassed to do so. But it wouldn¡¯t hurt to try.


    Ariana cleared her throat, and Gerald looked at her. He was wearing his sports shorts again. ¡°Uh, I need to go to the market. I have to prepare ingredients for the restaurant,¡± she began. Gerald furrowed his brow.


    ¡°Can¡¯t your employees handle that? This is our first day as husband and wife. Even though I know everything is forced for you, isn¡¯t it hical for the bride to disappear during the first breakfast with the family?¡± Gerald asked. Ariana was caught off guard. ¡°I won¡¯t stop you from working. I¡¯m not an old-fashioned man. But there¡¯s an important matter we need to discuss. I hope you can set aside the restaurant for just today,¡± he requested, his tone gentle, making it hard for Ariana to refuse.


    Alright, just for today. Besides, she also had something to discuss with her estranged husband. ¡°Okay,¡± Ariana replied softly. ¡°But I need to contact my colleagues,¡± she added. Gerald nodded and left the room, giving Ariana some privacy.


    Not long after giving instructions to Jody, Ariana called Amber. However, before the call connected, Ariana felt something touch her shin. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± A small, handsome child¡¯s voice sounded. Ariana looked down and saw a sleepy-looking little boy gazing at her.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Amber finally answered her call.


    ¡°I¡¯ve given instructions to Jody. You go to the restaurant first, and I¡¯lle in the afternoon,¡± Ariana said without waiting for Amber¡¯s response. She hung up abruptly and turned her attention to the child in front of her. ¡°Who are you?¡± Ariana crouched down in front of the fair-skinned, ck-haired, green-eyed little boy and tried to examine him closely.


    ¡°Mommy¡­ I¡¯m Axel,¡± the child whimpered. ¡°Papa said Papa would bring Mommy home, so you¡¯re Mommy, right?¡± The child asked innocently.


    ¡®Papa? Gerald? So, he married a widower? Oh no, Ariana is trapped again.¡¯ Ariana¡¯s chest rumbled with anger.


    Meanwhile, outside the door, Gerald, who was surprised that Axel had disappeared from his room, was now observing the interaction between the two people inside the room. He could see the initial surprise and anger on the girl¡¯s face, but only for a moment. Perhaps she thought Gerald was tricking her. And she wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. Gerald didn¡¯t intend to deceive her, he was just too slowpared to Axel. He should have been the one to inform her about Axel¡¯s presence before the boy barged in and introduced himself.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Ariana asked softly. ¡°Axel, Mommy.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s okay, can Mommy know what Papa promised to Axel?¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, Papa said to Axel that he woulde back with Mommy for Axel,¡± Axel replied with the typical innocence of a young child. Ariana nodded in understanding. Gerald could see the anger on the girl¡¯s face, but she managed to regain control of herself.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry. Nanny¡­¡± Axel¡¯s babysitter came in flustered and looked scared. Gerald raised a hand to silence her.


    ¡°Axel¡­¡± Gerald called out as he opened the bedroom door wide.


    ¡°Papa!¡± Axel ran off, leaving Ariana, and hurled himself into Gerald¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°Papa was looking for you in the kitchen, but you weren¡¯t there. It turns out you were here,¡± Gerald said as he held Axel naturally.


    ¡°Earlier, Axel was with Nanny in the kitchen, but Nanny had a stomachache, so Axel went to Papa¡¯s room. Is this Axel¡¯s Mommy, Papa? Papa promised to bring Mommy for Axel, right?¡± Axel¡¯s head turned to look at Ariana before turning back to his father, as if waiting for an answer.


    Instead of giving an answer, Gerald returned Axel to his babysitter. ¡°Axel, go take a bath first, and after that, we¡¯ll have breakfast together,¡± Gerald instructed gently. The little boy nodded and then moved into the arms of his babysitter.


    Gerald closed the bedroom door and locked it from the inside. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he mumbled slowly.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s okay. epting one more trap isn¡¯t difficult for me. So, is there any other surprise I should know about apart from suddenly bing a wife and mother? Maybe I¡¯ll meet your ex-wife or other lovers?¡± She quipped with a sarcastic tone.


    ¡°No ex-wives or other lovers. Because this is my first marriage, and I n to make it myst,¡± Gerald replied bluntly, somehow getting under Ariana¡¯s skin. ¡°And I didn¡¯t trap you. I just lost to Axel,¡± he corrected.


    Ariana snorted. ¡°Well, me the clueless kid then,¡± she replied, still maintaining her sarcastic tone. Ariana chose to sit on the sofa, waiting for whatever her strange husband had to say next.

 Chap 13 : Axel Zeroun

    ¡°Axel is not my biological son.¡± Gerald¡¯s answer made Ariana look up. Her eyes looked at Gerald confusedly. ¡°I have a brother. His name is Axelo Darrel Zeroun. He is four years younger than me. One time, he got drunk and made love to a girl. He said she was his ssmate on campus.


    We thought it was just a one-night stand. You know the society of today¡¯s young people. But it turns out our guess was wrong. Darrel is really into that girl. He was willing to give everything to the girl.


    My father didn¡¯t ept it. He wanted Darrel to focus more on his studies and work at thepany.


    An unsanctioned love and typical youth rebellion. Darrel chose that woman over his family. This situation happened about five years ago. Darrel¡¯s age is the same as you are now.


    At that time, I didn¡¯t know. I am busy with my studies and work abroad. I didn¡¯t know about Darrel¡¯s rebellion because no one told me. And Darrel also changed into a more closed person at that time.


    Then, something happened. Father and my brother suddenly died in an ident. I returned from abroad and realized that the men in my family were gone, leaving only me. At that time, I still didn¡¯t know that Darrel had secretly married the woman he loved without our knowledge.


    After Darrel¡¯s funeral, I went back abroad with the intention of settling my affairs there before ultimately deciding to stay here and continue my father¡¯s business. About a year and a half after my return to Indonesia, the new resident of my condominium contacted me. He wanted to send me my old belongings that were still left in the condo. I epted the packages without opening any of them. Until about a year ago, I found it-a letter sent by Darrel to me.


    The will contained the revtion that he had married a woman he loved but wasn¡¯t approved by our father. It stirred something within me, and I started to investigate. However, the information I gathered revealed that the woman had passed away six months after Darrel¡¯s ident.


    I couldn¡¯t stop there. I asked my contacts to find out more about her, her family, and even small details about her life. I discovered the fact that she had given birth to Darrel¡¯s son, a boy who was heartlessly ced in an orphanage by her family.


    I tried to locate the child¡¯s whereabouts. My mother and grandmother were still unaware of his existence, and I didn¡¯t want to raise their hopes about a truth that hadn¡¯t been unveiled. Eventually, we found where the child had been left, but when we attempted to bring him with us, the family of Darrel¡¯ste wife took him from us. They imed that they couldn¡¯t afford to care for Darrel¡¯s child at that time.


    I attempted to regain custody of Axel, but legally, we lost. They were cunning, using Axel as a means to extort money from me. I didn¡¯t mind giving them anything they wanted, even Darrel¡¯s assets that rightfully belonged to Axel. But it turned out that all the money I provided didn¡¯t make them treat Axel kindly.


    I was furious, but my position was powerless. I was just a brother, and I wasn¡¯t even aware of their marriage or Axel¡¯s birth. Meanwhile, they were the grandparents who took care of Axel¡¯s mother during her pregnancy and childbirth.


    I could have reported them to the authorities, but the evidence was in their favor. In fact, I could only bring Axel to this house and legally adopt him if I had aplete family. Because a child should be under the protection of both his father and mother. Of course, loving and caring parents. That¡¯s why I intended to marry Karenina, your twin sister.


    I married her not out of love, but because of the win-win solution they offered. I would have a wife and mother for Axel in terms of status, while they would receive my money to support their business. I knew that Karenina wouldn¡¯t fully love Axel, and to me, it didn¡¯t matter. The love and care from my mother and grandmother felt sufficient to cover everything.


    They agreed. Brooks, his wife, and their child all agreed. I had already introduced Axel to Karenina and shared stories about his cute antics. She seemed to ept him back then, although I knew her eptance wasn¡¯t from the heart. Her eptance was more about what she would gain by marrying me.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Of course, with a limitless credit card and all theforts that came with bearing the Zeroun name, she couldn¡¯t refuse. I even knew that she had broken up with her boyfriend for this marriage. And right now, they might be on a date somewhere, thinking I¡¯m unaware of their whereabouts.¡±


    Ariana stared at Gerald with a disbelieving look. ¡°If you know where he is, why didn¡¯t you look for him and bring him here?¡± She asked with fiery anger in her tone. Ariana was clearly upset, feeling deceived once again by Gerald¡¯s actions. ¡°If you know where he is, you should be marrying him right now. Instead, you¡¯re forcing me to sign an unclear contract. You¡¯re kidnapping my father and dragging him here to be the unwanted guardian of a marriage I don¡¯t want.¡± She continued, not lowering her voice one bit, although Gerald didn¡¯t care if anyone outside heard them; after all, the room they were in was soundproof.


    ¡°Why should I bother bringing her back when I don¡¯t want her anymore?¡± Gerald¡¯s statement left Ariana stunned. ¡°I no longer want her after seeing your existence. If my marriage to Karenina was just a necessity to meet Axel¡¯s adoption requirements, then my marriage to you is not only for Axel¡¯s needs but for mine as well,¡± he casually stated.


    Ariana widened her eyes at Gerald, who was now wearing a lecherous smile. Her body shivered involuntarily. Her mind was reying what had happened between them not long ago.


    Oh God, her mind was now tainted with explicit thoughts because of him. Even her body, which had remained untouched, had been exposed to him. Aplete stranger who was now her husband. Aplete stranger she had met less than 24 hours ago but had already seen her in such an intimate state. Ariana was indeed a virgin in every sense, meaning her body had never been touched. She hadn¡¯t even kissed anyone before.


    But her eyes had clearly seen explicit things. Well, at 25 years old, she couldn¡¯t im to bepletely ignorant of such matters, even though she had never experienced them. However, earlier, she hade close to trying everything she had ever seen.


    ¡°Then, by marrying me, you can adopt Axel?¡± ¡°Yes and no,¡± Gerald answered casually.


    ¡°What do you mean by yes and no? After all of this, after all the coercion you¡¯ve subjected me to, the decision about Axel is still uncertain?¡± Ariana asked, once again with fiery passion.


    ¡°The decision lies with the Child Protection Agency. Do you think adoption is as simple as going to an orphanage, signing a paper, and the child bes ours? It¡¯s not that easy, my dear. They have to investigate the family¡¯s circumstances that want to adopt the child. Financially, whether they will provide well for the child. Harmoniously, whether they will ce the child in the right family. And otherparisons. I win financially, and we just need to show them that we¡¯re a harmonious family, then,¡± Gerald snapped his fingers, ¡°Axel will be under the Zeroun name.¡±

 Chap 14 : Axel Zeroun (2)

    Ariana sighed deeply. ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice, do I?¡± she asked, then shook her head. ¡°You really didn¡¯t give me a choice,¡± she said sharply. ¡°All the decisions are in your hands. That¡¯s the contract you¡¯ve given me. I just need to act like I love and care for the child, and vo, the child bes yours.¡± Ariana snorted. ¡°I can do it, help you. And in return, don¡¯t interfere with my personal life.¡± Ariana closed the folder and handed it back to Gerald.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked when he saw Ariana getting up.


    ¡°To fill my stomach. I don¡¯t want to die of hunger and make you a widower anytime soon,¡± she said casually and left the room.


    This was the first time Ariana had set foot outside the room. Yesterday, when she entered the house, she was unconscious. She wasn¡¯t even aware that she had been undressed by her husband. Now Ariana was left wondering where to go.


    She knew she was on the second floor. Her phone disyed a little past six o¡¯clock. Ariana decided to go downstairs. She would ask anyone she saw first for directions to the kitchen. And it turned out that the first person she encountered was the seniordy of the house, or so Ariana referred to her.


    ¡°Good morning, Grandma,¡± the woman who emerged from a door across the hall from Ariana¡¯s room greeted her warmly. Compared to yesterday when she was wearing formal attire and looked stiff, this morning the woman looked veryfortable in her house clothes. She wore a in silver kaftan with brocade at the neckline.


    ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Rosaline,¡± Ariana greeted with a t tone. She knew she had be a member of this household, but she had no intention of being overly friendly or getting close to its residents. She would maintain a polite but reserved demeanor.


    ¡°Just call me Grandma. Everyone in this house addresses me that way,¡± the woman replied, still in her friendly tone.


    This was a stark contrast to her arrogant attitude yesterday.


    The elderly woman extended her hand, as if asking Ariana to lean on her as they descended the wide marbleyered staircase. Everything about this house screamed ¡°luxury¡± and ¡°expensive.¡± ¡°Have you met my great-grandson?¡± the woman asked again. Ariana assumed it was just small talk.


    ¡°Yes, not too long ago,¡± Ariana replied honestly.


    ¡°I apologize for the difort you and your family have experienced. But I have no regrets about Gerald forcing you into this marriage,¡± the elderly woman said again. ¡°I just hope you can bring change to this family. Because in reality, this family just needs someone who can show them the right path,¡± she continued.


    ¡°If they need directions, why didn¡¯t they marry Gerald to apass? Or if they need different guidance, they could have married Gerald to a irvoyant or maybe a girl with a sixth sense,¡± Ariana monologued in her mind.


    They had arrived at the dining area, which was no less luxurious.


    ¡®Are they in a historical film with a British royal theme?¡¯ Again, Ariana monologued. The round table in front of her was filled with beautiful porcin that Ariana estimated to be worth a fortune. Ariana could even see a clean kitchen with a kitchen set worth hundreds of millions. It¡¯s a ce for people who love cooking like she wants to be.


    ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Axel¡¯s voice greeted them cheerfully. The boy threw himself at Ariana again. He was hugging Ariana¡¯s exposed calf. ¡°Axel has taken a shower. Axel smells good, too.¡± He roared, in a typical child¡¯s tone. Ariana couldn¡¯t help but smile, hypnotized by his cuteness. The boy who turned out to be an orphan now looked at her with a cheerful twinkle.


    ¡°Axel,e sit down. Let¡¯s have breakfast.¡± her great-grandmother ordered. Axel nodded; the boyplied and sat in the chair beside his grandmother.


    ¡°Mommy,e here. Sit with me. Don¡¯t be too far away.¡± the boy ordered and patted the empty chair beside him. Ariana just nodded. At the same time, Gerald appeared from the stairs along with his mother. The elegant woman who is now her mother-inw is also wearing a home-made dress, which is definitely from a well-known and expensive boutique.


    Ariana wasn¡¯t really a fashion observer, so she didn¡¯t know much about whether the clothes were foreign or local brands. What she did know was that the materials worn by her impromptu mother-inw were undoubtedly expensive.


    And on a morning like this, the woman had already done her makeup so perfectly. It was a distinctive style like that of a noblewoman. ¡°What time did this woman wake up? And how long did she take to do her makeup?¡± Ariana wondered silently in her mind.


    The round table seemed to be designed specifically for one family, as there were only five chairs surrounding it. Gerald sat to Ariana¡¯s right, which meant she was now sandwiched between her husband and her impromptu stepson. Meanwhile, her mother-inw sat to Gerald¡¯s right, which ced her on the left side of Mrs. Rosaline, the seniordy of the house.


    The servants prepared a meal that, in Ariana¡¯s opinion, was quite simple: fried rice, fried chicken, omelette, sd, toast, and grilled bread. Considering they could have had steak or lobster for breakfast, or perhaps even croissants ordered directly from Paris, Ariana couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the thought.


    ¡°Egg or sausage?¡± Ariana asked again.


    ¡°Both, please?¡± Axel responded, waiting for her approval. Ariana ced both on his te.


    ¡°Aa..¡± the boy smiled, revealing that the tendency to be demanding seemed to run in the family, from Oma, to Papa, and now to the son.


    Ariana cut the meat with her spoon, scooped up some rice, and fed Axel, who eagerly opened his mouth. That¡¯s how they had their breakfast, inadvertently sharing a single te, and even with extra portions.


    At 7 AM, Ariana was sitting on the sofa with Axel still clinging to her. She needed to leave for work, but it didn¡¯t seem feasible to take Axel with her.


    Not because she was afraid of questions from her employees, but she was also concerned that having the child at her workce might be inconvenient. After all, Ariana¡¯s job involved something dirty and hot, not a suitable environment for an active child like Axel to y.


    ¡°I have to go to the restaurant,¡± she said to Gerald, who was sitting casually with a tablet in his hand. Yes, it was Sunday, and like most people, it was her day off. Ariana noticed that the man didn¡¯t seem to have any ns to go anywhere, as their honeymoon was not on his agenda in the first ce, and if it were, Ariana would have firmly declined.


    ¡°Go ahead, just leave,¡± Gerald replied casually. Ariana rolled her eyes.


    ¡°If I could, I would have done it a while ago. But look,¡± Ariana nced at Axel, who was now clinging to her leg like a ko on a bamboo tree. ¡°Your child hasn¡¯t let go of me all this time.¡±


    Gerald smiled, then crouched down in front of his son. ¡°Axel, Mommy has to go to work. You¡¯ll stay at home with Auntie, okay?¡± Gerald requested gently.


    Axel shook his head slowly. ¡°It¡¯s Sunday, Papa. You don¡¯t work either. Why does Mommy have to work? Papa has lots of money, right? Can¡¯t Papa give some money to Mommy?¡± The boy whined again. Ariana rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Your Papa has a lot of money, right? Mommy¡¯s money is a little bit, so she still has to look for more,¡± Ariana replied casually. Gerald chuckled. It was a reasonable argument, he thought. Besides, even if your dad gives me some, I might not ept it, Ariana continued in her thoughts.


    ¡°Will I e with Mommy?¡± he asked yfully. Ariana red at Gerald.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go with Mommy to work,¡± he said with a yful tone. Instead of persuading Axel, he casually agreed to the idea.


    ¡®What the¡­ ¡® Ariana tried to hold back her curse. She could only re at Gerald. But Geraldpletely ignored her re.


    ¡°Besides, you didn¡¯t bring your car. I¡¯ll drop you off, and Axel cane back with meter,¡± he said again. Ariana thought for a moment. What the man said didn¡¯t seem to be a bad idea. Well, she¡¯d give in.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go. But Axel, don¡¯t be naughty. Mommy¡¯s workce is dangerous for kids. After dropping off Mommy, you¡¯ll go back home with Papa. Understand?¡± Axel simply nodded like a doll.


    Ariana got up and followed Gerald as he led her to the garage.

 Chap 15 : Tempting

    Gerald had neatly parked the car in front of Leonida¡¯s. However, it turned out that his promise was false because instead of returning home, he casually led Axel inside the restaurant.


    Ariana¡¯s employees, who were busy wiping tables and setting up utensils, were surprised by her presence. The attention of the staff was drawn to her because of her boss¡¯s somewhat elegant appearance in an oversized sweater and a knee-length skirt.


    She rarely wore skirts while working, except for asions that she considered plicated¡± and required her to wear such attire.


    ¡°Hey,st night, what happened?¡± Bryan, one of her waiters who was wiping sses in one corner of the restaurant, asked. ¡°Did you get possessed by something as a newlywed?¡± Ariana replied with a sly tone, making the young man unbelieving.


    ¡°Is Amber here?¡± Ariana ignored his astonishment.


    ¡°She¡¯s in the back with the boys,¡± he answered. ¡°But seriously, were you really possessed by a newlywed spirit, Miss?¡± He asked incredulously.


    Ariana ignored him, and someone yfully tapped Bryan¡¯s head from behind.


    ¡°Is your bodyguard not interested in introducing himself to us yet?¡± Bono, who had tapped Bryan¡¯s head, now nced significantly at Gerald, who was still standing casually behind Ariana, holding Axel, who was also in his care.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just go back? You said you were just dropping us off,¡± Ariana muttered as they climbed the stairs.


    ¡°Well, I thought it would be more convenient. Besides, don¡¯t you need to go to the apartment to get the car and change clothes?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there public transportation in this country? Besides, you could have asked Jody, Bryan, Bono, and many other employees for a ride. You didn¡¯t have to wait for me,¡± Ariana said as she opened the door to her office, allowing Gerald and Axel to enter first.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s no big deal. I thought I¡¯d take the opportunity to see my wife¡¯s workce,¡± Gerald replied casually. He stood tall in the middle of the room, silently observing.


    ¡°By the way, I actuallye here often, you know,¡± he added. Ariana raised an eyebrow, unsure about her foreign husband¡¯s statement.


    ¡°Really? You can check my booking tracklist. There should be records of it, right?¡± Ariana shrugged.


    ¡°Axel, Mommy has to work now. You and Papa stay here for a while, okay?¡± Ariana then turned on the t-screen TV mounted on one of the walls, integrated into a bookshelf.


    ¡°If Axel wants to sleep, there¡¯s a bedroom over there. The bathroom is inside. If Axel wants a drink, there¡¯s a refrigerator over there.¡± She actually directed this information to Gerald, but she didn¡¯t want to speak directly to her foreign husband.


    ¡°Does Axel understand what Mommy just said?¡± The boy nodded. Ariana gently patted his head, and for the first time, she kissed his head, surprising both Gerald and Axel. It was a natural disy of affection that warmed her heart.


    Ariana went into the room she had mentioned earlier, locking it from the inside. Shortly after, she emerged wearing jeans and a navy blue long-sleeved shirt with a ck checkered pattern, with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. She tucked the bottom of the shirt into her pants, revealing her t stomach and shapely buttocks, which caught Gerald¡¯s attention.


    Gerald walked over. ¡°You don¡¯t mean to tease, right?¡± Ariana, who was tying her hair, stopped her movements-surprised because suddenly Gerald was standing towering in front of him.


    ¡°W-what do you mean?¡± Ariana moved backwards in an attempt to save herself from Gerald. But the man turned forward. ¡°Are you wearing your jeans on purpose to show off your sexy butt?¡± The man pointed at the thing he was talking about with his eyes.


    ¡°Your shirt.¡± The man pulled the cor of Ariana¡¯s unbuttoned shirt with his hand. ¡°You deliberately stuck out your chest?¡± He asked as he let go of her in an annoyed manner. Ariana looked down; there was nothing wrong with her shirt. He deliberately unbuttoned the top button of her shirt, but underneath, she was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt that fit perfectly. Even the T-shirt didn¡¯t show her corbone.


    ¡°And this.¡± This time, Gerald grabbed a lock of hair that fell to the side of her face. ¡°You purposely tied your hair up to show people you have a long neck, right?¡±


    Ariana red at him. She then pped the man¡¯s hand away. ¡°Are you crazy? You¡¯re saying that whatever I wear, I wear it on purpose to tempt you? You¡¯re crazy.¡± Ariana walked away from the man, deliberately bumping her side against him. But with lightning speed, the man grabbed her waist and turned her around. She was pushing Ariana¡¯s body slightly until her body hit the wall.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Ariana wanted to ask out loud, but seeing Axel was there, the question only came out in a hiss.


    ¡°Change your clothes, now!¡± the man ordered. His hands were still on Ariana¡¯s waist.


    ¡°Gerald, this is the mostfortable attire I can wear for work. What do you expect me to work in? A gown? An astronaut suit?¡± Ariana tried to push Gerald¡¯s body away, but her considerable strength didn¡¯t budge him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like seeing you in outfits like this,¡± Gerald muttered. His face was so close that Ariana could even catch a whiff of the coffee he had been drinking earlier.


    Getting tired of trying to push Gerald away as he still maintained his position, Ariana eventually chose to lean back casually and fold her arms in front of her chest. She tilted her head and looked at her foreign husband challengingly.


    ¡°Gerald! Do you know that what you¡¯re doing doesn¡¯t make any sense?¡±


    Gerald ced his left hand on Ariana¡¯s right side, while his right hand reached up to y with Ariana¡¯s hair. ¡°This is not something that doesn¡¯t make sense, my dear. But it¡¯s the most sensible thing I¡¯ve ever said to my partner.¡± He touched the side of Ariana¡¯s neck with the back of his index finger. ¡°You don¡¯t know what¡¯s inside a man¡¯s mind, even if the woman is wearing modest clothing.¡±


    ¡°In that case, my dear.¡± Ariana yfully touched her index finger to Gerald¡¯s chest. ¡°If you have a problem with my style of clothing, you should have married a nun yesterday, not me.¡± Ariana smiled sardonically. ¡°You should have married a religious girl who covers her entire body and is even willing to wear a veil. Unfortunately, that¡¯s not me. Do you want a divorce now? I don¡¯t mind.¡± Ariana smiled with a sardonic yet teasing expression in her eyes.


    Gerald shook his head. ¡°Of course, that¡¯s not going to happen, my dear. There will never be a divorce between us. Ever.¡± He subtly threatened. ¡°And I have another way. Aki can protect you and keep you at home, not allowing any man to see you. Except for me and Axel, of course.¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy, my dear?¡± Ariana muttered in frustration.


    ¡°Yes. It hasn¡¯t even been two days since I met you, and you¡¯ve already driven me crazy, my dear,¡± Gerald said with a sweet smile that could undoubtedly melt any other woman¡¯s heart.


    Frustrated. Ariana was about to headbutt the man¡¯s sacred object with her knee. But she lost quickly. Gerald was already holding Ariana¡¯s legs with his feet. Ariana red. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare hurt my ¡®little brother¡¯, darling. He¡¯s a sacred object that will make you moan in pleasure.¡± Gerald whispered in Ariana¡¯s ear in a seductive tone. His hand that had been on the wall was now rubbing her waist. ¡°Why do you smell this good, darling.¡± Gerald rubbed his nose on Ariana¡¯s neck. It made him tingle and feel a strange vibration at the same time.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.

 Chap 16 : Axel, Dear..

    Ariana groaned. ¡°Let me remind you, dear Mr. Gerald. In case you forgot, I¡¯ve already showered. So, of course, I smell good.¡± Ariana tried to keep her voice regr, even though she wanted to sigh, especially now that Gerald¡¯s lips teased her. Kissing the side of his neck and behind his ear. If only the man¡¯s legs weren¡¯t holding him back. Maybe Ariana had fallen on the floor because her knees suddenly felt weak.


    ¡°You said¡­ Oh My God Ariana!¡± Amber¡¯s screams rang through the room. She, who had suddenly opened the door, was shocked by the condition of Ariana and a man who was stuck together, pressed against the wall like lizards mating. Ariana tried to push Gerald, but the man still didn¡¯t move where he was. Maintaining their position makes people think they are being perverted.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± The question just came out of Axel. The three adults forgot about Axel¡¯s presence, who had been swallowed by the back of the sofa. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Mom and Dad?¡± His green eyes looked at Gerald and Ariana alternately. Gerald was also surprised. He moved away from Ariana and approached Axel.


    ¡°Mom? Dad?¡± Amber stared at Ariana, her eyes filled with questions. ¡®Who is he, and why is he calling you Mom?¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯ll exinter,¡± Ariana replied tly. She straightened her clothes and hair, which were perfectly fine. Then she walked closer to Axel. ¡°Axel, Mommy has to work now, okay? Don¡¯t be naughty. Try to put Papa to sleep if you can.¡± Ariana patted Axel¡¯s head, and he nodded in response. She then gave him a quick kiss on his head. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for Mommy, Mommy will be downstairs.¡± Once again, Axel nodded.


    Ariana then walked away from them. When she reached the door, Gerald called her. Reluctantly, Ariana turned. The man blew her a kiss from afar. Ariana was taken aback. She was surprised by his flirtatious behavior, something she had never expected. As she realized what had just happened, she shuddered and left, closing the door quite forcefully behind her.


    ¡°So? Who¡¯s that guy, and who¡¯s the kid? Why did he suddenly call you Mom? You were gone for less than 24 hours, Ana. It¡¯s not possible to get pregnant and give birth in a day, is it? I mean, even growing chili peppers takes time. How can a child be born and grow that big overnight?¡± Amber ranted as they made their way to the kitchen.


    ¡°Stop for now, Amber. Let¡¯s work first. We can continue this conversationter,¡± Ariana said, walking toward the kitchen supplies cab. She put on an apron and a headband before heading to the messy kitchen. ¡°How¡¯s it going? Have you finished everything?¡± She asked the employees who were cleaning the ingredients.


    ¡°Where were you? Heard a handsome guy was looking for you. Where is he?¡± Shelin, another woman working for her, besides Amber and Dara, now nced at her teasingly.


    ¡°Was it Bryan who said that?¡± Ariana asked. Shelin shook her head. She nodded her head toward Jody. ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°I was walking behind you earlier. Just got back from buying spices.¡± Jody replied with his sly smile. ¡°No wonder you got a call out of the blue this morning. Turns out there¡¯s a kid and a man asking to be taken in, huh?¡± He teased again.


    ¡°Shut up, Jod. Work, just work. Don¡¯t gossip about my life,¡± Ariana pped her hand over the guy¡¯s mouth. She then grabbed a knife and prepared to clean the onions.


    The employees were ready with their respective tasks, and so was Ariana. Amidst chatting and jokes, time flew by, and unexpectedly, the clock showed it was already eleven o¡¯clock.


    Jody had chalk in his hand, ready to write the menu on the announcement board outside the door. Amber had checked the lunch bookings and was prepared to mark the tables ording to the order and the customer¡¯s names.


    The Dutch door leading to the kitchen swung open. Ariana turned and saw little Axel entering. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± the child whined and approached her. The employees in the kitchen turned simultaneously. Their eyes widened in surprise when they saw Axeling in. The handsome boy¡¯s gaze was fixed on Ariana. ¡°Axel is hungry.¡±


    Ariana approached the child. ¡°Does Axel want to eat now? What do you want to eat, Sweetie?¡± ¡°Axel wants chicken,¡± he replied. Ariana furrowed her brow.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have fried chicken here, Sweetie. Mommy will make lunch first, okay? Does Axel like meatball soup?¡± she asked. Axel looked at her confused. ¡°Mommy will make soup. It has round pieces of meat in it. Would you like that?¡± she asked. Axel just nodded, although Ariana was sure the boy didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Can Axel go to Papa first?¡± she asked, and the boy nodded again.


    Today¡¯s lunch menu happened to include pasta with meatballs. So, Ariana didn¡¯t have too much trouble making soup for her sudden father-and-son guests.


    She grabbed the vegetables and prepared to chop them into the right size. She boiled water in a medium-sized pot and got her vegetables ready. She also made egg rolls to go with the meal. The delightful aroma filled the kitchen. ¡°Why are you making so little? We want some too,¡± Jody said, returning from putting up the announcement board. He was ready, wearing his apron and preparing to cook for their guests. And coincidentally, their first visitor had arrived.


    ¡°I¡¯m not making this for you. If you want, make it yourself,¡± she grumbled. Ariana transferred rice into arge bowl, put the soup in another, and ced the eggs on a te. The tray already held empty bowls for eating and other utensils. ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs. Take care of the customers.¡± She excused herself to Jody.


    Amber and Dara, seeing Ariana carrying the tray, teased her. ¡°A, for what reason are you being so attentive, Ariana?¡± ¡°For love, of course, Mba. Can¡¯t be for money,¡± Dara responded, joining in on Amber¡¯s teasing.


    ¡°Stop being nosy, or I¡¯ll cut your sries,¡± Ariana reprimanded. Instead of being quiet, they just giggled.


    Ariana reached the upper floor. Without knocking, she gently opened the wooden door. The two men of different ages turned their heads simultaneously. They were sitting, embracing each other behind Ariana¡¯s desk. ¡°What are you two doing?¡± she asked, more directed at Gerald.


    ¡°Papa said he wanted to check on Mommy,¡± Axel replied innocently. ¡°Look at the pretty pictures of Mommy.¡± Axel pointed at theptop screen with his small finger. Ariana widened her eyes. She ced the tray on the table and quickly walked over to her desk.


    ¡°You, really. This is a privacy vition,¡± Ariana immediately grabbed herptop and promptly closed it.


    ¡°What a vition of privacy. My people have seen more than that.¡± Gerald¡¯s head went up and down. His eyes scanned Ariana¡¯s body from top to bottom. The man then seductively rubbed his lips. Ariana ignored him. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s your own fault. Why wasn¡¯t yourptop locked?¡± Gerald said as he got up from his seat and walked towards Ariana. The man was standing behind Ariana. His nose smelled Ariana¡¯s body. ¡°Your scent makes me even hungrier.¡± He whispered in Ariana¡¯s ear. Ariana elbowed the man in the stomach before stepping away. Geraldined softly, but Ariana ignored him.


    ¡°What is this, Mommy?¡± Axel asked the bowl in front of him.


    ¡°That¡¯s soup, darling.¡±


    ¡°What is the green and orange one, Mommy?¡±


    Ariana sat on the long sofa and patted the side. Ask Axel to sit there. ¡°The light green ones are cabbage leaves; the orange ones are carrots. The pale yellow ones are potatoes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like that, Mommy,¡± Axel whined, pouting.


    Ariana felt her eyebrows twitch. She didn¡¯t understand children¡¯s preferences at all, and she knew she couldn¡¯t force him. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t Axel like them?¡± The child shook his head. ¡°Has Axel tried them before?¡± The child shook his head again. ¡°Axel, honey,¡± Ariana gently stroked the child¡¯s head. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t say you don¡¯t like something if you haven¡¯t tried it, if you haven¡¯t experienced it. That¡¯s not right, Sweetie.¡± The child looked up at her, seeming afraid of her scolding. His face was already teary.


    Ariana remembered that the child had received mistreatment from histe mother¡¯s family. Although Ariana didn¡¯t know the exact nature of the mistreatment, it was clear that it had eroded the child¡¯s self-confidence.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Ariana picked up an empty bowl and poured some soup into it. ¡°What would Axel like to eat? This round thing here is called meatball, in Indonesian, it¡¯s called ¡®bakso.¡¯ Mommy made it from beef. Want to give it a try?¡±


    Axel nodded. Ariana cut the meatball in half, revealing the fibers of the beef. She scooped it up with some broth and fed it to Axel. The child opened his mouth and chewed. ¡°Is it good?¡± she asked. Axel nodded. ¡°Now, try the carrot. Just a bite. If you don¡¯t like it, you can spit it out here.¡± Ariana grabbed a tissue and ced it on Axel¡¯sp. The child looked fearfully at the square piece of carrot on the spoon. However, when Ariana brought the spoon closer, he opened his mouth.


    One chew, and the child didn¡¯t spit it out. ¡°How does it taste?¡±


    ¡°Sweet.¡± A pleased nod came from Axel. Ariana then took a small piece of cabbage leaf and fed it to Axel, followed by a diced potato. As a result, after two rounds of refilling his rice, there was nothing left in Axel¡¯s bowl. Meanwhile, Gerald just observed the interaction between Ariana and Axel. So, where was the cold girl he had witnessed yesterday, disying her icy demeanor to everyone? He wondered silently.

 Chap 17 : Sleep

    Ariana nced at the tables in the lower part of her restaurant. It was a little past twelve. The tables downstairs were almostpletely filled with customers. A sense of pride crept into her heart. Even though her venture had only been established in thest two years, seeing the increasing enthusiasm of the visitors day by day, Ariana felt immensely grateful.


    Considering the two years prior, Ariana couldn¡¯t believe that everything hade this far. It hadn¡¯t been without challenges. Frankly, Ariana herself had been quite pessimistic at the beginning. But with the support of her mother, who guided her and directed the business with her own personal experiences, Leonida¡¯s had be what it was now.


    What Ariana liked most about working in the kitchen was seeing the happy smiles on people¡¯s faces as they ate her food. Of course, Ariana didn¡¯t lie when she admitted she enjoyed thepliments thrown her way and her team¡¯s way. Among all of this, working in the kitchen made Ariana feel like she was part of arge family.


    It didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t happy with her family at home. Not at all. In fact, her father¡¯s marriage to Mom Hestia was something Ariana was most grateful for to this day. She could feel the genuine love, even if it wasn¡¯t from her biological mother. And as a bonus, Ariana had younger siblings who were kind and very dear to her heart.


    And her father had be much more positive since his marriage to Mom Hestia. God is indeed good. He provides good partners for good people.


    Ariana turned around, then looked at her impromptu husband. ¡®Is this what they call fate?¡¯ she mused inwardly. Ariana knew she wasn¡¯t a good person. What good person hates their own mother and sibling? But that didn¡¯t mean she had to end up with a bad man too, right? Ariana could only sigh deeply.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    She noticed Axel seemed dozy in his seat. She then nced at Gerald, who appeared reluctant to get up from the couch. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to take Axel home?¡± she asked, puzzled. Why was the man so oblivious to his own child? Well, even though he wasn¡¯t his biological child, Axel still shared his genes.


    Gerald lifted his head from his phone. ¡°Axel, do you want to go home?¡± he asked the boy. Axel looked back at his father and shook his head. ¡°See. It¡¯s not me who doesn¡¯t want to take him home. It¡¯s him who doesn¡¯t want to go,¡± Gerald replied casually, returning his gaze to his phone. Meanwhile, Ariana observed that Axel really seemed quite exhausted.


    ¡°Is it his naptime?¡± she inquired, moving closer. ¡°Does he usually take a nap at this hour?¡± she asked again, sitting beside Axel and gently stroking the child¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Gerald replied without lifting his gaze. Ariana felt her irritation rise. ¡°What kind of answer is that? Seriously, you don¡¯t know?¡± Ariana scoffed.


    ¡°My wife, darling. In case you¡¯ve forgotten. Axel¡¯s been taken care of by a babysitter. If you want to know about his daily activities, ask the babysitter. My job has been to earn money out there,¡± Gerald replied casually.


    Ariana couldn¡¯t help but sneer. ¡°What kind of father are you?¡± she muttered. ¡°A sudden father,¡± she added.


    Ariana ignored Gerald. She turned to Axel. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the room. It¡¯s nap time.¡± she said, inviting him. The boy nodded and got off the couch. Ariana guided him into the room. But when she tried to close the door, she was blocked by Gerald, who had apparently followed them from behind. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ariana asked sharply.


    ¡°Nap time,¡± Gerald replied casually. He preceded Ariana and Axel into the room, throwing himself onto the medium-sized bed as if it were his own.


    ¡°So, you want to sleep with Axel?¡± she asked, her brows furrowing. The bed was only big enough for two people. Typically, Ariana and Amber slept together if they were toozy to go home. And now, just seeing Gerald lying there, Ariana felt suffocated. ¡°Axel, sweetie, sleep with Papa, okay?¡± she coaxed Axel. Axel just looked back and forth between his parents.


    ¡°Who said I want to sleep with Axel?¡± Gerald countered.


    ¡°Then why are you lying there?¡±


    ¡°I want to be groomed by you. Right, Axel?¡± Gerald gave his son a conspiratorial wink. The man patted the bed and waved his hand at Axel. Axel half-ran into bed. The two men slept on their backs on Ariana¡¯s queen-size bed.


    ¡°Come on, Mommy. Come here. Let¡¯s take a nap.¡± Invite Axel with his adorable face. Ariana could only take a deep breath before finally climbing into bed. Ariana¡¯s suspicion was correct. It feels cramped. Theyy down with Axel in the middle; Ariana was forced to sleep sideways, almost at the edge of the bed.


    ¡°Axel, do you like it?¡± Gerald asked the man¡¯s body turned sideways. Supports his head with his right hand. Axel looked at his father, giving him a confused look. ¡°Does Axel like having Mommy?¡± The boy turned to look at Ariana and then nodded. ¡°What does Axel like about Mom?¡± he asked again.


    ¡°Mommy is pretty,¡± he praised sincerely. ¡°Mommy is also kind. I really likes Mommy a lot,¡± he replied enthusiastically.


    Gerald nodded. ¡°In that case, give Papa a kiss. After all, Papa gave Axel a pretty and kind Mommy.¡± Gerald asked in a yful manner. Ariana herself felt disgusted watching it. Axel then kissed Gerald¡¯s right cheek. ¡°One more, so it¡¯s not lopsided.¡± He pointed to his left cheek with his index finger. Axel obeyed and kissed his father¡¯s left cheek. ¡°Mommy¡¯s jealous, it seems. She also wants Axel to kiss her.¡± Axel then turned to look at Ariana and kissed her left and right cheeks alternately. Ariana found it amusing; she chuckled because of it.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Hurry and sleep. Mommy still has to go downstairs,¡± Ariana said.


    ¡°Why go downstairs? There are employees working there,¡± Gerald retorted. Ariana stared at him over Axel¡¯s head. ¡°Then why do you bother going to the office? You have plenty of employees there too,¡± Ariana retorted. ¡°Who¡¯s going to the office? I¡¯m right here.¡± Gerald replied.


    Ariana was toozy to respond. Instead, she chose to look at Axel, who didn¡¯t seem to care about themotion the adults in the room were making. The boy was utterly helpless. It didn¡¯t take long for him to sleep Unintentionally, drowsiness crept over Ariana, and she too sumbed to sleep, embracing the young boy in front of her.


    Ariana jolted awake in surprise when she realized she had also fallen asleep. Oh God, she rarely took naps. She attempted to get up but felt something constricting her stomach and legs. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she hissed when Gerald¡¯s grip tightened around her waist, and his head drew closer to her neck.


    ¡°Sleep.¡± whispered the man.


    ¡°I know you didn¡¯t sleep.¡± Ariana was still hissing. He didn¡¯t want to wake Axel. Her hands kept trying to get Gerald¡¯s hands off. But in vain. ¡°Gerald, I¡¯mte for midday.¡± Ariana was starting to get impatient.


    ¡°I have to get back to work,¡± Ariana continued to insist. Gerald slightly moved his body back, giving a bit of space for Ariana to move. However, his hands remained tightly wrapped around Ariana¡¯s waist. With a teasing look, he propped his head on his palm and tried to kiss Ariana. ¡°Give me one kiss,¡± he requested, moving his lips closer.


    Ariana widened her eyes. Instead of fulfilling Gerald¡¯s request, she pushed his body away forcefully until he fell to the floor.


    Quickly, Ariana got up. ¡°Your wish!¡± she snorted, then walked towards the bathroom.


    Rather than getting angry, Gerald chuckled on the thick carpeted floor. Ariana, his wife, was indeed unique. Just this morning, she boldly gave Gerald a small kiss. Maybe Gerald should satisfy her first so she¡¯d be willing to give him another kiss?


    Gerald watched as the bathroom door opened again. After sshing water on her face, Ariana looked more refreshed. Gerald¡¯s mind drifted back to the moments just before their wedding took ce.

 Chap 18 : Flashback

    A few moments before the wedding, Gerald purposely approached Ariana¡¯s father, his future father-inw, for a private conversation.


    ¡°I may not be a high-ss entrepreneur like you, Gerald,¡± the middle-aged man said. ¡°In fact, my business is nothingpared to what you have now. I wasn¡¯t surprised when Gerald chose to marry Karenina. My daughter, unlike Ariana, was raised differently. Karenina is clearly more suitable to be the wife of someone like you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m also sure that finding someone like Karenina wouldn¡¯t be difficult, considering the connections you have. So, I¡¯m puzzled myself, why is Gerald forcing Ariana to rece Karenina?¡± Bradley¡¯s face showed curiosity as he looked at Gerald.


    ¡°Because it¡¯s his duty as an older brother to help his sister and his mother,¡± Gerald replied tly.


    Bradley shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m a father. I¡¯m a businessman, just like Gerald. Although I¡¯m not as wealthy and smart as Gerald. But I know, that¡¯s not Gerald¡¯s goal with this marriage.¡±


    Gerald fell silent, staring sharply at the man in front of him. ¡°Whatever is happening right now, Ariana doesn¡¯t have the means to challenge it because I¡¯m the sacrificialmb here. But I¡¯m sure, sooner orter, she will start her rebellion. I just hope for the best for both of you.¡±


    My advice is to start something with good intentions. Dedicate this marriage as an act of worship. Whatever your initial motives might be, I hope, Gerald, that you can take good care of Ariana. She¡¯s my beloved daughter. She lost her mother¡¯s love when she was just a child, and at the same time, she had to take care of her father, who was depressed and helpless. She might seem strong on the outside. But do you know that strong shell is built to protect something fragile inside?Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    If you can¡¯t treat her well, then I hope you won¡¯t try to hurt her.¡±


    Gerald shook his head. ¡°If I¡¯ve given you the wrong impression, I apologize. But since I decided to make Ariana my wife, I have firmly resolved in my heart that I will not let her go. Just like her, my heart has been wounded. As someone who has felt the same pain, I could never intentionally do something that would hurt her.¡±


    That¡¯s why I asked to speak with you. It might sound inappropriate, but I, Gerald Zeroun, hereby seek your blessing as Ariana¡¯s father. Would you be willing to give me the chance to be the best man for your daughter?¡±


    Gerald¡¯s statement ending with a question mark clearly startled Bradley Brooks. Initially, he assumed Gerald would be arrogant, much like Oliver and his ex-wife Caitlyn. At first, he suspected this marriage was just a facade because his other daughter, Karenina, was absent. But Bradley seemed to be wrong. His assumptions were way off.


    He smiled, feeling a sense of calm, though not entirely peaceful, in his heart. He tried to picture his daughter¡¯s future with the young man in front of him. Hopefully, his prayer for his daughter¡¯s happiness would soon be granted.


    ¡°With pleasure, I ept your proposal. May you truly bring joy and capture my daughter¡¯s heart.¡±


    And at that moment, the door swung open, and the homeowner entered, instructing them to leave.


    FLASHBACK OFF


    ¡°The wardrobe door closing sound brought Gerald back to his senses from his reverie. Gerald saw his wife nowbing her slightly damp hair with her fingers. Applying moisturizer to her face before getting up.


    ¡°I¡¯m going back downstairs. Take care of Axel.¡± She instructed softly. Snapped out of his daydream, Gerald rose and quickly caught the bedroom door before Ariana could open it.


    ¡°Where are you going, Honey?¡± He asked from behind Ariana.


    ¡°I have to work.¡± She whispered. She didn¡¯t want to respond to Gerald¡¯s question with a shout, even though that¡¯s what she desired. Ariana still held the doorknob, but the man stood his ground. Holding her back.


    ¡°Are you going to work when your husband is here?¡± Gerald approached. His head was right next to Ariana¡¯s right, and his left hand started to move tightly on Ariana¡¯s stomach. Pressing it so her back touched his chest.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you toe here,¡± Ariana hissed. She swatted away Gerald¡¯s left hand and turned around instantly, leaning her back against the wall. Her eyes lifted, looking at Gerald cynically. ¡°You came here on your own invitation,¡± Ariana¡¯s finger pressed into Gerald¡¯s left chest. The man remained undisturbed. ¡°Even though you know I came here to work. Besides, you know that Axel will be taken care of. But you intentionally handed him over to me,¡± Ariana grumbled with irritation.


    Gerald smirked. ¡°I just wanted him to be closer to his Mommy,¡± he replied.


    ¡°But I¡¯m not his Mommy. And I don¡¯t want to be his Mommy,¡± Ariana refused. ¡°From the beginning, this marriage was not my choice. I didn¡¯t even want you to be my husband. And you all manipted me, using my father as leverage so I would rece my sister who is now nowhere to be found.¡±


    ¡°Who said I don¡¯t know where she is?¡± Gerald asked softly. Ariana had heard this before. But hearing him say it again made her furious. She pushed Gerald with all her might, sending him two steps back.


    ¡°You!¡± she hissed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what your purpose is in manipting this marriage! I don¡¯t know the underlying reason for all of this, and I don¡¯t want to know. To me, you and my mother and my sister are all the same. You¡¯re all heartless. You treat people like us, the lowly ones, as if we¡¯re toys.¡±


    ¡°You knew where she was all along, but you did nothing!¡± Ariana used, still trying to keep her voice down so they wouldn¡¯t wake up Axel. ¡°I won¡¯t ask why you didn¡¯t bring her back. But let me tell you one thing. Just because I¡¯ve been soft until now doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll always be like this. I still can¡¯t ept it when you kidnapped my father and made me the ransom. I still can¡¯t ept that I had to rece my twin sister there. Do you think I don¡¯t have any desires? Do you think I don¡¯t have the right to have any dreams? Do you think my existence is just a sacrifice for my mother¡¯s greed and your cunning schemes? I¡¯m silent not because I ept all of this,¡± she said, each wordden with a growl.


    ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Axel looked at Ariana with sleepy eyes. The child was sitting on the bed, rubbing his eyes with one hand.


    ¡°And him,¡± she pointed at Axel. ¡°He¡¯s your child, not mine. He should have been Karenina¡¯s responsibility. Take care of him! Because he¡¯s not my burden!¡± Ariana flung the door open and mmed it shut.


    She didn¡¯t care if Axel cried in fear because of her actions. She had no obligation to take care of either of them. She wasn¡¯t the child¡¯s mother, and she should never have been his stepmother. And she had never intended to be her father¡¯s wife either.


    If only¡­ Ariana stormed down, her anger fueling her steps. She ignored Jody¡¯s attempts to talk to her. All of this was because of Karenina. Her mother and that despicable man. And also because of Gerald. All of it was because of these money and power-hungry people.


    Ariana kept walking, aimlessly. The anger surged in her head. Her chest pounded so fast that Ariana found it hard to breathe.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± The word echoed in her head repeatedly.


    Ariana. Her mother. Her stepfather. Gerald. All these people seemed to have a talent for making her life ufortable. What was it with them? Was making people¡¯s lives miserable their hobby?


    Ariana ran her hand through her hair in frustration. Simultaneously, her stomach twinged painfully. She had only served food to those two strangers without eating anything herself. Now, she was the one feeling hungry.


    A motorcycle suddenly pulled up next to her. Ariana almost cursed at the rider with the full-face helmet. If only he didn¡¯t lift his visor and sh his familiar grin. A grin she hadn¡¯t seen in a long time.


    ¡°Chris?!¡± Ariana eximed. The man responded with a wink, his eye visible through the opening of his helmet.

 Chap 19 : Chris

    The tall and slim man dismounted his motorcycle, cing his helmet on the mirror and greeted Ariana warmly. ¡°Hello, chubby. Est-ce que je te manque? (Do you miss me?)¡±


    ¡°Bien s?r!¡± (Of course!), Ariana eximed, throwing herself at the man in front of her. ¡°The longer you¡¯re away, the more fluent you be and you look like a stranger.¡± Ariana raised her head and looked at Chris with admiration. She then rubbed both sides of Chris¡¯s arms, d in a leather jacket, and eximed, ¡°Oh, look at your muscles. It seems like they¡¯re getting bigger as you get older.¡± She teased him.


    Chris just nudged Ariana¡¯s head yfully. ¡°Watch your words,¡± he said. Ariana just chuckled.


    Folding her arms in front of her chest, Ariana looked at Chris scrutinizingly. ¡°When did youe back? Why are you here? Are you nning to leave again?¡± she interrogated. Chris sat on his motorcycle seat, looking back at Ariana with his arms folded in front of him as well.


    ¡°I just got back, and you¡¯re already asking when I¡¯m leaving again?¡± Chris frowned, clearly not pleased.


    Ariana sat down next to the man, nudging his shoulder with hers. ¡°Oh,e on, little Chris. You¡¯re all grown up now. Can¡¯t believe you¡¯re still sulking. What would the French girls think?¡±


    Chris nced at Ariana. ¡°For your information, Honey. I¡¯m older than you.¡± Chris stretched out his five fingers. Ariana simply nodded her head. ¡°And besides, I¡¯m not really interested in the girls there. I prefer you, you know,¡± he replied, sounding nonchnt. Ariana burst outughing upon hearing his response. Without warning, her stomach growled loudly. This caught Chris¡¯s attention. ¡°It¡¯s past two, and you look like you¡¯re starving. Is your restaurant so busy that the owner doesn¡¯t even have time to eat?¡± he teased. Hearing the word ¡°restaurant,¡± Ariana was reminded of the two people in her room.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯m really hungry,¡± she replied honestly, reflexively rubbing her stomach. ¡°So, how about we eat something that can make me full for centuries?¡± she offered. Chris looked startled but then nodded. ¡°But you¡¯re paying. I forgot to bring my wallet.¡± Ariana reached into her jeans pocket. She didn¡¯t have a penny on her. Not even her phone.


    Chris stood up. ¡°Alright. Next time, I¡¯ll ask you to pay,¡± he said. Ariana nodded enthusiastically. She sat on therge motorcycle, even before the driver got on. Chris chuckled, putting on his helmet before getting on his bike, and they rode off, cutting through the city streets.


    ¡°How are your parents?¡± They were at one of the eateries Ariana had frequented since high school.


    ¡°They¡¯re good. Dad¡¯s business is progressing. Mom¡¯s business is mostly handled by employees now. She only focuses on financial reports and supplier management,¡± Ariana said, taking arge bite out of her burger. ¡°What about you? When did youe back?¡±


    ¡°I got here two days ago. Just dealing with jetg. Then had to sort out my living arrangements and the stuff I brought, so I could only meet you today. I went to the restaurant, looking for you. But your loyal employee, Jody, said you were out. He mentioned something about ¡®devil mode¡¯,¡± Chris exined.


    Ariana chuckled. She had even ignored her faithful employee earlier. She would have to apologizeter. ¡°So, what are your ns for the future?¡±


    ¡°I want to scout locations. Opening a French restaurant here seems promising,¡± Chris answered seriously.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Ariana nodded. ¡°For people from your circle. It will definitely work.¡± Chris squinted his eyes. He really didn¡¯t like it when Ariana brought up their social status. ¡°But what about your parents? Did they approve? And thepany?¡±


    ¡°Whether they like it or not, they have to approve. Besides, there¡¯s Daffin helping them all this time,¡± Ariana replied.


    ¡°You and Daffin, still at odds?¡± Ariana asked. Chris shrugged. They continued eating, catching up on the years they had missed due to the distance between them.


    Meanwhile, at Ariana¡¯s restaurant, Gerald continued to wait. It was already four o¡¯clock, and Ariana still hadn¡¯t returned. Her employees had started preparing ingredients for dinner, but there was no sign of her.


    Worried? Definitely, Gerald was worried. Especially since Ariana had left without taking anything with her ¨C no wallet, no phone. Where could she have gone? Even if she was angry, Ariana shouldn¡¯t have been this reckless. Gerald nced at her phone and wallet on the desk, untouched.


    ¡°Papa, where¡¯s Mommy?¡± Axel asked, the umpteenth time since he woke up. ¡°Mommy went out, Axel. She has some work,¡± Gerald repeated the same answer.


    They sat in front of the television, but Gerald wasn¡¯t paying attention to the TV at all. Axel seemed restless too. Damn! Where did she go? What if something happened to her?


    Gerald didn¡¯t want to assume the worst. But still, the worst-case scenario could happen.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home, alright?¡± Gerald looked at Axel. The child hesitated, looking at him with uncertain eyes. Gerald knew the boy wanted to refuse his request, but eventually, he got up from his chair and followed Gerald.


    ¡°Are you guys leaving?¡± Amber, who happened to be standing near the stairs, looked at Gerald and Axel in turn.


    ¡°Do you know where Ariana went?¡± Gerald, who had been trying to contain himself, finally spoke up. Amber shook her head. She herself was puzzled since Jody mentioned that Ariana had left hastily, her face clouded with anger.


    ¡°Did you upset her?¡± the bespectacled girl asked, her face neutral. Gerald narrowed his eyes. ¡°Ariana, when she¡¯s emotional, tends to disappear like this,¡± he replied, still with his stoic expression. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t leave without a reason. Unless someone made her angry or upset.¡±


    Gerald didn¡¯t provide any further answers. His silence was meant to answer the girl¡¯s questions. ¡°When will she be back?¡± she asked again.


    Amber fell silent, seemingly deep in thought. Then she shrugged. ¡°It depends,¡± she said shortly, making Gerald furrow his brow even more. ¡°It depends on how angry she is. She coulde back within an hour or two. But she could also be gone for days. One day, two days. Weeks, even months?¡± The girl¡¯s answer sounded unsure.


    Once again, Gerald furrowed his brow. ¡°But she didn¡¯t take her phone or wallet. How could she survive if she had to be gone for that long?¡±


    Amber once again shrugged her shoulders. Her expression showed no concern whatsoever, as if she was exining that events like this were quitemon. ¡°She always finds a way to survive. She could probably live in the Amazon rainforest if she had to.¡± A call interrupted Amber, making her leave Gerald abruptly.


    Gerald pulled Axel¡¯s hand and walked away. He left the restaurant area and headed back home. Alright, he would wait and see when the girl would return. Even though he himself wasn¡¯t sure whether she woulde back home or not.

 Chap 20 : Story

    ¡°The day has already turnedte. After a lunch, more precisely called dinner, Ariana asked Chris to take her wherever the man went. And here they are. In Chris¡¯s luxurious apartment.


    Ariana is enjoying the beauty of the city lights from several hundred meters above. Chris¡¯s apartment on the twenty-fifth floor has its own beautiful view.


    ¡°It must be expensive to live here,¡± Arianaments without taking her eyes off the streets far below.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of my dad having a lot of money if it can¡¯t be enjoyed?¡± the man answers arrogantly.¡±


    ¡°Ariana scoffed. ¡®I thought you¡¯d be living in a one-bedroom apartment or something,¡¯ shemented again. Considering Chris¡¯s less-than-ideal rtionship with his father, Ariana had thought her friend would be independent. ¡®But I forgot that you¡¯re a super rich kid. So, it¡¯s only natural to have a fancy apartment like this pce.¡¯ There was a hint of sarcasm in Ariana¡¯s words that made Chris chuckle. He tousled Ariana¡¯s hair casually. He stood beside her, also admiring the view.


    ¡®What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll cook for you.¡¯ Chris seemed to ce his motorcycle keys on the bar table and took off his leather jacket. Now he was only wearing a in white T-shirt that, despite being in, Ariana knew cost as much as three or four times her jeans. He also wore designer jeans that Ariana would think twice about buying. His rider leather shoes were off, and he was barefoot.


    ¡®Anything cooked by Chef Chris Alessandro, Ariana will eat. Having it cooked privately like this, it must be expensive if you¡¯re paying,¡¯ she muttered again, with a hint of sarcasm. Chrisughed again at her remark.


    ¡®I thought after not seeing you for two years, your sarcastic nature would have changed. But it seems I was wrong.¡¯ Ariana nced at the thirty-year-old man and shrugged. Chris had already walked to the kitchen and was ready to cook.¡±


    ¡°No alcohol, please,¡± Ariana requested as Chris started taking out ingredients from his refrigerator. Chris shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t have time to shop for many ingredients. So, there¡¯s no alcohol here,¡± he replied. Ariana nodded.


    Ariana explored the apartment, opening every door and observing what was inside while Chris cooked. Shortly after, Chris called her. He had prepared a stir-fry with fillet chicken, sliced onions, and green bell peppers. Mashed potatoes and a few sausages apanied the dish. Smelling the aroma, Ariana tried her best not to drool. ¡°Does food really have a different smell when it¡¯s cooked by a skilled chef? Or is it just me being extra?¡± Ariana chuckled from behind the bar table.


    Chris shrugged. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not because it¡¯s cooked by a chef that makes the aroma different. But because the one cooking is handsome and charming,¡± Chris replied with a teasing wink. Ariana widened her eyes and then pretended to be nauseous because of hisment. Chrisughed again.


    Laughing together, it felt so easy with Ariana.


    They brought the food to the dining table. The aroma of onions made Ariana¡¯s stomach growl even louder. Chris handed her an empty te, and without hesitation, Ariana scooped mashed potatoes and poured the chicken onto her te. ¡°Mmm, the taste made by the Chef is indeed different,¡± she praised. ¡°Even the onions taste sweet, and the bell peppers aren¡¯t spicy.¡±


    Chris chuckled again. ¡°So, if it¡¯s not cooked by a Chef, do the onions turn sour? Do the bell peppers turn¡­ what? Bitter?¡± he teased.


    Ariana nodded with a amused expression. ¡°Yeah, if it¡¯s cooked by someone else, maybe the onions be all tangy or something,¡± she replied casually. Chris tousled Ariana¡¯s hair once more.


    ¡°I think living with you would keep me forever young,¡± hemented. This made Ariana choke on her food. She coughed and quickly handed her a drink. ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re that surprised, huh? I should¡¯ve waited for you to finish chewing before saying something like that,¡± he said, patting Ariana¡¯s back gently. Ariana could breathe normally again and now looked at Chris.


    ¡°You¡¯rete, dear,¡± she said casually, taking another sip of water. ¡°I just got marriedst night.¡± Now it was Chris¡¯s turn to choke on the food he had cooked himself.


    Chrisughed. ¡°If you¡¯re joking, this is really bad timing,¡± he said, disbelieving. Ariana just shrugged and continued eating her meal. ¡°You¡¯re not wearing a wedding ring; can it be true that you¡¯re already married?¡± Chris reached for Ariana¡¯s hand; both were empty. Besides the watch on her left hand, Ariana wore no jewelry. No ne, no earrings.


    Ariana let go of her hand, which Chris was still holding. ¡°Later. Clean up the food first,¡± she ordered with his mouth full. Knowing Ariana¡¯s character, Chris just obeyed and continued eating.


    Chris washed the dishes hurriedly. He couldn¡¯t wait to hear the whole story. He nced at Ariana several times, but she seemed impassive.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Chris guided Ariana in front of the TV, sitting right beside her. He propped one foot up on the sofa, giving his full attention to Ariana.


    ¡°So, how could you get married without telling me anything?¡± he asked, his tone passionate.


    Ariana, sitting cross-legged beside Chris, just stared at the t screen in front of her. ¡°Short version or long version?¡± she asked tly.


    ¡°Long version.¡±


    Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. ¡°This isn¡¯t the marriage I wanted, not the one I nned, and definitely not with the person I desire,¡± Ariana began her story. ¡°You know my old story, right?¡± she asked.


    Ariana had known Chris for the past twelve years. He was her step-aunt¡¯s nephew. They got to know each other right when her father married Chris¡¯s aunt. Since then, despite their five-year age gap, they became close friends.


    Chris, known for his wild ways, managed to bond with Ariana, who was systematic yet reserved. Their friendship endured till now, even though they often shed. Yet, they always found a way back to harmony.


    Chris was Ariana¡¯s second best friend, the first being Amber.

 Chap 21 : Story (2)

    ¡°Papa¡¯s told me to deliver the check as a gift for Karenina. I went to their mansion, and you know, at that moment, I really wanted tough seeing the expressions of those luxurious house workers,¡± Ariana tried to recall the moment she stepped into her mother¡¯s new home. ¡°They looked at me as if I were a ghost. Of course, they had no idea that their Miss had a twin sister,¡± Ariana snorted. ¡°Who would talk about a bad past, right?¡± She asked rhetorically.


    ¡°We hadn¡¯t seen each other for years. Is it too much to ask for a little warm wee?¡± Ariana nced at Chris. Chris nodded in agreement. ¡°Unfortunately, even though I got that warm reception, they didn¡¯t really wee me. In that woman¡¯s eyes, my arrival was like an oasis in a desert.


    And then, she, who hadn¡¯t asked about my well-being for years, suddenly asked me to rece Karenina,¡± Ariana chuckled. Chris was stunned. ¡°She wasn¡¯t there. My twin was said to be missing. No wonder when she came, she so gently requested my presence. I thought maybe she was starting to want our existence. My father¡¯s and mine. But I was wrong. She was no different from any other woman who already had her child,¡± Ariana chuckled. There was a bitter tone in her voice.


    ¡°And to save their face, those wealthy people ordered me to rece Karenina at the altar. Can you imagine how I felt?¡±


    Chris remained silent, understanding that Ariana¡¯s questions didn¡¯t require answers from him. ¡°I refused, of course. How could they y me like that? Get married, and then once Karenina returned, I¡¯d be a widow?¡± Arianaughed bitterly. ¡°At least being a widow left by death is more honorable. Or marrying someone you love and then getting a divorce is better. But me? I was forced to marry a man I didn¡¯t know, a man I didn¡¯t love, and to use someone else¡¯s name just to get divorced when the bride arrived? My fate truly is unfortunate,¡± she sneered cynically.


    Chris gently stroked Ariana¡¯s hair, offering silent support. ¡°That arrogant man offered me money. Can you imagine? Did he think I was that destitute? That desperate?¡± she huffed angrily. ¡°He challenged me, saying he would give me whatever I wanted. But when I asked for his son¡¯s heart, he refused.¡± Ariana snorted once again. ¡°I left right then and there. And surprisingly, the next day, they kidnapped Dad.¡±


    Chris was shocked. ¡°How could that happen?¡± he asked, disbelieving.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t get a chance to ask Dad about the tactics they used to kidnap him. However, suddenly Mommy contacted me and said Dad couldn¡¯t be reached. Turns out, their chemistry was strong too,¡± Ariana smiled bitterly. There was a sh of pride in her eyes. ¡°And it turns out, the mastermind behind the kidnapping was that disgusting couple. I was forced to return to that damned house to bring my father back and pawn myself. It wasn¡¯t my choice. Even before I had a chance to negotiate, they had already drugged me. And when I woke up, I was wearing aplete bridal outfit.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t do anything. Especially, I couldn¡¯t find Dad. I was led to the altar, and I saw Dad and Mommy there. Luckily, they were both unharmed. And when my name was mentioned during the marriage vows, I didn¡¯t suspect a thing. My confusion began when I realized my name was genuinely written in the marriage book. All the paperwork was under my name and the man¡¯s. I thought it was because of their financial power, so everything could be processed easily. But I was wrong.¡±


    Ariana took a deep breath and exhaled sharply. ¡°It turns out, all of this was intentional. That man knew where Karenina had gone, apparently. And instead of bringing Karenina back, he deliberately trapped me in this marriage. And he admitted it all.¡±


    ¡°Bastard! So, he manipted you?¡± Now Chris was truly feeling furious about it. ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± he asked sharply.


    ¡°Is it possible for me to file for an annulment? Isn¡¯t that something that can be done abroad?¡± Chris looked puzzled. He didn¡¯t understand the legal aspects; it wasn¡¯t his expertise. Ariana patted the shoulder of the older man. Then she chuckled. It was amusing to see the expression of confusion on the usually cool face of a Chris Alessandro who was known for hisposure. ¡°Yes, I know you don¡¯t understand. You only know how to differentiate between rosemary and oregano,¡± Ariana teased.


    ¡°So, where is Karenina now?¡± he asked, ignoring Ariana¡¯s teasing.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Do you think she would tell me if I asked? Of course not,¡± she answered her own question.


    ¡°How did she introduce you to the public during the reception?¡± Chris asked, puzzled.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t say anything. She just epted people¡¯s greetings. She never rified or denied anything. Besides, the reception was attended by only a handful of people. Maybe to minimize the worst-case scenario she already anticipated?¡± Ariana shrugged again.


    ¡°What will you do when Karenina returns?¡±


    ¡°ording to you?¡± Ariana looked at Chris eagerly. ¡°Should I kill her with my own hands? Or should I stage an ident as a cover-up?¡±


    Chrisughed. He ruffled Ariana¡¯s hair again. ¡°I know you¡¯re not that cruel.¡±


    ¡°You know, even a porcupine looks cute when it¡¯s not attacking its enemies,¡± Ariana mused. Chris just nodded, slightly amused by her metaphor.


    ¡°In your opinion, why did Karenina choose to run away? Was it because that man seemed evil?¡± Ariana leaned back forcefully.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. He seemed cold and ruthless at first. But turns out, he¡¯s just another sleazy guy,¡± Chris was visibly taken aback, observing Ariana closely. ¡°Did he do something weird to you? Did he assault you?¡± His eyes scanned Ariana from top to bottom.


    Arianaughed. She just nudged Chris¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Sleazy. Not that much!¡± Ariana replied. ¡°But he did try, though. Unfortunately for him, he failed.¡± Ariana chuckled mischievously. ¡°But if that guy¡¯s words are true. He thinks Ariana left because of Axel.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Axel?¡± Chris frowned.


    ¡°The man¡¯s child,¡± Ariana rified.


    Chris was once again taken aback. ¡°So, you married a widower?¡± he asked, surprised. Ariana just shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s make sure you get a divorce as soon as possible. Tomorrow, we¡¯re going to court. It¡¯s ridiculous to marry a man with someone else¡¯s child, especially a widower who already has another child. No way. I¡¯d rather be alone. He¡¯s handsome, yes, single, and rich too. How rich is he anyway?¡± Ariana shrugged again. ¡°You really don¡¯t know how rich he is? Or what kind of business he¡¯s in?¡±


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°Just imagine, I¡¯ve been his wife for less than twenty-four hours.¡± Ariana nced at the clock on the wall. It had been just over twenty-four hours since their wedding yesterday. ¡°And I didn¡¯t get to know him any more than that. ording to you, what could I investigate when our time together was just sleeping, and now, escaping.¡±


    Chris realized Ariana was right. ¡°So, what are you going to do now? Go back to that guy¡¯s house?¡±


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°Crash here, okay?¡± she requested. Chris seemed to think for a moment. Then he nodded. ¡°As long as you need,¡± he replied. Ariana smiled and winked.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she murmured.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Chris replied. ¡°You can use that room. But what about your clothes?¡±


    ¡°Borrow some money to buy clothes,¡± Ariana held out her hand. Chris chuckled. He took out his wallet and handed her a card, mentioning the same password as his apartment¡¯s. Ariana smiled happily. She got up from her seat and immediately hugged Chris, nting a kiss on his cheek.


    Chris rubbed his cheek, feeling a shiver of disgust. Ariana justughed and went into his room.

 Chap 22 : Worry

    Gerald nced 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¡¯ ce,¡¯ 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 rtionship 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 nced 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,ck of sleep would only put him in a foul mood.


    Gerald nced at the empty side of his bed. It felt so vacant. Yet, Ariana had upied it justst 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 ma of a different prity. 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 n. Ariana was systematic and liked order. But perhaps, someone as organized as him asionally 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 ns. 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 toe 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. Simr 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 thiszy. 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.¡±


    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 me the child. He loved Axel too much and knew the boy was innocent. ¡°Papa, Mommy hasn¡¯te home yet?¡± the boy asked with hopeful eyes. Gerald just shook his head.


    ¡°Mommy wille back,ter,¡± Gerald replied, though he wasn¡¯t certain. ¡°Axel, go to school with Auntie. Be good, eat your lunch properly. Okay?¡± He gave a firmmand. The boy just nodded listlessly.


    ¡°What have you done that made your grandmother¡¯s granddaughter-inw 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 re 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?Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your mother? Why hasn¡¯t shee 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 ufortable.


    Histe 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 ept the reality that she was now Gerald¡¯s wife? Would she also engage in a cold war with the twodies before him?


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

 Chap 23 : Go Away

    Ariana stretched her body on the superfy king-size bed, under the thick warm nket. Her body felt incrediblyfortable, as if someone had massaged her entire body and rxed all her muscles. And her sleep was deep and dreamless.


    ncing at the wall clock in her room, she smiled. It was exactly five o¡¯clock, and she felt proud of herself and her natural rm clock. Ariana got up with a better spirit than the previous day.


    Last night, after obtaining Chris¡¯s credit card, Ariana had gone to the supermarket to buy her necessities. Change of clothes, toiletries, prayer items, and she even bought new shoes. Well, even though she would have to pay it back eventually, at least for now, she didn¡¯t have to worry about anything. All herforts could be bought with a small piece of stic now resting on her bedside table.


    She felt lucky to have a wealthy friend. Ariana¡¯s inner self swelled with pride. It allowed her to depend on something during this period of escape.


    Escape? Oh God. One word made her think of another question. What was the difference between her and Karenina? They both used escape as their weapon.


    But Ariana didn¡¯t care. This was a more fitting course of action. After all, from the beginning, this wasn¡¯t what she wanted. Who wouldn¡¯t be angry if they were cheated multiple times?


    Ariana hummed happily in the shower. Coming out of the bathroom feeling refreshed, she immediately went about her morning routine with her new supplies.


    By six in the morning, she was already heading towards the kitchen.


    Something felt missing. Of course, it was her second day without stepping into the market. For the past two years, she had never missed a day, except when she had urgent matters or was sick.


    But at least yesterday, Ariana had given instructions to Jody and Amber about what they needed to buy and prepare for lunch and dinner. However, today she chose not to. She would leave everything to Amber and Jody. After all, it wasn¡¯t the first or second day they worked together.


    Today, she wanted to be Ariana, the unemployed one. She nned to spend the day having fun. She pped her hands in happiness.


    Chris emerged when the clock struck six in the morning. His hair was still disheveled. It was clear he hadn¡¯t even washed his face. He yawned widely without a hint of embarrassment. ¡°Pha-ghi,¡± he greeted between his yawns.


    Ariana just chuckled at him. ¡°Good morning, stranger.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this fragrance?¡± the man smelled the air around him.


    ¡°Fried rice?¡± Ariana asked back. He had ced two tes of fried rice with sausage and eggs as toppings.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Fried rice.¡± Chris sat at the dining table and looked at the te before him.


    Like a chef in general, the man waved his hand in front of the te, trying to divert the aroma of the food to his nose. Sniffed slowly before nodding and starting to feed rice into his mouth.


    ¡°Mm.. 5 out of 5.¡± Praise the man. Ariana just chuckled while shaking her head. She sat down after pouring water for the two of them. ¡°What will you do today?¡± he asked between his bites.


    Ariana shrugged.


    ¡°Go for a walk?¡± Chris asked again.


    Ariana rolled her eyes slowly. Think. Then she shook his head. ¡°Walking isn¡¯t the best option. I¡¯m sure that man is mobilizing his troops to look for me right now.¡±


    Chris visibly grimaced. ¡°You¡¯re overbearing.¡± he taunted.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s not that he¡¯s arrogant. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s looking for me because he needs me. Not that. But because of pride.¡± she answered. ¡°Howe it hasn¡¯t been a week since I¡¯ve been left twice? Sad, right?¡±


    Chris nodded. ¡°Really. If you have a weak faith, you might havemitted suicide. You¡¯ve drowned in a river or even hanged yourself from a watermelon tree.¡±Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Ariana pouted. Answer the unfunny joke with a mocking expression. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just hang yourself from the bean sprout tree?¡± ¡°That¡¯s stale,¡± Chris answered casually. ¡°How about we just go on a pic out of town? Go to the beach, or we can go camping. Or do you have a ce you¡¯ve always wanted to visit but haven¡¯t had the chance yet?¡± offered the man.


    Ariana furrowed her brow. She could travel far, but if she had to use public facilities like nes or trains, she obviously couldn¡¯t do it given that all her identification was in the wallet left at the restaurant. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring my ID,¡± she said softly.


    Chris pped his forehead. ¡°Forgot,¡± he replied. ¡°Let¡¯s think about where to go first. Anything reachable by car,¡± he suggested. Ariana nodded enthusiastically.


    After breakfast, they washed the dishes together. Chris then chose to take a shower, while Ariana sat on the couch, casually browsing destinations for their trip on Chris¡¯s phone.


    Chris emerged half an hourter, looking fresher with wet hair, wearing a short-sleeved shirt, and jogger pants. ¡°So, have we decided on a destination?¡± he asked.


    Ariana showed her phone to Chris. He simply nodded. Shortly after, they were back in the kitchen, preparing lunch for their journey.


    By ten in the morning, they were ready for a long trip.


    Ariana intentionally borrowed Chris¡¯s oversized hoodie before leaving the apartment. It was indeed too big, but it feltforting. It definitely made her look odd, but it was one way to avoid scrutiny. Who knew if one of Gerald¡¯s henchmen happened to see her? So, she was just being cautious.


    They went straight down to the basement where Chris¡¯s car was parked. Ariana whistled when she saw the Land Rover Range Rover Vr sounding its rm, indicating it was unlocked. Its glossy white color without a single blemish indicated that the car was brand new.


    ¡°Fresh from the dealer, it seems,¡± Ariana eximed as she got into the luxurious car. Chris just smiled. ¡°Make use of the opportunity while itsts,¡± he replied cunningly. Ariana rolled her eyes.


    They left the basement parking area, heading towards their destination. Chris had already set the location they were heading to on his car¡¯s GPS.


    They were headed to a famous camping site that Ariana had found on the inte.


    Before reaching their destination, Ariana and Chris stopped at a supermarket to shop for their camping essentials.


    They entered the national park, paid the entrance fee, and headed straight to the parking area. Ariana let Chris go to the information center while she chose to wait inside the car.


    Since they were traveling on a weekday, the ce wasn¡¯t too crowded. There were only a few cars and motorcycles parked. Presumably, those belonged to hikers aiming to reach the mountain peak.


    Chris returned shortly after, steering the car towards the uphill area. The paved road stretched far and was adorned with pine trees. Ariana rolled down the window and breathed in the scent of pine.


    ¡°It seems like it would be fun to set up a hammock between those trees. It would be so refreshing. The gentle breeze and the shade of the trees would make for afortable afternoon nap. But I remember a children¡¯s cartoon; I¡¯m afraid there might be pine thieves bears that will chase after me.¡±


    ¡°Why are youughing?¡± Chris asked.


    Ariana turned. ¡°Oh, nothing. Just reminded of a cartoon about a pair of bears and a thief. The thief always pranks the bears, but they never get tired of causing trouble. I imagine those bears being there just when I set up the hammock, and then they¡¯ll chop down the pine trees and leave me trapped under them.¡±


    Chris chuckled, shaking his head. Ariana was indeed peculiar. At her age, she still enjoyed watching animated movies. After a fairly long journey filled with twists and turns, they finally arrived at their desired location. Seeing only a few tents around, Ariana felt tonight would be spent quitefortably.

 Chap 24 : Go Away (2)

    ¡°Ariana observed her surroundings. Comparing this to her experiences camping in the wilderness with native mountain folks, this was vastly different. Just look at the facilities avable here: food stalls, toilets, and even a prayer room. If it were real mountain folks, facilities like these would definitely be absent.


    Ariana turned around and helped Chris unload all their gear ¨C the tent they rented, firewood, and food supplies. Not to forget the hammock she had been imagining hanging between the pine trees.


    Chris set up his tent, and so did Ariana. They intentionally ced their tents facing each other. Chris nned to build a campfire between their tents. Afterward, Ariana spread out her sleeping bag inside her tent, then packed all the food they had bought before sealing the tent shut. She didn¡¯t want any stray cats to get to their raw food.


    Chris piled up wood to make a campfire. For cooking, they had brought their own portable gas stove, which they impulsively bought at the supermarket. Along with it, they had stainless steel cookware and utensils. Once again, Ariana felt the perks of befriending wealthy people. She didn¡¯t have to worry about anything.¡±


    ¡°The journey from Chris¡¯s residence to this ce took quite a long time. They spent five hours on the road, even though they had managed to have lunch. Ariana was feeling hungry again.


    ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Ariana asked Chris. Chris, who was setting up the hammock, turned around. He just shrugged in response. ¡°How about boiled noodles with eggs and grilled meat?¡± she suggested. Chris snapped his fingers in agreement.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go to the bathroom first,¡± he said, leaving Ariana to her task.


    While waiting for the water to boil, Ariana seasoned thin slices of beef with the spices Chris had brought. Perhaps his inner chef was ingrained in him, as it seemed like wherever he went, there were always cooking utensils and seasonings.


    Chris returned shortly after. ¡°Absolutely refreshing,¡± hemented. Ariana just nodded. She felt sofortable too. The cool, almost chilly air made Ariana momentarily forget the heat of town.


    ¡°If, for instance, I start a business here, what do you think?¡± Chris asked.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°For the kind of business you¡¯re into, it doesn¡¯t seem suitable.¡± Ariana had finished her noodles and ced the pot on the grassy ground. She set up a small pan and started greasing it with butter before cing the seasoned thin meat on it. The aroma of the spices was appetizing.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not suitable, what kind of business would work here?¡± Chris inquired.


    Ariana fell silent. ¡°Maybe gardening? Farming? Or creating fish ponds? The air, water, and soil here seem suitable. Or perhaps, do you want to start a farm?¡±


    ¡°Chris pondered for a moment. ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem like a bad idea. We could explore and look fornd to buy,¡¯ he suggested. Ariana just nodded. Rich people. Buyingnd felt as casual as buying salt from a neighborhood store.


    Chris was ready with his spoon and fork, prepared to devour the noodles with egg and Ariana¡¯s homemade grilled meat. They ate while enjoying the view of the trees in front of them. ¡®What do you think your husband is doing right now?¡¯ Chris asked between bites.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡®He¡¯s definitely confused,¡¯ she answered, chuckling. ¡®I doubt he¡¯ll find me here. I didn¡¯t bring anything to trace me ¨C no phone, no wallet, no debit or credit card.¡¯


    Chris nodded in agreement. Especially now that they were deep in the wilderness, it would be even more challenging for him to track her down.


    ¡®So what will you do next? I mean, after you¡¯re done with this escape?¡¯ Chris asked again, curious.¡±


    ¡°Ariana fell silent. ¡®I¡¯m still thinking about it,¡¯ she responded after a long, contemtive silence. ¡®This marriage was not my choice. Besides, I haven¡¯t even nned on getting married. And if I do, I want to marry someone I love and who loves me back. That¡¯s reasonable, right?¡¯ she asked Chris. Chris, having finished his meal, now sat with his legs stretched out. He supported his weight with his hands behind his back. He nodded without looking.


    ¡®But on the other hand, I worry about Axel,¡¯ Ariana replied softly. ¡®That man needs my help for Axel¡¯s adoption application. But¡­¡¯ Chris turned to look at her. ¡®But?¡¯


    Ariana smiled meaningfully. ¡®But all that will change if Karenina returns,¡¯ she said joyfully. ¡®If that man tells me where Karenina is, I swear to God, I will chase after her and grab her by the hair, dragging her back to that man.¡¯ Ariana¡¯s hand mimicked grabbing someone¡¯s hair and pulling it roughly. Chris chuckled at the gesture.


    ¡®And what after Karenina is returned to that man?¡¯ he asked.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to file for divorce. I¡¯ll be a single woman again,¡± Ariana replied confidently. Chris just nodded, trying to understand Ariana¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t regret it?¡± Chris asked again. Ariana furrowed her brow. ¡°I mean, your husband, he¡¯s wealthy. And he seems to have control over your stepfather. Don¡¯t you want to use him for revenge, perhaps?¡±


    Ariana stared at Chris sharply. Then she snorted. ¡°For what? Will seeking revenge bring my past back?¡±


    Chris chuckled. ¡°Well, who knows. Your past may note back. But on the other hand, a part of you might feel satisfied because they can suffer for the wealth they have and boast about.¡±


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°Wealth has indeed blinded that woman and my sister. But if I seek revenge, what sets me apart from them? In the end, I¡¯ll just be a cunning and petty woman. My father, my mother, and I arefortable with our lives now. My mother taught me to forgive, and my father taught me not to hate. So I¡¯m teaching myself to forget. Although it¡¯s still a work in progress,¡± she said,ughing.¡±


    ¡°Mommy always said that what we sow is what we reap. Dad always taught me that when we do good to someone, we should hope for God to repay it. And I taught myself not to be kind to everyone I meet,¡± Arianaughed. ¡°In the end, I became half my mother and half my father. I learned kindness from my father and learned to be cunning like my mother.¡±


    Chris shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re not cunning, Love. You¡¯re just logical. It makes sense. You choose to do things ording to your mind, not your feelings. And I think there¡¯s nothing wrong with that. Not all kindness is repaid with kindness. That¡¯s very true. Sometimes, even the people we reach out to reject us when we need help. While those we didn¡¯t know or underestimated before sometimes be our saviors. Your father is right about that. But what¡¯s even truer, ording to you, is that humans should stand on their own feet and not expect anything from others.¡±


    Ariana curled her lips. ¡°Because I used to hope for someone I thought loved me. And I got tired of it. In the end, I no longer hope for anything and believe that hard work and luck are what bring results.¡±


    Chris nodded. They both fell silent and simply observed their surroundings.

 Chap 25 : Another Man’s Wife

    Gerald nced at his assistant and personal secretary alternately. Neither of them gave him a satisfying answer. ¡°So?¡± he asked, his eyes sharp.


    Both of them shook their heads.


    For the first time, Gerald felt disappointed in the performance of the two people in front of him.


    ¡°There are no CCTV cameras outside the restaurant area. Even though we followed her trail, everything was futile, Sir,¡± his secretary replied.


    ¡°The one who was watching her house and the restaurant also said there were no signs of her arrival, Sir. There were no calls or emails to the restaurant. It¡¯s the same with her house,¡± his assistant added.


    Gerald was furious. He mmed his wooden desk, creating a loud noise that made his listeners wince.


    ¡°Find her no matter what. If necessary, investigate each and every restaurant employee. I will visit her parents,¡± he said.


    Both generations of men in front of him nodded before leaving Gerald¡¯s office.


    Gerald rose from his seat, walking toward the window behind his desk, staring at the cityscape below with unfocused eyes. His mind was fixated on the question ¡®Where is Ariana?¡¯


    That girl was truly clever. Where could she be now? Another question that made him furious was, ¡®Who is she with now?¡¯


    Gerald furrowed his brow. ¡®Does the girl have a boyfriend?¡¯ But from the data he had gathered, Ariana wasn¡¯t close to anyone. Until now, she hadn¡¯t entered into any serious rtionships. Or does she have another friend in this city besides Amber?


    Gerald squinted his eyes. He reached for his phone in his pants pocket and dialed a number.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Amber¡¯s voice came through on the other end, mixed with the bustling noise of kitchen utensils.


    ¡°It¡¯s Gerald,¡± Gerald said tly.


    ¡°Gerald?¡± The girl sounded surprised. Oh, Gerald forgot they hadn¡¯t officially met. ¡°I¡¯m Ariana¡¯s husband.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. The impromptu husband. Yes, what is it? Are you the one who has been asking about Ariana without mentioning a name?¡± Amber asked.


    Gerald didn¡¯t even intend to answer that.


    ¡°Has shee back? She hasn¡¯t visited us, nor given any instructions. Her phone is unanswered. Is she sick?¡± The girl rattled on.


    Gerald massaged his temples. He should be the one asking questions, but somehow he found himself being interrogated.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Amber called out on the other end. ¡°Are you still there?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Gerald replied shortly. ¡°I want to ask, does Ariana have any friends besides you?¡±


    Silence for a moment. ¡°She has many friends. Which one do you want to know about?¡±


    ¡°A friend who is really close?¡± Gerald tried to narrow down the possibilities.


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡± the girl mumbled unclearly. ¡°As far as I know, there isn¡¯t one. Just me and Chris.¡±


    ¡°Chris? Who¡¯s Chris?¡± Gerald felt like he had never read that name in the reports he received.


    ¡°Chris, our close friend. Ariana¡¯s cousin from her Mommy¡¯s side,¡± Amber replied.


    ¡°Where is he now? This man named Chris?¡± Gerald asked eagerly.


    ¡°In France,¡± Amber replied shortly.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°France?¡± Gerald furrowed his brow, confused. Could Ariana have followed Chris all the way to France?


    Gerald shook his head. That couldn¡¯t be possible. All of Ariana¡¯s personal documents were in Gerald¡¯s hands. Except for her passport, which might be at her apartment.


    ¡°Yeah, France. He works as a chef at a five-star hotel there. I forgot the hotel¡¯s name. Anyway, he¡¯s currently there,¡± Amber answered again.


    ¡°Besides Chris? Is there anyone else?¡± he asked once more.


    ¡°Jody? Dara? Bryan?¡± The girl listed the names of restaurant employees. Gerald sighed in frustration.


    ¡°Alright, thank you for the information. Goodbye.¡± Gerald ended the call. He rubbed his temples again.


    Damn it. He forgot to ask for Chris¡¯s full name. But could Ariana have gone to France? Clearly impossible. Unless¡­


    Gerald dialed his assistant again. ¡°Find Ariana¡¯s family lineage through her Mommy¡¯s side. Locate the man named Chris. And make sure I get information about him today,¡± Gerald ordered before hanging up the phone again.


    Gerald slumped back into his oversized chair, letting out a long sigh. ¡°Ariana Leonidas. Why are you making me so frustrated?¡±


    Meanwhile, elsewhere, Ariana was busy packing up their camping gear. After talking to the campsite manager, Chris and Ariana intended to move to another location said to be close to a river and a waterfall.


    They arrived at the spot, having descended a hill that left their knees sore. ¡°Wow¡­ Why didn¡¯t wee here yesterday?¡± Ariana turned to Chris, who was grimacing.


    ¡°Probably because the location is a bit hidden. We didn¡¯t notice the turn here,¡± he replied.


    They set up their tents again, this time positioning them side by side, facing the river. After finishing setting up the tents and organizing all their equipment, Ariana and Chris decided to explore the area.


    They walked on a suspension bridge, yed in the river, and even soaked themselves under the waterfall. They took turns capturing moments with Chris¡¯s phone camera. Ariana felt like a teenager on a pic with friends, even though it was just the two of them.


    Satisfied with their activities, they returned and chose to freshen up in a bathroom located less than fifteen meters away from their tent. Afterward, they prepared to make lunch.


    ¡°Are you happy?¡± Chris asked after they finished their lunch.


    Ariana turned and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s one of the joys of being single. Going anywhere, anytime, with anyone,¡± she replied with a smile on her face.


    ¡°But you¡¯re not single anymore. You¡¯re someone¡¯s wife now,¡± Chris reminded her. Ariana squinted. ¡°Are you really that unhappy with that man?¡± Chris asked, curious.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Maybe if we did everything the right way. I mean, if we got to know each other properly. Dated in the right way. Proposed in a sensible manner. And prepared for marriage ording to the concept we jointly developed. I might have liked him.


    ¡°Even though I initially saw him as a cruel man. But I can see he is a caring man. Proof is, he¡¯s willing to protect his niece like this.


    ¡°But unfortunately, what he did to me and my family made me equate him with that woman and my sister. So yes¡­ the conclusion is, I didn¡¯t like him from the start. And it might continue like that until he changes his ways.¡±


    ¡°If he changes his ways, does that mean you¡¯ll be willing to remain his wife?¡± Chris asked again, wanting to know more.


    Ariana nced at him again, pulled the corner of her lips, and shook her head. ¡°Sincest night, I¡¯ve decided. He might be my husband on paper. But that¡¯s all it is. Inside here, he means nothing.¡± Ariana pointed at her own chest.


    ¡°Once Karenina returns, I¡¯ll go back to my position. As a single woman. But I won¡¯t reject his presence. I think maybe we could be friends after all this is over. He and I are both stubborn.


    ¡°So I think our friendship would be fun.¡± Arianaughed. ¡°That¡¯s if he¡¯s willing to be friends with a ragtag like me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better to be friends with ragtags but have sincere hearts than to be friends with rich people but hypocritical,¡± Chris replied.


    Ariana stared at him sharply. ¡°Is that your reason for being friends with me, rich guy? Because I¡¯m a ragtag?¡± Ariana asked, her expression feigned surprise. Chrisughed and tossed a pebble in her direction.

 Chap 26 : Hunt

    Gerald nced back at the documents in his hands. This man wasn¡¯t a stranger to him. He rubbed his temples. Is the world really this small? Instead of decreasing, the problems seemed to be multiplying.


    ¡°Where was thest ce she was seen?¡± he asked his assistant.


    ¡°From the toll data, she just exited toward the rural area, Sir,¡± his assistant replied.


    Gerald furrowed his brow once again. Where could they possibly have gone? What was in that town? ¡°Instruct everyone to search for her. Whatever it takes. Whatever the cost. She has to be found today,¡± he ordered.


    His assistant nodded again and left.


    Gerald returned home around eight in the evening. He hoped he could avoid Axel, so he waited until the child¡¯s bedtime. His grandmother seemed to be rxing in the living room with the remote control in her hand, while his mother was engrossed with her tablet, probably shopping online, as was her habit.


    ¡°Any news?¡± Mrs. Rosaline asked, even before Gerald had a chance to set down his work bag.


    ¡°**My men are still searching,**¡± Gerald replied. He sat in the massage chair in the room, trying to rx his muscles that had tensed from a day¡¯s work and thinking about Ariana.


    ¡°**Axel has been asking about her since earlier. Be prepared for his onught tomorrow,**¡± his grandmother replied.


    Gerald groaned and massaged his throbbing temples. Perhaps out of exhaustion, Gerald unintentionally closed his eyes there.


    At eleven o¡¯clock at night, Gerald woke up and saw his middle-aged assistant sitting on the couch. ¡°**Sir,**¡± the man nodded politely at him.


    ¡°**Any updates?**¡±


    ¡°**Our informant is searching for their whereabouts. They didn¡¯t find Miss Ariana. But they managed to locate a man named Chris. One of the National Park area managers said they saw Chris. He became the focus because of the expensive vehicle he used.**¡±


    ¡°**National Park?**¡± Gerald furrowed his brow.


    ¡°**National Park. It¡¯s a Camping Ground area, Sir.**¡±


    ¡°**Then? Did you follow him? Are Ariana and that man there?**¡± Gerald asked sharply. The middle-aged man nodded. ¡°**Prepare the car and driver. We¡¯re going there right now.**¡± Gerald got up from his seat and was about to go upstairs when his assistant stopped him.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°**But, Sir.**¡±


    ¡°**What else?**¡±


    ¡°**The journey there is quite far and time-consuming. Even if we go now, there¡¯s a possibility we¡¯ll arrive there in the early morning.**¡±


    ¡°**I don¡¯t care. What matters is that I have to see it for myself.**¡± Gerald answered. With quick steps, Gerald half-ran up the stairs to his room on the second floor.


    He changed his suit into a sweater and jeans, haphazardly stuffing his spare clothes into a small backpack he found in the corner of his closet. If the girl didn¡¯t want toe back, Gerald would follow her wherever she went. Or perhaps the situation would change depending on the circumstancester. Gerald just had to be prepared for all possibilities.


    Chris. Chris Alessandro. He needed to know what kind of rtionship existed between them. Were they just friends? Or more than just friends? And if it was more than just friends, Gerald would separate them, no matter what it took.


    Gerald descended to the ground floor. His assistant was still standing in his original position, as if he hadn¡¯t moved since Gerald left him.


    ¡°The car and driver are ready, Sir,¡± he said. Gerald nodded and led the man out of the house. The driver opened the rear passenger door, and Gerald got in, leaning back. While the driver took them to their destination, he would use this time to recharge.


    The journey was indeed long. After exiting the highway, they entered a small town road that became even smaller, only wide enough for one car. Rows of houses turned into lush trees. It might appear beautiful in the daytime, but at night, it seemed eerie.


    The car turned toward arge gate. The National Park guard opened the gate for Gerald¡¯s car. Gerald didn¡¯t even bother to get out of his vehicle. A man knocked on the window, and with a specific code, he signaled for them to follow him.


    Gerald¡¯s driver maneuvered the car, following the man. After a few minutes, the car came to a stop, and the man knocked on the car window again.


    ¡°Miss Ariana is in the lower part of this area, Sir. To get there, we need to descend some steps and walk quite a distance,¡± he announced. Gerald simply nodded. He epted therge shlight handed to him ¨C a shlight that would illuminate their way during the journey to the lower camp.


    Gerald nced at his watch; it was three in the morning. He was sure that at this moment, Ariana and the man were sleeping soundly inside their tent. The guide stopped behind two tents facing the river, away from the road.


    ¡°This is their tent, Sir. They¡¯re using the National Park¡¯s tents.¡±


    Gerald just nodded. The guide then stepped back, but didn¡¯t leave Gerald and his assistant. The man merely gave Gerald some space to figure things out.


    Gerald approached, standing between two closed tent ps. He nced left and right, guessing which tent Ariana was in. He noticed a pair of sneakers outside one of the tents. Seeing the sneakers on his right, he convinced himself that it was Ariana¡¯s tent.


    He opened it slowly, turned off his shlight, and ced it outside before entering. And there she was, his wife curled up inside her sleeping bag. Despite the chilly weather, Ariana seemed peaceful in her sleep.


    Gerald unzipped the sleeping bag carefully, trying not to wake Ariana. But she was surprisingly sensitive; moments before he reached the end, she opened her eyes.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± she shouted loudly. She woke up quickly and moved back into the tent¡¯s corner, unable to go anywhere as Gerald blocked the only entrance and exit.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, who else,¡± sneered Gerald.


    ¡°Y-You! How can you be here?¡± she asked loudly.


    Gerald chuckled mockingly. ¡°Because of money, darling,¡± Gerald mocked. ¡°Now, the hide and seek game is over. Let¡¯s go home, shall we? Your son has been looking for you ever since you left him with me three nights ago.¡±


    Ariana widened her eyes. ¡°He¡¯s not my daughter; I never even gave birth to a child. And I¡¯m not a wicked woman who would abandon her own child if I ever had one,¡± she retorted harshly.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been her mother since I made you my wife. And you epted that, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°No, I never epted it. And I never will. He¡¯s your child and will be Karenina¡¯s when she returns.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll be my child, but he won¡¯t be Karenina¡¯s. Not ever,¡± Gerald replied with suppressed anger.


    He then grabbed Ariana¡¯s leg and tried to pull her, but Ariana kicked back.


    ¡°Go away. I will never return until I know where Karenina is,¡± she refused. Her voice was louder now. One more notch and it would turn into a scream.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± A voice interrupted Ariana¡¯s rebellion. Chris half-bent, opened Ariana¡¯s tent door with sleepy eyes. ¡°You?!¡± His gaze focused on Gerald.

 Chap 27 : Chris vs Gerald

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± A voice interrupted Ariana¡¯s rebellion. Chris half-bent, opened Ariana¡¯s tent door with sleepy eyes. ¡°You?!¡± His gaze focused on Gerald. The two men locked eyes in the darkness. Ariana, witnessing it all, was momentarily frozen. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Chris asked again.


    ¡°Picking up my wife, of course,¡± Gerald replied sweetly.


    ¡°Your wife?¡± Chris nced between Ariana and Gerald. One forgotten fact was that Ariana never mentioned her husband¡¯s name to Chris. ¡°Is he your husband?¡± Chris now turned his full attention to Ariana.


    ¡°A husband I never wanted,¡± Ariana defended herself. She could free herself from Gerald and approached Chris when his attention shifted. ¡°Remember, he¡¯s not the husband I wanted,¡± Ariana growled.


    Chris chuckled, looking at Gerald mockingly. ¡°So, your character hasn¡¯t changed, huh?¡± Chris asked scornfully. He and Ariana were outside the tent while Gerald remained half-crouched inside.


    Ariana pulled Chris back as Gerald stood up and chose to follow them out of the tent. ¡°And you haven¡¯t changed either? Stealing what belongs to someone else,¡± Gerald replied, equally mocking.


    Ariana nced between the two with the limited light. She could deduce that these two men knew each other, not just that, there was a shared history between them. It seemed she was about to witness an intense confrontation.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never stolen anything from anyone,¡± Chris responded sarcastically to Gerald¡¯s usation. ¡°Since forever, they have alwayse to me. For the same reason. Because they¡¯re fed up with you. With your arrogance and your persistent bullying that seems to never fade, even though you¡¯re old enough to stop acting like a child,¡± Chris jeered. Gerald snorted. ¡°And it seems the old story is repeating itself. Even Ariana has no qualms about running to me and seeking my help,¡± Chris nced over his shoulder, where Ariana still stood, her hands gripping Chris¡¯s arm.


    His actions seemed to further enrage Gerald. ¡°Come here, Ariana!¡± he ordered with suppressed anger. ¡°Why? What are you going to do?¡± Ariana challenged.


    ¡°I won¡¯t do anything. Your ce should be with me. Remember, you¡¯re my wife now,¡± Gerald warned.


    ¡°And you should remember too, Sir, that I am not your rightful wife. I will annul our marriage. After I return. And now, you better leave from here!¡±manded Ariana. She still held onto Chris¡¯s arm as if it would shield her. Seeing all this only made Gerald angrier.


    ¡°You can¡¯t annul this marriage because I won¡¯t allow it,¡± Gerald gritted his teeth.


    Chris smirked. ¡°And I won¡¯t allow this marriage tost,¡± he said, threateningly. Ariana looked up, observing Chris who seemed to be staring at Gerald without blinking. If this were a movie with effects, Ariana was sure that right now, both Gerald and Chris¡¯s eyes were emittingsers, attacking each other in the air.


    ¡°I heard the woman who should be your wife is Karenina. And from what I know, Ariana herself never wanted to be your wife. Isn¡¯t that right, Darling?¡± Chris lowered his gaze to Ariana.


    Ariana hesitated for a moment at the endearment ¡®Darling¡¯. But she decided topromise with the situation. After all, making Gerald angry was a revenge she greatly enjoyed.


    ¡°Of course. You promised to help me find Karenina. And after that, everything will return to where it should be. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Ariana looked at Chris and received an enthusiastic nod from him. But when she sought an answer from Gerald, he turned to her sharply, sending a shiver down Ariana¡¯s spine.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? I¡¯m just stating the truth,¡± Ariana challenged. ¡°You, that woman, and your child. You will be a happy little family. And I¡¯ll pray that you have many children so Axel won¡¯t be lonely.¡±


    ¡°While Chris and I,¡± Ariana changed her grip to a warm embrace, ¡°will think about our own future. Especially now that Chris is back and has no intention of leaving again. Isn¡¯t that right, Darling?¡± Ariana tilted her head again and received a nod from Chris.


    Chris reciprocated by putting his arm around Ariana¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Of course, Darling. Even if I have to go far, this time I¡¯ll take you with me. I won¡¯t let you stay here alone. Especially now that we¡¯ve met someone who likes to threaten and impose his will.¡±


    Ariana enthusiastically nodded her head. ¡°You must do that. You don¡¯t know how lonely I was when you were gone. And now, I¡¯m stuck with that threatening and forceful man.¡± Ariana red at Gerald. ¡°And Sir, what are you doing there? Are you going to be the mosquito bothering our intimacy?¡±


    ¡°Ariana!¡± Gerald called out with a higher tone. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to leave willingly, then I will show you what being forceful really means,¡± he threatened again.


    ¡°Look, not even five minutes, and he¡¯s already threatening you again, Darling,¡± Chris sighed. Ariana frowned sadly.


    ¡°You counted for only five minutes. Can you imagine what happens to me if I¡¯m with him for twenty-four hours?¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Chris gently stroked Ariana¡¯s hair, full of care, while holding her closer. ¡°My poor Ariana. I promise, I will protect you from now on.¡±


    But Chris¡¯s words didn¡¯tst long. Gerald grabbed Ariana¡¯s hand and shoved Chris with all his might, causing Chris, unprepared to lose his bnce, to stagger back two steps. Ariana attempted to resist, but Gerald quickly lifted her up. He carried her as if she were a sack of potatoes on his shoulder.


    The park guard, observing them from a distance, was quite surprised by Gerald¡¯s actions. However, he resumed guiding the way when Gerald ordered him. Meanwhile, the man Gerald had paid to find Ariana¡¯s whereabouts was now restraining Chris, who was trying to chase after Ariana. And Ariana herself, the girl, continued to resist in Gerald¡¯s grip. Her hands pounded Gerald¡¯s back hard, causing him pain, and her legs kicked the empty air continuously, making it difficult for Gerald, especially as they had to climb to reach the car.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Gerald hissed. ¡°If you don¡¯t stop, we¡¯ll fall together!¡± he growled. But that didn¡¯t stop Ariana¡¯s antics. She grew more defiant, even asionally shouting to be let down. At that point, Ariana herself felt dizzy because her head was hanging below her.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you down, even if you cry, beg, or plead,¡± Gerald replied, his breath bingbored as he was genuinely struggling.


    Behind him, his assistant merely followed with suppressedughter. Gerald was truly behaving like a child. That was what Yosef, the old man who had dedicated himself to working for Gerald¡¯s family, thought.

 Chap 28 : Mommy For Axel

    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!¡± hemanded 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 afortable 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 nced at Yosef, and Yosef nodded at him.


    A few kilometerster, 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 red challengingly at the onlookers, making them avert their gaze out of fear and embarrassment.


    Ariana entered the women¡¯s restroom. Shepletely 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,fortable climbing pants, and expensive shoes designed specifically for slippery and steep terrains. Ariana snorted.


    The man had reallye well-prepared. Or did he have apass 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 backter. 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?Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    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 nce. 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 seeded. He nced at her with a look full of anger.


    Gerald didn¡¯t like beingpared to Chris. And Ariana needed to find out the truth about their past.


    It was clear that the attitudes disyed by Chris and Gerald led Ariana to conclude that both of them had a ratherplicated 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 ying house. Where she yed the role of thedy, and Gerald yed the role of the master. And in every game of house, there was a child character toplete the family. And that role would be yed by Axel.


    Yes, she was ying house, just like elementary school kids used to do in her childhood. She just had to y 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 y 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-inw followed from behind, along with his grandmother-inw. 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 nonchntly.


    ¡°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.


    Still, sheplied. Axel was still clinging to her. They, the grandmother-inw, mother-inw, 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 ¨C 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-inw 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 ¨C clothes, bags, sandals, and many others.


    ¡°Wow¡­¡± Ariana eximed, 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 cab contained items Ariana used regrly, 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 ying with none other than his newfound father.


    ¡°You¡¯ve truly bezytely,¡± Arianamented. 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.¡±

 Chap 29 : Madam Caitlyn

    ¡°Your mother-inw is here, Sir.¡± Instantly, Ariana exploded intoughter. It wasn¡¯t a joyousugh, but a cynical one she directed at Gerald. She had suspected who woulde to this ce.


    Her step mother ? Certainly not. Her step mother wouldn¡¯t do something like this. But to convince herself, she asked the household assistant, ¡°Who came? Is it Mrs. Caitlyn?¡± Her question clearly startled the household assistant.


    Which child referred to their own mother as ¡°Mrs.¡±? Gerald himself called his mother ¡°Mom.¡± That¡¯s what Ariana suspected was causing turmoil in the mind of Gerald¡¯s household assistant.


    ¡°Y-yes, Ma¡¯am,¡± the assistant stammered nervously.


    ¡°Who does she want to meet? Me or your Master?¡± Ariana asked again.


    The household assistant looked shocked once more. ¡°S-she wants to meet you, Ma¡¯am,¡± she replied. Ariana smirked. She nced at Gerald, who was also staring at her in surprise.


    ¡°Can you guess what she wants to say?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow. Gerald frowned. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what we talk about.¡± Ariana said, tapping her chest lightly. ¡°Later.¡± She continued before leaving Gerald and following the household assistant downstairs to the first floor.


    Mrs. Caitlyn looked incredibly elegant in her expensive attire. Even the handbag she held, Ariana was sure, could be worth a brand-new motorcycle. The woman appeared to be apanied by Gerald¡¯s mother, Ariana¡¯s impromptu mother-inw.


    Deliberately, Ariana tapped her house slippers louder on the floor. She did this, of course, to attract the attention of the two women.


    ¡°I heard I have a visitor. Little did I know you came here to see me. Is there something I can help you with?¡± Ariana asked skeptically.


    Mrs. Caitlyn rose from her seat and approached. Perhaps she wanted to engage in the customary small talk they usually did ¨C cheek kisses and pleasantries. But sorry, Ariana was not from the elegant circles. So before the woman could approach, she chose to sit in the farthest chair.


    ¡°I think you two could talk privately,¡± said her mother-inw, a suggestion nodded to by Mrs. Caitlyn. Ariana watched her mother-inw leave the living room, intentionally closing the door behind her. Now, she was alone with the woman who had given birth to her.


    ¡°So, what brings the honorable Mrs. here? Surely not just to check if I¡¯m still alive, right?¡± Ariana asked bluntly.


    ¡°I heard that you left home,¡± the woman said, getting straight to the point. Ariana simply smiled. She could guess who had provided that information.


    ¡°And let me guess, you rushed here immediately after being informed that I¡¯ve returned?¡± Ariana asked, one eyebrow raised. ¡°I¡¯m back in one piece, I¡¯m sorry if that disappoints you,¡± Ariana replied with her cynical smile.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± the woman said softly. ¡°Is there something else you want to ask?¡±


    ¡°This is about Karenina,¡± the woman said again.


    ¡°Why? Has she returned? And you want her back in her position, as Gerald¡¯s wife?¡± Ariana challenged. Mrs. Caitlyn looked at Ariana, clearly confused.


    ¡°She hasn¡¯t returned yet,¡± Mrs. Caitlyn replied, her demeanor now embarrassed.


    Ariana feigned surprise, clutching her chest. ¡°Oh, what a shame. Her mother seemed so eager to restore her position,¡± Ariana said mockingly. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. If you¡¯re concerned that I might forget who I really am, you don¡¯t need to worry. I¡¯ve promised myself that I will leave this ce as soon as your beloved daughter returns.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not you or your child who enjoys such extravagance,¡± Ariana looked around the luxurious living room. ¡°I¡¯m not a lover of wealth and respect. I¡¯d rather live in a humble home and eat what I have than live in a house coated in gold and diamonds but consume bitterness every day,¡± she jabbed. Ariana then stood up, intending to leave the woman when she said, ¡°You can¡¯t me me for wanting a better life.¡± She said it a bit roughly. Ariana stopped in her tracks and turned.


    ¡°Am I ming you, Madam?¡± she asked, her lips curling slightly. ¡°I have never med anyone. When you chose to leave, I didn¡¯t me you. Everyone has their own obsessions. And I understand, as a human being, you have yours too. But honestly, I am ashamed of you. And that shame turns into rooted hatred, here.¡± Ariana pointed at her chest. ¡°At the very least, as a human being, you should have gratitude. Even a stray dog can be loyal to the person who feeds it. But you? You even disregarded someone who, with a kind heart, gave you love and affection. You cast him away like trash when he had nothing. And treated him as if he were nobody, even though he had given you everything all this time.¡±


    ¡°And do you know that your actions right now are revealing who you truly are? After you, who requested ¨C no, more urately, forced, because you and your beloved husband held my father hostage ¨C my position as your daughter, you now openly warn me to remember who I am and what my rightful position should be. But you should know, even without your warning, I won¡¯t stay here any longer. Because even if your daughter doesn¡¯t return, I will find a way to leave this ce,¡± she said coldly. After that, Ariana opened the door and left the woman standing there, still lost in her thoughts.


    Ariana wasn¡¯t surprised to see her mother-inw standing outside the living room. Whether the woman had eavesdropped or not, Ariana gave her a sweet smile. ¡°Thank you for taking the trouble to be an informant for Mrs. Caitlyn, Mother-inw. You don¡¯t need to worry. Just like I told your friend, I will restore your beloved daughter¡¯s position to its rightful ce. So, both of you don¡¯t need to devise unnecessary strategies to get rid of me from this ce. Because truly, from the beginning, I never dreamed of living here.¡± Ariana shocked someone again with her words, but she chose to ignore it.


    She walked away from the house, ignoring the greetings of the servants. She didn¡¯t care if she wasbeled as arrogant or cruel. She didn¡¯t need their politeness. She didn¡¯t care about their ttery. She would only care about herself, her own happiness. She kept walking toward the main gate. ¡®Why does the distance from the door to the gate have to be this far?¡¯ she muttered to herself. Just look at this garden; if they built an orphanage here, how many rooms could it have?Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Ariana stared at the security guard and asked him to open the gate. The man in his thirties seemed surprised but still opened the gate for Ariana. And as the main gate opened, Ariana became aware once again. She was far from civilization.

 Chap 30 : Annoyed

    Ariana angrily pushed the restaurant door open. Amber, who happened to be at the front office, looked at her in surprise. ¡°Oh my God, look who¡¯s here, the newlywed with such a sour face. What happened? Didn¡¯t get your sharest night?¡± Amber teased. Dara, who was next to her, chuckled.


    ¡°Where¡¯s my phone?¡± Ariana asked, ignoring her cousin and best friend¡¯s sarcasm. ¡°Why are you asking me? Your husband took it home, didn¡¯t he?¡± Amber replied honestly.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Ariana gaped. Then she rolled her eyes. She was really in a bad mood now. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he say anything?¡± she grumbled as she headed upstairs.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to handle the kitchen first!¡± Amber shouted. Ariana nced at her and then red.


    ¡°Why do you and Jody exist if I can¡¯t have a vacation?¡± she jeered, ring. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be disturbed! I want to meditate upstairs. Beware if anyone knocks on the door!¡± she yelled, continuing to climb the stairs to her private room.


    Amber and Dara exchanged puzzled nces, but then they continued with their work.


    Sementara itu, di kediaman Zeroun, Gerald red sharply at Yosef. The middle-aged man had informed him that Ariana left the house after talking to her mother and mother-inw. ¡°Where did she go?¡± he asked. He deliberately didn¡¯t go to the office, fearing something might happen to Ariana, especially with her sudden visit from her mother.


    Topensate for his absence at the office, he had rescheduled meetings for video conferences, making them as brief as possible. Alright, he was the one who had asked not to be disturbed, and now he regretted giving that order. Damn! Was the girl nning to run away again?


    Chris! That name made his mind fume. Could Ariana have gone to see that man again? Yes, it was entirely possible. ¡°Did you instruct someone to follow her?¡± Gerald asked again. The older man nodded. ¡°Have you found out where Ariana went?¡± Yosef seemed to be holding back hisughter as he nodded. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s so funny?¡± Gerald inquired, curious.


    ¡°Madam knows she¡¯s being followed. She got angry and scolded our workers.¡± Gerald furrowed his brow. ¡°You mean she¡¯s upset because she¡¯s being followed? Why are they so foolish? We pay them well so that they won¡¯t be detected.¡± Gerald was growing increasingly frustrated with his employees. Why did everything they did since Ariana arrived feel so imperfect? Perfection used to be Gerald¡¯s top demand.


    But Yosef shook his head. ¡°Madam isn¡¯t angry because she¡¯s being followed, Sir,¡± he said, still trying to hold back hisughter. Gerald looked at him, growing more puzzled, while Yosef was recalling the report from the two people who were following Ariana. ¡°Madam is angry because they didn¡¯t offer her a ride.¡± Yosef repeated his words. And Gerald could only gape at the revtion. He massaged his temples, which were suddenly pounding fiercely. ¡°Sir, don¡¯t worry; they safely escorted Madam to Leonida¡¯s,¡± Yosef continued, trying to reassure him.


    Gerald stared at the middle-aged man who still seemed amused by Ariana¡¯s actions. ¡°Make sure she stays there. Ensure they bring Ariana back safely. Also, monitor anyone approaching Ariana, especially if a man named Chris Alessandroes to the restaurant. They must report immediately. I don¡¯t want Ariana nning something bad with that damn man!¡± he ordered. Yosef nodded and turned to leave Gerald¡¯s room. But just as Yosef was about to open the door, Gerald eximed, ¡°Wait!¡±


    Yosef turned back and faced Gerald. ¡°Is my mother-inw still here?¡± he inquired.


    Yosef shook his head. ¡°She left with your mother, Sir. About half an hour ago.¡± Gerald simply nodded and instructed Yosef to leave.


    Gerald leaned back in his chair. For God¡¯s sake. Was married life always this exasperating? he wondered inwardly. It hadn¡¯t even been a week since he and Ariana got married, but it felt like he might die young. If not from stress, then maybe from a heart attack.


    Ariana. Why did she always test him with various things? Couldn¡¯t she go a day without making him worried and anxious? Couldn¡¯t she just be a sweet, obedient girl for a day?


    But then Gerald shook his head. She wouldn¡¯t be Ariana if she became sweet and obedient. But Karenina would.


    Karenina. Uttering her name made Gerald irritated. He knew another challenge woulde when she returned. And Gerald wanted to know what reason she would present when she returned.


    Would she beg him and plead to regain her position? Or would she be grateful that she no longer had to bother being Gerald¡¯s bride?


    Gerald smirked cynically. He listened again to the recording of the conversation in the living room. Who said Gerald didn¡¯t know what happened to Ariana, his mother, and his mother-inw? He knew it all. Because from the moment Ariana stepped into that room, Gerald witnessed and heard everything. Perhaps his mother or mother-inw didn¡¯t know that the entire room was equipped with recording devices and top-quality CCTV.


    Even though Gerald heard Ariana say she would hand everything back to Karenina when she returned, he could be sure Ariana wouldn¡¯t make it easy for Karenina. And if Ariana decided to truly leave, Gerald would ensure she wouldn¡¯t go easily. Even if he had to confront Chris again. He didn¡¯t care. To him, what was his wouldn¡¯t be easily taken by someone else. Not unless he allowed it.


    Di dm restoran, Arianay on her bed, her mind heavy with the conversation with Gerald that had escted into threats from her mother. It gave her an intense headache. Was there an easy way for her to return to herfortable life, where she could live freely? Where she only had to be responsible for herself and her employees? Where she could solely focus on her work?


    Everything, even though so far nothing ¨C or not yet ¨C had harmed Ariana aside from her status changing from single to a wife, made her sick. And she still had to confront her twin sister when the girl returned.


    Karenina. Where was she? She was the cause of all this chaos.

 Chap 31 : Stalker

    ¡°Has she returned?¡± Gerald asked Yosef. It was the umpteenth time he had posed this question to his assistant. Eventually, Gerald decided to go to the office because he couldn¡¯t keep going to the restaurant and disturbing Ariana incessantly. Not that he didn¡¯t want to meet her, but he knew she was upset, and Gerald wanted to give her some space for a while.


    ¡°No, Sir. Not yet,¡± replied Yosef. Gerald nced at his watch; it was already five o¡¯clock. ¡°Are your staff members still keeping an eye on her?¡± he inquired again.


    ¡°Yes, Sir. They said they haven¡¯t seen Madam after she went upstairs,¡± Yosef confirmed. Gerald could only nod again. ¡°Make sure they don¡¯t getcent. If they do, I¡¯ll cut off their legs, hands, and gouge out their eyes!¡± he threatened.


    ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± was Yosef¡¯s reply.


    Gerald turned his attention to another assistant who stood before him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked the man, who was three years his junior.


    ¡°As you predicted. After finding out that you got married, she¡¯s started nning to return,¡± Vivan, a handsome man who could easily pass as a magazine model, had been Gerald¡¯s right-hand man since Gerald chose to settle in Indonesia. He was the second person Gerald trusted after Yosef and happened to be Yosef¡¯s son.


    Hearing Vivan¡¯s response, Gerald simply nodded. ¡°Has she booked a flight yet?¡± he inquired further.


    ¡°Not yet, Sir. Someone is still holding her back over there,¡± Vivan¡¯s answer made Gerald smile cynically. ¡°Just keep an eye on her. Let her have her fun before deciding toe back for battle,¡± Gerald instructed. Vivan nodded and then left Gerald alone. Afterward, Gerald contacted someone else.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± Amber¡¯s reply initiated the conversation, even before Gerald could ask anything.


    ¡°I heard she hasn¡¯te downstairs since she arrived?¡± he asked his wife¡¯s cousin.


    I don¡¯t know what Amber did, but then she responded angrily, ¡°Did you install CCTV here? This is Ariana¡¯s ce; you can¡¯t just vite her privacy like this!¡± Amber yelled. Clearly, the girl didn¡¯t appreciate Gerald¡¯s actions.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea. Installing CCTV in every corner of the room so I can know all your activities when my wife isn¡¯t around. Who knows, maybe one of you might be talking badly about her,¡± Gerald taunted Amber.


    ¡°For God¡¯s sake! If it weren¡¯t for Uncle and Aunt saying that you¡¯re the husband who¡­ never mind. I don¡¯t care. And I don¡¯t have to be your cheerleader!¡± the girl then hung up. Gerald immediately burst into amusedughter.


    Ariana opened her eyes. Her head hadn¡¯t been feeling better since earlier. Her neck felt stiff, even though she was using the same pillow she had always used. But why did it feel different? She had reced all the bed sheets that she hadn¡¯t changed since his departure with new ones. All of it was to get rid of Gerald¡¯s scent that lingered there.


    But recing everything didn¡¯t help. The man¡¯s scent still clung to everything. And, rudely enough, the man even invaded her dreams. When Ariana left and stayed and camped with Chris, the man¡¯s shadow seemed to disappear from her mind. But now, why?


    Oh, damn it! Ariana wanted to throw the pillow, but after thinking it over, what was the point?


    So, she got up from her bed and headed to the bathroom. Maybe by showering, all her thoughts would be washed away. Finally, she chose to drench her body with cold water from the high-pressure shower.


    Ariana changed into fresh clothes from the wardrobe. The throbbing in her head didn¡¯t subside. She opened the medicine box and hoped to find aspirin there. But she didn¡¯t find it. God, her pulsating headache only increased, making Ariana¡¯s vision blurry.


    She went downstairs with the intention of asking one of her employees to get headache medicine from the nearest store. But before she even reached thest step, her head started throbbing again with the presence of a man who looked sharp in his expensive suit. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Ariana asked, disying her clear displeasure.


    ¡°Dinner?¡± the man replied, looking at her inquisitively.


    ¡°He is one of our regr customers here, Miss,¡± Dara, who was the receptionist at that time, informed her.


    Ariana simply nodded. ¡°In that case, please serve this gentleman well. Enjoy your dinner, sir,¡± Ariana replied, her tone slightly sarcastic. She walked toward the cash register, where Amber was and currently on the phone. ¡°I¡¯ll bring the money.¡± She grabbed some bills from the cash register and showed them to Amber. Seeing Gerald in her restaurant made her lose her appetite, and she intended to buy food elsewhere. Street food was fine as long as she didn¡¯t have to see that man.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Ariana then walked toward the kitchen door and exited the restaurant through the side door, intentionally avoiding Gerald. She headed to the back of the building, unaware that he had also instructed someone to guard the back of his restaurant.


    Casually, she made her way to the pharmacy she knew wasn¡¯t far from her restaurant. She asked for headache medicine and then continued walking away from her restaurant, heading to the nearest fast-food ce she could find to fill her growling stomach.


    She entered the first fast-food restaurant she saw. The ce wasn¡¯t too crowded. Half of the tables were upied. Ariana quickly ced her order, asking them to pack it to go. She intended to return to the apartment she shared with Amber, regardless of whether that man would look for her or not. One thing was certain, Ariana didn¡¯t want to go back to his house. She still felt repulsed at the thought of seeing him, especially after this morning¡¯s incident. She had added one more name to her list of people to avoid.


    ¡°Make the same order for two!¡± The voice¡­ Ariana turned around and saw the man smiling flirtatiously at her. ¡°Don¡¯t n on running away from me again, Mrs.,¡± he whispered threateningly.


    Ariana¡¯s headache intensified. She rolled her eyes in frustration. She remained standing in front of the counter, waiting for her order ¨C which Gerald paid for ¨C to be prepared. She tried to ignore Gerald¡¯s arm around her waist, which, despite her attempts to push it away, kept finding its way back there.


    ¡°Damn it! She forgot her pursuers,¡± she muttered under her breath.


    Gerald smiled, seeing the irritated expression on Ariana¡¯s face. He chose to pretend he was oblivious to the girl¡¯s feelings before him now.

 Chap 32 : Massage

    ¡°Ariana left the restaurant with a takeout bag in her hand. She continued to ignore Gerald, who walked beside her. Her vision was getting blurry, and the sky was darkening. Ariana kept walking, and Gerald¡¯s hand gesture made her stumble for a moment.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± the man asked irritably. ¡°Home!¡± Ariana replied, annoyed.


    ¡°Home? Your home is where Axel and I are!¡± Gerald retorted, equally irritated.


    Axel. Ariana did forget about that kid today. But who cared? She just had to act normal in front of Axel if there were any officials from the departmenting for a surveyter. Besides that, she had no obligations toward Axel. Or the man in front of her.


    ¡°Home?¡± Ariana looked at the man mockingly. ¡°Home is where you want to go back. It¡¯s where you feelfortable and wanted.¡± Ariana said sarcastically. ¡°And I don¡¯t want to go back there. I don¡¯t feelfortable there. And clearly, I¡¯m not wanted there.¡± She continued harshly.¡±


    ¡°Gerald stared at her with a furrowed angry brow. ¡®What makes you ufortable? And who doesn¡¯t want you?¡¯ His grip on Ariana¡¯s arm tightened. Ariana tried to push him away, but he was stronger.


    ¡®You very well know who doesn¡¯t want me!¡¯ she shouted loudly. She didn¡¯t care if she was starting to attract attention. She just wanted to vent her frustration.


    ¡®Who? Axel and I want you,¡¯ Gerald replied in a softer tone.


    Ariana snorted. ¡®Do you think I¡¯m stupid? What does Axel know? He¡¯ll ept any woman introduced to him. Whether it¡¯s me or a woman you pick up from the street. He¡¯ll want them because you clearly promise him a mother. And that¡¯s not specifically directed at me. Just let me rest in peace, Gerald,¡¯ Ariana said. She tried once more to free herself from Gerald¡¯s grip.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    This time, Gerald let go. But as Ariana was about to step away, he repeated his actions, lifting her like he had carried her from the campsite.


    Ariana, who had already been experiencing a headache, now felt her head throbbing and heavy due to Gerald¡¯s actions. She felt like she was going to throw up right there.


    ¡®Gerald, put me down!¡¯ she ordered. But her voice was weak, as she felt too tired and her head was pounding.


    Gerald continued carrying her until his car approached, and someone opened the door for them. ¡®I hate you!¡¯ Ariana growled, her voice choked. She felt truly nauseous. Although there was nothing in her stomach to vomit since she hadn¡¯t eaten anything all day.¡±


    ¡°¡®You can hate me all you want, but I won¡¯t let you go just like that,¡¯ Gerald said triumphantly.


    Ariana pressed her forehead gently. Her vision was really blurry, and the nausea had reached her throat. ¡®Take me to the apartment,¡¯ she pleaded softly. But Gerald ignored her.


    ¡®Take me to the apartment, or I¡¯ll throw up right here!¡¯ shemanded.


    Gerald looked at her, and upon realizing Ariana¡¯s pale face and the sweat drenching her forehead, he appeared panicked. ¡®Are you sick?¡¯ he asked, full of concern, gently wiping Ariana¡¯s forehead. Ariana pushed him away roughly.


    ¡®Just take me to the apartment!¡¯ she ordered again. Gerald instructed his driver to do as Ariana requested.


    Ariana¡¯s apartment and the restaurant weren¡¯t too far away. In less than ten minutes, they had reached the basement of Ariana¡¯s apartment building. Ariana saw her automatic car parked there, clearly untouched for the past few days. She chose to ignore it and walked toward the entrance, inputting the password and quickly taking the elevator. She even disregarded Gerald, who was following her from behind.


    They arrived at Ariana¡¯s apartment floor. Without hesitation, she entered her unit¡¯s password and once again, ignoring Gerald, she immediately ran to the only bathroom in the apartment and vomited the clear liquid that had been making her nauseous and her head throb painfully since earlier.¡±


    ¡°Gerald had already taken off his jacket and was now massaging the back of Ariana¡¯s neck, hoping it would help ease her nausea. Ariana washed her face after spitting a few times. She looked at her own reflection in the mirror. She clearly appeared disheveled and pale. ¡®All because of a long shower on an empty stomach,¡¯ she muttered to herself. Now she caught a chill.


    Ariana slumped onto the couch and massaged her still-throbbing head and queasy stomach. Somehow, Gerald returned with a ss of warm water in his hands. ¡®Drink this, at least warm up your stomach a bit,¡¯ he said gently. Ariana took the ss and drank a third of it before cing it on the table.


    ¡®Why are you still here? Go home. I¡¯m staying here tonight,¡¯ Ariana said harshly. Gerald shrugged. ¡®If you¡¯re here, I¡¯m staying too,¡¯ he replied casually.


    Ariana stared at him, dumbfounded. ¡®Fine, suit yourself!¡¯ she retorted. She settled her body back onto the sofa.¡±


    The headache in Ariana¡¯s head showed no signs of subsiding. She shifted her body and curled up on the sofa, massaging her head with her fingers. At the same time, Gerald chose to go to the kitchen area and prepare the food they had bought earlier. After transferring it onto a te and arranging it neatly, Gerald returned to the sofa. He called Ariana¡¯s name, but she didn¡¯t budge.


    ¡°Ariana?¡± Gerald called her name softly, touching her shoulder and attempting to change her lying position.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Ariana turned her head, opened her eyes, and gazed at Gerald. Her eyes looked reddened, and her lips appeared pale. ¡°What?¡± she asked curtly.


    ¡°Dinner,¡± Gerald reminded her.


    ¡°Later,¡± Ariana refused. ¡°I have a headache,¡± she replied in a softer voice. Gerald frowned. He touched her forehead. It wasn¡¯t warm at all; it felt cold.


    ¡°Should I call a doctor?¡± he offered. Ariana shook her head slightly. She tried to sit upright.


    ¡°I just need to take some medicine and sleep,¡± she said, trying to get up from the sofa. ¡°Go home; Axel might be waiting,¡± she reminded him again. Gerald ignored her. He stood up too.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the medicine?¡± he asked, looking around. Ariana looked at him, exhaling a frustrated breath.


    ¡°On top of the fridge. There¡¯s a small medicine box. There¡¯s aspirin in there,¡± she said. Gerald walked back to the kitchen and returned in less than two minutes, carrying a ss and something else in his hand.


    Ariana grabbed the medicine from the man¡¯s hand and opened it, cing it into her mouth before drinking the warm water he had brought. Afterward, she chose to lie down on the bed. Gerald attentively covered her body with a nket, making sure it reached up to her shoulders.


    ¡°Do you have any aromatic oil?¡± he asked again. Ariana opened the drawer of her bedside table. There was baby oil, eucalyptus oil, and even some aromatic oil. Ariana kept these because she asionally used them.


    ¡°Turn around,¡± Gerald said. Ariana looked at him, confused. ¡°Let me apply the oil on your back,¡± he said again. Ariana still regarded him suspiciously.


    ¡°I promise I won¡¯t do anything. But if you want, we can do something,¡± he offered. Ariana just red at him before turning over onto her stomach.


    ¡°Just open the shirt,¡± Gerald instructed. Ariana red at him sideways. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to get naked, Sweetie. But it¡¯s hard to apply the oil if you¡¯re fully clothed,¡± he said honestly. ¡°Come on, just pretend I¡¯m a massage therapist,¡± Gerald added. Ariana scoffed.


    ¡°A massage therapist wouldn¡¯t tease,¡± she replied.


    Gerald chuckled. ¡°A massage therapist with extra services,¡± he said teasingly. But Arianaplied, unbuttoning her shirt and leaving her ck tank top, which contrasted sharply against her pale skin.


    Gerald poured some eucalyptus oil into his hands and began massaging Ariana¡¯s back with both of his hands. Ariana felt pain in several ces, especially in her shoulders and neck, and she almost screamed when he applied a bit too much pressure there.


    ¡°You¡¯ve caught a chill,¡± he said.


    ¡°I know!¡± Ariana snapped back sharply. Gerald just chuckled but didn¡¯t stop his massage. He then poured a little eucalyptus oil onto his fingertips and started massaging Ariana¡¯s forehead, moving slowly toward the back of her ears. Reluctantly, Ariana had to admit that the man¡¯s massage was at least alleviating the pain in her head and the queasiness in her stomach. Or perhaps, it was the effect of the aspirin she had taken earlier. Ariana didn¡¯t know for sure. What she knew was that slowly, as she began to feelfortable, she started drifting into sleep.


    Gerald could sense Ariana¡¯s breathing bing steadier. He nced at the girl who was now sleeping on her stomach.


    Not wanting to disturb her, Gerald tried to turn her body as gently as possible.


    Gerald adjusted Ariana¡¯s hair, yfully revealing her beautiful face that was covered by her rebellious locks. Her ck hair almost matched the color of the tank top she was wearing. He admired her pale skin.


    He rearranged the position of her pillow and then adjusted her nket. Gerald gently wiped Ariana¡¯s forehead and cheeks before deciding to get up and leave her to rest.


    Gerald left the room and closed the door behind him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, dialing his assistant¡¯s number.


    ¡°Tell someone from the house to bring me aplete change of clothes and the car,¡± he instructed Vivan over the phone. ¡°And you all can go home.¡± That was his only instruction. Then he dialed another number. ¡°I¡¯m at the apartment, so it seems like you can¡¯t go home tonight.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Amber eximed in disbelief. ¡°How did you both end up there?¡±


    ¡°Anyway, tonight you can¡¯t go home. Or else, you¡¯ll hear something that will keep you awake all night,¡± Gerald threatened. Little did he know that on the other end, Amber shuddered in terror upon hearing his words. She then hung up her phone without saying a word, and Gerald chuckled at her reaction.


    He then walked into the kitchen, noticing Ariana¡¯s food that had clearly gone cold. Like Ariana, he felt hunger gnawing at his stomach. And he knew, when she woke up, she would be even hungrier. And when people were hungry, they tended to be more irritable. To avoid that, Gerald decided to take matters into his own hands.


    He opened all the cupboard doors and pulled out whatever ingredients he could find. Just because Gerald was wealthy didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t handle the kitchen. Ariana would be surprised to know that Gerald was an excellent cook. He praised himself silently. And he was determined to prove his culinary skills to Ariana.

 Chap 33 : Don’t Avoid It

    Gerald had finished cooking dinner for both of them. He had even changed out of his formal attire into a short-sleeved shirt and sweatpants that Yosef had sent from his home. The clock showed ten minutes past seven in the evening. His stomach was really growling by now. But it didn¡¯t feel right to eat alone. Finally, he decided to go into the room and hope that Ariana had woken up from her sleep.


    The girl was whimpering in her sleep. Gerald knew something was not right with her body. He approached; she was sleeping on her side with the nket pulled up to her chin. He sat behind her and tried to feel her forehead. She was running a fever.


    Gerald peeked and saw that her face was indeed flushed due to the high body temperature. But she wasn¡¯t sweating at all.


    Gerald opened the nightstand and took out some eucalyptus oil. Once again, he poured the oil into his hands and tried to feel her back through the nket. Slowly, Gerald unhooked the girl¡¯s bra so she could breathe morefortably. Just like an expert, and let¡¯s say he was one, Gerald even managed to remove the bra from the girl¡¯s body. So now, Ariana was only wearing a tank top with nothing underneath.


    Gerald walked back to the kitchen, intending to find arge bowl and a small towel he could use topress Ariana¡¯s feverish body. However, he couldn¡¯t find a small towel anywhere.


    Well, maybe Ariana would be angry with him after this. But what could he do? He couldn¡¯t bear to see the girl seemingly in pain during her sleep. So, he opened her wardrobe, hoping to find a washcloth. And if he didn¡¯t find it, the onlyst resort would be to contact Amber again.


    But hisst resort n didn¡¯t need to be put into action. He found the washcloth in the girl¡¯s underwear drawer. Interestingly, there was nothing provocative or enticing in her underwear collection. He didn¡¯t find any lingerie, G-strings, orce bras. All of her underwear was neutral in color and made of modest materials. Gerald was even sure he wouldn¡¯t find a bikini in her closet.


    He shook his head when a lecherous thought crossed his mind.


    Gerald returned to the kitchen and filled arge bowl with water. He went back to the room and started to gently pat down various parts of Ariana¡¯s hot body. Ariana seemed to shiver, yet she didn¡¯t open her eyes. When everything felt sufficient, Gerald walked to the other side of the bed, slipped under the nket, and approached the girl¡¯s body.


    His right hand slipped behind Ariana¡¯s neck, drawing their bodies closer slowly. Well, what he should have done was to undress her and share body heat directly to reduce the fever. But Gerald didn¡¯t not want to do it. It was obvious he wanted to. However, he avoided confrontation in case the girl woke up.


    What if Ariana became even angrier with him? Even though, in reality, that would be quite enjoyable, but not right now. He just wanted peace for a moment. Gerald rested his head on top of hers and embraced Ariana tightly. Unconsciously, Ariana also hugged Gerald tightly. Her head leaned against Gerald¡¯s chest, emitting warmth that prated through his clothes.


    Gerald was about to sigh in his heart. The body couldn¡¯t lie. When it hurt, it showed. And when it needed something, it proved it. Just look at now. Even though the girl had said she didn¡¯t like Gerald, her response of hugging him tightly proved that she actually needed him.


    The feeling of hunger seemed to be reced by heavy drowsiness. Gerald wasn¡¯t ustomed to sleeping before 9 PM. He was even used to staying upte at certain times. But somehow, being close to Ariana made him feelfortable, turning sleep into an escape.


    Ariana felt a slow movement. Was there an earthquake? she wondered before fully waking up. She then opened her eyes and saw something ck blocking her view. ¡®What is this?¡¯ she thought. Ariana¡¯s hand, ced on the ck object, moved slowly and rubbed it. It wasn¡¯t her pillow, that was clear. This object was muchrger than her pillow. Then Ariana slowly looked up, but her head seemed to be blocked by something.


    It was someone¡¯s arm, and someone¡¯s chest, she murmured in her mind. Yes, the movement she felt earlier was the person¡¯s breathing.


    Wait. Ariana attempted to pull back, but the person¡¯s hand stopped her. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± he asked, his voice hoarse with sleepiness. Ariana now looked up and saw the man was still asleep.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ariana asked in panic. They were both under the nket, and the man¡¯s legs were entwined with hers, and his arms were tightly wrapped around her. His hands were pressing on her back, causing Ariana to rest her head on his chest again. Memories of the day her status changed on the first day came flooding back. No, that couldn¡¯t happen again. They couldn¡¯t do that.


    Ariana tried to push the man¡¯s chest again, but he continued to hold her. ¡°Just a moment,¡± he said. Ariana knew she couldn¡¯t struggle. No matter how strong she was, the man¡¯s strength clearly overpowered hers. So, she surrendered and rxed her body.


    Gerald¡¯s right hand, which was acting as a cushion, was now not supporting her back but gently stroking her hair. ¡°How do you feel? Does your body feel better now?¡± he inquired. Ariana was now free to lift her head, and the man bent down in his sleeping position.


    His left hand yed with Ariana¡¯s hair and even caressed her cheek and left neck. Ariana shuddered at his touch. The man tilted Ariana¡¯s head up and shifted his body down. Then he ced his forehead against Ariana¡¯s, making their breaths mingle. ¡°Not as hot as before,¡± he murmured. Ariana lifted her head again, and the man smiled. ¡°Hungry?¡± he asked, full of concern.


    ¡®No!¡¯ Arianamanded herself in her mind. ¡®Don¡¯t be sweet and caring to me! I don¡¯t want to like you!¡¯ she warned herself.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she replied curtly. Ariana then tried to get up and push the man away. But she failed. Her position reversed, and now the man was pushing her. Gerald pinned Ariana down with his body, making her unable to move.


    ¡°Are you trying to resist?¡± the man asked challengingly. Ariana furrowed her brow in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Are you trying to deny that deep down you¡¯re starting to like me?¡± Gerald challenged again. Ariana sighed. She chose to turn her face to the right. However, she made a mistake. By doing that, she gave the man a chance to touch her even more.

 Chap 34 : Don’t be Tempted

    Gerald lowered his head closer to Ariana¡¯s face when the girl¡¯s face avoided him. Ariana¡¯s choice to look away was wrong because it showed the side of her long neck, making Gerald even more interested in touching her. And he intended to do it.


    Gerald touched the tip of his nose to the girl¡¯s neck, smelling the fragrance of the oil he had rubbed on the girl¡¯s body. But instead of feeling the smell, he liked it. ¡°Sweet.¡± He said in a whisper in Ariana¡¯s ear. The girl shuddered for a moment.


    Gerald knew that the girl was pressing her head deeper into the pillow¡¯s surface, which made him even more touchy and intended to tease her further.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to look at me?¡± Gerald was still whispering in the girl¡¯s ear. Even deliberately bit the tip of the girl¡¯s ear. Ariana¡¯s hand was on his chest, trying to push Gerald away. But no matter how hard she tried, Gerald¡¯s strength was more muscr than those tiny hands.


    Gerald now moved his face towards the girl¡¯s jaw. he slowly touched his lips to the surface of the girl¡¯s skin. He could hear the sound when the girl swallowed her saliva. And he wanted tough about it.


    He seeded. He had seeded in seducing the girl. He was sure he could make her fall for him with just one more step.


    Gerald moved his face closer to the corner of the girl¡¯s mouth. He could feel the girl¡¯s fingers pinching his chest when he was about to kiss her. Damn! Gerald groaned in pain and immediately allowed the girl to kick her foot against Gerald¡¯s shin.


    Gerald mmed, falling to the cold floor butt-first. And that makes the pain even more intense. He grumbled with his head thrown back. At the same time, Ariana sat on the bed and looked back at him annoyedly.


    ¡°Are you costumed as a gigolo?¡± the girl squeaked. Gerald looked at her with wide eyes in disbelief. ¡°Sorry Mister. But I won¡¯t be tempted. Unless I want to.¡± She said.


    Ariana grabbed the pillow nearby and threw it before getting up from the bed and leaving the room, mming the door shut.


    She walked swiftly toward the bathroom. ¡°Damn it!¡± she cursed while looking at her own face in the sink mirror.


    Did the man see her cheeks turning red? Of course, he would assume Ariana was feverish, right? Not because he thought she was tempted. Right? She questioned herself.


    That¡¯s right, Ariana. What you did was right. You mustn¡¯t be tempted by a seductive man like him. He¡¯s someone you should avoid. No matter how strong the temptation he gives, never fall into his trap. Especially not to be defiled by him.


    What would the world say if Ariana surrendered herself to Gerald? No. Her future was still ahead of her. She should only surrender to the man she loved.


    Even if that man was her legal and religiously recognized husband. But still, Ariana didn¡¯t love him. He was just her backup. And when the main actor returned, he would return to his position. And if Ariana had given herself to him by then, what would her fate be?


    No. She couldn¡¯t do it. No matter how strong the temptation was, and no matter how much Ariana wanted to experience it, she couldn¡¯t do it.


    Ariana quickly washed her face. She didn¡¯t bother drying it. She just needed to return to her room and put on her clothes. She looked at her body in the mirror again.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Oh God, she looked like a seductive woman. How could she face the man just wearing this flimsy tank top? Even if there was me, she would be the main suspect because the clothes she wore would be seen as the trigger for his desires.


    Ariana shook her head vigorously. She opened the door and walked back to her room, which was now open again.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± the question made Ariana pause for a moment. She turned and saw Gerald standing behind the bar table. ¡°Dinner is ready. Let¡¯s eat,¡± he invited. Ariana furrowed her brow when she saw several dishesid out on her small dining table.


    ¡°Why are you standing there? Come on,¡± he invited again. Ariana continued to stare at him but then resumed her walk. ¡°Ariana?¡± he called out.


    ¡°I¡¯m changing!¡± Ariana answered from inside her room, raising her voice.


    ¡°Why change your clothes? I prefer you like this,¡± Gerald replied. The man seemed to follow her back into the room, perhaps suspecting that Ariana was just making excuses, so he wanted to confirm her statement with his own eyes.


    Ariana grabbed some clothes from her wardrobe haphazardly. She groaned again when her choice turned out to be a loose short-sleeved shirt with a wide neckline. It wasn¡¯t overly revealing, but it showcased her corbones and even the top part of her breasts.


    Damn! She cursed again. But she couldn¡¯t change it again because Gerald was standing still in front of the door. If she changed, he might think Ariana was seeking attention by trying to appear attractive in front of him. Besides, Ariana often wore this outfit as her daily wear when she was alone with Amber in the apartment.


    Fine, ignore Gerald¡¯s thoughts. Whatever usations he might throw at her, Ariana wouldn¡¯t care. She then walked back out and nudged Gerald¡¯s frozen figure aside.


    The square dining table had four chairs, with two facing each other. Ariana sat in one of the empty chairs and observed the menu in front of her. All the dishes there were made from the ingredients in the fridge. Ariana knew because she was usually the one responsible for stocking the fridge, and she was also the one who cooked for herself and Amber. But the question now was, who made all this?


    ¡°Try it,¡± themand-like request came from the man who now chose to sit in the empty chair beside hers. Ariana squinted at him.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you sit over there? Isn¡¯t that seat still empty?¡± she pointed to the chair in front of her. Gerald just looked at her, shrugging his shoulders.


    ¡°I know you want me to see your face from the front when you eat. But I prefer sitting beside you like this.¡± The man ced his hand on the back of Ariana¡¯s chair. ¡°So I can look at you like this.¡± He rested his left elbow on the table, supporting his head with a rxed gesture.

 Chap 35 : Aarzu

    Ariana raised an eyebrow and then lifted the corner of her mouth. ¡°I know you¡¯re the yboy type, but I didn¡¯t realize you were shameless like this,¡± she said mockingly.


    Gerald seemed to tense up. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked.


    Ariana shrugged indifferently. ¡°I don¡¯t mean anything,¡± she replied tly. ¡°Who made all of this?¡± she asked, trying to divert the conversation to the food in front of her and choosing to ignore Gerald. She lifted her spoon and started eating broli.


    ¡°I did,¡± Gerald answered, now sitting in his normal posture. His response made Ariana choke on her food. Gerald quickly brought a ss of water to her mouth. Ariana drank it slowly. Afterward, she stared at Gerald in disbelief. ¡°I cooked it. All of this,¡± he pointed to the food on the table. ¡°Except for that,¡± he said, referring to the fried chicken Ariana had bought earlier.


    Ariana chuckled and shook her head. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t hurt to be honest, Gerald. Just say if you had one of your house assistantse here and set all this up while I was asleep,¡± she said. She scooped up another bite of her food.


    Gerald shrugged again and began spooning food for himself. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to believe me, I can say whatever,¡± he replied tly. ¡°But you should know, I can cook too. Although maybe not as well as you,¡± he added.


    Ariana turned to look at him again. She tried to observe his expression, but all she saw was a t, expressionless face. ¡°I thought rich people like you could only show off,¡± she said. It wasn¡¯t a tone of disdain, but Ariana was saying what was on her mind.


    Gerald shrugged his shoulders again and continued eating his food. ¡°I¡¯m not that rich, Ariana. Everything I have now belonged to myte father,¡± he replied in a t tone.


    ¡°Which now belongs to you, and maybe to Axel,¡± Ariana continued.


    Gerald smiled slightly. ¡°Maybe,¡± he replied shortly. ¡°You might think I enjoy all of this. But no. I prefer my old self,¡± he continued.


    Ariana now focused her attention on Gerald. What did he mean by his old self? And somehow, she blurted out her question unintentionally, as Gerald seemed to look at her while smiling mockingly.


    ¡°Are you starting to get curious about me?¡± he asked teasingly.


    Ariana sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not that curious,¡± she replied shortly. ¡°But if you want to tell, I¡¯m a good listener,¡± she added, trying to make her tone sound casual.


    ¡°Hmmm¡­ a good listener,¡± he said, nodding his head. Ariana suspected he was mocking her again. ¡°Alright then. As a couple, shouldn¡¯t we get to know each other? Because honestly, I already know about you from the profiles my employees provided.¡±


    Ariana now stared at him with wide eyes. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked, not understanding.


    Gerald just shrugged his shoulders. ¡°How about we formally introduce ourselves, as if we¡¯re meeting for the first time?¡± He put his spoon down on his te. Ariana noticed he had finished his meal and his body was now entirely facing her. Then slowly, he extended his hand toward Ariana. ¡°Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Gerald Aarzu Zeroun.¡±


    Ariana furrowed her brow. ¡°Aarzu?¡± she asked. Because as far as she knew, the man¡¯s name was only Gerald Zeroun. She had never seen the letter A in his name, at least that¡¯s what she read from Axel¡¯s adoption documents.


    Gerald smiled and nodded. ¡°Not many people know about that, indeed. It¡¯s a name given to me by my mother specifically for me. You can ask my grandmother about it,¡± he suggested.


    Ariana continued to frown. ¡°Why isn¡¯t that name on your identity card?¡± she asked again. Gerald just shrugged his shoulders.


    ¡°Because that name I only tell to special people,¡± he said, shrugging his shoulders. He nced at his outstretched hand, which Ariana didn¡¯t respond to. ¡°I¡¯m Gerald Aarzu Zeroun. Gerald, which in German means spear, Aarzu means hope, aspiration, and also love in Arabic. And Zeroun is my father¡¯s name. So, you can deduce the meaning of my name from those three elements.¡± Ariana blinked her eyes in disbelief. Was this man in front of her really this detailed?


    She waited for Ariana¡¯s hand to be extended. Gerald finally pulled her hand forcibly. ¡°And now I am the husband of a woman named Ariana Leonidas,¡± he said, his words making Ariana retract her hand instantly.


    ¡°Sorry, until now I couldn¡¯t ept that reality,¡± she refused. She reached for her spoon again and resumed her long-dyed dinner.


    Gerald chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯lle around eventually.¡±


    Ariana shrugged nonchntly. ¡°So, what do you do for a living, Mr. Aarzu?¡± Ariana tried to act indifferent. She chose to y along with the man¡¯s game. Besides, she had to admit that she needed to know who the man sitting next to her really was. He couldn¡¯t be aplete stranger to her, even before bing enemies, those who fought were individuals who knew each other.


    ¡°I¡¯m a salesman,¡± the man replied casually. Ariana choked again and looked at him cynically. ¡°That¡¯s right, my wife. Your husband¡¯s job is sales. I sell services to people and some products too,¡± he replied. Ariana didn¡¯t want to delve into that topic. ¡°I¡¯m very skilled in many things. I¡¯m a great charmer too,¡± he continued.


    ¡°Of course. He wouldn¡¯t be a yboy if he couldn¡¯t charm,¡± Ariana sneered again. Her words made Gerald chuckle again. ¡°Certainly, a merchant must be good at charming. If you can¡¯t charm, how can you seed in selling your goods?¡± he continued. Ariana just nodded her head. ¡°I¡¯m a man who already has a child, and now I have a wife,¡± he said. Ariana nced at him, still with her sharp gaze. ¡°Even though she looks stern and fierce, she¡¯s actually a friendly and kind girl. And honestly, her kicks always hurt. But I like it. Even from the first sight,¡± he continued. Ariana could only snort. She chose to get up from her seat and picked up their dirty tes.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°Useless introductions, Mr. Aarzu. I¡¯m not interested in your ttery,¡± she said as she walked away towards the kitchen.


    Geraldughed, but he followed the girl who now stood in front of the sink, preparing to wash the dirty dishes. ¡°I know,¡± he said, his voice trailing behind Ariana.

 Chap 36 : Madam Aarzu

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ariana shrugged her shoulders to get the man to move away. But instead of driving away, Gerald got closer. He deliberately stood behind Ariana with his arms now wrapped around Ariana¡¯s stomach.


    ¡°I just want to be close to my wife; is that not allowed?¡± asked the man in a teasing tone.


    ¡°Stop it, Gerald. Please don¡¯t be rude by saying that I¡¯m your wife. In reality, it is just a status on paper.¡± She snorted.


    Ariana felt ufortable with Gerald¡¯s presence behind her, but the man¡¯s body temperature and touch made her feelfortable simultaneously.


    ¡°I never thought of it that way. That¡¯s just your assumption from the start. You are sentimental and always think negatively of me.¡± said the man. Well, what the man said was right. It¡¯s one hundred percent correct. So who wouldn¡¯t think so?


    Remember how you got married without getting to know each other, dating, without discussion? It was just a marriage at gunpoint. It¡¯s a trap marriage. If Ariana is angry with the person who framed her, that¡¯s appropriate.


    ¡°If you were in my position, would you ept all this?¡± Ariana, who had finished washing the dishes and put them in storage next to the sink, now turned around. Looking at Gerald with her head raised.


    The man¡¯s hand hugging her stomach was reced by holding on to the sink behind Ariana. He was trapping Ariana¡¯s body. But Ariana didn¡¯t feel ufortable at all. She even stood defiantly and folded her arms in front of her chest.


    Gerald smiled crookedly. ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t ept it either. That¡¯s why I want to fix everything,¡± he said make an offer.


    Ariana frowned. Her gaze focused sharply on the face of the handsome man in front of her. Previously, Ariana didn¡¯t never observed Gerald. But now¡­


    Ariana shook her head. The rm seemed to sound instantly. Remember, she must not be tempted.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°How do you fix everything? Even if you cancel this marriage, my status will remain as a widow.¡± Ariana said sarcastically.


    Gerald shrugged his shoulders again. ¡°Who is going to divorce you anyway? Didn¡¯t I tell you that I would never do it?


    ¡°Then how do you fix everything?¡± Ariana asked again, confused.


    ¡°I¡¯ll start by asking you out on a date, making you dependent and falling in love with me. And finally, you will never ask to be separated from me again because you, your body, your brain, and your heart will only focus on one name. Namely Gerald Aarzu Zeroun.¡± Said the man proudly.


    Ariana snorted. ¡°It¡¯s not that easy, Mr. Aarzu.¡±


    Gerald widened his eyes. He was surprised by the girl¡¯s call. It didn¡¯t feel strange, but it soundedfortable to his ears. Gerald liked it.


    So far, Ariana was the only one who called him that, and Gerald felt it was something special between them. But he would pretend that it was normal.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s not easy to conquer Mrs. Aarzu. But I will still try.¡± He answered again. The man is back brought his body closer so that there was only an inch of distance between them.


    Ariana started to get warning rms in her head again. She was a little afraid of what the man would do to her next.


    Gerald moved one of his hands. The man¡¯s left hand now moved behind Ariana and began to touch her back. Ariana suddenly straightened up. She knew what would happen next. Doesn¡¯t this often ur in romantic dramas and films?


    That¡¯s right because Gerald¡¯s right hand began to rise and touch Ariana¡¯s left jaw after that. Ariana stared; she raised her head and looked at Gerald warily.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to kiss me, Mr. Aarzu.¡± She threatened. Ariana¡¯s hand began to rise and was about to push the man¡¯s chest again. But she lost fast because Gerald moved more quickly by grabbing both hands and pinning them behind Ariana¡¯s back.


    Ariana rebelled, of course. But Gerald chuckled at her rebellion. ¡°You know, the stronger you rebel, the more turned on I will be?¡± asked the man. Ariana froze; she looked at the man sarcastically. But Gerald just chuckled.


    ¡°You masochist!¡± Ariana said with a growl. Geraldughed.


    ¡°No, Sweetheart. I¡¯m not a masochist. I¡¯m just a man who gets too excited when he sees his wife. And that¡¯s not a thing bad, right? Because you arewful for me, and I am alsowful for you.¡±


    Ariana groaned. ¡°As if you¡¯ve never done it with a woman who isn¡¯twful for you.¡± She used. Gerald chuckled again.


    ¡°OK, maybe I¡¯ll do repentance about it.¡± answered the man with a face that looked thoughtful. ¡°But maybeter.¡± He started to lower his head and approached Ariana¡¯s face. Ariana again looked away so that Gerald could only touch his nose to Ariana¡¯s jaw.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone else¡¯s marks.¡± Ariana hissed. ¡°In the mood to touch me while out there? You still intend to touch other women?¡±


    Gerald stood up straight again. The man¡¯s hand never left Ariana¡¯s hand, which was behind the girl¡¯s back. The man¡¯s eyes were now looking at Ariana in confusion.


    ¡°You want me, who is still sealed, while you what? Secondhand? I respect the status of those truly widowed, whether divorced or married. At least they have husband and wife rtions after marriage, and I like those who respect marriage by not ying with other women behind their backs. But you, Mr. Aarzu, I¡¯m not even sure you will remain loyal to me after you get me.


    ¡°You can even easily change your future wife. And it¡¯s easy for you to transform women from one minute to the next. And me, I don¡¯t want to be one of the women on that list.¡± She said in a disdainful tone.


    Gerald fell silent. OK, he¡¯s not a hypocrite. Everything Ariana said was correct. Women, for him, are just one of his means of satisfaction. He can rece them anytime and will no longer be bothered by them because he has specialpensation for every pleasure he gets.


    And again, Ariana is right. He quickly reced Karenina with Ariana because, for him, Karenina was as worthless as the other women who had been filling his void. He married Karenina because of Axel and the profitable business offers he could get. But Ariana.


    Gerald looked at the girl with a probing gaze. Ariana looked at him with her beautiful eyes in a challenging way.


    Gerald had never been challenged like this. Even her mother and grandmother never behaved like Ariana¡¯s attitude so far. They always obeyed whatever Gerald asked and ordered. No, what Gerald asked for was the same as an order for them.


    ¡°Don¡¯t equate me with the women in your collection, Mr. Aarzu.¡± Ariana hissed, which made Geralde back to his senses. Ariana now managed to free her hand after Gerald loosened it. She then walked quickly towards his room, leaving Gerald hanging.

 Chap 37 : Ariana’s Tactics

    Ariana mmed the bedroom door shut with force. Her chest was heaving, clearly with intense emotion. She was passionate, of course. She had to admit that.


    As a mature woman, she was entitled to feel all of this. After all, she wasn¡¯t young anymore, and biologically, she was in her prime. But alongside all of that, what Ariana was feeling right now towards Gerald was mostly anger.


    When she confronted him about other women, he didn¡¯t deny it at all. And it was a safe bet that her assumption was correct.


    Yes, Ariana was only guessing. She didn¡¯t really know if Gerald had many women out there or not. She deduced it based on a conversation she overheard between Chris and Gerald.


    Ariana knew Chris very well-his social life and his love life. She understood her cousin¡¯s interactions because he often confided in her.


    Ariana was frequently asked for help by Chris to keep away the girls who pursued him. And Ariana knew that Chris¡¯s romantic escapades weren¡¯t just about watching movies, holding hands, and forehead kisses. He clearly did more than that.


    Ariana had witnessed it herself-not the hot scenes, but the arguments between Chris, a woman, and another woman who happened to be his mistress.


    Considering what Gerald and Chris discussed when Gerald picked her up from the campsite, Ariana quickly drew her own conclusions. Gerald wasn¡¯t much different from Chris. And it turned out her guess was right.


    Ugh, Ariana sighed. Men, always after one thing. Who did he think he was? Gio Casanova? Or did he believe he was Genghis Khan? Sorry, but Ariana wasn¡¯t an Eva Braun being Hitler¡¯s mistress. She was just a normal woman who desired to be the only one in a man¡¯s heart.


    Ariana heard a loud bang on her bedroom door. Of course, it was him, who else could it be? Perhaps he had snapped out of his thoughts about what Ariana had said.


    ¡°What!¡± Ariana shouted from inside the room. ¡°Open the door, sweetheart,¡± hemanded, albeit in a coaxing tone.


    ¡°Why should I do it? This is my room; I¡¯m free to do whatever I want,¡± he replied, still shouting.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s your room. And I want to enter. I want to sleep,¡± Ariana sighed. ¡°Just sleep outside. There¡¯s a long sofa out there!¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°It won¡¯t befortable to sleep there. It¡¯s better to sleep in the room. We can sleep together, and you can cuddle me like earlier,¡± he suggested.


    Ariana nced at the bolster on her bed. ¡®Damn bolster! Why does he have to rece you!¡¯ she cursed inwardly.


    ¡°Ariana!¡± the man called out when Ariana didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°What?¡± she said.


    ¡°Please, open the door. Are you really going to make me sleep outside and wake up all sore?¡± Gerald asked again, his tone slightly pleading.


    ¡°Why should I care? If you really want to sleep on afortable bed, you can go back to your own mansion!¡± Ariana knew he was probably gritting his teeth out there, but she didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°I won¡¯t go home and leave you here alone,¡± he replied.


    ¡°In that case, you only have two options: sleep in Amber¡¯s room or sleep on the sofa in front of the TV,¡± she retorted. Ariana didn¡¯t hear any response.


    She felt Gerald had probably walked away. Maybe he decided to sleep in Amber¡¯s room or in the TV room, or perhaps he would go back to his own home. Ariana didn¡¯t care.


    She sat down on her bed. In truth, she didn¡¯t feel sleepy. Usually, when she wasn¡¯t sleepy, she¡¯d spend her time watching TV, YouTube videos, or reading. But now, her phone wasn¡¯t even in her hands, and she didn¡¯t have a book to read.


    Ariana nced at the wall clock in her room. Damn! Double damn for her because Gerald was outside her room now. If she went out and opened the door, the man would have a chance to enter her room, and in the end, they would be trapped together inside.


    But if she didn¡¯t leave her room, she couldn¡¯t fulfill her needs. Alright, an idea crossed Ariana¡¯s mind.


    She then opened the door. The sound of the key turning was likely heard by the man who was now sitting on the sofa, watching TV. ¡°Changed your mind, huh?¡± he asked with his wide grin. Ariana just smiled.


    She ignored him and went into the bathroom. She chose to spend a long time in there, going through her bedtime ritual. Washing her face again, brushing her teeth, and even applying her night cream.


    Afterward, she came out of the room and found the TV turned off, and her room, which was previously wide open, now half-closed. Ariana chuckled to herself.


    She walked towards a room, but not her own. It was Amber¡¯s room. She locked the door from the inside.


    ¡°Ariana!¡± the voice was clearly annoyed. ¡°Yes!¡± Ariana replied, trying to suppress herughter.


    ¡°What are you doing? Why didn¡¯t you return to your room?¡± he asked, still sounding irritated.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to sleep in the room? So, I yielded. Sweet dreams, Mr. Aarzu!¡± she said. Gerald even kicked Amber¡¯s room door after not receiving a response from Ariana. And Ariana chose to ignore it.


    ¡°Serves you right!¡± she murmured softly. She folded Amber¡¯s prayer mat and put it back where it belonged before finally climbing onto the bed, preparing to rest. Hmmm¡­ what a delight¡­ she thought to herself.


    Ariana fell asleep after reciting a long prayer in her heart. A prayer she dedicated to her father, her mother, her closest people, and herself.


    Ariana woke up to her body¡¯s natural rm. She nced at the digital clock beside Amber¡¯s bed. Stretching with a long groan, Ariana got up and tidied Amber¡¯s bed. She then walked out of the room towards the bathroom. She wouldn¡¯t shower at her apartment to save time. After washing her face, she intended to leave the apartment for the restaurant, hoping Gerald hadn¡¯t woken up until she was truly gone.


    Oh God, Ariana felt like she was ying cat and mouse right now. After previously ying house with the man, now she was ying hide and seek.


    This wouldn¡¯t have happened if Gerald had treated Ariana reasonably. Reasonably meaning he would act cold and arrogant, just like his initial impression. But now, he behaved as if Ariana was something he had to obtain, and Ariana didn¡¯t like it.


    She finished her needs and silently thanked her lucky stars because it seemed Gerald was still deeply asleep.


    In her heart, sheughed proudly. Bye-bye, Mr. Aarzu, she said before leaving the apartment.

 Chap 38 : Vivan

    Gerald woke up to the sound of his phone ringing. He felt around the bed and even the bedside table, but couldn¡¯t find his phone. Where was the thing? Why wouldn¡¯t it stay put? He cursed to himself and finally opened his eyes.


    Alright, his orientation was a bit off. Gerald suddenly remembered he wasn¡¯t in his own room. He nced around the room dominated by white and wooden brown before checking the wall clock. Six o¡¯clock? He grimaced and then abruptly got up.


    Last night, after Ariana entered Amber¡¯s room, he couldn¡¯t sleep anymore. It was all because of that girl and Gerald¡¯s unmet needs. So Gerald had to take a cold shower at three in the morning and ended up falling asleep, goodness knows what time.


    He waste, of course. Gerald got up and put on the same pants and shirt he had taken offst night. He didn¡¯t even bother making the bed. He left the room and searched for his phone that was ringing again. The phone was on the sofa in front of the TV. Gerald must have left it there and forgotten to bring it into the room in his haste to make sure Ariana didn¡¯t leave him outside.


    Unfortunately, the girl had different thoughts and had gone into Amber¡¯s room, not following his predictions. Since when did Ariana ever act ording to Gerald¡¯s predictions anyway? Alright, next time he thought about Ariana, he should consider the opposite of what women in general would think.


    Gerald answered the phone when he saw Vivan¡¯s name on the screen. ¡°What!¡± he snapped irritably. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s already morning,¡± Vivan said on the other end.


    ¡°I know. Why are you bothering me so early? What if you interrupted me being intimate with Ariana?¡± he grumbled irritably.


    Vivan seemed to chuckle on the other end. And Gerald frowned. ¡°I know you¡¯re not being intimate with thedy, Boss,¡± the man said, sounding amused.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gerald asked, confused. He nced at Amber¡¯s closed door and assumed Ariana was still inside.


    ¡°ording to our informant, your wife is currently shopping at the traditional market with her employee named Jody,¡± Vivan reported. Gerald grimaced. Quickly, he walked towards Amber¡¯s room and opened it forcefully. The door opened easily. Bright and neatly arranged.


    ¡°Damn!¡± he cursed irritably. Vivan was definitely chuckling over there. Gerald was sure of it. ¡°Are you still tailing her?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t told them to stop, Boss,¡± Vivan replied. Gerald should have been thankful to the man for his efficiency in work. But instead of feeling grateful, Gerald felt irritated. How could Vivan predict this while he couldn¡¯t?


    ¡°So, why are you calling me?¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to ask, are you having breakfast at home or will you have it at the office?¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Gerald thought. Going home was useless because he wouldn¡¯t find Ariana there. And having breakfast at Ariana¡¯s ce, that was definitely impossible because he had no reason to do so. Ariana¡¯s restaurant was clearly only avable for lunch and dinner. ¡°I¡¯ll have breakfast at the office,¡± Gerald finally answered because it was the only option he had at the moment.


    ¡°Alright, Boss,¡± Vivan replied. And a momentter, the doorbell of the apartment rang. Gerald walked over and opened the door.


    Of course, he wasn¡¯t surprised when he saw his assistant standing there in aplete suit in both of his hands. Gerald walked back in after opening the door. Vivan followed him from behind. The man didn¡¯t talk much and still stood after cing Gerald¡¯s shoes on the floor.


    Gerald moved towards the bathroom. He chose to shower quickly to avoid imagining inappropriate things in there. Honestly, being in Ariana¡¯s bathroom, seeing her belongings, ended up making him think about her.


    And thinking about her wasn¡¯t good right now because it made his body crave for something he shouldn¡¯t want at the moment.


    Gerald stepped out of the bathroom with a towel that was too small, brown in color. Again, he couldn¡¯t find any patterned towels or cute bathrobes that women usually used.


    Was Ariana really that tomboyish? Even tomboyish girls usually had cute trinkets in their collection, but Gerald couldn¡¯t find any.


    Really. Last night, he had been audacious enough to open all of her closets and drawers. And he didn¡¯t find anything that girls usually called ¡®cute¡¯ and ¡®adorable¡¯. No stuffed animals, no essories except for a casual-looking watch, and Gerald didn¡¯t even find anything in shades of pink. Most of her belongings were ck, gray, and brown.


    Gerald shook his head. It made it even harder for him to figure out Ariana¡¯s personality. He couldn¡¯t know her preferences. At least, he should know what gift Ariana would like, but he couldn¡¯t find a single clue.


    What could he give to that girl? Something she would like, something unique in ck, brown, and gray?


    Gerald continued to ponder as he exited Ariana¡¯s room, his suit impably put together. Vivan remained mostly silent, and Gerald felt too proud to ask for the man¡¯s opinion on what Ariana might like.


    If Vivan could guess what Ariana wanted, and his guess was correct, Gerald¡¯s dignity as a husband and a yboy, as used by the girl, would truly plummet.


    They descended to the basement and got into the car, still in silence. Gerald chose to stare at the increasingly busy road, even though it was still early. His mind was working hard to think about what Ariana might like. Suddenly, Vivan cleared his throat.


    ¡°Boss,¡± he said hesitantly.


    ¡°What?¡± Gerald replied irritably. He was genuinely frustrated with Vivan for one thing the man had done today.


    ¡°Um¡­ well,¡± Vivan began, hesitating.


    ¡°Just say it.¡±


    Vivan seemed to be trying to find the right words that wouldn¡¯t set Gerald off. ¡°Mrs. Aarzu has returned to the restaurant,¡± he said.


    Gerald furrowed his brows. Was his assistant boasting because he was still monitoring Ariana? He thought, irritated.


    ¡°Good.¡± That was Gerald¡¯s only response.


    ¡°But, Boss,¡± Vivan spoke again, still looking uncertain. ¡°What now?¡± Gerald asked impatiently.


    ¡°There¡¯s a handsome man in an expensive car currently talking to Mrs. Aarzu at the restaurant,¡± Vivan¡¯s words startled Gerald. He red sharply at Vivan.


    ¡°Change direction, head to the restaurant!¡± he ordered the driver. The driver hesitated, ncing at Vivan. Vivan nodded subtly, and finally, the driver turned the car around in the allowed area.

 Chap 39 : Used Chamois

    Ariana felt happy on her own. She safely arrived at the restaurant. Impatiently pounding on the restaurant door, she saw Amber looking at her with annoyance. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± the girl asked without beating around the bush.


    Ariana furrowed her brow, but then she entered her restaurant. ¡°I can do whatever I want. This ce is mine,¡± she replied simply.


    ¡°After your guy told me not toe backst night, now you¡¯re acting all indifferent towards me?¡± the girl asked, annoyed. ¡°Did he ask you not toe back?¡± Ariana asked, surprised.


    The girl squinted. ¡°If I go back, I¡¯ll have to listen to an unpleasant voice all night long. That¡¯s what he said.¡± Ariana furrowed her brow in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Ahhh¡­ Uhhh¡­ Ahhh¡­¡± Amber said, pretending to moan. Ariana widened her eyes and then pped the girl on the head.


    ¡°What kind of girl do you think I am?¡± she said. She chose to go upstairs where her room was. ¡°Call Jody. Ask if he¡¯s at the market yet. If not, tell him to pick me up. If he¡¯s already there, tell him to wait for me,¡± she said as she undressed and tossed her clothes haphazardly into theundry basket. She didn¡¯t even bother to close the bathroom door, even though Amber was in the room. They were used to doing that.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you call him yourself? You¡¯re making thingsplicated,¡± the girl grumbled, but then she reached for her phone and called Jody. ¡°My phone is still confiscated by the BP teacher,¡± Ariana replied nonchntly. She quickly took a shower and then changed into her favorite outfit, which was a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved T-shirt.


    ¡°He¡¯s at the market. He said he¡¯d be waiting for you at the porridge vendor,¡± Amber informed before Ariana could ask.


    Ariana just nodded. She then asked Amber for some money and walked out of the restaurant. The distance from the restaurant to the market was quite far, so Ariana had no choice but to take public transportation since Jody didn¡¯t pick her up. She got on a minivan and saw schoolchildren wearing uniforms. A smile appeared on her face. Back then, she and Amber often came to schoolte because they left home at thest minute, and then the minivan they took had to wait at several stops until it was full. As a result, when they got off the minivan, they had to run to the school gate.


    And on Mondays, if they werete, they had to endure being sunbaked or made to run around the field. Not to mention the punishment if they wore school shoes in a color other than ck. Believe it or not, Ariana and Amber were troublemakers since high school. The mostmon rule Amber broke in high school was bringing a cellphone to school. As for Ariana, she often vited the school¡¯s rule of wearing shoes in a color other than ck.


    Ariana even hid spare shoes behind the equipment cab. And Amber, she often hid her phone in one of the broken women¡¯s toilets. Thinking about it made Ariana smile to herself. Those were the times they truly enjoyed as teenagers.


    The minivan stopped right in front of the market. Ariana walked towards her favorite porridge vendor and Jody. The man was sitting, smoking a cigarette in his hand. And Ariana could tell that he had already finished his breakfast.


    He waved when he saw Ariana approaching. ¡°I missed the market,¡± Ariana said with a smile.


    Ariana justughed. ¡°I¡¯ve just been released. But who knows when I¡¯ll be dragged in again,¡± she replied with a hint of bitterness. Amber, who was confused, just looked at the two of them alternately.


    ¡°What do you mean? Have you met Chris?¡± she asked, furrowing her brow.


    Ariana just smiled. She chose to continue walking towards the kitchen and ced their groceries there, with Jody following her from behind. ¡°Who else is there?¡± she asked, curious.


    Ariana turned around and gave her a narrowed look. ¡°Curious,¡± Ariana replied. After cing her groceries, she went out of the kitchen again and approached Chris and Amber. ¡°My shoes, you didn¡¯t throw them away, did you?¡± she asked hopefully. Instead of answering, Chris ruffled Ariana¡¯s hair affectionately. ¡°Ew, I¡¯m asking for real. I like those shoes. You didn¡¯t throw them away, did you?¡±


    Chris took out the car keys from his pants pocket. ¡°Get them yourself, in the trunk. You only exist to inconvenience me, don¡¯t you?¡± he snorted. Ariana just chuckled and dly epted the car keys. ¡°By the way, did youe here on purpose so early in the morning?¡± she asked again. Chris simply nodded.


    ¡°I was going to your house, but I was afraid your aunt would get mad. I was going to the apartment, but I didn¡¯t feel like seeing her,¡± Chris nodded his head in Amber¡¯s direction. ¡°Hey, I came here and actually ran into you,¡± he said in frustration. Amber kicked Chris¡¯s leg under the table. Chris winced and looked at her in annoyance.


    ¡°Oh, what does she want from you again? A foreign guy?¡± Ariana teased.


    ¡°She wants me to be her boyfriend,¡± Chris said with a chuckle. Arianaughed along with him. ¡°Don¡¯t do it, Amber. She¡¯s been used by Chamois,¡± Ariana said.


    Chris stared at her with wide eyes and his hand on his chest. ¡°Oh my god, Ariana. You haven¡¯t seen me in so long, and you suddenly mock me for being used by Chamois? What do you think I am? A male goat?¡± he asked in mock surprise.


    ¡°Well, what¡¯s the difference? You and ¡®him,¡¯ both used goods,¡± Ariana said as she got up from her seat and left Chris behind.


    ¡°Him? Who are you talking about?¡± Chris asked, puzzled. He followed Ariana from behind. Ariana walked towards the restaurant door and intended to take her belongings that Chris had brought from the car. She pressed the car remote¡¯s button in her right hand, and at the same time, a luxurious ck car approached and parked next to Chris¡¯s car.


    ¡°There,¡± Ariana nodded her head at Gerald, who got out of the car in his expensive suit. ¡°That guy is still around, too,¡± Ariana muttered, moving to the other side of the car to open the trunk.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

 Chap 40 : Sweepea’s Father

    Chris chuckled. But he then followed Ariana to the trunk and helped the girl unload her actual luggage, not much. ¡°Have you been virgins?¡± sneered Chris.


    Ariana kicked the man¡¯s leg until the man groaned. ¡°Damn you!¡± he cursed. He pulled a paper bag from the trunk roughly. When he turned around, he saw Gerald staring intently at him.


    ¡°What is he doing here?¡± asked the man sarcastically.


    ¡°Suits me. This is a public ce,¡± Chris replied before Ariana could retort. Fine, let these ownerless dogs bicker with each other. Ariana chose to ignore them and went back towards the restaurant entrance. ¡°What about you? Why are you here?¡± Chris¡¯s question reached Ariana¡¯s ears before she opened the door.


    ¡°Finding my wife,¡± Gerald answered. He walked closer, and perhaps due to his long legs or maybe he was half-running, because his steps were in line with Ariana¡¯s when she opened the door.


    Amber stared at the three of them in turn. Her face clearly disyed her confusion. But Ariana ignored her. ¡°We have two guestsing to our restaurant this early. Maybe they¡¯ll ask for breakfast. Ask Jody to make breakfast for them. And then, charge them ording to the restaurant booking rate. Split it into two,¡± she instructed Amber and then continued walking upstairs to the second floor.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Both questions were thrown simultaneously, making Ariana stop in her tracks. ¡°To the bathroom!¡± she replied nonchntly. Amber chuckled while Chris frowned. He didn¡¯t know Gerald¡¯s reaction as he chose to continue his steps towards the second floor promptly.


    Once at her room, she went in and locked herself in. Why did problems have toe at the crack of dawn like this? She grumbled in annoyance.


    Ariana decided to open the contents of the paper bag that Chris brought. Everything she bought with her money was inside,plete. Nothing was missing. Ariana smiled happily.


    She was neatly folding all the clothes and underwear she had bought, ready to put them in the wardrobe when a knock on the door sounded. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Amber!¡± her cousin answered from outside.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Ariana asked again. She didn¡¯t even intend to open the door. ¡°How long are you going to seclude yourself?¡±


    ¡°Until Mount Bromo runs out of sand. Why?¡± Ariana asked irritably.


    ¡°Two people downstairs are having a cold war. Don¡¯t you want to intervene?¡± Amber replied with a pleading tone. ¡°For those already fighting, just pour hot water on them. What¡¯s the big deal?¡± Ariana ordered irritably.


    Amber hesitated. ¡°As if they¡¯re cats fighting. You¡¯re cruel, too. How can you pour hot water on someone?¡±


    Ariana snorted. ¡°You said they were having a cold war. Fine, help me heat things up,¡± she shouted. She could hear Amber stomping her foot in frustration. But Ariana didn¡¯t care. She chose to go inside her room, disregarding whether Amber was still waiting outside or not.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    A few minutester, the door was knocked on again, this time with force. Not just a knock, but a loud bang. Irritated, Ariana walked towards the door, expecting it to be Amber, but then regretted assuming so because there stood Gerald and Chris. Both of them seemed to be banging on the door simultaneously.


    Ariana looked at them alternately, folding her arms in front of her chest and wearing an annoyed expression. ¡°What now?¡± she asked. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t youing down?¡±


    Once again, they asked simultaneously.


    Ariana nced at Gerald and replied, ¡°This is my room, and I can do whatever I want here.¡± Then she looked at Chris. ¡°It¡¯s up to me whether I want to go down or not.¡± Then she nced back and forth between them. ¡°So why are you both here?¡± she asked, annoyed.


    ¡°Following you.¡±


    ¡°Following you!¡±


    They both answered simultaneously again. Ariana wanted tough but managed to hold it back. ¡°So what do you want?¡±


    Gerald mped his hand over Chris¡¯s mouth with full force. ¡°I¡¯m here to have breakfast with you. And I¡¯ve paid a lot for it. I can¡¯t possibly eat alone,¡± Gerald then removed his hand and roughly wiped it on his pants while ring at Chris. Meanwhile, Chris shrugged and looked at Ariana.


    ¡°You told Jody to cook, she made plenty. How can you not eat?¡± he said. Ariana looked at Chris a bit longer, then nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Poor Jody who cooked a lot,¡± she replied. Ariana simply epted Chris¡¯s offer of help and ignored Gerald. He stared at Ariana with his mouth agape, not expecting that she would choose Chris over her own husband. Nevertheless, Gerald followed them downstairs.


    Vivan, who had been standing still, watched the three of theme down the stairs together. She was clearly trying to hold back herughter, observing Gerald¡¯s irritated expression as he walked behind the two in front of him.


    Amber and Jody, both considered Ariana¡¯s staff, stood frozen near the table. The dining table, which was usually set for two, had beenbined into one. And the chairs were lined up in threes, facing each other. In front of each chair was a te of fried rice. Gerald¡¯s statement turned out to be a lie. Ariana sighed. ¡°Cooked a lot of what? It¡¯s just fried rice, Jody can make it in less than five minutes,¡± sheined, ring at Chris.


    ¡°Yeah, there are six tes. There¡¯s no way I could eat all of this alone,¡± Chris replied. He then pulled out one of the chairs and let Ariana sit there. Gerald red at him.


    Ariana sat down, and then the two men sat on her left and right. Amber red at Ariana, while Jody and Vivan seemed to be holding back theirughter at the antics of the three people in front of them.


    Without any small talk, Ariana grabbed a spoon and started eating, even before the others had properly sat down. Her intention was to eat quickly, finish her breakfast, and return to her room upstairs. Or else she would kick out her three annoying guests. Yes, three guests, because she counted Gerald¡¯s assistant as one of them.


    ¡°Eat slowly, why? I won¡¯t ask for it,¡± Chris warned. Ariana ignored him.


    Ariana swallowed her food without chewing properly. She might feel full and hungry again quickly, but she didn¡¯t care. What she really wanted right now was not to see those two there.


    ¡°Stop bothering her, will you?¡± Amber replied. ¡°Besides, what¡¯s wrong with both of you? Coming here early in the morning and making a scene. Are you acting like Popeye and Brutus chasing after Olive?¡± Amber asked, her tone sharp.


    Arianaughed, while Chris and Gerald just looked at Amber with confused expressions. ¡°So, which one of you is Popeye, and who¡¯s Brutus?¡± she asked.


    Amber nodded towards Gerald. ¡°He¡¯s SweePea¡¯s father.¡± And that answer made Ariana burst intoughter.

 Chap 41 : Comeback

    Gerald looked at Ariana, astonished. In the brief duration of their marriage, it was the first time he had seen Arianaugh. Was that old cartoon character story really that amusing to her? Gerald wondered. Nheless, he found himself smiling at her reaction.


    Their breakfast was clearly over, but because Chris was still there, Gerald felt reluctant to leave. That man was a threat to Gerald. Seeing how close Ariana was to Chris, it made Gerald feel incredibly alone.


    ¡°Boss?¡± Vivan tried to remind him. She knew her boss had seemed uneasy since earlier. Not for any particr reason, but Gerald had a lot of schedules today that he couldn¡¯t afford to miss due to his absence while searching for Ariana.


    ¡°She already invited you to leave, why don¡¯t you?¡± Ariana said, wiping the corners of her eyes that were watering. Gerald looked at her with narrowed eyes.


    ¡°Fine, you go far away. If necessary, don¡¯te back here again. Ariana is clearly happier with me than with you,¡± Chris said.


    And that was exactly what Gerald didn¡¯t want. Seeing the two of them happy together.


    Ariana stood up from her seat. She also looked at Chris with her sharp gaze. ¡°You too. Go back!¡± she ordered Chris. She didn¡¯t even acknowledge the surprise on Chris¡¯s face due to her dismissal. Unwittingly, this made Gerald happy.


    They watched Ariana leave the dining table without looking back. Leaving Chris and Gerald now staring at each other sharply. Finally, Gerald got up because he had other responsibilities he needed to attend to. He had to remember that many lives now depended on him.


    Vivan had walked ahead of him. His assistant even opened the door for him. Gerald walked away from the restaurant, although he was actually leaving with a heavy heart.


    No one spoke during the journey. They arrived at the office nearly an hourter due to the traffic congestion after they got back onto the main road.


    All the documents were piled up in front of him. If you assumed that because Gerald was a CEO with many assistants, his workload became lighter, you¡¯d be wrong. Gerald¡¯s workload had actually increased due to it. His assistants worked as his trusted deputies. Because Gerald couldn¡¯t split himself into many pieces to do everything alone and attend all the meetings in various ces by himself.


    Gerald was already sitting at his desk, while Vivan had returned to her own room. The postponed meeting would start fifteen minutester. After that meeting, there were more meetings that Gerald had to attend. Until finally, lunchtime arrived.


    ¡°Where would you like to have lunch, Boss?¡± Vivan asked understandingly.


    ¡°Just order. I can¡¯t leave all this work now,¡± Gerald replied without diverting his attention.


    Vivan just nodded and did everything silently. She knew her boss well despite not having worked for him for very long. All thanks to her father, Yosef.


    Gerald¡¯s lunch was served on his table exactly fifteen minutester. Not avish menu, just a bento box that Vivan had bought from a well-known store not far from their office.


    Gerald leaned back slightly after finishing his lunch. He leaned his back and rested his head, leaning on the back of his luxurious leather chair. He nced at the expensive wall clock in his room. He sighed. There were still a few minutes before the break ended. Gerald chose to close his eyes for a moment to relieve his fatigue.


    ¡°Boss, there¡¯s some news,¡± Vivan said when she felt her boss was in a rxed mode. ¡°What?¡± he asked nonchntly.


    ¡°She¡¯s on her way here,¡± Vivan replied. Gerald suddenly opened his eyes. Although his sitting position remained the same, Vivan noticed his posture had be tense.


    ¡°When?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯ll arrive around this evening,¡± Vivan replied.


    ¡°Keep an eye on her. I want to know where she goes back to,¡± he instructed. Vivan nodded. Even without Gerald¡¯s instructions, she had already told her subordinates to do so. ¡°What about that man? Did he leave after we did?¡± that question had actually been bothering Gerald¡¯s mind since his return from the restaurant, but he had been reluctant to ask and had then forgotten it due to his piled-up workload.


    ¡°He left shortly after we did, Boss,¡± Vivan replied matter-of-factly. Gerald simply nodded quietly. He then rose from his seat and returned behind his desk. Getting ready to work.


    Ariana felt content, of course. After days of being away from her work, she was back to her routine. Cooking in the kitchen and serving the food she prepared to the customers. It brought her immense joy, especially when her customers praised her dishes. Her happiness multiplied.


    After Gerald¡¯s return, she intentionally drove Chris away too. Despite her best friend and step-cousin¡¯s insistence to stay, Ariana knew that there were still Gerald¡¯s people watching her. Ariana drove Chris away not because she cared about Gerald¡¯s feelings. It was more about not wanting him to return to the restaurant and disturb her. The presence of those two men was already giving her a headache.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    The clock had struck nine in the evening. Ariana had instructed Dara to flip the sign at the front door indicating that their restaurant was closed, even though they would officially close at eleven. The sign was there because they no longer epted guests.


    She helped the other staff members tidy up the kitchen and dispose of all the food waste they had separated earlier. There was no caste system here. Just because she was the owner didn¡¯t mean she refrained from doing distasteful tasks. No, Ariana was not like that. To her, all the employees were family, and they managed the restaurant together. So, they treated each other like family, emphasizing teamwork rather than pointing fingers.


    Ariana, assisted by one of her employees, prepared to dispose of all the trash, which was quite a lot, in the waste disposal area, a fair distance from the restaurant. They walked side by side, each holdingrge trash bags. During their journey back, Ariana intentionally walked towards the front of the restaurant. She observed the surroundings at thiste hour. Suddenly, her eyes caught a glimpse of a luxurious car parked across the restaurant. The car was red, and its tinted windows prevented Ariana from seeing inside. However, she sensed that whoever was inside the car was currently observing her.


    Ariana squinted at the car. It onlysted for a fraction of a second, but then the car suddenly started and drove away with surprising speed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Miss?¡± The question made Ariana turn her head. She saw her employee standing there, also looking in the direction Ariana had been watching. Ariana shook her head.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she replied shortly and then walked back inside the restaurant through the side door.

 Chap 42 : Adel

    It was already ten in the evening, and Gerald found himself in front of Ariana¡¯s restaurant once again. Not that he wasn¡¯t tired ¨C he was utterly exhausted. His shirt, which had been neatly buttoned earlier, was now undone, and his tie had been removed. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows, and his perfectlybed hair was now disheveled.


    If only Ariana was an easy-to-handle girl, he wouldn¡¯t have to go through all of this trouble. But he did all of this because he knew Ariana wouldn¡¯t return willingly. She would either stay at the restaurant or, worse, she might go back to her apartment. And Gerald didn¡¯t want that. He didn¡¯t know why, but he felt that being possessive of Ariana was something he needed to do.


    Torn between entering the restaurant or not, Gerald decided to wait in his car until he saw thest customer leaving the restaurant. After about fifteen minutes, he saw one of the employees exiting the front door, ready to put up the announcement board.


    ¡°Is Ariana inside?¡± his question seemed to startle the employee, who jumped in surprise and almost dropped the signboard.


    ¡°Wh-who are you?¡± the girl stammered. She might have been a new employee or simply didn¡¯t witness the scene that had unfolded between Ariana and Gerald earlier.


    ¡°I¡¯m her husband,¡± Gerald replied tly.


    ¡°Husband?¡± the girl¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Gerald wanted tough, but he held it back. ¡°Are you really her husband?¡± she asked, uncertain.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie. Ariana isn¡¯t married. How can she have a husband?¡± the girl replied.


    Another person came out of the door ¨C it was Jody. ¡°Why are you taking so long outside?¡± he asked the girl. Jody looked at the girl and then at Gerald, alternating his gaze.


    ¡°Is Ariana inside?¡± Gerald asked Jody. Jody nodded slightly. Gerald chose to enter, ignoring the girl, who still seemed incredulous.


    ¡°Jody, she said she¡¯s Ariana¡¯s husband. Is it true?¡± the girl asked Gerald when she caught up with him. Gerald wanted tough triumphantly, but he kept it inside. The girl was clearly too naive.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true,¡± he replied. ¡°Now, can you tell me where Ariana is?¡±


    The girl continued to stare at him, not entirely convinced. ¡°You can¡¯t be her husband. Ariana isn¡¯t married,¡± she insisted.


    ¡°Let me worry about that. Now, can you please tell me where she is?¡± Gerald said, his patience waning. He needed to find Ariana.


    Inside, Ariana and Amber were there. They seemed to be engrossed in something in their notes when Gerald entered. Several employees were gathered around a table, eating something ced in front of them. When Gerald approached, the girl he met earlier rushed towards Ariana. ¡°Ms. Ariana¡­¡± she whimpered, hugging Ariana.


    ¡°What is it, Adel?¡± Ariana asked, confused.


    ¡°It¡¯s her. Jody said he¡¯s Ariana¡¯s husband.¡± Adel pointed at Gerald, drawing everyone¡¯s attention towards him, including Amber and Ariana. Ariana furrowed her brows, looking at Gerald. ¡°Is that true? Is he your husband?¡± Adel whined. ¡°Do you think so?¡± Ariana countered. She looked at Adel attentively.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem suitable to be your husband,¡± Adel said. What was this? Gerald was getting irritated by her statement. ¡°You should leave him. Chris is back now. You should be with Chris,¡± Adel continued. Alright, so this girl was Chris¡¯sckey. Gerald red at her, but who was she? As far as Gerald knew, Chris didn¡¯t have a younger sister, let alone a younger sister like this.


    ¡°Yes, yes. I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Ariana replied casually. Gerald widened his eyes at her. But she seemed unfazed. ¡°So, where are you staying tonight?¡± Ariana asked, obviously changing the topic.


    ¡°Adel is staying at her aunt¡¯s ce,¡± the girl said, pouting.


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t!¡± Gerald objected instantly. His high and stern tone grabbed everyone¡¯s attention, again.


    ¡°What can¡¯t?¡± challenged Adel. ¡°You can¡¯t stay at Ariana¡¯s ce. Come on, stay with Amber instead,¡± Geraldmanded. Adel looked upset, stomping her foot with an annoyed expression. Meanwhile, Gerald couldn¡¯t help but chuckle inwardly, reveling in his small victory.


    Ariana finished her tasks with Amber, and soon, the girl tagged along with Gerald. ¡°Why did youe here at this hour and create a scene?¡± Ariana asked, clearly annoyed, once they were outside the restaurant.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have if you knew the way home,¡± Gerald retorted. Ariana stopped in her tracks. Vivan opened the back door of the car for them, and Ariana just climbed in, looking irritated.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a child who doesn¡¯t know the way home,¡± she grumbled.


    ¡°But you¡¯re a child who likes to y hide and seek,¡± Gerald replied. Intentionally, he nudged Ariana to give her more room on the back seat. She shifted without much noise and chose to sit in the farthest corner of the seat. She even opened the window wide, ignoring the fact that the car was already air-conditioned.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault I like to run away,¡± she muttered. Vivan could be heard stifling hisughter with a soft cough. Gerald just looked at her, irritated.


    It was clear that she had intended to escape, hoping that Gerald wouldn¡¯t follow her to her workce.


    ¡°Who¡¯s Adel?¡± he finally asked, as there was nothing else they could discuss.


    ¡°Why? Jealous? Interested in her? Want me to introduce you?¡± Ariana retorted, her tone sharp.


    Gerald smiled. He moved closer, deliberately cing his hand on Ariana¡¯s shoulder and pulling her closer. ¡°Is Mrs. Aarzu feeling jealous?¡± he asked, his voice a soft whisper in Ariana¡¯s ear.


    Ariana stared back at him sharply. Their faces were just centimeters apart. Ariana could even feel his breath on her face. Deliberately, she pushed Gerald¡¯s face away with both hands. ¡°Back off! Your breath stinks!¡± she ordered. And Vivan once again stifled hisughter with a fake cough.


    Gerald was shocked when Ariana told him that his mouth smelled bad. He instantly recoiled slowly, feeling uneasy. ¡°Does my breath really stink?¡± he asked himself. After all, he had been brushing his teeth regrly and even rinsing with expensive imported products. But was it true? Gerald began to doubt himself.


    Meanwhile, Ariana, after uttering that demeaning sentence, returned to her original position as if she hadn¡¯t said anything. They arrived home shortly before eleven.

 Chap 43 : Birth Stinks

    Ariana quickly got out of the car and went inside, ignoring Gerald, who remained silent in the car, his eyes ring at Vivan sharply. Vivan, who got out and opened the car door for his boss, fell silent out of confusion.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Gerald gestured with his finger, signaling for Vivan to bow. And as Vivan did so, the man immediately opened his mouth and exhaled his breath in front of his assistant.


    ¡°Does my breath stink?¡± he asked Vivan. ¡°Answer honestly,¡± hemanded. Vivan smiled and then shook his head. ¡°No, Boss,¡± the man replied. Gerald furrowed his brow. ¡°You¡¯re speaking the truth, right?¡± he asked incredulously.


    ¡°Honestly, Boss, one hundred percent,¡± Vivan replied earnestly.


    ¡°In that case, why did she say something so mean?¡± Gerald had now risen and stepped out of the car. His gaze was fixed on Ariana, who had already walked far inside her house.


    Vivan shrugged. ¡°Your wife is quite a remarkable woman, Boss,¡± he replied with suppressed amusement. Gerald narrowed his eyes, looking at his annoying subordinate. He snorted and then walked away from Vivan without saying anything else.


    Gerald continued inside the house, acknowledging Yosef¡¯s greeting, who faithfully held the door open for him. With long strides, he climbed the stairs to his room. Their room.


    In reality, Gerald was afraid that Ariana might lock him inside, just like she did in the apartmentst night. But he sighed in relief when he found that his bedroom door was closed but not locked.


    Gerald entered and haphazardly threw his jacket onto the sofa. He kicked off his shoes and socks before unbuttoning his shirt, which he had worn all day.


    Now, Gerald was only wearing his trousers, bare-chested. All his dirty clothes had been thrown into the basket in front of the bathroom door. He was getting ready for revenge.


    The bathroom door opened, and Ariana appeared wearing Gerald¡¯s oversized ck bathrobe with hair wet from shampooing. She was stunned when she saw Gerald in front of the bathroom door-Shirtless with both hands folded.


    ¡°You did it on purpose?¡± the man asked sharply. Ariana looked up and looked at him, confused. ¡°You deliberately said that my mouth stinks just because you wanted to prank me, right?¡± he asked usingly.


    The man stepped closer, and because she was nervous, Ariana stepped back.


    Instead, she trapped himself and knew she had made the wrong move. But she couldn¡¯t escape, considering the man had blocked the entire door.


    ¡°So what if it¡¯s on purpose? You don¡¯t believe in yourself?¡± Ariana challenged.


    She squeezed the towel on his head harder because she was nervous and afraid, especially when she saw the grin on Gerald¡¯s face.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Ariana asked, trying not to sound panicked.


    ¡°I just wanted to test whether my mouth smells or not,¡± Gerald answered with a grin that he still maintained.


    The man was still walking closer, and Ariana was walking further away. There are only two escapes: a bathtub or shower. Nothing is better.


    Ariana swallowed hard in panic, calcting the possible distance she could cover. She weighed the options: locking herself inside the shower room or darting past the side of the man towards the bedroom. There was no better choice.


    She pressed her body against the wall. Okay, only onest tactic left at her disposal. She drew her back in, her head tilted upward while her hands clung tightly to the bathrobe and towel. Gerald¡¯s grin widened.


    He ced his left hand on Ariana¡¯s right side of her head. Ariana tried to suppress her smile. Just for a split second, as he began to bend down, Ariana lowered her body and sprinted through the gap on his left side, running toward the walk-in closet.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Ariana could hear Gerald cursing from a distance. But she ignored it. She opted to lock herself in the walk-in closet, but now she was the one cursing, as the room didn¡¯t have a lock either.


    Oh God, how did ite to this?


    Before he even got the answer to his question, the walk-in closet door opened to reveal Gerald and his annoyed face. Not long after, that annoyed face turned into a grin, which made Ariana even more afraid.


    Ariana walked backward again. Unfortunately, the back of his legs hit the only sofa in the room. Ariana sat with her head raised towards Gerald. The man grinned creepily.


    ¡°Quit messing around!¡± threatened Ariana as she tried to step back further and climb onto the sofa.  But because of his nervousness, she felt like she had made a wrong move. Instead of being able to move away, Ariana was trapped in a lying position on the long sofa.


    Hands confined Ariana, as did her long legs. Arianay with both hands, now holding the bathrobe before her chest. She was terrified of the man¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°o, does my mouth stink?¡± asked Gerald again with a grin. Ariana shook her head vigorously. Gerald increasingly liked the girl¡¯s weak point. He lowered his face closer, making the girl¡¯s eyes widen even more.


    ¡°D-don¡¯t anything like that, Gerald!¡± Ariana ordered in a growling tone. But Gerald ignored him. He got closer to the girl¡¯s face.


    ¡°¡±I¡¯msorry, Mrs. Aarzu. Because I can¡¯t hold it in anymore.¡± said the man. Ariana was stunned and amazed because the man said. Before she was fully aware, the man¡¯s lips were pressed gently against hers.


    Gerald¡¯s hand slowly released Ariana¡¯s hand, gripping her bathrobe, and moved it to the back of her neck as he gently teased Ariana¡¯s lips with his. Ariana, who had felt her passion from the start, became involved in the man¡¯s game. Even though she wasn¡¯t an experienced girl, somehow, her body moved instinctively at his touch.


    Gerald continued to position his head so they could kiss intensely. The man¡¯s hand gently stroked Ariana¡¯s jaw. He slowly pulled Ariana¡¯s chin and opened the girl¡¯s mouth so he could insert his tongue there. Ariana gasped, but Gerald didn¡¯t give the girl a chance to move away, let alone lookout.


    Force? Not. because Gerald knew that Ariana wanted it too. Slowly, the man¡¯s hand began to move down. The girl responded to every touch of Gerald¡¯s hand on Ariana¡¯s body with a firm squeeze of Gerald¡¯s hair. Gerald smiled because of her response.


    Gerald managed to open the girl¡¯s bathrobe. And even though he didn¡¯t see it, he knew the girl wasn¡¯t wearing anything behind her back. Gerald started to rub his hands on the girl¡¯s body, and she moaned and writhed under his touch.

 Chap 44 : What Are You Doing?

    Ariana stared. She knew this couldn¡¯t be done. She couldn¡¯t just give her body to Gerald because they had no love. Moreover,ter, Gerald will be Karenina¡¯s husband.


    But her brain and body don¡¯t work in sync. When her brain said no, her body said otherwise.


    And she liked his touch. Just like the first day, she became that man¡¯s wife. She enjoyed it.


    Her body just writhed, wanting more than just the deep kiss her husband gave her.


    Can he do it? Will he regret itter if he does this?


    Ariana didn¡¯t want to think. She just wanted to enjoy all the pleasure that the man¡¯s hands and mouth gave her.


    Gerald lowered his head and started kissing her neck. Ariana was tempted. Even when the man¡¯s hand touched her chest, she didn¡¯t mind and instead arched her body, asking for more.


    Other parts of his body felt hot and wet. Oh God, Ariana¡¯s brain warned her to stop all this. But her body wasn¡¯t willing if the man¡¯s touch just stopped.


    Gerald¡¯s head lowered even further. Continue kissing her corbone and then reach the front of her chest. The man¡¯s warm breath tickled her.


    Do! She asked the man in her heart. She pushed Gerald¡¯s head against her chest so that the man would do what Ariana¡¯s body wanted.


    And when Gerald did, when the man put his lips there and began sucking greedily, Ariana moaned.


    Gerald looked up suddenly. He looked at Ariana with eyes that were no less misty.


    ¡°You like it?¡± asked the man in a teasing tone.


    Ariana¡¯s head said, ¡®No! She doesn¡¯t like it!¡¯ but her body said otherwise.


    Gerald didn¡¯t wait for an answer because the man lowered his head again and continued his game.


    Ariana bit her lower lip as a way to keep from moaning. And the man, naughtily, moved his hand to the lower part of Ariana¡¯s body and tickled her there.


    Oh, Lord. Ariana could no longer hold back. Her lips moaned along with the teasing of the man¡¯s fingers. The man¡¯s hand rubbed it slowly and with teasing movements before finally sneaking in and teasing her.


    Along with the movements of his hands, the man¡¯s lips teased Ariana¡¯s chest no less. Ariana really couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. She writhed like a worm in heat, unable to resist all temptation.


    Pain, tingling, everything in one taste. Finally, herst sigh came out, and something warm came out from her vagina.


    Ariana gasped. Her face turned red. Her knees felt weak and without strength. She looked at Gerald embarrassedly. She was embarrassed and felt like a bitch who was being satisfied by hired men.


    Only she was satisfied, while she did not satisfy the man. Her husband. People who have full rights over themselves, over their bodies.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Gerald covered Ariana¡¯s exposed body again with the bathrobe and then tied a rope around the front of her body. The man¡¯s face smiled at her. It wasn¡¯t a mocking smile, although there was a look of pride there because, for the second time, the man seeded in making Ariana reach her climax.


    The man¡¯s left hand was now gently stroking the right side of Ariana¡¯s face. ¡°You look so beautiful.¡± Compliment the man in a gentle voice.


    Ariana could only look at him in silence. Gerald lowered his head again and kissed Ariana¡¯s forehead gently.


    ¡°Get dressed, you¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± And after that, the man got up, leaving Ariana still in her lying position.


    What should I do now? She asked himself whether this man¡¯s treatment was just euphoria or whether Ariana was starting to be tempted. Making the other side of his heart weaken and dream of making this marriage possible.


    But the other side of his brain told him he shouldn¡¯t let her guard down. She had to remember that one day, her younger twin sister would return and im her rightful position.


    Ariana must remember that up to now, she has only acted as a surrogate wife. If Karenina existed, then Gerald would be treated like this.


    Ariana got up from her bed. She can¡¯t be selfish. However, the first time, Gerald managed to get the release; this time, the man had to get it.


    Ariana stepped out of the walk-in closet and walked towards the unlocked bathroom. The man had his back to him with the shower running loudly. The warm watering out of it made the ss walls fog up.


    Ariana didn¡¯t take off her bathrobe, but she lightly walked into the small square room and touched Gerald¡¯s back. Gerald gasped in surprise but then rxed.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± asked the man with his wet face. Ariana just smiled. She then put her arms around the man¡¯s neck, letting his body and bathrobe wet again with the water. With a smile on her face, Ariana whispered to the side of the man¡¯s face.


    ¡°To say thanks?¡± she answered softly before kissing the man¡¯s lips.


    Gerald was surprised, clearly not expecting Ariana to do something this impulsive. But he just epted what the girl did. This may be the time for the girl to get that they are now husband and wife, what Gerald wanted.


    Ariana was clearly not as experienced as the other women Gerald had touched. Her movements show that Ariana is still trying, even though his position is still groping. However, Gerald had particr pride because he knew he was the first to touch the girl and had satisfied her twice.


    Gerald pushed the girl¡¯s body toward the wall, but Ariana did not resist. She stood on tiptoe and enjoyed their increasingly deeper kiss. Finally, the girl¡¯s hand fell down her lower body.


    Gerald groaned immediately when the tapered-fingered hands covered all parts of his tense body.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± he said softly. Ariana looked up at Gerald¡¯s face hesitantly. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± he asked doubtfully. Gerald smiled as he shook his head.


    ¡°Even though it would be more enjoyable if done another way.¡± He said in a teasing tone. ¡°But I like it this way.¡± he continued.


    Ariana smiled. Gerald cupped Ariana¡¯s face again and started kissing the girl¡¯s lips. Inparison, his left hand cupped the girl¡¯s right hand and guided her to his desired movements.


    Gerald growled at every movement of Ariana¡¯s hand. He buried his face in the girl¡¯s neck and unconsciously took a small bite to hide his moans.


    Ariana didn¡¯t refuse, nor did the girl move away. Even when Gerald moved her hand to move faster, the girl just obeyed.


    And then, just like what he managed to do to Ariana. Ariana also managed to do it to Gerald. He gasped. Bowing down listlessly with knees weak from the release he managed to get.


    Ariana looked up, looking at Gerald with a curious expression. Not a challenging face or a cynical word like the girl usually shows. ¡°Thank You,¡± Gerald said as he kissed the girl¡¯s forehead again. Ariana didn¡¯t say anything. She just smiled and left Gerald to finish his shower.


    Ariana stepped out of the walk-in closet and walked towards the unlocked bathroom. The man, his back turned to her, was standing under the running shower. The warm water streaming out caused the ss walls to fog up. Ariana didn¡¯t take off her bathrobe; instead, she entered the small square space and gently touched Gerald¡¯s back. He flinched briefly in surprise but then rxed.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± the man asked, his face wet. Ariana just smiled. She then wrapped her arms around the man¡¯s neck, letting her body and bathrobe get wet again from the water. With a smile on her face, Ariana whispered into the man¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Saying thank you?¡± she replied softly before kissing the man¡¯s lips. Gerald was surprised, clearly not expecting Ariana to act so impulsively. But he just epted what she was doing. Maybe it was time for her to ept the reality that they were now husband and wife, something Gerald truly desired.


    Ariana was clearly not as experienced as the other women Gerald had touched. Her movements show that Ariana is still trying, even though her position is still groping. However, there was a special pride for Gerald because of that. Because he knew that he was the first person who touched the girl and had climaxed her twice. Gerald pushed the girl¡¯s body towards the wall, but Ariana did not resist. She stood on tiptoe and enjoyed their increasingly deeper kiss. Finally, the girl¡¯s hand fell down her lower body. Gerald groaned immediately when the tapered-fingered hands covered all parts of his tense body.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± he said softly. Ariana looked up at Gerald¡¯s face hesitantly. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± She asked doubtfully. Gerald smiled as he shook his head.


    ¡°Even though it would be more enjoyable if done another way.¡± He said in a teasing tone. ¡°But I like it this way.¡± he continued. Ariana smiled. Gerald cupped Ariana¡¯s face again and started kissing the girl¡¯s lips. At the same time, his left hand cupped the girl¡¯s right hand and guided her to do the movements he liked. Gerald growled at every action of Ariana¡¯s hand. He buried his face in the girl¡¯s neck and unconsciously took a small bite to hide his moans. Ariana didn¡¯t refuse, nor did the girl move away. Even when Gerald moved his hand to move faster, the girl just obeyed.


    And then, just like what he managed to do to Ariana. Ariana also managed to do it to Gerald. He gasped.


    Bowing down listlessly with knees weak from the release he managed to get.


    Ariana looked up, looking at Gerald with a curious expression. Not a challenging face or a cynical word like the girl usually shows. ¡°Thank You,¡± Gerald said as he kissed the girl¡¯s forehead again. Ariana didn¡¯t say anything. She just smiled and left Gerald to finish her shower.

 Chap 45 : There Is Something Different

    Gerald emerged shortly afterward, a towel hanging low on his hips. Ariana went back into the bathroom to rece him. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Gerald asked, confused. Ariana didn¡¯t answer; she just went in and started cleaning herself again.


    Less than five minutester, Ariana returned to the room, her body shivering and her fingers wrinkled. Gerald was sitting on the bed, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and pajama pants. ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked, concerned. Ariana just nodded and walked back to the walk-in closet, grabbing her own sleepwear.


    She clearly wasn¡¯t alright now. Wasn¡¯t she running a fever just yesterday? And today, correction, tonight, she had already drenched herself in the bathroom three times.


    Ariana quickly dressed, choosing clothes randomly. As a result, she ended up wearing a thin silk nightgown. Fortunately, the bottom of the gown touched her ankles, although the top almost revealed her chest. But Ariana promptly covered it with a matching robe.


    When she stepped out of the walk-in closet, she nced at the wall clock, which disyed midnight. It had been quite a while, it seemed.


    Gerald had propped himself up on the bed. He patted the empty space beside him, silently inviting Ariana to join. Sheplied, crawling onto the bed. Whether he noticed it or not, when Ariana was seated, he knelt next to her and started the hairdryer. Without many words, he gently began to dry Ariana¡¯s hair.


    The warmth from the hairdryer and the gentle touch of the man¡¯s hands made Ariana sigh. Shortly after, Gerald ced the hairdryer on the nightstand and started arranging the pillows for them to sleep. Arianay down beside him. Gerald slid his left hand under Ariana¡¯s neck. ¡°I know you¡¯re cold,¡± he murmured. Ariana remained silent. She let the man¡¯s warmth envelop her, spreading through her body. In a matter of minutes, Ariana fell asleep in Gerald¡¯s embrace.


    As usual, her body¡¯s rm woke her up. An arm was wrapped tightly around her stomach, making Ariana feel warm, and for some reason, she hesitated to let it go. She nced at the wall clock and saw that it was almost ten minutes past five. Ariana winced as she tried to get up. The throbbing in her head was very strong. Perhaps it was the effect of bathing multiple times the night before.


    Gerald then got up from the bed. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked, looking at Ariana¡¯s face. His hand gently touched Ariana¡¯s forehead. Ariana¡¯s body felt warm again. ¡°You have a fever again,¡± he said.


    Something was different. Very different from her current feelings when she received Gerald¡¯s attention. Her head still throbbed when she lowered it. And it seemed to catch Gerald¡¯s attention. Perhaps it was because of her pale face or the crease on her forehead every time the pulsing pain struck. Gerald gently ced the back of his hand on Ariana¡¯s forehead once more.


    ¡°Rest first. Your body hasn¡¯t fully recovered,¡± he suggested, but Ariana ignored him. How could she take time off again when she had just returned to work yesterday after her escapade?


    A knock on the door diverted their attention. Gerald walked towards the door and opened it. The face of a woman in her forties appeared with Axel¡¯s hand sped in hers.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± the child¡¯s shout coincided with the release of the babysitter¡¯s grip. Axel ran quickly and threw his tiny body into Ariana¡¯s arms. Ariana, unprepared, stumbled before regaining her bnce. ¡°Mommy, where were you? Axel missed you,¡± the child said, hugging Ariana¡¯s thigh tightly. Ariana just smiled and gently stroked the child¡¯s head.


    Gerald closed the bedroom door, leaving the three of them confined in the spacious room. ¡°Mommy doesn¡¯t feel well, why did youe here so early?¡± Gerald asked, approaching and sitting on the edge of the bed. He tousled Axel¡¯s hair, the child still holding onto Ariana¡¯s leg.


    ¡°Grandpa Yosef said Dad brought Mommy home,¡± the child said, reaching out his arms, asking Ariana to pick him up.


    Before Ariana could do so, Gerald had already lifted the small body and ced him on the bed. ¡°Dad said Mommy isn¡¯t feeling well, so don¡¯t ask Mommy to carry you,¡± he warned. Axel nced at his father briefly before looking at Ariana.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°Mommy,e here,¡± the child said, patting the bed. ¡°When Grandma and Grandpa are sick, Axel likes to massage them. Does Mommy want Axel to massage her?¡± the child offered sincerely. Ariana just smiled. She then sat on the bed. The little boy approached and started massaging Ariana¡¯s calves gently. Ariana smiled as she watched him. She truly liked the handsome little boy.


    ¡°Do you want me to massage you too?¡± Gerald offered teasingly. Ariana looked at him with her sarcastic gaze. Gerald chuckled. He then raised both hands in surrender. He got up from his seat and walked towards the walk-in closet.


    He put on his pajama pants and a short-sleeved shirt again. ¡°Dad will go downstairs. Take care of Mommy, okay?¡± he instructed the child, who was still busy massaging Ariana. Axel just nodded without diverting his attention from Ariana¡¯s legs.


    ¡°Did Axel go to school yesterday?¡± Ariana asked after the bedroom door closed.


    The child nodded. ¡°Dad said if Axel behaved well at school, Dad would bring Mommy home again. Why didn¡¯t Mommy take Axel? Mommy doesn¡¯t love Axel, right?¡± the child asked, his expression turning sad.


    ¡°Why would you say that?¡± Ariana asked, confused.


    ¡°Because Grandma said, Mommy Aliana won¡¯t love Axel. The one who will love Axel is Mommy Kalen, not Mommy Aliana,¡± the child exined. Ariana furrowed her brow.


    ¡°Mommy Kalen?¡± Ariana repeated the name.


    ¡°Not Kalin, Mommy. But Kalen,¡± the child said, struggling with the pronunciation of the letter ¡®R¡¯. Ariana frowned.


    ¡°Mommy Karen?¡± Ariana tried to correct him. Axel nodded innocently. ¡°Grandma said, the one who will be gentle and be Axel¡¯s Mommy is Mommy Kalen, not Mommy Aliana.¡±


    And the innocent words of the little child made Ariana grateful for the decision she madest night.

 Chap 46 : Axel’s Word

    Gerald went upstairs shortly after instructing his staff to deliver breakfast to their room. Midway up the stairs, he met his grandmother. The woman looked at Gerald inquisitively.


    ¡°Ariana came homest night?¡± she asked. Gerald nodded.


    ¡°She¡¯s feeling unwell,¡± he informed briefly. Mrs. Rosaline just nodded. ¡°Is there any recent news you haven¡¯t shared with Grandma?¡± she asked again.


    Gerald smiled. He was quite proud of his elderly grandmother¡¯s sharp mind, despite her advanced age. ¡°It seems like a surprise will being our way soon,¡± Gerald replied. His grandmother simply nodded. She continued her way downstairs, while Gerald proceeded upstairs to their room.


    Gerald sensed a different atmosphere when he opened the bedroom door. Ariana¡¯s gaze had returned to its usual intensity. Sardonic and challenging. Not soft andpliant like it wasst night. What had changed in her during the few minutes Gerald had been away?


    ¡°Axel, sweetheart. Shouldn¡¯t you be getting ready for school?¡± Gerald asked, trying to make small talk.


    ¡°Why should I go to school? Dad said if I  behaves well at school, Dad will bring Mommy home. And Mommy is already home, so I doesn¡¯t need to go to school, right?¡± the child asked innocently. If the situation weren¡¯t so cold, both Gerald and Ariana would haveughed at the child¡¯s na?ve question. But now wasn¡¯t the time forughter.


    ¡°No, sweetheart. It¡¯s precisely because Mommy is back that Axel should go to school more diligently. So Axel can show Mommy what he learns at school,¡± Gerald said again. Axel stared at his father in confusion before turning to look at Ariana.


    ¡°Is that true, Mommy?¡± he asked, puzzled. Ariana just smiled and nodded. ¡°Okay then. If that¡¯s the case, I will shower and then go to school. Mommy will take me, right?¡± the child asked hopefully.


    Ariana hesitated for a moment. ¡°Axel¡¯s friends are usually apanied by their moms. Axel is the only one Mommy doesn¡¯t take. Axel is tired of being taken by Grandma all the time,¡± the child pouted. Ariana just smiled, ruffling the child¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Axel, Dad already said that Mommy isn¡¯t feeling well,¡± Gerald reminded him. Immediately, the child¡¯s face turned sad.


    ¡°Mommy will take youter. Axel, shower now, and then we¡¯ll have breakfast, alright?¡± Ariana said. The child¡¯s expression brightened instantly. Axel nodded enthusiastically. He approached Ariana, kissed her cheek, and then jumped off the bed, running out of the room.


    Ariana also got up from the bed, intending to walk to the bathroom. But Gerald stopped her. ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked, puzzled.


    ¡°To shower, take Axel to school, and then go to the restaurant,¡± she replied tly.


    ¡°You¡¯re not well, Ariana. You should rest first. Amber and Jody will understand,¡± Gerald pleaded gently. But Ariana countered him with a sharp re.


    ¡°They will surely understand, but it¡¯s me who doesn¡¯t want to understand. I need to get out of this ce,¡± she said curtly, pulling her arm away from Gerald¡¯s grip.


    ¡°Ariana, what¡¯s going on with you? I saw you perfectly fine not long ago,¡± Gerald muttered, watching her walk slightly unsteadily towards the bathroom.


    Ariana paused for a moment, half-turned, and looked at Gerald with her sarcastic gaze. ¡°I just realized who I am and where I should be,¡± she replied. She continued into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.


    Gerald stood in silence, trying to understand the meaning behind her words. He wanted to ask further, but he knew he wouldn¡¯t get any answers from her.


    Frustration? Of course, Gerald was frustrated. Among all the women he knew, Ariana was the one who always left him puzzled. Hadn¡¯t he said that before?


    Annoyed, Gerald walked out of the room. He quickly made his way to Axel¡¯s room. If he couldn¡¯t get answers from Ariana, he hoped to find some from Axel. He needed to know what the child said when Gerald wasn¡¯t around.


    Axel was still ying in his bathtub when Gerald entered the room. The child was humming the children¡¯s song ¡®Bangun Tidur Ku Terus Mandi¡¯ while rubbing his body with soap. ¡°Dad!¡± the child¡¯s shout startled his nanny.


    Gerald asked the nanny to leave the bathroom and instructed her to prepare Axel¡¯s change of clothes while he took over to bathe the child. Gerald sat on a small chair where the nanny had been and started helping the boyther his body. ¡°Axel?¡± Gerald began the conversation. The little face looked up with a questioning gaze.


    ¡°Yes, Dad,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Did you say anything to Mommy while Dad went downstairs?¡± he asked, curious. The child seemed not to understand what Gerald was talking about, which was understandable given his young age. ¡°I mean, what did you talk to Mommy about when Dad wasn¡¯t in the room?¡±


    The child fell silent for a while, as if recalling something. ¡°Mommy asked if I went to school,¡± the child replied innocently. Gerald nodded. ¡°I told Mommy that Dad said if I went to school, Dad would bring Mommy home again.¡± Gerald nodded again. Surely, this wouldn¡¯t be something that would provoke Ariana¡¯s anger, would it? Gerald wondered.


    ¡°After that, what did you say to Mommy?¡± Axel thought for a moment and then shook his head. ¡°Did you not say anything else to Mommy?¡± Axel shook his head again.


    Then what had made the girl revert to her previous self? Cold and untouchable?


    ¡°I just told Mommy that Grandma said to me that the one who will love me is Mommy Karen, not Mommy Ariana.¡±


    Ouch. The child¡¯s statement clearly pierced Gerald¡¯s heart. He felt angry hearing it, and he imagined Ariana felt even worse. ¡°Why did you say that?¡± Gerald asked, curious.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Because I asked Grandma where Mommy went. Grandma said, Mommy Ariana wouldn¡¯t love me, but Mommy Karen would.¡±


    ¡°Did Grandma really say that?¡± Gerald asked again. Axel nodded innocently. ¡°When Grandma said that, was anyone else there?¡± Axel then pointed to the bathroom door.


    ¡°Aunt,¡± the child replied. Gerald nodded in understanding. He then continued cleaning Axel¡¯s body and drying him off before leading him out of the bathroom.


    The woman in her forties took Axel and prepared to massage him with baby oil. Her face visibly tensed because Gerald was still standing there, staring at her intently.


    ¡°What did Mommy say to Axel yesterday?¡± Gerald asked in a low voice. The woman immediately stiffened. ¡°Um, sir,¡± she stammered.


    ¡°You know who signs your paycheck here, don¡¯t you?¡± Gerald asked, his tone threatening. The woman clearly swallowed hard out of fear. Gerald¡¯s threatening tone made her feel like she was on thin ice. Nevertheless, working as Axel¡¯s nanny was advantageous for her. Besides the substantial sry she received, taking care of Axel was not difficult because the child was independent for his age and not troublesome. Moreover, Gerald¡¯s family treated her with respect and never belittled her.


    ¡°Madam told Master Axel that his mother is not Mrs. Ariana. But it¡¯s Mrs. Karen,¡± she answered, her voice trembling.


    ¡°Is that true?¡± Gerald asked.


    ¡°Y-yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°What else did she say?¡±


    ¡°Madam said that Mrs. Ariana¡¯s presence here is only temporary. Tomorrow or the day after, there will be a woman named Karenina. She will be Master Axel¡¯s mother and my employer, sir. She said that because she was afraid I would be shocked. Because Madam Ariana and Madam Karenina look the same,¡± she replied fearfully.


    ¡°Besides Aunt, who else did Mommy tell this to?¡±


    ¡°Everyone who works in the house, sir. My husband also said the same. But then, Mr. Yosef said it¡¯s not true,¡± the nanny replied again. Gerald simply nodded. Alright, now he knew what was troubling Ariana.


    Gerald rushed to their room, but Ariana was already gone. Their bed was neatly made, as if it had never been slept in.

 Chap 47 : Karenina

    Panic. Gerald left the room, intending to find Ariana¡¯s whereabouts. However, at the same time, he saw Yosef climbing the stairs. ¡°Mrs. Ariana is already downstairs, sir,¡± the old man said. Gerald immediately stopped in his tracks. He felt a sense of relief instantly. He had been afraid Ariana might pull her silent act again and leave the house abruptly, just like she did some time ago.


    Gerald nodded and walked back to his room, asking Yosef to follow him. ¡°What happened yesterday when I didn¡¯te home? I didn¡¯t get any report from you,¡± Gerald asked.


    The old man remained silent, his usual expression unchanged. ¡°Your mother-inw came again yesterday. But not for long. Other than that, there¡¯s nothing else, sir.¡±


    ¡°I heard Mommy telling all the staff that Axel¡¯s mother is not Ariana,¡± Gerald inquired. Yosef nodded. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about it. I¡¯ve asked all our staff to keep their mouths shut,¡± he replied.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want any more rumors about that woman. Especially not reaching Ariana directly,¡± he ordered. Yosef nodded again. Gerald asked him to leave his room while he prepared to go to the office.


    Gerald finished dressing in nearly fifteen minutes. He came downstairs wearing his usual work suit. Ariana, her mother, grandmother, and Axel were already seated at the dining table, waiting for his arrival. Gerald sat down immediately next to Ariana, the only chair intentionally left empty.


    Ariana was feeding Axel as he demanded, suddenly behaving spoiled. Hot ck coffee was served in front of him by Yosef. While sipping his coffee, he continued to observe Ariana, who seemed to be having her breakfast half-heartedly. No one spoke except Axel, who cheerfully talked about his experiences at school for the past few days when Ariana was absent. Fortunately, although she seemed moody, Ariana always responded to the boy, making him more enthusiastic about his storytelling.


    They finished breakfast. As requested by Axel earlier, Ariana agreed to apany him to school. Gerald was supposed to leave for his office first, followed by Axel. But because Gerald was concerned about Ariana, he postponed his departure and deliberately waited for Axel¡¯s school time. Axel eagerly kissed his grandma¡¯s and great-grandma¡¯s hands before happily walking toward his specially designated car. His nanny and driver were already waiting in front of the car, ready to take them.


    Gerald ignored Vivan and got into the car that would take Axel to school. During the journey, it was again only Axel who chatted happily. They covered the fifteen-minute journey until they finally arrived at Axel¡¯s school.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Ariana got out of the car with Axel as he prepared to enter the school grounds. The boy hadn¡¯t lied when he said his friends were usually escorted by their mothers. Because when Gerald also got out, those women turned to look at him. Amazement? Admiration? Clearly, their gaze was directed at him. Gerald couldn¡¯t deny that he could capture the attention of so many women. Not just because of his handsome face but also because of his physique, which was equally appealing. That¡¯s what usually triggered women¡¯s hormones.


    ¡°Axel, go to school now, Mommy,¡± the boy said cheerfully. Ariana just smiled. When the boy pulled her dress so she could kneel down, allowing the little boy to kiss her cheek, Ariana gently stroked his head and returned the kisses on his forehead and both cheeks, making Axel giggle and Gerald jealous.


    Axel then kissed the back of Gerald¡¯s hand before leading his nanny¡¯s hand to enter his ssroom.


    Ariana had nced around. Perhaps she intended to take public transportation after dropping Axel off. But Gerald didn¡¯t allow it. As soon as Axel disappeared from view, he grabbed her arm and led her toward the car where Vivan was waiting. ¡°We need to talk,¡± Gerald said softly.


    Ariana didn¡¯t resist. She just followed Gerald without saying much. She got into the car and behaved very obediently. Something Gerald should have liked but apparently didn¡¯t. The phrase ¡®still waters run deep¡¯ now filled his mind. Ariana¡¯s silence actually made him more anxious, fearing that she might be nning something he wouldn¡¯t like.


    The car moved in silence for some time. Ariana broke the silence by asking, ¡°Where¡¯s my phone?¡± Gerald remembered he still had her phone, which was currently in his pocket, but he replied, ¡°I left it at home.¡± This made Ariana furrow her brow, but she didn¡¯t say anything more. ¡°What happened?¡± Gerald asked curiously.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ariana countered.


    ¡°I was only gone for a moment, but your attitude changedpletely when I came back,¡± Ariana said, shrugging her shoulders. She chose to lean her body against the back of the seat and her forehead against the window. Was she getting a headache again? The question lingered in Gerald¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Ariana,¡± Gerald said softly.


    ¡°Nothing happened. How am I supposed to behave?¡± Ariana asked coldly. ¡°Should I act flirtatious? Or should I act like a woman madly in love with her husband? I don¡¯t need to do that, right? Besides, everyone in that house knows who I am and what my position is. I just need to act like a good wife and mother when the officials from the departmente, right?¡± Ariana asked icily. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not getting lost in irrelevant emotions, Mr. Aarzu. I¡¯m just reminding you that sooner orter, the owner of this ce will return. And at that moment, your true position as his wife will be filled,¡± she continued. Gerald tensed. He knew this conversation would repeat itself, but for some reason, every time it did, he felt ufortable.


    The car had arrived in front of the restaurant. Ariana was about to get out of the car, but Gerald stopped her. He asked Vivan and the driver to get out of the car and lock it from the inside. The driverplied and then locked the car doors from the outside.


    Ariana looked at Gerald sharply. ¡°What is this?¡± she asked, displeased.


    ¡°I know what Axel told you. And I know you don¡¯t like it. But that doesn¡¯t mean it won¡¯t be true. I¡¯ve told you that the woman I married is you, not your younger sister,¡± Gerald said. Ariana just stared at him with a cold gaze. ¡°Stop thinking you¡¯re just a recement wife. Can¡¯t you open your mind and start this with a fresh perspective? I¡¯ve told you countless times that I won¡¯t divorce you because I want a lifelong marriage. Which part of all that do you not understand?¡± Gerald asked desperately. Ariana remained silent.


    ¡°Ariana, I know you need me just like I need you. We can bepatible in every way if you¡¯re willing to open up to me. Don¡¯t dwell on the thought that when your sister returns, I¡¯ll push you aside. Because it won¡¯t happen,¡± Gerald replied.


    Suddenly, a smirk appeared on Ariana¡¯s face. Not a happy smile, not a sincere smile. It was a mocking smile. ¡°Is that so?¡± she challenged. Gerald furrowed his brow. ¡°Well then, how are you going to face it now?¡± she tilted her head towards a car parked in front of Gerald¡¯s car. The luxurious red car he had seen the night before now revealed its owner.


    Gerald turned to look, and at that moment, the woman emerged from the car and walked towards their vehicle. ¡°Karenina?¡± the man said, clearly surprised by her presence.

 Chap 48 : Isidora

    Ariana felt upset? Certainly. When she tried to change her mind about epting Gerald and this marriage, another surprising fact confronted her. Her mother-inw did not want her there. From the beginning, the woman had approached Ariana only to ask for help so that their family wouldn¡¯t be embarrassed if her son¡¯s marriage failed. She was cut from the same cloth as Mrs. Caitlyn. Perhaps that¡¯s why the two of them could be friends.


    After Axel¡¯s words in the room, Ariana found her mother-inw sitting casually in the dining room. The woman asked her to sit down and talk face-to-face. ¡°Do you know if your twin sister has returned?¡± she asked without beating around the bush. Ariana wasn¡¯t really surprised. Hearing what the woman had said to Axel, her mother-inw must havemunicated well with Mrs. Caitlyn, so she knew when Karenina would be back. Ariana was reluctant to answer the question; she would let the woman say whatever she wanted to say. ¡°I just want to thank you because you helped Gerald with this fake marriage. In return, I willpensate you for all the time you¡¯ve given to us.¡± The woman then handed a check with nine zeros to Ariana.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Amazed? Of course, Ariana was amazed. She wasn¡¯t a hypocritical girl who would refuse money. Haven¡¯t they been belittled all along, and her father even abandoned them because of those figures? ¡°Is this all my sacrifices are worth? I think it¡¯s too small topensate for the shame you¡¯ll have to bear if Gerald¡¯s marriage to my twin sister fails,¡± Ariana challenged. ¡°You should at least give me twelve zeros there.¡± She pointed to the small slip. The woman was clearly shocked. ¡°Why? Is your bank ount bnce not enough? If so, ask Gerald to increase it,¡± she said mockingly. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that there¡¯s Mrs. Caitlyn¡¯s blood in my veins. If she can leave her husband and child for money, then I can do the same.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Mrs. Isidora seemed speechless.


    ¡°I was actually willing to leave this ce after my twin sister returned. As you know, I never intended to stay here from the beginning. But because you gave me an offer I couldn¡¯t refuse, then it¡¯s only fair if I negotiate the price. My status here is at stake. I¡¯ll be dered a widow within days of the wedding. And afterwards, others will look down on me. Of course, I don¡¯t want to lose alone. If you really want to kick me out of this house, then you must also pay a heftypensation. If not, why should I sacrifice myself by epting such a small amountpared to everything in this house? I¡¯m not stupid, Mrs. What your son possesses is worth much more than the figure written there. Even that amount doesn¡¯te close to the down payment I desire.¡± Ariana slid the check back to its owner. ¡°Or should I negotiate with your mother-inw?¡± Ariana asked, making the woman in front of her widen her eyes in shock. ¡°Ah, no. Maybe what your mother-inw has is not more than what you have. Considering both of you aren¡¯t active entrepreneurs,¡± she said mockingly. ¡°Perhaps I could negotiate with Gerald,¡± she continued.


    The woman¡¯s face suddenly turned pale. ¡°You can¡¯t do that,¡± she said threateningly.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Why not? From the beginning, it was him who trapped me in this marriage. He¡¯s the one who nned to imprison my father. And don¡¯t you know he actually knows where my twin sister is?¡± she said mockingly. The woman in front of her was shocked once again. But then Ariana smiled slyly. ¡°Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t inform me of Karenina¡¯s whereabouts. Because if I knew where she was, maybe I would have someone erase her traces. That way, she would never appear before us again and ruin our happy marriage,¡± she subtly insinuated.


    Once again, the woman was stunned by Ariana¡¯s response. ¡°But after thinking it over, I don¡¯t want to soil my hands with such disgraceful actions. Instead of eliminating my sister, why don¡¯t I try to enjoy all these luxuries? Besides, it seems like Gerald really likes me, so much so that he¡¯s willing to bet that he won¡¯t rece me with my twin sister even if shees back,¡± Ariana proudly replied.


    Mrs. Isidora was left speechless again. ¡°We¡¯ll see about thatter,¡± said the middle-aged woman finally. Ariana could only smile. Her eyes were not on her mother-inw but on another woman standing behind her mother-inw since the beginning of their conversation. Who else but Mrs. Rosaline?


    Axel¡¯s call, calling Ariana¡¯s name, interrupted their conversation. And now, the threat she had made to her mother-inw was starting to unfold spontaneously. The girl, her twin sister, had appeared before her and Gerald. It turned out that the red car Ariana had seen the night before was none other than her twin sister¡¯s. She smirked when she realized one thing: the girl was watching her.


    ¡°Karenina?¡± Hearing Gerald utter that name made Ariana¡¯s heart race instantly. She could only grit her teeth and then stepped out of the car upon hearing the car door opening from the outside.


    ¡°Boss!¡± Vivan¡¯s voice was the first thing Ariana heard as she got out of the car. Gerald didn¡¯t say much. He too stepped out of the car through another door. His eyes seemed fixed on Karenina.


    The girl¡¯s face, which Ariana had never seen in fifteen years, truly looked identical to hers. Ariana couldn¡¯t spot the differences. Except for their hairstyles and clothing styles. If Ariana tied her long ck hair into a ponytail, the girl in front of her intentionally let her dyed hair loose. And if Ariana wore jeans along with a long-sleeved shirt deliberately folded up to the elbows, the girl appeared more feminine in a sleeveless knee-length dress with a floral pattern and a Sabrina neckline that showcased her shoulders and graceful neck.


    ¡°Hi, Ariana. Long time no see,¡± the girl greeted her warmly. Ariana merely smirked at her. Unlike ordinary siblings who would hug each other after a long time apart, Ariana just waved her hand at Karenina and said, ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°Sort out your affairs, and don¡¯t involve me!¡± she said coldly, walking inside towards her restaurant. Gerald tried to follow her and discuss this with her, but Karenina stopped him. ¡°Ariana is right. We need to talk.¡±


    And after that, Ariana heard nothing more because she was already inside her restaurant.

 Chap 49 : Wound

    Ariana entered the restaurant and was greeted by Amber¡¯s sharp gaze and furrowed brows. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ariana asked with her usual calm demeanor.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Karenina?¡± Amber inquired, curious.


    Ariana just nodded. ¡°Are you nning to chat and gossip with her? Go ahead, she might leave soon,¡± she said.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Jody, who heard Ariana¡¯s voice, immediately emerged from the kitchen. The same goes for Adel, whom Ariana momentarily forgot was present.


    ¡°Who?¡± Jody asked, disying an extraordinary level of curiosity. Ariana pointed with her thumb over her shoulder.


    Jody and Adel walked closer to the window and were shocked to see a more feminine version of Ariana outside.


    ¡°Oh my God, she looks amazing,¡± Jody unintentionally praised. Amber scoffed upon hearing the tone of admiration.


    Meanwhile, Ariana ignored them and continued to the second floor. Since earlier, she had been trying to hold back the tightness in her chest and the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.


    Today ¨C not even past the morning ¨C she had experienced a torrent of emotions. Starting from Axel¡¯s words, her mother-inw¡¯s insults, and now the arrival of her twin sister whom she hadn¡¯t seen in fifteen years.


    Ariana closed her door as quietly as possible, locking it from the inside, and then leaned against it wearily. Ariana¡¯s emotions were in turmoil, a mix of sadness, humiliation, longing, and anger. Her head felt like it was about to explode.


    She couldn¡¯t process all these emotions at once. But what could she do except ept it all, as she had always done?


    Suddenly, she missed her father, her Mommy, and her siblings. She wanted to go to her father¡¯s house and hug them. But would they still ept her there? Or had her presence never been wanted anywhere?


    Ariana wiped her tears, which suddenly flowed so heavily. She copsed on the floor, and at that moment, she cried uncontrobly, overwhelmed by all the sudden pain that came rushing back to her.


    All the memories seemed intentionally reyed in her mind. Memories of when she was abandoned by her mother and twin sister.


    When she pleaded with her mother toe back, but was ignored. When her father was depressed and even contemted suicide, leaving Ariana alone. When she had to struggle to care for her father who suffered a stroke.


    And then the memory of her father briefly forgetting her due to the birth of her sister, Zelda. Everything intertwined, making Ariana¡¯s already painful head ache even more. Then, her forced marriage to Gerald. Her mother¡¯s request to rece her sister just to save the face of the new family. And her mother-inw¡¯s condescending attitude. It all made Ariana¡¯s chest tighten.


    Was Ariana really so worthless? Was that why they only came to her when they needed her? Would they be there for Ariana when she needed them?


    She was tempted, by Gerald¡¯s promise not to rece her with Karenina when her twin returned. She was touched and thought this marriage might end happily despite its forced beginning. She believed that he wanted her. Ariana Leonidas. But now, all those fantasies, hopes, and trust seemed to vanish with Karenina¡¯s return.


    All the sweet promises from him would ultimately be empty words. In the end, Ariana would just be Ariana. A recement who had to fill the roles of everyone who needed her. Ariana sat down, hugging her knees.


    Her tears wouldn¡¯t stop, echoing the deep heartache caused by all the memories. Little did she know that outside, Amber could only listen, unable to do anything, to the quiet cries of her best friend and cousin.


    Amber had anticipated this. She sat down on the other side of the door, silently apanying Ariana. She wouldn¡¯t ask if Ariana was ¡®okay¡¯, because she knew Ariana wasn¡¯t okay right now. All she could do was pray that the pain would soon be reced by happiness.


    Meanwhile, elsewhere, Gerald sat casually, his hands folded in front of him, his eyes fixed on Karenina¡¯s bowed face. Whether out of shame, guilt, or just pretending to feel both, it was hard to tell.


    ¡°I want to apologize,¡± she said softly.


    ¡°Apologize for what?¡± Gerald pretended not to understand.


    ¡°For everything. I feel guilty for leaving abruptly before our marriage,¡± she replied.


    Gerald shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m actually grateful to you,¡± he replied. ¡°Because of your departure, I found out that you have a twin sister,¡± he said calmly.


    Karenina was taken aback. She looked at the man in front of her in disbelief. ¡°Mom said the marriage was just a sham. She asked Ariana to rece me temporarily,¡± she said, her tone pleading.


    Gerald raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is that what your mother said?¡± he asked, puzzled. Karenina nodded eagerly. ¡°Has she forgotten that the person who signed the agreement and the marriage certificate was Ariana, not Karenina?¡± he asked sharply.


    ¡°Besides, from the beginning, I told you that this marriage wouldn¡¯t be temporary. Haven¡¯t I made it clear to you? This marriage, with or without love, willst forever. Because I don¡¯t believe in divorce,¡± Gerald replied casually.


    ¡°But how can you say that? You don¡¯t consider my feelings. I married you, even though you promised this marriage wouldst forever, but you didn¡¯t promise your loyalty to me. You clearly stated that you¡¯re free to approach any woman you want after we¡¯re married,¡± Karenina retorted usingly.


    ¡°I did say that,¡± Gerald admitted. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t mean I will do it, right? I just said that to test you. But don¡¯t you understand the implied meaning behind it? That I will be faithful to you if you manage to make me fall in love with you.


    ¡°But what did you do? You tried to y with fire, Karen,¡± Gerald replied coldly. Karenina¡¯s eyes widened instantly.


    ¡°You even wanted to get revenge on me, even before we got married, huh?¡± Gerald asked. ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know that you went out there with your lover, whom you admitted to my mother was your ex?¡±


    ¡°I-I¡­¡± Karenina stammered.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t even done anything, but you¡¯ve already betrayed me. What can I expect from you afterward? Loyalty? I don¡¯t think that exists in your dictionary.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re selfish!¡± the woman shouted loudly.


    Gerald merely raised an eyebrow. ¡°Me?¡± he pointed to himself. ¡°From the start, this marriage wasn¡¯t my choice either. Your mother and mine decided everything. My mother did it for Axel, and yours did it for money. So which side would you call selfish? We all get benefits from the choices we make.


    ¡°By me seeking other women out there, haven¡¯t you agreed topensate for all these deceptions with abundant wealth, social status, and other advantages by bearing the Zeroun name behind your back? Wasn¡¯t that what your mother told you before we agreed to this marriage?¡±


    Gerald¡¯s words once again made her wide-eyed. Perhaps Karenina didn¡¯t expect that Gerald knew everything. But Gerald knew. His power allowed him to obtain any piece of information he needed, no matter how small.


    ¡°Now it¡¯s toote for you to want back the position as the youngest Mrs. Zeroun. Because that title has been taken by Ariana. Your twin sister. And coincidentally, she turned out to be an intriguing woman,¡± Gerald replied with a mocking smile at Karenina.


    ¡°What she has, it¡¯s truly genuine. Not deception, not acting.¡± Gerald didn¡¯t say much more. He got up from his seat deliberately, leaving Karenina who still couldn¡¯t find words to say.

 Chap 50 : Wound (2)

    Ariana attempted to rise, her head still throbbing. She made her way to the bathroom, searching for the headache relief she usually kept there. She forgot that she hadn¡¯t bought it thest time she intended to.


    As a result, she went back downstairs, intending to buy the medicine from the nearest store. However, her ns were hindered by the presence of Adel and other staff members who were ready to work. Consequently, Ariana shifted her focus to her duties.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    She ignored the pulsating pain in her head as she tried to push away all the negative thoughts in her mind. For her, it was just a matter of time until the bomb containing the word ¡®divorce¡¯ escaped Gerald¡¯s lips.


    Shouldn¡¯t she be happy?


    Yes, she should be happy because that¡¯s what she had been hoping for all this time. But why did her heart say otherwise? Why wasn¡¯t she willing? Why did she feel disliking? Why did she feel disappointment and sadness?


    Customers started to arrive, and Ariana chose to continue working in the kitchen. She disregarded Amber¡¯s using nces. She ignored Adel, who kept asking about her marital status with Gerald. She ignored the pain in her head and even the difort throughout her body. She ignored everything except her work.


    At three in the afternoon, Ariana went back upstairs, intending to rest for a while. She sat down on the sofa. She didn¡¯t have her phone, so she couldn¡¯t open any entertainment shows there. And the television? She didn¡¯t particrly like the device, so she chose to ignore it.


    One hour passed on the second floor. Ariana returned to the first floor. She knew her employees were talking about her. She said it was not without reason, but because of her employees¡¯ attitudes that stopped their conversations when they saw Ariana¡¯s presence.


    Time passed. Ariana continued to focus on her work. She ignored the cold sweat dampening her forehead. She also disregarded the fatigue creeping into her muscles. Let it be, the more tired she felt, the more she wanted to rest. That way, when she went hometer, she could sleep immediately and ignore Gerald.


    Home? Somehow, that word now caused pain in Ariana¡¯s chest.


    Where was she supposed to go after this? Gerald¡¯s house? That house would soon be Karenina¡¯s home. Her apartment?


    She couldn¡¯t go back there because even though Gerald had been there only once, his presence would still haunt her thoughts. Her father¡¯s house? Since Ariana moved into the apartment, she had never considered that house her home. Even though her father and Mommynya always hoped for her return.


    ¡°Why are you like this?¡± Amber¡¯s question interrupted Ariana¡¯s thoughts. The clock showed nine o¡¯clock, and as usual, the restaurant had already closed orders. After this, they would discuss ie issues and decide on the menu for tomorrow. ¡°Ay?¡± Amber asked again.


    Ariana just forced a smile and shook her head. ¡°You handle everything. I want to take a shower. I feel sticky.¡±


    Ariana replied in a tone she tried to make cheerful. However, Amber, who had known her for too long, wouldn¡¯t easily believe her.


    Ariana went upstairs. She deliberately didn¡¯t lock the door to the upstairs room, fearing Amber might go up and need something there.


    She entered her room and finally locked herself in. Quickly, Ariana took off her clothes and ced the dirtyundry in theundry basket. She chose to step into the shower, adjusting the temperature and turning on the faucet before standing under the warm water.


    What she had been trying to forget since earlier now started toe back to her mind. No matter how hard she shook her head, it seemed like everything was racing in her mind.


    What was happening to her? Why was she so overwhelmed today? Just because she saw Karenina¡¯s return, why did Ariana feel like her life was falling apart? After all, until now, she had never built anything that could be destroyed by her twin.


    Ariana sat under the shower, still seated even though the warm water had run out and turned cold. A faint knock on the door was heard. Ariana furrowed her brow, but then she got up and turned off the faucet.


    She reached for the towel hanging behind the door and opened the door of the room she had intentionally locked.


    Gerald purposely returned to the restaurant just as it was closing. He walked in and went straight to Amber. The girl wasn¡¯t surprised to see him; instead, she looked at him angrily.


    ¡°What¡¯s really going on with Ariana? She¡¯s been gloomy since this morning. She couldn¡¯t even eat properly. Are you two fighting?¡± Amber inquired, wanting to know. Gerald could only furrow his brow. He didn¡¯t understand what was happening.


    ¡°Where is she?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s been upstairs all this time. She hasn¡¯t had dinner either because she¡¯s been busy in the kitchen helping people cook. Maybe she¡¯s in the shower. Invite her to eat.¡± Ambermanded.


    If it were someone else giving him orders, Gerald might have been angry. But considering it was Amber, someone who cared deeply for Ariana, he couldn¡¯t be angry.


    Gerald went upstairs, hoping the door to her room wasn¡¯t locked. And his prayer was answered. The door wasn¡¯t locked.


    Gerald entered the room and found it empty. He assumed Ariana was cleaning up. That¡¯s why he walked towards her room, but unfortunately, the door was locked.


    Gerald¡¯s only option was to wait until Ariana came out and unlocked the door from the inside. He sat on the sofa, then turned on the television.


    Although there was really nothing interesting on any channel because he was restless, waiting for Ariana, who still hadn¡¯te out of her room.


    Fifteen minutes passed, and there were no signs of Ariana leaving her room. Was she intentionally isting herself and not nning toe out?


    Growing frustrated, Gerald got up and then pounded on the door loudly. He did it repeatedly, but there was no response from Ariana. He even called her name, but Ariana still didn¡¯t open the door.


    His frustration turned into worry. Considering how pale she looked and what Amber had said about Ariana not eating properly, he feared Ariana might faint inside. He pounded on the door again. If Ariana didn¡¯t open the door within five minutes, he was going to break it down.


    Luckily, Gerald didn¡¯t have to carry out his intention because Ariana then opened the door.


    Something was clearly wrong with her. Her face was pale, and her eyes were swollen. She clearly looked like someone who had been crying too much.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked in her curt tone, making Gerald aware of his purpose for being there.


    ¡°What were you doing inside? Why did it take you so long to open the door?¡±


    Ariana snorted. ¡°Need to use the bathroom? There¡¯s a toilet downstairs, you know,¡± she said as she walked back into the room.


    The girl didn¡¯t seem bothered even though she was only wearing a towel, unlikest night when she seemed scared while wearing a bathrobe.


    Gerald simply followed her into the room. ¡°If you want to use the bathroom, hurry up. I need to change,¡± shemanded again.


    But Gerald didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, he sat down on the bed. Ariana just shook her head and brought her change of clothes into the bathroom.


    Gerald waited for her for quite a while, but once again, Ariana didn¡¯t show up.

 Chap 51 : Sick

    Ariana wasn¡¯t surprised to find out that the person knocking on the door was Gerald. She tried to act normally. When she asked him to use the bathroom quickly, he instead sat casually on the bed without saying much. Consequently, Ariana grabbed her clothes from the wardrobe and went back into the bathroom to change.


    After dressing, Ariana sat down on the toilet. Her stomach suddenly felt queasy and painful, and her head throbbed intensely. Her body started shaking uncontrobly. She leaned her head against the toilet wall, trying to take slow breaths to alleviate the sudden pain and tightness attacking her chest. She felt weak all of a sudden and couldn¡¯t even support herself on her own feet.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    She knew Gerald was out there, and he would help her if she asked. But she was reluctant to do so. The cold ceramic floor touched the soles of her feet, sending a shiver up her spine. She was still trying to keep herself conscious when she heard the bathroom door open, and Gerald walked towards her.


    ¡°Ariana?¡± his voice sounded like a distant hum in her ears. Ariana tried to open her eyes, but all she saw were vague shadows that then turned into darkness. And something hard hit her body.


    Gerald looked at her face, which was growing paler. ¡°Ariana?¡± he tried calling her name again. Her eyes briefly opened, appearing unfocused before her body slumped forward and fell into Gerald¡¯s arms. She passed out.


    ¡°Ariana?¡± Gerald pped her cheek gently. Her face was cold. ¡°Ariana?¡± Gerald patted her cheek softly once more. She mumbled weakly. Gerald positioned Ariana so he could carry her properly. Her body waspletely limp in his arms. He quickly descended from the second floor. Amber and several employees there looked at Ariana, their expressions filled with concern.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Ariana?¡± the question seemed to be voiced simultaneously from different mouths. Gerald ignored it, continuing to carry the girl out of the restaurant area.


    Vivan, who was inside the car, immediately opened the door when she saw Gerald carrying Ariana. ¡°To the nearest hospital,¡± she ordered. The car sped off instantly with swift movements.


    Gerald brought Ariana into the emergency room. He called the attending doctor while a nurse guided him toy Ariana down on one of the hospital beds. A young male doctor named Akara approached and examined her.


    ¡°Could you tell me what happened?¡± Dr. Akara requested.


    Gerald himself was confused about how to exin it to the doctor. ¡°I found her sitting in the bathroom. Her face was pale, and she seemed faint,¡± was all Gerald could say. The doctor examined Ariana carefully. Gerald didn¡¯t understand what he was doing. He simply remained silent. After the examination, the doctor spoke.


    ¡°At the moment, I can conclude that the patient is experiencing IBS, ormonly known as irritable bowel syndrome. This can happen due to excessive fatigue, lifting heavy objects, stress, or irregr eating habits. For now, I will provide pain relief medication and a nutrition infusion. I will examine her further once she regains consciousness. But if she wakes up and her condition is stable, there¡¯s nothing for you to worry about,¡± the doctor said again. ¡°And there¡¯s a possibility she¡¯s running a fever, so someone needs to keep an eye on her.¡± Gerald nodded his head. Once the doctor left, Vivan and a nurse approached Ariana¡¯s bedside.


    ¡°Saya sudah mengisi data tentang Nyonya, Boss. Snjutnya apa Anda mau Nyonya dipindahkan ke ruang rawat inap?¡± she asked again. Gerald nodded vaguely. And Vivan proceeded to do everything without waiting for Gerald¡¯s instructions.


    In less than twenty minutes, Ariana had been moved to the VIP room, and a female nurse even helped her change into special patient clothes. And throughout this, Gerald never left her side.


    ¡°Go home,¡± he ordered Vivan. ¡°Ask someone to bring my spare clothes.¡±


    Vivan looked at Gerald hesitantly. But she knew that his words were amand to her. Vivan finally excused herself and asked someone to bring Gerald¡¯s necessities as the man had requested.


    Ariana still hadn¡¯t woken up. Gerald was worried. Not because he didn¡¯t want her to sleep, but precisely because she seemed restless in her sleep. Her forehead was constantly furrowed as if she were having a bad dream. Her body moved restlessly. And her lips kept murmuring something unclear.


    And just as the doctor had said, Ariana was running a fever. She kept whimpering in her sleep, even louder than when she was in the apartment two nights before. What was happening to her? What kind of nightmare was haunting her? Could Gerald step inside her dream and drive away all the nightmares? Of course, he couldn¡¯t do that. All he could do now was hold her hand, gently stroke her forehead and cheeks, and asionally whisper words that were soothing and calming, like, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll stay with you.¡± And other phrases that even Gerald himself wasn¡¯t aware of came out of his mouth.


    Ariana felt her body was so tired and in pain. It felt like she had been running far, far away. She felt her body was wet with sweat. Ariana opened her eyes and saw a white ceiling above her head. Where was this? she wondered silently. It was certainly not her apartment room. Nor was it the restaurant. And definitely not Gerald¡¯s room.


    Gerald, recalling the name, flipped her memory. She had been sitting on the bathroom floor, and Gerald approached her. After that, she didn¡¯t remember anything.


    Ariana tried to move but felt something restraining her. She nced to her left, and there was an IV pole standing there. Slowly, she lifted her left hand and saw the back of her hand covered by a square-shaped white object. Something hiding the IV needle underneath.


    Then she turned to her right. She couldn¡¯t move her hand because it was being held by Gerald, who was even using it as a pillow. Why was he here, waiting for her? Once again, Ariana wondered silently.


    Ariana shifted ufortably. Her whole body was damp with sweat. Perhaps she had a fever and was sweating afterward. She tried to sit up, supporting her weight with her left elbow. It was a bit challenging, and her movement seemed to wake Gerald from his sleep.


    The man nced at Ariana momentarily, still partly lost in his dream world. ¡°Love, are you awake?¡± his question made her furrow her brow instantly. Why did he address her with the term ¡®Love¡¯? Ariana didn¡¯t like it. ¡°What do you want? Water? Food?¡± he offered. Ariana didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°My clothes are wet,¡± she answered softly. Gerald approached and then grabbed a tissue from the nightstand, wiping the sweat off Ariana¡¯s forehead. ¡°Can I change my clothes?¡± she asked when Gerald still didn¡¯t understand her words.


    The man smiled and nodded. ¡®Oh God. Don¡¯t smile so gently and don¡¯t be too kind to me. We¡¯ll part ways soon. Don¡¯t make me like you,¡¯ Ariana thought to herself. Gerald seemed to press a button, and shortly after, a male nurse entered the room.


    ¡°Could you get a female nurse and new patient clothes?¡± he asked the male nurse. The nurse just nodded and then left Ariana¡¯s room again. ¡°Are you okay? Do you want something?¡± Ariana simply shook her head, and Gerald didn¡¯t say much more.

 Chap 52 : Sick (2)

    Gerald left Ariana when the female nurse he had requested arrived. In less than ten minutes, Ariana felt clean again andy back on the bed, which had also been changed with fresh sheets and pillowcases. After the nurse left, the man entered the room again. ¡°Are you okay? Do you want to eat something?¡± he asked once more. Ariana shook her head again.


    ¡°Why are you still here? Just go home,¡± Ariana ordered softly.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I stay here with my wife?¡± Gerald countered. Ariana snorted upon hearing his response. She chose to close her eyes even though she didn¡¯t feel sleepy at all.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Gerald asked softly. He clearly knew that Ariana wasn¡¯t truly asleep. He intentionally raised the back of the bed so Ariana could see him clearly. Ariana, who also felt tired, pretended to open her eyes.


    ¡°Nothing. Why?¡± she replied.


    ¡°I prefer the sarcastic and rude Ariana over this silent one. Tell me, did I do something wrong?¡± he asked again.


    Ariana shook her head. There was nothing wrong. It was her who was at fault because she was starting to waver. ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong. And don¡¯t act like you know me, Mr. Aarzu. We haven¡¯t even known each other for a month,¡± she sneered.


    Gerald nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. We haven¡¯t known each other for long. But haven¡¯t I told you that I want to get to know you? I¡¯ve even told you my name, something not many people know. And I n to tell you everything you want to know about me. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± Ariana shook her head in response.


    ¡®**Stop being friendly and nice to me.**¡¯ She pleaded in her mind. But what came out of her mouth was, ¡°Just go home. I feel morefortable being alone right now.¡±


    His request. But Gerald remained firm. ¡°No sick person likes to be alone, Ariana,¡± he replied.


    Ariana merely nced at him briefly. ¡°Whatever,¡± she answered cynically. ¡°If you want to stay here, I won¡¯t stop you. But don¡¯t bother me with your pointless questions,¡± she added.


    Ariana closed her eyes again. This time, she truly fell asleep, and Gerald could only watch her. The lights in her hospital room had beenpletely turned off. The only illumination came from the faint light seeping through the gaps in the window blinds. Gerald stayed rooted to his spot, observing Ariana who still appeared restless in her sleep.


    He reyed his first encounter with Ariana in his mind. The moment when she arrogantly entered the Brooks family residence and boldly behaved rudely towards the mother who had married her. Even afterwards, she continued to be haughty and harsh in front of Gerald. All of it intrigued him and eventually made him curious. Gradually, he found himself genuinely desiring her for himself.


    Gerald liked her. That was a fact. Among all the women who often pretended in front of Gerald, Ariana was the only one who was genuine. Among all the women who always acted needy and submissive, Ariana was the only one who dared to defy him. And among all the girls who tried to get close to him in every way, Ariana was the only one who clearly rejected him.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    And now, seeing his girl like this, Gerald felt his heart ache. For what reason, he couldn¡¯t fathom.


    Just like that night in her apartment. Gerald tried to calm Ariana with the gentle touch of his hand on her forehead, just as he did when he saw her restless in her sleep earlier. Gerald whispered soothing words into her ear once more.


    Ariana woke up as dawn approached. Her natural rm clock was still functioning despite her illness. She nced at the side of the bed, seeing Gerald sleeping soundly in a prone position. She used his arm as a pillow, and seeing him like that warmed her heart.


    She tried to get out of bed quietly. Her body was significantly better after having a long sleep and receiving the IV treatment. She walked towards the bathroom to attend to her needs.


    Gerald, now awake, found Ariana¡¯s side of the bed empty and became confused. He searched for Ariana, eventually heading towards the bathroom, but it was vacant. As he was about to step further, he saw Arianaing out of the bathroom.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡± Gerald protested.


    ¡°I can handle it on my own,¡± Ariana replied, walking back towards the bed.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you gone home?¡± Ariana asked directly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be at the office?¡±


    Gerald didn¡¯t respond to Ariana at all. Instead, he handed Ariana her phone. She epted it and murmured her thanks. She turned on her phone, which had been turned off. It seemed Gerald had charged it and left it off. Maybe he didn¡¯t want to be bothered by the messages flooding Ariana¡¯s phone. Or perhaps he was frustrated because he couldn¡¯t unlock the pattern Ariana had set.


    Ariana wasn¡¯t surprised to see numerous messages and missed calls on her phone, considering she hadn¡¯t held it for days. If she counted, their marriage and her time with Gerald had just reached one week. Yes, if Ariana wasn¡¯t mistaken, today marked their eighth day of marriage.


    Eight days had passed. Eight days that felt incredibly long for Ariana. Eight days that made her feel as if she were trapped. People say time flies when you¡¯re having fun. But time slows down when every minute you endure feels like torture. And that¡¯s exactly what Ariana was experiencing now. In her twenty-five years of life, she had faced hardships and bitterness more than once or twice. But this was the first time she truly felt ufortable. She looked at Gerald. He was busy contacting someone from his own phone. Ariana was sure he was calling his assistant, Vivan.


    Gerald. If only they had started everything properly, Ariana was certain she would have fallen for him. Whether she liked it or not, Ariana acknowledged that she was gradually being influenced by his charm. It wasn¡¯t just because of his handsome appearance. His gentle demeanor and attention were slowly melting Ariana¡¯s heart. Even though she would never admit it to him.

 Chap 53 : Angry

    Vivan arrived at six in the morning, carrying two paper bags in his right hand and Gerald¡¯s suit still hanging on a hanger, wrapped in clear stic, in his left hand. He looked more like aundry worker than Gerald¡¯s assistant.


    ¡°Your breakfast, Madam,¡± he said to Ariana after Gerald took his suit and went into the bathroom with one of therge paper bags in his hand.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± murmured Ariana. Vivan helped Ariana by raising the table next to the bed and arranging all the food he brought.


    Warm white rice. Saut¨¦ed beef. Steamed broli, green beans, and carrots. Fresh fruits were arranged in front of her. He also opened a thermos containing warm green tea.


    ¡°Mrs. Rosaline prepared all of this specifically for you. She said she woulde here after dropping Axel off at school,¡± Vivan exined again. Ariana didn¡¯t respond to anything. The food in front of her was far more interesting than Vivan¡¯s words.


    Ariana devoured all the food in front of her eagerly. She didn¡¯t intend to leave even a bit for Gerald, regardless of whether he would be hungryter.


    Her own stomach was very hungry. Because she didn¡¯t eat properly all day yesterday due to her bad mood. Usually, if Ariana was in a bad mood, food was one of the things that could improve her situation. But yesterday? Forget it, Ariana just wanted to forget everything.


    Gerald hade out of the bathroom when Ariana finished her meal. He looked neat in a maroon suit and a white shirt with a tie of a simr pattern that Ariana suspected must be expensive. Seeing him so fresh and smelling good, Ariana couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed. She was sure her body smelled of sweat even though the nurse had helped her change her clothes and even washed her body with warm waterst night.


    The clock showed half past six. But he showed no signs of leaving and instead chose to sit back down next to Ariana¡¯s bed.


    ¡°If yourpany goes bankrupt, don¡¯t me me,¡± grumbled Ariana.


    Gerald shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. If mypany goes bankrupt, I can start everything from scratch. Vivan will help me, won¡¯t you?¡± he asked his assistant, who simply nodded. Meanwhile, Ariana scoffed. ¡°Although I don¡¯t think the possibility of bankruptcy exists,¡± she replied arrogantly.


    Ariana snorted. ¡°I can assure you, if you go bankrupt, no woman will want toe near you,¡± she said mockingly.


    Once again, Gerald shrugged. ¡°Well then, you should be grateful. That way, you won¡¯t have anypetitors fighting for me,¡± he replied teasingly. ¡°But if I go bankrupt, you¡¯ll have to ept it because I¡¯ll bother you even more. I¡¯ll cling to you like a leech. I¡¯ll behave like a parasite, because I¡¯ll be living off you,¡± he continued, making Ariana¡¯s eyes widen in disbelief. ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to support each other as husband and wife?¡± he added, his tone yful.


    Ariana chose to look away. Why did his words sound like a promise that they would be bound for a lifetime? Ariana didn¡¯t like hearing it.


    They sat in silence. Vivan was sitting on a sofa with a tablet in his hands, looking serious, presumably focusing on his work. Meanwhile, Gerald remained in his ce, casually turning on the television and watching the news.


    Ariana felt increasingly irritated. She couldn¡¯t chase him away, and waiting for the doctor felt like waiting for a judge¡¯s verdict.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you force him to leave?¡± Ariana finally spoke up. She saw Vivan nce up at her, and Gerald refocused his attention on her.


    ¡°You can talk directly to me,¡± Gerald said, chuckling.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been talking to you all along,¡± Ariana retorted. ¡°I outright told you to leave. But you just sit here. Shameless!¡± she said, clearly frustrated.


    Getting scolded by Ariana didn¡¯t anger Gerald; instead, he chuckled in response. ¡°I already said I¡¯ll leave once the doctores and checks on you. I just want to make sure you¡¯re okay. After that, I only want to ensure you won¡¯t escape again,¡± he replied casually.


    Ariana snorted. ¡°Haven¡¯t you been watching over me for the past twenty-four hours? Do you think I don¡¯t know that your two bodyguards are always keeping an eye on my every move? Even a house prisoner isn¡¯t imprisoned as much as I am,¡± she taunted. Vivan tried to stifle hisughter, while Gerald simply smiled.


    ¡°Dann¡¯t you should be grateful to have a husband who cares for you like I do? I even hired people to watch over you, all because I care about you,¡± Gerald stated.


    Ariana chuckled bitterly. ¡°Care, you say? That¡¯s not caring, Mr. Aarzu. It¡¯s suspicion. You clearly always suspect me, which is why you¡¯re constantly watching over me. So what¡¯s the point of maintaining this rtionship if you don¡¯t trust me at all?¡± she retorted.


    Gerald fell silent. What Ariana said wasn¡¯t entirely wrong, but it also wasn¡¯t entirely right. ¡°Don¡¯t me me to the point where I do something like that. It¡¯s all because you can¡¯t cooperate,¡± he replied.


    Ariana snorted again. ¡°Cooperate in what sense? Cooperate by imprisoning me and forbidding me from being myself?¡± she said sarcastically. ¡°From the beginning, everything you¡¯ve done to me has been coercion. And I¡¯ve endured it until now without going insane, which is already lucky. Tell me, what sane woman would agree to a forced marriage like this, where she doesn¡¯t even have the right to enjoy her own life? If you hadn¡¯t trapped me into marrying you, I¡¯m sure I¡¯d be enjoying my life right now, not feeling mentally tortured like this,¡± Ariana said sharply.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Gerald fell silent, his face clearly showing anger. Meanwhile, Vivan, the man, looked at Ariana with an anxious expression. He feared Gerald, offended, might do something irrational. However, Vivan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Gerald rise from his seat and leave the room.


    Vivan followed his boss out of the VVIP room. ¡°Tell them to guard her outside the room!¡± he ordered harshly. ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone peek in except Grandma. If anyone wants to visit her, they have to contact me first!¡±


    Vivan nodded his head in agreement. Ariana wasn¡¯t wrong; her current situation was even worse than that of a monitored house arrest detainee. The girl was indeed being watched around the clock due to Gerald¡¯s excessive protectiveness. But from Vivan¡¯s perspective, Gerald wasn¡¯t entirely at fault. Love could blind even the most realistic person, turning them into someone irrational, just like what had happened to Gerald.

 Chap 54 : About Gerald (1)

    Ariana remained silent. After Gerald left, she knew that the two male guards who had been watching her were now stationed outside her door. Was she annoyed? Definitely. But what could she do? She could only sit on the bed, turning on the television aimlessly, just to dispel the silence. Afterward, she picked up her phone and checked her messages.


    There were messages from her father and her mother, inquiring about her well-being. A message from Aisyah asking when she woulde home. And a message from her younger sister inviting her to y together over the weekend. But those messages had been received a long time ago. Her phone had been in Gerald¡¯s possession all this time.


    A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. An elderly woman entered the room. Who else could it be but her grandmother-inw, Mrs. Rosaline? She wore her usual expensive attire and politely asked Ariana for permission to enter her room, as if she would leave if Ariana denied her entry. Ariana sighed inwardly.


    ¡°How are you?¡± Mrs. Rosaline inquired. Ariana couldn¡¯t tell if it was genuine concern or just polite small talk.


    ¡°Better,¡± Ariana replied shortly.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Mrs. Rosaline took a seat in a chair beside Ariana. She looked at Ariana with her aged eyes. ¡°I apologize,¡± she said. Whether it was out of genuine concern or just a formality, Ariana couldn¡¯t discern.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize, Mrs. Isidora¡¯s actions were not a mistake. It¡¯s natural for a mother to want her child¡¯s happiness,¡± Ariana responded, raising the corner of her lips.


    Mrs. Rosaline shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that,¡± she replied sadly. ¡°Isidora didn¡¯t do it because she loves Gerald or wants him to be happy.¡± She continued, her voice growing somber. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t something I should talk about, and maybe Gerald himself should be the one to tell you. But I know what kind of person Gerald is, and he won¡¯t tell you anything about this.¡±


    She paused, seemingly hesitant. Ariana waited, her curiosity piqued despite herself. Mrs. Rosaline took a deep breath before continuing.


    Ariana could only stare at her with a furrowed brow in confusion. ¡°What Isidora is doing now is trying to control Gerald,¡± the woman said. Ariana furrowed her brow even more. ¡°Isidora is afraid of her position in our household. You should know, Isidora is not Gerald¡¯s biological mother.¡±


    The old woman¡¯s statement clearly shocked Ariana. Something pierced her heart instantly upon hearing it, but Ariana didn¡¯t know what.


    ¡°The biological mother¡¯s name is Shabira Aarzu,¡± the woman began her story. ¡®Aarzu? Didn¡¯t Gerald say that was the name his mother gave him? Is that true? Or did he take his mother¡¯s maiden name for himself?¡¯ Ariana wondered silently.


    ¡°Shabira was a beautiful girl. She had a graceful personality-gentle and elegant. My son fell in love with her at first sight,¡± a smile appeared on the wrinkled face. ¡°Due toplications after giving birth, Shabira passed away when Gerald was two months old,¡± she continued sadly. ¡°She always felt regretful for not being able to breastfeed Gerald like a mother normally would, all because of her frail condition. But I loved her dearly and considered her my own daughter. I felt her loss just as deeply as my son did at that time.


    Before she passed away, Shabira asked someone to take care of Gerald, who was still a baby. It wasn¡¯t Isidora, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re suspecting,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said as she observed Ariana¡¯s face, seemingly expressing her thoughts. ¡°The caregiver was an old friend of mine, a woman of my age who had previously been my son¡¯s caretaker. And she is Isidora¡¯s mother,¡± she stated.


    ¡°The Isidora I knew back then was a good girl. She had a cheerful and positive personality. She and her parents lived with us, much like Axel¡¯s caretaker does now. She left her parents to attend school in another city and only returned when Gerald was one year old.¡±


    She seemed to have a great affection for Gerald and didn¡¯t hesitate to take over his motherly duties. At that point, I thought, there was no harm in them getting married. Isidora appeared capable of taking care of Gerald, and she genuinely loved my son. Gerald agreed to marry her, and so we did. What I saw then matched my thoughts. Isidora loved Gerald so much. She praised him as if he were her own son, and she took great care of my boy. I felt grateful for her. Because of her, my son, who had changed after Shabira¡¯s death, was back to his old self.


    Then Isidora became pregnant, and that¡¯s when everything started to change. Isidora wasn¡¯t as attentive to Gerald as she used to be. Her focus was on her son, Darrel, whom she adored and cherished. Gerald started to receive less attention. He turned into a rebellious child seeking his parents¡¯ attention.


    I was wrong back then. I was too engrossed in my work, neglecting an orphaned child living with me. But before I realized it, Isidora had sent Gerald to a boarding school in another city,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said sadly. ¡°Separating Gerald from his family didn¡¯t help. He became more¡­ troubled. Not just once or twice, he caused a scene at his school. He did it all just to get Isidora¡¯s attention, the woman he believed to be his mother.


    But Isidora remained unmoved. She seemed numb to Gerald, almost as if she despised him. I tried to approach Gerald and reveal all the facts about his life. He was twelve years old at the time. I told him that Isidora wasn¡¯t his biological mother and that his real mother had died when he was still a toddler. I even took him to Shabira¡¯s grave.


    He cried there. He finally understood why Isidora treated him and Darrel differently. I couldn¡¯t me him if he lost respect for Isidora. It was Isidora¡¯s own doing. If she didn¡¯t differentiate her attitude toward Darrel and Gerald, I¡¯m sure Gerald would have loved her more than Isidora could imagine. But Isidora didn¡¯t do that. She changed, feeling that she was now the ruler in the Zeroun family home, considering she was my son¡¯s legal wife and had already given birth to his heir.


    Gerald, disappointed at that time, asked my son to send him to a school far away. And I, having nothing else to do, chose to go with him. We¡¯ve been living in San Francisco since Gerald was thirteen years old.¡±

 Chap 55 : About Gerald (2)

    Since then, Gerald no longer relied on his father. Even though my son supported him financially, Gerald tried to make his own way from his teenage years. His life abroad was truly independent. He even forgot the teachings of his grandfather, my husband, about worship. And I couldn¡¯t make him change. I could only hope that someday, the old Gerald would return.


    Years passed. Darrel, a teenager at the time, started to look up to Gerald. Gerald loved him dearly. Even though he knew they didn¡¯t share the same blood, they came from the same lineage. Darrel always considered Gerald his role model.


    Then one day, Darrel fell in love with a girl from California. She seemed like a good girl to me. Axel¡¯s mother was very polite and cheerful, despite her ordinary background.


    Axel wanted to introduce the girl to his mother, but even before anything happened, Isidora rejected her. Apparently, Isidora had already decided on a match for Axel-a daughter of a wealthy businessman. She thought that by marrying Axel into an affluent family, her status would rise. She turned into a socialite obsessed with respect.


    Darrel vehemently opposed this. He said he wanted to marry the woman he loved. But once again, Isidora stood against him. Gerald, who had moved and was working in another part of the world by then, was unaware of the conflict between Isidora and Darrel.


    All of this came to light after the ident that befell Darrel and my son. After Darrel¡¯s death, Isidora felt like she hit rock bottom once again. She, who had seemingly discarded Gerald back then, could only hope that Gerald could forgive her and keep her in the Zeroun family home. She suspected that Gerald hated her, and this was her greatest chance to remove Isidora from the house as revenge, considering Isidora had nothing left to hold onto in the Zeroun family. Her husband had passed away, and the son who was supposed to be the heir was gone. In reality, though, Gerald had genuinely loved her from the beginning, even though he knew Isidora wasn¡¯t his biological mother.


    The fact that Darrel had a son from the woman he loved was another unexpected surprise. Axel¡¯s presence gave Isidora another key to survive. She considered Axel her future reward, much like thete Darrel.


    Isidora wanted Axel not just because he was her grandson, but more as an investment. Because surely, the inheritance that should have belonged to Darrel would eventually fall into Axel¡¯s hands. That¡¯s why she desperately wanted Gerald to adopt Axel. And marrying your sister was another tactic she used to control Gerald.


    Karenina is a beautiful girl, and she¡¯s intelligent too. As a daughter-inw, she¡¯s someone they can proudly present to the public. Plus, the Brooks family is undoubtedly prestigious. Isidora hopes that Karenina can conquer Gerald, just as your mother desires. If Gerald could be brought to his knees by Karenina, it means he¡¯s under their control. They can manipte Gerald financially, something they¡¯ve wanted for a long time.


    But luckily, your sister chose to leave a few days before the wedding. And even luckier for us, you stepped in to take her ce.


    I¡¯m not saying this to tter you or win your favor. It¡¯s not like that. But I know, when Gerald decided to marry you, he had different thoughts for himself. He likes you, that¡¯s why he was willing to marry you,¡± Mrs. Rosaline exined.


    ¡°He was also willing to marry Karenina even though he told me he didn¡¯t like her,¡± Ariana replied sarcastically.


    Mrs. Rosaline smiled. ¡°I won¡¯t deny that fact. Gerald is a businessman. He married Karenina for different reasons. Giving Axel to Isidora and granting her independent power over the Brookspany. I assume you know, considering you signed that contract.¡±


    Ariana furrowed her brow. She really didn¡¯t understand this lengthy conversation. However, Rosaline seemed to understand Ariana¡¯s confusion because she exined further.


    ¡°The Brookspany needed a cash injection. Helping Gerald wasn¡¯t a necessity. And marrying Karenina wasn¡¯t a duty. Gerald isn¡¯t the kind of person who cares about other people¡¯s opinions. Even if his marriage to Karenina fails, he won¡¯t be at a loss. If he truly wants custody of Axel, he can marry any woman. With or without love. He can find a woman he can make his contractual wife and divorce her after he gains custody of Axel. And that makes more sense, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Mrs. Rosaline asked Ariana. And Ariana contemted it, acknowledging that a contractual marriage was indeed the most sensible option. It had crossed her mind as well.


    ¡°Gerald intended to do that. He even felt grateful for Karenina¡¯s rash decision. This way, he wouldn¡¯t have to deal with sycophants like your stepfather. But after he saw you¡­¡± Mrs. Rosaline paused. ¡°He became enthusiastic about the prospect of this marriage.¡±


    ¡°Are you suggesting that Gerald is genuinely interested in me?¡± Ariana scoffed. Mrs. Rosaline nodded. But Ariana shook her head in disbelief. ¡°What does he see in me? He doesn¡¯t like Karenina, who is graceful and sophisticated, let alone me?¡±


    Mrs. Rosaline shook her head gently. ¡°There¡¯s no need for reasons to like someone. Affection and love can juste naturally without considering beauty, wealth, elegance, or intelligence. If youpare beauty as the measure, then you and Karenina have the same beauty. But why does Gerald want to keep you? It¡¯s because he knows there¡¯s something about you that captivates him and makes him want to have you. Even though I know the way he¡¯s going about this is wrong.¡±


    Ariana shook her head again, unable to simply ept the woman¡¯s exnation before her. ¡°Gerald is clearly not an innocent man. You yourself said he was wild when he lived abroad. How could he change overnight? I can assure you that before the marriage ceremony took ce, he was still dating many women out there. And even now, he might have another woman he¡¯s charming and being charmed by. Someone who will warm his bed when I can¡¯t give him what he desires.¡±


    Mrs. Rosaline nodded again. ¡°I won¡¯t deny that fact either. But do you know that on your first day stepping into our home, it was the first day he remembered his God and prostrated himself before Him?¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Ariana furrowed her brow. That was indeed true. ¡°And since then, I knew you could guide him towards a better path. I think that¡¯s what he saw in you, and that¡¯s why he¡¯s so determined to keep you. I know you still can¡¯t ept all of this. But honestly, I¡¯ll tell you, Gerald has never been this possessive with any woman except you, Ariana. You¡¯re the first woman who can make him anxious, worried, jealous, and possessive. His excessive behavior, he has never shown it to anyone else. Not even to me or Isidora. But with you, his actions are clearly different. Maybe this is his way of saying how precious you are to him. Because until now, he doesn¡¯t know how to express his feelings properly. Because there was never anyone to teach him how to do that. I just want you to give Gerald a chance to show his feelings. And I hope you can open your heart to him. Karenina will never rece your position, just as you¡¯re not here to rece Karenina. Whatever your mother and Isidora might say, it¡¯s not something you should worry about. What you need to think about is how Gerald and Axel feel. Both of them,cking in love, need you. And I know you have so much love to give to both of them.¡±


    Ariana couldn¡¯t say anything. Her mind was nk. She still couldn¡¯t believe everything she had heard. No, she couldn¡¯t just easily ept all of this. Even though she was starting to ept the reality that she was Gerald¡¯s wife and beginning to open her heart to him, she knew their issues wouldn¡¯t end there. There was still his mother, Karenina, and Isidora, who would be triggers for problems in their marriage.

 Chap 56 : You Think?

    The doctor came to check on her at nine in the morning. After ensuring that she was okay, Ariana was finally allowed to go home, but not before getting permission from Gerald, who was contacted by his loyal bodyguards who had been tailing him since he left for the office that morning.


    Mrs. Rosaline asked Ariana toe back home with her, but Ariana refused. She felt ufortable staying there. She decided to go back to the restaurant instead. Again, she could only leave with Gerald¡¯s permission.


    Did she really have no say in her own life anymore? Ariana snorted. But well, what could she do? Running away seemed pointless.


    She didn¡¯t say much when she entered the restaurant. Although Jody, Amber, and Adel looked at her with concern, they didn¡¯t say anything. Ariana just went upstairs, intending to lie down there. She wouldn¡¯t force herself to work for now, even though she wanted to.


    Amber and Adel entered shortly after Ariana found herfortable spot. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Amber asked, clearly scrutinizing Ariana¡¯s pale face.


    Maybest night, she assumed Ariana was just sleeping when Gerald carried her from the second floor.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ariana replied with a smile on her face.


    ¡°But you look pale,¡± Ambermented again. Ariana just raised her eyebrows.


    ¡°You¡¯re still here,¡± Ariana shifted her attention to Adel. The young girl looked annoyed. ¡°Not going home yet?¡± Ariana asked again. The girl shook her head. ¡°Isn¡¯t anyone at home looking for you?¡± Ariana inquired once more. Again, the girl shook her head.


    ¡°Leave her be. She might cry hereter,¡± Amber muttered. Ariana chuckled, and Adel pouted. ¡°Well, why are you following me here anyway? Go work downstairs with Jody. If not, I won¡¯t pay your sry, and I won¡¯t let you stay at the apartment anymore,¡± Amber threatened. After hearing the threat, Adel straightened her posture and left the room immediately. Ariana could only shake her head.


    Amber crawled onto the bed, sitting beside Ariana, who was already positioned to sit back against the bed.


    ¡°Are you really okay?¡± Amber repeated her question.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Is there any news I need to hear about the people at home?¡± Ariana countered. Amber shrugged.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I haven¡¯t heard anything from Dad either,¡± her friend and cousin replied. Hearing her answer, Ariana just smiled and nodded. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you, really? I know ever since Karenina arrived yesterday, you¡¯ve changed,¡± shemented again. Ariana fell silent.


    She was torn between whether to confide in Amber or keep it all to herself. So far, all Amber knew about her marriage to Gerald was that he forced her to rece Karenina at the wedding. Besides that, Ariana hadn¡¯t told her anything. Until now, she simply hadn¡¯t had the time to talk, given her tendency to avoid problems by escaping rather than confronting them.


    ¡°What¡¯s your opinion about Gerald?¡± the question came out of nowhere.


    Amber straightened her shoulders and turned to Ariana in surprise. ¡°What do you mean, my opinion about him in what context?¡± she asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Everything. Overall. Especially your views on his attitude towards me and the marriage between us right now,¡± Ariana rified.


    Once again, Amber fell silent. She furrowed her brow, thinking. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll evaluate him physically first, huh?¡± she said rhetorically. ¡°He¡¯s got a great physique. Good body, good face, and honestly, when he smiles, he looks handsome. Even though his constant frowning makes him look sour.¡± Amber¡¯sst statement made Ariana chuckle. ¡°Financially, he¡¯s definitely husband material. He seems like a hard worker, and I¡¯m sure his bank bnce is hefty. Just look at him; he doesn¡¯t hesitate to hire people to watch over you all the time.¡± Amber¡¯s remark referred to his bodyguards, which not only Amber but also all the employees at her restaurant were aware of.


    ¡°But in terms of personality, all I can see is that he¡¯s stubborn and doesn¡¯t like to be contradicted. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Amber asked again. Ariana simply nodded slightly.


    ¡°What do you think, could my marriage with him work out, based on Gerald¡¯s current attitude towards me?¡± Ariana asked. Amber furrowed her brow again at her cousin¡¯s question. She truly didn¡¯t understand the meaning behind Ariana¡¯s question. ¡°What do you think, if, for instance, I were to consider epting this marriage as a real one and epting Gerald as my husband, not Karenina. In your opinion, do you think this marriage could seed?¡± Ariana tried to exin in her own way. But Amber just stared at her with an intense gaze.


    ¡°Soooo, from the beginning, you always thought you¡¯d end up being Gerald¡¯s widow, huh?¡± the girl asked bluntly. Arianaughed and nodded. ¡°You¡¯re crazy! Most people would fight tooth and nail to keep your position, but you¡¯re desperately trying to escape it!¡± she scoffed. Ariana could onlyugh again.


    ¡°Is it wrong?¡± she asked. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s wrong, you idiot!¡±


    ¡°Exin to me which part of my decision is wrong? Do you prefer afortable life with lots of money while feeling unhappy because you always feel restricted?¡±


    ¡°Do you feel like Gerald is restricting you now?¡± Amber asked, incredulous.


    ¡°Do you think having two bodyguards out there means he¡¯s monitoring everything I do?¡±


    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s what you see right now, but it¡¯s clearly different from what I see,¡± Amber replied matter-of-factly.


    ¡°And what do you see?¡±


    ¡°What I see from Gerald right now, his behavior in every aspect, reflects that he genuinely cares about you. He¡¯s in a phase where he¡¯s afraid of losing you. He¡¯s jealous. Not just with Chris, I think. But with every living creature of the same gender as him.¡±


    Ariana snorted at Amber¡¯s response. ¡°Are you making this up?¡±


    ¡°Say whatever you want. What I see is that Gerald genuinely likes you right now. Maybe this is his way of showing that he likes you. Just think logically. What more does Geraldck? He¡¯s handsome, he¡¯s rich. Ignore his status as a parent for a moment. Out there, guys who are old as the hills and have great-grandchildren would make girls drool as long as they have guaranteed wealth, especially someone like Gerald. He wouldn¡¯t be ashamed to unt you everywhere. Now logically, a guy like him, do you think he can¡¯t find a girl anywhere? If he really doesn¡¯t like you, why doesn¡¯t he just let you go and find another girl? But he doesn¡¯t do that, because he genuinely has feelings for you,¡± Amber answered.


    Ariana continued to shake her head. ¡°What about Karenina then? If he doesn¡¯t like Karenina, why force himself into this marriage? After he knew Karenina left, he didn¡¯t have to threaten me with my Dad. He could find another woman,¡± Ariana said, voicing her thoughts.


    ¡°Well, maybe because he wants to marry you, not Karenina,¡± Amber responded.


    ¡°If he really wants to marry me, why didn¡¯t he announce who I really am during the reception?¡± Ariana countered. Amber fell silent. ¡°If he truly wants to marry me, why didn¡¯t he make it clear to all the guests that the woman he married, the woman he paraded around, was Ariana, not Karenina?¡± Ariana asked again.

 Chap 57 : Ariana vs Gerald

    Amber remained silent. Ariana didn¡¯t speak much either. She just let Amber immerse herself in her thoughts. ¡°Do you really want recognition from this marriage?¡± Amber askedter.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°If you mean recognition that he loves me, I don¡¯t need that. What I need is to know who I am here. As a legitimate wife, I am not acknowledged by anyone except those closest to me. Doesn¡¯t that mean he still leaves the possibility open for people out there that my position might not be permanent? Am I wrong?¡± Ariana asked, wanting to know. ¡°My role here from the beginning was just a scheme for them. Mrs. Caitlyn needed me as a recement for Karenina to save her family from disgrace. While Gerald only needed my physical presence so that he and his family could have custody of Axel. Fine, I don¡¯t mind. I can help them, even though their initial approach was wrong and I felt forced back then. But my concern is Axel and his custody. But do you know what happened next? Mrs. Caitlyn, with her arrogance, offered me a billion dors to leave Gerald.¡±


    Amber¡¯s mouth hung open wide. ¡°Did you ept it?¡±


    Ariana chuckled. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m stupid? Of course, I refused,¡± Ariana replied firmly.


    Amber was astonished. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re in a drama scene rejecting money because you love the leading man?¡± she asked incredulously.


    Ariana snorted. ¡°Hello, Amber. If you could get diamonds, why settle for silver?¡± Ariana asked irritably. Amber understood; she nodded her head in understanding. ¡°Why would I ept that money when I can get more from Gerald?¡± Ariana replied again.


    ¡°So, you want to use Gerald? You want to manipte him,¡± Amber said.


    Ariana nowughed mockingly. ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Amber. What kind of woman do you think I am? I just said that to annoy his beautiful mother-inw. Besides, what would I do with that much money? Should I donate it to you?¡± Ariana asked. Amber nodded enthusiastically. ¡°I don¡¯t need that much money. I¡¯m still healthy, and I can earn my own money in a legitimate way. I currently feel more like their ything. Gerald feels ufortable too. If he knew I sold him for a billion to his mother, what do you think he would do? Sure, he might forgive me or just be upset with me. But what if he starts to hate me and does everything in his power to take revenge? Making me and my family poor because of his influence. Do you want to be a street child just because of the money I took, which is not much?¡± Ariana challenged. Amber shuddered in horror.


    ¡°Again, what makes me angry here is that Mrs. Isidora thinks I want to endure this marriage. Hello, I should have told her back then that the one who came begging for my help was not her, Mrs. Caitlyn, and also Mrs. Rosaline.¡±


    Amber nodded her head vigorously. She remembered that moment well. And honestly, at that time, Amber felt ufortable with the presence of those three socialite women. She felt inferior just because of their appearance, which, if Amber calcted, was worth a fantastic amount.


    ¡°I have, up until now, endured my status as that guy¡¯s wife because I love Axel. I want him to have the best among the best. From how I¡¯ve observed Gerald¡¯s family, they genuinely care and love the kid. I really want Axel¡¯s custody to go to Gerald. Not to his mother¡¯s family. Although I don¡¯t really know what histe mother¡¯s family is like. But seeing that kid happy with Gerald¡¯s family, I really want to be a part of that happiness.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need Gerald; I don¡¯t want to be his wife because I¡¯m not ready to be a wife. Especially not a mother right away. From the beginning, I was prepared to let go of that status, even though it wouldn¡¯t bring back my original status. I don¡¯t want to be seen as stealing from my own twin sister. I don¡¯t want to be given disdainful looks by those two people all the time. My life has been enough to make me¡­¡± Ariana couldn¡¯t continue her sentence. Amber understood what the girl wanted to say next. She didn¡¯t say much. Instead, Amber moved closer and hugged Ariana gently, patting her arm softly as if providingfort.


    Amber knew how unpleasant Ariana¡¯s life had been so far. As a little girl, Ariana couldn¡¯t enjoy her childhood because she had to take care of her father and work hard to sustain both of them. And during her teenage years, when her father became healthy again, Ariana no longer received her father¡¯s attention because all his attention seemed to be given to his new family. And his newly born children.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Ariana never said anything, but Amber knew deep inside she felt jealous. She just wanted to be acknowledged as a daughter. Loved and cared for. Even though her stepmother was kind, that wasn¡¯t entirely what Ariana wanted. She just wanted attention from her father.


    But her father, besides being busy with his newly established business, seemed to pay more attention to Ariana¡¯s stepsiblings. And because of that, Ariana decided to keep herself busy with work. She learned a lot from every opportunity that came her way. She challenged herself to be a sessful woman so that one day she wouldn¡¯t have to depend on anyone. So that she wouldn¡¯t be belittled by anyone again. And so that she wouldn¡¯t be abandoned again.


    Amber heard Ariana speak again. ¡°What I have achieved so far is my hard work. And just when I wanted to enjoy all of this, suddenly someone ties me with invisible strings they call marriage. I¡¯m imprisoned; I can¡¯t be myself. It feels like I can¡¯t even breathe freely. Not to mention the looks from people who usually look down on me. They think I¡¯m enjoying all of this and getting so lost that I forget who I am. I¡¯m too caught up in everything, so they believe I won¡¯t willingly leave my ce. In fact, from the very beginning, I intended to let go of all of this. But they refuse to believe that fact.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all because they¡¯re afraid,¡± Amber replied finally. ¡°Because of how Gerald treats you. They¡¯re afraid that you might choose to stay in the end.¡±


    ¡°Do they think, what special treatment has Gerald given me that they¡¯re afraid I won¡¯t let go of him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that you can¡¯t let go of Gerald. It¡¯s that Gerald won¡¯t be able to let go of you,¡± Ariana straightened her posture, looking at Amber with a furrowed brow.

 Chap 58 : I Think (Amber)

    ¡°Ariana, I¡¯m sure Gerald really cares about you,¡± Amber replied finally. Ariana still looked at her unbelievably.


    ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s assume everything you¡¯re saying is true. About him not introducing you as your true self to the public back then. Consider it from another perspective. Maybe at that time, he was still unsure about his own feelings. Maybe he had the same thoughts as you do now.


    ¡°If he intends to rece you with Karenina when the girl returns, why would he bother correcting everything? It would only make him tired again and, of course, confuse the public.


    ¡°And again, you also have to consider his position as a businessman. Choosing a wife alone could be seen as indecisive, especially when ites to business matters. He would definitely be regarded as an unworthy businessman. And his business partners might decide to terminate their cooperation with Gerald.


    ¡°Imagine if that happens. Just because of a name change, are you willing to risk the fate of those who depend on Gerald for their livelihood?¡± Amber hypothesized.


    ¡°Listen and consider my words carefully. This is my perspective as a third party who is not involved in your marriage-although clearly, I have been involved because I¡¯ve been meddling in your affairs. But in fact, I don¡¯t know anything about your internal issues,¡± she continued.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know your daily lives. I only observe you briefly as a stranger. Although, in reality, I am haunted by filthy thoughts remembering Gerald¡¯s words when he prevented me from returning to the apartment and made sure that I would hear the ¡®sound¡¯ that would keep me awake all night,¡± she added.


    Ariana winced at Amber¡¯s finalment. In her heart, Ariana smiled if she remembered the recent incident. What did Gerald call it, hide and seek? But she didn¡¯t want to share that with Amber. Let the girl assume whatever she wanted.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start with my view of your marriage. Okay, if back then Gerald married you just to spare his family from shame. But what I saw afterward didn¡¯t seem like a marriage set up to cover embarrassment.


    ¡°If, suppose, he still had the intention to rece you with Karenina when she returns. Why would he bother getting close to you and Axel? As a child who, sorry, has been separated from parents since childhood, you have to admit that a child¡¯s feelings are sensitive.


    ¡°If Gerald genuinely cares about that child, it means he will not only protect the child physically but also safeguard the child¡¯s mental state so that it won¡¯t be disturbed in any way. And introducing you into the child¡¯s life only to rece you with someone elseter is clearly not a good thing and something he would avoid,¡± Amber said.


    ¡°Then he came here, with his child. Indirectly, he wanted your closest people to know who he is, who the child he brought is. Although, okay, again you¡¯re right if he didn¡¯t introduce you to the public. But think about it again. What¡¯s more important, your closest people knowing who he is, or the public knowing who you are? Hello, the public can judge without even knowing the truth. But your closest people, they will reach out when we face problems. So, in my opinion, it¡¯s better that your closest people know first, so they won¡¯t be shockedter,¡± Amber raised her hand again when Ariana was about to interrupt.


    ¡°Furthermore, when you disappeared like that, I, who am used to being abandoned by ghosts like you, wouldn¡¯t panic at all. For me, you disappearing buting back in a good mood is better than seeing your face with a bad mood all day. But it seems he isn¡¯t like that. He looked genuinely worried and panicked when you weren¡¯t around.


    ¡°Do you know how many times he called me when you disappeared like that? If he doesn¡¯t care, he doesn¡¯t need to be that panicked, right? I couldn¡¯t even work properly. My ears felt hot. His calls were more frequent than the customers who could bring us profit.


    ¡°Then there¡¯s Chris. Although I¡¯m jealous because Chris pays more attention to you than to me, even though I¡¯ve liked him longer, even though I know there¡¯s nothing between you two. But I clearly saw that he was really jealous,¡± Amber raised her hand again when Ariana was about to interrupt.


    ¡°Again, if he doesn¡¯t have any feelings for you, why did he,te at night, clearly exhausted from work,e here just to invite you back, or did he actually intend to invite you to have dinner together?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t need to know that. What¡¯s clear, he sacrifices his time for you too. And then, do you know his threats, and hello, I¡¯m allowed to be upset; after all, my apartment is partly paid for too, even though it¡¯s just monthly rent. Can¡¯t I return to my own ce?¡± But Amber then waved her hand.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s ignore that. Let¡¯s move on to another topic. Yesterday, when Karen finally appeared, she seemed really worried about you too. Do you know, she kept calling me all day just to ask what you were doing? If I weren¡¯t afraid of customers calling, I would¡¯ve turned off my phone. Does she think I¡¯m a CCTV? Unpaid and still being harassed.¡± Amberined as she concluded her talk.


    Ariana raised her eyebrow. She looked at Amber mockingly. ¡°Are you done being a detective?¡± Ariana asked, curious. Amber nodded her head with a serious expression on her face.


    ¡°For your information, Sister Amber, the first point about why he¡¯s getting close to Axel and me. I¡¯ve already told you he¡¯s trying to get an adoption letter from the department. It¡¯s clear we have to behave as harmoniously as possible because who knows if we¡¯re being monitored? And when I disappeared, he wasn¡¯t worried about me. Like you said, he had to protect Axel¡¯s feelings, and he did that. He was confused about what to say to Axel when I wasn¡¯t there, even though I had only been at his house for one day.


    Addressing your confusion about his feelings regarding Chris, let me rify. He noticed Chris not because he was jealous of me, but because there¡¯s an unpleasant history between them that I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t want to know. Anyway, they both don¡¯t like each other, and that happened before they even knew me. So, erase your argument about Gerald being jealous of me.


    And I¡¯m sure he contacted you several times because he was afraid I might run away again. Even though it¡¯s clearly impossible. Because there are two guards in the cage all the time, making me unable to move. And about your suggestion that he should get close to my closest people, hello, Amber. He should have known me first before trying to get to know my closest people.


    If he really cared about me, he should know what I like and what I don¡¯t. But he doesn¡¯t even care about that. Isn¡¯t it supposed to be to win someone¡¯s heart, you do what they like? But Gerald? He does the opposite. Do you know the meaning of ¡®trapped in a gilded cage¡¯? I¡¯m even worse than that. At least, those trapped in a gilded cage upy the cage for themselves. They can roam freely even though they¡¯re still inside their cage. While me? I¡¯m not only locked up, but I¡¯m even chained, while at the same time, people from outside are pulling me out. Because that cage isn¡¯t for me, it¡¯s for someone else.


    So, I can¡¯t ept any of your assumptions,¡± Ariana replied.


    Amber squinted at Ariana. Ariana, her thought patterns and stubborn attitude were not easy to argue against. Amber was about to respond, but their room¡¯s door was knocked from the outside.


    ¡°Come in!¡± Amber shouted, making Ariana, who was so close to her, jump. Her ears were ringing instantly, and she looked at Amber with her annoyed expression.


    Adel came in flustered. The girl even held her chest before speaking. ¡°There¡¯s a visitor!¡± she said, panting. Ariana and Amber looked at her with furrowed brows, but before Adel could say who hade, the guest had already walked in and stood behind Adel with a challenging gaze and a condescending smile toward Ariana. Who else could it be but¡­


    ¡°Karen?¡± Amber and Ariana both asked simultaneously.

 Chap 59 : The Doll

    ¡°Karen?¡± Amber and Ariana looked at their guest with considerable surprise. Meanwhile, Adel, as the messenger, now stared back at the woman behind her in amazement. She had indeed seen the person referred to as Karenina yesterday. But she hadn¡¯t seen her clearly because the woman had already entered the car and left the restaurant just like that. And now, seeing the woman up close, she was undeniably shocked, fascinated, and also envious.


    Karenina¡¯s appearance was undoubtedly something every girl desired. Tall and slender, fair skin, perfectly groomed face and hair. And again, the clothes she wore.


    Adel really wanted to whistle if she didn¡¯t remember that Amber and Ariana were in the room. How could she not, the girl who looked so much like Ariana looked beautiful in a pricey Zimmermann dress that Adel estimated to cost more than ten million. Not to mention the shoulder bag she wore, a Roger Vivier creation that surely valued in the tens of millions. Her shoes? Although they appeared as ordinary t shoes to the untrained eye, they were clearly Marc Jacobs, and a pair could be worth three million rupiahs. Not to mention the ne and bracelet she wore. Just calcting it made Adel¡¯s head spin.


    She chose to leave Ariana¡¯s room rather than embarrass herself by having a nosebleed right there.


    ¡°Hello, Amber. It¡¯s been a while since we met,¡± the girl said softly. Ariana raised her eyebrow.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡± Amber asked curtly. ¡°We¡¯ve been running this restaurant for quite some time, but this is the first time you¡¯ve bothered to visit,¡± she taunted.


    Karenina chuckled gracefully. ¡°I apologize, I¡¯ve been busytely, and only now could I spare some time to visit.¡±


    Ariana snorted, and Amber nced at her. She saw Ariana rising from her seat. ¡°Making time because she thinks there¡¯s one ¡®Important Matter¡¯ she needs to discuss with me, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Ariana challenged. Karenina looked expressionless.


    Ariana moved to one of the single sofas in the room, deliberately avoiding sitting next to Karenina. When Amber attempted to sit, the girl politely said, ¡°Could you leave us alone?¡±


    Such a subtlemand, right? It was camouged as a request. Amber was obviously taken aback. Nevertheless, she chose to leave the twin pair without many words.


    ¡°So? Get straight to the point. I don¡¯t like small talk,¡± Ariana said coldly, even before the door was fully closed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know why I left Gerald a few days before our wedding?¡± the girl asked. It wasn¡¯t a question but rather a statement disguised as a question. Because even without Ariana responding, she continued, ¡°I left because I couldn¡¯t ept the reality of what Gerald told me. You know, he said our marriage wouldst a lifetime because he didn¡¯t like divorce. And in return, he would give me anything I wanted. But he couldn¡¯t give me his loyalty.¡± Ariana didn¡¯t respond; she chose to remain silent, allowing her twin to say whatever she wanted.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t ept that. Nevertheless, I want to get married for love. Or even if he doesn¡¯t love me, at least he can be faithful to me. But he didn¡¯t want to do that. I was troubled. I was afraid. How could he promise not to be faithful even before the wedding took ce? What about me? Plus, the fact that I will have a child. My mental burden increased. It¡¯s natural for me to seek sce by stepping away from all of this.¡±


    Ariana snorted. ¡°You¡¯re as good as your mother when ites to making excuses, Karen,¡± Ariana said casually. ¡°You¡¯re telling me that Gerald couldn¡¯t promise you loyalty, is that your reason for leaving? Does that make sense?¡± she scoffed with a disdainful look.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure Gerald isn¡¯t foolish enough to shower you with empty sweet talk. And I¡¯m also sure that your reasons for leaving go beyond just that. Especially since the foundation of your marriage from the start was about money, wasn¡¯t it? Do you expect someone¡¯s loyalty after you¡¯ve sold yourself?¡± Ariana asked harshly.


    ¡°You and your mother are truly amusing,¡± she continued. ¡°As amodity that has been purchased, you should just ept the treatment he gives you. Just like how you treated your dolls when we were little.


    ¡°Do you remember when you always wanted the doll I had, even though we already had identical ones? Back then, I was too naive to realize it. I suspected that you wanted it because yours was damaged while mine was still in good condition.


    ¡°But now I understand. After thinking about how you never touched it once you got it, I know. What you wanted wasn¡¯t the doll. It was me who was hurt, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Ariana¡¯s question caused the girl¡¯s face to pale instantly.


    ¡°I took care of it very well because I liked it. It was a gift from our father to us. But after I gave it to you, you didn¡¯t even want to touch it, let alone make it beautiful. So, what¡¯s the difference now between you and that doll? Isn¡¯t the most important thing for you and your mother money?¡± Ariana observed Karenina from head to toe.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°To maintain a look like this, you don¡¯t need love and loyalty, right? You just need arge bnce, and Gerald can provide all of that for you.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the problem now? A child? Axel will eventually be taken care of by a trusted Zeroun family babysitter. You don¡¯t have to do the disgusting job of cleaning up his mess. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t even have to bother wiping his nose.


    ¡°Then what burden are you talking about? Don¡¯t make excuses, Karen. Even though we haven¡¯t lived together for a decade and a half, I know you since forever. You and your mother are a product with different packaging. Am I wrong?¡± Ariana looked at Karenina, whose face turned red.


    ¡°Since the beginning, you both never cared about love, let alone loyalty. And you know, the essence of loyalty itself is love. But you don¡¯t love Gerald either, do you?


    ¡°Since the beginning, you always assumed that the world¡¯s attention would be focused solely on you. And you wanted that from Gerald too. But unfortunately, your desires were not fulfilled because Gerald didn¡¯t chase after you the way you hoped.


    ¡°You tried to conquer him, but clearly, Gerald isn¡¯t someone easily conquered. Why do you think someone needs to be loyal if they don¡¯t love you? And will you do the same after demanding loyalty from Gerald? Are you loyal behind Gerald¡¯s back?¡± Ariana asked again.


    Once again, Karenina¡¯s face turned red.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to badmouth Gerald to me. Without you telling me what he¡¯s like, I can find out on my own. Why don¡¯t you just say that the reason you came here is that you want me to step down from my position because you want to reim yours.¡±


    Hearing Ariana¡¯s words, Karenina immediately straightened up. She looked at Ariana with hopeful eyes. Ariana even wanted to mock her.


    ¡°What can you offer me to make me leave Gerald?¡± Ariana asked.


    ¡°W-what do you mean?¡± the girl stammered.


    ¡°You have to remember that I¡¯m not the same Ariana as before, who was willing to give everything I had for you and your mother. Isn¡¯t it clear that I¡¯m not that foolish anymore?


    ¡°Of course, in business, before a demand arises, you have to make your offer first, right? My mother-inw even dared to offer me billions of rupiah to leave her son. So, how much can you offer me?¡±


    ¡°Have you really stooped this low, Ariana? Have you be this money-minded since our father went bankrupt?¡± Karenina jeered.

 Chap 60 : What Can You Offer?

    ¡°Do you think that¡¯s wrong?¡± Ariana challenged again. ¡°I¡¯m just learning from the experts. The apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree, right? And didn¡¯t you and your mother do the same thing? Because of Dad¡¯s bankruptcy, you went to wealthier men. Didn¡¯t matter if you were scorned for breaking up someone else¡¯s marriage.¡±R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Karenina was taken aback. She was quite surprised by Ariana¡¯s attitude. In the past, even though Ariana was known as a tomboy, she was not rough. Not like now.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be at a disadvantage, Karen, dear. My status will change to widow in just a few days. Even before everyone knows I¡¯m already married. I needpensation to bear that shame. Right?¡± Karenina looked at Ariana with a furrowed brow. ¡°Give me a surprising offer, Karen. After that, I¡¯ll consider whether I¡¯ll leave Gerald or not. That¡¯s if I even want to leave him.¡± She replied ambiguously. Karenina was once again left confused.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Ariana. If marrying Gerald isn¡¯t advantageous, why would you and your mother try so hard to get rid of me? And if marrying Gerald is an advantage, why should I share that advantage with you and your mother? I can enjoy it on my own, and I won¡¯t die because of it, right?¡±


    ¡°Ariana!¡± Karenina interrupted her harshly.


    ¡°Why? Are you and your mother afraid you won¡¯t find a better prey than Gerald?¡± she mocked. Karenina stared at her with anger that she no longer tried to conceal. Her slender, diamond-adorned fingers were now clenched on her thighs. ¡°Why?¡± Ariana challenged. ¡°Is what I¡¯m saying wrong?¡±


    Karenina shook her head. Remarkably, the girl¡¯s facial expression instantly turned calm. And even showed a hint of pity. ¡°Why have you changed like this?¡± the girl asked in disbelief.


    Ariana really wanted tough at her. But she held herself back with all her might. She never expected her twin sister to be this cunning.


    ¡°Changed into what do you mean?¡± Ariana asked, feigning innocence.


    ¡°You¡¯re rough, whereas you weren¡¯t like this before. And you, selfish,¡± her twin replied with a sad expression.


    Ariana chuckled. ¡°Do you think, after all this time, I should always be the foolish Ariana? Forever resigned to my fate? Forever the girl who¡¯s willing to give everything to you just because of my role as an older sister?¡± Ariana taunted. ¡°Come on, Karen. I¡¯m not that foolish anymore. I shouldn¡¯t lose to you, right? If even when we were kids you knew what you wanted. Why can¡¯t I do the same now?¡±


    ¡°Maybe my way isn¡¯t as beautiful or as smooth as yours. But I can assure you that I can be cunning too,¡± Ariana said. ¡°And do you know that Axel really likes me?¡± Ariana asked again. ¡°I heard that he will be the sole heir to histe father¡¯s fortune. Isn¡¯t that very advantageous for me? I just need to endure being with him, be kind to him. And slowly I can spend his inheritance. Isn¡¯t that intriguing?¡± Ariana challenged.


    Karenina still looked at Ariana in disbelief. ¡°If you really want to regain your position as the Zeroun family¡¯s daughter-inw, the only way you can get rid of me is by asking Gerald for a divorce. Try it, and I hope you seed in your first attempt,¡± she continued. Ariana stood up, feeling that the conversation was over.


    ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t do it?¡± Karenina finally challenged. Ariana looked at her twin sister with a smirk. ¡°It will be very easy to make Gerald kneel before me. And it will be even easier to remove you from his life,¡± she threatened.


    Ariana still held a smile on her face. ¡°Is that so? Then go ahead and execute your n. Because I¡¯ve already told my mother that I won¡¯t let go of Gerald easily,¡± she replied defiantly.


    Ariana then turned and left. She didn¡¯t leave her room because she still felt unwell. Ariana returned to her bedroom and closed the door from the inside. Shortly after the bedroom door closed, she heard a crashing from the adjacent room.


    Of course, it was Karenina¡¯s doing. Although Ariana didn¡¯t know what object the girl had thrown, perhaps one of Amber¡¯s favorite vases. But Ariana didn¡¯t care. She chose to lie down on her bed because her head was throbbing with pain.


    Karenina¡¯s arrival only made her body feel even more painful. Ariana didn¡¯t know how long it took until she could finally fall into a deep sleep.


    Ariana felt something warm spreading on her side, making her feelfortable and drawing her closer instantly. The warmth tightened around her body, embracing her tightly. Honestly, Ariana liked it so much that she was reluctant to open her eyes.


    Something soft and supple touched her forehead. Ariana smiled in her sleep. What was thisfort? Why did she want to drift off even more and not open her eyes? Ariana hid her face in something sturdy yet warm. She could even hear a soft, rumbling murmur in her ears. What was this sound? She wondered in her heart, but she still didn¡¯t want to open her eyes.


    ¡°Turns out you really be spoiled when you¡¯re sick, huh?¡± The voice? Ariana recognized it. Instantly, she opened her eyes and saw something mustard yellow in front of her. She looked up and then met Gerald¡¯s gaze as he lowered his head towards her.


    Surprised, Ariana immediately moved back. However, it turned out, the man¡¯s arms and legs encircled her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ariana asked in panic. Instead of answering, Gerald just smiled cunningly.


    ¡°Keeping my wifepany in her sleep, of course,¡± he replied casually. Then he hugged Ariana again. ¡°I know you enjoy my embrace. And I willingly offer it to you. I should be grateful for that, considering there are many women out there waiting in line to get my hug.¡±


    Ariana snorted, but she couldn¡¯t deny that the man¡¯s embrace was indeedforting. ¡°Feeling better?¡± Gerald asked again, as Ariana remained silent. However, he was pleased that Ariana chose to rest her head on his chest again, instead of pulling away like she did initially.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Ariana responded with an unclear murmur. Her hands unconsciously gripped the shirt Gerald was wearing. ¡°Where do you want to stay?¡± Gerald asked again, curious.


    Ariana raised her head, looking at Gerald with a furrowed brow. Clearly, she didn¡¯t believe the question he posed.

 Chap 61 : The Other Reason

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gerald raised himself slightly, supporting his head and propping it up with his folded hand. He lowered his gaze to Ariana, who still appeared incredulous about what Gerald was asking her.


    ¡°I¡¯m just giving you options. I¡¯m asking where you want to stay. Who knows, maybe you don¡¯t want to go back to my house,¡± he said tly.


    ¡°Will you grant my request then?¡± Ariana asked, still looking incredulous.


    ¡°As long as your request is reasonable, Mrs. Aarzu.¡±


    Ariana chuckled. ¡°What if I ask to stay at the Royal Penthouse President Wilson Hotel, would you grant it?¡± Ariana challenged again.


    Gerald raised an eyebrow. Then he smiled cunningly. ¡°Are you proposing a honeymoon with me? If so, why not.¡±


    This time, Ariana was wide-eyed hearing his question. ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± she eximed as she tried to move away. But Gerald was quicker. He restrained Ariana again with his hands and legs. Ariana tried to push his chest, but she always seemed tock the strength.


    Theyy on their sides, facing each other. Gerald still looked rxed, his head propped up. His right hand faithfully held Ariana¡¯s waist, and his right leg was still wrapped around Ariana¡¯s.


    ¡°I¡¯m not crazy. Isn¡¯t a honeymoon normal for a married couple?¡± Gerald asked, his voice softer.


    Reluctantly, Ariana looked up and studied his face carefully. It was evident he wasn¡¯t joking this time.


    ¡°No. I don¡¯t want to do it. And probably never will,¡± Ariana replied sarcastically.


    Gerald stiffened. His hand on Ariana¡¯s waist became tense. But their eyes remained locked in a continuous stare.


    ¡°Why?¡± he asked through gritted teeth.


    ¡°Do I still need to exin why?¡± Ariana shot back, her voice carrying a hint of sadness. Gerald could sense it.


    ¡°Are you still not convinced that I won¡¯t divorce you?¡± Gerald asked again. He was getting frustrated with Ariana¡¯s misguided belief about him. But he couldn¡¯t me her entirely. He had been the one to make the wrong move from the beginning.


    ¡°That, and other reasons,¡± Ariana replied.


    Gerald¡¯s forehead immediately furrowed.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°What other reasons? Care to exin to me?¡±


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°I heard that you promised not to be faithful to one woman. And that could be one of the ¡®other reasons,¡¯ couldn¡¯t it?¡± she challenged.


    Gerald snorted. ¡°Did you hear that from your twin sister?¡± Gerald shot back. Now it was Ariana¡¯s turn to furrow her brows. ¡°Honestly, yes, I did tell her that. I couldn¡¯t promise my fidelity to her in our marriage.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Ariana finally asked. ¡°Why did you tell her that? Isn¡¯t it typical for a cheating man not to want others to know?¡±


    Gerald shrugged. ¡°I never intended to cheat. I¡¯m a monogamous man, darling. Even though I know I can sleep with more than one woman in a night, I won¡¯t do it.¡±


    Ariana was taken aback by his vulgar statement. ¡°So, you¡¯re trying to tell me you¡¯re some kind of macho man?¡± Ariana taunted.


    Again, Gerald shrugged his shoulders. ¡°If you knew what my friends were like before, I¡¯m sure you would praise my courage.¡±


    He answered in an arrogant tone.


    Ariana snorted. ¡°You know, men like that usually turn lethargic when they get old.¡± She quipped.


    Gerald just chuckled. ¡°How do you know that? Have you ever tried to hook up with an older man?¡± scoffed Gerald.


    Immediately, Ariana hit the man¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m still a virgin!¡± he snapped harshly.


    Gerald justughed. He raised his right hand towards Ariana¡¯s upper body. ying with the girl¡¯s long, ck hair flowing down in a mess. ¡°I know.¡± The answer was soft. Ariana raised her head again. The two of them looked at each other again.


    Then, Gerald¡¯s gaze shifted to the girl¡¯s ears. Fixed the hair that was ying there and tucked it behind Ariana¡¯s ear. The back of his fingers rubbed the back of Ariana¡¯s neck gently. You know that that¡¯s where Ariana¡¯s sensitive point is-and continued towards his neck. ¡°I even know I was the first to touch you this intensely,¡± Gerald muttered softly.


    Ariana swallowed her saliva because she was nervous. Suddenly, the desire to be touched further by the man filled her head. His body had turned hot instantly. ¡°And from the first time I touched you, I swore no other man would ever do that to you.¡±


    Ariana frowned again. And Gerald was now staring intently into Ariana¡¯s eyes. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ariana asked quietly. ¡°I mean..¡± Gerald moved. Turn Ariana¡¯s position onto her back. ¡°No other man would do this to you.¡±


    Gerald then kissed Ariana¡¯s forehead gently. ¡°And like this.¡± His lips descended towards Ariana¡¯s left cheek. ¡°And like this.¡± Shift towards the corner of Ariana¡¯s mouth.


    When Ariana hoped the man woulde closer to her lips, the man got up. He propped up on his elbows and looked at Ariana with a gaze full of passion. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t even let another man do this.¡± He said before pressing his lips on Ariana¡¯s.


    Ariana moaned when she felt soft and supple lips touch hers. She knew that Gerald was not a smoker. She could see it from the reddish color of the man¡¯s lips. And she never smelled tobo on the man¡¯s body. And Ariana had to admit that she liked him.


    And she liked it even more when the man¡¯s lips roamed her lips and her mouth¡¯s cavity. As the man admitted, Gerald was indeed an intelligent man. He is very clever, so that he can seduce Ariana.


    The man yed with his tongue, getting Ariana involved in his game. Then, when the kiss stopped due to their gasping for breath, Ariana was shocked again when the man¡¯s head came down and kissed her neck-amused, of course. But that¡¯s not all. Gerald¡¯s actions spurred Ariana¡¯s passion.


    Ariana groaned again. The man held Ariana¡¯s hands above her head so that Ariana couldn¡¯t do much. All he could do was raise his head and give the man more ess to explore there.

 Chap 62 : Beginning

    ¡°Gerald¡­¡± Ariana unconsciously moaned the man¡¯s name. Gerald froze for a moment. He straightened up instantly. Looking at Ariana with propped up on both elbows without releasing his grip on Ariana¡¯s hands.


    Ariana¡¯s face had turned red, and the girl¡¯s breathing seemedbored. And Gerald knew why because he felt the same way.


    They both want each other. ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Gerald repeated the girl¡¯s name hesitantly. But that


    what he saw on Ariana¡¯s face now made him step back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± Ariana said softly. Her eyes turned red, and Gerald could see an unmistakable glint there. Ariana cried. And Gerald now really got up from his seat.


    He felt angry and humiliated at the same time. ¡®Does he look so disgusting in front of Ariana?¡¯ she asked herself. Gerald moved backward, although he did not leave the bed. And Ariana also sat on the bed. ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡±


    Ariana spoke up. Gerald turned and saw Ariana like a child hugging her knees.


    Gerald tried to understand. He stared at the girl in silence. He now knew that Ariana said earlier the word ¡®tired¡¯ was not physically tired. But mentally tired.


    Gerald approached by crawling on the bed. The man crossed his legs beside Ariana. His left hand gently embraced Ariana¡¯s shoulder. And he slowly pulled the girl¡¯s body so Ariana¡¯s shoulders could restfortably on her chest.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Gerald answered quietly.


    ¡°I do not know what to do,¡± Ariana said softly. ¡°I always me time and wonder about the situation I¡¯m in right now. But all that doesn¡¯t change anything, right?¡± she asked, more to himself.


    ¡°In just a short time, my world haspletely changed. I became a wife and a mother at the same time. I met people I didn¡¯t know. And I was reunited with those who had left me. And it doesn¡¯t make me happy.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired. I want something else. But why does everyone seem to use me of taking something from me? Why are they asking me to return what I never took?¡±


    Ariana sat up straight. She did not hide his tears due to the continuous pain he experienced. Gerald looked at her with a hurt look. Gerald realized that he was the cause of all the tears. He is the one who has made the girl sad now.


    He knew who Ariana was referring to, who asked the girl to return what she didn¡¯t take. Gerald knows everything. And he felt guilty about it.


    ¡°How can I return what I didn¡¯t take to them? Please answer me,¡± she asked softly.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Gerald tried to get closer. He wanted to embrace that body again.


    ¡°Can you return to them and let my life return to calm and be okay?¡± she asked.


    Gerald was not surprised, even though his heart ached to hear that. He knew that Ariana would always use that magic word, but Gerald would never grant it.


    ¡°I told you that I would never divorce you, Ariana. I will only get married once in my life. I don¡¯t care if you believe Karenina¡¯s words that I won¡¯t be faithful. But I still won¡¯t divorce you. Can¡¯t you give me a chance to show it?¡±


    Gerald was surprised by his own words. He? A Gerald Aarzu Zeroun asked?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know whether you will believe this or not. But Ariana, from the first time I saw you at the Brooks residence, I have fallen under your charm ever since.¡± He said suddenly. Ariana was surprised. The girl stared at Gerald in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s why I insisted on forcing my desire to marry you. Because I like you. I want you for myself,¡± Gerald moved closer again. He tried to touch the girl once more.


    ¡°I won¡¯t force you to believe me. I¡¯ve learned that forcing you is not good. The more I push you, the farther you get from me,¡± the man chuckled. ¡°We can try everything from the beginning. We can start everything like everyone else. What do you want? Dating? Romantic dinners? Or shall we pretend to meet again?¡± he asked mischievously.


    Ariana looked at him in disbelief, thenughed. ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous,¡± she said.


    Gerald just shrugged. ¡°I know. But what can I do? I just want to prove to you that I do like you, and it¡¯s not a lie. Believe me, I won¡¯t cheat. I¡¯m the loyal type. I¡¯ve decided to live monogamously. My past with many women, consider it just practice. So thatter I can apply various ways on you.¡±


    Ariana gasped. Reflexively, she hit Gerald¡¯s arm in frustration. Gerald groaned, rubbing his arm, pretending to be hurt. But Ariana ignored him. She knew her punch wouldn¡¯t hurt him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so dramatic,¡± she quipped. Gerald grinned, showing his white, even teeth.


    ¡°So, what do you say? Do you want to date me, Mrs. Aarzu?¡± Gerald asked again.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Ariana looked at Gerald carefully. ¡°Will that mean I can go back to living alone in my apartment?¡± she inquired.


    Gerald appeared thoughtful again. He stared back at Ariana in disbelief. ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t give you permission for that,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Why? Didn¡¯t you say we would start over? If we start from scratch, that means I should be myself again,¡± Ariana argued.


    Gerald shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t, I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, genuinely regretful.


    ¡°But why?¡±


    ¡°First, because I¡¯m afraid Chris will meet you secretly,¡± Ariana was shocked to hear Gerald¡¯s response. ¡°He¡¯s my friend, and he¡¯s also my step-cousin,¡± he exined.


    Gerald shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t care. And second¡­¡± he trailed off. ¡°The second? What is it?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t sleep if I don¡¯t hug you,¡± he replied with his mischievous smile. Ariana could only raise an eyebrow in response.

 Chap 63 : Why

    After snapping out of her trance, Ariana hit Gerald with the nearest pillow within her reach. ¡°You pervert!¡± she eximed. Ariana then got up from the bed and walked towards the bathroom quickly. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Gerald asked with teasing tone and smile.


    ¡°Taking a shower! Suddenly I feel so hot!¡± Ariana replied from the bathroom door.


    ¡°Need any help? Maybe I could assist you in scrubbing your back or something else?¡± Gerald offered, his tone yful. Ariana stopped in her tracks. She turned around and looked at Gerald with a raised eyebrow. Gerald looked back at her with a hopeful expression.


    ¡°In your dreams!¡± Ariana muttered before closing the door with a rather loud thud. Gerald burst intoughter.


    Meanwhile, inside the bathroom, Ariana sat back on the toilet seat, holding her chest that was beating so rapidly. How could she not? The conversation she had just had with Gerald was like giving their rtionship a chance. Ariana didn¡¯t know why she could do that, especially considering Gerald¡¯s words had inevitably moved her heart.


    Didn¡¯t she never want this marriage to happen from the beginning? Ariana asked herself. Wasn¡¯t she intent on leaving him right from the start? And now Karenina was back, but why did Ariana feel reluctant to leave Gerald?


    Reluctantly, she had to admit that what she had said to her mother, her mother-inw, and her twin sister was all just empty words she had spoken out of anger at their treatment. If she persisted with Gerald, then the three women would be right about Ariana. That she would turn Gerald into her treasure trove. And what if Gerald found out she had said such things?


    Of course, he would despise her, wouldn¡¯t he?


    Yes. That is for sure. If her mother, mother-inw, and Karenina told Gerald the results of their conversation, Gerald, who was now kind to him, would change to hate him. The man will only equate Ariana with her mother and twin sister.


    And if that happens?


    Shouldn¡¯t Ariana be happy? If Gerald hated her, he would quickly abandon Ariana, right? But why did she not like the thoughts that entered he brain? And instead, gave her a drop of pain in her chest?


    Ariana got up and took off her clotheszily. She stepped unsteadily under the shower and doused herself with warm water at medium pressure.


    How about now? What should he do now? If she epts the man¡¯s offer to date, can Ariana guarantee that her heart condition will remain safe?


    What if she ends up falling in love with Gerald? What if she ends up having her heart broken because of that man?


    Hasn¡¯t all this Ariana done to avoid heartbreak because of men? Isn¡¯t that why, until now, Ariana is still closing herself off from all possibilities that could bring her closer to ¡®falling in love¡¯?


    Ariana shook her head. Even taking a warm shower didn¡¯t help clear her mind at all.


    Ariana dried her body and covered her wet hair with a small towel on the bathroom towel rail. In the end, she regretted it again because she didn¡¯t bring a change of clothes there. She was too emotional earlier to think about possibly going out wearing only a towel that wouldn¡¯t even cover his entire thigh.


    Ariana opened the bathroom door slowly. In her heart, she prayed that Gerald had left her room. It is nothing. She didn¡¯t feel embarrassed. After all, they had done more than look at their naked bodies. It¡¯s just that Ariana didn¡¯t want to be used of flirting with the man.


    Luckily, Gerald wasn¡¯t there. It was proven that the bedroom door was half open. Ariana walked quickly towards the door and was about to lock it from the inside. But somehow, the man moved faster and entered the room with a mischievous grin.


    ¡°You look fresher.¡± The manmented.


    Ariana gripped her towel tightly. ¡°What are you doing? Get out there! I want to change clothes.¡± Throw her away roughly.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Instead of retreating to leave the bedroom. Gerald instead went deeper. ¡°If you want to change clothes, go ahead. Why do you have to throw me out of the room?¡± asked the man, still teasingly.


    ¡°This is my room, and I freely ask you to leave this room. Besides, I need privacy. At least respect that.¡± Gerald raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you need privacy, or are you embarrassed to get dressed in front of me?¡±


    Ariana gaped. How could that man ask like just now? But then Ariana smiled. She turned back and walked closer to Gerald. Even though her hand held the towel tightly, she still wanted to reply to the man.


    ¡°Are you sure you want to know what¡¯s on my mind?¡± Ariana asked in a teasing tone. Now Gerald looked back at him, confused. ¡°I know. I have a good enough body that makes men want to touch me all the time, and so do you. It is not like that?¡± Ariana asked again.


    Gerald still looked at Ariana with a wary gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯m just being kind to you, Mr. Aarzu. I know how easily you are tempted.¡± Ariana touched the tip of her index finger to the man¡¯s right chest.


    ¡°And I just don¡¯t want to hurt you anymore because you want me to. Won¡¯t it hurt if you want me, but I can¡¯t give you anything?¡± Ariana pushed Gerald slowly.


    The man reflexively stepped back because of the gentle push.


    ¡°So, before you suffer anymore because of your excessive desires, you better¡­ Retreat!¡± Ariana pushed the man out of the room and quickly locked herself in from the inside.


    She then leaned he back against the door. She was trying to calm her heartbeat. Unlucky! It wasn¡¯t Gerald who was tempted by Ariana. But Ariana¡¯s body was drawn by the man¡¯s body.


    Ariana herself didn¡¯t understand why. But every time she caught a look from his eagle eyes, she felt as if she was bewitched. His body suddenly shook violently, and she always wanted to be touched.


    And after the man managed to touch her. Ariana always felt as if her body was being shocked by a small electric current.


    Her body always felt hot instantly. And one touch made her want another touch. And that other touch always causes another sensation.


    Ariana knew that was what they called passion. But Ariana didn¡¯t understand why her body only showed that response to Gerald even though Gerald wasn¡¯t the only man close to her all this time.


    Aren¡¯t there still Jody and other male employees in this restaurant? There¡¯s also Chris. But Chris¡­ never mind, forget about that guy.


    What is clear is that from the start, her body¡¯s response to Gerald was wrong. And now, the longer she was close to that man, Ariana felt that her body was bing more and more abnormal.


    Ariana quickly changed clothes. She took a short-sleeved T-shirt and his favorite jeans. Her eyebrows knit together momentarily when she realized that the stock of clothes she had left at the restaurant was almost running low. And she was sure that the dirty clothes she had previously kept would have been given by Amber to theundry.


    She quickly rubbed his hair with a towel. Combed it roughly, and then Ariana opened the bedroom door. Gerald seemed to be sitting casually, watching the t screen in front of him with the remote in his right hand.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± asked the man when he saw Ariana, who ignored him again and left the room.


    ¡°Get something to eat,¡± Ariana answered briefly.

 Chap 64 : Impressed

    With a quick motion, Gerald turned off the television and stood up from his seat. Now, Ariana could clearly observe the man. Gerald was still dressed in his work attire: a long-sleeved white shirt that he had folded up to his elbows and ck trousers. His tie had been loosened, and the top two buttons of his shirt seemed deliberately undone.


    Normally, such a sight would remind Ariana of salesmen for household products who typically went door to door selling their goods. Or it would bring to mind new interns who could be seen in various stores and even some offices. You know, their typical new employee attire, ck and white.


    However, for some reason, seeing Gerald dressed like that made him look even more charming to her. Ariana couldn¡¯t quite understand her own thought process.


    And the man¡¯s jacket hung on the single sofa not far from where Ariana stood. Seeing his personal belonging in her room, he acted as if the room belonged to Gerald alone. Normally, this should have made Ariana ufortable, or at least uneasy. But in reality, it made her feel nothing but at ease.


    Gerald casually grabbed his jacket and followed Ariana. She knew it was already gettingte in the day. She actually wanted to ask when he had arrived and why he was there. Especially considering he ended up staying and even keeping herpany until she fell asleep.


    Ariana was curious. Was it really okay for Gerald to leave his office frequently just for her? But then, she dismissed her own thoughts. She didn¡¯t want to assume, especially not to be conceited. She was afraid that if she asked Gerald about it, he might say she was bing too observant. Or perhaps he mightment that he was off duty and hade to the restaurant not out of concern for her.


    Nevertheless, it still upied her thoughts, especially after their intense argument earlier that morning when he had left her with a stern face apanied by bodyguards she didn¡¯t recognize. She wanted to know what made him forget his anger towards her.


    Ariana descended to the ground floor but didn¡¯t enter the kitchen. Instead, she chose to leave the restaurant and find something to eat outside. Gerald continued to follow her. When they reached the parking lot, he stopped her. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Ariana looked up, gazing at him. Once again, she noticed something. His height didn¡¯t quite reach his chin. Why hadn¡¯t she realized that before?


    Alright, Ariana admitted it. Because she spent a considerable amount of time with Gerald, if he wasn¡¯t forcibly carrying her, she would often find herself lying on the bed. Or in a position where one of them was standing while the other was sitting.


    In a face-to-face standing position like this, on the same level ground, she could still count the instances on her fingers. Even on their wedding day, she had worn high stiletto heels to at least match his height a little.


    Ariana raised her head while Gerald leaned down towards her. ¡°I¡¯m going to find something to eat,¡± she repeated her response with a hiss in her tone.


    ¡°Yeah, but where?¡± Gerald asked, his tone softer. ¡°You¡¯re still not well. Don¡¯t go too far,¡± he pleaded. Why did Gerald make her feel guilty? Ariana questioned herself.


    ¡°I won¡¯t go far. I just want to grab some fast food at the end of the street,¡± Ariana replied, her tone also softening.


    Gerald then gently led her towards his parked car. Ariana was clearly surprised, considering Vivan wasn¡¯t there ¨C Gerald¡¯s loyal assistant. And she looked around; she didn¡¯t see the usual cars used by Gerald¡¯s bodyguards. Something was odd here. However, Ariana could only suppress her thoughts.


    Gerald opened the door for her. Ariana didn¡¯t say much. She got in and sat in the passenger seat. Gerald circled around the front of the car and finally settled behind the wheel.


    This wasn¡¯t the first time Gerald had driven Ariana. Yet, it still felt strange to her, considering Gerald was ustomed to being chauffeured by others and now he was driving himself.


    ¡°Show me the way,¡± hemanded. Not in a loud voice, just a t-toned directive.


    Gerald smoothly reversed the car. His left hand rested on the back of Ariana¡¯s seat, while the other gripped the steering wheel. He looked back as he slowly backed up. Once they were on the road, he spoke again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want topliment me?¡± he asked.


    Ariana¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Compliment you for what?¡± she asked, confused.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it that women like action scenes, like the one I just did when reversing the car?¡± he asked, looking puzzled.


    ¡°You mean, being impressed because you drove with one hand while backing up?¡± Ariana asked, still perplexed. Gerald nodded.


    ¡°Are you kidding?¡± Ariana snorted. ¡°Are you one of those drama victims?¡± she teased. ¡°Do you think only you men can do that? We can too.¡±


    Gerald ended up feeling quite miserable due to his statement. It seemed like Vivan¡¯s advice to capture Ariana¡¯s attention with such macho acts was futile. Feeling embarrassed by his own actions, Gerald chose to remain silent for the rest of their journey.


    Ariana pointed out the fast-food ce she wanted to go to. Gerald parked his car neatly there. They then walked into the not-so-crowded fast-food restaurant; it wasn¡¯t dinner time, and lunchtime had long passed.


    ¡°You know, you shouldn¡¯t be eating fast food right now. Didn¡¯t the doctor say you had a stomach crampst night?¡± Geraldmented as Ariana continued walking in and joined the line.


    ¡°Rules are meant to be broken,¡± Ariana replied casually, while Gerald followed her lead.


    After cing their orders, Ariana carried the tray of food to a table in one corner, and Gerald sat next to her.


    He could only sit beside her, eating and watching Ariana, who now seemed to be enjoying her meal heartily.


    Seeing her mood change drastically, a smile crept onto his lips.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

 Chap 65 : Welcome Home

    ¡°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 exin 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 ce.¡± Ariana answered honestly.


    ¡°Do you want toe 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 rified, ¡°Not the house where Grandma and Mommy are. But my house. Gerald¡¯s house. Not Zeroun¡¯s residence,¡± Gerald replied.


    ¡°You have your own ce?¡± Ariana asked. Gerald nodded. ¡°An apartment?¡± Ariana asked again. Gerald shook his head. ¡°Some people might call it a vi. 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 ce 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 nts 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 ss walls.


    ¡°Wee 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 ss. 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 arge leather sofa, weed 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 extrarge t-screen TV. Next to the living area was a kitchen furnished withplete 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, simr to the living room downstairs. Here, too, there was arge 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 exined. Ariana could only nod again.


    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 pped his arm in annoyance. She suddenly realized that he hadn¡¯t let go of her hand since earlier. She looked at hisrge hand with feelings she found hard to exin.


    Gerald opened the door to the room, and Ariana was once again taken aback. Two sides of the room were entirely made of wide ss 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 firstyer of covering for the ss 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 arge 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, contemting his actions.


    Ariana didn¡¯t reply. She just observed the empty space in front of her, simr to the room Gerald admitted was his. The room in front of her also had two ss 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.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Ariana rolled her eyes. She nced 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 ss like that? Are you nning 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 eximed. Gerald justughed heartily.

 Chap 66 : Spoiled

    Ariana opened the door to the balcony, and instantly, the cool air rushed into the room, tousling her hair. The scent of damp earth wafted into her nose. Ariana stepped outside. The balcony was spacious, very spacious. Some parts of the floor were covered with wood, while others were covered with Japanese grass that tickled anyone who walked on it. A wooden swing was on one side of the high ss balcony railing.


    On one side of the balcony, there was a long chair that lookedfortable to sit on. In the middle, there was an empty area that seemed deliberately left unfurnished.


    ¡°We can camp here,¡± Gerald said casually. He was already sitting on the swing, cross-legged, his eyes fixed on Ariana. ¡°You like camping, don¡¯t you?¡± he asked again.


    Ariana just turned towards him and shrugged. ¡°Back then, you went with that jerk,¡± she muttered.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Ariana smiled. Was he jealous of Chris now? She wondered to herself.


    ¡°Do you even have camping gear?¡± Ariana challenged. Gerald just shrugged. ¡°If you really want it, a tent can be arranged,¡± he replied casually.


    ¡°Are you cosying as ddin?¡± Ariana teased. Again, Gerald just shrugged.


    ¡°Wait here,¡± the man said. Quickly, he got up and left Ariana alone on the balcony, which measured four by six meters.


    Ariana folded her arms on the balcony railing. The thick ss wall reached up to her chest, so she didn¡¯t feel afraid of falling.


    Ariana gazed at the orange hues in front of her. Darkness would soon greet them, concealing all the beauty in front of her right now. And after that, they would reappear when morning came and the sun shone upon them.


    Ariana imagined that darkness as the color of her life right now. It didn¡¯t mean her life hadn¡¯t been happy. It¡¯s just that the challenges she was currently facing didn¡¯t provide any enlightenment at all.


    She still wondered if all of this would end beautifully. Like the sun that would reveal the beauty of the world the next day. Or would it all be the same for Ariana? Just a darkness that forced her to keep groping in the dark.


    Something gently touched her shoulder. Ariana turned and saw Gerald draping arge sweater over her shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s not good for a young girl to daydream as dusk approaches like this,¡± he muttered.


    Ariana snorted but chose to wear the sweater to cover her body, which was only d in a short-sleeved shirt. She peeked behind Gerald¡¯s back and saw a few people doing something over there.


    ¡°What are they doing?¡± she asked Gerald. Gerald just shrugged.


    ¡°I told you, we can camp here,¡± he replied casually. And indeed, not long after, a tent measuring two by two meters was already standing there, looking lovely. It cameplete with an artificial firece mounted on a stove made of iron.


    A grilling table stood about a meter to the left front of the tent, and two wooden chairs were deliberately set up. Truly a luxurious camping setup, Ariana praised in her mind.


    Shortly after the two men who had set everything up left, she stepped inside the tent while Gerald seemed to be heading towards the bathroom. Curious, Ariana followed him. Inside the door that Gerald had opened earlier, there was a walk-in closet.


    The contents of the walk-in closet weren¡¯t as extensive as the one in Gerald¡¯s room at Zeroun¡¯s residence. Still, seeing everything inside left Ariana fascinated.


    Gerald opened one of the closets and pulled something out, handing it to Ariana. It turned out to be a change of clothes-a short-sleeved shirt paired with long ck sport pants.


    Ariana knew she was starting to look at Gerald¡¯s back in a different way. All the resentment she had harbored for him due to this forced marriage had transformed into an admiration she couldn¡¯t express to the person in front of her.


    And the caring treatment from him was slowly beginning to touch her. So, should she start getting used to considering Gerald as her ¡®husband¡¯? But another part of her heart was still reluctant to admit it because, honestly, Ariana was still filled with fear. She was afraid if all of this was just a mere dream.


    Ariana folded her prayer mat and ced it on the bed. After all, it wouldn¡¯t be long before the evening prayer (Isya) arrived, so she felt there was no need to bother putting it back in the closet in the walk-in closet.


    After changing their clothes, they returned to the balcony. Ariana noticed a long table there. She thought it must have been ced by Gerald¡¯s people while they were in the walk-in closet. On the table, there were already several pieces of steak that seemed to be marinated. There was even a bowl of vegetables and cold drinks inside a box under the table.


    Ariana chuckled to herself. This was clearly very different from what Ariana considered camping. It was more like dining in a restaurant with a camping theme.


    With expertise, Gerald gripped the steak slices and ced them on the grill. Ariana didn¡¯t want to help him at all. Instead, she chose to sit back and rx on the chair, observing the man at work.


    ¡°Do you always pamper your lovers like this?¡± Ariana spoke up. Gerald, who was raising the second piece of meat onto the grill, turned to look.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± he countered.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Gerald closed the grill in front of him and then sat in the chair next to Ariana. ¡°Have you never dated before?¡± Gerald asked again. It wasn¡¯t a mocking question, but clearly one borne out of curiosity.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for it,¡± Ariana replied casually. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t know anything at all.¡± She defended herself. ¡°I¡¯ve seen how teenagers date abroad and in the country from the movies I¡¯ve watched,¡± she added.


    Gerald smiled. ¡°So, what do you think my dating style is?¡± he inquired.


    Ariana turned to look at Gerald fully. ¡°Wild?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Gerald¡¯s forehead wrinkled in confusion.


    ¡°You said earlier that your life abroad was very free. And I associate that word with wild. Free sex, alcohol, maybe even sex parties?¡± she hesitated at the end of the sentence.


    ¡°Okay, the first two words are true. But I¡¯ve never engaged in sex parties,¡± he replied.


    Ariana nodded. ¡°You must be the type of man who spoils his lovers,¡± she muttered again. Gerald, who was standing to flip the meat, just shrugged.


    ¡°Don¡¯t women like to be pampered?¡± he said again.


    Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. ¡°Of course. There¡¯s not a single woman in this world who doesn¡¯t want to be spoiled,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Including you?¡± Gerald asked. His eyes met Ariana¡¯s, and Ariana stared back at him. ¡°Including Karenina,¡± she replied shortly.

 Chap 67 : Open Up

    Ariana knew she had misspoken. She was upset with herself for saying it, but the words couldn¡¯t be taken back.


    ¡°Why did you bring up your sister¡¯s name?¡± the man asked, clearly trying to contain his anger. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to start fresh?¡±


    Ariana fell silent. She didn¡¯t know what to say. An apology wouldn¡¯t fix the situation at all, so she chose to remain quiet.


    Gerald seemed reluctant to continue the conversation. He pretended to be engrossed in the meat grilling on the barbecue.


    Soon, he ced the fragrant and delicious-smelling steak onto a te, adding vegetables as a side.


    ¡°Does camping like this remind you of Chris? Is that why you said Karenina?¡± Gerald asked sharply. Ariana looked up, and at that moment, he handed her the te.


    Ariana epted the te and murmured her thanks. She ced it on the square table between them.


    ¡°Chris and I don¡¯t have any rtionship,¡± Ariana replied tly. Gerald continued to stare at her with sharp, probing eyes. ¡°To me, he¡¯s just a friend and a brother.¡±


    Ariana didn¡¯t understand why she had to exin all of this. But somehow, making Gerald believe was something she felt she had to do.


    ¡°You might consider him a friend and a brother, but it doesn¡¯t mean he feels the same way,¡± Geraldmented. Ariana now noticed the cynicism had disappeared from his tone.


    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t see me that way. He¡¯s already in love with someone else,¡± Ariana replied. ¡°Who? Is it Amber?¡± Gerald also put down his own steak and began to cut it into small pieces. Ariana shook her head. ¡°No, not Amber,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Then who? Did he ever specify who the girl he loves is? Where is she from? What¡¯s her name?¡± Gerald pressed. Ariana could hear the sarcasm in his questions.


    ¡°He never said,¡± Ariana replied again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you ever wonder why he didn¡¯t say?¡± Gerald asked again, still with his sarcastic tone.


    ¡°Everyone has secrets, Mr. Aarzu,¡± Ariana replied, frustrated. She had even stopped cutting her meat.


    ¡°Yes. Everyone is entitled to their secrets, Mrs. Aarzu. But don¡¯t you think his secret is you?¡± Gerald looked at Ariana sharply.


    He then swapped his te with hers and proceeded to cut the meat that had been on Ariana¡¯s te earlier.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± Ariana replied, frustrated.


    She couldn¡¯t exin to Gerald everything she knew about Chris. No, in any case, Ariana was the only one who knew about that secret until now. Even though Gerald was her husband, she clearly couldn¡¯t tell him everything. Even Amber, who had known Chris for a long time, had never been told that secret by Ariana.


    ¡°Why do you dislike Chris so much? Is it because of your past? Because he often stole your lovers?¡± Ariana tried to change the topic, although it still revolved around Chris.


    Gerald snorted. He put a piece of meat into his mouth. ¡°Eat, or the meat will get cold,¡± he ordered.


    Arianaplied. She lifted the te onto herp and started to stab a piece of meat with her fork, then put it into her mouth.


    The savory taste of the spices seeping into the meat made her moan in pleasure. It was evident that the meat Gerald served was of high quality.


    ¡°If I were to tell you about my past, would you do the same?¡± Gerald asked a few momentster.


    Ariana turned to him, looking at Gerald with curiosity. But then, she shrugged.


    ¡°Depends. What do you want to know about me? Because I¡¯m not someone who will just spill everything when someone asks. I¡¯ll only talk when I want to,¡± she replied honestly, then took another bite of the meat.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll do the same,¡± he answered tly.


    Ariana nced at him briefly. But then, she chose to just enjoy her food.


    ¡°But why did you bring up the name Karenina?¡± Gerald asked.


    Ariana sighed deeply. Why was he bringing up something she thought she had forgotten?


    She just stared at her te, as if the remaining pieces of meat were more interesting than Gerald¡¯s question.


    ¡°Ariana?¡± he repeated.


    ¡°Nothing. I was just asking,¡± she replied tly.


    ¡°Are you jealous of your twin sister?¡± Gerald asked again. He had already ced the empty te on the table and now fully focused his attention on Ariana.


    Ariana raised her eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m not jealous of her,¡± she replied matter-of-factly. She also put down her te, her appetite now gone.


    ¡°I just assume that all of this suits her,¡± she continued. ¡°Why do you assume that all of this suits her while it doesn¡¯t suit you?¡± Gerald asked harshly.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Both of you are on the same level. You and her. You both have higher education. Although I¡¯m also a graduate, it¡¯s clear that your prestige is far above mine. Because both of you are foreign graduates. In terms of socializing, I know she will be epted by your circle of friends, and vice versa. She¡¯s a socialite who knows how to socialize. Knows how to present herself. And of course, knows the etiquette she needs to show in public. Everything rted to luxury and indulgence suits her perfectly. Including all of this.¡± Ariana tried to show what she saw. ¡°Camping with service. That is something more suitable for Karenina. Not for me.¡±


    ¡°So, you want us to camp in the woods barbarically? Hunting for food. Making a firece from firewood from dry branches? Finding water from a spring in the river? Is that it?¡± Gerald asked sarcastically.


    Ariana smiled. ¡°That¡¯s what sets us apart. I¡¯m used to getting everything after I search and work hard in my own way, while both of you are used to being served,¡± Ariana replied in a low tone.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Gerald actually understood what Ariana meant. The girl was still trying to convince herself about this rtionship. Gerald knew he should understand her position.


    But still, her doubt about his true intentions made Gerald angry and frustrated. Couldn¡¯t Ariana at least lower the walls she had been guarding and let Gerald in?


    He had even tried to tolerate her. Allowing Vivan to leave them alone with her, although until now, Vivan had never been far from him.


    But then he realized one thing. Ariana was right, that Gerald had been used to being served all this time.


    He then observed everything around him. Ariana just wanted Gerald to match her world. Ariana¡¯s world. Where everything she got was the result of her own hard work. The result of her own hands.


    It didn¡¯t mean Gerald hadn¡¯t worked hard all this time. It¡¯s just that what was in front of them right now was one example of their ipatibility that Ariana was trying to show.


    That Ariana was used to being herself and serving herself, while Gerald was used to being served, and Ariana wouldn¡¯t be able to do that for him.


    In the end, Gerald smiled. So, Ariana was actually trying to open up, but Gerald hadn¡¯t given her the time to let the girl adapt gradually. And he knew that Ariana was now surprised by the situation.

 Chap 68 : You Don’t Have To

    Gerald rose from his seat, pushing the table aside that had been separating them and moving it to the farthest corner. He then slid his chair closer to Ariana.


    ¡°I¡¯m not someone who has to be served all the time, Ariana,¡± Gerald began. ¡°But I can¡¯t deny that gradually, I have be ustomed to all of this,¡± he confessed.


    ¡°Once, I was an independent man, just like you. I lived abroad relying on my own body and mind. Although I don¡¯t deny that financially I depended on my father, but when I was a teenager, I found my true identity.


    ¡°I stood on my own feet. I started everything from scratch. I mingled with people whose situations were far below mine.


    ¡°So don¡¯t think that I can¡¯t socialize with carpenters, gardeners, or even rickshaw drivers. I mingled with them much longer than I have with socialites these days.


    ¡°You need to know, all the socializing with socialites, it¡¯s not something I genuinely desire. It¡¯s just a demand of the role I¡¯m ying right now.


    ¡°Socializing is essential to furthering the business. As fellow entrepreneurs, you should understand that.


    Through socializing, we can gain connections. Through socializing, we can get information. And from there, we can develop the business we are running now.


    ¡°I do it not to show off orpete in what I have. I¡¯m a selective man, my dear. I don¡¯t socialize just because I want to, while deep down, I know that they don¡¯t really want to socialize with me genuinely.


    ¡°Many of them are just sycophants, and I don¡¯t like that.


    ¡°So you don¡¯t have to worry about not fitting into my world. Because fundamentally, we¡¯re the same.


    ¡°Perhaps asionally you might need to apany me wherever I go, just to let the public know who my wife is. I won¡¯t force you if you¡¯re ufortable with all that. After all, up to this point, Vivan and I have coborated well as a couple,¡± he chuckled.


    Gerald reached out and yed with Ariana¡¯s hair, which the evening wind had blown to cover her face. He gently smoothed it back behind Ariana¡¯s ear.


    ¡°What else makes you doubt? Haven¡¯t my actions so far proven that I want this to be a genuine marriage? That I am your husband and you are my wife?


    ¡°Do I need to write an agreement stating that I won¡¯t leave you, won¡¯t cheat, and I won¡¯t even allow Karenina toe near me just to put your mind at ease?¡± he asked earnestly.


    Ariana chuckled. ¡°Should you?¡± she challenged.


    Gerald shrugged. ¡°Why not? Just list down the points you want. I¡¯ll have mywyer draft the contract,¡± he said again. Arianaughed again.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be that dramatic,¡± Ariana protested.


    ¡°If you think this is excessive, I don¡¯t mind. In fact, everything I said is true.


    ¡°I swear, I won¡¯t leave you, won¡¯t cheat on you, let alone turn to your twin sister. If everything I said is a lie, you can do anything to me.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°Anything?¡± Ariana challenged. Gerald nodded eagerly. ¡°Including cutting that,¡± Ariana pointed to something between Gerald¡¯s legs. Gerald immediately closed his knees tightly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so cheeky, Mrs. Aarzu!¡± Gerald ordered.


    Ariana burst intoughter. Gerald watched her carefully. His wife looked so enchanting withughter on her face. And he was d because this time, he was the one making herugh, not someone else.


    And honestly, he always wanted to make herugh because of him. ¡°I love you,¡± he said quite loudly.


    Ariana¡¯sughter stopped instantly. She turned and stared at Gerald. ¡°I know,¡± she replied.


    But Ariana didn¡¯t respond to Gerald¡¯s statement the way Gerald hoped she would. Instead, she stood up and chose to go inside the house.


    Gerald stood there, staring at her back in silence. Embarrassed? Of course, Gerald felt embarrassed. His ego was slightly bruised by Ariana¡¯s nonchnt response to his confession. He couldn¡¯t deny that he wanted Ariana to say the same thing in return.


    Gerald saw Ariana raise her head to look at the sky and smile. ¡°The sky tonight is beautiful.¡± She said, smiling gently.


    ¡°Yes, as beautiful as you,¡± Gerald said to himself. For some reason, Gerald was moved to stroke Ariana¡¯s hair and gently kiss the top of the girl¡¯s head, which clearly surprised the girl.


    In his heart, Gerald said. ¡°Oh my God, how could you create someone as beautiful as him? I hope that with him, I can get the happiness I have been seeking. I hope this girl is my destiny.


    ¡°I ask you to bless this marriage and rtionship. Take care of us. Take care of this rtionship. Keep us away from all the things that make this marriage damaged. And take care of myself, so I don¡¯t return on the wrong path.


    ¡°Open and melt her heart for me. Make her eyes only look at me and make her heart lean towards me. And vice versa. I always keep my eyes only on her. And so that my love for her grows bigger. Amen.¡± Gerald kissed the top of Ariana¡¯s head again with great tenderness.


    They stood on the balcony side by side. Ariana held Gerald¡¯s hand, which had been rubbing her head, and gently rubbed the back of Gerald¡¯s hand in return. Gerald was also silent; he didn¡¯t know what else to say to the girl who had be his wife. He just waited because maybe Ariana had something to say.


    Slowly, he saw Ariana look up. The girl¡¯s eyes looked confused, but also, on the one hand, Gerald saw hope.


    ¡°Why?¡± asked Gerald gently.

 Chap 69 : Open

    Ariana¡¯s smile faded. She turned and looked at Gerald.


    Truthfully, his ego was bruised because Ariana didn¡¯t offer any other response to his recent confession. It¡¯s foolish to say that genuine love doesn¡¯t need a reply. Because in reality, Gerald wanted an answer.


    But then, he faintly heard Ariana say, ¡°Forgive me,¡± her voice barely audible. Gerald furrowed his brow upon hearing this. She didn¡¯t need to apologize. Apologies were synonymous with the rejection he anticipated. And he didn¡¯t like that.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to reject everything, honestly because I was afraid,¡± her continued words clearly made Gerald sense something deeper.


    He gazed at Ariana, who seemed to be staring into the darkness far away.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to shut myself off at every opportunity. I refused to like anyone. And I refused to fall in love. Falling in love was never in my vocabry,¡± she replied honestly.


    Gerald again gently rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. ¡°Why?¡± he asked, curious to know.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°I just thought that falling in love would only bring you pain. And make you forget what¡¯s happening around you. Because your world would only revolve around that love story itself,¡± she replied again.


    Gerald didn¡¯t say much. He simply remained silent and listened.


    ¡°As a child, I felt my world was so perfect. I had both parents who seemed so loving andplemented each other. I had a twin sister who was so beautiful and obedient. It was all a happy life that other girls my age seemed to desire.¡±


    ¡°And suddenly, everything changed in just a matter of seconds. Dad went bankrupt out of nowhere and had nothing left. And then my mom just left, disappeared without a trace. I¡¯m sure you know the story,¡± she continued. ¡°I started wondering. Where was the love I had seen just a while ago? Why did my mom leave me and my dad? Is love really like that?Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Then I saw what happened to my dad. He became despondent and then fell ill. I could hear my mom¡¯s name in every one of his moans. He called out to her every time he lost consciousness. All I could do was stay beside him and hold his hand.


    Then I started believing in love again when my dad recovered after Mommy came into his life. I was happy, of course. But then I felt forgotten. Because my dad slowly reced me with Mommy and my siblings.


    So what could I do? I couldn¡¯t even beg for attention.


    That¡¯s why I chose not to live with them. Because deep down, I felt jealous and sidelined, even though they might not see it that way.


    And it¡¯s also why I don¡¯t want to fall in love. Because I don¡¯t want someone else to suffer because I ignore them,¡± Ariana concluded her story.


    Gerald could only smile faintly. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. But I also can¡¯t justify your choice. People who don¡¯t have love in their hearts will slowly die of loneliness.¡± Gerald taunted.


    ¡°And people who don¡¯t have people who love and are loved by them will ultimately feel more alone. It¡¯s better to die after your heart is broken than never falling in love at all.¡± Gerald continued again.


    Ariana chuckled at the man¡¯s answer. ¡°Is that what a yboy rmends?¡± She asked mockingly. Gerald nodded his head many times.


    ¡°Trust me. No matter how painful a broken heart is, it will be repaid with the beauty of falling in love.¡± The man answered again.


    Ariana could only shake her head in disbelief. She jerked her hand away, and suddenly, the man¡¯s fingers were untied. He then walked towards the room.


    Well, at least they were one step closer. Ariana has slowly opened herself up to Gerald, and Gerald is trying to understand her and vice versa. Gerald tried to make the girl realize who he was.


    Ariana chose to go down to the first floor and head to the kitchen. Gerald was still following him.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± asked the man who chose to walk behind Ariana.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry again,¡± She answered. Gerald almost tripped over his feet when he heard the girl¡¯s words. ¡°I want to find something I can eat. Do your employees stock the refrigerators?¡± She asked without even turning around and continuing to walk towards the kitchen.


    Without waiting for Gerald¡¯s answer, Ariana opened the refrigerator and was amazed by the food inside. She opened another cupboard there and found several ingredients that she could process.


    A can of corned beef, green onions, and a few other ingredients were alreadyid out on the table. Gerald chose to sit on a swivel chair and watched Ariana work. Ariana skillfully sliced some shallots, making Gerald tear up due to the pungent smell.


    Ariana couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at his reaction. ¡°Are you going to make it for me too?¡± she asked, her voice slightly nasal from inhaling the raw shallot aroma too much.


    ¡°Do you want some too?¡± she asked Gerald. Gerald nodded.


    ¡°With lots of shallots, and make it without soy sauce for me,¡± he requested. He then stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll just wait over there. I don¡¯t want to be seen as weak for crying over shallots,¡± he said, once again making Arianaugh.


    Ariana continued her cooking. A simple fried rice with plenty of shallot slices, a few slices of green onions, corned beef, and chili slices. And as per the man¡¯s request, without soy sauce. She then served the fried rice on two tes and proceeded to make sunny-side-up eggs half-cooked for both of them before bringing the tes to where Gerald was sitting.


    The man seemed engrossed in his show as Ariana ced the fried rice on the table and then walked back to the kitchen.


    ¡°Where are you going again?¡± he asked without turning his head away from the news in front of him.


    ¡°Just getting some drinking water,¡± Ariana replied casually.


    Gerald just nodded and then reached for his te of fried rice. Ariana returned with two sses of warm water in her hands.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to pay for the fried rice,¡± she said jokingly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay, as long as it¡¯s not the Vi you¡¯re asking for as payment,¡± Gerald replied with his mouth full. Ariana looked at him with a furrowed brow. ¡°Because if you be my wife, all of this will automatically be yours,¡± he said, his eyebrows raising and lowering suggestively.


    Ariana rolled her eyes at his ridiculous remark and started eating her fried rice again, ignoring Gerald who wasughing at his own cheesy pickup line.

 Chap 70 : We Can Try

    ¡°Are we going to start everything anew?¡± Gerald returned to his initial question. They had finished the fried rice Ariana had made, and now they were watching a TV show that didn¡¯t fully capture their attention.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ariana replied softly.


    Gerald raised one of his legs onto the sofa. He deliberately turned his body toward Ariana. As he had done before, he yed with a strand of Ariana¡¯s hair and tucked it behind her ear.


    ¡°We can give it a try,¡± Gerald made the decision for both of them. Ariana looked up at him, staring at him intensely.


    ¡°We can give it a try,¡± Gerald repeated with confidence. ¡°Me, you, and Axel. We can be a simple little family. I won¡¯t ask much of you. I¡¯ll give you my loyalty, and that¡¯s all I ask for in return,¡± Gerald requested.


    ¡°I won¡¯t force you to cater to me as a ¡®husband¡¯ in the bedroom,¡± he said jokingly. ¡°I¡¯ll wait until you¡¯re ready to give yourself. Well, with a sprinkle of spice, as usual, seems fair enough,¡± he continued, teasingly.


    Reluctantly, Ariana pinched him back. But then Gerald spoke seriously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know how to handle things like that. Besides, I don¡¯t want to be used of forcing my own wife.¡±


    ¡°What about your mother?¡± Ariana asked again. She didn¡¯t want toin and ruin the rtionship between mother and son.


    But for her own peace of mind, she had to say it. ¡°Your mother¡­¡±


    ¡°We can move,¡± Gerald replied before Ariana finished her sentence. ¡°I know Mommy really likes Karenina. And she¡¯s also good friends with your mom. So there¡¯s a high chance they¡¯ll work together and make ns to separate us. To avoid that, we can move,¡± Gerald said again.


    ¡°But this ce is too far for Axel,¡± Ariana replied. Gerald smiled, appreciating Ariana¡¯s concern for Axel.


    ¡°Do you think this is the only ce I have? I have several other houses where we can live. You just need to choose, and within a few days, we can move,¡± Gerald replied.


    Ariana raised an eyebrow at him. Clearly, she didn¡¯t like the way he spoke, finding him too casual about everything.


    Realizing Ariana¡¯s disapproval, Gerald moved closer. He put his left arm around her shoulders.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I sound arrogant,¡± he said, poking Ariana¡¯s chin. ¡°But that¡¯s the reality. I¡¯m wealthy, I have a lot of properties, and I have many subordinates I can order around. So what should I say?¡± he shrugged.


    Ariana nced at him. Her eyes narrowed at Gerald, but he justughed it off. He tousled Ariana¡¯s hair, his left hand still resting on her shoulder.


    ¡°Why do you have to be so adorable?¡± Gerald mumbled, pinching Ariana¡¯s left cheek with his right hand. Ariana yelped as Gerald¡¯s pinch genuinely hurt her.


    Gerald released his grip on Ariana¡¯s hand and nced at her flushed cheeks because of his actions. He felt guilty instantly and then gently rubbed and blew on her cheek with his mouth, hoping to alleviate the pain he caused.


    However, a few seconds after the blowing process, Gerald¡¯s attention was drawn to the girl¡¯s lips. Her lips, tinted pink and slightly thick, seemed to invite Gerald to kiss them. Gerald leaned in, intending to do what was on his mind. However, Ariana¡¯s slender fingers stopped him.


    ¡°Brush your teeth! Your mouth smells like onions!¡± she said, pushing Gerald¡¯s body away.


    Ariana grabbed their empty tes and headed back towards the kitchen, ignoring Gerald, who was now frowning in annoyance.


    ¡°Why do you always say my mouth smells? Vivan clearly said my breath is fine!¡± he grumbled.


    Ariana ignored him and chuckled in front of the dishwashing sink. She was surprised when a hand suddenly wrapped around her waist, and Gerald¡¯s head rested on top of hers. ¡°My breath doesn¡¯t smell, right?¡± he asked again, his voice softer this time.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Vivan confirmed that?¡± Ariana replied casually as she rinsed the tes and the pan she had used earlier.


    ¡°She did say that,¡± Gerald answered, still in his soft tone.


    ¡°How could she know? Are you trying to kiss her too?¡± Ariana asked curiously. Gerald tapped his chin against Ariana¡¯s head, making her groan. ¡°Ouch,¡± she said. ¡°Are you actually nning to abuse me?¡± she asked, annoyed.


    Ariana had already put the spoon back in its ce. It was thest item she washed. She wiped her hands with the small towel next to the sink and turned around with a scowling face.


    Ariana looked up while Gerald lowered his head. ¡°It¡¯s your fault; what kind of man do you think I am? Bisexual?¡± He said, annoyed. The man¡¯s hand gripped Ariana¡¯s waist tightly. Ariana just shrugged and tried to push the man so he could get out of the kitchen.


    ¡°Gerald!¡± She said irritably when the man didn¡¯t budge.


    ¡°Answer my question first. Do you think I¡¯m bisexual?¡± he repeated.


    Ariana looked up again in annoyance. ¡°Anyone could have guessed that. You and Vivan, they¡¯re like rims and tires. They fit together.¡± thements. Gerald narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s you. Really!¡± He growled in annoyance. Ariana didn¡¯t reply. She again tried to push Gerald away. But Gerald still didn¡¯t move.


    ¡°Gerald!¡± She said in a raised voice.


    ¡°Yes, dear?¡± Gerald replied in a teasing tone. ¡°Don¡¯t you intend to get out of the way?¡± Ariana asked roughly.


    ¡°Where are you going, darling?¡± Gerald cornered Ariana against the sink so that their bodies were touching. Even the lower parts of their bodies were pressed tightly together. Ariana tried to hold Gerald¡¯s body by cing both hands before the man¡¯s chest.


    ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs,¡± Ariana answered frantically. ¡°I want to wash my face and brush my teeth,¡± She said timidly. Gerald even deliberately leaned closer to Ariana. Ariana, who had already hit the sink, now bent her back.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you taste onions in my mouth first? After that, brush your teeth.¡± Gerald offered in a teasing manner. Ariana shook her head vehemently. Gerald couldn¡¯t help but try to hold back hisughter because of Ariana¡¯s actions, which he thought were adorable.


    ¡°Gerald! Get out of the way now! For God¡¯s sake, my back hurts.¡± Ariana whined again. And she didn¡¯t lie. Her back hurts.


    Gerald fell silent. He was seeing Ariana¡¯s face clearly showing pain. He straightened his body.


    ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong with your back?¡± He asked, now panicked again. Gerald reflexively opened Ariana¡¯s shirt and lifted it. He was showing Ariana¡¯s white and smooth back. Gerald frowned when he saw the bruises there.


    ¡°What is that? Why do you have bruises like that?¡± Gerald asked curiously.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just identally hit the corner of the table.¡± The answer is honest. Gerald exhaled a long breath. He rubbed Ariana¡¯s head slowly.


    ¡°Be careful next time,¡± he asked. Ariana could only nod obediently. ¡°Come on.¡± The man linked their fingers again.


    ¡°Where to?¡± Ariana asked, confused.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to brush your teeth?¡± Gerald reminded.


    Ariana could only look at the man before her and then nod again. For some reason, she was like a buffalo whose nose was matched. Just obey what Gerald said.


    The man led her to the second floor and continued towards the bathroom. It¡¯s even a good idea to fill your toothbrush with toothpaste before handing it to Ariana.

 Chap 71 : Cute

    Standing side by side in front of the sink, each holding a toothbrush in hand and mouths filled with foam, Ariana suddenly imagined a scene from a Korean drama. It made her chuckle to herself. Gerald, towering in front of her, stared at her with a furrowed brow. ¡°What?¡± he asked, his mouth filled with white foam.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Ariana replied casually. She had finished brushing her teeth and was now rinsing her mouth. Gerald helped her by holding Ariana¡¯s long hair at the back of her neck while he also rinsed his mouth using his right hand.


    They then washed their faces with the magical face soap that was already in the bathroom shelf. Again, Ariana found this amusing. They were like kids asked by their mom to go through bedtime routines. The difference was, they did it willingly.


    Their faces and mouths felt fresh. Ariana was about to leave the bathroom when Gerald tugged at the hem of her shirt. ¡°Are you nning to sleep in these clothes?¡± he asked. Ariana looked down at her outfit. She was indeed wearing a short-sleeved shirt and jeans. What¡¯s wrong with that? ¡°It¡¯s notfortable to sleep in,¡± he muttered, guiding Ariana¡¯s body into the walk-in closet.


    With precision, the man opened the wardrobe and took out a ck nightgown. Ariana¡¯s eyes widened, not because the attire was indecent. It wasn¡¯t a lingerie-style nightgown that would reveal her entire body. The nightgown still fell within the category of modesty since it extended down to her ankles. However, the top part ¨C the thin spaghetti straps and thece covering the chest ¨C was undeniably suggestive, clearly hinting at revealing more of her body, at least the upper half.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°When did you prepare all of this?¡± Ariana asked suspiciously. Gerald merely shrugged his shoulders.


    ¡°I actually have something even sexier than this. But I know you wouldn¡¯t want to wear it, so I¡¯m not going to unveil it for now. Maybeter, you¡¯ll willingly put it on without my request. Or perhaps you won¡¯t wear it at all,¡± he replied with a teasing look.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t count on it,¡± she retorted.


    Gerald chuckled. ¡°In that case, what do you want to wear? Do you want to put on one of my oversized shirts that will barely cover your smooth thigh?¡± Gerald teased. Ariana furrowed her brow.


    ¡°That¡¯s better than having to unt my cleavage everywhere,¡± she responded. Ariana began to search through Gerald¡¯s wardrobe for one of his shirts.


    ¡°Do you know, for us men, seeing you wear our clothes actually makes you women look sexier?¡± Gerald inquired yfully. He stood once more behind Ariana, observing her as she searched for clothing without any intention of helping her.


    ¡°Why like this?¡± Ariana asked, confused.


    ¡°Because this way, indirectly, we can measure your bodies. How well your bodies fit into our embrace. Like this,¡± Gerald hugged Ariana from behind again. Ariana was momentarily stunned but then squirmed away.


    ¡°That¡¯s just a ploy!¡± she said after wriggling free. Gerald chuckled. He then pulled out one of his shirts and handed it to Ariana. ¡°Go out there. I want to change clothes!¡± hemanded Gerald. But Gerald ignored her. Instead, he deliberately undressed in front of Ariana. Showing his chiseled abs and his well-built chest. His arms, toned from regr exercise, inadvertently tempted Ariana to touch them. However, Ariana turned her face away, trying to resist.


    Ariana averted her gaze, and Geraldughed at her reaction. He then pulled out a shirt from the closet and put it on, still in front of Ariana. Afterward, he took off his pants, clearly indicating they wouldn¡¯t befortable to sleep in. He was still in front of Ariana, even though she had her back turned to him.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ariana remarked.


    Gerald fell silent. Then hisughter filled the room again. ¡°Purposely, my dear? What do you think the purpose of a walk-in closet is, Sweetheart? If not for changing clothes?¡± Gerald teased.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°But at least we could take turns. You could let me use it. After I¡¯m done, you can use it for yourself.¡±


    Gerald justughed. He approached Ariana and turned her around, her grip still tightly holding onto Gerald¡¯s clothes. ¡°Do you think this is a dressing room at the mall?¡± he asked, slowly pulling the clothes from Ariana¡¯s hands and cing them haphazardly in the closet. ¡°Besides, this ce is spacious enough; five people changing clothes simultaneously here wouldn¡¯t make you feel cramped,¡± Gerald said casually.


    The man¡¯s hand then lifted the hem of Ariana¡¯s shirt. Slowly, he climbed upwards until Ariana¡¯s hands were free from her shirt and followed by her head.


    Ariana stood wearing only a bra in front of Gerald. The girl was silent, and so was Gerald. He was always amazed whenever he saw Ariana¡¯s white skin, contrasting with her long, thick ck hair.


    Gerald pushed aside Ariana¡¯s hair so that it fell behind her back so he could freely look at the girl¡¯s long neck and slight shoulders. His head lowered slowly, and Gerald gently kissed the side of the girl¡¯s jaw.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always liked your scent.¡± He said against Ariana¡¯s neck. Ariana could feel the man¡¯s lips kissing her slowly. She gasped at the gentle movement. Ariana put her hand on Gerald¡¯s chest as the man put his arm around her waist and pulled her body quickly.


    Gerald kissed Ariana¡¯s neck so gently. His lips moved up and down rhythmically, making Ariana sigh softly. For some reason, it felt like his knees just went weak. Gerald did the same thing on the other side of his neck. Ariana could only raise her head and ept it as it was. Because honestly, she enjoyed it.


    Gerald yed with the hair on the back of Ariana¡¯s head. He pulled it slowly so that Ariana could raise her head even more. This allowed the man to explore Ariana¡¯s neck and kiss her deeply there freely. He knew his actions would leave marks on the girl¡¯s white body the next day, but he didn¡¯t care. He only knew that he liked the taste of the girl before him.


    Gerald slowly licked the back of the girl¡¯s ear, making the girl moan softly. Ariana¡¯s voice sounded so musical to his ears. Gerald wanted to do more than this. But he didn¡¯t want to force Ariana. He wanted Ariana to give herself willingly to Gerald. Even though it was clear that now the girl would willingly give her body to Gerald, Gerald knew that when she woke up from her passionter, she would feel regretful because her heart did not wholly belong to Gerald. And Gerald didn¡¯t want that to happen.


    He stopped his kisses, causing Ariana to look at him in confusion. Gerald liked her expression, liked it a lot. He smiled and then reached for the shirt he had fetched for Ariana, helping her put it on. Ariana was so obedient, and it looked incredibly endearing in Gerald¡¯s eyes. He smiled and then gently kissed her forehead. ¡°What about bottoms? Do you want to wear my workout pants?¡± Gerald asked again. Ariana just nodded without saying much. Once more, Gerald kissed the top of her head because he found her demeanor too adorable.

 Chap 72 : You Think

    Gerald left Ariana with a pair of short workout shorts in her hands. After he closed the walk-in closet door, only then did Ariana realize what they had just done in there. She slumped down weakly onto the long chair in the room, gripping Gerald¡¯s shorts tightly.


    Oh God, what had they just done? No. Ariana shook her head vigorously. It wasn¡¯t what ¡®they¡¯ did. It was what ¡®she,¡¯ she herself, had done. Why had she allowed herself to be treated like that by Gerald?


    Ariana covered her face with the pants still in her hands, stifling her scream. Oh God, why had she acted so cheap? She wondered in her heart. She was utterly embarrassed. Truly. Even though it wasn¡¯t the first time they had flirted, and they had even gone further than that, still. Arrggghhh¡­


    Ariana quickly took off her jeans and put on Gerald¡¯s workout shorts. That darn guy. Ariana thought he would give her workout pants the size of basketball shorts, covering her legs down to her calves. In reality, he gave her workout shorts that were so short, barely reaching above her knees.


    Ariana was about to change into something else and search forrger workout pants in Gerald¡¯s closet. At least something too big would be better than what she was wearing now. But before she could, Gerald opened the door again. ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d pass out in there. Why were you taking so long?¡± he grumbled.


    Ariana gripped the sides of the workout shorts she was wearing. ¡°You did this on purpose, didn¡¯t you, bringing me these super short shorts?¡± used Ariana. Gerald nced at her legs and then shrugged.


    ¡°Come on out. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re nning to sleep in here tonight because I won¡¯t allow it,¡± he said, walking briskly and then pulling Ariana out of the walk-in closet. Out of the bathroom, out of the room, until they finally stopped in front of a tent on the balcony. The tent door was already open, and Ariana noticed the sleeping bag inside.


    ¡°Are we really camping here?¡± Ariana asked Gerald. Gerald just nodded. Although Ariana still felt it made no sense, she would go along with it. ¡°If we¡¯re staying here, why is there only one sleeping bag? Where¡¯s the other one?¡± she asked again. Gerald shrugged once more.


    ¡°We can use it together. Isn¡¯t that morefortable?¡± he asked. Gerald then entered the tent, unzipped the sleeping bag, and got inside. He patted the other side of the sleeping bag, silently urging Ariana to get inside.


    Ariana still stood there outside the tent. How could they possibly sleep so close together in the same sleeping bag? No, Ariana couldn¡¯t do it. ¡°Come on,¡± he said. ¡°This way it¡¯ll be warmer.¡± He persuaded her again. Ariana remained motionless. Then Gerald crawled over, forcibly grabbed Ariana¡¯s hand, and made her sit down beside him.


    Gerald smiled meaningfully. He then positioned himself lying on the sleeping bag, extending his right arm and inviting Ariana to lie down next to him. ¡°You know, this won¡¯t befortable,¡± Ariana muttered. But Gerald seemed unwilling to take no for an answer. Arianaplied. Shey down next to Gerald, and clearly, the single-person sleeping bag wouldn¡¯t be enough for both of them.


    Gerald rested his head on the sleeping bag¡¯s cushion while Ariana used his right hand as her pillow.


    ¡°We can sleep facing each other, or you can sleep with your back to me. I don¡¯t mind either way,¡± he said. Ariana then smirked. She chose to lie diagonally with her back to him. Gerald pulled Ariana closer until they fit snugly inside the sleeping bag. He also slept on his side, pulling Ariana¡¯s back close to his chest. ¡°Warm, isn¡¯t it?¡± he said above Ariana¡¯s head. Ariana could only smirk. But she couldn¡¯t deny the fact that his body was indeed warm.


    ¡°Tell me something,¡± he requested. His right hand, serving as Ariana¡¯s headrest, attempted to reach for Ariana¡¯s left hand and intece their fingers. Meanwhile, his left hand wrapped around Ariana¡¯s waist, fingers entwined with her right hand. Ariana didn¡¯t resist; she just epted his gesture.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked while adjusting her position to be morefortable.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°Anything. Something about you, about your childhood. Something you think I¡¯d like to know,¡± Gerald replied. ¡°Maybe you can tell me about your puppy love?¡± he chuckled.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ve forgotten,¡± Ariana replied shortly. Gerald¡¯s body tensed for a moment before he spoke again. ¡°So you have had a crush. On whom? Chris?¡± he inquired curiously.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Besides, why do you always bring up Chris¡¯s name? Did you have some rivalry in the past?¡± Ariana nced slightly over her shoulder.


    ¡°No,¡± Gerald replied curtly.


    Ariana tried to tease him. ¡°I heard he always stole your girlfriends. Is that true?¡± she asked, attempting to provoke him.


    Gerald snorted. ¡°He didn¡¯t steal them. I dumped them, and they turned to Chris afterward,¡± Gerald replied, clearly irritated. Ariana chuckled at his response.


    ¡°Maybe because Chris has an extraordinary charm,¡± shemented.


    Gerald¡¯s head lifted, and he red at Ariana. ¡°Are you nowparing your husband to other men, Mrs. Aarzu?¡± Gerald asked sarcastically. Ariana shrugged her shoulders. Gerald thenid his head back on the cushion. ¡°Tell me about your first encounter with Chris,¡± he said again.


    Ariana fell silent. ¡°Do you really want to hear it because I know him? Or do you want to hear it because you¡¯re so curious about my perspective on him as a man?¡± Ariana inquired, curious herself.


    Ariana felt Gerald¡¯s shoulder move. ¡°Maybe both,¡± he replied shortly.


    Ariana smiled. ¡°When did you meet Chris?¡± she asked, curious. Gerald fell silent in response. Ariana guessed he was mentally counting back to his first meeting with Chris.


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember,¡± Gerald replied briefly.


    ¡°I met him after Dad married Mommy. You know he¡¯s Mommy¡¯s cousin, right?¡± Ariana asked again.


    Gerald fell silent. ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t know. The person I hired to gather information about you never told me about Chris. Besides, at that time, my attention was solely on you, not the people around your family,¡± Gerald replied honestly.


    Ariana grinned at his response. ¡°I got to know Chris a few years after Mommy married Dad. He¡¯s an annoying guy. Grumpy and always looks down on women. Then, one day, I found out something about him. And he begged me not to tell anyone that secret. And I don¡¯t know, from that moment on, we became close friends. He¡¯s always been there for me, no matter what. Until he decided to live abroad,¡± Ariana replied honestly.


    ¡°What secret was that?¡± Gerald asked, intrigued.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°I swore I¡¯d never tell anyone until I die,¡± Ariana replied seriously.


    ¡°Did you ever fall in love with him? Considering he has such extraordinary charm?¡± Gerald asked, his tone sarcastic. ¡°In your opinion?¡± Ariana countered, her tone ambiguous.

 Chap 73 : Feedback

    ¡°ording to you?¡± Ariana replied, her tone ambiguous. ¡°Just answer,¡± Gerald grumbled.


    Ariana chuckled. ¡°I see him as a big brother. That¡¯s all. Nothing more,¡± she replied honestly.


    ¡°Is there no man you consider a man, someone you could fall for?¡± Gerald asked again.


    ¡°Why? If I say there is someone like that, will you go digging for information about him?¡± Ariana asked again. Gerald seemed to shrug his shoulders again.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± he replied. Arianaughed. ¡°In that case, I prefer to remain silent.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Gerald asked again.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to do something unreasonable. Disturbing someone¡¯s life who may not even be aware of my existence,¡± Ariana replied tly.


    ¡°So, there is someone. Your first love?¡± he asked again, his voice tense.


    ¡°I¡¯m human, Gerald. I¡¯m a woman who went through adolescence. I experienced puberty like any other kid. If not, maybe I wouldn¡¯t be a normal woman now, would I?¡± Ariana retorted.


    Gerald fell silent. What Ariana said was true. But for some reason, he still felt jealous of someone whose name and face he didn¡¯t even know. Was he that irrational because of Ariana? He asked himself.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t your rtionship with him work out?¡± Gerald asked again. He was still curious about Ariana¡¯s past.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Because if my rtionship with him had worked out, I wouldn¡¯t be here now, would I?¡± Ariana replied.


    Gerald tapped his chin against her head. ¡°I already knew that. What I want to know is why it didn¡¯t work out back then.¡±


    ¡°We never seeded because we never tried. We never tried because I didn¡¯t attempt. I didn¡¯t try to get close to him. I didn¡¯t try to be his woman. And if you want to know why, it¡¯s because I refused. Because I didn¡¯t want to try. Because I didn¡¯t want to start something I knew would eventually end. Especially end in pain. I don¡¯t like that. I don¡¯t like goodbyes,¡± Ariana exined at length.


    ¡°Why do you know something will end before you even try?¡± Gerald asked again.


    ¡°Because my feelings tell me so,¡± Ariana replied tly. ¡°I know I¡¯m not easy to control. I¡¯m someone who doesn¡¯t like to be dictated to. I¡¯m someone who doesn¡¯t like to be jealous. Being apliant woman, especially someone who has to change to follow the desires of the person we like, that¡¯s not my type. ept me for who I am or not at all,¡± Ariana stated firmly.


    ¡°Is he the type of man you think would always restrain you like that?¡± Gerald asked again.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Not like that. But I know that all rtionships end up like that. Slowly, gradually, we transform into the person our partner wants us to be, just to make them stay by our side. And I don¡¯t want that to happen. I fear losing my true self. I¡¯m afraid of bing weak and dependent on someone elsebeled as a partner.¡±


    ¡°Is that why you reject all of this? Marrying me?¡± Ariana smiled. ¡°Yes. And one other thing that follows.¡± ¡°Why? Are you afraid I¡¯ll restrain you?¡± Gerald inquired.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you realize that, Mr. Aarzu? Even before you became my husband for barely twenty-four hours, my world has alreadypletely changed. You, who are used to controlling everything with your finger, want me to be a part of it. Am I wrong?¡± Ariana challenged.


    Gerald smiled above her head. ¡°No. You¡¯re not wrong. In fact, you¡¯re absolutely right.¡± Gerald released their linked hands. He slowly ced his hand on the girl¡¯s shoulder, urging her to turn and face him. Arianaplied with the man¡¯s wish. She turned to look at Gerald. Her head tilted up, locking eyes directly with his.


    ¡°You¡¯re right about everything. That I always want to control everything. Even you¡¯re not wrong if you think I¡¯m trying to monopolize this marriage. Forcing you to enter and engage when you know nothing and clearly don¡¯t want it. In fact, I don¡¯t know you, and you don¡¯t know me either.


    ¡°But I¡¯m forcing myself to make you stay here. But now, my thoughts are changing slowly. I want to make youfortable with this marriage. I hope we can negotiate everything. Discuss it all properly before making decisions. Because honestly, I don¡¯t want to make what¡¯s in your minde true.


    ¡°That all of this will end someday. Clearly, I want my thoughts to be a reality. That this marriage willst forever. I won¡¯t deny that eventually, I will ask Ariana to be what I want. But I will try to do the same for you. That slowly, I will change into what you want.


    ¡°But it won¡¯t be coercion. Because you will still be yourself, just as I will be myself. We¡¯ll call it a reciprocal rtionship. When you want me to do something, don¡¯t get angry when I ask you to do something I want. Fair, isn¡¯t it?¡± Gerald still gazed at Ariana, as did Ariana at him.


    Ariana fell silent for a while, seemingly digesting all of Gerald¡¯s words. Slowly, her head lowered. But then, she moved closer,ying her headfortably on Gerald¡¯s chest. ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± she whispered. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t force me and still allow me to do what I want, I think I can give it a shot,¡± she murmured again on Gerald¡¯s chest.


    Gerald smiled. He held the girl even tighter to his chest, knowing that at least Ariana wasn¡¯t outright rejecting what he had said. It warmed Gerald¡¯s heart to think that this rtionship would end beautifully. That slowly, Ariana¡¯s heart would belong to him, just like his heart already belonged to her.


    Gerald kissed the top of her head with a gratitude he couldn¡¯t express in words. ¡°Sleep, Mrs. Aarzu. Sleep soundly in the warm embrace of your husband,¡± Gerald said yfully.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Ariana pinched his waist quite hard, making him wince. ¡°And what about you?¡± she asked, tilting her head up again.


    ¡°What¡¯s up with me?¡± Gerald asked, puzzled.


    ¡°You¡¯ve asked me about Chris. You¡¯ve asked about my teenage crush. So what about you?¡± Ariana inquired again. ¡°What about your teenage crush and your first love? Don¡¯t say you won¡¯t tell me. That¡¯s not fair,¡± Ariana grumbled.


    Geraldughed and hugged her shoulders even tighter. ¡°Whatever you want to know, just ask me,¡± he challenged.

 Chap 74 : Didn’t Want To Know

    Ariana fell silent. She remained quiet for quite a while until Gerald thought the girl had fallen asleep. ¡°Ariana?¡± Gerald called her name.


    Ariana looked up again. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask something?¡± Gerald asked again.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she replied shortly. ¡°I guess I don¡¯t need to know your past. Not because I don¡¯t care and don¡¯t want to know. But I think, I prefer not to hear.¡± Her answer made sense. ¡°Why?¡±


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to somedaypare myself to someone I never knew,¡± she answered shortly. ¡°I don¡¯t like beingpared to others. Especially if that person meant something in someone else¡¯s life. It always makes me feel hurt.¡± Ariana answered again. ¡°So I think I don¡¯t need to know who your first love was and why your rtionship ended.¡±


    Gerald was taken aback by the girl¡¯s words. When most girls preferred to dig into their lover¡¯s past, Ariana did the opposite. And her reasons made sense. She didn¡¯t want to bepared to someone else. Gerald didn¡¯t deny the possibility of that happening. People often use others as examples and wish the same things to happen in their lives. However, in reality, what appears isn¡¯t always the truth. It could be just a camouge.


    Gerald kissed Ariana¡¯s forehead again when she lowered her head and leaned back on Gerald¡¯s chest. Alright, if Ariana didn¡¯t want to know about someone from his past, then someday Gerald would tell her when she wanted to hear it.


    He could feel Ariana¡¯s breathing slowly bing regr. Now he knew that Ariana had fallen asleep. He smiled, finding afortable position for his head before falling asleep with her. Perhaps they could meet in their dreamster. Gerald smiled in his sleep.


    The sunlight opened Ariana¡¯s eyes. She blinked, aware of the warmth enveloping her body. Ariana tried to gather her thoughts, trying to remember what she had gone throughst night. And she felt embarrassed about it. Oh God. Was she drunkst night? How could she be so open with Gerald? But oh well, she couldn¡¯t take back everything she said.


    Ariana tried to slowly remove Gerald¡¯s legs wrapped around hers. But it seemed the man was so sensitive. Instead of releasing his leg from hers, he tightened his grip even more.


    ¡°Get up, it¡¯s morning,¡± she said while trying to remove Gerald¡¯s hand that was still holding her waist.


    ¡°In a moment,¡± mumbled Gerald with his hoarse voice.


    Ariana hit the man¡¯s arm quite hard. ¡°Gerald!¡± she snapped. Gerald then opened his eyes and looked at Ariana irritably.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°Even though I was having a sweet dream.¡± the man grumbled. Gerald brought their lower bodies closer together, and Ariana suddenly widened her eyes when she felt something throbbing down there. ¡°A little bit more.¡± the man whined. And Ariana knew what that meant. She pushed Gerald quickly, making Gerald groan again.


    ¡°Pervert!¡± Ariana eximed. She struggled to unzip the sleeping bag and emerged from the tent. The campfire that had warmed them the night before now appearedpletely extinguished. Ariana walked on, heading towards the bathroom, ignoring Gerald who was still lying inside the tent.


    When Ariana finished brushing her teeth, Gerald finally emerged with disheveled hair. It was clear he had messed it up himself, presumably out of frustration. He reached for his toothbrush and handed it to Ariana, asking her to put toothpaste on it. Arianaplied. Afterward, she ced the toothbrush and toothpaste back where they belonged.


    Gerald looked fresher now, with his hair tidier, although he was still wearing the same sleeping shirt from the night before.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get ready,¡± she said shortly.


    ¡°Where to?¡± asked Gerald, his brow furrowed. ¡°Home, of course.¡±


    ¡°Home where?¡± Gerald still looked at her, puzzled. ¡°To your house. To Zeroun¡¯s residence,¡± Ariana replied, annoyed.


    ¡°Why? I thought you didn¡¯t want to go back there.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t want to go back,¡± Ariana replied tly. ¡°But what about Axel? He shouldn¡¯t be looking for you during breakfast.¡± Ariana¡¯s reasoning made sense. As she said this, she scanned the walk-in closet. ¡°Where are my clothes?¡± she asked again.


    Gerald shrugged. ¡°Maybe someone already took them to theundry,¡± he replied casually. Instead, he opened another closet door and showed new clothes that matched Ariana¡¯s style. ¡°Not much yet, but I think you can find something suitable here,¡± Gerald added.


    Ariana red at him. But then, she picked out an outfit from there haphazardly. ¡°Get out, I want to shower,¡± shemanded Gerald. Gerald remained in his ce, his eyes mischievously twinkling at Ariana. Ariana raised an eyebrow. Even though she knew what was on Gerald¡¯s mind, she was certain she wouldn¡¯tply. She had nearly gone too far the night before.


    Gerald ultimately gave up. He left the walk-in closet and even exited the bathroom. Ariana continued to follow him, which surprised Gerald himself. ¡°Where are you going? Didn¡¯t you kick me out? Why are you still following me?¡± he asked, confused.


    ¡°I¡¯m not stupid, Mr. Aarzu. I know this bathroom doesn¡¯t have a lock. So instead of you barging in while I¡¯m showering, I¡¯d rather lock you out from the outside,¡± she said. Gerald snorted but without many words, he left his room.


    Ariana finished her shower and was now wearing a long-sleeved white blouse that reached mid-thigh and a pair of jeans that fit her perfectly. She hadbed her hair and then unlocked the door to her room. Gerald appeared fresh with wet hair and new clothes. Although Ariana was curious why he had changed clothes, she didn¡¯t ask too many questions.


    ¡°They left Gerald¡¯s house after previously saying goodbye to the housekeeper. It turned out that the housekeeper lived there with his wife and a young child, who was probably around seven or eight years old.


    ¡°Have they been working here for a long time?¡± Ariana asked curiously.


    Gerald shrugged. ¡°They used to live in Zeroun¡¯s residence. Before I asked them to move here and stay. Maybe about four or five years,¡± Gerald replied matter-of-factly.


    ¡°So, has this house been built for that long? Why? Who was it built for before? Your first love?¡± Ariana teased, wanting to know.


    Gerald nced at Ariana for a moment before refocusing on the empty road ahead. ¡°Didn¡¯t you sayst night that you didn¡¯t want to know about my past, Mrs. Aarzu?¡± Gerald teased Ariana. ¡°Why? Are you feeling jealous now?¡± Ariana, feeling embarrassed, could only bite her lower lip.¡±

 Chap 75 : Karenina’s Word

    ¡°They arrived at Zeroun¡¯s residence just before breakfast. The quiet streets made Gerald drive faster than usual.


    Yusuf weed them at the door. The old man¡¯s forehead wrinkled when he saw Ariana and Gerald getting out of the car. Gerald immediately approached him to ask what was going on. But before his question could be answered, they already saw the answer.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Axel¡¯s shout made Ariana and Gerald turn simultaneously. The little boy ran towards Ariana and immediately threw himself into her arms. But what surprised them was the people following Axel. ¡°Mommy, where were you? Why didn¡¯t youe homest night?¡± Axel asked curiously. While Ariana¡¯s attention was still on the other guests who were looking at her and Gerald alternately.


    ¡°Just because you¡¯re newlyweds, it doesn¡¯t mean she can monopolize your time and even make you forget Axel, Gerald. She should remember that her presence here is to help you gain custody of Axel,¡± Ariana¡¯s mother-inw¡¯s words were thrown out casually. ¡°Luckily Karenina stayed herest night, so Axel had someone to keep himpany,¡± she continued.


    ¡°It should have been that way from the beginning, because from the start, Karenina should have been Axel¡¯s stepmother,¡± that reply came from Ariana¡¯s birth mother, none other than Mrs. Caitlyn. Meanwhile, the one being praised now stood between Ariana¡¯s mother and mother-inw. She looked beautiful in an expensive dress and minimal makeup, with an elegant smile on her face. It was clearly a stark contrast to Ariana, who was only wearing a blouse, jeans, and cheap home sandals. Even though she knew the clothes she was wearing right now were undoubtedly expensive too. But Ariana¡¯s in face without any makeup clearly made a noticeable difference between them.


    ¡°It¡¯s only natural for a honeymooning couple to spend time alone, Mommy. Didn¡¯t Mommy and Papa also leave me behind when they went on their honeymoon?¡± Gerald answered his mother. Obviously, that response left the women speechless. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside; it seems breakfast is ready.¡± Gerald put his arm around Ariana¡¯s back and guided her inside the house. Axel remained faithfully in Ariana¡¯s embrace.


    They walked ahead into the house. Apparently, the dining table they usually used wasn¡¯t set with anything. Mrs. Rosaline appeared and looked at Ariana and Gerald alternately. ¡°We¡¯ll have breakfast in the backyard,¡± she said with a smile on her face. Gerald simply nodded and guided Ariana to the back of the house.


    Honestly, Ariana didn¡¯t know how extensive this house was. She didn¡¯t even know what rooms there were in this house. She admitted it was her own fault for choosing to leave this house without wanting to explore it. Until now, all she knew was her room-more precisely, Gerald¡¯s room-the living room, where her mother had once given her an ultimatum. And the dining room near the kitchen. The rest, she only knew that the house had a spacious backyard. That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°She was quite amazed as she walked towards the ce referred to as the ¡®backyard,¡¯ as Mrs. Rosaline had called it earlier. The backyard was vast, farrger than the house she and Gerald had stayed in the night before. And, in her opinion, that house already had an incredibly spacious yard. Besides therge swimming pool, there was also an outdoor y area that seemed to be specially built for Axel. But what surprised Ariana the most was the golf course there.


    ¡°Why?¡± Someone¡¯s voice in her ear snapped Ariana out of her astonishment. She turned and saw her twin sister standing so close beside her, taking Gerald¡¯s ce, who was now leading Axel towards the dining table. ¡°Are you shocked by all this luxury? Clearly, this isn¡¯t where you¡¯re supposed to be,¡± her twin sister taunted.


    Ariana nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m surprised, very surprised by all of this. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m adaptable. And I¡¯m a quick learner. Isn¡¯t my intelligence something that makes you jealous?¡± Ariana replied with a sardonic smile.


    Ariana nced back at Karenina and saw her mother and mother-inw walking side by side, both of them looking at Ariana with stern eyes. ¡°I know you have support. But that doesn¡¯t mean with all that support, Gerald will bow down to you,¡± Ariana retorted.


    Karenina stared at Ariana sharply. A sardonic smile now adorned her beautiful face. ¡°Don¡¯t be arrogant, Ariana. Right now, you might be getting a big head because Gerald openly shows his affection for you. But do you know, behind all that, there might be a hidden agenda? Do you know why? Because for Gerald and men like him, you¡¯re an intriguing challenge that he needs to conquer.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Just think about it. You¡¯re someone who¡¯s way beneath his league,¡± Karenina scanned Ariana from head to toe as if assessing her worth. ¡°Even though you¡¯re dressed in expensive clothes, fundamentally, you¡¯re still cheap. And your arrogant attitude, your difficult demeanor, make him curious about you. Butter, after he gets what he wants from you, after you fall at his feet like all the other women, he¡¯ll use any means to remove you from his life. Just believe me.


    I¡¯ve known Gerald for quite a while. And I know his ways. So don¡¯t be proud just because right now, he seems smitten with you. Because I¡¯m sure, not long from now, you won¡¯t mean anything to him except a piece of trash he needs to dispose of,¡± Karenina said, her sweet smile lingering on her well-maintained face.¡±


    Ariana knew that Karenina¡¯s words were deliberately aimed at her to shake her confidence. She, who had just begun to harbor new hopes for Gerald, found herself doubting again.


    But hermon sense forced her to acknowledge her twin sister¡¯s words. She didn¡¯t truly know the real Gerald. What the man said, what he showed to Ariana all this time, his sweet demeanor and everything, it could all be an act. Even Gerald could change drastically within a matter of hours. And that made Ariana waver once again.


    Plus, Karenina¡¯s words. Just because Karenina didn¡¯t like Ariana didn¡¯t mean that what the girl said was baseless, right? It could very well be the truth about Gerald that Ariana didn¡¯t know. And again, Karenina had known Gerald for quite a while, so Ariana knew she might be privy to Gerald¡¯s past. What she questioned now was whether her words were the truth or just usations intended to tarnish Gerald¡¯s image in front of Ariana.


    Ariana walked closer when Axel waved his hand. Right now, her main focus should be on gaining custody of Axel. As for her and Gerald¡¯s rtionship, Ariana believed that it would unfold with time.


    She could only pray that, by validating her intentions with this marriage, God would assist her. If indeed Gerald was the right husband for her, a man who would be a caring partner and bring her both worldly and emotional happiness, then she prayed for all their matters to be eased. But if Gerald wasn¡¯t meant for her, then she could only pray that God would pave the best path for her and their future rtionship.

 Chap 76 : Eyes, Ears

    The rectangr table had eight chairs. One chair was ced at each end of the table, and the remaining three chairs were arranged facing each other on each side. Gerald sat at one end of the table, and Mrs. Rosaline sat at the opposite end. Ariana sat to Gerald¡¯s right, and Axel sat to Ariana¡¯s right, leaving one chair empty. Meanwhile, on Gerald¡¯s left, Karenina, his mother, and Ariana¡¯s mother were seated.


    ¡°It feels like aplete family, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Mrs. Caitlyn eximed loudly. It was clear that her gaze was directed at Karenina and Gerald. Ariana understood the implication. In truth, her heart stung a little due to her mother¡¯s tant discrimination against her and Karenina. Yet, Ariana chose not to resist.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ariana heard Mrs. Rosaline speak up. ¡°In the end, my grandson gets a good wife, and Axel gets the mother he needs. What more could we ask for?¡± Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s gaze shifted towards Ariana, a warm smile on her face that made Ariana feel a bit warmer.


    A scoff was heard. Ariana nced at Mrs. Isidora and her own mother.


    ¡°But why do I see it as if he¡¯s a child and she¡¯s his nanny?¡± Mrs. Isidora blurted out.


    Mrs. Rosaline chuckled. ¡°Why? Does it remind you of your past with Gerald?¡± Mrs. Rosaline asked, her expression amused. Ariana could see her mother and twin sister looking surprised. ¡°Maybe the same story will repeat itself, albeit in a different sequence,¡± Mrs. Rosaline replied in her usual calm tone.


    Meanwhile, Ariana didn¡¯t see Gerald make anyments. But for some reason, she hoped he would at least say something in her defense. Some kind of defense, perhaps? She silently pleaded in her heart. But Gerald seemed engrossed in his own world,pletely focused on the tablet in front of him, which Yusuf had given him a while ago.


    Ariana chose to close her ears to it all. If Gerald indeed wanted to ignore all those remarks, why should she care? If he truly didn¡¯t care, then Ariana would consider him indifferent. Even though deep inside, frustration settled in her chest. Where was the sweet Gerald fromst night? And seeing Gerald¡¯s behavior only reinforced what Karenina, her mother, and her mother-inw had said moments ago.


    ¡°Mommy, are you taking Axel today?¡± Axel asked with his mouth full.


    Ariana looked down at the little boy. ¡°Mommy Karen will be taking Axelter,¡± she replied before Axel could finish his question. Ariana looked up and met her mother-inw¡¯s warm smile directed at Axel.


    ¡®Mommy Karen.¡¯ Wasn¡¯t that nickname what eventually drove Ariana away from home thest time? Was the confrontation starting now? Openly? Ariana wondered within herself.


    ¡°No Mommy Karen, Mommy. Axel¡¯s mother is just Ariana. Mommy Ariana,¡± Gerald stated firmly, his gaze piercing his mother after cing his tablet on the table. ¡°Papa and Mommy will take Axel to school. After that, Papa and Mommy will go to work. Okay?¡± Gerald looked at Axel, who also looked back and nodded in agreement. ¡°And Gerald will also inform all of you. Gerald, Ariana, and Axel will move out of this house tomorrow,¡± he continued, causing the three women at the dining table to straighten up.


    ¡°B-but why? Are you intending to separate Axel from Mommy? Axel¡¯s grandmother, Gerald,¡± Mrs. Isidora protested, her eyes welling with tears.


    ¡°Gerald won¡¯t separate Mommy from Axel. Because no matter what, she¡¯s Mommy¡¯s grandmother. But if Mommy doesn¡¯t want Axel to move from this ce, Mommy should think twice about inviting guests into this house,¡± Gerald¡¯s gaze was still on his mother, but it was clear whom his words were directed at.


    ¡°But they are Mommy¡¯s guests. Mommy has the right to invite them,¡± Mrs. Isidorained again.


    ¡°And Gerald also has the right to decide where his wife and child should live. Because theirfort is the top priority for Gerald,¡± Gerald replied.


    ¡°Is all of this because of her?¡± Mrs. Isidora openly used Ariana. Ariana looked up and stared at her mother-inw with a raised eyebrow. ¡°How can you monopolize Gerald like this? Did you give him some sort of cheap magic potion?¡± she used again. Ariana furrowed her brow deeper. ¡°If you had married Karenina, all this wouldn¡¯t have happened. You would have lived herefortably. How can a wife separate her husband from his own family?¡± Mrs. Isidorained again.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Arianaughed bitterly. She ced her spoon down harshly on her te. ¡°If that¡¯s what you truly wanted, Karenina to be Gerald¡¯s wife, then why did youe to me and ask me to rece her?¡± Ariana asked sharply.


    She was truly fed up with being the used party. It¡¯s not like she hadn¡¯t fought back. But why did it feel like all of this kept happening to her repeatedly? Why did she feel like a broken record ying the same words in different scenes?


    ¡°T-that¡¯s because,¡± Mrs. Isidora stammered.


    ¡°Because you didn¡¯t want to be embarrassed?¡± Ariana asked harshly. ¡°Just because I have the same face as hers, you thought you wouldn¡¯t lose face in public because everyone would assume that I¡¯m her. But why didn¡¯t you consider that eventually, I would decide to stay? Did you forget, when you asked me to rece her, you said ¡®until an undetermined time¡¯? Ariana looked at her mother.


    ¡°And did you forget that you even begged me to do it unconditionally? So, is this all my fault if until now I haven¡¯t chosen to trade my position with hers?¡± Ariana asked harshly. ¡°Try to remember with your supposedly intelligent brains. Who manipted things and left me with no choice but to marry Gerald? Was it me who kidnapped my own father? Please, wake up. If there¡¯s anyone to me, just me that person. If only he hadn¡¯t been a coward and run away when the wedding was about to take ce, all of this wouldn¡¯t have happened,¡± Ariana replied firmly.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t you give yourself up? Relinquish your status so I can reim my position?¡± Karenina spoke up.


    Ariana was about to reply, but then Gerald interrupted. ¡°What can you offer in exchange for Ariana? Hasn¡¯t my mother already offered a fantastic sum to Ariana? Can you provide a better deal?¡± Gerald looked at Karenina with one eyebrow raised and a sharp glint in his eyes.


    Both Ariana, Karenina, and Mrs. Isidora stared at Gerald with gaping mouths. They assumed that the conversation was happening internally, and they were quite surprised when those words came out of Gerald¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°You need to know that I have eyes, a mouth, and ears that can tell me anything. So don¡¯t think just because you do things discreetly, I¡¯m clueless,¡± Gerald stared at Karenina, Mrs. Isidora, and Ariana in turn. Ariana still looked at Gerald, this time not with a confused gaze, but with frustration etched on her face.

 Chap 77 : Keep Watch

    Ariana thenughed. Not a happyugh, but a hysterical one. In the end, the trust she had ced in Gerald was once again tarnished. Because the fact was, he didn¡¯t believe her at all.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    It was clear that it wasn¡¯t Amber who would reveal the contents of Ariana and Karenina¡¯s conversation in her room yesterday. Ariana could be sure that Gerald must have hidden a listening device in his room. And that was why Gerald changed drastically afterward. Because he clearly heard what Ariana, Amber, and Karenina talked about that day.


    So the sweet demeanor he had shown before and all his promises were just empty words. None of it came from his genuine remorse. It wasn¡¯t because he wanted to redeem his mistakes. Instead, it was all maniption based on what he had heard. And Ariana didn¡¯t like that fact. She felt like she was being yed.


    Ariana looked at Axel; the boy seemedpletely unfazed by his breakfast. She gently stroked Axel¡¯s head, making him look up. ¡°Let¡¯s change your clothes, okay? Mommy will take you to school now.¡± Axel nced at his father for a moment, but Ariana spoke again. ¡°Papa has something to do with ¡®Mommy Karen.¡¯ So Axel, let¡¯s go with Mommy alone.¡± She said. Axel just nodded and obeyed as Ariana led him inside the house.


    Ariana guided Axel to his room, ignoring the stares from the people at the dining table. She didn¡¯t even care when she heard footsteps behind her. Whether it was Gerald or someone else, Ariana didn¡¯t want to know. She didn¡¯t want to bother turning her head.


    Axel led Ariana to his room, a ce Ariana actually didn¡¯t know. A woman whom Ariana recognized as Axel¡¯s babysitter looked quite surprised when she saw Ariana walking with Axel. ¡°I will give Axel a bath,¡± she said to the woman. The woman nodded nervously.


    But just before Ariana could take Axel to the bathroom, a hand grabbed her wrist quite firmly.


    ¡°We need to talk,¡± Gerald growled. Ariana just nced at him briefly before brushing off his hand.


    ¡°What else is there to talk about?¡± Ariana replied tly. Although deep down in her mind, she was screaming at him very loudly. She felt her ears ringing because of it.


    ¡°Take care of Axel. Get him ready for school. My wife and I need to talk,¡± Gerald told Axel¡¯s babysitter. Then, without many words, he grabbed Ariana¡¯s hand and led her towards the stairs. Ariana knew where they were going. Not wanting to endanger herself by struggling and ending up falling down the stairs like in a drama scene, Ariana finallyplied and followed Gerald.


    He slightly pushed Ariana¡¯s hand to enter the room before entering himself and locking the two of them inside. Ariana didn¡¯t say much; she chose to sit on the bed, looking wary. Both her hands were folded in front of her chest. She was tired of arguing with him. She knew, in the end, if she didn¡¯t win the argument, she would be plunged into another game yed by him.


    Gerald paced back and forth in the room, asionally running his hand through his hair. He looked at Ariana, who refused to meet his gaze. The girl in front of him chose to ignore himpletely.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Gerald finally said in a soft tone after the silence he createdsted long enough. Ariana raised an eyebrow and looked at Gerald with a still expression. ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°For everything,¡± he replied with frustration in his voice. Gerald approached and chose to crouch in front of Ariana. Ariana still turned her face away. ¡°I know I was wrong. What I did was truly wrong. I admit that I ced a recording device in your room. And I apologize for it.¡±


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°No need to apologize. Why would you apologize? A man like Gerald Aarzu Zeroun has plenty of money and appears very powerful. So whatever he wants to do, it doesn¡¯t matter to him. Even if it vites other people¡¯s privacy,¡± Ariana sarcastically remarked with her t tone, making Gerald squirm with every word she uttered.


    Gerald grabbed Ariana¡¯s hands. ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Gerald tried to speak, but Ariana jerked her hands away.


    ¡°What now? Are you going to make up an excuse that you did all that out of concern?¡± Ariana asked, her voice now beginning to rise. Her emotions were clearly no longer something she could contain. ¡°I don¡¯t need that kind of attention, Gerald. Haven¡¯t you asked people to watch over me enough already? Do you need to monitor my every move too? Why? Are you afraid I¡¯ll cheat on you? When in fact, I thought all your changes truly came from your heart. That you really started to understand me and knew what I truly wanted and needed. But the fact? I feel cheated,¡± Ariana red at Gerald.


    Gerald fell silent. Basically, Ariana was right. About everything. About all her assumptions. But not entirely correct. Gerald did want to start everything anew. He wanted to please Ariana, even though he knew the way he went about it was wrong. It was his own fault for blurting out everything in front of everyone. But Gerald was clearly already irritated by the provocations of the two women whom he had to admit were his sister-inw and his mother-inw.


    Gerald admitted he did all that to monitor Ariana¡¯s movements. But the girl was wrong again. Because Gerald did it not because he suspected Ariana would cheat on him.


    ¡°I know I was wrong. I apologize,¡± Gerald repeated his words. ¡°I know this might seem like just an excuse to you. But the fact is, I¡¯m used to controlling everything with my own hands. I can¡¯t trust anyone wholeheartedly. It¡¯s not an excuse, Ariana. But that¡¯s the fact. And you¡­¡± Gerald tried to phrase his words carefully so as not to make Ariana more upset with him. ¡°You¡¯re the only person whose thoughts I can¡¯t predict. You¡¯re someone I find hard to control. And I did all that just to be cautious. Who knows, after you leave the hospital, you n to run away again,¡± Gerald replied honestly.


    Ariana stared at Gerald, her forehead creased in confusion. ¡°Do you really think I would do that? Run away from you?¡± Ariana asked, disbelieving. Gerald nodded immediately.


    ¡°The fact is, you¡¯ve done it many times before,¡± Gerald replied with shrugged shoulders.


    Ariana chuckled to herself. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just imnt a tracking chip in my body so you can follow me wherever I go? Or perhaps install aputer in my brain so you know exactly what I¡¯ll do and what I want?¡± She challenged Gerald.


    ¡°Could I even do that?¡± Gerald chuckled sarcastically.


    Ariana growled in frustration. ¡°If you really want to do that, don¡¯t do it to me. Do it to Karenina!¡± she snapped. ¡°And yes, why didn¡¯t you do it to Karenina first? If you had, maybe she wouldn¡¯t have run away from you the day before your wedding.¡± Ariana sneered.


    Bringing up Karenina¡¯s name seemed to be a grave mistake, as Gerald¡¯s expression instantly darkened.

 Chap 78 : Revenge

    Ariana nervously swallowed her saliva as she noticed a different aura on Gerald¡¯s face. ¡°I told you, I let her go,¡± he growled. ¡°If I truly wanted to keep her as my wife, I would have pulled her back even before she set foot at the airport. Which part of that sentence didn¡¯t you understand?¡± Gerald asked, clearly annoyed.


    Ariana looked at Gerald in confusion. What was going on? How could the situation flip so quickly? Wasn¡¯t she the one who had been upset with Gerald just a moment ago for viting her privacy? She should be the one angry with him. But why was he now the one annoyed with her?


    ¡°Gerald¡­¡± Ariana called his name.


    Gerald ignored her. He, like a sulking child, chose to turn away. Ariana was left gaping. Dear God, was this the adult version of Axel? she wondered inwardly. ¡°Are you now mad at me?¡± Ariana asked incredulously.


    Gerald shot her a re and turned his face away. Ariana was stunned. ¡°Are you angry with me? Because I mentioned Karenina¡¯s name?¡± Ariana asked again, not because she wanted to know the reason for his sulking but because she wanted to confirm her suspicions.


    ¡°ording to you?¡± Gerald retorted, his tone sharp.


    Ariana chuckled bitterly. ¡°You¡­?¡± Ariana couldn¡¯t find the words.


    ¡°From now on, don¡¯t bring her name into our conversation. Besides, what did you mean earlier by saying ¡®Mommy Karen¡¯? Didn¡¯t I tell you that Axel¡¯s mother is only you? Mommy Ariana. No one else.¡± He asserted firmly.


    Ariana fell silent. Was that her mistake too? Alright, it was her mistake. She referred to her twin sister as ¡®Mommy Karen¡¯ because she was too frustrated with everything ¨C her mother¡¯s confrontation, her sister, and especially Gerald¡¯s behavior.


    ¡°So, what should I call her then? Considering everyone knows her by that name,¡± Ariana replied, feigning ignorance.


    ¡°Anything but that name,¡± Gerald replied, his tone still sharp.


    Now Ariana scratched her head, genuinely puzzled. What was going on? Why did Gerald seem to be turning the tables on her? Ariana approached him and stood tall in front of him. ¡°Fine, so what would be an appropriate name for me to call her? ¡®Aunt Karen¡¯? ¡®Aunty Karen¡¯? After all, she is my twin sister. And Axel should have a respectful title for her, right?¡± Ariana asked again. He continued to avert his gaze. He looked like a sulking child denied a balloon.


    Ariana reached out, cupping Gerald¡¯s face with both hands. She gently turned his face, urging him to look at her. Slowly tilting his head up, she asked, ¡°So, what would be the right name for her, hm?¡± in a softer tone than usual.


    ¡°Anything, let Axel decide,¡± Gerald replied, still wearing his sulky expression. Ariana couldn¡¯t help but feel exasperated with his behavior.


    A mischievous thought crossed Ariana¡¯s mind. She then raised her right knee beside Gerald¡¯s waist and her left knee beside his left waist, sitting on hisp. Her hands still held Gerald¡¯s face.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be the one angry? Why are you sulking now, Mr. Aarzu?¡± Ariana asked in a soft tone.


    Gerald, fearing Ariana might slip from her seat, tightly gripped her waist. ¡°Because you¡¯re making me irritated, Mrs. Aarzu. I thought we settled everythingst night,¡± Gerald replied in the same soft tone. They stared at each other. Gerald lifted his hand and yed with Ariana¡¯s hair as he usually did. ¡°Can we make a new rule?¡± he asked after pushing Ariana¡¯s hair behind her shoulder.


    Ariana moved her hands to the back of Gerald¡¯s neck, interlocking her fingers there. Meanwhile, her legs circled around Gerald¡¯s waist. She slightly leaned back to create some space, allowing her to look at Gerald more freely. ¡°What rule?¡± she asked.


    ¡°A rule that we are no longer allowed to discuss Karenina and my failed marriage with her,¡± Gerald replied emphatically.


    ¡°Why?¡± Ariana asked again.


    ¡°Because it annoys me,¡± Gerald answered honestly. ¡°And it infuriates me even more because in doing so, you specte that I don¡¯t actually want you.¡± He continued, ¡°When, in fact?¡±


    ¡°Even though it¡¯s not like that, you know that too.¡± Gerald pulled Ariana¡¯s waist closer. He is pressing the girl¡¯s lower body against his body, which had been tense since earlier. ¡°You know what all that means, don¡¯t you?¡± asked Gerald with sharp eyes.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Ariana twirled her fingers through the ends of Gerald¡¯s ck hair, which was starting to grow longer. ¡°Hmm¡­ what is that?¡± She asked teasingly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me want to pounce on you this morning, darling. You know that I¡¯ve been holding it since dawn. And you know, the pact I made with myself doesn¡¯t allow me to touch you too much.¡± Gerald growled.


    Ariana smiled. But she still wanted to tease the man. Ariana slowly rubbed Gerald¡¯s face with the back of her hand. A naughty thought crossed her mind. Ariana brought her face closer to the man¡¯s face, just like what that man did to herst night.


    Ariana kissed the corner of the man¡¯s jaw slowly. Her kisses moved from the corner of his jaw to his neck, the curve of his shoulder, and behind Gerald¡¯s ear.


    Ariana could feel Gerald¡¯s body shudder beneath her. The man¡¯s hand even gripped Ariana¡¯s waist tightly. His movements seemed like they needed to be rified. Either let Ariana continue with her actions or stop her.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± the man growled. Ariana tried to hold back herughter between her movements of teasing the man. Ariana slowly lowered her hand and touched the man¡¯s chest from outside his shirt. Gerald shuddered again. ¡°Don¡¯t y with me.¡± Said Gerald, who quickly turned Ariana¡¯s body over until the girl was lying on the bed.


    Arianaughed, seeing Gerald¡¯s face looking at her with passion. ¡°Consider it revenge. Last night, you did the same thing to me.¡± Ariana answered, still withughter on her face.


    ¡°You think this is funny, huh?¡± asked Gerald seriously. Ariana was silent for a moment.


    The man was now bending over him. The two men¡¯s hands grabbed Ariana¡¯s hands and linked their fingers above Ariana¡¯s head. The man¡¯s knee nudged Ariana¡¯s knee, so Ariana¡¯s legs opened. He then brought his lower body closer to Ariana¡¯s body.


    ¡°Can you feel it?¡± he asked in front of Ariana¡¯s face. ¡°You cause me pain every night, and you say you want revenge?¡± he asked again with his eyes not moving from Ariana¡¯s eyes. ¡°Last night, what you felt was nothing, darling,¡± Gerald answered again. The man then lowered his head and approached Ariana slowly. ¡°Just looking at you makes my whole body throb with longing.¡± The man said before covering Ariana¡¯s lips with his own.

 Chap 79 : Eavesdropper

    ¡°Mommy!¡± Axel¡¯s shout, apanied by banging on the door, made Ariana immediately push Gerald away. His tall frame fell onto the bed instantly. Ariana nced at him briefly, noticing the annoyance on his face before she got up and walked towards the door that Gerald had locked from the inside.


    ¡°What¡¯s the little one bothering us for at such an important moment?¡± Gerald¡¯s grumble was clearly audible behind her. He had risen too and was following her.


    Ariana opened the door and saw Axel, already dressed in his school uniform. His hair looked messy, either wet from a shower or perhaps he had applied too much baby hair oil. But Ariana loved the fragrance wafting around him.


    ¡°Mommy said she¡¯d take Axel to school. Why are you still here?¡± the little boyined.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± Those were the only words that escaped Ariana¡¯s lips. She then extended her hand to Axel, asking him to hold it tightly. Gerald faithfully trailed behind Ariana. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Ariana asked the man. ¡°To take you both,¡± he replied shortly.


    Ariana furrowed her brow. She looked at Gerald, who was still in his casual clothes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to the office?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Gerald nodded. ¡°To the office. Why?¡±


    ¡°To the office dressed like that?¡± Ariana used. ¡°What would your loyal rims say if you went to the office in those clothes?¡± Ariana shook her head. ¡°Go, change your clothes.¡± She ordered.


    Gerald raised an eyebrow in response. ¡°If I change, are you nning to leave with the driver and leave me?¡± he asked.


    Ariana hesitated. ¡°Don¡¯t act childish, Gerald. Besides, my workce and Axel¡¯s school are clearly in the same direction. Are you afraid I¡¯ll run away again?¡± Ariana taunted.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. Wait for me downstairs. We¡¯ll go together,¡± he said again. Ariana didn¡¯t respond to hismand and instead guided Axel back down to the first floor. Gerald went back into his room, and Ariana somehow heard him locking himself inside.


    They were now back on the first floor. Another confrontation was about to begin. Her mother, her twin sister, and her mother-inw were sitting casually in the living room, each holding a steaming cup of something in their right hand.


    ¡°Where are you going, Sweetie?¡± her mother-inw¡¯s voice rang out.


    ¡°Axel is going to school, Grandma. Mommy is going to take Axel,¡± Axel replied innocently.


    ¡°Axel doesn¡¯t need to go with Mommy. Axel will go with Grandma. It¡¯s usually like this anyway. Besides, it¡¯s too early for Axel¡¯s school. Why leave so early?¡± Mrs. Isidora looked at Ariana, who was still standing with Axel¡¯s tiny hand in her grasp.


    ¡°I will take him and go to the restaurant at the same time,¡± Ariana replied.


    ¡°So, to arrive at the restaurant earlier, you intentionally let Axel wait at school longer?¡± The question was a clear usation from her own mother-inw.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Mrs. Rosaline came from the opposite side. Ariana turned and saw the woman had changed clothes and looked refreshed. Perhaps she had showered while Ariana and Gerald were in their room, arguing in their own ways.


    ¡°Ariana will take Axel to school, even though it¡¯s still early for school, Grandma,¡± Ariana heard Karenina answer Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s question. Mrs. Rosaline nced at the ssic clock standing in one corner of the room.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°Better early, dear. Axel¡¯s school starts at eight thirty.¡± Hearing Mrs. Rosaline address Ariana by her nickname was surprising for Ariana herself.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Who knows, there might be traffic. Gerald and Ariana will wait for him at school. If necessary, until the school bell rings.¡± Gerald, now neatly dressed, stood beside Ariana. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Hemanded both Ariana and Axel. Axel kissed Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s hand, then Mrs. Isidora¡¯s. After that, he greeted Karenina and Mrs. Caitlyn. ¡°Remember what Gerald said, Mom,¡± Gerald warned his mother.


    Mrs. Isidora looked pale, but Ariana chose to pretend not to notice. Axel¡¯s nanny was already standing next to the car that would take them to school. Just like the day before, Ariana saw Vivan standing next to the car Gerald usually used to go to the office. Meanwhile, Yusuf, Vivan¡¯s father and Gerald¡¯s household manager, was nowhere in sight.


    If the day before they had used Axel¡¯s car, this time Gerald guided Ariana and Axel into his own car. He politely opened the door for Ariana. Ariana sat at the edge, with Axel in the middle, acting as a barrier between her and Gerald.


    ¡°So, when are you going to remove all those spy devices?¡± Ariana asked without preamble. Her eyes nced disapprovingly at Vivan through the rearview mirror.


    ¡°Soon, dear,¡± Gerald replied. A smile crept onto his face.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want a ¡®soon¡¯ answer, sir. I want all those devices removed before we arrive at the restaurant,¡± Ariana turned to look at Gerald. Gerald nodded, a gesture Ariana knew was meant for Vivan, who was watching them from the front mirror. ¡°You don¡¯t know how nerve-wracking it is to know someone is watching you. I¡¯m hesitant to even fart now,¡± she said sarcastically. Her reply elicited a chuckle from Gerald. He reached out, ruffling Ariana¡¯s hair in exasperation.


    ¡°Fine, by the time you get to the restaurant, all the devices will be gone. I promise.¡±


    True to his promise, they waited for Axel at the school until the bell rang. They did nothing but watch Axel y with the toys in the schoolyard. And afterward, Gerald fulfilled his other promise that all the devices were removed from Ariana¡¯s room.


    What surprised Ariana was not just one or two devices used by Gerald in his private space. There were eight recording devices. Seeing all those devices piled up on Ariana¡¯s desk, she couldn¡¯t help but growl in annoyance. What an authoritarian and paranoid man, she thought angrily.


    Ariana went downstairs after hiding all the listening devices in a locked drawer. She was quite surprised to see Adel there. The girl¡¯s face looked weary, far from her usual cheerful self. Ariana approached her. ¡°Why are you still here? Don¡¯t you n to go home?¡± she asked the girl.


    Adel lifted her head and looked at Ariana with a sad expression. ¡°Sis¡­¡± she started, her voice whining. ¡°I¡¯m being forced into an arranged marriage with Chris.¡±


    Ouch. That statement made Ariana freeze momentarily.

 Chap 80 : Chris Matchmaking

    ¡°You¡­ with Chris?¡± Ariana instantly furrowed her brows. Adel nodded weakly. Ariana herself felt weak just hearing it. ¡°But why? Who arranged this for you?¡± Ariana asked again.


    ¡°Papa. He and Uncle Jason nned it all,¡± the girl replied. Jason was Chris¡¯s father, a cousin of Ariana¡¯s stepmother.


    ¡°But what about Daffin?¡± Ariana asked. Daffin was Chris¡¯s younger brother, born from a different mother. He was the one Adel had liked all these years, her first love since she was fifteen. Everyone knew how much Adel liked Daffin, including Adel¡¯s parents and Chris¡¯s parents. So why were they suddenly pairing Adel with Chris and not Daffin?


    ¡°I know Daffin never liked me. He always saw me as a nuisance. But Chris? Am I really being forced to marry Chris? He¡¯s so old-fashioned. Adel doesn¡¯t like him,¡± the girl whined. Then, a name popped into Ariana¡¯s head.


    ¡°What about Amber? Does she know about this?¡± Ariana looked at Adel with a furrowed brow. Adel¡¯s sulking face nodded. Damn it. Amber must be devastated right now. Considering her cousin and best friend had liked Chris for so long. ¡°Where¡¯s Amber now?¡± Ariana asked.


    Adel pointed her finger towards the kitchen. Ariana bit her lower lip, puzzled. How was she supposed tofort Amber now? Although Ariana knew Chris could never like Adel because she knew Chris liked¡­


    Ariana shook her head. Whoever Chris liked now was a secret between him and Ariana. Only the two of them knew. So Ariana couldn¡¯t tell Amber about this fact. Ariana nced back at Adel.


    ¡°What¡¯s your dad¡¯s reason for forcing you to marry Chris?¡± Ariana asked again.


    Adel shrugged. ¡°Dad said Chris won¡¯t get his inheritance if he doesn¡¯t marry. He¡¯s old enough to get married and have children. But until now, Chris hasn¡¯t brought any girl home. I mean, why should I marry a guy like him? If I hadn¡¯t agreed, Uncle Jason might have proposed to me instead of Aunt Hestia,¡± the girl grumbled.


    Ariana couldn¡¯t believe it. What was wrong with this girl? Was Ariana the one who wanted to marry Gerald? If she hadn¡¯t been forced, she would probably still be single. Even if she were single, she would have refused Chris¡¯s proposal. Marrying Chris was never in her thoughts.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°Does Amber know about this? About the inheritance reason?¡± Adel shrugged her shoulders. Ariana then smiled meaningfully. She walked towards the kitchen, seeing Jody watching Amber with a grimace on his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ariana whispered to the man.


    ¡°She¡¯s acting like a crazy person. Crying,ughing, crying,ughing,¡± Jody said to Ariana. Amber, upon hearing Jody¡¯s words, turned to look at him with a scornful expression. Ariana pushed Jody to leave the kitchen so she could talk to Amber alone. ¡°Amber¡­¡± Ariana called her cousin¡¯s name.


    ¡°What?!¡± Amber snapped.


    ¡°What are you crying for?¡± Ariana asked. She approached and crouched beside Amber, who had once again buried her face in her elbows, crying.


    ¡°You know what I¡¯m crying about. Adel must have made the announcement to you too,¡± Amber replied, her voice muffled. Her shoulders shook from her sobs.


    ¡°Is it about being forced to marry Chris?¡± Ariana asked again. Amber looked up, her eyes narrowed at Ariana. ¡°I hate you both. You and Adel!¡± she replied, wiping her tears and snot away. ¡°Why do you hate me? What did I do?¡±


    Amber red at Ariana. ¡°Chris has always been attentive to you. Everything for Ariana-this and that for Ariana. And now, when he doesn¡¯t have to pay attention to you anymore, he¡¯s willing to marry that girl. I regret hiding him in the apartment all this time,¡± Ariana continued, once again hiding her face in her arms.


    ¡°Why are you like this? So unwilling to ept Adel?¡± Ariana said again.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re all the same. Hurting me. You know, Chris has always been my crush, but you and Adel are the ones who get him. When will it be my turn? Do I have to cast a spell on Adel so Chris will like me?¡± Ariana bit her lip to hold back herughter. Amber was quite funny when she was angry. If others heard her, they might think she was joking. ¡°Amber, you know. It¡¯s the same with me not liking Chris. Adel is the same. You know that Adel has always liked Daffin. You¡¯ve always heard her whining about Daffin. She doesn¡¯t want to be forced to marry Chris either,¡± Ariana exined, making sense.


    Amber raised her red eyes and stared at Ariana. ¡°How can you be so sure that Adel doesn¡¯t like Chris? Who knows if she secretly has feelings for him too. After all, Chris and Daffin are like night and day. Chris is handsome, muscr, and he has a great body. Unlike Daffin, he looks like a kid, and his body is thin as a board,¡± Amber jeered.


    Ariana was still trying to hold back herughter. ¡°Well, Adel is still at that age where she¡¯s attracted to guys like Chris. Because what she sees isn¡¯t how financially stable the guy is or how hot his body is, Amber,¡± Ariana replied. ¡°If you really like Chris and don¡¯t want him to be engaged to Adel, why don¡¯t you make a move first? Approach Chris or his dad. From what I¡¯ve heard from Adel, the reason they¡¯re being forced into this engagement is that Chris has never brought a girl home,¡± she continued. Although in her heart, she wanted to apologize to Amber or Chris for the advice she had given to her cousin.


    Amber looked at Ariana again. She had wiped her tear-stained face with the edge of her shirt. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s okay?¡± Amber asked.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°If you¡¯re not embarrassed to pursue Chris, then go ahead,¡± she answered ambiguously. ¡°Although I¡¯m not really encouraging it. Because I¡¯m sure, at the moment, Chris must be looking for a way to make sure this engagement won¡¯t happen,¡± Ariana replied confidently.


    Amber furrowed her brow and stared at Ariana with her sharp gaze. ¡°Why do you assume that?¡± she asked. Ariana shook her head. ¡°Because I¡¯m not convinced that Chris will ever get married someday or not.¡±


    ¡°Why? Because you¡¯re married to Gerald, and he¡¯s heartbroken and decides not to get married for the rest of his life?¡± Amber taunted. Ariana stared at her cousin wide-eyed.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not because of that, Amber. I¡¯ve said it many times. Between Chris and me, there¡¯s absolutely no romantic feeling,¡± Ariana insisted. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why won¡¯t you tell me who Chris has liked all this time?¡± Amber demanded.


    ¡°That¡¯s because¡­¡±

 Chap 81 : Chris Matchmaking (2)

    ¡°That¡¯s my business, and I don¡¯t like my personal matters being interfered with,¡± the voice said, causing Ariana and Amber to turn. Chris was standing behind them, his gaze sharp and directed at Amber. ¡°Whether it¡¯s you or Adel, neither of you will be my choice for a wife.¡± Chris then grabbed Ariana¡¯s arm and pulled her up. She stood up instantly, her knees aching from crouching for so long.


    ¡°Chris¡­¡± Ariana tried to restrain him. Chris¡¯s words were unpleasant to hear, and Ariana was sure they would only make Amber more convinced that Chris had feelings for her.


    ¡°I need to talk to you,¡± he said. He then led Ariana out of the kitchen, pulling her towards the stairs, ignoring Adel who was staring at them in disbelief.


    Ariana followed Chris wherever he took her. She was no longer worried about Gerald listening to their conversation because she knew he had removed the listening device he had installed. Chris entered the room first, then let Ariana in before locking the door behind them.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Ariana asked after Chris closed the door. He paced back and forth, running his fingers through his hair roughly. ¡°You heard it yourself from Adel,¡± Chris replied curtly. ¡°My dad has suddenly gone crazy. He wants to match me up with a girl like Adel. And the problem is, everyone knows Adel has always liked Daffin. What will people say if I ept this arranged marriage? I¡¯d be stealing my own sister¡¯s girl,¡± he asked harshly. Ariana could only stare at him, trying to hold back herughter.


    ¡°Well, everyone also knows that Daffin doesn¡¯t like Adel. epting this arranged marriage won¡¯t make you and Daffin enemies,¡± Arianamented.


    Chris stopped in his tracks. He looked at Ariana with his sharp eyes. ¡°Are you mocking me?¡± Chris asked again. Ariana, trying to contain herughter, nodded immediately. ¡°You¡¯re really ruthless,¡± Chris replied. His face grimaced. He then sat down on one of the sofas farthest from Ariana.


    ¡°I¡¯m not being ruthless, Chris. I¡¯m just assuming, maybe this is the destiny that Ah has nned for you. If Adel is the right person for you, who knows, after you two get married, those feelings might naturally arise,¡± Ariana said.


    Chris snorted. ¡°Like you and Gerald now, is that what you mean?¡± he asked. ¡°Why do you have to bring him into this?¡± This time Ariana stared back at Chris in irritation.


    ¡°That¡¯s why, don¡¯t bring destiny into this with me,¡± he said, frustrated.


    ¡°Fine, so what do you want now? Are you going to confess to your dad about your true situation? Are you going to let Daffin¡¯s mom make fun of you?¡± Ariana asked sarcastically.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± Chris replied. He now rubbed his face in frustration. ¡°You know the reasons why I¡¯ve kept my distance from my family all this time. But why am I suddenly trapped in a situation I¡¯ve been avoiding? Why is my dad doing all this to me?¡± he asked himself.


    ¡°Chris, I¡¯ve always advised you to be honest with everyone. That¡¯s better,¡± Ariana said gently.


    Chris looked at Ariana with weariness. ¡°That¡¯s not an answer, Ariana. I¡¯ve disappointed my dad enough all these years, hoping everything would be diverted by Daffin. Because, in any case, that¡¯s what Daffin¡¯s mom wants.¡±


    ¡°But your dad¡¯s love for you and Daffin is the same. There¡¯s no difference. He just wants what¡¯s best for you. And I believe he¡¯ll ept your condition with an open heart, although I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be shocked at first. How long are you going to keep pretending to be a rebellious child? Running from one country to another in the name of seeking experiences. Even though I know, your heart is here, with your dad,¡± Ariana replied.


    Chris fell silent. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you intend to run away again, Chris. Enough is enough. It¡¯s time for you to settle down. If you really can¡¯t ept the marriage your dad arranged, find another solution. Introduce another woman to your dad. But not Amber,¡± Ariana warned. ¡°I don¡¯t want Amber to be disappointed.¡± Ariana finally added.


    Chris stared at Ariana seriously. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll help you divorce Gerald. Then, I¡¯ll make you my wife,¡± Chris blurted out just like that. Ariana looked at him with wide-open eyes.


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Ariana asked, annoyed.


    ¡°Why? You said you wanted to leave Gerald, didn¡¯t you? Well, I¡¯ll help you. I have enough money to pay for awyer so you two can separate. Dad would be happy to see the woman I¡¯m going to marry is you. After all, he has always liked you, hasn¡¯t he?¡±


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go crazy like you,¡± she replied again.


    ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you want to go crazy like me, or maybe you don¡¯t want to leave Gerald because you have feelings for him?¡± Chris challenged. Ariana fell silent. Chrisughed. ¡°So, Gerald¡¯s charm finally broke Ariana¡¯s defenses too. So now, are you really his wife? Has he scored a goal with you?¡± Chris asked again.


    Ariana threw a sofa cushion at him. Chris chuckled and easily caught the pillow.


    ¡°We¡¯re talking about you, not my rtionship with Gerald,¡± Ariana snapped.


    ¡°So, how is Gerald? How powerful is he? Can he make you gasp all night long? Can your knees go so weak that you can¡¯t even walk?¡± he taunted again. ¡°Chris!¡± Ariana eximed.


    ¡°I just want to hear the facts, Ariana. Many people have praised Gerald¡¯s prowess in bed. I just want to make sure it¡¯s not all talk,¡± Chris replied.


    Ariana red at Chris. ¡°I don¡¯t like discussing such things,¡± Ariana replied curtly.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°So that¡¯s true. If he could make you sigh deliciously every night? What styles have you done? Missionary? Spooning? Dog style?¡±


    Ariana looked for something to throw at Chris. ¡°Stop mentioning porn scenes to me! Fucking Chris!¡± shouted Ariana with her eyes staring sharply at Chris. Instead of stopping, Chris continued to taunt her by making disgusting sounds that Ariana knew came from the videos the man always watched.


    ¡°Chris!¡± Ariana shouted in annoyance. The man evenughed loudly.


    ¡°I want to go.¡± The man said with a serious face while wiping tears ofughter from the corners of his eyes. Ariana frowned.

 Chap 82 : Spoiled Girl

    ¡°I came back here with new hope, in the beginning,¡± the man said seriously. ¡°But then, that new hope vanished in an instant. And like you said, maybe this is the fate that God has nned for me.¡± He continued softly, ¡°Initially, I thought I wanted to try everything in a new way. With you,¡± the man admitted. ¡°But it turns out I was toote. Because you¡¯re already married to Gerald. Although I was hesitant at first, but now I know that you¡¯re captivated by his charm.¡± Chris looked at Ariana teasingly.


    ¡°You know, all of this feels funny to me. Only you know my story, and I hope this will always be our secret,¡± Chris replied, looking hopefully at Ariana. Ariana smiled and nodded.


    ¡°But leaving isn¡¯t the right choice, Chris,¡± Ariana repliedter. ¡°You just came back recently. Don¡¯t you feel sorry for Uncle Jason?¡± she asked sadly.


    ¡°I love my dad, Ana. You know that. But staying by his side isn¡¯t the right choice either. I just hope that when Ie back again, Dad will finally realize that I want to live life my own way.¡±


    Ariana could only fall silent. She knew that Chris had thought everything through carefully. So, of course, he understood the pros and cons of the choices he would make. Although Ariana didn¡¯t like his tendency to always run away from problems rather than face them, she had no power to persuade or stop him.


    They talked for quite a while, until they unconsciously realized that lunchtime had arrived. Ariana nced at her wristwatch. ¡°I have to help the kids downstairs,¡± she said to Chris. Chris nodded. He stood up as well. They then left Ariana¡¯s room together, walking side by side toward the stairs that would take them downstairs.


    ¡°When?¡± Ariana finally asked.


    ¡°Not long from now. I¡¯ll only leave when the others are distracted,¡± Chris replied softly. Ariana could only nod resignedly.


    ¡°Wherever you go, don¡¯t forget to keep in touch. At least inform your dad. Don¡¯t let him worry about you endlessly,¡± Ariana instructed again. Chris raised the corner of his mouth, smiling as he tousled Ariana¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Sure thing, dear,¡± Chris replied teasingly. Ariana looked at him. Then she understood why he called her ¡®dear¡¯ with a teasing tone. Gerald was standing not far from them, his gaze switching sharply between Chris and Ariana. Ariana realized that Chris still had his hand on her head. Quickly, she pushed his hand away.


    ¡°You did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡± Ariana asked Chris angrily. Chris just shrugged. It was obvious that he deliberately stirred up trouble between Ariana and Gerald.


    ¡°Hello, cousin-inw,¡± Chris greeted Gerald with a wave of his hand. Gerald didn¡¯t respond. He stood in front of Ariana with an angry expression.


    ¡°So, this is the reason? You asked me to let go of everything because you didn¡¯t want me to know that you secretly met him?¡± Gerald pointed at Chris. Ariana red at Chris. But once again, he just gave his typical grin and shrugged his shoulders.


    ¡°I came back,¡± he replied without feeling guilty at all.


    Ariana now looked at Gerald, puzzled. Just this morning they had made peace, and now they were fighting again. Besides, why did hee to her restaurant without notifying her? Or had he actually made a reservation, but Amber deliberately didn¡¯t inform her? Ariana nced at Amber, who was standing behind the counter. The girl suddenly averted her face, and Ariana knew her suspicion was correct.


    Ariana pulled Gerald¡¯s arm and then led him upstairs. ¡°I¡¯ll exin upstairs,¡± she said when Gerald was uncooperative. ¡°Please,¡± she pleaded softly. Gerald still stared at her sharply but then agreed to climb the stairs.


    Ariana opened the door to her room and asked Gerald toe in. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Ariana asked again. Gerald didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he unbuttoned his suit jacket and loosened his tie. Then he threw his jacket onto the sofa. ¡°Gerald?¡± Ariana repeated her question.


    ¡°Seeing you alone with him suddenly made me nauseous,¡± he replied. Gerald then slumped onto a different sofa from where he had thrown his jacket, careless in his movements.


    Ariana sat down beside him, facing him. ¡°There¡¯s nothing between Chris and me,¡± Ariana began to exin.


    ¡°But what I heard was that you two were locked in this room for a long time. What were you doing during that time?¡± Gerald looked around the room. He didn¡¯t find anything odd, because there was indeed nothing unusual that Ariana and Chris did in that room.


    ¡°What Amber told you was just because she felt jealous,¡± Ariana replied.


    ¡°Jealous?¡± Gerald raised an eyebrow. ¡°Jealous of what? Who?¡± he asked sarcastically. Ariana moved closer, sitting down. ¡°Amber is jealous of Adel.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s jealous of Adel, but why did she say that you and Chris were being intimate here?¡± Gerald continued to regard her suspiciously. Damn it. Amber and her mouth in anger were things that couldn¡¯t be controlled.


    ¡°Amber is angry because she knows Chris is being arranged to marry,¡± Ariana replied with the patience she was desperately trying to maintain. ¡°Arranged?¡± Gerald raised an eyebrow. ¡°With whom?¡±


    ¡°You know, the teenage girl downstairs. Adel?¡±


    ¡°Her? Arranged to marry that young girl?¡± Gerald asked incredulously. Ariana nodded. But then Gerald chuckled. ¡°Lucky him, getting a young chick.¡± He sneered.


    Ariana narrowed her eyes at Gerald. ¡°So, Chris is lucky because his parents are matchmaking him with a girl as young as Adel?¡± she asked. Gerald nodded.


    ¡°Of course. He can stay youthful longer. You know the saying: the older the man, the younger the woman he can get, the longer his lifespan.¡±


    ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s how it works,¡± Ariana replied. ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t you marry Adel yourself? She could keep you youthful. That way, Chris can marry me. Especially since he just said he wants to make me his wife after I leave you.¡± Ariana replied bluntly.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Gerald fell silent for a moment. His body stiffened. He looked at Ariana, confused, while Ariana stared back at him coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he came here just to ask you to stay away from me?¡± Gerald asked, displeased. Ariana just shrugged. ¡°You didn¡¯t confirm his words, did you?¡±


    Ariana shrugged again. ¡°I don¡¯t know, considering what you just said about marrying a young girl, I thought I might consider his proposal. Who knows, Chris might be a more faithful partner. He won¡¯t turn to a younger girl someday after his wife gets old and wrinkled.¡± Ariana¡¯sment was sharp. Gerald knew she had unintentionally touched on a sensitive topic for women. And now, he, who had been about to get angry because of jealousy, once again made a mistake that harmed himself.


    ¡°Darling, Mrs. Aarzu, I really didn¡¯t mean it that way,¡± he said in a coaxing tone.


    ¡°Mean what? Saying that I¡¯m old?¡± Ariana asked sarcastically.

 Chap 83 : Can We?

    ¡°In fact, I am older than Adel. She¡¯s still young, beautiful, and born into an esteemed family, just like you and Chris. You won¡¯t feel embarrassed to take her everywhere because she¡¯s fashionable, just like my twin. And most importantly, she¡¯s a girl who will obey all your desires. Not a defiant woman like me,¡± Ariana replied passionately.


    Gerald was taken aback. Ariana was currently sulking at him. The word ¡®old¡¯ was indeed very sensitive for women. And he knew he had made a fatal mistake. Everything had already improved this morning after their quite intense dispute.


    Oh God, did they have to argue every time they met? They had fought twice today alone. And it was all because of two people Ariana disliked and Gerald hated. Who else but Karenina and Chris.


    ¡°Darling, I¡¯m sorry. I was jealous. She clearly did all that to make me angry. And I fell for it, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Gerald said, moving closer and holding Ariana¡¯s arms.


    Ariana red at him. ¡°He just called me ¡®darling,¡¯ and you¡¯re overreacting. And you believe everything Amber says, even though she¡¯s currently irrational.¡±


    ¡°I know, I was wrong. It¡¯s your fault for making me jealous,¡± Gerald said again. Ariana¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°You me me?¡± she asked, her eyebrows furrowing.


    ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t me you? You smile sweetly at Chris while you often scowl at me. And I feel like you prefer Chris over me,¡± Gerald retorted.


    Ariana just nodded. ¡°Actually, that¡¯s true,¡± she replied tly. Gerald was left agape. ¡°I do prefer Chris over you. At least he¡¯s a good listener. He¡¯s a man who knows what women want. And, above all, he¡¯s not someone who easily gets suspicious, doesn¡¯t easily get provoked, and doesn¡¯t like to restrain others.¡±


    Gerald squinted his eyes. ¡°Are you listing my faults now?¡± he asked.


    Ariana shrugged nonchntly. ¡°If you feel that everything I said is true, then yes. I¡¯m listing your faults,¡± Ariana replied calmly.


    ¡°Fine, I promise to change. But with one condition,¡± Gerald bargained. ¡°What condition?¡± Ariana asked again.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°You will never be alone with Chris again without my knowledge.¡±


    ¡°Are you negotiating or trying to restrain me again?¡± Ariana asked. But Gerald didn¡¯t answer her question. ¡°Besides, why would I be alone with Chris again? He won¡¯t be here for much longer anyway,¡± Ariana replied matter-of-factly.


    Gerald frowned. ¡°He¡¯s leaving? You said he¡¯s being arranged to marry Adel?¡± The bewildered man now sat down. ¡°He is indeed being arranged to marry Adel. But he doesn¡¯t want it. That¡¯s why he¡¯s leaving, because he intends to avoid that arranged marriage,¡± Ariana answered honestly.


    ¡°So he came here to say goodbye?¡± Gerald asked with a smirk.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°He came here to ask me to go with him,¡± she said with a t tone, although in reality, it wasn¡¯t exactly like that.


    ¡°What?!¡± Gerald eximed. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you agreed to it.¡± Gerald replied, his voice still loud. Ariana shrugged again. ¡°He gave me time to think. And I¡¯m weighing what¡¯s best for me. Should I stay here with you, who always likes to control me, or should I go with him? And with him, I can do what I want and be myself. Especially since Chris is someone who usually grants my requests, even if they don¡¯t make sense.¡± Ariana continued to provoke Gerald. Gerald looked at her with a cynical expression.


    ¡°I¡¯ll cut off his legs if he dares to take you away,¡± he threatened. ¡°Why don¡¯t you cut off my legs too if I go with him?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t do that, Darling. I¡¯d rather see you feel guilty for seeing me hurt Chris than hurt you myself,¡± he replied with a sly smile on his face.


    And now Ariana knew that his words weren¡¯t just empty threats. Gerald would do what he said. Just like the time he suggested to his stepfather to kidnap Ariana¡¯s father so Ariana could rece Karenina. So Ariana was sure that Gerald would really break Chris¡¯s legs if he took her away.


    Ariana looked at Gerald in silence. He was now gazing at her more gently. Gerald approached and then took Ariana¡¯s hands. ¡°You can say that I¡¯m forcing you, Ariana. But the fact is, I want you for myself. I can¡¯t stand any other man touching you, let alone taking you away from me. Even if that man is Chris, someone I know has been very good to you. But I still can¡¯t bear it. Understand that I¡¯m a jealous person. Understand me. By doing so, I will try to understand andprehend you. Let¡¯s consider that we¡¯re both learning to get to know each other. I have to change my selfish attitude. And you have to change your stubbornness. We can be people who like each other. Isn¡¯t that good?¡± Gerald offered again.


    Ariana just fell silent. In her heart, she asked herself. Could she ept all of this? Could she erase the word ¡®force¡¯ from her mind? Could she eliminate the word ¡®recement¡¯ from her thoughts? Could she truly ept all of this and start fresh with Gerald after everything started so badly?


    Ariana looked at Gerald. Seeing the determination in his eyes. How deep was his affection for her, really? Was he truly in love with her? Or, just like his recent threat, did he prefer hurting someone else loved by the person he loved rather than hurting that person personally? What if, in fact, her position here was as a victim? Was Gerald seeking revenge on Karenina through her? But did Ariana mean that much to Karenina? Ariana shook her head.


    ¡°Clear all the negative thoughts you have about me, Darling,¡± those words suddenly escaped from Gerald¡¯s lips. Ariana redirected her attention to him. Could Gerald read her mind? How was that possible?


    ¡°I know you¡¯re feeling uncertain right now. That¡¯s why, let¡¯s give each other a chance and time. Haven¡¯t I said that to you many times?¡± he asked again.


    Ariana continued to stare at him in silence. Somehow, his words made her heart beat faster than usual. She looked at him and saw the sincerity in his eyes. Should she? Could she? She wondered in her heart. Alright, at least she could truly give it a shot. But one thing she nted firmly in her mind: she couldn¡¯t risk her heart. Not until she was absolutely sure that Gerald¡¯s feelings for her were genuine.


    Ariana nodded. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go along with what you want,¡± she replied briefly. Gerald smiled and then kissed the back of her hand, which was still in his grip.

 Chap 84 : Mirage

    Days passed by just like that. The agreement they made slowly began to take shape. Ariana tried to get to know Gerald, attempting to understand his daily life, his favorite foods, and dislikes. Trying to figure out what Gerald hated. And Gerald did the same.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    They now tried to understand each other better. Ariana started being friendly to Gerald, and Gerald had stopped trying to control Ariana. They both tried their best to make this rtionship work. After intense negotiations, Ariana agreed to live in Zeroun¡¯s residence because she didn¡¯t want Mrs. Isidora to hate her even more, thinking that she was trying to separate the woman from her beloved granddaughter.


    But even though they lived together, slept in the same bed, they still held onto the agreement not to engage in a husband-wife rtionship. Although, deep down, they both started to find it hard not to touch each other. But Ariana insisted that she wouldn¡¯t give herself to Gerald until she believed that his feelings were genuinely pure. Not because Ariana suspected that he wanted revenge on Karenina through her.


    Their seemingly stable rtionship still didn¡¯t receive a positive response from Mrs. Isidora. The woman¡¯s face still frowned every time she saw Ariana, especially when Ariana started dominating the kitchen and preparing breakfast or dinner for them. Especially when Mrs. Rosaline praised Ariana¡¯s delicious cooking. However, both Ariana and Gerald chose to ignore it.


    Axel, of course, was happy. He could have both of his parents together. The little boy, oblivious to everything, just enjoyed his happy moments with Ariana and Gerald. Ariana and Gerald even took the time to go on vacation with Axel to the amusement park he had wanted to visit for a long time.


    As for Karenina, ever since Gerald¡¯s confrontation, those two guests never came to Gerald¡¯s residence again. Or perhaps they came and went when Gerald wasn¡¯t around. Ariana didn¡¯t know; maybe Yosef and Gerald knew what happened at home when they weren¡¯t there. Discussions about them were something to be avoided. Karenina¡¯s name seemed to bebeled forbidden in that house now.


    Now, about Chris. Like he said, he would disappear when others least expected it, and he truly did. One day, Adel caused a scene in a restaurant, saying that Chris had disappeared just like that. Consequently, their nned arranged marriage fell apart. Afterward, Adel returned home, no longer staying in the apartment with Amber. Although it seemed like even if Chris hadn¡¯t left, Adel would still have left the apartment because she couldn¡¯t stand Amber¡¯s constant jealousy.


    Yes, Amber was the broken-hearted one here again. Chris¡¯s departure made Amber truly despondent. How could she not be? Initially, she believed that Chris would never run away again, and she nned to make him fall in love with her in various ways in her mind. But now, Amber had to crush her own hopes again.


    Ariana entered the restaurant. As usual, Gerald dropped her off at the front of the restaurant, even though he didn¡¯t get out of the car due to his restrictions. At first, she felt uneasy. She felt like a hypocritical woman who initially rejected him outright but now enjoyed all his attention and kindness.


    Her arrival was met with Dara¡¯s sad smile. Ariana furrowed her brow, looking at her employee. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ariana asked silently with her mouth¡¯s movements. Dara shrugged, then nodded her head toward where Amber was sitting at one of the tables in the corner of the room, chin propped up on her arms. Ariana approached. ¡°What¡¯s bothering you?¡± Ariana asked her friend and cousin.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± she replied curtly.


    ¡°Are you missing Chris?¡± Ariana asked again. She didn¡¯t mean to mock, but perhaps that¡¯s what Amber thought, because the girl responded curtly again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pity me. I¡¯ve known all along that Chris never saw me. All he ever saw was Ariana, Ariana, and Ariana. Even though Ariana Leonidas never liked him, he was still fixated on you. And now he¡¯s gone, heartbroken because his Ariana Leonidas is married to someone else,¡± she replied.


    Ariana sat in front of Amber, looking at her with a furrowed brow. But regardless, Ariana tried to face it patiently. ¡°That¡¯s not the truth, Amber. I¡¯ve told you many times that Chris¡¯s feelings for me aren¡¯t romantic. It¡¯s more like a brother¡¯s love for his sister,¡± Ariana replied calmly.


    ¡°That¡¯s just camouge. Many people say their rtionship is just friendship, but they end up ncing at each other and hugging behind the scenes. Jealous without speaking. And that¡¯s what happened between you and Chris too, right?¡± Amber challenged.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°The reality is not like that, Amber. I¡¯ve told you if Chris did have feelings for me, it wasn¡¯t romantic. He should have fought for me before I married Gerald. If he really had feelings for me, he should have stayed here and tried to change my mind and attempted to separate me from Gerald. And if I really liked him as a man and a woman, I should have epted when he said he would help me leave Gerald and take me away from here. But that didn¡¯t happen, did it?¡±


    Amber red at her angrily. ¡°So it¡¯s true, isn¡¯t it? He invited you to go with him because he only wanted you. No one else.¡±


    ¡°Amber, that¡¯s not what I meant. What I meant¡­¡± Ariana began.


    Amber waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Forget it. Don¡¯t mind me. I need a break. Don¡¯t contact me until my mood is really good,¡± her friend said as she grabbed her bag and left the restaurant abruptly.


    Dara, who had been silently observing the two of them, now sat in front of Ariana. ¡°Mba¡­¡± the girl¡¯s voice sounded hesitant. ¡°Is Amber really that in love with Chris?¡± Dara asked again.


    Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. She then nodded her head. ¡°Amber has liked Chris since the first time we met. Many years ago,¡± Ariana replied.


    ¡°If Chris likes Mba, why does Amber have to get angry? Feelings can¡¯t be controlled, right? Besides, she also can¡¯t stop liking Chris even though she knows Chris doesn¡¯t like her back. Why does she get mad at you if the reality is that Chris prefers you?¡± the girlmented.


    Ariana shook her head. She looked at Dara with a sad smile on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t always believe in what you see, Ra. Because what you see might not be the truth. It could be just a mirage your mind creates to make you feel calm or jealous. Chris and I don¡¯t have the kind of feelings you all assume,¡± Ariana replied sadly. She then got up and left Dara, who was confused by her words.

 Chap 85 : Short Kiss

    Amber truly left. Even when Ariana tried to contact her, the girl had already turned off her phone. It seemed Amber intended to avoid everyone. In the end, Ariana had to take over her position at the restaurant.


    Ariana had informed Gerald that she couldn¡¯t have lunch and dinner with him due to Amber¡¯s sudden departure, and there was no one to rece her because all of their employees were busy with restaurant orders and catering.


    Adel, somehow aware of Amber¡¯s departure, came to the restaurant in the afternoon. The girl looked at Ariana apologetically. ¡°Sorry, Ariana,¡± she said.


    Ariana just chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s there to forgive?¡± Ariana asked.


    ¡°Everything. If only I hadn¡¯t openly rejected this arranged marriage, maybe Chris would still be here. Maybe Amber wouldn¡¯t have left,¡± Adel said remorsefully.


    Ariana raised an eyebrow. ¡°So you regret Chris leaving? Do you actually want to be arranged with Chris?¡± Ariana teased.


    Adel shook her head vigorously. ¡°Not like that,¡± she said. ¡°Adel is a loyal person. Once Daffin, always Daffin,¡± she said enthusiastically. ¡°I mean, maybe Chris and I could persuade Papa and Uncle Jason to cancel their ns to match us. Chris could bring Mba Amber in front of Uncle Jason as his chosen wife. And Adel knows Uncle Jason wouldn¡¯t mind. That way, Mba Amber would be happy with Chris, and I could continue to get closer to Daffin,¡± Adel replied with a smile on her face.


    Ariana chuckled. ¡°You and Amber are the same,¡± Ariana said. ¡°You both like Daffin, who openly rejected you. It¡¯s the same with Amber. Are their charms really that irresistible?¡± Ariana asked, curious.


    Adel just answered with a shy smile. ¡°Mba here acts like she¡¯s never fallen in love,¡± she said.


    Ariana shrugged. She actually didn¡¯t know what falling in love meant. Because until now, she had been avoiding it. Ariana had never cried over someone¡¯s departure like Amber did when Chris left. She had never been curious and stalked someone¡¯s social media ounts like Adel did with Daffin. She had never intended to make Valentine¡¯s choctes or give meaningful birthday gifts to someone.


    Now she realized that she had never truly experienced her teenage years like other people. She never worried about a single pimple appearing on her face and felt panicked, afraid of being teased by others who saw it. She was never interested in wearing clothes or essories matching those of the opposite sex, as most couples usually did. No, she never even spent her pocket money to buy snacks for a boy she liked. She had never felt any of that.


    Since middle school and high school, she had never felt any of it. She didn¡¯t even have many friends. The only ones she had until now were Amber and Chris. There was never anyone else. Althoughtely, she had started having Jody, Dara, and now Adel.


    And Chris. Her feelings towards Chris were like those towards any other man. Ariana never wanted to appear attractive in front of Chris. Isn¡¯t one of the signs that you like someone the constant desire to appear appealing and the best in their eyes? But Ariana never felt that way.


    In front of Chris, she was no different from how she was in front of Jody and the other men who worked at her restaurant. And Chris was always the same way too. He was always genuine. Even though he seemed to always protect andfort her, Chris never showed affection in the way men do to women. Chris never acted jealous if Ariana was close to other men. Instead, he always advised her to be close to men. Chris guided her to know which men could be trusted and which ones couldn¡¯t.


    As someone older than Ariana, Chris imparted many life lessons to her. Ariana, a victim of a broken home, and Chris, who no longer had a biological mother, felt like they lived in the same world. They shared perspectives on life. They told each other how to handle people. They taught each other. But it was only that, nothing more. Perhaps people who observed them might think differently, but Ariana didn¡¯t care about that until she knew that Amber liked Chris the way women like men.


    And she knew, as a good friend and cousin, Ariana had to protect Amber¡¯s feelings. Ariana had repeatedly tried to open Chris¡¯s mind. So that Chris could see Amber as a woman. She had praised Amber so much in front of Chris hoping that Chris would like her friend. But just like Dara said, feelings couldn¡¯t be forced. Just like Amber liked Chris, just like Adel liked Daffin, Ariana couldn¡¯t meddle in the matters of the siblings¡¯ hearts.


    ¡°Husband is here,¡± Adel¡¯s words brought Ariana back from her deep thoughts. She nced towards the entrance and saw Gerald smiling at her, waving his hand. ¡°If Mba trusts Adel, let Adel handle Mba Dara¡¯s table, and Mba Dara can handle the cashier,¡± Adel suddenly suggested. Ariana just looked at her and then smiled. She had to remember that she and Gerald were currently trying to mend their rtionship. So, she couldn¡¯t ignore the man just because of her work, especially when he hade all the way from his office to meet her.


    Ariana waved at Dara, signaling her toe closer. Dara hurried over. ¡°Please handle the cash register and let Adel take care of the reservations,¡± she instructed Dara. Dara nced briefly at Adel, then nodded and handed the tools she was holding to Adel.


    Ariana approached Gerald, who was still smiling at her. Ariana was aware that his presence drew the attention of some restaurant patrons. She couldn¡¯t deny to herself that her husband had a charm. Gerald was handsome, tall, and athletically built, his physique well-maintained. And when he smiled¡­ well, Ariana didn¡¯t want to be too enchanted by her own husband. She didn¡¯t want to go crazy like Amber and Adel.


    They walked together towards the upstairs where Ariana¡¯s office was located. ¡°Hungry?¡± Ariana asked shortly after they entered the room. But suddenly, Gerald wrapped his arm around Ariana¡¯s waist.


    ¡°Having a tough day, huh?¡± he asked, full of concern. Ariana looked up, seeing Gerald tilting his head towards her. She nodded.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°Very,¡± she replied softly.


    Gerald smiled and nodded. He kissed the top of Ariana¡¯s head and whispered, ¡°Be patient.¡± Ariana looked up again and smiled. Then he leaned down and briefly kissed Ariana¡¯s lips.

 Chap 86 : First Love Story

    Releasing the embrace, Ariana realized that her face was now undoubtedly flushed with embarrassment. Gerald, who witnessed it, could only grin mischievously.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a shower first,¡± he said as he walked towards the bedroom. Yes, one more thing Ariana and Gerald shared now was their personal space. They were using the room in the restaurant together. Gerald began cing some of his personal belongings there to make it easier if he visited and needed something.


    But only up to the restaurant. Because Ariana didn¡¯t want to take Gerald to the apartment she shared with Amber anymore, to spare her cousin¡¯s feelings.


    Gerald seemed ready to shower. Meanwhile, Ariana informed him that she would go downstairs and prepare dinner for both of them. Indirectly, she signaled for Gerald to lock himself in the room.


    It was just a precautionary measure. Who knew if someone might go upstairs and suddenly enter the room, only to be shocked by Gerald¡¯s presence? It was fine if Gerald was fully dressed, but what if he wasn¡¯t?


    Ariana heard the room key being turned before deciding to go downstairs and prepare the food. It took quite a while to prepare a few simple dishes they would share. Ariana carried the tray covered with a cloth up the stairs, and when she entered, she was quite surprised to find someone there.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Ariana asked, her forehead creased.


    The girl, her twin sister, just shrugged nonchntly. She even sat behind Ariana¡¯s desk as if she owned the ce. ¡°Just paying a visit to my sister¡¯s ce, is that wrong?¡± Karenina asked casually.


    ¡°Not wrong,¡± Ariana replied just as casually. She ced the tray on the table. ¡°But your actions can be considered impolite. You¡¯re crossing my privacy boundaries, Karen,¡± Ariana said again.


    Karenina just shrugged her shoulders again. Ariana noticed the closed bedroom door. Fortunately, she had suggested to Gerald to lock it. If not, she didn¡¯t know what crazy idea her sister might have if she found Gerald inside.


    Karenina might barge into the room and break into the bathroom¡­ Ariana shook her head vigorously. ¡°So, what brings you here?¡± Ariana asked without beating around the bush.


    Karenina shrugged her shoulders once more. With slow steps, she approached where Ariana sat on the sofa. ¡°Ariana, do you know who Gerald¡¯s first love was?¡± she asked with a facial expression that Ariana knew she intentionally made pitiful.


    Ariana snorted inwardly. What was going on today? Did Ariana have to give this day a special title? ¡®First Love Stories¡¯ seemed like a suitable title. However, she didn¡¯t say it out loud to Karenina. She just looked at her twin sister and tried to y along. ¡°Who? Is he someone famous?¡± Ariana asked with a tone she pretended to be enthusiastic about.


    Karenina appeared to smile. It seemed her twin suspected Ariana had fallen into her trap. ¡°She¡¯s a very beautiful woman. She¡¯s the daughter of one of the richest people in Kalimantan. I think you can guess what that means.¡±


    ¡°Is she one of the heiresses to a coal or gold mining tycoon?¡± Ariana asked again. Karenina nodded casually. ¡°Is she beautiful?¡±


    ¡°Extremely beautiful,¡± she replied.


    Ariana just nodded. ¡°So what?¡± she asked nonchntly. The change in Ariana¡¯s facial expression seemed to surprise Karenina. The girl immediately furrowed her brow.


    ¡°So what?¡± Karenina repeated Ariana¡¯s question back to her.


    ¡°Yes, so what if she¡¯s a wealthy heiress and incredibly beautiful? So what? Should I feel inferior because of that?¡± Ariana asked again.


    ¡°Do you at least feel thatpared to that girl, you don¡¯t stand a chance?¡± Karenina asked again.


    ¡°Karenina, my dear sister. Since when have I cared aboutparing myself to others? Especially to someone who is more beautiful or richer?¡± Ariana asked her twin sister casually. ¡°I can¡¯t be more beautiful than anyone, even if I wanted to, because just like you, I was born with this face. And I have no intention of trying to beautify myself to look as stunning as a celebrity because I know I won¡¯t be able to undergo stic surgery and change my appearance. And as for being rich, if you alwayspare yourself to people wealthier than you, you¡¯ll always feel poor, no matter what.¡± Ariana replied with her sensible logic.


    ¡°Do you know what caused their separation?¡± Karenina seemed to be trying to divert Ariana¡¯s attention again, given that Ariana waspletely unfazed by her earlier remarks. Ariana shrugged and then shook her head. ¡°They parted ways because the woman was arranged to marry another man considered equal to their family,¡± Karenina answered again.


    ¡°And?¡± once again, the question came from Ariana¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°It means they separated not because they didn¡¯t love each other anymore. But because they were forced to,¡± Karenina answered again. It seemed Ariana¡¯s twin was really trying to get a rise out of her, but unfortunately, Ariana showed no reaction.


    Instead, the girl casually asked, ¡°So what?¡± and this seemed to infuriate Karenina even more. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand what I mean?¡± she asked, annoyed.


    Ariana shook her head. Her face remained impassive even though she knew she was provoking Karenina¡¯s anger. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked again. ¡°I mean, you should understand the direction of my conversation.¡±


    ¡°And what exactly is that?¡± Ariana asked again.


    ¡°It means Gerald¡¯s rtionship with that woman could improve someday. Because they separated not of their own will, but because of coercion,¡± Karenina replied passionately.


    ¡°So the conclusion is, you¡¯re currently warning me about the possibility of hering, and in doing so, Gerald might turn away from me to her because he still has feelings for her. Is that it?¡± Ariana¡¯s question was met with Karenina¡¯s enthusiastic nod. ¡°And has this woman appeared now?¡± Ariana asked again. Karenina¡¯s forehead furrowed once more. ¡°You don¡¯t know if the woman you¡¯re talking about has returned yet or not?¡± Ariana asked again. ¡°You shoulde to me and warn me about her when she actually returns. If she¡¯s not here, why bother warning me?¡± Ariana asked again.


    Karenina shook her head. ¡°She hasn¡¯t returned yet. But she will. From the rumors I¡¯ve heard, the woman will be back in Indonesia in a matter of days.¡± A satisfied smile appeared on Karenina¡¯s face. Ariana could only stare at her. ¡°You¡¯re truly amazing. Where did you get that information?¡± Ariana asked, her tone loud and praising.


    Karenina shrugged her shoulders. Her expression clearly showed satisfaction. ¡°I socialize a lot, unlike you, who only revolves around pans and stoves,¡± she taunted.


    Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. I rarely socialize with people until I don¡¯t understand how foolish people are who socialize too much,¡± Ariana mocked Karenina.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I mean, the person you should inform about the arrival of that woman isn¡¯t me. It¡¯s him.¡± Ariana nodded her head toward the bedroom door that had been open since earlier. Karenina, who was sitting on the sofa with her back to the bedroom door, slowly turned and was left gaping.


    ¡°Gerald?¡± she asked nervously.

 Chap 87 : Jealously

    ¡°Gerald?¡± Karenina looked at Gerald, her face pale. Clearly, she didn¡¯t realize that Gerald had been standing by the door, listening to their conversation all along.


    Gerald approached and sat beside Ariana. ¡°Hi, sister-inw. Long time no see,¡± he replied casually. ¡°Didn¡¯t your informant tell you about my presence here?¡± he added, still in his rxed manner.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Ariana chose to ignore both of them and uncovered the stainless steel cloche that had been covering the food since earlier. The cloche, now emitting steam from the top due to covering the hot food Ariana had prepared for both of them.


    The grilled ribs with mushroom sauce, apanied by steamed vegetables, were already ced in separate bowls, along with a bowl of steaming rice.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you tell me about your first love while we¡¯re having dinner, my dear husband?¡± Ariana taunted Gerald. Gerald now stared back at her with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Oh yes, this food will be enough for three people. Would you like to join us?¡± Ariana asked again. But then, she answered her own question. ¡°Of course, you have to dine with us. Aren¡¯t you going to help Gerald recount how that love story began and then ended under coercion?¡± Ariana taunted again. She was about to stand up, but Gerald held her back.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked, displeased.


    ¡°Getting more utensils, Darling. Do you think I¡¯d let my twin sister watch us eat together? I¡¯m not that heartless,¡± Ariana replied.


    Gerald shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. You¡¯ve already broughtplete tableware.¡± Gerald pointed to the two tes and sets of cutlery on the tray.


    Ariana furrowed her brow. ¡°So you intend to share a te and feed each other, is that it?¡± Ariana asked. Gerald nodded. ¡°Fine, you can share with her. After all, you both are nning to tell the same story. So, sit side by side, share a te, andplement each other¡¯s story,¡± Ariana replied sarcastically.


    Gerald chuckled. He pulled Ariana¡¯s hand quite firmly, causing her to sit down beside him. ¡°I¡¯ll dine with you, Mrs. Aarzu,¡± Gerald said yfully.


    Karenina frowned upon hearing the strange term Gerald used for Ariana. However, the couple in front of her simply ignored her. Gerald handed an empty te to Karenina before he took another te and scooped rice onto it. He ced the pieces of grilled ribs and vegetables before mixing them. He disregarded manners by not waiting for Karenina to do the same. He lifted his spoon and brought it close to Ariana¡¯s mouth.


    For a moment, Ariana just stared at Gerald, but he continued to advance his spoon, prompting Ariana to open her mouth. He then mixed the vegetables with the rib meat and fed himself before casually asking, ¡°So, why don¡¯t you continue your story?¡± Gerald inquired after he chewed and swallowed a mouthful. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just tell my wife the name of that woman, her age, and whose descendant she is? Then afterward, you can tell her how we met, how we fell in love, and how that story ended,¡± Gerald said casually. He fed himself another bite. ¡°Ariana is truly fascinated by my past, especially if you season it with something sweet. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll like it even more,¡± Gerald added.


    Instead of answering, Karenina just bowed her head, her face turning red. It seemed she truly didn¡¯t expect Gerald¡¯s presence there and certainly didn¡¯t anticipate that Gerald would respond to her remarks with a sweetness she had never experienced before.


    ¡°I have an appointment. I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t stay here any longer,¡± she said in a panic. She walked back to Ariana¡¯s table where she had ced her expensive handbag earlier. Even without ncing back at Ariana and Gerald, she hurried towards the door.


    After Karenina hadpletely disappeared, Ariana decided to leave her seat and sit where Karenina had been moments before. She took the te Gerald had given to Karenina and started scooping rice for herself.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious at all?¡± Gerald asked again. It seemed he wanted to ensure Ariana¡¯s reaction.


    Ariana just shrugged. ¡°Should I be curious?¡± she replied back to Gerald. And just like the feigned indifference Gerald had shown in front of Karenina earlier, Ariana was doing the same. She was more interested in the food on her te.


    Gerald didn¡¯t immediately respond to her statement. He continued eating, spooning food into his mouth. ¡°If you really intend to go back to her now that you know she¡¯s no longer bound to the person her parents arranged for her, it seems you could do that right away. Before it¡¯s toote,¡± Ariana finally said.


    Hearing Ariana¡¯s words, Gerald stopped his bite instantly. Again, the topic of separation resurfaced, but Gerald knew this time the statement carried a different meaning.


    ¡°If I truly intended to do that, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered negotiating with you all this time,¡± he replied, then took another full spoonful into his mouth. Ariana tried to grasp the meaning of his words. Her forehead furrowed in confusion. Then she asked, ¡°So, you¡¯ve met her again?¡± Gerald nodded. His face remained expressionless. ¡°When?¡± Ariana asked again.


    ¡°This afternoon,¡± Gerald replied shortly. Ariana furrowed her brow even more.


    ¡°And I can guess that you had lunch together,¡± she said. Gerald stared at Ariana intently and then nodded in agreement. Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. ¡°Of course. There was time you spent reminiscing. Recalling the beautiful things from the past. Expressing the same regrets.¡±


    Now it was Gerald¡¯s turn to furrow his brow. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked, puzzled.


    Ariana shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I mean nothing. I¡¯m just assuming. That your meeting this afternoon was your first encounter after being apart for quite some time. And, like in a drama, the time you spent was more about telling what happened between you in the past rather than what happened after you separated. You talked a lot about how you lost each other and the difficulty of moving on after your breakup. Plus, you revealed that you couldn¡¯t fall in love with your new partners because your feelings are still attached to the old ones,¡± Ariana replied at length.


    Gerald chuckled at her analysis. ¡°Are you a director now? Or are you secretly writing a romantic screeny?¡± Gerald asked Ariana with a teasing smile.


    ¡°Choose whichever you prefer,¡± Ariana replied, putting more food into her mouth.


    ¡°Which one do I prefer?¡± Gerald asked back. ¡°What I prefer is knowing that right now you¡¯re jealous of that woman, Mrs. Aarzu.¡± Gerald¡¯s response made Ariana¡¯s eyes widen instantly.

 Chap 88 : Big and Warm

    ¡°Jealousy?¡± Ariana snorted. ¡°In your dreams,¡± she replied, shoving food into her mouth with a rough gesture.


    Geraldughed at her reaction. ¡°Why does my wife look so adorable when she¡¯s angry?¡± he murmured. They continued eating in silence. Ariana was trying to contain her frustration, and Gerald, knowing her well, chose to remain silent, not intending to further fuel the situation. He already knew Ariana¡¯s character well enough not to provoke her further. He understood that Ariana was feeling jealous, and that alone warmed his heart.


    Ariana continued working as the restaurant began to fill up again. Meanwhile, her wife was working downstairs. Gerald decided to join her in her office. He intentionally waited for Ariana to finish her work so they could return home together.


    At ten o¡¯clock, when the restaurant closed, the doorbell rang again. Dara, who had returned to her ce at the front desk, came towards the cash register with a gleam in her eyes.


    ¡°Uhh¡­ How sweet,¡± she said with an intentionally coquettish tone.


    Ariana, who was counting, looked up at Dara with a furrowed brow. ¡°What¡¯s so sweet?¡± she asked, confused. And Ariana¡¯s answer became apparent behind Dara.


    A man in a red uniform with his typical cap arrived carrying tworge bundles of pizza. Ariana furrowed her brow. She noticed a few remaining customers in the restaurant who looked puzzled as well. How could a pizza delivery person be delivering food to a restaurant? They could easily assume that Leonida¡¯s had be a reseller for that particr pizza chain, right?


    ¡°Who ordered all of this?¡± Ariana asked, perplexed.


    ¡°My husband,¡± Dara answered promptly. Ariana could only nod, although she still didn¡¯t understand her husband¡¯s intent.


    After unloading all the boxes and signing the receipt, the delivery person left. Meanwhile, Dara took all the pizzas to the kitchen where her other staff was waiting. Ariana, on the other hand, left her work and went upstairs. She opened the door and saw Gerald still busy working on hisptop. ¡°Finished?¡± he asked calmly.


    Ariana was still frowning. ¡°Did you order pizza?¡± she countered.


    ¡°Has it arrived?¡± he interpreted her question as a ¡®yes¡¯. Ariana reflexively nodded. ¡°Good, I hope I counted correctly,¡± he replied.


    ¡°But why?¡± Ariana asked again because she didn¡¯t understand the purpose of his gesture.


    Gerald shrugged. ¡°No reason. I just wanted to make your employees happy. They must have been tired dealing with so many customers all day,¡± he replied diplomatically. Ariana could only nod again.


    Gerald then closed hisptop. ¡°So, is your work done?¡± he asked again. Ariana nodded but then shook her head.


    ¡°There are still a few things I need to finish,¡± she continued. ¡°I¡¯ll go down now.¡± But before Ariana could leave, Gerald grabbed her hand.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to thank me?¡± Gerald asked, his smile teasing.


    ¡°Th-thank you for what?¡± Ariana squinted her eyes suspiciously at Gerald.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been so considerate to your employees. As a good boss, you should appreciate it by saying thank you,¡± he replied again.


    Ariana continued to furrow her brow but then muttered, ¡°Thank you,¡± sounding insincere. Geraldughed at her response. ¡°I don¡¯t want just words, my dear,¡± he replied, stepping closer. ¡°Then what do you want?¡± Ariana challenged him.


    Gerald leaned forward even more. He put his hand on Ariana¡¯s waist and pulled his wife¡¯s body close.


    ¡°I think one long kiss is enough.¡± the man answered. Gerald then touched Ariana¡¯s jaw with his right hand, lifted his wife¡¯s face, and looked deeply into her eyes. He was seeing if there was a possibility that Ariana would reject him. But his wife did not refuse or rebel. And Gerald took that as a green light. He lowered his head and kissed his wife¡¯s lips briefly. He was still waiting for a rejection from Ariana. And then he continued the kiss into a hot kiss.


    Gerald moved and guided Ariana¡¯s body to the back of the door. He supported the girl¡¯s back with his left hand so it didn¡¯t press against the door while his lips were still ravaging Ariana¡¯s mouth. His tongue came into y, as did Ariana¡¯s tongue. They taste each other. Each wants to be satisfied. Even when Gerald¡¯s hands started ying naughty by slipping into the girl¡¯s clothes, Ariana didn¡¯t resist and instead puffed out her chest even more.


    Gerald was certainly enthusiastic. He lowered his head, ready to kiss Ariana¡¯s neck, but a knock interrupted them. The knock was loud enough for them to hear clearly from behind the door.


    Ariana immediately pulled away from the kiss. ¡°Yes?¡± she called out loudly.


    ¡°Come down, please. The pizza will get cold,¡± Dara¡¯s voice, which Gerald had now be familiar with, came from behind the door.


    Ariana nced at Gerald, knowing he was as passionate as she was. She couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at his situation. ¡°It¡¯s your fault for bringing the pizza here. So, we have to finish it,¡± Ariana said softly, then her voice grew louder. ¡°We¡¯ll be down in a minute,¡± she said. The response they received was silence, indicating that Dara had gone back downstairs.


    Gerald looked at Ariana with a disappointed expression. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go down. You can ask them to finish it, and if they can¡¯t, they can pack it and take it home. There must be family members at their homes, right?¡± Geraldined. He reached for Ariana¡¯s waist again, intending to kiss her once more. However, Ariana held his face with both hands, preventing him from approaching her.


    ¡°Come on, Honey. Bear with it,¡± he whined.


    Ariana stared at him and then shook her head. ¡°No, Honey. Not now,¡± she replied yfully.


    Gerald was momentarily stunned. He was surprised, of course. But he knew this wasn¡¯t a dream. For the two things Ariana had just done in front of him, Gerald felt like he had entered a fantasy world. Ariana called him ¡®Honey¡¯ and acted coquettishly toward him? It was something Gerald had never imagined before.


    ¡°So,e on. Let¡¯s go downstairs and join them,¡± Ariana continued in her firm tone. Gerald shook his head when Ariana was about to open the door. ¡°What now?¡± she asked impatiently.


    ¡°Do you want to go down looking messy?¡± Gerald asked again. Ariana was instantly wide-eyed. She saw her reflection in the wardrobe mirror. Even though she wasn¡¯t wearing makeup, she noticed her messy ponytail and her clothes peeking out of her jeans. She looked at Gerald with a raised eyebrow. usations were silently hurled at him. Gerald, seeing the using look on his wife¡¯s face, burst intoughter. He helped Ariana tidy her top while she tucked it back into her jeans. When they were done, he gently kissed her forehead.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Gerald extended his hand, requesting Ariana¡¯s. Understanding, she offered her hand, and he held it, their fingers intertwining, his muchrger hand enveloping hers, warm andforting.

 Chap 89 : Call Vivan

    ¡°In the beginning, everything felt awkward. Imagine, even though Gerald was her husband, this was the first time he had gathered with the employees. However, it turned out to be true, just as the man had said before, that he was someone who could easily socialize. And indeed, within a few minutes, he and some of Ariana¡¯s employees, especially the men, could talk easily. Whether it was discussing light topics like sports or hobbies, or even conversations about their political views and family matters that Ariana never knew they had.


    It was almost midnight when they arrived at Zeroun¡¯s residence. Usually, Yosef would be waiting for them. This time, Ariana did not find the elderly man. Could Yosef be sick? Or did Gerald ask the man not to wait for him?


    Ariana immediately went upstairs, cleaned herself, and changed her clothes. After that, they bothy down on therge,fortable bed. And once again, Ariana proved Gerald¡¯s words true. He never slept without embracing her body.


    They were lying side by side. Ariana was used to lying on her right side, and Gerald always slept facing her, using his arm as a pillow for Ariana and his other hand always hugging her waist. Ufortable? Of course. It felt ufortable at first. Ariana even protested because his actions felt like chains, making it hard for her to move. However, over time, she got used to it. And she even felt a void if Gerald wasn¡¯t there.


    Usually, before they slept, they would talk for a while. Whatever the topic was, whether it was office incidents, restaurant experiences, or other matters, from the trivial to the serious. And often, they would spend time ¡®making out,¡¯ something Ariana hade to enjoy recently.


    It¡¯s not that Ariana didn¡¯t want to surrender herselfpletely to Gerald. She had even considered it a few days ago. But honestly, Ariana was still afraid. Her mind was filled with negative thoughts that all of this wasn¡¯t real. That after this, everything wouldn¡¯t be okay. And Ariana was afraid that after giving everything to Gerald, he would end up leaving her.


    She knew her thoughts were wrong. She knew she shouldn¡¯t think like that about Gerald. She knew that sometimes her mind would be a boomerang for herself. But still, Ariana couldn¡¯t shake it all off her mind.


    Moreover, Karenina still haunted their rtionship. Her twin sister still haunted Ariana with their past. Even though there was really no romance to be jealous of. But she took her sister as an example, who waster ignored by Gerald because he no longer needed her, and Ariana was afraid the same would happen to her. If someday the decision to adopt Axel was epted, then Ariana would no longer be needed by him.¡±


    ¡°And again, there was the woman Karenina mentioned earlier. Even though her sister didn¡¯t say who the woman was, Gerald admitted that they had met. And Ariana became doubtful again. What if his meeting with his first love truly sparked new feelings? Especially since they had separated under forced circumstances.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    That¡¯s why Ariana still tried to restrain herself from giving herselfpletely to Gerald. She didn¡¯t want to be consumed by desire and regret it in the end.


    Ariana fell asleep with all these thoughts swirling in her head. Until early morning, when she woke Gerald up for their new routine.


    Now, Ariana no longer apanied Jody shopping. She had assigned that task to her other staff with whom Jody feltfortable working. Now, Ariana chose to y the role of a good wife and mother. Although she didn¡¯t fully assist Axel, at least Ariana could still manage to make breakfast for her new family.


    After preparing breakfast, they would talk until Gerald left, and afterward, Ariana would leave in another car to take Axel to his school before his car took her to the restaurant.


    That afternoon, Ariana suddenly wanted to have lunch with Gerald. Without informing Gerald or Vivan, Ariana chose to take a taxi to his office. It was the first time Ariana had done this, and honestly, she felt amazed by herself.


    The building Gerald referred to as his own turned out to have twenty-five floors. Although not all floors were used by Gerald, Ariana noticed from the que on one of the walls indicating thepany¡¯s name and which floors they upied. Zeroun Corp upied floors 21-24. So who upied the 25th floor? Ariana spected that it could be the rooftop.


    She walked towards the receptionist, requesting a visitor card. However, the receptionist turned to Ariana with an unfriendly look. The young and pretty receptionist, whom Ariana guessed was not much younger than her, asked back, her tone t but with a hint of condescension, ¡®Do you have an appointment?''¡±


    Ariana observed herself through the ss entrance door of the building. Was her appearance considered inappropriate? Ariana furrowed her brow. She was wearing her usual attire: jeans, a shirt with a tank top underneath, and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Even the sneakers she had on were clean. What was wrong with her appearance to make the receptionist behave so condescendingly?


    Ariana continued to furrow her brow, about to speak, when the receptionist smiled warmly at a newly arrived female visitor. Okay, the woman did look very different from Ariana. Ariana noticed the woman was wearing a ssy dress that seemed expensive. Ariana didn¡¯t understand fashion and didn¡¯t know the names of designers who made expensive clothes. But Ariana could be sure that the woman was wearing a creation from a well-known designer. Ariana was convinced that even her stilettos had six figures behind them, not to mention her handbag.


    The woman¡¯s face was beautiful, exceptionally beautiful. Supported by a proportional body shape that many women coveted. Full breasts and a curvy backside. Even her hands looked so fair. Carrying an expensive bag that could probably cost as much as a car. Ariana could only guess.


    Ariana hesitated. No wonder the receptionist was being so friendly. Perhaps the woman was one of the tenants of this building. ¡°So beautiful, I thought we would hear wedding bells soon,¡± the receptionist murmured to her colleague who had just stood up.


    Ariana nced back at them, still observing the woman.


    ¡°But I heard the boss is already married. Can¡¯t believe he would marry again,¡± the second receptionist replied. This second girl looked at Ariana and smiled kindly at her. Ariana smiled back involuntarily.


    ¡°That might just be a rumor. Even if the boss is married, why have we never seen his wife until now? Why am I so curious, how is the boss¡¯s wife like? But you agree, right? They seem perfect for each other?¡± the first receptionist asked. The second receptionist just shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see. They¡¯lle down and have lunch together in less than five minutes,¡± the first receptionist continued, then her attention returned to Ariana. ¡°Are you still here, miss?¡± she asked again.


    Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. ¡°Could you please contact Vivan for me?¡± she asked with a slightly arrogant tone that she didn¡¯t really want to show.

 Chap 90 : Ge

    Gerald watched Ariana leave without saying a word. His wife was clearly upset. When Ariana was emotional, she became harder to control. He nced at Shelma, who was also observing Ariana¡¯s departure with a puzzled expression. Meanwhile, Gerald turned around, walking quickly towards Vivan and harshly pped his assistant¡¯s face. ¡°What did you say to her?¡± he asked even before Vivan could get up.


    Gerald¡¯s blow left a bloody mark at the corner of his assistant¡¯s mouth. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything, Boss. Just mentioned that you had a lunch appointment with a client as you requested,¡± Vivan replied honestly.


    Gerald stomped his foot on the floor and cursed vehemently before looking back at Vivan and muttering an apology. Shelma, who had walked closer, reached out her hand and grabbed Gerald¡¯s arm. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you so angry?¡± she asked in a soft, gentle tone.


    Gerald looked in her direction, precisely where Shelma¡¯s hand was. He realized that was his fatal mistake. He then lowered his hand, brushing off Shelma¡¯s hand as gently as possible. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have something I need to attend to,¡± he said. He then nced at Vivan and walked quickly towards his car.


    ¡°Ge, where are you going?¡± Shelma shouted, still trying to follow him. But Gerald chose to ignore her. Vivan was already in the front of the car, and Gerald sat in the back seat, massaging his temples, instructing his driver to take him to Ariana¡¯s restaurant.


    Oh God, why did nothing ever go smoothly? Just when he thought his rtionship with Ariana was improving, there was always a problem approaching. Karenina, his mother, and now Shelma? Until when would all of this end? Gerald was starting to believe that Ariana was beginning to have feelings for him.


    ¡°Do you think she¡¯s jealous?¡± Gerald asked Vivan. Vivan, who was questioned, looked at his boss through the rearview mirror. His head nodded in agreement.


    ¡°If thedy wasn¡¯t jealous, she wouldn¡¯t have run away,¡± Vivan logically replied.


    ¡°Is she really jealous? What if she¡¯s just angry and offended? Or perhaps she feels deceived?¡± Gerald¡¯s question was more directed at himself.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    The fairly long journey with traffic during the lunch break made Gerald extremely uneasy. He hoped his assumption was correct, that Ariana was at her restaurant. Unfortunately, his assumption waspletely wrong. When Gerald entered the restaurant where almost every table was upied, he was greeted with a furrowed brow from Dara.


    ¡°Ariana?¡± he asked one of his wife¡¯s employees. His head turned towards the cashier, where Ariana usually stood when Amber wasn¡¯t there. Ah yes, Amber. That girl still hadn¡¯t shown up. And now, the cashier was upied by Adel. It made sense that his wife came to the office; she already had a substitute who could take her ce in the restaurant.


    ¡°Ariana isn¡¯t here. She said she¡¯s having lunch,¡± Dara replied nonchntly. Gerald simply nodded. Now, he himself was confused about where to go. If Dara said Ariana wasn¡¯t in the restaurant, it meant she wasn¡¯t there.


    Gerald reached for his phone; for the umpteenth time, he tried to contact Ariana. She didn¡¯t pick up, and the call didn¡¯t even go through. Then he heard Dara behind him answering her phone. ¡°Mba, what¡¯s going on? Mr. Gerald is here. Are you two having a disagreement?¡±


    Instantly, Gerald turned and looked at Dara. He didn¡¯t care about what Ariana said to her employee because he snatched Dara¡¯s phone away. ¡°Where are you?¡± Gerald asked his wife. Silence ensued. Gerald suspected Ariana had muted her call. But when he looked at the screen, the call was still connected. ¡°You deliberately blocked my number, didn¡¯t you?¡± Gerald asked again.


    ¡°Did I?¡± Ariana replied tly. ¡°I¡¯ll check the blocked listter. Can you please talk to Dara? I need something from her,¡± Ariana replied, choosing to ignore Gerald.


    ¡°Ariana, where are you? Stop disappearing like this. I don¡¯t like it,¡± Gerald said again.


    Ariana snorted. ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t like it. What you like are beautiful, fair-skinned women with perfect breasts and buttocks. And don¡¯t forget, expensively dressed and elegant,¡± Ariana mocked. ¡°By the way, when are you two getting married? I heard the employees there can¡¯t wait for your wedding. Should I be at the front of the line to congratte you?¡± she continued.


    Gerald roughly ran his fingers through his hair. Dara, witnessing this, was left gaping. ¡°Ariana, this is all a misunderstanding,¡± Gerald replied in frustration.


    ¡°Is it? Well, you can rify itter. For now, I want to amuse myself. And now, could you please hand your phone back to Dara, Ge?¡± Ariana asked, using the name Shelma used for him.


    Gerald didn¡¯t want to argue again. He handed Dara¡¯s phone back to its owner, but quickly, he wrote something on a piece of paper. ¡®Ask her where she is?¡¯ was what he scribbled. ¡°Where are you?¡± Dara said, voicing Gerald¡¯s question on his behalf.


    Instead of answering, Ariana sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t do what she wants, Dara. You work for me, and I pay your sry, not her.¡± Ariana continued, ¡°Ignore Gerald and listen to my instructions.¡± Dara looked at Gerald and shook her head. Then she heard what Ariana instructed. Gerald cursed again. He walked away from the restaurant. Vivan was still waiting for him outside the car, and Gerald felt guilty for hitting his younger assistant so impulsively. He truly felt sinful for unleashing his anger on the man. Hopefully, Vivan wouldn¡¯t hold a grudge.


    ¡°Is she there, Boss?¡± the man asked. Gerald shook his head. He roughly opened the car door.


    ¡°Where to next?¡± Gerald asked dispiritedly. There was no point in looking for Ariana. She was determined to avoid him at the moment, and Gerald didn¡¯t have the time to search the city for her. His schedule was incredibly busy right now.


    His phone ringing made Gerald reach into his jacket pocket again. Shelma? Gerald chose to ignore the call. Let the woman be angry on her own. Right now, Gerald was just as frustrated as she was.


    Meanwhile, elsewhere¡­


    ¡°Mommy, I want this, this, and that,¡± the little boy pointed to the items on the menu board behind the cashier¡¯s desk at a fast-food restaurant.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°Sweetie, that¡¯s too much. Choose one, Axel. Just one. If you finish your food and you¡¯re still hungry, we can buy moreter. Okay?¡± Ariana looked at the child. The boy stared back at her, confused.


    ¡°Why? Papa and Grandma said I can choose what I want,¡± Axel voiced his protest. But Ariana shook her head again.


    ¡°That¡¯s Papa and Grandma. But it¡¯s different with Mommy. Mommy doesn¡¯t like you to buy food that you won¡¯t finish. Mommy doesn¡¯t want you to waste food. That¡¯s bad, honey,¡± she said while stroking Axel¡¯s head. ¡°Come on, choose one meal that you want. Just one. Mommy will buy it for you again if you finish it.¡± Ariana persuaded him. Axel just nodded and then pointed to one menu item for himself. Afterward, Ariana chose three other items for herself, Axel¡¯s babysitter, and also her driver. Yes, Ariana chose to avoid Gerald by spending time with Axel.

 Chap 91 : Jealous

    Gerald watched Ariana leave abruptly. His wife was clearly emotional. When Ariana was emotional, she became more difficult to control. He nced at Shelma, who was also watching Ariana¡¯s departure with a puzzled expression. Meanwhile, Gerald turned around, walking quickly towards Vivan and harshly pped his assistant¡¯s face before Vivan could even get up.


    Gerald¡¯s punch left a bloody wound at the corner of Vivan¡¯s mouth. ¡°What did you say to her?¡± he asked, even before Vivan could fully stand.


    Gerald mmed his foot on the floor and cursed vehemently. Then, he looked back at Vivan and muttered an apology. Shelma, who had approached, reached out her hand and grabbed Gerald¡¯s arm gently. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you so angry?¡± she asked in a soft tone.


    Gerald nced at her, specifically at the spot where Shelma¡¯s hand was. He realized that was his fatal mistake. He then lowered his hand and brushed off Shelma¡¯s touch as gently as possible. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have urgent matters,¡± he said. He then looked at Vivan and walked quickly towards his car.


    ¡°Ge, where are you going?¡± Shelma shouted, still trying to follow him. However, Gerald chose to ignore her. Vivan was already in the front seat of the car, and Gerald sat in the back, massaging his temples, instructing his driver to take him to Ariana¡¯s restaurant.


    Oh God, why does nothing ever go smoothly? Just when he thought his rtionship with Ariana was improving, there was always some problem looming. Karenina, his mother, and now Shelma? When would all of this end? Gerald had started to feel that Ariana was starting to have feelings for him.


    ¡°Do you think she¡¯s jealous?¡± Gerald asked Vivan. Vivan, who was questioned, looked at his boss through the rearview mirror, nodding in agreement.


    ¡°If Madam isn¡¯t jealous, she wouldn¡¯t have run away,¡± Vivan replied logically.


    ¡°Is she really jealous? What if she¡¯s just angry and offended? Or does she actually feel betrayed?¡± Gerald¡¯s question was more directed at himself.


    The quite long journey with traffic congestion during the break made Geraldpletely unsettled. He hoped his hunch was right, that Ariana would be at her restaurant. Unfortunately, his hunch waspletely off. When Gerald entered the restaurant where nearly every table was upied, he was greeted with a furrowed brow from Dara.


    ¡°Ariana?¡± he inquired about his wife to the restaurant¡¯s staff. His head turned towards the cashier, where Ariana usually was when Amber wasn¡¯t around. Ah yes, Amber. That girl still hadn¡¯t shown up. And now, the cashier was upied by Adel. No wonder his wife came to the office; it turned out she already had a substitute yer who could take her ce at the restaurant.


    ¡°Ariana isn¡¯t here. She went out for lunch,¡± Dara replied casually. Gerald just nodded. Now he was unsure where to go. If Dara said Ariana wasn¡¯t at the restaurant, it meant she wasn¡¯t there.


    Gerald reached for his phone. For the umpteenth time, he tried to call Ariana. Not only did she not answer, the call didn¡¯t even go through. Then he heard Dara behind him answering her phone. ¡°Miss, what¡¯s going on? Mr. Gerald is here. Are you two having a disagreement?¡±


    Immediately, Gerald turned and looked at Dara. He didn¡¯t care what Ariana had said to her employee; he simply snatched Dara¡¯s phone. ¡°Where are you?¡± Gerald asked his wife. Silence ensued. Gerald suspected she had ended the call. But when he checked the screen, the call was still connected. ¡°You deliberately blocked my number, didn¡¯t you?¡± Gerald asked again.


    ¡°Did I?¡± Ariana replied nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯ll check the block listter. Can you please talk to Dara? I need something from her.¡±R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Ariana chose to ignore Gerald.


    ¡°Ariana, where are you? Stop disappearing like this. I don¡¯t like it,¡± Gerald said again.


    Ariana snorted. ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t like it. You only like beautiful girls with fair skin, perfect breasts, and buttocks. And don¡¯t forget, they should be expensively dressed and elegant,¡± Ariana taunted. ¡°By the way, when are you getting married? I heard the employees there can¡¯t wait for your wedding. Should I be at the front of the line to congratte you?¡± she continued.


    Gerald ran his hand through his hair roughly. Dara, witnessing this, was left gaping. ¡°Ariana, this is all a misunderstanding,¡± Gerald replied, frustrated.


    ¡°Is it really? Fine, straighten it outter. For now, I want to amuse myself. And now, can you please give the phone back to Dara, Ge?¡± Ariana asked yfully, calling him by the name Shelma used.


    Gerald didn¡¯t want to argue again. He handed Dara her phone back, but quickly, he scribbled something on a piece of paper. ¡®Ask her where she is?¡¯ it said in his handwriting. ¡°Miss, where are you?¡± Dara asked the question on behalf of Gerald.


    Instead of answering, Ariana just sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t do what he wants, Dara. You work for me, and I¡¯m the one who pays your sry, not him,¡± Ariana replied. ¡°Ignore Gerald and follow my instructions,¡± she continued. Dara looked at Gerald and shook her head. Then she heard what Ariana instructed. Gerald ran his hand through his hair again, but he stayed there until her instructions were finished, hoping Ariana would be willing to talk to him again. But in vain, because his wife immediately hung up the phone after finishing her conversation with Dara.


    Gerald cursed under his breath. He walked away from the restaurant. Vivan was still waiting for him outside the car; Gerald felt guilty for hitting his assistant so impulsively. He truly felt sinful for letting his anger out on the younger man. Hopefully, Vivan wouldn¡¯t hold a grudge.


    ¡°Is she there, Boss?¡± the young man asked. Gerald shook his head and roughly opened the car door.


    ¡°Where are we going next?¡± Gerald asked,cking enthusiasm. There was no point in searching for Ariana. She was determined to avoid him right now, and Gerald didn¡¯t have the time to scour the city looking for her. His schedule was incredibly busy at the moment.


    The ringing of his phone made Gerald reach into his suit pocket again. Shelma? Gerald chose to ignore the call. Let the woman be angry by herself. After all, Gerald was just as frustrated as she was right now.


    Meanwhile, elsewhere.


    ¡°I want that, that, and that,¡± the little boy pointed at the menu disyed on the board behind the fast-food restaurant¡¯s cashier.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°Darling, that¡¯s excessive. Choose one that you want. Just one. If you finish it and you¡¯re still hungry, we can buy moreter, okay?¡± Ariana looked at the child. The boy looked back at her, confused.


    ¡°Why? Dad and Grandma said I could buy whatever I want,¡± Axel protested. But Ariana shook her head again.


    ¡°That¡¯s Dad and Grandma. But it¡¯s different with Mommy. Mommy doesn¡¯t want you to buy food that you won¡¯t eat all of. Mommy doesn¡¯t like Axel wasting food. That¡¯s not good, Sweetheart,¡± she said, gently patting Axel¡¯s head. ¡°Come on, pick one dish that Axel wants. Just one. Mommy will buy more if it runs out.¡± Ariana coaxed him again. Axel just nodded and then pointed to one menu item for himself. After that, Ariana chose three other dishes for herself, Axel¡¯s babysitter, and their driver. Yes, Ariana chose to avoid Gerald by spending time with Axel.

 Chap 92 : Visitor

    After finishing their lunch, Ariana decided to go to the yground with Axel. Their driver returned to the parking lot while their nanny continued to follow them. Axel cheerfully ran around, ying all the games avable in the mall area. Meanwhile, Ariana and the nanny sat on a bench, watching the little boy y tirelessly.


    ¡°What was Axel like when he came to Zeroun¡¯s residence?¡± Ariana suddenly inquired. Her attention remained fixed on the small child who was now busy hitting a stic crocodile with a toy hammer.


    ¡°Um, well, that¡­¡± the nanny hesitated.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t report anything. This conversation is just between us. I just want to get to know Axel better,¡± Ariana replied candidly.


    ¡°Back then, when Axel was brought here, I was still a household assistant. My husband and I had been working at the Zeroun¡¯s house for a long time. We were quite surprised when Mrs. Isidora suddenly arrived and brought a young woman and a little child to the house, saying that he was thete Mr. Darrel¡¯s son.¡±


    Everyone in the Zeroun residence knew that Mr. Darrel was an exceptionally obedient child. I didn¡¯t know Mr. Gerald very well because when I worked at the Zeroun residence, Mr. Gerald was already living abroad. But I was acquainted with Mr. Darrel. That¡¯s why I was very surprised to learn that he already had a child. As far as we knew, Mr. Darrel also went abroad for his studies; no one knew he was married, let alone had a child.


    As for the girl brought by Mrs. Isidora, she was a trained nanny hired from a renowned agency in the city. From what I know, to afford a babysitter like her, Mrs. Isidora had to spend a considerable amount of money.


    When Axel came here, he had a hard time socializing. He was small and frail. I heard he was neglected by histe mother¡¯s family and was only brought back from an orphanage when they found out he was a descendant of the Zeroun family. Whenever someone approached him, Axel would often be hysterical, crying loudly. He had difficulty eating; there were many foods he didn¡¯t like. As a mother, I suspect it¡¯s not that Axel didn¡¯t like the food but because he wasn¡¯t introduced to it,¡± his nanny continued.


    Ariana remembered the time when she fed the child vegetable soup. Axel initially refused but eventually agreed to eat it after Ariana persuaded him.


    ¡°Only the babysitter could calm Axel,¡± Axel¡¯s nanny said, catching Ariana¡¯s attention again. ¡°Back then, Mr. Gerald wasn¡¯t as close to Den Axel. But he often kept track by asking Mr. Yosef about how Den Axel was doing. And I didn¡¯t know, one day the babysitter was taken to the police station, fired, and I was made the nanny.¡± Ariana frowned deeply.


    ¡°Everything was very secretive. I heard that Den Axel had been given a lot of sedatives by that babysitter all this time.¡± Ariana was shocked to hear all of this. She was truly at a loss for words. ¡°Since then, everything has been monitored by Mr. Gerald.¡±


    Alright, now Ariana understood why Gerald was so overprotective of his family. Everything happened for a reason.


    Theyter returned home after seeing Axel exhausted from all the games he had tried. Ariana, Axel, and his nanny arrived home with Axel asleep in Ariana¡¯s arms. Yosef, who saw them, hurried over, intending to take Axel from Ariana¡¯s embrace. However, Ariana refused. Instead, she whispered firmly to the old man.


    ¡°If Gerald asks. Tell him I didn¡¯te home. And this is an order,¡± she said.


    Yosef was initially confused, but the elderly man smiled and nodded his head in agreement.


    Ariana continued to carry Axel to his room. Slowly, sheid the small child down and changed his clothes into pajamas after gently wiping his sleeping body with a warm, damp towel. She then joined him in bed. By evening, Ariana opened her eyes once more, and she was once again surprised.


    If she had been shocked before by the presence of her twin sister and her mother, this time she was taken aback by the arrival of a guest from her husband¡¯s past. It could be none other than the graceful and beautiful woman she had seen clinging to Gerald earlier. Ariana¡¯s gaze immediately shifted to her mother-inw, who now stared back at her with a mocking expression. Where was her grandmother-inw? It seemed she truly needed that woman¡¯s help this time, although she wasn¡¯t sure what kind of help she wanted.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Ariana kept walking, intending to ignore them and head to the kitchen to prepare dinner. However, her mother-inw¡¯s voice made her stop in her tracks.


    ¡°Shelma, let me introduce you. This is Ariana,¡± her mother-inw said, her voice soft and gentle, a tone Ariana had heard many times before.


    ¡°Ariana?¡± the woman furrowed her brow, looking at Ariana. ¡°Not Karenina?¡± she asked, confused. Mrs. Isidora shook her head. ¡°No, Karenina is her twin sister. Ariana here is the elder sister.¡±


    Still with a furrowed brow, the woman protested to Mrs. Isidora, ¡°Auntie never told me this?¡± So, once again, her mother-inw acted as an informant to Ariana¡¯spetitors.


    ¡°Yes, initially Auntie didn¡¯t expect all of this to unfold this way. You know Karenina left before the wedding happened. At first, Auntie thought the marriage would fail. But, as it turns out, without Auntie knowing, Karenina has a twin sister. And we had to seek her help so we wouldn¡¯t be embarrassed,¡± Mrs. Isidora¡¯s response made Ariana¡¯s ears burn with frustration.


    This woman was truly two-faced. Wasn¡¯t she the one who had supported Ariana¡¯s mother and her twin sister before? But why did she now sound more supportive of the graceful woman? Ariana didn¡¯t even want to mention her name.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t Auntie contact Shelma? She could havee here quickly,¡± she protested, trying to sound yful. Ariana even sneered at the woman¡¯s response.


    ¡°Yes, back then Auntie didn¡¯t think of you. Besides, everything happened so suddenly,¡± Ariana snapped. What kind of defense was that? ¡°But don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re here now. Gerald doesn¡¯t need Karenina anymore. And your dad doesn¡¯t oppose your rtionship anymore. So Auntie ensures that your rtionship this time will seed,¡± Mrs. Isidora said again.


    Ariana didn¡¯t listen to the rest of their conversation because she had already entered the messy kitchen and closed the door behind her. What she didn¡¯t expect was that the woman she had been looking for was there. She seemed busy with the ingredients in front of her.


    ¡°Grandma thought you were still asleep. So Grandma took the initiative to prepare our dinner,¡± the elderly woman said without Ariana asking.


    Did Mrs. Rosaline really make dinner for them? Or was she, just like her mother-inw, doing all this as a form of hospitality for their guests?


    Well, perhaps this was the moment Ariana was truly being ousted from this ce, she thought.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think too much,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said suddenly. Ariana stared at her with furrowed brows. ¡°I know what¡¯s on your pretty little mind, Miss. But none of that wille true. I am someone who opposes my grandson¡¯s rtionship with that woman,¡± Mrs. Rosaline stated firmly. Ariana fell silent, struck dumb in her ce.

 Chap 93 : I Want Both Of Your Hands

    Ariana shrugged. She walked closer and asked what she could help with. She didn¡¯t want to discuss the woman who had annoyed her all day and had even ruined her appetite.


    Mrs. Rosaline didn¡¯t give her any tasks and instead ordered Ariana to sit on one of the chairs there. Arianaplied without protest.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know who she is?¡± Mrs. Rosaline asked as she stir-fried minced beef. ¡°Is it necessary?¡± Ariana replied with a question of her own.


    ¡°At least by asking, it shows that you care,¡± Mrs. Rosaline replied again.


    Ariana shook her head. She picked up a tempting red tomato and bit into it, producing a sound that made others salivate upon hearing it.


    ¡°Caring isn¡¯t always marked by the number of questions asked,¡± she replied between bites. ¡°Some people ask not because they care, but because they need a story to listen to, which they canter use as a topic of conversation when they meet others,¡± she continued and bit into her tomato again.


    ¡°Are you not curious at all about my grandson¡¯s past?¡± Mrs. Rosaline asked.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Even if I¡¯m curious, it won¡¯t change anything. The more I ask, the more facts I know, the hotter my chest feels. And I clearly dislike that,¡± she replied coldly.


    Mrs. Rosaline smiled. ¡°So, do you already have feelings for Gerald?¡± she asked with an amused expression. Ariana shrugged again. ¡°Like it¡¯s habitual?¡± she said to herself. ¡°Maybe.¡±


    Mrs. Rosaline chuckled at her response. ¡°Young people these days are indeed different,¡± she muttered as she added other ingredients to the pan in front of her. ¡°What happened between you two? Are you fighting?¡± Mrs. Rosaline asked casually.


    Ariana shrugged once more. ¡°Not fighting. Just giving each other time to digest the situation,¡± she replied calmly.


    ¡°You both are indeed equally stubborn. Why don¡¯t you do everything the simple way?¡± ¡°Simple in what way?¡±


    ¡°You know he likes you. And you also like him now. Why don¡¯t you just say that you like him and you don¡¯t want to see him with anyone else but you?¡±


    Ariana snorted. She reached for another tomato and bit into it. ¡°Would he listen if I said it?¡± Ariana shook her head with a sigh. ¡°From what I know, women are not something he can avoid. Didn¡¯t you say that yourself a while ago?¡± Ariana countered.


    Mrs. Rosaline fell silent for a moment, trying to remember. ¡°But that was in the past. Not anymore. Because now he is a husband and also a father.¡±


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. The proof is, he didn¡¯t mind at all when that woman clung to him. If he really considers himself a husband, he should be aware. Even if his wife isn¡¯t there to see, he should still protect himself from the touch of other women. And he should also be mindful of others¡¯ eyes so they don¡¯t assume things about him. But the reality is, he acts so casually. He doesn¡¯t even know that his own employees suspect that they¡¯re a well-matched couple. Hah, where¡¯s the husband in him if everyone still sees him as a bachelor?¡± she sneered.


    Mrs. Rosaline was already preparing the second dish. ¡°How do you know all this?¡± she inquired curiously. ¡°I was lucky enough to see and hear everything firsthand, with my own ears and eyes,¡± Ariana replied. Mrs. Rosaline chuckled again. ¡°So that¡¯s why you¡¯re jealous?¡±


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Not jealous. Just ufortable,¡± she replied. There was no more conversation between the two of them. Mrs. Rosaline was busy with her cooking, and Ariana chose to observe and inquire about some of the ingredients she was using.


    Half an hourter, they were sitting at the dining table in their usual Mommyr dining area.


    This time, Mrs. Isidora formally introduced Ariana and the woman named Shelma. Gerald¡¯s absence at the dining table seemed to make his mother-inw show her fangs without fear of anyone retaliating with intimidation.


    ¡°Mendengar kau seorang pemilik restoran?¡± The question was clearly just small talk. Ariana knew it. She nodded in response. ¡°And I heard you¡¯ve been cooking at this housetely?¡± Ariana nodded again. ¡°I can¡¯t cook. Will you teach me?¡± she asked, again feeling irritated that Ariana didn¡¯t give her any response.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°Why do you want to cook?¡± Ariana suddenly asked.


    Shelma shrugged. ¡°Just feel like it,¡± she replied casually.


    Ariana smiled. ¡°Well, then you can hire a professional chef to teach you. Because I¡¯m not a patient person. I¡¯m not fit to instruct anyone. Especially someone who can¡¯t distinguish gngal, ginger, gngal, and turmeric,¡± she replied sarcastically.


    Shelma looked at her irritably. ¡°Your cooking isn¡¯t all that great. Just look at what¡¯s served here. You im to be a restaurant owner, but the food you serve looks more like street food.¡±


    Ariana nced at the menu. Stir-fried beef with sliced bell peppers and broli. Slices of mendoan. Fried tofu and shrimp paste sambal. Which part of this did she call street food? But Ariana didn¡¯t bother. She preferred to continue her meal.


    ¡°So, I heard from Auntie that you reced your twin sister to marry Gerald?¡± the woman asked in what Ariana considered an arrogant tone. Ariana looked at her without intending to answer. ¡°What do you call yourself then? Recement bride? Or exchanged bride?¡± she said.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Call it whatever you want,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Recement bride, a more elegant term,¡± the woman replied. Ariana shrugged again as she continued to eat. ¡°So, after this, do you n to separate?¡± she asked again when she didn¡¯t get any response from Ariana.


    Ariana looked at her again. ¡°Do you want to take my ce as Gerald¡¯s wife?¡± Ariana asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Shelma fell silent. She looked at Mrs. Rosaline, as if seeking support. Before finally looking at Ariana enthusiastically. ¡°Of course. Gerald should have married me from the start. If only my dad hadn¡¯t intervened. Maybe we would have our own child by now,¡± she replied passionately.


    Ariana continued to eat, her eyes still fixed on Shelma. ¡°So what can you offer me to make me leave my position?¡± the same question she had posed to her mother, her sister, and her mother-inw.


    Shelma looked at Ariana in disbelief. Then a smile spread across her face. ¡°Anything you want. I can provide it. You should know, I am my father¡¯s only daughter. My father will give me anything I want,¡± she replied proudly.


    Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. ¡°Is that so? You¡¯ll give me anything I want?¡± Ariana challenged her again. Shelma nodded eagerly. ¡°In that case, I want both of your hands,¡± Ariana replied tly.


    Shelma widened her eyes. She looked at Ariana in disbelief. ¡°Y-you?¡± she stuttered. ¡°Me, what?¡± Ariana challenged her.


    ¡°How can you ask for something so absurd?¡± she eximed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean. I only ept the offer you gave,¡± Ariana replied casually. ¡°But why do you want my hand?¡± Shelma looked at Ariana warily.


    ¡°Let me ask you something,¡± Ariana ced her spoon and fork upside down. Wiping her mouth with a tissue in the slowest and most graceful motion possible, she asked, ¡°What would you do with something you don¡¯t like and never want to see again?¡± She inquired.


    Shelma looked puzzled but then answered, ¡°Of course, get rid of it, what else?¡± Ariana then smiled. ¡°But what does that have to do with my hand?¡±


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Because I don¡¯t like it, and I don¡¯t want to see it touching Gerald again,¡± she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm and threat.


    Shelma and even Mrs. Isidora were wide-eyed at her words. But Ariana didn¡¯t care. Instead, she rose from her seat and took her empty te. But before that, she spoke, ¡°Thank you, Grandma, themoner¡¯s food you made suits my taste.¡± Her words made Shelma look at Mrs. Rosaline with a pale face.

 Chap 94 : Ariana

    Ariana chose to sit on the balcony of Gerald¡¯s room, because up until now, she still considered the room not to be hers. The balcony wasn¡¯t as spacious as the one in Gerald¡¯s private home that Ariana had visited before. Still, it was enough to amodate two cushioned rattan chairs and a round tablerge enough for tea and snacks. She looked at the view in front of her: densely popted houses that weren¡¯t exactly a beautiful sight to behold.


    She fell silent, contemting this marriage. Could all of this be a test for her marriage with Gerald? A strengthening of their spiritual bond? Was God testing Ariana by showing her the women from Gerald¡¯s past, even though she didn¡¯t want to know? Perhaps God wanted to make Ariana realize that she was disturbed by their presence. And, in fact, this was also a test for Gerald. Maybe God was testing his loyalty. Would Gerald remain steadfast with Ariana despite the arrival of those women, or would he be tempted and turn away?


    These were the thoughts swirling in Ariana¡¯s mind. She tried to stay positive, although many demonic whispers were also creeping in, whispering negative thoughts into her head.


    Ariana remained silent. In her quietness, much like in every prayer she uttered after her prayers, she always asked for the best for herself. She hoped that all of this would receive the answer it deserved. That indeed, Gerald was the husband destined for her, her first andst husband.


    Although Ariana never spoke to anyone about her true feelings, she knew that her God knew what she was feeling right now. That she was starting to be attracted to her husband. Yet, fear in her subconscious mindmanded Ariana not to give her heart and body entirely to Gerald. Because, honestly, Ariana was afraid. What if karma struck? Her mother had once left her father. Then what if Gerald did the same, even if for different reasons?


    Elsewhere.


    Gerald felt utterly exhausted. His meeting, which had just ended, had secured a substantial tender, yet for some reason, it didn¡¯t satisfy him.


    It wasn¡¯t just his mind that was strained; his body felt incredibly tired too. Usually, after work, Gerald would go to the restaurant just to see Ariana smiling and greeting her customers. A smile that she rarely gave to just anyone in their daily lives. And that smile would dispel his fatigue. Even though afterward, they would return home close to midnight, Gerald never felt as tired, because he knew his exhaustion was repaid with Ariana¡¯s sweet gestures.


    But today? Gerald felt like his work had no end. Even he, who usually had good self-control, spent the entire day being irritable. He couldn¡¯t ept any mistakes, no matter how small. He snapped at the finance department just because of a tiny stain on the attachment. He even made Vivan the target of his frustration because the man had answered a client¡¯s call in front of him. Gerald was truly in chaos.


    It was all because of Ariana. Because the girl was angry and gone. And Ariana still couldn¡¯t be reached; her calls were still being rejected. Why did Ariana have to block his number? Gerald just wanted to know where she was. He reminded himself to connect his phone to Ariana¡¯ster so he could track her when she disappeared again.


    Gerald ran his hand through his hair. His tie wasn¡¯t perfectly in ce anymore. His suit was even wrinkled as he had taken it off since earlier. His shirt sleeves were no longer neatly folded. Gerald leaned back in his chair, opened the car window, letting in the cold night air. His right hand massaged his temples.


    Ariana¡­ where is she? he wondered in his heart. Should Gerald hire someone again to find out where the girl was? No, Gerald shook his head. He should be able to control himself. Make the girl realize how little he actually cared, contrary to her assumptions. Gerald even suspected Ariana was doing all this deliberately. Making Gerald more captivated by her charm. What was she doing to him? In his mind? In his heart? Especially in his body. Just thinking about her, Gerald could feel himself getting aroused.


    The car had entered the driveway. Yosef opened the door for him and greeted him. Gerald only respondedzily to his greetings, not bothering to nce at the middle-aged man who had worked in his family for a long time.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    He walked wearily to Axel¡¯s room. Just to see if his son was already asleep or not. Sometimes Axel woke up at night and quietly turned on the television. Gerald was relieved to see the boy sleeping soundly under his favorite red car-themed nket. Gerald approached and kissed his forehead briefly before leaving his son¡¯s room.


    Gerald went up to his room. His forehead creased slightly when he saw the lights on in his room. Usually, if he hadn¡¯t returned yet, the room would be pitch dark. He felt his room was cold and empty. He nced at the side of the bed that Ariana usually used and sighed deeply. Once again, he was thinking about her. Gerald ran his hand through his hair as he walked towards the bathroom, intending to clean himself up.


    Ariana heard the sound of the bedroom door opening. She turned and saw Gerald walking in, looking tired, with his clothes and hair in disarray. He probably didn¡¯t notice Ariana¡¯s presence because she was sitting in a chair blocked by the curtains. But Ariana could see him clearly. Unconsciously, she smiled.


    Confident that Gerald would enter the bathroom after tossing his dirty suit carelessly, Ariana walked inside the room, trying not to make any noise. She then hurried into the walk-in closet. A crazy idea crossed her mind. Time for revenge, she thought.


    Quickly, she opened the wardrobe, searching for what she needed, just in case Gerald came out of the bathroom quickly. She then changed her clothes at lightning speed, even though she knew Gerald usually spent a long time in the bathroom.


    Ariana opened the walk-in closet door, now in her changed clothes. She nced at the closed bathroom door and sighed deeply. Then she walked to the sofa, sat down there, trying to find the mostfortable position, and turned on the television with the volume low.


    She could hear the bathroom door open, apanied by Gerald¡¯s footsteps, which Ariana was sure went straight to the walk-in closet without ncing her way. Whatever the man was doing in there took quite a while, and it made Ariana impatient waiting. But a few minutester, Ariana heard the sound of slippers being dragged, then stopping. Ariana pretended as if she didn¡¯t notice him.


    ¡°A-Ariana?¡± His voice sounded slightly stuttered, calling her.


    Ariana turned with a dramatic movement, looking at her husband, who now appeared much fresher than before. His wrinkled shirt was reced by a short-sleeved white T-shirt, and his pants were now silk navy pajamas. He looked so handsome and tempting. Ariana wanted to avert her gaze, but she remembered her intention for revenge.


    Arrogantly, Ariana raised her chin, looking at her husband. ¡°Calling me, Ge?¡± Ariana asked mockingly.

 Chap 95 : Guest Room

    Gerald walked over quickly. He even tripped over the carpet that was used as a table mat. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he asked confused.


    Ariana raised an eyebrow. A little offended by the man¡¯s question to him. ¡°Why? You don¡¯t like seeing me here? Do you want me to leave?¡± Ariana asked sharply.


    Gerald shook his head. He has cleared his mind. The reason is that just seeing Ariana in his room surprised him. But he was even more surprised to see Ariana¡¯s current appearance. Gerald didn¡¯t know what the girl meant by wearing such a challenging outfit like this. Usually, Ariana refused when Gerald asked her to wear it and hid behind arge robe. But this time?


    Yes. The girl is wearing sexy lingerie that shows off two-thirds of her body skin. For Gerald, this is a dreame true. Seeing the visualization of his sexy wife like the one he had always dreamed of. But he knew that this was some veiled threat. A war that doesn¡¯t know who the winner will end.


    Gerald chose to enjoy the beauty as much as he had time. He looked at his wife¡¯s long legs, which looked so smooth and smooth. It would feel like touching a baby¡¯s skin if he touched it. The lingerie didn¡¯t even cover half of her thighs. And Gerald unconsciously licked his lips.


    His wife¡¯s arms and part of her upper body were also on disy. The ck color of the lingerie contrasts with Ariana¡¯s white skin. And the girl¡¯s hair, flowing loosely behind her back, showed off her long neck. It made Gerald so itchy he wanted to hide his face there and smell her body fragrance.


    ¡°Hello? Is Ge still here?¡± Ariana¡¯s voice made Gerald look at his wife. Ariana was still gazing at him with a raised eyebrow. Unbeknownst to Gerald, his wife was trying to hold back herughter at how he was looking at her.


    Gerald took the bait. It was evident that he was very enticed by her body. And Ariana deliberately wore the sexy lingerie without the robe just to challenge him. Ariana could now see the proof of his desire bulging down below. And once again, she smiled because of it.


    ¡°So, you don¡¯t like me being here?¡± Ariana steered the conversation back.


    Gerald shook his head vigorously. ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Darling,¡± he protested. He approached and tried to reach for Ariana, but she shook her head firmly, signaling him to stay in his ce. Gerald ran his frustrated hands through his wet hair. ¡°I thought you left earlier,¡± he said before quickly correcting himself. ¡°I mean, I thought you were hiding again. I tried to contact you, but you blocked my number.¡± He said, sounding annoyed.


    Ariana shrugged her shoulders. Her movements made her hair move and made Gerald even more itchy to touch her.


    ¡°Why are you trying to contact me? Tell me that you were surprised by that womaning to your office and that she came without warning?¡± Ariana asked again in a challenging manner. The girl spread her legs and folded her arms before her chest. This allowed Gerald to see the woman¡¯s white and sexy breasts. And Gerald could confirm that Ariana wasn¡¯t wearing a bra underneath. And that made his hands want toe closer and touch her even more.


    Calm down, Gerald. Calm. His brain warned. He had to restrain his lust, making his head throb with pain. He had to restrain himself. Ariana is still in angry mode at the moment. Controlling the girl¡¯s anger was the first thing he had to do.


    ¡°Not like that either, Ariana,¡± Gerald answered. He intended to give such a reason. But this is Ariana. She is more intelligent than most women.


    ¡°Then what? Can you exin it to me in thenguage I can understand?¡± Ariana asked in a more rxed tone. She chose to throw his body on the sofa. She was still folding his arms in front of his chest and raising his right leg over his left leg. Gerald, who was still standing, could even see the bottom of her lingerie being exposed and showing the color of her underwear.


    ¡°Even though I took the initiative to invite you to lunch together because I know you are busy. But it turns out I got a pleasant surprise there.¡± Ariana continued again.


    Gerald chose to walk backward and dropped his body on the side of the bed. But his gaze never left Ariana.


    ¡°How does it feel to be visited by an ex-lover?¡± She asked again skeptically. ¡°Or should I change my question? How does it feel to be visited by your first love?¡± Ariana then snorted. ¡°Of course, happy.¡± She answered his question.


    ¡°After letting go of each other¡¯s longing and telling stories. You feel it¡¯s not enough and intend to continue the story again. Are you nning to renew your broken rtionship?¡± She asked again, still skeptical.


    Gerald was about to answer. The man had opened his mouth but then chose to remain silent. Gerald deliberately let Ariana express all herints. After all, it was rare for him to hear Ariana speak at length. With the girl making assumptions, Gerald felt happy himself. This is Ariana¡¯s way of showing her jealousy. Is it not like that?


    Gerald finally chose to lean back, cing his hands behind his back. ¡°Actually, I was surprised too when she came to the office and invited me for lunch,¡± he replied casually. ¡°I thought there was no harm in epting her offer. After all, I had a scheduled meeting with a client outside the office after lunch. So, why not kill two birds with one stone?¡± Gerald challenged her back.


    Ariana went silent. She stared back at Gerald, her eyes narrowing. ¡°Ah, so Vivan wasn¡¯t lying. So you do intend to get close to her again,¡± she stated, not as a question but as an assertion. She shrugged again. ¡°I guess your intention to go back to her will work,¡± she continued.


    Gerald is now made to freeze. He looked at the girl in confusion. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Ariana looked at Gerald with a sly smile on her face. ¡°That woman has invited herself toe to this house. And it seems he will greet you tomorrow morning with a bright smile. Her makeup face is perfect. And her clothes are super short, which can make a man¡¯s lust peak. And as much as you like him clinging to your arm, I think he will shamelessly sit tomorrow morning and have breakfast on yourp.¡± She said irritably.


    Gerald was surprised by one fact about Shelma¡¯s presence. However, Ariana¡¯s following words made him smile with delight.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Gerald asked her.


    Ariana pointed to herself. ¡°Me? Jealous?¡± she scoffed. ¡°Dream on,¡± she said and then stood up. Gerald, seeing her, immediately became alert and stood up as well.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked, sounding panicked.


    Ariana tilted her head toward the wall clock. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see what time it is?¡± she snapped. ¡°It¡¯s already night, and I want to rest.¡± She walked towards where Gerald had been sitting, pulled back the covers, and then crawled onto the bed.     Seeing Ariana¡¯s body movements as she climbed onto the bed made Gerald growl inwardly. Was she deliberately teasing him by swaying her hips like that? Ariana, who seemed to be aware of being watched, turned her head from behind her shoulder. ¡°What are you looking at? Don¡¯t expect you can touch me. If you want something tangible, look for it in the guest room,¡± she said, then hid herself under the nket.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Ariana recognized the meaning behind that sound. But she ignored it.

 Chap 96 : Shelma

    Ariana covered herself with a nket up to her shoulders. Gerald also climbed onto the bed and got under the nket, positioning his body next to the girl.


    Geraldy on his side. He was looking at Ariana¡¯s shoulders and neck, which were covered by a thick nket. ¡°Ariana¡­¡± he whined. And Ariana knows what that means.


    ¡°What?¡± he asked curtly.


    ¡°Can¡¯t we do it now?¡± asked Gerald again. The man¡¯s hands yed with the nket covering Ariana¡¯s body and was about to open it. But Ariana brushed it off vehemently.


    ¡°Do what?¡± she asked curtly, even though he could already guess the direction of their conversation.


    She still had her back to Gerald, so she didn¡¯t know that her husband was now looking at her with sparkling eyes. ¡°You know, ignoring your husband is a sin. Refusing to serve him for unclear reasons is also a sin. Angels can curse you all night long. Did you know that?¡± He threatened.


    Ariana turned her head. Instantly, his body angled so they were facing each other. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you preaching, Mr. Aarzu?¡± she asked with his head raised, looking directly into Gerald¡¯s eyes.


    Gerald shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not preaching, darling. As a good husband, I am reminding my wife of the sin she will suffer if she continues ignoring her husband. You should remember that serving me is also included in your obligations as a wife.¡± His answer was like a teacher teaching kindergarten children.


    Ariana smiled meaningfully. ¡°Is that so?¡± she asked again. Gerald nodded enthusiastically. Ariana smiled again. She rubbed her husband¡¯s chest slowly from under the nket. Even her feet deliberately teased Gerald¡¯s feet. Her calf gradually pressed against Gerald¡¯s calf and moved back and forth slowly. But his tone did not indicate that he would easily grant Gerald¡¯s request. ¡°Even though it was a sin and angels cursed me all night. I willin to them if the cause of my sin is my husband,¡± she said in a soft valley tone.


    ¡°Why is that?¡± Gerald asked, his forehead creased.


    ¡°Because you clearly make me reluctant to give myselfpletely,¡± Ariana replied, pushing her husband¡¯s chest. Then, she turned around, facing away from Gerald. ¡°You still y around with other women out there. How can I trust you? I¡¯m not even sure if tomorrow or the day after you won¡¯t go back to that woman.¡±


    Gerald fell silent. ¡°No need to avoid it. I can even see how you don¡¯t resist his touch. Why? Would you like to be touched by the soft hands of a millionaire¡¯s child?¡± she taunted. ¡°Ah, I forgot. She has plump breasts that seem nice to hold.¡± She continued, still in his curt tone. ¡°How does it feel when that chest touches your arm? Soft?¡± she asked again.


    Gerald smiled again. He came back closer and hugged his wife from behind. It didn¡¯t matter if Ariana struggled because of it. He deliberately put his foot on the girl¡¯s leg so Ariana wouldn¡¯t kick him back.


    Gerald grabbed Ariana¡¯s hand, gripped it gently, and crossed it in front of Ariana¡¯s chest.


    ¡°He¡¯s always like that, darling. Act spoiled to me. And I¡¯m used to pampering him.¡± Gerald whispered in Ariana¡¯s ear. Ariana was annoyed. He struggled again and was about to elbow the man. But Gerald was much faster. He tightened his grip, making Ariana unable to move. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean I still love him.¡±


    ¡°So, you want to say that you once loved him?¡± Ariana snorted.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Gerald chuckled. ¡°Of course.¡± The answer is honest. Again, Ariana was about to elbow him, but Gerald moved faster again. ¡°But that was before. When I was eight years old and he¡­¡± Gerald seemed to be thinking. ¡°Maybe six or five?¡± he asked doubtfully.


    Ariana pouted. ¡°Don¡¯t be kidding, this isn¡¯t funny.¡±


    Gerald then slowly turned Ariana¡¯s body to face him. Ariana didn¡¯t refuse. She also turned around and looked at her husband with her head raised.


    ¡°I¡¯m not joking, darling. That is the fact.¡± Gerald answered softly. ¡°The fact is, Shelma is a distant cousin of mine.¡± He said solemnly. ¡°Thete grandfather had a brother from the same father. And he is Shelma¡¯s grandfather. As children, we grew up together. And Opa always hoped that Shelma would one day be my wife. And honestly, at that time, I liked it.


    ¡°Of course, before I saw that, there were women out there prettier, cuter, and more everything than Shelma.¡± Ariana narrowed her eyes again. Gerald instead yed with the girl¡¯s hair behind her ear. He was making Ariana shudder with amusement because of it.


    ¡°I¡¯m honest, darling. That¡¯s the reality. I studied abroad, and Shelma followed me. Everyone entrusts it to me because we are brothers. And maybe there is still hope that one day we will get married.


    ¡°Until one day, I found out she was in a rtionship with a man. Not with a good man. The man intended to take advantage of Shelma, especially when he found out who Shelma was and her inheritance. I was just his shield at that time. I was pretending to be his lover. Just that. I never even touched him like I touched you.¡±


    Hearing that answer, Ariana snorted again. ¡°Don¡¯t think I will believe it,¡± he answered.


    ¡°But believe me. That¡¯s the truth. The problem is her tendency to touch me. That¡¯s her issue. Maybe because we used to act like lovers, we got used to touching each other like that. It¡¯s like scratching something reflexively when you¡¯re itchy,¡± Gerald stated. But once again, Ariana rejected Gerald¡¯s statement. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, we can ask her,¡± Gerald suggested.


    Ariana smiled crookedly. ¡°Then you think he¡¯s going to say, ¡®Yeah, we don¡¯t have a rtionship?''¡± Ariana mocked him. ¡°After saying that he would trade you for everything he had?¡± Ariana snorted. ¡°Truly true love. So, what will you give as the reason for your separation? What if you were a Romeo and Juliet couple whose parents opposed it? Or will you make the reason the world¡¯s differences separate you? It¡¯s a cliche, you know?¡±


    Gerald smiled. ¡°It¡¯s not like that, darling. There was no separation because we were never together. we never had any rtionship. To me, she is just my cousin. Nothing more than that. believe me.¡± Persuade Gerald again. Ariana looked at her husband closely. Gerald looked back at her closely, too. Without Gerald realizing it, Ariana put her hand on the man¡¯s chest. To determine whether the man was lying or not. But she didn¡¯t feel the strange pounding in the man¡¯s chest. Isn¡¯t it typical that if someone lies, their chest will beat faster? And she didn¡¯t think that in Gerald¡¯s chest, apart from the usual beat.


    Ariana smiled. She looked at her husband and then got up. Gerald looked confused when he saw her. But Ariana ignored him. She chose to sit on the man¡¯s stomach. her legs were wide open. Gerald was surprised to see her. But then Ariana lowered her head, bringing her face closer to Gerald¡¯s. Gerald could only remain silent at her aggressiveness. Even when the girl¡¯s lips touched his, he could only smile and enjoy it willingly.

 Chap 97 : Love You

    Gerald suspected that it would just be a kiss. However, when Ariana¡¯s kiss became more profound, he took the girl¡¯s ce. He rolled Ariana¡¯s body so the girl was lying beneath him. Gerald deepened their kiss. And hearing the girl¡¯s moans made him want to do more.


    Slowly, he took off the lingerie that Ariana was wearing and slipped it from above. He was always captivated by the sight before him, even though this was not the first time he had seen it.


    Gerald lowered his head even more. Ariana looked up to give Gerald ess as his lips and tongue yed on the girl¡¯s neck. He was kissing, licking, and taking small bites. In response, Ariana grabbed his hair and pressed Gerald¡¯s head, asking Gerald to do more.


    The girl hurriedly took off the T-shirt that Gerald was wearing. Gerald kissed the girl¡¯s neck again as he removed all their clothes and hid their bodies under the nket.


    His head continued to move down to touch the entire surface of the girl¡¯s body. Her neck, corbone, chest, stomach. Until his head reached the girl¡¯s, Ariana held it. She shook her head and pulled Gerald¡¯s face closer to hers.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be in sin forever.¡± He said in front of Gerald¡¯s face. Gerald, who didn¡¯t understand, looked at Ariana in confusion. ¡°It could be that the angel doesn¡¯t ept my reasons and instead curses me continuously.¡± she continued.


    ¡°Ariana?¡± Gerald looked at him uncertainly. He understood what the girl was talking about now.


    ¡°You can do it. But slowly,¡± she asked shyly. Seeing his wife¡¯s red face made Gerald annoyed himself.


    Gerald realized it took a lot of extra courage for Ariana to say that finally. He knew that the girl had now wholly put her trust in Gerald. And he knew he couldn¡¯t deny it.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked, trying to reassure Ariana.


    ¡°Do you want me to change my mind?¡± Ariana asked back.


    Gerald shook his head, smiling. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to force you. For me, making out is enough,¡± he answered honestly.


    Ariana shook her head. She cupped Gerald¡¯s face again and gave him a brief kiss on the lips. ¡°I¡¯m sure. As long as you don¡¯t betray my trust. I will fully trust you. I¡¯ll entrust my heart and body to you. But if you betray me and make me suffer even once, I swear, I will leave you. And you will never find me again. Even if you hire CIA or FBI agents,¡± she replied earnestly.


    Geraldughed. But then he kissed Ariana¡¯s forehead gently. ¡°You have to believe that since the first time I saw you, my heart, my eyes, my body belong only to you,¡± he said sincerely. Ariana simply nodded. Her heart warmed, hearing the words from the man she was soon going to consider her true husband.


    Even though Gerald¡¯s words might have just been lip service and not heartfelt, he made sure those words would be real. After the kiss on the forehead, his lips slowly descended to her temple, then to her cheek. And when his lips were near her ear, he uttered his vow. ¡°I swear, I will always be faithful. There will be no other woman but Ariana Leonidas Zeroun,¡± he said earnestly.


    Ariana looked at him intensely. ¡°Since when did you memorize that vow?¡± she asked, curious.


    ¡°Since before we got married,¡± he replied honestly. Ariana burst intoughter because of his response. But then Gerald silenced herughter with his kiss. Thatughter slowly turned into sighs and moans in the midst of the blind night.


    Ariana woke up with a sore body and aches and pains. More than that, she felt pain at one point but tried to ignore it. She could hear soft snores in the back of his neck. And a strong hand wrapped around her stomach. Her body felt sticky. Of course, they drained themselvesst night. And actually, Ariana was happy because Gerald treated her very well. The man could restrain himself well even though Ariana knew this was not her husband¡¯s first time.


    She moved, about to get out of bed, but Gerald¡¯s legs held her back.


    The man mumbled incoherently in his sleep. Ariana turned her head and patted his arm quite hard.


    ¡°Get up. It¡¯s morning.¡± Ariana said to the man. Gerald instead nuzzled his head deeper into Ariana¡¯s nape, making Ariana amused. ¡°Gerald! Get up! You have to work.¡± the order.


    Gerald mumbled incoherently again. He was making Ariana annoyed by that. The man theny on his back. But instead of getting up, the man pulled Ariana¡¯s body, who was about to get up, until she fell on top of him.


    ¡°Gerald!¡± Ariana hit the man¡¯s chest, but Gerald just chuckled.


    The man opened his eyes slowly. The nightlight they installed beside the bed allowed Ariana to see the dark shadows under his eyes. And she could even see a faint shadow on the man¡¯s chin and jaw. The sideburns and beard that she knew the man always shaved every morning.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You don¡¯t feel sick?¡± asked the man gently


    Ariana stopped her screaming. She looked at Gerald and shook her head. Meanwhile, Gerald fixed Ariana¡¯s hair so he could see the girl¡¯s-correct-woman¡¯s face. Ariana is no longer a girl now. She was no longer a virgin. Gerald had lost her virginity and had made her his woman. He chuckled to himself when he rememberedst night¡¯s events.


    ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Ariana asked, not liking it.


    Gerald shook his head, but the smile did not leave his face. He remembered the girl¡¯s requestst night when he asked him to do it slowly. And Gerald did. He entered the girl very slowly. And even doing it slowly, Gerald found it challenging. His own was painful, mainly the girl¡¯s, which he had torn.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I just loved what we didst night.¡± The answer is honest. ¡°You don¡¯t feel sick?¡± He asked again.


    ¡°A little,¡± Ariana answered honestly. Gerald pulled Ariana¡¯s head close and kissed her forehead gently. ¡°Love you.¡± He said softly.


    ¡°I know,¡± Ariana answered tly. She then let go of Gerald when the man chuckled at Ariana¡¯s answer, which sounded curt in his ears.


    Ariana put her lingerie back on. ording to Gerald, this was in vain because, in the end, the girl would let him go in the bathroom. But he didn¡¯t say anything to her. Instead, Gerald got up, put on his trousers, and started turning on the lights.


    The room needs to be more neat. And Gerald smelled a pretty strong smell of sweat there. While waiting for Ariana in the bathroom, he finally removed the first bedyer. Something he had never done since he returned to the Zeroun residence.


    He smiled when he saw several spots on the clean white sheets. There is a speck of red stain and another white stain towards the ivory, which is starting to harden. And he knows what it is. In his heart, he prayed that his effortsst night would produce maximum results. Even though he wasn¡¯t ready to be a father, imagining little Ariana made him smile.

 Chap 98 : Cunning Seducer

    Gerald heard the bathroom door open. Ariana was wearing one of Gerald¡¯s oversized bathrobes, and seeing her like that warmed Gerald¡¯s heart. Ariana nced in his direction, her forehead creased. Her gaze was, of course, directed at the fabric in Gerald¡¯s hand. ¡°I don¡¯t want the servants to fuss,¡± she replied casually. She took the bathrobe from him and headed into the bathroom, but Gerald stopped her.


    ¡°Let me wash itter,¡± Ariana insisted, but Gerald shook his head.


    ¡°I won¡¯t wash it. Just soak it in the bathtub. The servants will finish the rest,¡± he replied. Ariana nodded and walked toward the walk-in closet.


    Gerald held her arm, kissing the top of her head, which felt different to Ariana this time. He cupped Ariana¡¯s face with both his hands. A smile yed on his lips, mischievousness evident in Ariana¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked challengingly.


    ¡°Can we do it again?¡± he teased. ¡°That is if you don¡¯t mind,¡± he added.


    ¡°What if I do mind?¡± Ariana asked with a deadpan expression.


    Gerald shrugged his shoulders. ¡°If you mind, I¡¯ll persuade you again.¡± He said, going into the bathroom. But when he came out, he saw Ariana still wearing her lingerie. This time it was red.


    Geraldughed. ¡°You are a cunning seductress.¡± He muttered as he hugged Ariana¡¯s body tightly. Ariana hugged the man¡¯s neck back.


    ¡°Of course, I have to be smarter than any woman out there,¡± she answered.


    Gerald nodded his head. He quickly lifted his wife¡¯s body. Ariana wrapped her long legs around the man¡¯s waist while, at the same time, Gerald started kissing her passionately.


    And that morning, they werete because they were wrestling first to fulfill their respective passions.


    Gerald opened his eyes. He was seeing Ariana lying in front of him. His wife¡¯s eyes were still closed, and she was still fast asleep.


    But Gerald heard someone calling him.


    Gerald heard a knocking sound, not loud but not too soft either. He pricked up his ears. ¡°Papa!¡± that¡¯s right. He heard Axel calling him. He nced back at Ariana. His wife wasn¡¯t wearing anything under the nket covering her body, and Gerald didn¡¯t want Axel to see it.


    With quick movements, he got out of bed. He didn¡¯t want to wake his wife. He knew Ariana was tired now.


    And all because of him.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Gerald looked for the trousers he had worn after showering. He opened the door and was surprised it wasn¡¯t just Axel standing there. But it was someone who annoyed his wifest night.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t Papa awake yet? Papa¡¯s sick?¡± Axel asked worriedly. Gerald smiled and shook his head. He realized that now his body was Shelma¡¯s concern. He lowered his head and aligned himself with Axel.


    ¡°Last night, Papa was trading with Mommy. Why is Axel here?¡±


    ¡°Looking for Mommy. Mommy didn¡¯t apany Axel to school?¡± he asked again. Gerald nced back and saw Ariana still sound asleep, her back turned towards the door. He also looked up and saw Shelma, her face red with anger, staring in the same direction.


    ¡°Today, Axel will go with Grandma, alright?¡± Gerald persuaded. ¡°Papa and Mommy will pick you up from school in the afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Are we going to Zone again?¡± Axel asked, looking confused.


    ¡°Again?¡± Gerald asked, equally puzzled.


    Axel nodded. ¡°This afternoon, Mommy and I are going to Zone. Will Papa and Mommy take Axel there again?¡± he asked hopefully. Gerald just smiled and nodded. ¡°Yay, promise, Papa?¡± the child pleaded. Gerald simply nodded.


    ¡°Now, get ready for school,¡± he urged softly. Geraldpletely ignored Shelma, who now seemed to be looking at him with teary eyes. He deliberately closed the door in front of the woman.


    Gerald walked back to the bed, turning in front of his wife. He slipped his hand beneath her and then pulled her body into his embrace. Ariana murmured something incoherent, and Gerald smiled at the sound. He kissed the top of her head, gently stroking her smooth back.


    It turned out his wife hadn¡¯t run away yesterday. Instead, she had chosen to find sce by spending time with Axel. Once again, Gerald¡¯s heart warmed at the thought. He chose to close his eyes again. Let Vivan handle the work. He just wanted to be alone with his wife.


    Ariana stretched slowly. Again, his body felt crushed. But he smiled afterward. The second, third, and who knows how many romances made Ariana happy. Gerald is a great guy. And she had to admit that. The man is not selfish and always lets Ariana reach her peak, like when they make out first.


    She looked up and saw her husband still sleeping soundly. The sunlight now illuminated the strands of hair on his face, making them even more apparent.


    Sunlight? Ariana¡¯s eyes widened. She nced behind Gerald toward the balcony. Then her gaze shifted to the wall clock. Ten in the morning? Oh God. What were they doing? Why wasn¡¯t Gerald going to the office?


    Ariana attempted to get up, but Gerald, in his habitual manner, pulled her into a tight embrace. ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked. So, he wasn¡¯t asleep? Ariana wondered inwardly.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to the office?¡± Ariana asked, surprised.


    ¡°Vivan is handling it,¡± Gerald¡¯s response was meant to suffice Ariana¡¯s inquiry. Ariana chose to lie back down on her husband¡¯s arm.


    ¡°How are you feeling? Better?¡± Gerald now opened his eyes and gazed intently at Ariana. ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    Gerald raised his hand and caressed Ariana¡¯s face with the back of his fingers. ¡°Don¡¯t regret it,¡± he said again.


    Ariana simply nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t regret it,¡± she said confidently. ¡°On the contrary, just never cheat on me behind my back,¡± she threatened. Gerald chuckled, but his head nodded in agreement.


    ¡°So, you spent time with Axel yesterday, hm?¡± he asked again. Ariana frowned. ¡°Axel said you took him to Zone.¡±


    ¡°Because initially, I intended to spend some time watching a few movies at the cinema,¡± she admitted honestly. ¡°But after I entered the mall, I saw the children¡¯s y area. I thought, why not take Axel? I contacted his babysitter and asked her to bring him to the mall.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡± Gerald inquired.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°I just enjoyed it. Watching Axel run around and y various games. I thought I was fine and could forget my frustration over what I saw in your office. But then, when I came back, that woman was here. I thought it was Axel¡¯s grandmother who brought him here,¡± she said, her face twisted in annoyance.


    Gerald lifted the corner of his mouth. Why did he always find his wife so adorable when she was angry? He wondered inwardly. ¡°And then?¡± he prodded.


    ¡°What else?¡± she snapped. ¡°Of course, Axel¡¯s grandmother treated him better than she treats me.¡±


    Ariana snorted. ¡°Can you imagine how Axel¡¯s grandmother behaved so friendly to your Shelma?¡±

 Chap 99 : You Are Poor

    ¡°I hate what he did,¡± Ariana muttered. ¡°You might know my background from your paid informants. But you don¡¯t truly understand the life I led, Amber, during those times.¡± Without looking at Gerald, Ariana began to tell her story. She knew her husband was listening. So she chose to continue without waiting for hisments.


    ¡°You probably know that my family used to be well-off. Let¡¯s say we were wealthy in our time,¡± she said. ¡°My father was a sessful businessman back then. We nevercked anything. Luxurious house, cars with private drivers. Food made from the finest ingredients. Boutique clothes. We had it all and enjoyed it. And we nevercked love, or at least that¡¯s what I used to feel.


    Our life was incredibly happy. My father was a man who cared deeply for the well-being of his wife and children and always granted whatever we asked for.


    Then one day, when I was ten, my father came home defeated. He told my mother that hispany had gone bankrupt because he was deceived by a coworker he had considered a brother. Greed truly blinds the heart. It doesn¡¯t distinguish between friend or foe. It doesn¡¯t matter even if the person you harm has been instrumental in your past life,¡± Ariana snorted in disgust.


    ¡°He not only cheated my father¡¯s business. That friend of my father even forged some documents. Borrowed money here and there, using our home as coteral. It¡¯s like falling down the stairs. My father, already saddened by losing thepany he had built since his youth, had to lose his home too. Insults from employees who wereid off becamemonce for us,¡± Ariana continued sadly.


    In her mind, she reyed those moments as if all these events had just urred yesterday. Little Ariana had juste back from school and saw several people arguing with her father. They said they had to leave the house because it now belonged to the bank.


    Her father couldn¡¯t ept it. Neither could her mother. The woman, pregnant at the time, screamed hysterically when the bank officials put up a seal in front of their house. Neighbors gathered and whispered, casting using nces at them. Even afterward, employees demanding their due pay protested in front of their house, or what used to be their house before it was repossessed by the bank.


    Embarrassed, sad, and heartbroken, young Ariana felt it all then.


    They were forced to leave the house they had called home for so long. Armed with the clothes on their backs and the few precious items her mother owned, Ariana¡¯s uncle, Amber¡¯s father, helped Ariana¡¯s father sell the remaining items in the house. They auctioned off all those luxurious items at a cheap price just to settle the employees¡¯ ims. And what was left, they used to carry on with life.


    It was as if a queen had fallen from grace. Her mother, ustomed to avish lifestyle, had to adjust to a life of hardship. They moved into a small rented house, and her mother took on all the household chores alone. Ariana often heard her mother¡¯sints. Even though her father and Ariana also helped, it didn¡¯t immediately bring joy to her mother, especially since her father couldn¡¯t find suitable work due to his advanced age.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Months passed, and her father still couldn¡¯t find a job. Due to stress, and perhaps exhaustion, her mother eventually suffered a miscarriage. After the miscarriage, Ariana¡¯s world became even bleaker.


    Her mother often incited fights, yelling loudly. She always used her father of being inept, unable to provide happiness for her. And her father, he never said anything, just bowed his head in silence. Ariana and Karenina could only hug each other in their small room out of fear.


    Then, one day, Ariana found her mother was no longer there. She had disappeared. So had Karenina. Panic set in.


    Of course, she felt it. She and her father searched for her mother and Karenina, but they couldn¡¯t find them. Her mother didn¡¯t even leave any word about her departure. And a monthter, her father received a letter from the religious court. Her mother was filing for divorce.


    They were reunited in the courtroom. Ariana saw her mother had reverted to her former self when her father was sessful. She was dressed in luxurious clothes, adorned with jewelry around her neck, ears, and wrists. As for Karenina? Ariana didn¡¯t see her. She didn¡¯t know where her twin sister had gone. She desperately wanted to meet her and ask her to change their mother¡¯s mind. But she couldn¡¯t.


    Ariana always apanied her father to the hearings, even though she wasn¡¯t officially allowed. But young Ariana loved her father so much. She knew how deeply her father had been affected back then. And when the judge¡¯s gavel fell, her parents officially separated. They didn¡¯t discuss custody arrangements at all. But Ariana knew from the beginning that her mother didn¡¯t want her. If her mother had considered it, she would have talked to Ariana, just as she took Karenina with her.


    After the trial, her father¡¯s condition deteriorated further. One day, he copsed and woke up in apletely different state. He had suffered a stroke, and only Ariana could be there for him.


    Fortunately, Ariana had her uncle. Understanding her father¡¯s situation, he brought Ariana and her father to live with him. He even hired a male nurse to assist in her father¡¯s recovery. And her aunt, Amber¡¯s mother, treated Ariana as her own child. She always treated Ariana and Amber equally.


    But Ariana couldn¡¯t stay silent. She knew her father¡¯s deep despair stemmed not from his financial ruin but from her mother¡¯s departure. Her father loved her mother so much, even though it seemed her mother didn¡¯t feel the same way. With determination, Ariana went to her mother¡¯s new residence, a ce she found out from her parents¡¯ divorce documents. She hoped there might be a shred of love left in that woman¡¯s heart. Or at least some pity for her father after the difficult times they had been through.


    However, Ariana was shocked when she arrived at her mother¡¯s new home. Her mother had remarried a wealthy man who already had a wife. Ariana chose to close her eyes to it. She pleaded with her mother to return to her father and take care of him, at least until he recovered. But her pleas were tly rejected.


    It turned out her mother¡¯s departure had always been because of that man. In the end, Ariana discovered that her mother had secretly been involved with him. It was that man who had been supporting her mother¡¯s and Karenina¡¯s lives all along. He was the one who brought back the luxury to her mother and her twin sister. And he was the one who had kidnapped Ariana¡¯s father the other day to ensure the sess of this marriage for the sake of his reputation.


    ¡°I¡¯m disappointed,¡± Ariana returned to her reverie. ¡°Knowing that my mother was willing to be the third person in someone else¡¯s marriage just to gain wealth.¡± She still stared into the distance, lost in her thoughts. ¡°And my sister, even at that young age, already knew what was advantageous for her and what was not,¡± Ariana snorted.


    ¡°My uncle invited me to live with them. He and his wife have been incredibly kind to me. But honestly, their kindness makes me feel ashamed,¡± Ariana sighed deeply.

 Chap 100 : Ariana’s Part

    Her eyes welled up with tears. ¡°I can¡¯t keep asking for their help forever because I know their lives aren¡¯t that rich to fulfill all my needs. And they¡¯re also financing my father¡¯s medical treatment and hiring a nurse because they don¡¯t want me to struggle. And all of that surely isn¡¯t cheap. So, to meet my needs, I chose to earn money myself. I worked.¡± Gerald was surprised. He nced at his wife, who still hadn¡¯t looked his way. ¡°I met an unfortunate boy who worked as a street performer at traffic lights,¡± Ariana smiled. ¡°If you think I became a street performer too, you¡¯re wrong; I¡¯m not that good at singing.¡± She chuckled. ¡°I sold newspapers,¡± she continued.


    ¡°Alongside him, I learned about the world of the streets. I understood how difficult it was for people out there to find food. Even though some of them were just pretending. But I knew some of their stories were real. He also taught me that, regardless of my situation, I should always be grateful because there were many people out there suffering more than I was. Luckily, I was only abandoned. Because out there, many parents sell their own children for profit. Luckily, I still have siblings who love me. Because out there, many people live alone without purpose. And lucky me, I can go to school because out there, there are many ignorant and desperate people. And yes, I am luckier than them. But even so, I can¡¯t stop hating. My anger always erupts whenever people pity my situation and my father¡¯s. Especially when they know my mother¡¯s current situation and openly criticize her. I¡¯m ashamed. But I have to ept that reality.


    Then one day, my friend and I met an angel.¡± Ariana¡¯s smile blossomed spontaneously. ¡°She found me and my friend one day. She was a new neighbor in our area. A widow whose husband had left her because she couldn¡¯t give him children.¡± Ariana turned to Gerald. ¡°She¡¯s Mommy Hestia,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Mommy Hestia offered me a job at the restaurant she had just opened. She said it was okay that I couldn¡¯t do much. Because humans should always be learning. At first, my friend and I worked as dishwashers and cleaners. We worked after our school hours. The job wasn¡¯t easy, but it wasn¡¯t too difficult either. After work, Mommy Hestia always gave us food. She knew that my friend was an orphan and had a sickly mother and a little sibling. She always gave my friend food. Not leftovers, but the food she set aside first before storing it on the shelf for customers.


    As for me, she always gave me pocket money. Because she knew, that¡¯s what I needed at that time.¡±


    ¡°I fell in love, for the first time, with a woman other than my mother. She taught me that life is not always easy. But whatever the problem, she said that God will provide a way out,¡± Ariana smiled again.


    Her family had indeed been wealthy once, but they never taught her about faith. Her father was too engrossed in his work, and her mother was too busy with her socialite circle. Ariana and Karenina¡¯s daily lives were filled with lessons from school and private tutors. But they never even taught her the alphabet.


    ¡°Amidst our work after school, Mommy Hestia taught me about faith. She said, ¡®Whatever the problem, confide in God. He will answer all yourints. No matter how good friends are, they¡¯re still humans who can make mistakes. And when humans err, there¡¯s no guarantee they won¡¯t reveal all our ws to others.¡¯ And until now, I try to hold on to her words. To me, my ws are for me alone. My anger and hatred, too, are for myself. Although I often can¡¯t contain them. And it was from her that I realized wasting something is something hated by God. She, like my friend, always said that out there, many people are less fortunate than us.


    I was used to a luxurious life, with all the facilities avable. I could eat whatever I wanted. And I was even ustomed to throwing it away if I didn¡¯t like it. Or even if I liked it but couldn¡¯t finish it, I would still throw it away. But Mommy Hestia said, ¡®Don¡¯t you know that out there, people are willing to do evil just to get a meal? I know, my friend told me that. But anyway, I¡¯ve gotten used to it, and Mommy Hestia taught the opposite. ¡®If you like something but don¡¯t know how it tastes, take a little. Simrly, if you like something, know its taste but can¡¯t finish it, take a little too. Give the rest to others who need it out there. Because by doing so, we¡¯re helping them.


    Since then, I¡¯ve tried to do what Mommy Hestia said. For me, the poor aren¡¯t those who work hard to get a meal. For me, the poor are those who waste food they could share. Why? Because, in reality, the poor ones are their hearts. Theyck the intention to share. While the rich, for me, are those who are willing to share even if they themselves are not financially well-off.¡±


    And what Shelma did really disgusted me. She thinks she¡¯s too rich. Clearly, she¡¯s not someone who can appreciate others. And to me, she¡¯s poorer than I am,¡± Ariana continued angrily.


    Gerald just smiled. He raised his hand and gently stroked Ariana¡¯s head. ¡°She doesn¡¯t know that I¡¯ve been trying hard to make her so that you would be impressed and fall in love,¡± he said with a mischievous smile. Ariana turned to him and narrowed her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Ariana asked, her forehead creased.


    Gerald chuckled. He put his arm around Ariana¡¯s shoulder and pulled her closer. ¡°I know. I understand, dear. Behind your rough attitude and cold, fierce demeanor, you have the heart of an angel. Just like your Mommy Hestia,¡± Gerald replied.


    Ariana snorted. ¡°Are you mocking me now? Do you think my reaction earlier was exaggerated and excessive?¡± she asked, pushing Gerald¡¯s chest and keeping her distance from him. ¡°Do you want to tell me that what that woman did was not wrong?¡± Ariana used, her eyes squinting sharply.


    Geraldughed again and pulled Ariana into his embrace. ¡°Can¡¯t you be a little more optimistic? Why are you always so sentimental?¡± Gerald pinched Ariana¡¯s nose with his fingers. Ariana pushed his hand away. ¡°You¡¯re not overly dramatic. Not excessive either. And your reaction to Shelma earlier was not wrong either. I greatly admire your courage.¡±


    ¡°But?¡± Ariana asked again. She knew there was more to the sentence her husband uttered.


    ¡°But instead of wasting your energy confronting her, it¡¯s better to ignore her,¡± Gerald said, pulling Ariana¡¯s head and kissing the side of her head. ¡°Fighting against her won¡¯t make you a winner. It will only make you more upset and make her happier because she managed to upset you. Instead of fighting her, you should fight me,¡± Gerald said with a yful look in his eyes.


    Ariana looked up. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I mean, we can fight again upstairs. In our bed. You and me,¡± he said with a flirtatious wink.


    Ariana pinched Gerald¡¯s waist. But instead of feeling pain, he justughed. Gerald cupped both of Ariana¡¯s hands and pulled her behind his back. His left hand held Ariana¡¯s hands behind his back. His right hand touched Ariana¡¯s face, caressing it gently.


    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time serving those unimportant people. You know enough that I want you. Me, Axel, and Grandma like having you here. Me and Axel need you. And I, I want you.¡± Gerald¡¯s right hand crept to the back of Ariana¡¯s neck. He pulled his wife¡¯s hair gently and lifted her head. ¡°I want you.¡± He said to Ariana¡¯s temple. ¡°My body wants your body.¡± He continued at the corner of Ariana¡¯s mouth. ¡°And my heart wants yours too.¡± He said before kissing Ariana¡¯s lips.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Ariana didn¡¯t dodge it. When Gerald kissed her gently, she responded no less gently. And when Gerald kissed her fiercely. He responded just as fiercely. Meanwhile, someone was watching them behind the window on the other side of the room. Clenching his hands into fists, he looked at the two passionate people with a look full of anger. Who else, if not Shelma?

 Chap 101 : Rosaline

    #Shelma


    Shelma averted her gaze from the disgusting scene in front of her. She despised all of it. After all this time, fighting to destroy her marriage with Hadi, a man who had once been so devoted to her, she now had to face the bitter reality that the man she loved was already with another woman. No. Ariana couldn¡¯t have Gerald so easily.


    And why Gerald? How could he be interested in a woman like Ariana? Shelma was far more beautiful, more graceful, richer, and more everything than this poorly dressed woman who looked more like a man. Shelma was certain Ariana didn¡¯t know the fashion world like she did. Just look at the woman¡¯s attire-only shabby jeans and a worn-out shirt. It was a far cry from her own expensive clothing.


    Shelma turned around, simultaneously encountering the one woman who had opposed her rtionship with Gerald for so long. Who else but Mrs. Rosaline. Yes, that old woman had always been the barrier to Shelma¡¯s rtionship with Gerald. Even when she knew Gerald also liked her, Mrs. Rosaline had never approved.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d still be here,¡± the woman said in her t tone. No wonder she liked Ariana. They indeed shared the same character.


    ¡°What if I am here?¡± Shelma retorted, her voice sharp. ¡°No reason. Just asking,¡± the woman replied before walking away.


    ¡°Why does Grandma always block my rtionship with Gerald?¡± Shelma asked again. In the end, she couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity.


    Mrs. Rosaline turned back and looked at Shelma, one eyebrow raised. ¡°I never blocked your rtionship. From the beginning, you two were never meant to be together,¡± Mrs. Rosaline replied.


    Shelma snorted. ¡°Fate? What¡¯s fate? It¡¯s just a joke. We create our own fate. And I will make Gerald mine. Grandma won¡¯t be able to stop me anymore,¡± she said arrogantly.


    Mrs. Rosaline shrugged. ¡°If you can do it, then go ahead,¡± she said still tly. ¡°Even giving Karenina a wealthy man hasn¡¯t made you sessful in getting Gerald,¡± she continued. Shelma was stunned. Meanwhile, Mrs. Rosaline lifted the corner of her mouth. The woman smiled, and it seemed terrifying to Shelma. The old woman walked closer, standing beside Shelma with her eyes fixed on Gerald and Ariana, who were still sitting on the swing, Ariana¡¯s head leaning on Gerald¡¯s shoulder.


    Mrs. Rosaline folded her hands in front of her chest. Still gazing at her granddaughter, she spoke softly to Shelma. ¡°You should know the ws in your ns before strategizing, Shelma,¡± she said, her voice sounding chilling in Shelma¡¯s ears, making her hair stand on end. ¡°How could you devise a cunning tactic by baiting a wealthy man for Karenina without knowing that Karenina actually has a twin brother?¡± Mrs. Rosaline then nced at Shelma. ¡°But by doing so, all of this proves that you are truly not meant to be with Gerald.


    I also didn¡¯t expect that Karenina had a twin. I thought she would truly be my granddaughter-inw. And I suspected that if they married, you would do everything to separate them. Unfortunately, Ariana came at thest moment,¡± Mrs. Rosaline continued with a triumphant smile. ¡°And honestly, even though I didn¡¯t know her and was unaware of her existence initially, I must tell you that I like her. And I¡¯m very happy she could be my granddaughter-inw. You know, Gerald is as cunning as you are. He can do anything to get what he wants.


    So, my dear, your opponent isn¡¯t Ariana. It¡¯s Gerald himself. Because from the beginning, it was Gerald who wanted Ariana¡¯s presence.¡± Mrs. Rosaline now looked toward the door where her granddaughter and future grandson-inw entered. ¡°Where are you two going?¡± she inquired.


    Shelma also looked at them. ¡°Gerald and Ariana have an appointment with Axel, Grandma,¡± Gerald replied. Mrs. Rosaline nodded her head. But Shelma seemed to clench her fists again.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°Have fun,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said to both of them. Ariana and Gerald just nodded before they walked toward the stairs. Both Mrs. Rosaline and Shelma knew where they were headed. ¡°You can see for yourself, can¡¯t you? It¡¯s Gerald who¡¯s enchanted here. Not Ariana,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said again. Shelma looked at the old woman beside her and narrowed her eyes. ¡°You could try to get rid of Ariana, whether by influencing her mind or perhaps by taking irrational actions to make her intend to leave my grandson. But, my dear, I can assure you, your efforts might seed initially. But in the end, Gerald will bring her back. So, advice from this old woman: you better abandon your intentions now, rather than regretter.¡±


    What I know is, Hadi is a good man. It¡¯s better for you to ept his presence rather than chasing after Gerald, who may not reciprocate your feelings. Don¡¯t keep assuming that you are his first love, and he is yours, because the fact is not so. What happened between you two in the past was nothing more than puppy love,¡± Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s words concluded. After patting Shelma¡¯s shoulder, which Shelma brushed off, Mrs. Rosaline immediately walked away.


    Shelma remained standing there, stunned. She stood there with the intention of waiting for Gerald and Ariana toe down. She would be a shadow that followed them everywhere. She would follow them wherever they went. But until an hourter, Shelma didn¡¯t see any signs of theming down from the second floor.


    Dirty thoughts entered her mind, especially when she had gone to Gerald¡¯s room with Axel earlier this morning. She clearly saw the woman sleeping soundly, and Shelma could be sure that she wasn¡¯t wearing anything under the nket that covered her body up to her shoulders.


    And earlier, when she bumped into the woman, Shelma could see the red mark behind Ariana¡¯s ear. Shelma knew exactly what that mark was.


    Certainly not a mosquito bite. Especially not an ant bite.


    Shelma stomped her foot in frustration. She was angry, truly angry. If only this were her own residence. She might have destroyed the things around her to vent her anger. But this wasn¡¯t her home. This was Zeroun¡¯s residence. This was Gerald¡¯s home. Which meant she couldn¡¯t act as she pleased. No matter how furious she was right now, she couldn¡¯t show it. She couldn¡¯t let the woman know. Because if the woman knew that she had sessfully made Shelma jealous, victory would be on the girl¡¯s side. And Shelma really disliked that fact.


    Shelma walked briskly to the guest room she had stayed inst night. She had to devise another strategy that could shatter Ariana and Gerald¡¯s rtionship. If what Mrs. Rosaline said was true, then the only way she could use was to make Gerald hate the woman. However, whatever it took, however cunning it was, Shelma had to get Gerald for herself. And Gerald must not adore any other woman except her.

 Chap 12 : Small Reason

    They left in Gerald¡¯s car. Of course, Vivan was not with them as he was currently assigned to rece Gerald in thepany. Throughout the journey, Gerald remained silent. He was clearly sulking because of Ariana¡¯s appearance, which he thought was too feminine and would attract the attention of many men. But Ariana chose to ignore it. Just because she always wore jeans and a long-sleeved shirt didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t like dresses or beautiful clothes like other women. She had always prioritizedfort. Wearing a skirt all the time wasn¡¯tfortable for Ariana, considering she was active and often did tasks typically associated with men.


    The car had reached the school parking lot. They entered the school area, and as before, Gerald¡¯s presence drew the attention of parents who were there to pick up their children. Jealousy? Of course, Ariana felt it now, but she couldn¡¯t act childishly by covering Gerald¡¯s face with a mask, could she?


    Gerald immediately approached Axel¡¯s caregiver, asking her to return home because he and Ariana would go together with Axel. The woman nodded her head and promptly left.


    Imagine the happiness on little Axel¡¯s adorable face when he saw his parents picking him up. The boy ran to Gerald with enthusiasm and immediately went into his father¡¯s arms. Gerald,fortable with one hand carrying the child, held Ariana¡¯s hand with the other and guided her back to the parking area.


    ¡°Axel thought Papa wouldn¡¯te,¡± the boy said when Gerald ced him in the back seat and fastened his seatbelt.


    ¡°Huh, have I ever lied to Axel before?¡± Gerald asked the boy. Axel shook his head immediately. A smile appeared on his face. Gerald ruffled his hair affectionately.


    Ariana was already in the passenger seat when Gerald walked around to the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Mommy, where are we going?¡± Axel asked shortly after Gerald sat in the driver¡¯s seat and fastened his seatbelt.


    ¡°Where does Axel want to go?¡± Ariana asked again.


    ¡°Can we go back to the arcade, please?¡± the boy asked hopefully. Ariana leaned her head towards Gerald. ¡°Papa, can we go back to the arcade?¡± the boy asked. Gerald, who was reversing the car, just nodded. Axel cheered excitedly from his seat.


    ¡°But let¡¯s eat first,¡± Ariana said. Both Gerald and Axel nodded.


    They arrived at the mall where Ariana had taken Axel to yst time. But as per Ariana¡¯s request, they stopped first at a restaurant inside the mall. It was the same ce Axel loved, especially because it mainly served fried chicken in various forms.


    The three of them lined up to choose their meals. Gerald was quite surprised when Axel only picked two types of food. Previously, when they went out just the two of them, the boy always filled their table with almost every menu avable there. ¡°Why so few?¡± Gerald finally asked.


    Axel furrowed his brow and looked at Gerald. ¡°Mommy said I should eat what I can. If I finish and I¡¯m still hungry, I can ask for moreter. Right, Mommy?¡± Axel sought Ariana¡¯s approval. Ariana just nodded. And Gerald raised the corner of his lips. It was very easy for Ariana to influence Axel, even though Gerald had always been the one Axel usually followed.


    They brought the food to one of the tables with chairs attached to the wall. While Axel was deliberately given a taller stic chair, he immediately devoured his food with enthusiasm. Ariana did the same. Gerald just smiled; Ariana was hungry. He had made sure his wife worked hard since early morning.


    After finishing their meal, Ariana washed her hands first. His wife returned with a fresher face, and Gerald knew she had reapplied her lipstick, which, although not striking, still tempted him.


    Axel finished eating after her. The boy got off his chair, but before walking away from the table, he nced at Gerald shyly. ¡°Papa¡­¡± he said softly.


    ¡°What?¡± Ariana answered for him.


    ¡°I need to go to the bathroom,¡± he said shyly. His feet moved left and right, and Ariana knew what he meant. ¡°Come on, Mommy, escort me,¡± he said. He was already standing and reaching out his hand. But Axel shook his head. ¡°Papa¡­¡± the boy began to whine. Gerald understood what he wanted. He then stood up.


    ¡°Pee,¡± he mouthed to Ariana. Ariana widened her eyes, then nodded. When she saw Axel quickly pulling his father¡¯s hand, Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. The little boy could already sense embarrassment.


    Ariana leaned against the leather sofa¡¯s back and yed with her phone. She read some messages from Jody and Dara and a few messages from Adel, whom she had temporarily employed in the restaurant. Amber was still in her silent mode. For the first time, the girl had been away from the restaurant for so long. It had been almost two weeks, and Amber hadn¡¯t given Ariana any news.


    A sound made Ariana lift her head. ¡°Hello,¡± a man greeted. Ariana looked at him and furrowed her brow. She didn¡¯t recognize the young man in front of her. It couldn¡¯t be said that he was young, actually. Ariana guessed he was in his mid-20s to early 30s.


    ¡°Me?¡± Ariana pointed to herself. The man nodded.


    ¡°May I sit?¡± he asked. But without waiting for Ariana¡¯s answer, he pulled another chair and sat in front of her. ¡°My name is Bayu, Miss. You¡¯re Ariana, the owner of Leonida¡¯s, right?¡± the man asked, still being friendly.


    Ariana nodded. Well, as a restaurant owner, she had to be friendly to one of her patrons, right?


    ¡°I and my friends asionally visit your restaurant, Miss. We happened to meet here. I¡¯ve been admiring you for a long time,¡± the man continued.


    As a woman, Ariana was, of course, delighted to hear such words. Although then she tried to act as natural as possible. ¡°Really? Thank you,¡± she said as calmly as she could. ¡°Mm¡­ actually¡­¡±R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Elsewhere.


    Gerald stood leaning against the men¡¯s restroom wall. Right at the door where Axel was relieving himself. He actually felt uneasy himself. It¡¯s not that. From the start, he didn¡¯t want Ariana to look beautiful in the dress she was wearing now, but instead of following what he wanted, she deliberately kept wearing it. Gerald was aware that since earlier, even since he stepped into the mall, he knew many eyes were on them. Let alone single men, even men who were with their partners still turned their heads to look at Ariana.


    And Gerald didn¡¯t like that. Hence, waiting for Axel here only made Gerald more worried. What if someone approached Ariana right now? Whoever it was, Gerald promised he wouldn¡¯t forgive any man who dared to approach his wife. Even if it was just to introduce himself or exchange nces.


    The sound of water made Gerald stand up straight. He saw the door turning, and Axel came out of the restroom. The boy¡¯s head tilted


    towards him. Gerald then guided him to the sink, moving a small step for Axel to step on so the boy could wash his hands without Gerald having to carry him. Impatiently, he watched Axel following the twenty-second handwashing rule he had learned from his school teacher.


    ¡°Come on. Poor Mommy waiting for so long,¡± he urged, noticing that Axel was taking a bit too much time. Axel, in his grasp, ran after Gerald¡¯s long strides.


    Gerald grumbled internally. He had been right. In a short time he left, his wife was now smiling sweetly at a young man. ¡°Ahem,¡± he cleared his throat behind the man.

 Chap 103 : Feminim

    The man who was facing Ariana immediately turned when he heard the throat clearing. Ariana looked up too, but her expression remained neutral. Axel then returned to his seat, as did Gerald.


    ¡°So, not even five minutes, and the empty seat is already taken, huh?¡± the man mumbled, more like a sarcastic remark. Ariana raised an eyebrow, looking at Gerald.


    ¡°Allow me to introduce, he¡­¡±


    ¡°Ariana¡¯s husband,¡± Gerald suddenly extended his hand.


    The young man sitting in front of them nced at Ariana, then at Gerald and Axel. ¡°He¡¯s our son,¡± Gerald answered the unspoken question written on the young man¡¯s confused face.


    ¡°But, I thought¡­¡± the young man squeaked.


    ¡°You thought Ariana was single? Yes. Up until a few months ago, she was indeed single. Before I married her,¡± Gerald replied again.


    Ariana just shrugged at Gerald¡¯s answer. ¡°Oh, I see,¡± the young man replied awkwardly. He then stood up. ¡°My friends are waiting for me. Nice to meet you, Ariana,¡± the young man said with a wide smile, which was involuntarily countered by Gerald¡¯s sharp gaze.


    ¡°Feel free to visit the restaurant anytime,¡± Ariana said. ¡°Certainly,¡± the young man replied, nodding.


    Gerald continued to look at Ariana with his sharp gaze. ¡°So, while I was taking Axel, you were flirting with that man?¡± he used. Ariana raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°What¡¯s it to you? Do you think you¡¯re the only one who can charm people?¡± Ariana replied with a sharp tone. ¡°But you should remember. You already have a husband,¡± Gerald said again.


    ¡°Yes. And at least everyone knows I have a husband. Thanks to the announcement you made,¡± Ariana replied, still in a t tone. ¡°Not like you, whose subordinates don¡¯t even know you¡¯re married,¡± she continued, referring to the receptionist at the office who didn¡¯t know who Ariana was and was more inclined to believe in Gerald¡¯s rtionship with Shelma. ¡°Axel, sweetheart. Where do you want to go now?¡± Ariana chose to divert her attention from Gerald.


    ¡°The arcade!¡± Axel eximed happily. Ariana nodded. She stood up and extended her hand to the boy. ¡°Papa?¡± Axel looked at Gerald, who was still looking at Ariana with a sulky face. But seeing Axel reaching out his hand, the man finally stood up and took Axel¡¯s small hand. They walked side by side, just like a family nning handbook cover.


    Axel led them to the gaming area. And like the day before, the boy yed with enthusiasm. And even more so because now he was apanied by Gerald, who seemed to enjoy the games more than Axel himself.


    By evening, they finally returned home exhausted. The Zeroun residence seemed quiet. Yosef informed them that Ariana¡¯s mother-inw and Shelma were not there. Meanwhile, Mrs. Rosaline was in the kitchen preparing dinner for them.


    Ariana guided Axel to his room, asking the boy to change his clothes. Axel, who seemed to need rest,plied. He went with his nanny, and afterward, Ariana left them. She needed to clean up.


    Inside the room, Gerald was already waiting for her. He sat on the bed, leaning both arms on his back. He still wore his sulky expression. ¡°Are you still sulking?¡± Ariana asked. Whether she liked it or not, she was annoyed by Gerald¡¯s jealousy.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Gerald asked curtly. Ariana chose to shrug. She decided to walk to the bathroom and intended to freshen up. Before she could even undress, Gerald had opened the door.


    ¡°Do you at least try to coax me?¡± he asked, sounding more like a whine in Ariana¡¯s ears.


    Ariana halted her movements. She turned to face Gerald, folding her arms across her chest. ¡°So what do you want? Should I flirt with you to make you not angry?¡± Ariana asked again. Gerald fell silent and then nodded. ¡°Do you want me to buy you candy or chocte?¡± Ariana teased again.


    Gerald snorted. ¡°Am I Axel?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re not Axel, then why are you sulking like a child? Are you jealous of that man?¡± Ariana asked again. ¡°Even though you don¡¯t even know who he is and what we were talking about. But you¡¯re jealous?¡± Ariana looked at Gerald coldly. Gerald remained silent. ¡°He¡¯s a vlogger who asked for my permission to shoot content in the restaurant. What we discussed was business. He sat there not to get to know me and flirt with me. Not like you and Shelma, who walk hand in hand, hugging each other intimately. So that everyone in yourpany suspects that you two are in a serious rtionship. It¡¯s natural to be jealous, Mr. Aarzu,¡± Ariana continued, irritated.


    Ariana pushed Gerald¡¯s body out of the bathroom with a rough movement. Gerald staggered backward. Although the bathroom door didn¡¯t have a lock, Gerald didn¡¯t force it open and continued to enter. Yes, he admitted he was wrong. So Gerald could only stay silent.


    In the end, he chose to leave the room. The only ce he went was the kitchen. Because Yosef said his grandmother was there. And indeed, she was there, with two kitchen assistants apanying her.


    ¡°You just got back?¡± Oma asked. Gerald nodded wearily. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you two be having fun? But why does your face not show it?¡± Oma asked curiously.


    Gerald shook his head slowly. But then he looked up. ¡°If Gerald doesn¡¯t like seeing Ariana with another man, is that normal, Oma?¡± he asked.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Mrs. Rosaline stopped her stirring motion in the pan. Her forehead furrowed, and her old eyes looked at Gerald with confusion. ¡°You¡¯re jealous of Ariana, Oma thinks that¡¯s normal. So why?¡±


    ¡°Ariana doesn¡¯t like it when Gerald is jealous of her,¡± he said sadly.


    Mrs. Rosaline raised the corner of her mouth. In her heart, she murmured to herself, ¡®What¡¯s going on with these two couples?¡¯ Mrs. Rosaline had known from the beginning that Gerald had fallen for Ariana. And Mrs. Rosaline also knew that Ariana had fallen for Gerald. But their personalities were clearly as if they were opposite.


    Gerald, who was generally known to be cold and firm, had a childish side and liked to sulk. While Ariana, outwardly, always showed her tough and strong side. In fact, her heart was fragile. She had a crisis of confidence that not many people knew about. That¡¯s why she always had negative thoughts about others. In fact, she was a good and gentle girl. She was caring and loving. And not many people knew that. Just look at how she treated Axel. She was so attentive and gentle. Even though Axel fell into the category of hyperactive and curious children.


    ¡°Both of you are still in the process of getting to know each other. So Oma thinks it¡¯s normal if you often get annoyed with each other. You don¡¯t know Ariana before you married her. And you treat Ariana  like most women you know,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said.


    ¡°Gerald is not like that, Oma. From the beginning, Gerald knew Ariana was different,¡± Gerald retorted.


    ¡°Yes. From the beginning, you knew she was different. But you treat her like most women you know. You restrain her. You buy her everything you usually give to the women you know. You treat her like she¡¯s a typical clingy woman who sticks to you like a leech. But Ariana is not like that.¡±

 Chap 104 : Ariana Isn’t Like That

    ¡°Ariana is not like most women you know. She doesn¡¯t feel satisfied just because you praise her. You praise her and shower her with luxurious gifts. What Ariana needs is for you to prove to her that she¡¯s valuable. Don¡¯t you ever wonder why she gets angry when she sees you with Shelma in the office? Do you think she¡¯s angry because Shelma is affectionate with you?¡± Mrs. Rosaline asked. Gerald nodded. But then Mrs. Rosaline shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not what makes her angry. What makes her angry is your employees¡¯ments that you and Shelma are a perfect match. What makes her angry is that people don¡¯t know who she really is. Shouldn¡¯t you have introduced Ariana to the public?


    Gerald, the guests who came to your wedding only know that Karenina is your wife. And people in yourpany still see you as a single man. Women out there still see you as an eligible bachelor they can pursue. So, do you think Ariana feels secure in her position as your wife?


    If I were Ariana, I wouldn¡¯t feel safe. Even though your marriage is official, you have never formally introduced her to the public. So, what can you be jealous of? You can¡¯t even acknowledge her as your wife in front of the public.¡±


    Gerald fell silent after his grandmother¡¯s exnation. Maybe his thoughts hadn¡¯t gone that far before. All he knew was that Ariana and everyone around them already knew they were husband and wife, and Ariana wasfortable with that. After all, Ariana had never demanded to be introduced to the public.


    But then Gerald realized. In the past, Ariana didn¡¯t mind all of this because she never nned to be his true wife. She intended to leave after Karenina took her rightful ce. However,tely, Gerald knew that Ariana had epted this marriage. And if that¡¯s the case, he was sure Ariana intended to be his wife forever, with her giving herselfpletely to him.


    Gerald looked at his grandmother again. ¡°To her, your current childish behavior shouldn¡¯t exist,¡± his grandmother said. ¡°If you really want to im Ariana as yours, then let everyone know that she¡¯s yours. Introduce her to the public. Don¡¯t let it be toote. Especially now that Ariana¡¯s rivals have increased again.¡±


    ¡°Are you referring to Shelma?¡± Gerald snorted.


    His grandmother looked at him sharply. For Mrs. Rosaline, this was definitely not a joke. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate a woman¡¯s obsession, Gerald. Just like your obsession with Ariana, don¡¯t underestimate Shelma¡¯s obsession with you. In her mind, she always thinks that you love her and will be hers. And if she ever realizes what¡¯s in her mind, you won¡¯t know what cunning things she can do.¡± Mrs. Rosaline threatened again.


    Gerald fell silent again. As he had confessed to Ariana, he and Shelma had a lot of history in the past. But not many people knew that Gerald was the first person who taught Shelma all the mischief she knew. Even when everyone thought Gerald and Shelma only had a teenage love story, it wasn¡¯t like that at all. Because Gerald was the one who turned Shelma into the woman she was. He was the first person who¡­


    That was all in the past. And Gerald couldn¡¯t deny that back then, he did all of that out of desire. As a normal young man, he was tempted by Shelma¡¯s beauty. And back then, he did intend to marry her and make her his only. Then he found out that for Shelma, he wasn¡¯t enough. Gerald, who had always been jealous since he was young-just seeing Shelma with another man made him angry-let alone if he saw the woman cuddling with someone? And that was when Gerald was convinced that Shelma was clearly not loyal. Especially when their rtionship was not approved by their families. Moreover, not by his grandmother. So Gerald was more convinced to end their rtionship.


    Their past, he only considered it a past love story. After all, Shelma epted her arranged marriage with a man chosen by her father. Although now he knew their rtionship had ended. But the end of Shelma¡¯s rtionship with her husband didn¡¯t make Gerald want to return to her. Because now, in his heart, there was clearly Ariana. And he had no intention of betraying Ariana. Even though he was a yboy, he was not a cheater.


    Mrs. Rosaline had transferred the food onto the tes. The servant in the kitchen brought the food to the dining table. After all the food was brought out, Mrs. Rosaline and Gerald came out. And there, there were three women sitting with the same t expression on their faces.


    Two seats were left at the Mommyr table. Gerald chose to sit next to Ariana, while his grandmother sat next to Shelma. The woman immediately red at Gerald. But clearly, he had to choose his wife. And he had to inform Vivian that if in the future, he got invitations from his business associates or rivals, this time Gerald himself had to attend. Not let Vivian represent him. Because as his grandmother said, he had to start introducing Ariana to the public. Or should Gerald hold a grand reception for them? Gerald nced at Ariana and then nodded slightly. Yes, he had to do that. A luxurious reception that Ariana would never forget.


    Gerald fed himself with a smile on his face. Meanwhile, Ariana ignored him. Shelma, on the other hand, looked at him with clear annoyance in her eyes. ¡®Gerald shouldn¡¯t be happy with another woman besides her.¡¯ At least that¡¯s what was on Shelma¡¯s mind. She turned her gaze back to Ariana and raised the corner of her mouth. Something cunning crossed her mind regarding Ariana, but this time she wouldn¡¯t rely on anyone else to do it. Because clearly, if she told others her n, she was sure her n would fail. And Shelma didn¡¯t like that.


    Meanwhile, the oldest woman there could only observe the people around her in silence. As someone who had been through a lot in life, Mrs. Rosaline could at least read people¡¯s facial expressions, if not their minds. And she knew there was something unpleasant in their family¡¯s future. She didn¡¯t know what it was, she just had to be careful and watch her steps. So that her family wouldn¡¯t fall apart. So that the Darrel case wouldn¡¯t happen again.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

 Chap 105 : Party

    And indeed, by coincidence, what Gerald wanted eventually happened. Vivan said she received a wedding invitation from one of her colleagues. Without much hesitation, Gerald agreed to attend the party held over the weekend. Vivan herself was quite surprised because since taking over thepany, Gerald rarely attended such events, except for meetings specifically dedicated to business.


    On the morning of the weekend, Gerald had already informed Ariana about the invitation. Ariana didn¡¯t ask whose wedding they were going to. She just said that she woulde with Gerald. And Gerald had to tell her when she should get ready. Just that brief. She didn¡¯t even bother Gerald about what outfit he should wear or how they should coordinate their clothes. She also didn¡¯t fuss about small things like going to the salon and styling her hair.


    Yes, Ariana was that simple.


    But Gerald¡¯s expectation of simplicity turned out to be different in reality. When Gerald sent a message to Ariana that he would pick up his wife at the restaurant at seven¡­ she simply agreed. And when Gerald saw her appearance in her private room on the restaurant¡¯s second floor, he was truly amazed. Very amazed. Even if he didn¡¯t close his mouth, he could have drooled like a hungry dog.


    Ariana, the woman, looked so stunning in a silver mini halter dress that showcased her white arms and part of her shoulders. The length of her skirt covered part of her knees, allowing Gerald to see her slender legs that she had hidden behind her jeans all this time. And paired with T-strap heels in ck and red with some sparkling embellishments. Her hair was styled into a simple bun at the back of her neck, adorned with a flower-shaped hair essory that matched her outfit. The hairstyle highlighted her graceful neck. Even though it was partly obscured by her dress¡¯s cor, it didn¡¯t diminish her beauty.


    The only jewelry Ariana wore on her ears were small simple earrings that made her look sweeter. Apart from that, Ariana didn¡¯t wear anything else. No bracelets, no rings.


    Gerald was still standing in front of her, stunned. Even when Ariana waved her hand in front of him, Gerald remained motionless. ¡°Are you nning to be a statue?¡± Ariana asked tly.


    Gerald snapped out of his trance. He shook his head. ¡°How are you wearing this?¡± Gerald nced at his own outfit. He was wearing a silver suit varied with ckpels. Additionally, he wore a tie and a silver vest. His outfit matched what Ariana was wearing now. And that¡¯s what momentarily confused him because his wife hadn¡¯t said anything about their costumes.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°What¡¯s the use of a phone,¡± she answered simply. ¡°I just called Mr. Yosef and asked him what you should wear. Coincidentally, Adel has a connection with a boutique owner. And she suggested this outfit for me. So, as simple as that,¡± she replied in her usual t tone.


    Gerald just nodded. Okay, once again, he had to admit that his wife was different from others.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Simple, yet fantastic. He praised silently.


    ¡°So, are we leaving?¡± she asked Gerald, who was still standing in his ce.


    Instead of answering, he approached and embraced Ariana¡¯s waist. ¡°Can I have a bonus kiss before we go?¡± he offered. Ariana raised an eyebrow, her expression now perfectly etched.


    ¡°Now or not at all, Mr. Aarzu,¡± Ariana said coldly.


    Gerald stepped back a pace. Alright, he had nned all of this. So he couldn¡¯t fail just because of his uncontroble desires. ¡°Alright. I guess I can hold off until we get back home,¡± he replied then. Ariana nodded. Gerald bent his arm, asking Ariana to hold onto it. Ariana didn¡¯t say much and did what the man asked silently.


    They descended to the lower floor. The whistles from his employees upon seeing Ariana¡¯s appearance made Gerald somewhat jealous. Even though Ariana red at them to make them silent, Gerald still didn¡¯t like his wife being the center of attention and admired by others. But he also couldn¡¯t me her if she looked so beautiful. He couldn¡¯t cover her face with a mask either; after all, he wanted to introduce her to everyone and boast about her.


    However, he assured himself that from now on, he had to prepare mentally if more people admired his wife. And from now on, Gerald had to stop being jealous and irrational. Because Ariana clearly wouldn¡¯t like it.


    Gerald opened the door for Ariana. He deliberately didn¡¯t bring a driver because he wanted to enjoy this party with her alone. While Vivan, who usually apanied him, this time Gerald asked her to go to the party alone. Whether she would bring someone or not, Gerald didn¡¯t care. He just wanted to enjoy the time alone with his beautiful wife.


    They arrived at Yudistira Patra Jasa, where the wedding party would take ce. The spacious and luxurious ballroom was beautifully and meticulously decorated. This wedding, like the one Gerald had held before, only invited a few special guests. Although the number was three times the guests Gerald had invited to his own wedding at that time.


    Gerald was guided by one of the waiters to a Mommyr table surrounded by eight chairs. Two people were already there. A married couple Gerald knew quite well. He greeted them and introduced Ariana as his wife. Gerald pulled a chair for Ariana to sit right next to the businessman¡¯s wife. He then nced at another name on the table, his forehead furrowing when he saw that name. Whether it was a coincidence or intentional, Gerald admitted that he was quite annoyed to have to sit at the same table as the person whose name was quite popr among entrepreneurs but didn¡¯t have a good personal rtionship with Gerald himself.


    He sighed unconsciously. Making Ariana look at him with a raised eyebrow. But he shook his head at his wife.


    Gerald didn¡¯t particrly like parties. In the past, when he was still considered young, ces like clubs or discos were his favorite spots. Meeting new people and even spending a night with strangers was a hobby for him. But now, after reaching his thirties, he felt that all of that had be a boring life. Especially after he married Ariana, he felt like he was back to being the innocent child he was, educated by histe grandfather.


    Gerald nced around the room. Some guests he knew nodded their heads as their eyes met. But whether it was just his feeling or not, were they really watching him and Ariana? Why did he feel like he was the center of attention right now? Alright, maybe those who didn¡¯t know were curious about the woman sitting next to him. ¡®Calm down,¡¯ Gerald said to himself. ¡®There will be a time when I introduce you to my beautiful wife.¡¯ He praised himself silently. Gerald raised the corner of his mouth with pride. But then, that expression faded when he saw the person whose name stood in front of him with a petite and beautiful woman in the curve of his arm.


    ¡°Long time no see, Ge.¡±

 Chap 106 : Sheraz

    Gerald and Ariana raised their heads, looking at the person who called them. A Middle Eastern-looking man with a tall stature, broad chest, and long legs smiled at them mockingly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to meet you here,¡± Gerald snorted. The man, greeted coldly, smiled again. His eyes then nced at Ariana.


    ¡°Is this Mr. Gerald Zeroun¡¯s bride?¡± he asked curiously. ¡°Honestly, I thought your wife wasn¡¯t too beautiful, considering you¡¯ve been hiding her from the public. And I thought, she must not be worthy of your pride, considering you¡¯ve deliberately concealed your marriage. But it seems¡­¡± the man looked at Ariana with a praising yet polite gaze. Then he extended his hand. ¡°I¡¯m Sheraz,¡± he said as Ariana shook his hand. His grip was firm, not the teasing kind of handshake. And even though his tone sounded insulting, he smiled politely, reaching his eyes.


    In her heart, Ariana smiled. It seemed like this man was to Gerald what Chris was to her. Both of them appeared to have a past that only the two of them knew. And Ariana reassured herself that she could be a good friend to him, just like she was to Chris.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at my wife,¡± Gerald said irritably.


    The man shrugged, pulling a chair for the woman who came with him and then sat next to her after ensuring she wasfortably seated. ¡°Why? Afraid she¡¯ll be tempted by me?¡± he challenged. ¡°Honestly, Ariana, besides being more handsome than him, I¡¯m also much richer than he is. You won¡¯tck for anything, not just money, but also love.¡± he continued.


    ¡°But I¡¯m better than you,¡± Gerald sneered. ¡°Because I have only one wife and no intention of adding more.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with having two wives?¡± Sheraz shrugged again. ¡°But honestly, Ariana. If you be my third wife, you will have a more luxurious wedding than this. I¡¯m a generous man to women. You can ask my wife, right?¡± he nced at the woman who was now sitting next to him. She returned Ariana¡¯s gaze awkwardly.


    ¡°I¡¯m still confused about you. If you¡¯re still nning to be a yboy, why did you choose tomit and get married? Especially to have two wives. Moreover, your first wife is still healthy and obviously beautiful. And again, how could you marry another woman who happens to be your wife¡¯s stepsister?¡± Gerald¡¯s words were sharp, not filtered and meant to insult. But instead of getting offended, the man burst intoughter.


    ¡°At least I¡¯m better than you, Ge,¡± he replied. ¡°I married both of them because I wanted to, and they didn¡¯t mind. While you, nning to marry her sister but ended up at the altar with her sister? Isn¡¯t that more humiliating for one of them? Moreover, that marriage wasn¡¯t ordinary because you clearly made her father a hostage. Isn¡¯t that coercion, Mrs. Zeroun? Or should I call you ¡®Recement Bride¡¯?¡± he looked at Ariana with mischievously gleaming eyes.


    ¡°Shut up, Sheraz!¡± Gerald snapped again.


    Alright, Ariana thought, she could like this man. If she ever wanted to annoy Gerald, she could use Sheraz¡¯s name as a shield. But more than that, she felt like she knew the man well after knowing who his wife was. Ariana¡¯s eyes had been on him since earlier, although the woman didn¡¯t return her gaze.


    ¡°Why, Ge? Isn¡¯t it a fact? But I¡¯m curious, has your yboy attitude changed? At least I¡¯m not a man who spreads love to every woman I meet. And I¡¯m not a man who likes to spread his seed to every female creature. Not like you,¡± he continued without hesitation. But then, he nced at Ariana. ¡°Oops, did I go too far? Doesn¡¯t your wife know your debauchery?¡± he asked. Gerald clenched his jaw while the man raised the corner of his mouth. ¡°We both were quite naughty back then,¡± he continued to Ariana.


    ¡°That time has ended,¡± Gerald replied again cynically.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Really? I think you¡¯re still fooling around behind your wife¡¯s back. Because coincidentally, before I entered here, I also saw your ex,¡± the man replied. Gerald raised an eyebrow in confusion. ¡°Shelma,¡± he informed. ¡°It seems you didn¡¯t give yourself time to socialize with a few people before sitting here, Ge. Because you didn¡¯t hear the strange rumors I heard.¡± he continued.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gerald asked bewildered.


    ¡°I heard you intend to follow in my footsteps. You n to have two wives at the same time,¡± he continued. ¡°But, Ge, as a man with two wives, I suggest you really do it. I see Shelma as a smart woman. She can help you advance yourpany, just like I made Lunara work in mypany. And you can make Ariana, your wife, the woman you love. Just like I love my second wife, Tanisha. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Sheraz now nced at the silent woman. The remnants of her arrogance turned into embarrassment.


    Gerald¡¯s response was interrupted by the echoing music throughout the Ballroom. A famous pair of hosts, usually seen by Ariana on the screen, were now in front of them. They looked stunning in their luxurious attire, exining the process they were about to conduct. The attention of all the guests seemed to be drawn to them, including Ariana and Gerald.


    When they showed a video that presented the love journey of the couple, Ariana was swept away and fascinated by it. And after the wedding vows ceremony was over, the guests who were allowed to enjoy the meal began to disperse.


    After finishing dinner, the guests scattered again and socialized. Every step and conversation they had stopped every time the newlyweds came and greeted them. A casual chat and then the conversation continued when the newlyweds went to meet other guests.


    And after the bride and groom greeted Gerald and Ariana¡¯s table, Ariana chose to excuse herself to the restroom. She wasn¡¯t too surprised when she saw someone already standing in front of the sink, leaning against the countertop with both hands folded in front of her chest.


    ¡°Waiting for me, huh?¡± Ariana asked the woman.


    The woman straightened up and looked at Ariana challengingly. The hatred she seemed to have hidden behind her beautiful face now began to show. Her gaze was clearly directed at Ariana, assessing her from head to toe. ¡°Just because you¡¯re dressed beautifully doesn¡¯t make you more valuable, Ariana,¡± she insulted. Ariana shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t feel so proud just because you¡¯re Gerald¡¯s wife, Ariana. You surely know that men like your husband and mine are highly sought after by women.¡± Unlike her shy gaze when they were sitting earlier, this time the woman looked at Ariana challengingly.

 Chap 107 : Lunara

    ¡°Are you trying to break out of your shell, Nara?¡± Airrin asked nonchntly. She stared at the woman through therge mirror in front of her. ¡°I thought you were seeking sympathy from people with the story your husband told about you and your stepsister willingly epting polygamy. If I didn¡¯t know who you were, I might have felt sorry for you. Unfortunately, I know you well enough, so that feeling never crossed my mind.¡± Ariana flicked her wet hand, deliberately sshing the woman¡¯s dress before cing her hand under the dryer.


    ¡°But I¡¯m curious, when did your husband marry Tanisha? I thought she disappeared all this time, and I was genuinely surprised to hear she¡¯s back. And when did their marriage take ce? A week after your wedding? A monthter? Because I thought your marriage hadn¡¯tsted long. I still remember how you unted your big diamond ring in front of me at the restaurant a while back,¡± Ariana continued in her t tone.


    Lunara looked at Ariana with hatred in her eyes. ¡°You can mock me now, but you don¡¯t know what will happenter,¡± the woman began to show her fangs. ¡°You must know who Shelma is. She¡¯s not an ordinary woman. Shelma is confident that Gerald will leave you one day, and after that, she and my husband will be back together,¡± she said with disdain.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Ariana showed a panic-stricken expression.


    A sinister smile spread across Lunara¡¯s face. ¡°Of course. Shelma is the sole heir of a coal tycoon. If she wants, she could buy a hundred restaurants like yours. What are you? Nothing more than dirt stuck to the bottom of her expensive shoe. And when Gerald regains his senses, he¡¯ll leave you just like he left Karenina.¡±


    Ariana nodded. ¡°I see¡­¡± she said tly. But then, Ariana shrugged. ¡°But why do I feelpletely unbothered?¡± She said with a thin smile on her face. ¡°If in the end, I¡¯ll be back with Shelma willingly, I will step aside voluntarily. Isn¡¯t it widely known that I¡¯m just a recement bride?¡±


    Moreover, I¡¯m not a woman without dignity like you, Nara. Even when you knew your husband didn¡¯t love you, you still wanted to be with him, licking his feet. Why? Because you love him too much?¡± Ariana sneered. ¡°I think it¡¯s all nonsense. You should be friends with my sister because you both are the same type. Both money-worshipping women. Unfortunately, I¡¯m not like that.¡± Ariana walked away, leaving the woman behind. But the woman¡¯s voice stopped her steps.


    Lunara stared back at Ariana sharply. ¡°That¡¯s why you deserve to be friends with Tanisha. Because you and she are both willing to be the second women,¡± she taunted. Ariana turned back to face Lunara. A mocking smile yed on the woman¡¯s lips. ¡°Everyone knows you were just a backup bride because your twin sister was absent. In other words, if you weren¡¯t considered the recement bride, then you would be the woman who shamelessly took her own sister¡¯s future husband. You and Tanisha are the same; you both are women who took their own brothers¡¯ men.¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Ariana walked closer, standing right in front of the slightly shorter woman and stared at her sharply. ¡°At least, Tanisha and I share the same fate. They-those men, clearly desired us. While you and Shelma are shameless women begging for a man¡¯s attention. Both of you are shamelessly iming men who don¡¯t want you. Haven¡¯t you heard what your husband said? Or are you pretending not to know? To him, you¡¯re nothing more than a decoration to run thepany. The woman he loves is Tanisha, the stepsister you and your mother so heartlessly discarded. To me, you, my sister, and the woman named Shelma are nothing more than harlots.¡± Ariana hissed.


    Lunara raised her hand and tried to p Ariana, but Ariana was quicker, catching the woman¡¯s hand and squeezing it hard until the woman whimpered. Her face, already red from anger, now started to tear up from the pain. ¡°You¡­¡± she hissed.


    ¡°I what? A barbaric woman? You¡¯ve clearly said all of this to everyone since our school days. Or if you forget, you once told everyone that I¡¯m a lesbian. I remember that vividly in my mind, Nara. And don¡¯t think I forgave you since then. Because I¡¯m not a forgiver, and you know that. And about what I said, that¡¯s the harsh reality, Lunara,¡± Ariana replied again, her mouth twisting with a sense of triumph. Ariana mmed the woman¡¯s hand until the back of her hand hit the sink, and Lunara cried out in pain. But Ariana paid no mind. ¡°You don¡¯t need to pretend to be a victim, Nara. You don¡¯t have to put on that pleading face for everyone. Because everyone knows who you are and what your behavior is out there. No need to act like someone who¡¯s been hurt because clearly, in front of me, I know how ustomed you are to hurting others. Either with your actions or your words. And don¡¯t make me hate you even more by always mentioning Karenina and Shelma. Because you don¡¯t know what I can do in front of your husband who doesn¡¯t love you to bring you down,¡± she threatened coldly. And this time, Ariana truly turned and left the woman who was still holding her hand in pain.


    Unbeknownst to Ariana, someone emerged from one of the bathroom stalls and stared at Lunara with a disgusted expression. ¡°I thought I could trust you,¡± the woman snorted. Just like Ariana, the woman casually washed her hands and nced at Lunara in therge mirror in front of her. ¡°I thought you could handle her, but apparently¡­¡± the woman also sshed her hands in front of Lunara. ¡°You can¡¯t rely on you at all,¡± she said sharply. She then turned and left the bathroom.


    Gerald raised an eyebrow when he saw Ariana. He had been worried when his wife went to the bathroom and took so long to return. He was afraid she woulde back alone, angry after hearing Sheraz¡¯s words. Or perhaps something worse. He feared his wife might be osted by an unknown man who wanted to get to know her. Gerald hated that thought because, in any case, he couldn¡¯t ignore Ariana¡¯s extraordinary charm. But then, a more terrifying thought crossed his mind. What he feared most was Ariana hearing unpleasant remarks from the guests. Whatever those remarks might be, they could rte to Karenina or Shelma. Gerald didn¡¯t want that to happen and eventually strain his rtionship with Ariana. After all, he had tried so hard to make her believe. Was it a mistake to bring Ariana here? Was the idea of introducing Ariana to everyone wrong?


    Then Gerald saw his wife walking with a smile on her face. He then knew Ariana was fine. And all the worries in his head were just needless anxieties.

 Chap 108 : What I Heard

    Even though she tried to stay calm, stepping out of the bathroom honestly made Ariana¡¯s chest heat up. Seeing Lunara was just like opening an old memory she never wanted to remember. A memory from fifteen years ago that still haunted her to this day, leaving its mark on her chest. Not to mention the memories from her high school days. Ariana shook her head, hoping that all those memories would fade from her mind. She straightened her posture and walked with her chin up. And then, when she saw Gerald looking around for her, the anger slowly faded.


    A sudden smile appeared on her face.


    Ignore the past and all its bad memories. That¡¯s what shemanded her mind. Right now, she had a different family. She had Gerald and Axel. Her life was much better than it was fifteen years ago. And, she should¡¯ve healed by now. Although Ariana had to admit that she couldn¡¯t im to be in true happiness until now. But she knew for sure, at this moment-and who knows for how long-she still had someone waiting for her. And for now, that was enough for her.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Seeing Gerald¡¯s bright smile, Ariana couldn¡¯t help but smile too. She walked briskly and epted Gerald¡¯s hand, which then turned into a warm embrace around her waist.


    For now-yes, for now, she knew Gerald was so admiring of her. And in reality, as a woman, deep down, she felt happy about it. Even though she wasn¡¯t sure if she could reciprocate all that, and she felt terribly selfish because she could only be the recipient. But deep inside, she was once again doubtful of a word. Forever.


    Yes. For Ariana, the word ¡®forever¡¯ was not something she could trust. She had been deceived by that one sweet word. Indeed, up to this point, that word had never truly existed in her life. Everything in her life only contained the word ¡®temporary.¡¯


    In her life, she didn¡¯t have a forever happy family. She didn¡¯t have forever loyal friends. She didn¡¯t have unconditional love forever.


    Remember, Ariana was abandoned. And even when she got a new family, she felt neglected. And now, even though she saw Gerald looking at her with adoration, she knew that adoration would onlyst temporarily.


    Temporary was a word that had always apanied Ariana. And that word was what made her choose not to trust others until now. Not to love others like she loved herself. Reluctant to entrust her heart to others. Because everything for her was just temporary. Slowly but surely, it would fade and disappear.


    ¡°Can we go home after you congratte the bride?¡± Ariana asked hopefully.


    Gerald furrowed his brow. He had intended to introduce his wife to the public from the beginning. But even his intention hadn¡¯t been fully realized, and Ariana was already asking to leave. Gerald was confused himself because of it. ¡°Why?¡± he asked, curious.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°This isn¡¯t my ce,¡± she replied tly. ¡°And besides, I saw some people I don¡¯t like. It ruined my mood,¡± Ariana said honestly. But then she shook her head. ¡°Is Vivan here?¡± she asked, looking around for the familiar figure.


    Gerald¡¯s forehead wrinkled even more. ¡°Why are you asking about Vivan?¡± he wondered.


    ¡°I know this event is important for you, enough to break your habit of not attending. So, I don¡¯t want to disturb that. On the other hand, I can¡¯t apany you all night and make people ufortable. So I thought, I could go home early. And you can be with Vivan all night. Aren¡¯t you two usually seen as a harmonious family that can¡¯t be apart?¡± Ariana teased. But Gerald ignored her.


    ¡°I came with my wife, and I will leave with her,¡± Gerald said firmly. Ariana smiled hearing his words. Her chest warmed again just because of his sweet gesture. Gerald then led Ariana toward the direction of the bride and groom who were now chatting with other guests. The groom, his business associate, was slightly surprised to see Gerald there. He hadn¡¯t expected Gerald to attend his wedding, considering Gerald rarely attended such events. However, the groom¡¯s joy didn¡¯tst long because Gerald came to greet him just to say goodbye.


    ¡°Why so soon?¡± the groom asked with a surprised and sulking expression. Meanwhile, the bride could only gaze at Gerald and Ariana with confusion. ¡°I wanted to take pride in the guests, because my marriage finally brought Gerald Zeroun out of his shell.¡±


    Upon hearing that, Gerald chuckled. ¡°Forgive me. But my wife and I happen to have other matters after this.¡± Gerald tried to be flexible. ¡°Thank you for inviting us,¡± Gerald continued, straightforward.


    Although they seemed reluctant, the bride and groom just nodded and muttered their thanks for their presence. And after that, they truly left. But before their feet reached the exit, their steps were halted by a group of guests staring at them with curiosity.


    ¡°Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Gerald,¡± a nearly bald-headed man with a potbelly greeted Ariana and Gerald. A beautiful woman in revealing attire was clinging to the man¡¯s arm affectionately. However, her eyes were fixed on Gerald with adoration. Unconsciously, Ariana tightened her grip on Gerald¡¯s arm. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet your wife too,¡± the man now directed his gaze at Ariana. It was clear the man with the snub nose regarded Ariana like a dog eyeing its food.


    ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t believe it when one of my friends said you married into the Brooks family. But turns out, after seeing her, I understand why you epted this marriage.¡± The man continued, sounding like a subtle mockery to Ariana¡¯s ears. ¡°Miss Brooks turned out to be as beautiful as people boasted about.¡± A sly smile yed on the man¡¯s face.


    Ariana was stunned, and so was Gerald. Alright, the word ¡®temporary¡¯ was once again spinning in her mind. Yes, for a while, she forgot who she was and the position she reced. ¡°I¡¯ve met your mother a few times, Miss. And I admit, you resemble Mrs. Brooks. You¡¯re very beautiful,¡± the man praised her again with a licking tone. ¡°What should I call you now? Miss Karen? Or Mrs. Zeroun?¡± the man kept on talking.


    Gerald then released Ariana¡¯s hand that clung to his arm. His right hand moved to grip her waist.


    Meanwhile, his face stared coldly at the almost bald man in front of him.


    ¡°Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lukman,¡± Gerald said. Although he wore a smile on his face, his gaze and his voice were clearly icy. ¡°But you need to know. My wife is not Mr. Brooks¡¯ daughter. She is not Karenina Brooks but Ariana Dwiguna. And please tell that to everyone in this room.¡± Hemanded firmly.


    The man looked at him with a worried expression. ¡°Bu-but, what I heard¡­¡±

 Chap 109 : Negotiation

    ¡°What you hear may not necessarily be true,¡± he answered coldly. It was the first time Ariana saw the business side of Gerald Aarzu Zeroun. ¡°But I believe you are a wise person who knows whom to trust,¡± he continued. The old man nodded awkwardly. ¡°And surely you know what is beneficial for you?¡±


    The old man nodded again. ¡°I understand. You are married to Ariana Dwiguna, not Karenina Brooks. Everything I heard was just pure gossip,¡± he said again.


    ¡°And one more thing. Also tell everyone in this room that soon Gerald Zeroun will host a grand reception to celebrate his marriage.¡± He was once again nodded by the bald man. ¡°In that case, we excuse ourselves. My wife and I have other matters to attend to.¡± Gerald said with a friendly smile on his face. Gerald nodded his head as a form of courtesy before leading Ariana to step away. And Ariana, she was captivated by the charm of the man standing next to her now.


    They walked past a few more crowds before finally reaching the lobby and waiting for their car to be brought by the valet. Both of them were silent.


    In Ariana¡¯s mind, she was still thinking about why the man had said such things to the bald man. While in Gerald¡¯s mind, he was thinking about what could make his wife¡¯s mood better.


    The car was already in front of them. The valet opened the door for both of them. Ariana thanked the employee before sitting down and fastening her seatbelt.


    ¡°What did you mean by saying that to the man earlier?¡± Ariana asked curiously.


    ¡°He¡¯s a big talker,¡± Gerald replied. And that was enough for Ariana to understand.


    ¡°But what do you mean by saying you¡¯ll throw a big party?¡± she asked, her tone disapproving. ¡°I do n to do that. Invite everyone and have an unforgettablevish party so that everyone knows I¡¯m married to a beautiful woman named Ariana Leonidas Dwiguna,¡± Gerald proudly replied.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°Are you really doing it for me? Not because you were offended by Sheraz¡¯s words?¡±


    Mentioning Sheraz¡¯s name made Gerald flinch instantly. ¡°Don¡¯t mention that name in front of me. My ears could go deaf just by hearing it,¡± he grumbled irritably. Ariana could only chuckle.


    ¡°Are you upset because of what he said, or because you can¡¯tpete with him?¡±


    Gerald nced at Ariana again. ¡°I have no intention of getting married again, Mrs. Aarzu. Just facing you is overwhelming enough for me. Let alone two women,¡± he said in annoyance.


    Arianaughed again. ¡°So you think I¡¯m difficult?¡± she asked.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Gerald shrugged. ¡°Honestly? Yes!¡± he replied irritably. ¡°Like right now, I¡¯m confused about what I should do to improve your mood. And what¡¯s even more confusing is that I don¡¯t know the reason that made your mood change suddenly. Are you PMS-ing?¡± he asked openly.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°I just met someone I¡¯ve been avoiding for a long time. And seeing him always disgusts me,¡± she replied honestly.


    ¡°I won¡¯t ask who that person is unless you want to tell me,¡± Gerald replied, still nonchnt. Although in his heart, he made a mental list of who might be the mood spoiler for his wife. Could it be Sheraz? Shelma? Gerald didn¡¯t know the extent of Ariana¡¯s social circle, so he couldn¡¯t guess anything else.


    Or maybe, his wife¡¯s mood changed because of the rumors they heard about Shelma? Although Gerald didn¡¯t believe that Shelma said things like Sheraz did. As far as Gerald knew, Shelma was an educated person who understood etiquette. Perhaps Sheraz said all that just to annoy Gerald, and the man knew that Gerald¡¯s annoyance stemmed from Ariana¡¯s annoyance too. That man was petty. He loved making others ufortable. That¡¯s why their rtionship had never improved since the beginning. Although in their business affairs, they could behave professionally towards each other.


    ¡°Do you want to go somewhere?¡± Gerald offered once they were inside the car. ¡°Any suggestions?¡± Ariana asked back.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t know your preferences,¡± he replied honestly.


    Ariana chuckled hearing that. ¡°I thought your informants¡¯ data told you everything about me,¡± she teased. ¡°Where do you usually go when you¡¯re feeling ufortable?¡± Ariana asked again.


    Gerald shrugged. ¡°A nightclub?¡± he asked uncertainly.


    Arianaughed again. ¡°I¡¯m not a night owl. For me, just taking a walk is enough,¡± she replied. ¡°Going to crowded ces is not my style,¡± she continued. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that already prove that we live in different worlds?¡± Ariana asked in a t tone.


    Gerald nced at his wife briefly. He didn¡¯t like analogies like that. ¡°Everything can be adjusted, sweetheart,¡± Gerald replied straightforwardly.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°Not everything,¡± she gently refused. ¡°You can¡¯t always understand me and cater to my whims. Adjust yourself to me. Likewise, I can¡¯t always follow your wishes, adapt to your life that has clearly been very different from mine. Do you think we can live together with those differences?¡± Ariana asked again.


    Gerald extended his left hand, silently asking for Ariana¡¯s hand. Ariana reached out her hand. And when their palms met, Gerald interlocked their fingers. ¡°I know. What¡¯s the difference with business? We have to adapt everything to the current situation. Life is like that, isn¡¯t it? There¡¯s no perfect partner. There is no marriage without arguments forever. Some people choose to live with someone who has the same personality. Some people demand their partners to be what they want. But it alles back to their respective partners. Whether they do it willingly or by force. And I won¡¯t force you to be what I want because I like you just the way you are. And I can¡¯t change myself to be what you want because I don¡¯t know what kind of man you want me to be. But isn¡¯t life about negotiation? Complementing each other? Rebuking if wrong and talking if something is ufortable?¡± Gerald asked wisely. ¡°If I make a mistake and upset you, I know you¡¯ll tell me directly.¡±


    ¡°And I have to deal with your sulking that is so childish? Is that what you think?¡± Ariana asked again. Gerald chuckled at her, but then nodded his head.


    ¡°But I can be mature and wise asionally. Sulking and being childish are just bonuses,¡± he grinned. Gerald parked his car in one of the parking areas located on a busy street. He then opened the passenger door for Ariana. Ariana looked at him puzzled, but Gerald just smiled. ¡°You said you like walking, so why don¡¯t we walk here?¡± he asked. Ariana looked at a building a few dozen meters in front of her. The triangr-shaped building looked beautiful at night with its golden-yellow lighting. She hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the road, but was surprised when Gerald brought her here.


    ¡°City Park?¡± she asked, surprised. Gerald just nodded.


    ¡°This ce is quite interesting. And I hope we can find any performance that can at least calm you down,¡±


    he continued. Ariana smiled. Once again, her heart was warmed by his understanding. She reached for Gerald¡¯s arm again and followed him as he walked.

 Chap 110 : The Discarded Child and The Bringer of Misfortunes

    ¡°How did you two get to know each other?¡± Ariana started the conversation. Gerald looked at her with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Why? Are you interested in that ck man?¡± Gerald asked sarcastically. Ariana chuckled.


    ¡°Are you jealous?¡± she asked. Gerald snorted. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in him, Mr. Aarzu. I¡¯m more interested in his story, how he can have two wives at the same time. And seeing the way you twomunicate, it reminds me of Chris,¡± Ariana replied honestly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bring that man¡¯s name up in front of me,¡± Gerald replied sternly. ¡°Those two men, never mention their names to me again. Just thinking about them raises my blood pressure,¡± Gerald said sharply.


    Ariana nced at him and smirked. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to tell me about Sheraz, I won¡¯t tell you a secret about me,¡± Ariana said cunningly.


    Gerald¡¯s steps halted. Ariana stopped too. ¡°What secret is that?¡± Gerald asked curiously.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°If I tell you, it won¡¯t be a secret anymore, will it?¡± Ariana challenged. She walked ahead of Gerald towards a food vendor¡¯s cart. ¡°Two grilled sausages, please,¡± she said to a male vendor there. Afterward, she chose to sit on a nearby staircase.


    Gerald followed her. He sat next to the woman, his gaze fixed on the people passing by in front of them. ¡°Do you really want to know? Or are you genuinely interested in Sheraz?¡± he asked, still with his sarcastic tone.


    Ariana smiled. She sat closer to him and yfully hugged his arm. ¡°I just want to know. The reason why he has two wives,¡± she answered honestly. ¡°Do you also know his second wife?¡±


    Gerald nced at Ariana, then nodded. ¡°Honestly, Sheraz¡¯s decision to officially marry two wives caused quite a stir among businessmen,¡± Gerald then exined. ¡°I knew Sheraz back when we were in college. Actually, I, Sheraz, and Chris were at the same campus. Just in different departments. We were brought together at a nightclub,¡± Gerald said with a sardonic smile on his face. ¡°We were all womanizers,¡± he continued. ¡°So don¡¯t believe him if he says he¡¯s not a yboy. All those bastards are the same, always iming to be good guys,¡± Gerald snorted again.


    ¡°Including you,¡± Ariana replied. And Geraldughed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what motivated him to choose marriage. Clearly, my initial reason for marriage was for Axel. And I have to thank fate because eventually, you became my wife, not someone else,¡± he continued. Ariana just sighed hearing his ttery. ¡°But I don¡¯t know what made Sheraz make that decision,¡± Gerald said confusedly. ¡°One day, I heard news from Vivan that Sheraz was engaged to a woman. And a few monthster, he got married. Not just to one woman but two women at the same time. Officially,¡± Gerald said again.


    ¡°So he married them simultaneously?¡± Ariana asked incredulously. Gerald nodded. ¡°Officially?¡± Gerald nodded again.


    ¡°Secret marriages are not umon among businessmen. Having many women could be considered our skill. But marrying two women at the same time? Honestly, even I was shocked to hear it,¡± Gerald said honestly. The sausage vendor Ariana had ordered from had delivered their order. Ariana asked Gerald to pay for their meal. He simply handed his wallet to Ariana without saying much.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°So, what about his second wife?¡± Ariana handed the sausage in her hand to Gerald¡¯s mouth. Gerald momentarily looked confused but then opened his mouth and bit into the sausage in one big bite.


    ¡°As you heard, he married his first wife¡¯s stepsister,¡± Gerald answered between chews. ¡°Not that. I mean, is his second wife happy?¡± she asked, curious.


    Gerald raised an eyebrow. ¡°Of course, everywhere the wreckers of other people¡¯s households always seem happy, don¡¯t they?¡± Gerald asked sarcastically. Ariana chuckled hearing that. ¡°Why are youughing like that?¡± Gerald asked in confusion. ¡°I thought you would hate Sheraz¡¯s second wife and feel sorry for his first wife. Considering how much you dislike being cheated on,¡± hemented. Ariana offered him another sausage, and Gerald bit into it again.


    ¡°Yes. Usually, I always hate homewreckers. But in this case, I can¡¯t hate her,¡± Ariana replied honestly. ¡°Why? How is that possible?¡± Ariana smiled. ¡°Do you want to know the secret I told you earlier?¡± Ariana asked, and Gerald nodded. ¡°Are you not tired of hearing my past story?¡± she asked again. Gerald nodded obediently.


    ¡°It all started fifteen years ago,¡± Ariana began her tale. The bustling atmosphere around them seemed to serve as a backdrop to her story.


    ¡°Tanisha, Sheraz¡¯s second wife, and I were school friends. Tanisha was my junior in elementary school,¡± Ariana smiled to herself, reminiscing about their childhood days. ¡°She was a cheerful and inquisitive girl. Initially, we didn¡¯t know each other. But an incident during a course brought us together. Everyone used to call me Ay or Rin. My juniors called me Kak Ay or Kak Rin. But little Tanisha called me Kak Ai. You know, the name sounded childish to me. But Tanisha did it because she said she always liked to see my expression when she called me that,¡± another smile formed on her face.


    ¡°Then one day, a new student came to my ss, her name was Lunara,¡± Ariana said softly. Gerald looked at Ariana with a furrowed brow. ¡°A skinny little girl whose figure was not much different from Tanisha¡¯s. I don¡¯t know, I didn¡¯t like her from the beginning,¡± Ariana replied. ¡°I just tried not to show it and chose not to socialize with her. But Lunara was close to Karenina,¡± Ariana continued.


    ¡°Time passed, and our rtionship months were still like ordinary ssmates. Then one day, everything changed. My mother and Karenina left, and everyone in my ss, including the teachers, knew about it,¡± a bitter smile appeared on Ariana¡¯s face. ¡°And from that moment on, I knew who the real Lunara was. Even at the age of just ten, she was as cunning as she is now. Slowly, I learned that my friends were distancing themselves from me. I didn¡¯t understand at first. But I chose not to care. My problems with my father had be a burden for me at that time. Then I saw little Tanisha looking gloomy. She no longer greeted me with her cheerful nickname. I tried asking her, and she said her mother had an ident. Truly tragic, isn¡¯t it? It seemed like we shared the same fate. The difference was, I was abandoned because I was unwanted. While Tanisha was abandoned because of an ident. We went through difficult days together. And then the rumors started. Lunara gave Tanisha and me such great nicknames. ¡®The discarded child and the bringer of misfortune.''¡±

 Chap 111 : Forever, It Never Exist

    Ariana¡¯s soft-spoken words made Gerald furrow his brow. ¡°Can you imagine how clever that kid was to give us nicknames?¡± Ariana sighed. ¡°Then I started hanging out with Jody, and our nickname changed to ¡®the outcast trio.¡¯ At first, I didn¡¯t understand the meaning behind it all until I found out shortly after Tanisha¡¯s mother died, that chatty kid disappeared.


    I regret Tanisha¡¯s departure. Because by then, I already loved her. Honestly, I loved her more than I loved Karenina. There was something fragile and cheerful about Tanisha that made me adore her so much. Yes, I only understood it when I became an adult,¡± Ariana continued. ¡°I survived my school days by ignoring Lunara¡¯s mockery and her friends. You know? After Tanisha vanished, she turned into a queen.¡± Ariana smirked.


    ¡°Then years passed, and we were reunited in high school. An unpleasant surprise,¡± she admitted. ¡°And I disliked her even more. Even though I tried to avoid her, somehow, she always managed to find me,¡± Ariana rolled her eyes. ¡°And ironically, every time a guy approached me, she always made me the scapegoat in the end. Until one day, I noticed everyone¡¯s strange nces at me. And then I knew the reason.


    Lunara told everyone that I was trying to get close to her. You know what I mean?¡± Ariana asked again. Gerald shook his head. ¡°She told everyone that I was trying to approach her. I was stealing all the guys around her. Not because I liked those guys, but because I liked Lunara too much. Because I am a lesbian,¡± Ariana said,ughing, but Gerald didn¡¯t respond the same way. He looked at Ariana with eyes full of anger. His fists clenched on his knees. ¡°Since then, my suffering began again. Once again, besides Jody, I had no other friends.


    Both female and male students looked at me with disgust. But I chose to ignore them. Because if I acknowledged it, everything would still be wrong in their eyes,¡± Ariana shrugged. ¡°I dressed up nicely; they would assume I was trying to change my image. And when I appeared tomboyish, they would say I was bing the ¡®man¡¯ in my lesbian rtionship. And all of that because of one name. When high school should have been beautiful,¡± she said again, her tone t.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°Fortunately, I don¡¯t have to share a campus with her anymore because I heard she¡¯s studying abroad, funded by Tanisha¡¯s father,¡± Ariana smiled. ¡°And about Tanisha. A few months ago, I saw her again. After fifteen years, I saw her again. The tiny beauty who used to be so cheerful. Honestly, I lost that cheerful person. I was curious about what she¡¯s like now. The little girl didn¡¯t tell me much. Just that she asked me for a job. She lived in another city and had just returned to town. She said she came back because she wanted to reim her long-lost ce. I could understand, although I didn¡¯t know the real reason. But what I know for sure is that Lunara¡¯s name was involved, the reason why that little girl made such an irrational decision.


    And a few months ago, I found out why. Tanisha was taken away by her father only to be given to her grandparents. He didn¡¯t want her. While her mother¡¯s position was reced by Lunara¡¯s mother. Tanisha¡¯s younger sister suffered in a ce because of Lunara. Tanisha hated both of them. It seems her actions were an umtion of all the anger and hatred she had held back all this time. And then, I suggested it to her,¡± Ariana chuckled. ¡°¡®Take something Lunara desires. That way, you¡¯ll see her suffering.¡¯ That¡¯s what I advised Tanisha back then. And it turns out, this is what I heard,¡± Arianaughed again. She shook her head, feeling amazed. ¡°I didn¡¯t even expect how that small body could do all this. She¡¯s truly extraordinary. Isn¡¯t she?¡± Ariana nced at Gerald. Gerald could only stare at her in silence.


    ¡°Do you like her?¡± Gerald asked, his brow furrowed.


    ¡°What? Revenge?¡± Ariana asked again. Gerald nodded. ¡°Of course. Didn¡¯t you know what I¡¯m like from the beginning? I¡¯m not a delicate and forgiving woman, Mr. Aarzu,¡± Ariana replied straightforwardly. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be proud of having this kind of personality. But this is me,¡± Ariana shrugged. ¡°But honestly, I¡¯m starting to be afraid of you, Mrs. Aarzu,¡± Gerald finally replied.


    A sweetughter was his answer from Ariana. ¡°Why? Regretting now? Do you think it¡¯s toote to distance yourself from me?¡± she challenged.


    Instead of distancing himself, Gerald approached and embraced his wife¡¯s waist. ¡°There¡¯s no question of distancing, Love. Don¡¯t expect me to do that,¡± Gerald replied.


    ¡°But you¡¯re the one who said you¡¯re afraid of me,¡± Ariana tried to pull away. But Gerald didn¡¯t back down from his wife.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡¯s what I meant. Yes, I¡¯m genuinely afraid of you. I¡¯m very afraid,¡± Gerald replied, looking into Ariana¡¯s eyes. ¡°For someone who hates someone like that, you cleverly hide your feelings. I even suspect that you two don¡¯t know each other,¡± Gerald voiced his thoughts.


    Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve learned a lot about life, Mr. Aarzu,¡± Ariana replied tly. ¡°We don¡¯t always let people know what we know, what we feel.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s what scares me,¡± Gerald replied honestly. ¡°Because you¡¯re beyond my reach. I can¡¯t read you. And that¡¯s what I¡¯m truly afraid of. When until now, I¡¯ve been trying to get to know people by reading their bodynguage and facial expressions. But I can¡¯t do that with you. To me, you¡¯re like a nk sheet of paper. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ll write there. Even though I¡¯m the one holding the pen.¡±


    Ariana propped her chin with her hand on her knee. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what makes me look interesting?¡± she asked teasingly. ¡°When you can conquer all the women out there with your ways. You can¡¯t do it with me. Isn¡¯t that the challenge?¡± Ariana asked again.


    Gerald nodded in agreement with her statement.


    Ariana smiled. ¡°So, if one day you can understand me. If you already know what I want. If you¡¯re no longer curious about me, will you leave me?¡± Ariana asked again. Gerald¡¯s forehead creased. He was about to open his mouth, but then Ariana shook her head. ¡°Remember one thing about me, Mr. Aarzu. Until now, I still believe that the word ¡®forever¡¯ doesn¡¯t exist. So never promise anything to me. Especially to promise that you will be with me and love me forever. Because I know, that word is highly impossible.¡± Ariana patted her own thigh and then stood up.

 Chap 112 : Isidora

    Seeing Ariana stand up, Gerald followed suit. He patted the back of his dirty pants for a moment. Then he was surprised to see Ariana¡¯s outstretched hand. Without many words, he epted the gesture.


    Ariana appeared to smile at him, which made Gerald feel awkward. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Gerald asked.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Because I like to,¡± she said casually. Slowly, she walked backward with her hand still holding Gerald¡¯s. ¡°Have I told you that you look handsome tonight?¡± she asked again. Gerald raised an eyebrow, trying to remember, but then shook his head. ¡°You look very handsome tonight, Mr. Aarzu. And more than that, you look very charming,¡± Ariana said with a smile framing her face.


    Clearly, her words made Gerald¡¯s heart beat faster. Even without realizing it, his face reddened. Although he often receivedpliments, this time it was different. Because it came from a woman who rarely spoke sweet words. ¡°Am I going to get a reward for looking charming?¡± Gerald asked back.


    Ariana stopped in her tracks. So did Gerald. In his heart, he wondered if he said something wrong.


    Ariana¡¯s left index finger lifted. She bent it, saying, ¡°Come here.¡± Shemanded. Confused, Gerald approached. But unexpectedly, after Gerald was close to her, she tiptoed and then kissed the corner of Gerald¡¯s lips.


    Gerald was startled instantly. Ariana¡¯s impulsive action surprised him. Okay, he wasn¡¯t surprised to be kissed by women in many ces, he was always the one starting it. But now? He still looked at Ariana in disbelief. But she responded to his confusion with a smile on her face. ¡°If only this weren¡¯t a public ce. I would repay you with something more than that, Mrs. Aarzu,¡± Gerald grumbled.


    But Ariana justughed at his remark. She hugged Gerald¡¯s arm again and led them back to walking.


    ¡°Do whatever you want to me. And I¡¯ll do whatever I want to you,¡± she confidently replied.


    Gerald released her hand on his arm, momentarily surprising Ariana. But then he moved his hand to her waist. Gerald squeezed Ariana¡¯s waist a little, then frowned. ¡°Is it just my feeling, or is your body a bit fuller?¡± he asked Ariana.


    Ariana looked up, looked at Gerald, and clearly saw no joking on his face. ¡°I haven¡¯t measured my weight yet. Maybe I have gained some weight,¡± she replied casually. ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you like me being a bit chubby?¡± Ariana challenged.


    Geraldughed. He shook his head. ¡°Why are women so sensitive to the word ¡®chubby¡¯?¡± he asked, puzzled. Ariana just shrugged.


    They continued walking, arm in arm, talking about some things that weren¡¯t too important. Commenting on what they saw or just saying what came to their minds. Until it waste enough, and they decided to go back home.


    Another morning greeted them. The routine had returned to normal. There were no more morning shopping trips to the market for Ariana because Gerald didn¡¯t allow it. Instead, he always spent time preparing breakfast, asionally taking turns with Mrs. Rosaline. It turned out that cooking was their hobby. And Ariana feltfortable being in the same ce with Gerald¡¯s eldest family member.


    People were right. Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover. Initially, their first meeting made Ariana think that Mrs. Rosaline seemed like a cold and haughty woman who would do anything to get whatever she wanted. While she saw Mrs. Isidora as an intimidated daughter-inw. But the reality, after some time seeing and getting to know them, was not like that.


    Mrs. Rosaline was warm and wise. Her silence was because she preferred to observe. While Mrs. Isidora, she was clearly always aloof. Only in front of Gerald did she seem submissive. Because clearly, all the power now belonged to Gerald.


    Ariana and Gerald always apanied Axel to school before he went to his office. Only asionally did he leave earlier, and even then because there was a meeting he couldn¡¯t miss. The rest of the time, he delegated all the work to Vivan.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    And honestly, Ariana feltfortable living in Zeroun¡¯s residence now. Even though she always avoided being in the same room with her mother-inw, who was always unpleasant to her. Especially since that woman always brought up Shelma and Karenina¡¯s names in front of Ariana, probably to make Ariana aware of her position. Like this morning, for example.


    When Ariana entered the kitchen to make breakfast, what she saw was not Mrs. Rosaline but Mrs. Isidora.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± she greeted the woman with extraordinary friendliness. Ariana was surprised by it. She knew something more spectacr woulde after.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± she replied shortly.


    ¡°I thought I wanted to have a nice breakfast this morning. What will you make?¡± the woman asked again.


    ¡°What do you want to eat? Maybe I can make it,¡± Ariana replied. She knew the woman was challenging her.


    ¡°You¡¯re still so cold towards me. Even though I¡¯m your mother-inw. Karenina and Shelma called me Aunt the first time we met,¡± she said again.


    There. Like Ariana said. The woman always brought up two other women¡¯s names in their conversation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I still don¡¯t feelfortable with you,¡± Ariana replied honestly. ¡°So do you want to eat something special, or will you eat whatever I serve?¡± Ariana asked again with her t face and voice.


    ¡°I think I don¡¯t want to trouble you further. I¡¯ll eat whatever you make,¡± the woman said with a tone that sounded condescending to Ariana. Ariana justplied. She began to take out the food ingredients from the refrigerator and sorted them on the table. ¡°So, where were youst night? I heard that you came home early from the party. But I thought you didn¡¯te back home immediately afterward,¡± thement made as politely as possible actually made Ariana snort.


    Of course, there were no spies hired by the woman. Because Ariana immediately made someone her informant. No, two people, to be precise. If it wasn¡¯t Shelma, then it meant Ariana¡¯s mother and her husband were there toost night.


    ¡°You know, your mother was quite offended by what you didst night. How could you say that you¡¯re not Brooks¡¯ child?¡± she asked with a wrinkled forehead and mocking eyes towards Ariana.


    Ariana looked back at her with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°Why should she be offended? The fact is Ariana is not Brooks¡¯ child because she never touched a penny of that man¡¯s money. And she never lived in the same ce with that man. So what makes them offended?¡± The words came from a man who had just entered the kitchen.

 Chap 113 : Spoiled

    ¡°However, Caitlyn is already married to Brooks. And that indirectly makes Ariana Brooks¡¯ stepdaughter. As a good child, she should be able to uphold the reputation of both her parents, whether biological or not,¡± Mrs. Isidora answered coldly.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of me doing that?¡± Ariana interrupted when Gerald was about to answer her mother¡¯s question. ¡°For fifteen years, they never acknowledged my existence. And as Gerald said, I never enjoyed a single penny of that man¡¯s wealth. No need to calcte his wealth. At least if he considered me his stepdaughter, he could visit me and show me the same love and care he gives to Karenina. But the reality? You might know better, considering you¡¯re close friends with Mrs. Caitlyn.¡±


    ¡°You still refer to your mother like that?¡± Mrs. Isidora scoffed sarcastically.


    Ariana raised her eyebrow. ¡°Then what should I call her? I¡¯ve forgotten that I even had a biological mother for the past fifteen years. Did she ever mention my name in your conversations?¡± Ariana challenged with a defiant look. ¡°Clearly not, right? Given that you were quite surprised when you saw me.¡± Ariana answered her own question. ¡°So don¡¯t ask me to justify their feelings. Because they never did the same for me.¡± Ariana then transferred her food onto a te and prepared to take it to the dining table.


    She chose to ignore her mother-inw, who still red at her. If those eyes could shootsers, Ariana¡¯s back would be riddled with holes by now.


    A few minutester, they were seated around the dining table as usual. But something was odd this time. Gerald didn¡¯t eat the food Ariana cooked for them. Instead, he took a knife and casually peeled a mango, which Ariana didn¡¯t even know where he got it from. There were only grapes, papaya, and dragon fruit on the table. Yet, Gerald was peeling a ripe yellow mango, which Ariana was sure must be sour.


    ¡°Are you on your period? How can you eat sour fruits like that in the morning?¡± Ariana asked, puzzled.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It just feels good to eat fruits in the morning like this. And I even imagined stir-fried beef with young mango. Can you make that?¡± he asked hopefully. Ariana raised an eyebrow, unsure. Gerald nodded enthusiastically.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°Lots of beef, lots of chili, and young mango. What¡¯s it called? Beef fruit sd?¡± Gerald asked uncertainly.


    Ariana just nodded. But then she took the mango from Gerald¡¯s hand and brought it to the kitchen. Quickly, she peeled the young mango and sliced it lengthwise. She took out thinly sliced beef from the packaging. Then she started cooking the dish Gerald desired.


    Gerald, who had been following Ariana to the kitchen, now looked at the pan with sparkling eyes. He seemed very hungry. ¡°Is it ready?¡± he asked when Ariana turned off the stove. Ariana nodded. And he immediately grabbed the pan handle. His hands searched for a spoon, while Ariana just watched him in confusion.


    ¡°Gerald, do you intend to eat it straight from the pan?¡± Ariana asked, amazed. Gerald just shrugged and started putting the food into his mouth. He moaned in delight.


    ¡°Having a chef wife is different,¡± he said.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not a chef,¡± she replied shortly. But Gerald ignored his wife¡¯s statement. Ariana also sat down in the chair next to him, watching Gerald eat with gusto. Gerald offered Ariana a spoonful of the dish. She epted it. And it indeed tasted refreshing in her mouth. The sourness of the young mango and the tamarind, the spiciness, and the sweetness from the palm sugar blended in her mouth. Yes, it was indeed a spicy beef sd. Just as Gerald wanted.


    ¡°Are star fruits in season now?¡± Gerald asked again.


    Ariana furrowed her brow again. ¡°You want star fruits too?¡± she asked, surprised.


    Gerald nodded. ¡°I imagine the freshness of ripe yellow star fruits. It must be good when eaten cold.¡± He seemed to be daydreaming.


    Ariana touched her husband¡¯s forehead. ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡± she asked, puzzled. Gerald smiled, reaching for her hand on his forehead and holding it.


    ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine. I actually feel refreshed after this.¡± he replied. Ariana looked at the pan in front of her, and indeed, there was only about a third left.


    ¡°Not just fine. Greedy!¡± Ariana replied. She poured some water into arge ss and handed it to Gerald. ¡°Just be careful not to get a stomachache after this.¡± She warned him. Ariana then stood up and was about to leave him. But Gerald then pulled her and hugged her tightly. Resting his head on her stomach. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Ariana asked, confused. But she didn¡¯t try to free herself from his tight embrace.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just feel like being pampered.¡± he said softly. Ariana raised her hand, caressing his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s not funny for a man your age to act spoiled.¡± she replied but didn¡¯t stop her stroking on his head. Gerald closed his eyes and enjoyed his wife¡¯s caress. It was indeed veryfortable. Something he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. And apparently, he missed it without realizing.


    ¡°Do we need a vacation?¡± Gerald raised his head. His hands still holding his wife¡¯s waist.


    ¡°I¡¯ve taken a lot of days off already,¡± Ariana replied. Gerald pouted yfully. Ariana cupped his face, pressing both sides of Gerald¡¯s cheeks with her palms so his lips pouted. ¡°Don¡¯t act childish, Mr. Aarzu. You¡¯re a man, not a child like Axel. Axel never acted spoiled like you. Why should you lose to him?¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m spoiled only with my own wife, not with other women.¡± he said, his words unclear because his lips were still being made pouty by Ariana.


    ¡°Be careful if you intend to be pampered by other women.¡± Ariana threatened, annoyed. She pressed Gerald¡¯s cheeks again.


    Gerald withdrew his head.


    ¡°Are you jealous?¡± he asked hopefully.


    Ariana just raised an eyebrow. ¡°What do you think?¡± she asked. ¡°Besides, jealous or not, a married man shouldn¡¯t be close to other women. No matter what the form is, they still call it cheating. And if you do that, I¡¯ll only give you two options.¡±


    ¡°What are they?¡± Gerald furrowed his brow. He felt this conversation wouldn¡¯t be pleasant for him.


    ¡°The first option. I¡¯ll do the same with you,¡± Ariana replied firmly. ¡°Cheating.¡± That answer made Gerald¡¯s back straighten instantly. ¡°And the second option, as you know. I will leave you.¡± she said with a smile on her face. Ariana kissed her husband¡¯s forehead before then walking away from him.

 Chap 114 : Dizzy

    ¡°They went to drop off Axel as usual. But there was something different about Gerald during their journey to school. The man frequently massaged his temples and even covered his mouth with his hand as if he was about to vomit. Ariana, who noticed this, could only furrow her brow.


    When the car dropped Ariana off at the restaurant, she finally mustered the courage to ask, ¡®Are you okay?¡¯ Ariana asked, her brow furrowed.


    ¡®It seems I caught a chill,¡¯ Gerald replied weakly. ¡®I¡¯ve had a headache and felt nauseous since earlier.¡¯


    Ariana snorted. ¡®Spoiled rich people. Given regr air conditioning and you catch a cold from the breeze.¡¯ She teased. Gerald responded with a re at his wife. ¡®I¡¯ll go in first, I¡¯ll make you some warm ginger tea or hot lemon.¡¯ She offered. Gerald just nodded. He followed Ariana into the restaurant. However,ter, they were surprised to find Amber there. ¡®Are you awake?¡¯ Ariana asked tly.


    Amber only answered Ariana¡¯s question with a shrug. ¡®Why? Miss me?¡¯ she retorted.


    Ariana snorted again. ¡®Ge-er.¡¯ Ariana replied. She then nced at Gerald. ¡®You go upstairs. I¡¯ll make the ginger tea first.¡¯ She requested. Gerald nodded silently. He climbed upstairs, holding onto the staircase railing due to his increasing dizziness. ¡®Where have you been during the vacation?¡¯ Ariana asked, walking towards the kitchen, leaving Amber to her own devices.


    ¡®Nowhere special. Just hanging out here and there and ended up burning through my funds.¡¯ Amber replied curtly.


    Ariana chuckled. ¡®That¡¯s why, if you¡¯re jealous, don¡¯t follow trends.¡¯ She replied. She washed and started peeling the ginger before crushing it.


    ¡®How¡¯s your rtionship? Better?¡¯ Amber, now standing next to Ariana, inquired, leaning her hip against the edge of the table.


    ¡®ording to you?¡¯ Ariana retorted.


    ¡®It seems fine. Have you fallen in love with him?¡¯ Amber asked again.


    ¡®Why? Do you want to make sure Chris and I have no connection?¡¯ Ariana replied.


    Amber sneered. ¡®Can you just answer? Stop throwing questions back at me.¡¯ She snapped. Ariana chuckled. She saw the boiling water in the pot and started putting the ginger in it.


    ¡°Lan, Chris and I never had any connection. And you know that. Chris just sees me as a sister. And I see him as a brother. My reason for preventing you from liking him wasn¡¯t because I don¡¯t want to see you in a rtionship with him. But there¡¯s a secret Chris has that I know of, which is the reason he can¡¯t be with you.¡± Ariana exined.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡®Why? Does he have a girlfriend he likes? Who is it? Tell me.¡¯ Amber demanded. ¡®Amber¡­¡¯


    ¡®You don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to hope for someone because you¡¯ve never been in love, Ariana. You don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to be me.¡¯ Ariana just nodded. ¡®Yes. I don¡¯t know what falling in love means. And I¡¯ve stopped hoping for people a long time ago. Because I don¡¯t know what your feelings are like. But at least, you can use yourmon sense, Amber. You¡¯ve known from the start that Chris never gave you any feedback even though he knows how you feel. And you should know that what you¡¯ve been doing to Chris all this time is in vain.


    The principle is, if you and Chris are meant to be, then someday, somehow, Chris will be yours. And from that moment on, you have to move on. Wait until that timees. Instead of hoping more and more.¡¯ Ariana¡¯s exnation made sense. ¡®But love doesn¡¯t always follow logic. And you know that.¡¯


    ¡®Yes. And that¡¯s why I don¡¯t want to fall in love. Because as Agnez Mo says, love has no logic. And I don¡¯t want to be someone who¡¯s overly emotional. Like you!¡¯ Ariana poured the ginger water into arge ss. ¡®Luckily, you realized toe back here. If you hadn¡¯t realized and got lost, you would regret it for losing such a beautiful and kind friend like me.¡¯ Ariana replied before walking away with arge ss of ginger water in her hand.


    Ariana climbed the stairs carefully. She saw her bedroom door open, but there were no signs of Gerald. Ariana furrowed her brow and called her husband¡¯s name softly. But there was no response at all. Usually, if Gerald came to her ce, he would sit on the couch and turn on the TV. Although he didn¡¯t really pay attention to it because he was busy with Ariana¡¯sptop or his own phone. But this time, the TV in the room was still off.


    Ariana walked into the room. And she was truly surprised to see Gerald lying there. What was wrong with him? she wondered. How could he be sleeping? Wasn¡¯t he supposed to go to the office?


    But Ariana remembered that Gerald hadined about feeling unwell earlier. Ariana walked closer. She ced the ss on the nightstand and then sat on the side of the bed. She touched her husband¡¯s forehead, which seemed to be sweating coldly. His face was pale. He looked really miserable.


    Maybe because he felt Ariana¡¯s touch, Gerald slowly opened his eyes. ¡®Ana¡­¡¯ he called softly.


    ¡®Hmm¡­ what¡¯s wrong with you? still feeling dizzy?¡¯ she asked. Gerald nodded weakly. Hisrge body shifted forward and he moved closer. His head rose to Ariana¡¯sp, and he chose to hide his face in Ariana¡¯s stomach. ¡®Still feeling nauseous?¡¯ Ariana asked again. Gerald just nodded tiredly. ¡®Should I rub some aromatic oil for you?¡¯ Ariana offered again. Gerald shook his head.


    ¡®Maybe the dizziness will go away soon.¡¯ He replied. Ariana just nodded. ¡®If you want to sleep, then go back to sleep. Did you contact Vivan?¡¯ she asked. Gerald just nodded. ¡®Alright, drink the ginger water first. So your nausea will go away.¡¯ Ariana took the ss from the nightstand. Gerald opened his eyes and then slowly sat up. He took the ss and started drinking it bit by bit. The warmth from the ginger and the sweetness from the brown sugar did calm his queasy stomach. ¡®Go back to sleep, I¡¯m going downstairs.¡¯ Ariana said again. But before Ariana could really get up from the bed, Gerald stopped her. He eveny back on Ariana¡¯sp with his arms circling his wife¡¯s waist. ¡®Gerald?¡¯ Ariana felt ufortable with Gerald¡¯s childishness. Not that she had anything against it, but Amber was back now, and she didn¡¯t want her friend to suddenlye in and see Gerald acting so childishly.


    ¡®Please, don¡¯t go. Keep mepany here.¡¯ He begged with a childish whine.


    ¡®I have to work.¡¯ Ariana replied. She tried to refuse Gerald¡¯s request. But he hugged Ariana even tighter.


    ¡®Just for a while.¡¯ He whined. Ariana could only sigh deeply.


    ¡®Just a while, okay.¡¯ Ariana warned. Gerald just smiled and buried his face even deeper into Ariana¡¯s stomach. Smelling his wife¡¯s scent  that had actually eliminated his nausea and dizziness.¡±

 Chap 115 : Drunk

    Gerald kept his promise. He only slept in Ariana¡¯s room for about an hour, and afterward, he appeared refreshed and ready to resume his activities. Ariana escorted Gerald to the front door, an unusual gesture for her, but she did it reluctantly due to Gerald¡¯s insistence. She could onlyply, furrowing her brow in the process.


    Upon returning to the room, Ariana found Adel already there. The young adult, always teasing, looked at Ariana. ¡°Aww, aren¡¯t you two just being romantic,¡± the girl said. Ariana rolled her eyes. ¡°If you want to be romantic, don¡¯t do it in public. Some people might get affected.¡± Adel nced at Amber, who responded with a dismissive gesture. ¡°But, Mba Amber, where have you been all this time?¡± Adel asked curiously, not one to hold her tongue. Despite the displeased look on Amber¡¯s face, it seemed like Adel intentionally wanted to provoke Amber further.


    ¡°Adel,¡± Ariana warned. Adel turned and closed her mouth tightly. ¡°Have the others arrived?¡± Ariana inquired, heading towards the kitchen. There, Jody was unloading the groceries he had bought from the market using a rented pedicab. Obviously, the motorcycle couldn¡¯t carry all of Jody¡¯s belongings. Some meat and fish were already supplied by regr suppliers.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    They discussed the menu for the uing lunch. They talked about the shortage of ingredients in the storage that they needed to buy and other matters they usually discussed. Shortly after, the other restaurant employees arrived and began preparing, donning their uniforms and aprons.


    Lunchtime was just minutes away. Ariana was helping Jody and the other kids prepare some dishes when Adel¡¯s head popped out of the kitchen. ¡°Mba, Your Hus-Hus is here!¡± she shouted loudly. Ariana turned around, seeing Gerald, who still looked pale, walking towards her wearily.


    ¡°Why?¡± Ariana panicked a bit at seeing Gerald looking so unwell. ¡°I have a headache,¡± the man replied weakly.


    ¡°If you have a headache, why did youe here? Shouldn¡¯t you be at home?¡± Ariana asked again. But then, she took off her apron and guided her husband back upstairs. ¡°Where¡¯s Vivan?¡± she asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s taking care of work,¡± he replied. The man put his arm around Ariana and walked upstairs. Ariana wanted toin. Gerald¡¯s body was quite heavy, and Ariana¡¯s own strength wasn¡¯t enough to support him. However, feeling sorry for Gerald, she didn¡¯t say much.


    Ariana opened the door and guided the big man to the room. Gerald immediatelyy down on the bed without bothering to take off his shoes and socks. Ariana just shook her head. Slowly, she removed his shoes and socks and ced them by the door.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Ariana approached again, wiping his forehead, which felt a bit warm now. ¡°Should I call the doctor?¡± she asked once more. Gerald just closed his eyes with his left arm resting on them and shook his head. ¡°Do you want to go home? Maybe you¡¯d be morefortable there,¡± Ariana offered again. But Gerald shook his head once more.


    ¡°Just stay with me,¡± the man replied softly. Ariana could only take a deep breath and let it out slowly. She didn¡¯t really want to apany Gerald, not because she didn¡¯t like him. It was because she had the responsibility to take care of her restaurant, and she felt guilty for burdening Jody too much. However, on the other hand, Gerald was her husband, and she also had an obligation to take care of him. As a result, Ariana sat there, still gently rubbing Gerald¡¯s head.


    ¡°Have you had lunch?¡± Ariana asked again. Gerald shook his head again. ¡°Shall I make something for you?¡± Gerald shook his head once more. ¡°If you¡¯re feeling unwell like this, how can you get better if you don¡¯t eat?¡± Ariana scolded. However, despite her words, she didn¡¯t move from her seat. ¡°Eat, I¡¯ll make some soup for you.¡± She tried to coax him. Gerald finally moved his arm, which had been covering his eyes since earlier, and looked at Ariana with his reddened eyes. It seemed the man was truly experiencing a severe headache.


    ¡°After you eat, you can take aspirin and then sleep,¡± Ariana suggested. Gerald just stared at her and then nodded slowly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take too long,¡± he whispered. Ariana just smiled and nodded. But before leaving, she asked Gerald to sit up and took off his jacket. Geraldplied. He behaved like a puppet, allowing Ariana to handle him as she pleased. Afterward, Arianaid him back down and then covered him with a nket.


    ¡°Wait here for a moment, okay?¡± Ariana wiped Gerald¡¯s forehead once more and kissed his forehead before leaving and closing the door behind her.


    She went downstairs and saw almost all the tables upied by customers. All her employees were on the floor, serving all the customers. Once again, she felt guilty, as if she had neglected her duties as one of the restaurant workers, even though she was the owner. But still, she felt like she had neglected her responsibilities.


    She walked toward the kitchen and saw the crew busy with all the ordersing in. She nced at Jody and immediately grimaced. Meanwhile, Jody looked at her with a smirk on his face.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your man? Is he sick?¡± he asked. Jody was giving attention with his sarcastic tone, and Ariana knew it.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s a bit feverish. His eyes are red too.¡± She took out ingredients from the fridge, preparing to make the promised soup.


    ¡°I thought he was craving something,¡± Jody replied casually, still working with his cooking tools in front of him. ¡°Can guys even have cravings?¡± Ariana asked in disbelief. She turned when she didn¡¯t hear a response from Jody. Her friend shrugged.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never had a wife.¡± Jody chuckled. ¡°But I¡¯ve heard from some people. They say it happens. The girl gets pregnant, but the guy gets extremely drunk.¡± Jody replied casually.


    Ariana grimaced, for two reasons. Pregnant and drunk, as Jody mentioned earlier. In her heart, she refused to be pregnant. She wasn¡¯t ready to be a mother. Even to be a wife, she wasn¡¯t sure she was worthy yet. Let alone a mother. In her heart, she was afraid of bing a failed wife and mother like her mother. She realized she was still a selfish woman who prioritized her own desires over others¡¯. As for being a mother? Ariana shuddered unconsciously.


    ¡°But it¡¯s called morning sickness, not day sickness. Can someone be drunk at this hour?¡± Ariana tried to divert her thoughts, joking with Jody.

 Chap 116 : I Like Your Smell

    Ariana brought the instant broth upstairs. Making broth was not supposed to be this quick, but what could she do? She couldn¡¯t let Gerald wait for two hours just for a bowl of broth and risk aggravating his acid reflux, could she?


    Ariana opened the bedroom door slowly. Her husband hadn¡¯t moved at all since shest left him. Ariana frowned. She ced the tray on the nightstand and approached him.


    ¡°Gerald. Are you asleep?¡± Ariana got closer and tried to shake his body. Gerald remained still. Ariana climbed onto the bed and approached him further. She wiped Gerald¡¯s forehead. He then opened his eyes and looked at Ariana with his still red eyes. ¡°Still having a headache?¡± Ariana asked sympathetically. The man nodded his head weakly.


    Ariana helped him sit up, cing a pillow behind Gerald¡¯s back so he could sitfortably. ¡°Eat first, then take aspirin. Or do you want to go straight to the doctor?¡± Ariana asked, berating herself internally. Hello, was Gerald the type to go to the doctor? More likely, a doctor woulde to him. Fortunately, Gerald didn¡¯t seem fully concentrated; otherwise, he would have undoubtedly mocked her words.


    Ariana helped Gerald eat. She patiently spoon-fed him until all the food on the tray was finished. Ariana then left the room, opened the drawer where she hadst stored his headache medicine before returning to hand it to Gerald. ¡°If your headache persists into the evening, I¡¯ll ask Vivan to call the doctor. So, be hereter, and pick him up.¡± Ariana ordered firmly. Gerald just looked at her and then nodded without many words.


    For the first time, in the third month of their marriage, Ariana saw Gerald sick. And apparently, apart from being pampered, there was a silent side to him too. And it actually scared Ariana. But she couldn¡¯t say anything other than frown.


    Geraldy back down, and Ariana covered him. ¡°Stay with me,¡± he begged softly. Ariana, who was about to return downstairs, turned back. She sat outside the nket, and shortly after, Gerald put his head back on Ariana¡¯sp, curling up like a baby with his head against Ariana¡¯s stomach.


    Slowly, Ariana stroked his head and back until she felt Gerald¡¯s breaths be calm, indicating he had fallen asleep. Once she was sure Gerald wouldn¡¯t wake up, Ariana gently lowered his head and tried to leave the room quietly.


    Outside the room, she immediately tried to contact Vivan. His phone was picked up on the first ring. ¡°Do you know what happened to Gerald?¡± Ariana asked directly.


    ¡°The boss just said he caught a chill, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Really? Has he been like this before?¡±


    ¡°Not often.¡±


    ¡°Is he always this pampered?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Is it really just a chill?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    The short questions that actually sounded ridiculous. But Ariana only had Vivan as an informant. But the answers she got from Vivan were not satisfying at all.


    ¡°I told him if his condition doesn¡¯t improve by evening, I will ask you to call the doctor. So, make sure toe here and pick him upter.¡± Ariana instructed gently.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Vivan replied from the other end. Ariana could only sigh deeply and then hang up the phone. Ariana went back to the kitchen and resumed her activities.


    As evening approached, Ariana decided to rest. Because the restaurant had started to empty, and the children had begun to prepare the menu for dinner. She went back upstairs and was quite surprised to see Gerald sitting casually in front of the TV with the remote in his hand. He looked fresh with a ck T-shirt and knee-length jeans that Ariana thought Vivan brought there while she was busy in the kitchen.


    ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Ariana asked, surprised. Gerald had left no trace that he was sick earlier. He looked perfectly fine.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he replied proudly. A sly smile appeared on his face, making Ariana frown. ¡°My body is very healthy, so even being sick doesn¡¯t take long.¡± He answered arrogantly. ¡°And you don¡¯t need to ask Vivan to call the doctor because I¡¯m perfectly fine now.¡± He said still with his arrogant tone.


    Ariana scoffed. He really had no self-awareness. Didn¡¯t he remember how spoiled and whiny he was when he felt sick earlier?


    But Ariana chose to keep her words to herself.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Gerald asked when Ariana didn¡¯t stop and instead walked further into the room.


    ¡°Taking a shower,¡± Ariana replied, entering the room.


    Gerald just watched her. But then a smile appeared on his face. He got up from his seat. Walked to the door, and locked it from the inside. He deliberately removed the key from its ce and ced it on the cab near the door. He then walked into the room, following his wife.


    But before the woman reached the bathroom door, Gerald grabbed Ariana¡¯s hand and turned her body slowly.


    ¡°What?¡± Ariana asked, confused.


    ¡°Can I?¡± Gerald asked his wife in a spoiled tone.


    Ariana¡¯s forehead wrinkled deeper. ¡°Can I what?¡± she asked, puzzled.


    But instead of answering Ariana¡¯s question with words, Gerald put his hands on his wife¡¯s waist. He slowly pulled out the shirt Ariana had tucked into her jeans as if asking for Ariana¡¯s decision. Ariana saw her husband¡¯s movement and then gently ced her hand on his chest.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you feeling unwell?¡± Ariana asked, surprised.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, and I¡¯ll be even better after this.¡± Gerald replied confidently. He slipped his head into Ariana¡¯s neck and kissed it softly. Ariana tilted her head and gave her husband permission to do whatever he wanted.


    But then Ariana stopped him again. ¡°Is it okay if my body smells of sweat?¡± Ariana teased. Gerald shook his head. He pulled Ariana¡¯s top off her arms.


    ¡°I like your body odor,¡± he said honestly.


    Ariana chuckled. ¡°I know that men can do all this with anyone, anytime, anywhere. Even with strangers.¡± Ariana¡¯s taunt made Gerald¡¯s movement stop. He looked at Ariana with cynicism.


    ¡°Is this how you reject your husband, Mrs. Aarzu? By revealing my dark past with women out there?¡± Ariana shrugged. But what Gerald didn¡¯t expect was that his wife just removed her tank top herself. A smile spread across his face instantly.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You know what I¡¯m like, Mr. Aarzu. If I don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll say it. And if I don¡¯t want to, then I won¡¯t do it.¡± Ariana replied and then pulled Gerald¡¯s shirt off his head. And you can imagine what happened next.

 Chap 117 : Cravings

    Ariana tilted her head as Gerald lowered his and began to kiss her lips. At first, it was slow, just a small peck, a first taste before the kiss turned into a passionate exchange that involved a battle of tongues.


    Their hands didn¡¯t stop touching each other. Ariana couldn¡¯t stop touching Gerald¡¯s skin, and vice versa. When they werepletely undressed, Ariana wrapped her arms around Gerald¡¯s neck and her legs around his waist. They continued kissing as Gerald guided their bodies onto the bed.


    Heid Ariana down slowly, starting to explore her body with his lips. Kisses and sucks in ces that made Ariana moan, groan, and writhe. Until Ariana couldn¡¯t hold back her desire anymore. She turned, pulling Gerald¡¯s body and flipping him onto the bed. Then, she climbed on top of him and began to unite their bodies.


    Time passed incredibly slowly in Ariana¡¯s room. The smell of sweat. The sound of their heavy breathing. Moans and even cries they couldn¡¯t suppress. Because Gerald knew, although the room wasn¡¯t soundproof, they were alone there. No one would enter because he had locked them both inside.


    And Ariana, she didn¡¯t care anymore. She didn¡¯t even care about the people who might be waiting downstairs, needing her help. What she knew right now was that she just wanted to enjoy this hot and exhrating moment for her own satisfaction.


    Their desires were so overwhelming that one round didn¡¯t seem to be enough. After their sweat had cooled, and their breaths started to return to normal, they engaged in the same act again, with different positions and ces. Ariana wasn¡¯t even ashamed to do it in the bathroom or in front of the TV where she had seen Gerald sitting earlier. Because truth be told, ever since she saw her husband sitting there looking refreshed, Ariana felt her own passion skyrocketing.


    They worshiped each other. They liked each other¡¯s bodies. Until eventually, when the clock showed past five, Ariana and Gerald surrendered due to exhaustion.


    They bothy back on the bed. They didn¡¯t wear anything under the nket that covered their bodies up to their chests. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± Ariana asked. Shey facing Gerald with her head resting on her husband¡¯s arm.


    Gerald looked at his wife and raised the corner of his mouth. ¡°After the hot rounds we¡¯ve done repeatedly, do you really doubt my health?¡± he countered.


    Ariana frowned. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not taking Viagra?¡± she asked again. Choosing to rise and lie on her stomach but still facing Gerald.


    Gerald responded to that question withughter. ¡°So, do you think I called Vivan here to bring me enhancers?¡± he asked. Ariana shrugged. Gerald yed with his wife¡¯s beautiful loose hair. ¡°Darling, men my age are currently in their prime. So you should keep up. Don¡¯t let yourself copse because I usually ravish you.¡± He said casually.


    Ariana punched his chest hard enough to make a loud noise. But instead ofining about the pain, Geraldughed.


    Ariana got up. Covering her body with the nket they used. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Gerald asked, curious.


    ¡°To shower,¡± Ariana replied tly. When Gerald got up, Ariana looked at him sharply. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about following me, Mr. Aarzu. Everything is done here. Maghrib ising soon, and the restaurant will start filling up again with customers.¡± She threatened because she knew what was on her husband¡¯s mind.


    Gerald responded to the threat with his chuckle. Ariana entered her bathroom. Taking off the nket outside the door before closing it.


    After they finished their Maghrib duties, Ariana decided to go downstairs and back to the kitchen. Some of her employees had changed into their fresh clothes. And it had be their habit to clean up before Maghrib and prepare to serve dinner guests in the restaurant.


    ¡°The smell seems suspicious,¡± Jody teased when Ariana started preparing to cook.


    Ariana red at her friend but chose to ignore her. ¡°Shut up, you, or you might get emotional,¡± Ariana replied sarcastically. Jodyughed at her response.


    ¡°So, who are you making that for? There aren¡¯t any guests here yet,¡± ¡°For myself. I¡¯m hungry too,¡± Ariana replied honestly.


    ¡°Yeah, right, of course you¡¯re hungry. How many rounds was that upstairs?¡± Jody teased again.


    Ariana looked at her friend again. Her eyes narrowed, looking at Jody sharply. Jody raised her hands. Her index finger pointed to her neck. ¡°Better, hide those hickeys of yours. Whatever you put on, do it before the kids see.¡± She said again,ughing.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Ariana was wide-eyed. She then covered her neck with the cor of her new shirt. Although she wasn¡¯t sure if it helped. ¡°Damn you!¡± she eximed. But Jody justughed out loud, hearing her friend¡¯s curse.


    Seafood fried rice in arge portion was ready. She carried the fried rice out of the kitchen and was quite surprised to see Gerald sitting at the bar table, talking to Amber and Adel. He seemed familiar with both of them, as if they already knew each other. Ariana approached. ¡°Is there a reunion going on here?¡± she asked Amber, Adel, and Gerald. The two of them looked silent when Ariana was there. And that clearly made Ariana suspicious that she was the topic of conversation.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Well, I seem to disturb. Maybe you were talking about me. And because I was there, you all became silent,¡± she said. She walked away from the bar table. Choosing to take therge te of fried rice back upstairs. Gerald, who knew his wife was changing her mood, followed her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡± Gerald wrapped his arms around Ariana¡¯s waist and took the te from her hands. ¡°Why are you leaving like that?¡± he continued.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°Well, maybe I disturb. Who knows, you might be talking about me. And because I was there, you all became silent,¡± Ariana said again. She opened the door to her room. Walked all the way to the small fridge there and took a cold drink from it before walking to the sofa. Gerald, who had ced the te on the table, now reached for the bottle of drink in Ariana¡¯s hand and also ced it next to the te. After that, he put his hands on both sides of Ariana¡¯s waist and pulled her closer. Ariana tried to keep some distance between them by folding her elbows in front of Gerald¡¯s chest.


    ¡°We weren¡¯t talking about you,¡± Gerald said softly, trying to persuade her. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ariana raised an eyebrow. Looking at Gerald in disbelief.


    Gerald smiled cunningly. ¡°Okay, we were talking about you,¡± he admitted. But when Ariana tried to move away, Gerald¡¯s hands tangled behind Ariana¡¯s back, so she couldn¡¯t escape. ¡°Amber and Adel suspect that I¡¯m not sick. But they said, maybe I¡¯m craving something,¡± Gerald said with a smile that never left his face.


    ¡°Craving?¡± Ariana still furrowed her brow in confusion.


    ¡°Yes. Craving. You know, pregnant, craving,¡± Gerald replied.


    ¡°I know what craving is,¡± Ariana said curtly. ¡°But how can men have cravings?¡±

 Chap 118 : Disturbing Thoughts

    Gerald shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know either,¡± he replied tly. ¡°Maybe they were just guessing and hoping at the same time. Besides, who wouldn¡¯t want to see little Gerald or little Ariana? I certainly do.¡± The man answered with a happy smile on his face. Ariana raised her eyebrows, staring at her husband with a look that Gerald found difficult to interpret. She then pushed her husband¡¯s chest.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry,¡± she said. Gerald just chuckled, aware that his wife was trying to divert attention. He nodded, releasing his embrace and then sat down, getting ready to enjoy the meal Ariana had prepared for them.


    ¡°But I think it¡¯s worth a try,¡± Gerald spoke again. Ariana, who was about to feed him, suddenly stopped and looked at Gerald in confusion.


    ¡°What do you mean by try?¡± she asked puzzled.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Going to the doctor and consulting about pregnancy,¡± he said tly. Ariana widened her eyes.


    ¡°Do you want us to n a pregnancy?¡± she asked incredulously. Gerald nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve only been married for a few months, and you want to n a pregnancy?¡± she repeated her question. Gerald nodded again. Ariana shook her head.


    ¡°Why? You don¡¯t want to have our child?¡± the man asked with a disappointed expression.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not even ready to be a mother. How can I agree to n a pregnancy?¡± she answered casually.


    ¡°What makes you unready to be a mother?¡± Gerald asked again.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a good prospective mother. I¡¯m not cut out to be a mother. I¡¯m not ready to be tied down with a baby. I want to be a mother who takes care of my child with my own hands. I want him to receive my full love and attention. And until now, let alone for someone else, even for myself, I haven¡¯t fully experienced that. I don¡¯t want to be a second Ariana. I don¡¯t want to be a mother who hurts her own child because I¡¯m still selfish and only care about myself.¡±


    Gerald looked at Ariana, this time with a different perspective because he understood where his wife¡¯s conversation was heading. ¡°You will be a good mother,¡± he said reassuringly. ¡°Our child won¡¯tck anything, not love, affection, or money,¡± he promised.


    Ariana looked at him, then shook her head. ¡°You know, one thing I¡¯ve never held onto is human words,¡± she said coldly. ¡°I never believe anyone¡¯s promises, and I never put my hope in anyone, including myself,¡± she replied again. ¡°So stop talking about children and continue your meal,¡± she ordered Gerald. Gerald fell silent, but he understood that continuing their conversation would only worsen Ariana¡¯s mood. And he didn¡¯t want that to happen. As a result, he chose to remain silent and continue his meal.


    Ariana went back downstairs and resumed helping her friends in the kitchen. But Gerald¡¯s words kept echoing in her head. A child? Could they have a child and take care of the child properly? But Ariana herself didn¡¯t feel confident. What kind of mother would she be? Until they returned home close to midnight, that thought continued to haunt Ariana. Ariana walked into their bathroom and opened the cab inside. She frowned. Her gaze was fixed on one ce there. A pack of sanitary pads.


    Wait a minute. Ariana ordered herself. When was herst period? She asked herself. Ariana tried to count backward. Herst period was a day before the wedding. And that was almost three months ago. Three months? Ariana furrowed her brow. She was indeed used to having irregr periods. The doctor said it was due to hormones. And the doctor also said that it could happen. There were even cases where a woman didn¡¯t menstruate for a year due to hormonal imbnces. It could be because of being overweight, stress, and other factors that couldn¡¯t even be exined medically. And Ariana herself belonged to the type that couldn¡¯t be categorized. But usually, not this long. She was usuallyte for one to two weeks. Not until a month like this.


    Ariana still furrowed her brow, not understanding. Until then, her reverie was interrupted when someone knocked on the bathroom door. ¡°Are you done?¡± Gerald appeared from behind the door. Ariana quickly closed the cab and looked at her husband, shaking her head.


    ¡°Not yet. Why? Do you want to use the bathroom?¡± Ariana wanted to know.


    ¡°Not really,¡± he replied, closing the door again. Ariana took a long breath. But suddenly, an ufortable feeling washed over her. Wait, she ordered herself. When was herst period? She asked herself. Ariana tried to count backward. Herst period was a day before the wedding. And that was almost three months ago. Three months? Ariana furrowed her brow. She was indeed used to having irregr periods. The doctor said it was due to hormones. And the doctor also said that it could happen. There were even cases where a woman didn¡¯t menstruate for a year due to hormonal imbnces. It could be because of being overweight, stress, and other factors that couldn¡¯t even be exined medically. And Ariana herself belonged to the type that couldn¡¯t be categorized. But usually, not this long. She was usuallyte for one to two weeks. Not until a month like this.


    Ariana still furrowed her brow, not understanding. Until then, her reverie was interrupted when someone knocked on the bathroom door. ¡°Are you done?¡± Gerald appeared from behind the door. Ariana quickly closed the cab and looked at her husband, shaking her head.


    ¡°Not yet. Why? Do you want to use the bathroom?¡± Ariana wanted to know.


    ¡°Not really,¡± he replied, closing the door again. Ariana took a long breath. But suddenly, an ufortable feeling washed over her. She had to make sure of something tomorrow, she thought. And long after that, she could finally fall asleep well past midnight.


    In the early morning, Gerald looked at his wife in confusion. Ariana usually didn¡¯t talk much, but this time, her silence puzzled him. The smile she showed to Axel didn¡¯t even touch her eyes. And Gerald wanted to know why. Maybe it was because of their conversationst night? Was his wife offended by that? Butst night, she was fine. She didn¡¯t seem angry as she usually did. But Gerald chose to stay silent. Later, he told himself. Later, if she still seemed the same, he would ask her why.


    They went about their routine as usual, dropping Axel off at school before taking Ariana to the restaurant. ¡°Are youing here for lunch?¡± Ariana asked when the car stopped in front of the restaurant.


    ¡°Why? Tired of seeing my face?¡± Gerald teased, trying to lighten the mood so Ariana wouldn¡¯t stay silent all the time.


    Ariana smiled. Once again, her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°I have an appointment this afternoon,¡± the woman said. ¡°An appointment? With whom?¡± Gerald wanted to know.


    Ariana looked at him disapprovingly. ¡°What if I don¡¯t tell you who I have an appointment with? Will you send your people to tail me?¡± Ariana asked, not pleased. Gerald fell silent. The thought did cross his mind momentarily, and Ariana seemed to realize that


    too. ¡°If you really intend to do that, just ask your people where I went and who I met,¡± Ariana replied curtly. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± She said coldly and then opened the car door, leaving Gerald still looking at her in confusion.

 Chap 119 : I Know

    Their conversation in the car was thest discussion they had that day. After that, Gerald was upied with his work. Although he was filled with questions about where Ariana went and who she met, he couldn¡¯t possibly realize what was on Ariana¡¯s mind by asking her mother¡¯s assistant. He had to remember that Ariana wanted their rtionship to be truly based on trust. Luckily for Gerald, he had to focus his mind on his work and endless meetings.


    At nine o¡¯clock, Gerald decided to end his work. He drove to the restaurant in his private car, hoping that Ariana¡¯s mood had improved. He was quite surprised when he didn¡¯t find Ariana in the restaurant¡¯s kitchen as usual. ¡°Where is she?¡± he asked one of the staff members, whose name Gerald didn¡¯t even know.


    ¡°Ariana is upstairs,¡± the employee replied nervously. Gerald just nodded and then walked past the cashier¡¯s table, not intending to greet anyone, and quickly moved towards the stairs that would take him to Ariana¡¯s room. Gerald suspected that Ariana was working in her office; that¡¯s why he knocked on the door first. But after the third knock, there was no response from inside.


    Gerald finally opened the door slowly. Ariana¡¯s room looked dim. There was only a deskmp as the only source of light in the room. Could the staff have given the wrong information? Could Ariana have gone home earlier without waiting for him? Even if that were the case, it wasn¡¯t Ariana¡¯s fault because Gerald hadn¡¯t informed her that he would pick her up.


    Gerald walked in and checked his phone. Ariana hadn¡¯t sent him any messages all day. Did she not care about him at all? Did she not think about him?


    Gerald tried to walk to the bedroom. For thest time, he wanted to make sure of Ariana¡¯s whereabouts. Perhaps she was there and just sleeping. But at this hour, it was not Ariana¡¯s usual bedtime.


    Gerald opened the door slowly. He wasn¡¯t too surprised when he saw that the room was empty. Hastily, Gerald went back downstairs. He approached Amber and asked about Ariana¡¯s whereabouts.


    With her annoyed expression, Amber said that Ariana hadn¡¯te to the restaurant since noon. Surprised? Of course, Gerald was surprised.


    Especially when Amber was asked where Ariana might have gone, the girl replied, ¡°You¡¯re her husband, you should know more about her,¡± sharply.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Not wanting to deal with Amber any longer, Gerald finally left the restaurant. He tried to call Ariana¡¯s phone, but her phone was off. And that made Gerald even more afraid. Could something have happened to his wife?


    A name suddenly popped into his head. ¡°Hello, sir?¡± greeted the voice of the old man who had been serving his family for so long.


    ¡°Has Arianae home?¡± he asked without preamble.


    ¡°Since evening, Madam has been at home, sir. And now she is in the young master¡¯s room.¡±


    Gerald just murmured a thank you before hanging up and speeding up his car. Although he felt relieved, his body didn¡¯t agree. The desire to meet Ariana was much stronger than just relief.


    The empty roads made the journey home much faster than during the day. Gerald parked his car haphazardly, even with the engine still running. What was the use of having many employees if none of them could properly park his car? he thought to himself.


    He quickly walked towards Axel¡¯s room, but before he could open the door, the head servant was already standing there. As if he intended to stop him.


    ¡°Is she still inside?¡± Gerald asked curiously. The elderly servant nodded.


    ¡°After dinner, Madam and Master Axel didn¡¯t leave the room. I think they might be asleep by now,¡± Yosef replied. Gerald nodded slowly. ¡°Would you like me to prepare a bath, sir?¡± the man asked again, making Gerald give up his intention to enter Axel¡¯s room.


    ¡°No need, I¡¯ll do it myself. Rest,¡± he ordered.


    Yosef just nodded and then chose to withdraw. Meanwhile, Gerald decided to go to his own room and freshen up. Be patient, Gerald, there¡¯s still plenty of time to see your wife, he thought.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Gerald to shower and change clothes. With his hair still wet, he hurried back to Axel¡¯s room.


    He opened his son¡¯s room door slowly. Hoping not to disturb them if they were already asleep. He was also quite surprised when he entered the room. Axel didn¡¯t usually sleep with the lights off. He would usually cry in fear if Gerald or the servants did so. But now, he could hear his little boy snoring softly in Ariana¡¯s warm embrace.


    Envy. That feeling struck Gerald suddenly. Howfortable it must be to be Axel, who could be in Ariana¡¯s arms.


    Trying not to make any sound at all, Gerald walked around the bed to climb onto the empty side. Hey down, facing Ariana, folded his arms, and used his palms as a pillow. Ariana¡¯s slimmer body allowed him a better view of his wife.


    In the dim light of the bedsidemp, Gerald could only watch Ariana sleeping soundly. Something he liked because when she slept, he didn¡¯t see the frowns of disapproval on her face. Or her piercing gaze.


    Gerald¡¯s left fingers seemed enchanted as they suddenly lifted and moved toward Ariana¡¯s face. The tip of his index finger touched the middle of Ariana¡¯s forehead and continued down to her nose. Then he moved to touch the tip of Ariana¡¯s right eyshes and continued down to her cheek and then to her jawline.


    Perhaps it was because she felt ticklish or disturbed, Ariana opened her eyes and stared directly at Gerald. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked in a hoarse voice, her eyes sleepy.


    ¡°Looking at you,¡± Gerald replied shortly. ¡°I miss you,¡± he continued. Ariana snorted, her eyes closed again. She seemed really tired, evident from her response, which was not as alert as usual. ¡°Your day seems really exhausting,¡± Geraldmented suddenly.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ariana answered briefly. Then, unexpectedly, Gerald released his grip on Axel and moved the boy to where he had been lying before. He ced a bolster pillow on the side of the bed as a barrier before then circling around and asking Ariana to move over. Ariana didn¡¯t say much. She did whatever Gerald wanted.


    With still sleepy eyes, she, who was initially on the side of the bed, was now in the middle, with Axel, and Gerald nked her left and right.


    Gerald theny down behind his wife. His left hand slipped around her neck to be used as a pillow.


    Meanwhile, his right hand was used to embrace his wife¡¯s slender body from behind. ¡°I¡¯m tired,¡± Ariana whispered softly.


    ¡°I know. I just want to sleep next to you,¡± Gerald replied, tightening his embrace. But then, slowly, Ariana loosened her husband¡¯s embrace. At first, Gerald was surprised, thinking that Ariana would leave him. But it turned out that Ariana turned her body around so that they were facing each other. Intentionally, Ariana moved closer. She rested her head on Gerald¡¯s chest while her left hand sped Gerald¡¯s waist tightly. ¡°Want to tell me something?¡± Gerald asked


    , curious. Ariana shook her head.


    ¡°Tomorrow,¡± she replied sleepily. Gerald could only nod his head. His right hand lifted and gently stroked his wife¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Go to sleep. Have sweet dreams. If necessary, dream of me,¡± he teased. There was another snort from Ariana that involuntarily lifted the corners of Gerald¡¯s mouth. He kissed Ariana¡¯s forehead so gently. ¡°I love you,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°I know,¡± Ariana replied and snuggled closer to Gerald, hugging him tighter.

 Chap 120 : Rumors

    The sound of rustling apanied by a loud bump disturbed Gerald¡¯s sleep. ¡°Dad! Move over!¡± The irritated voice was followed by a rather strong push on Gerald¡¯s chest and thigh. It turned out the kid was pushing Gerald¡¯s thigh with both of his feet while his hands pushed Gerald¡¯s chest from behind his back.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Gerald asked groggily.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Dad,¡± grumbled Axel. ¡°Last night, Axel slept cuddling with Mommy. Why is Mommy rolling away now?¡± The kidined.


    Annoyed, Gerald finally opened his eyes and saw Ariana¡¯s back, which was now a whole arm¡¯s length away from him, while Axel was in between them. He red at Axel, as if the child had taken away his favorite toy. ¡°You! Can¡¯t you see Dad¡¯s happy for a bit?¡± he grumbled irritably.


    Axel turned, looking back at his father with equal annoyance. ¡°This is Axel¡¯s ce, Dad,¡± the boy retorted, making Ariana chuckle. She had been presumed to be still asleep.


    Ariana slowly turned, stretching her arms and allowing Axel to enter her embrace. ¡°He¡¯ll beat you someday,¡± she whispered to Gerald. Gerald snorted and theny back, staring at the ceiling. It was morning already; after Fajr, both of them had chosen to lie back down, and that was about an hour and a half ago. Gerald¡¯s intention was toze around today with Ariana. But once again, Axel ruined his ns.


    ¡°Mommy, tonight, sleep with Axel again, okay?¡± The child¡¯s voice sounded so sweet in Gerald¡¯s ears, and Gerald didn¡¯t like it.


    ¡°No way. Last night was a special treat for you because Dad came homete. There won¡¯t be any more nights when Mommy sleeps in your room.¡± Gerald replied irritably.


    Axel turned, looking at his father, and then sneered. ¡°Axel talks to Mommy, not Dad,¡± he said, then redirected his attention to Ariana. ¡°Right, Mommy?¡± the child whined again. Ariana just smiled.


    ¡°If Axel behaves, you¡¯ll get proper food. You can learn, and Mommy will sleep here again.¡± Ariana replied.


    But suddenly, Gerald rose from his bed and looked at Ariana sharply. ¡°It can¡¯t be like that,¡± heined again. ¡°Anyway, tonight and every other night, you¡¯ll sleep with me, not Axel.¡±


    Then a knock on the door made the three of them turn. The face of Axel¡¯s nanny appeared from outside the door. ¡°Mrs. Isidora is asking if Mr. Gerald would like a special breakfast,¡± the nanny said hesitantly.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Both Gerald and Ariana exchanged puzzled nces. It wasn¡¯t Ariana¡¯s mother-inw¡¯s habit to inquire about such trivial matters. But then Gerald answered, ¡°No. Just make breakfast as usual.¡± He said tly. The woman then nodded and withdrew, closing the door gently.


    ¡°Did your mother get some kind of enlightenment?¡± Ariana asked Gerald. Gerald shrugged as a response.


    ¡°Come on, Boy. It¡¯s time for breakfast,¡± Gerald pulled Axel away from Ariana¡¯s hug. The child resisted by tightening his grip on Ariana. But Gerald was much stronger. With one pull, he managed to release Axel¡¯s hold and then carried the child¡¯s small body on his shoulders.


    ¡°Dad is mean!¡± the child eximed. but didn¡¯t struggle as he should have.


    The three of them walked to the dining room. There were Mrs. Rosaline and a guest Ariana disliked, once again. Who else but Shelma.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± Shelma greeted with her cheerful voice that somehow always disgusted Ariana.


    Neither Gerald nor Ariana responded to her greeting. Gerald pulled out a chair for Ariana, allowing his wife to sit before then lowering Axel into the chair beside his mother. He then took his own seat.


    ¡°I asked Axel¡¯s nanny if you wanted something special for breakfast this morning, but it seems you¡¯re okay today,¡± Mrs. Isidora said in her always gentle but sharp voice. ¡°I¡¯m fine. When am I not fine?¡± Gerald asked, puzzled.


    Mrs. Isidora shrugged. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it yesterday that you wanted to have mango for breakfast? And now you want to eat starfruit instead of caramb. I thought maybe this morning you¡¯d want strawberries or something else.¡± She replied nonchntly. ¡°Because you really seem like a woman with cravings, Ge.¡±


    Gerald raised an eyebrow, looking at his mother-inw sharply. Cravings and pregnancy were sensitive words that Gerald wanted to avoid at the moment. He didn¡¯t want those words to worsen Ariana¡¯s mood like they did yesterday.


    ¡°Maybe Gerald is indeed having cravings; Ariana might be pregnant,¡± Shelma¡¯s remark came out. Gerald could see his wife¡¯s shoulders tensing. Ariana was now looking at Shelma and Mrs. Isidora alternately.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Gerald replied. ¡°Ariana is not pregnant, and she¡¯s not ready to be. So, can we stop talking about this issue?¡± Gerald asked again.


    ¡°Axel, do you want to have a sibling?¡± Mrs. Isidora asked her grandson.


    Axel, who was busy eating his cereal, looked up and then nodded enthusiastically. ¡°A cute baby, boy or girl,¡± the child said, his face lit up with excitement.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you hear that? And if you guys have a child now, Ariana¡¯s old enough, isn¡¯t she?¡± Mrs. Isidora directed the question at Ariana.


    ¡°Ariana isn¡¯t ready to have a child,¡± Gerald answered, representing his wife.


    Mrs. Isidora snorted. Meanwhile, Shelma seemed to chuckle with her mocking tone. ¡°Gerald, no one is ever ready for the first time. Everything begins with reluctance and trying,¡± Mrs. Isidora replied again. ¡°Not every woman is ready to be a wife. Not every wife is ready to be a mother. And not every mother is ready to give birth and have children. All of that has its own fears. Like you. As a businessman, you didn¡¯t start everything being ready, did you? You started everything out of obligation because of your status as the only remaining child. And the rest, you tried. After that, you were trained and ustomed. Am I wrong?¡± Mrs. Isidora then shifted her gaze to Mrs. Rosaline. There was no response from Gerald¡¯s grandmother.


    ¡°Or maybe, you don¡¯t really love Gerald to the point that you don¡¯t intend to have a child with him?¡± Shelma¡¯s question was thrown out again. ¡°Yes, considering this marriage happened without love and you had to rece your twin sister. I thought you were still hesitant to cement your rtionship with a child. Especially since I heard rumors that you have another ideal man.¡± Shelma¡¯s words made Gerald¡¯s forehead furrow in annoyance. Ariana felt the same way.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Shelma shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t mean anything. I just heard rumors that Ariana has been waiting for her lover to return from abroad. And that man has returned. But unfortunately, he was arranged to marry another woman by his family. Why? Wasn¡¯t your rtionship not approved by his family? But why?¡± the girl asked with a curious expression that Ariana knew


    was just a mask.


    ¡°Who are you referring to?¡± the question came from Mrs. Isidora.


    ¡°Aunt knows. The richest clothing and sports equipment producer in our country?¡± Shelma looked at Mrs. Isidora with her fake innocent face. ¡°The man who is lucky enough to marry the wealthiest woman from France?¡± she continued. Instantly, Mrs. Isidora¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Yes. I heard Ariana has a very special rtionship with the eldest son of the Alessandro family.¡± Shelma¡¯s gaze shifted back to Ariana. ¡°Didn¡¯t Ariana go with him when you were supposed to spend your first night?¡± she asked, her tone mocking.

 Chap 121 : Shelma Threatened

    ¡°Stop talking nonsense, Shelma!¡± Gerald snapped harshly.


    Instead of being silent, Shelma just shrugged nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯m not talking nonsense, Gerald. I¡¯m just stating what I¡¯ve heard. I¡¯ve heard all this time that the two of them were very close. In fact, extremely close. My sources even say she spent time at his apartment. What else could a man and a woman do in a closed room?¡± Shelma asked again.


    Arianaughed. ¡°What do you think?¡± she countered. Shelma looked at Ariana with a sly smile on her face.


    ¡°Of course, fulfilling long-suppressed desires and passions. Besides, I heard you¡¯ve been separated for quite a while. For years,¡± the woman replied arrogantly.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Ariana¡¯sughter grew longer. She nodded her head slowly. ¡°Is that how you spend time alone with a man in a closed room?¡± she said tly. Shelma was taken aback, shocked to hear Ariana¡¯s question directed at her.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, I didn¡¯t mean it like that. But it¡¯s true that a long-separated couple would do nothing but to indulge in their longing,¡± she stuttered.


    Ariana nodded her head. The corner of her mouth lifted as she looked at Shelma. ¡°Yes. You¡¯re right. I thought that¡¯s what you would do with your lover if you haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time,¡± she continued in a t tone,ced with a clear undertone of mockery. ¡°Or perhaps, is that what you want to practice with my husband? Satisfy your longings by selling your body to him?¡± she challenged again. ¡°Unfortunately, I think my husband is only lusting after me right now. Not at other women,¡± Ariana taunted.


    ¡°Watch your words; there¡¯s a child here,¡± scolded Mrs. Isidora.


    Ariana shrugged. She nced at Axel, who seemed indifferent to the adults¡¯ arguments around him. ¡°Believe me, Mother-inw, Axel won¡¯t understand what we¡¯re talking about right now. Covering his ears will only make him more suspicious that this isn¡¯t something he should hear. But as a child who will grow into an adult man, he has to know. That not all beautiful women sitting in front of him have beautiful hearts too. Not every smile shown by a fairy-like woman has sincerity in it. Axel must learn this while he¡¯s still young. He needs to know that when his hand is held, he has to be wary of other hands that might push or even stab him when he least expects it. Just like what you and others are doing to me right now,¡± Ariana said coldly.


    ¡°I,¡± Ariana turned to Shelma. ¡°Am not a good woman.¡± She said firmly. ¡°I admit that.¡± And her words brought back the triumphant smile on Shelma¡¯s face. ¡°But I am not a cheap woman who would open my legs to anyone with a different gender from mine,¡± she continued.


    Shelma was stunned. She looked at Ariana in disbelief, her face reddening with anger. ¡°You!¡± The woman stood up and mmed the table roughly, causing the cereal in Axel¡¯s bowl to spill.


    ¡°Gerald clearly knows what I mean,¡± she said without even ncing at Gerald. ¡°He can distinguish that. He has proven your usations wrong. But you?¡± Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. ¡°Considering you are someone who has been married before, I doubt he will know who your former lovers were.¡±


    Shelma stared at Ariana with unabashed hatred. ¡°You!¡± she shouted angrily. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare disrespect Mommy!¡± Axel¡¯s outburst came unexpectedly, leaving everyone shocked.


    ¡°Axel!¡± Mrs. Isidora scolded her grandson.


    ¡°Axel doesn¡¯t like auntie! Don¡¯te to Axel¡¯s house again!¡± the boy ordered harshly.


    Mrs. Isidora, Selma, and Gerald turned to Axel, who was ring at Shelma.


    ¡°You! What are you doing to my grandson!¡± Mrs. Isidora scolded Shelma harshly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare shout at my wife in front of me,¡± Geraldmanded with restrained anger.


    Ariana looked at her stepmother-inw and shrugged. ¡°Just a little lesson about ¡®avoiding people you don¡¯t like and driving away people you hate,''¡± she said tly. A victorious smile appeared on her face again. ¡°I think Axel is much smarter than I thought.¡± She gently ruffled the boy¡¯s hair and then kissed his head affectionately. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that a child is much more sensitive than adults. Adults might be deceived by fake smiles, fake tears, and clich¨¦ words, even worse than rotten food. But not a young child,¡± she continued.


    Shelma growled, clenching her fists at her sides until her knuckles turned white. ¡°You will pay for this humiliation you¡¯ve done to me today, Ariana,¡± the woman threatened.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting. I already have enough enemies in my life. Adding one more won¡¯t matter to me,¡± she said casually. ¡°And let me tell you. If someday you want to incite others, please provide examples that at least somewhat match and evidence that is truly authentic. Because if all of it is based on ¡®gossip,¡¯ you know that can be called nder that leads to defamation. And you can be sued for it,¡± Ariana replied nonchntly.


    Shelmaughed. ¡°You? Want to sue me?¡± she pointed to herself. ¡°Go ahead, how rich are you to be able to defeat me? I can even hire the world¡¯s most expensivewyer to make you suffer in a prison cell,¡± Shelma replied arrogantly.


    Ariana shrugged again. She then chose to lean her back against the chair. Folding her hands in front of her chest, she looked at Shelma tly. ¡°I won¡¯t sue you. Besides, what¡¯s the point? It will only waste my precious time,¡± she replied with a sardonic smile on her face. ¡°I won¡¯t pay attention to someone who hates me because I know there are still many people who believe in me. But maybe,¡± she continued with emphasis. ¡°The Alessandro family won¡¯t ept your insult, and they are the ones who will sue you because you have tarnished the reputation of their eldest son. And in case you forgot, let me remind you. Chris Alessandro is the eldest son and the only heir in the Alessandro family. Because his younger brother has no right to any of the wealth the family now possesses. Because all the wealth owned by Alessandro Group belongs to thete birth mother of Chris.¡±


    Hearing that made Shelma freeze and pale. ¡°And maybe you can ask your acquaintances about how wealthy that family is. Who knows, you might want to know the bnce in their bank ounts,¡± Ariana replied, still in her casual manner. She sat up straight again and picked up the spoon she had ignored earlier. Choosing to enjoy her breakfast and ignoring the unpleasant incident that had just happened.

 Chap 122 : Want To Be Persuaded

    After finishing breakfast, Axel was led by his caretaker to return to his room and get ready for school. Meanwhile, Ariana and Gerald went back to their room on the second floor.


    What was unusual was that Ariana seemed unenthusiastic. When they arrived in their room, she didn¡¯t move towards the bathroom or prepare as she usually did. Instead, she chose to sit on the couch.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to the restaurant?¡± Gerald asked, unable to contain his curiosity any longer. Gerald sat down next to Ariana. ¡°Are you okay? Are you sick?¡± he asked again, touching Ariana¡¯s forehead gently. Ariana shook her head softly. Gerald knew that Ariana¡¯s demeanor had nothing to do with what Shelma had said earlier. Clearly, something else was upying her thoughts.


    ¡°When will Axel¡¯s matters be settled?¡± the question came out of Ariana¡¯s mouth suddenly. Gerald looked at her with furrowed brows. ¡°I¡¯m just reminding you, Gerald. Wasn¡¯t the reason for this marriage to gain full custody of Axel? So when will the adoption be finalized?¡±


    Gerald still didn¡¯t understand why this thought crossed her mind. ¡°Why? Why are you asking all this?¡± he asked, his tone slightly raised. He clearly didn¡¯t like Ariana¡¯s questions. Not because he didn¡¯t want Axel to be officially dered his son soon, but because another thought was infiltrating his mind. Certainly not a positive one.


    Gerald knew Ariana had rejected this marriage initially because they didn¡¯t know each other. Far from being in love. But he thought those feelings had changed. He loved Ariana, and he knew Ariana loved him too. But why did the idea that Ariana still wanted them to separate suddenly pop back into his mind?


    ¡°Can¡¯t I ask?¡± Ariana countered with her cold tone. ¡°Time has passed long enough. It¡¯s time for someone from the department toe and conduct the survey as you said. Axel¡¯s custody should already be in preparation,¡± Ariana replied matter-of-factly.


    ¡°Let Vivian and I handle it,¡± Gerald said firmly. Ariana just stared at him nkly and then shrugged. She chose to get up from her seat and walked towards the bathroom, distancing herself from Gerald.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Ariana quickly showered and changed her clothes. Gerald, who saw Ariana enter the walk-in closet, took her ce in the bathroom. When Gerald finished showering, he didn¡¯t see Ariana in their room. Again, he furrowed his brows. Okay, maybe Ariana was waiting for him downstairs. Or his wife had returned to Axel¡¯s room. Although that thought crossed his mind, Gerald quickly changed his clothes.


    His assumption was correct. Ariana was already in Axel¡¯s room, engaged in a conversation with the four-year-old boy. ¡°Papa!¡± Axel eximed upon seeing Gerald. Meanwhile, his wife, who was sitting with her back to the door, slowly turned to face him. ¡°Is Papa taking Axel to school again?¡± Axel inquired eagerly. Gerald just nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Axel replied cheerfully. The boy grabbed his bag and then walked out of the room first. Ariana followed him from behind.


    One thing different about his wife this morning was that Ariana wasn¡¯t wearing jeans and a long-sleeved shirt like she usually did. Instead, she wore an outfit Gerald didn¡¯t know she owned: a knee-length, long-sleeved dress. Though she still wore her favorite sneakers.


    They walked side by side towards the warmed-up car. As usual, Ariana sat next to him while Axel sat in the back seat. The driver and Axel¡¯s caretaker boarded another car and followed Gerald¡¯s car from behind. Axel¡¯s chatter filled their journey once again.


    After dropping Axel off at school, Gerald then took Ariana to the restaurant. During the journey, Ariana remained silent. Gerald chose not to speak either. He didn¡¯t know why this cold war had started all of a sudden. But Gerald felt slightly irritated about the questions Ariana had asked earlier. And he felt it was justified. He didn¡¯t want to initiate the conversation first, for some reason. He felt like Ariana should be the one to talk to him first and, if necessary, persuade him in various ways.


    Ariana got out at her restaurant. She didn¡¯t speak a word, let alone do what Gerald wanted. As a result, because his emotions red up again, Gerald chose to speed away from the restaurant.


    Ariana remained silent in her ce for a few moments after watching Gerald¡¯s car disappear around the corner. ¡°Are you cosying as a gracefuldy, Ariana?¡± Jody¡¯s voice startled Ariana from her thoughts. She turned and immediately looked at Jody, giving her a faint smile.


    ¡°How are you, dear?¡± the question escaped Ariana¡¯s mouth.


    Jody was quite surprised. She and Ariana had known each other for a very long time. Almost half of their lives. Ariana knew who Jody was, who her family was, and what her past was like. Jody¡¯s mother already considered Ariana her daughter, and Jody¡¯s sister regarded Ariana as her sister. And for Jody herself, Ariana was more than just a friend. She was a woman Jody admired, respected, and always felt proud of. For Jody, Ariana was another sister besides her own.


    ¡°I¡¯m good, dear. Why? Missing my cooking?¡± she teased. Ariana smiled again. Not a cheerful smile, but a mncholic one.


    ¡°Yeah. I miss it a lot. I want to go there,¡± Ariana said softly.


    ¡°Just go. Usually, youe without permission anyway. Sneaking in like a cat smelling fish,¡± Jody joked. Ariana then chuckled upon hearing it. She then took a few steps away from the restaurant, causing Jody¡¯s eyebrows to furrow as she looked at her in confusion. ¡°Where are you going?¡± she asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Looking for goldfish,¡± Ariana replied casually.


    ¡°And then? Aren¡¯t you working?¡± Jody shouted because Ariana was already walking farther away.


    Ariana shook her head and walked backward. ¡°Why should I, when you, Amber, and the other kids work hard like me?¡± Ariana answered Jody¡¯s question with an equally loud shout. She smiled broadly and waved her hand before turning around and walking away even further.


    Behind her, Jody could only shake her head before walking back into the restaurant area.

 Chap 123 : Shelma’s Evidence

    Gerald arrived at the office feeling utterly chaotic. His day became even more chaotic when he received news that the ship carrying his raw materials had sprung a leak and nearly sank in the middle of the ocean. He considered himself lucky that some of his ordered goods could still be salvaged. Nevertheless, it made his head throb with pain.


    Lately, Gerald¡¯s mood had been like the fluctuating stock market. Unpredictably changing, sometimes he felt happy, but in a split second, he could be furious without clear reasons. And the only person he could vent his frustrations on now was the one most loyal to him-none other than Vivan.


    Just like now. Gerald paced back and forth, asionally running his fingers through his hair, while Vivan stood motionless in front of his desk, his expression nk.


    ¡°Ariana asked me about the progress of Axel¡¯s adoption process. Who does she think I am? A member of child protection services? A social worker? She knows I¡¯m a businessman, not a government employee!¡± he approached the desk and mmed it in frustration. ¡°And why are you silent? Why isn¡¯t there any follow-up from the Social Services regarding Axel?¡± he demanded again, his voice fiery. ¡°And if necessary, give them money to expedite all of this,¡± he ordered.


    Vivan raised his eyebrows momentarily. He remembered that not too long ago, Gerald himself had forbidden him from engaging in shady dealings, like ¡®bribing¡¯ officials to expedite Axel¡¯s adoption. Gerald¡¯s other reason had been his desire for more time to change Ariana¡¯s feelings. But now? Ariana was once again the reason his boss wanted to speed up the adoption process.


    ¡°Very well, Sir. I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Vivan finally said. Gerald looked at his assistant and nodded.


    Afterwards, he waved his hand to dismiss Vivan.


    Unfortunately, just as Vivan was about to leave, two women Gerald wanted to avoid barged in. They ignored Gerald¡¯s secretary¡¯s orders not to disturb him. Why did Gerald forget to cklist Shelma as well? He cursed inwardly.


    Gerald nced at his secretary and once again waved his hand, indicating for the man to leave. Meanwhile, Vivan, aware of his position, without Gerald¡¯s request, turned back and walked towards Gerald, standing by his side.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Gerald asked, openly disying his displeasure.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you should offer us a drink, Ge? At least as a courtesy,¡± Shelma said, her tone sulky, which only made Gerald raise an annoyed eyebrow.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t invite you. And your presence right now does nothing to improve my already bad mood,¡± Gerald replied bluntly.


    Shelma continued to pout, feigning being upset. ¡°You know I came with good intentions,¡± she retorted.


    Gerald chose to lean back in his chair. He looked at Shelma and Karenina alternately with a sharp gaze. At the same time, he tried to stave off his headache and nausea.


    ¡°What good intentions?¡± Gerald challenged. ¡°Just get to the point because I don¡¯t want to see your faces for long.¡±


    Shelma sneered. Then she showed arge brown envelope in her hands. ¡°We just want to give you this,¡± she said. Vivan immediately walked to the table, took the envelope, and handed it to Gerald. ¡°It¡¯s proof that what I said was true.¡±


    ¡°True?¡± Gerald asked, not understanding.


    Gerald only nced at the brown envelope with one eye. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to open it?¡± his wife¡¯s twin said. ¡°Who knows, you might find a surprise inside.¡± She replied mockingly.


    Gerald looked at his supposed bride¡¯s twin with narrowed, irritated eyes. But despite his irritation, he reached out, took the envelope, and roughly tore it open.


    After seeing the contents of the envelope, Gerald frowned. What is this? He asked himself inwardly.


    ¡°Surprised, aren¡¯t you?¡± Shelma asked cynically.


    Gerald looked up and stared at Shelma and Karenina in turn.


    ¡°We weren¡¯t too surprised,¡± Shelma said indifferently. ¡°Right, Ren?¡± She turned and saw Karenina nodding.


    ¡°You¡¯ve given me negative judgments all this time, thinking that I¡¯m not a good woman. When in fact, your wife is no better than me,¡± Karenina said casually. ¡°I do socialize, but my circle is limited to educated people and the upper ss. Whereas your wife?¡± she said with a contemptuous nce. ¡°She never selects herpany, she can be friends even with streetwalkers, showing that at least my level is better than hers.¡±


    Gerald grunted at Karenina¡¯s overly arrogant statement. But when he looked at the photos in his hands again, his annoyance peaked. The 4R-sized photos showed Ariana entering and leaving a mother and child hospital. In the photos, Ariana also entered an obstetrician¡¯s room.


    Is Ariana pregnant? he asked himself again. Confused, shocked, touched, and whatever else he felt now filled his chest. Was Ariana really pregnant? Again, he repeated his question. He wanted to contact Ariana and confirm all of this, but he heard Shelma speak again.


    ¡°I¡¯ve given you clues about her pregnancy. But instead of trusting me, you chose to scold me. And now I have proof, even though I couldn¡¯t get precise information about how far along your wife¡¯s pregnancy is. But doesn¡¯t that make you even more suspicious of her?¡±Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gerald asked, displeased. He was sure he would hear an unpleasant sentence after this.


    Shelma shrugged. ¡°I mean, when I suspected she was pregnant, if she really is, she should have announced the happy news immediately. But why hasn¡¯t she said anything?¡± she challenged.


    Gerald remembered the moment afterward. After the two of them entered the room, Ariana didn¡¯t mention anything about it.


    ¡°In your opinion, why hasn¡¯t she shared this happy news with everyone? Or do you already know but choose to pretend you don¡¯t?¡± Shelma asked, her gaze investigative.


    Gerald looked at her with furrowed brows. ¡°Say what you want to say, Shelma. Don¡¯t beat around the bush,¡± Gerald snapped harshly.


    Shelma and Karenina appeared taken aback by Gerald¡¯s harsh tone. But instead of fear, Shelma smiled challengingly. ¡°It seems you really don¡¯t know that your wife is pregnant. Gerald, could it be that the baby isn¡¯t yours?¡±

 Chap 124 : Shelma and Karenina Accused

    Gerald¡¯s shoulders tensed immediately. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he said harshly.


    Shelma tilted her head again. ¡°Just say it, she¡¯s pregnant right now. And she¡¯s hiding it from you. Then link all of this with Chris¡¯s arrival. And her spending nights with him when you should have been enjoying your honeymoon as newlyweds. Could it be that the baby she¡¯s carrying right now belongs to Chris?¡± she asked rhetorically. ¡°It¡¯s possible, isn¡¯t it? Or maybe it¡¯s someone else¡¯s baby other than both of yours?¡±


    Gerald clenched his fists and looked at Shelma with an anger he could no longer contain. ¡°Don¡¯t insult my wife, Shelma. She¡¯s a good woman. She¡¯s not the kind of woman who would sleep with random men like you.¡±


    Karenina widened her eyes. While Shelma feigned a shocked expression. Even her manicured hands rose, touching her chest. ¡°How could you be so rough, Gerald?¡± she asked sadly. ¡°How can you be sure she¡¯s a good woman when even the number of times you¡¯ve met her can be counted on one hand?¡± the woman continued.


    Gerald didn¡¯t want to answer that question. He knew this was just bait from Shelma and Karenina to make him doubt and lose his trust in Ariana.


    ¡°If you trust your wife so much and are sure that the child in her womb is yours, my question goes back to the initial question. Why didn¡¯t she tell you about this ¡®supposedly¡¯ happy news? Or maybe¡­¡± Shelma deliberately let her words hang.


    ¡°Maybe what?¡± Gerald asked angrily.


    ¡°Maybe she doesn¡¯t want that baby and intends to terminate it before you find out,¡± Shelma continued.


    Thud. Gerald¡¯s heart felt like it was being squeezed. Could that be true? Was Ariana nning something inhumane like that?


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t want that baby inside her, maybe for two reasons,¡± Karenina boldly spoke up. ¡°The first reason, she doesn¡¯t want her body to be ruined. As you know, pregnancy and childbirth will change our physique. And Ariana could be one of those who wants a perfect body. And the other reason,¡± Karenina nced at Shelma, and both of them smiled meaningfully. ¡°Ariana doesn¡¯t want that baby because it would be an obstacle for her to return to her true love,¡± Karenina answered casually.


    Gerald fell silent. Staring at Karenina sharply. ¡°You don¡¯t know what Ariana¡¯s rtionship with Chris is like. Actually, I don¡¯t know too much,¡± Karenina replied. ¡°But what I know from my closest informant is that Chris has been approaching Ariana for a long time. And Ariana seems to really like Chris. Nobody knows why Chris left Indonesia for so many years. But think about it, Ariana was the first person Chris met when he returned to Indonesia, and after that, they spent time together to relieve their longing. Do you think their rtionship is still just friends? That¡¯s impossible, right, Ge?¡± Karenina said. ¡°So, my assumption is, Chris¡¯s return to Indonesia was to propose to his sweetheart, Ariana. Unfortunately, he was toote because he found out that Ariana had married you, even though she did it reluctantly. And Ariana¡¯s desire to marry Chris seems to be just as strong. I suspect Ariana wanted to ept his proposal. Then, she realized she was pregnant, and her pregnancy would keep her with you longer. That¡¯s why she wants to terminate it before you find out,¡± Karenina continued, stirring the pot even more.


    Hearing these usations made Gerald¡¯s head throb with pain. ¡°Both of you, leave now!¡± hemanded, his voice gruff.


    Neither Karenina nor Shelma moved. Even shamelessly, Shelma continued. ¡°Divorce her, Gerald. We all know why you wanted to marry Karenina-for business and Axel¡¯s adoption issues. And now you know she¡¯s not a good woman. Do you want Axel to live with a woman who could give him a bad influence? Who knows, behind your back, she¡¯s ying with other men again. Who knows, behind your back, she¡¯ll guide Axel towards inappropriate things,¡± she said.


    Gerald stared at the two women in front of him with his fists clenched. ¡°Leave right now or I will kick you out of here without respect,¡± he said sharply.


    Both Shelma and Karenina realized they had reached the peak of Gerald¡¯s anger. And they thought that was enough. They nced at each other and finally nodded before getting up. ¡°Think about my advice, Ge. Before it¡¯s toote,¡± she said gently. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem fair for a good man like you to end up with a cunning woman like her,¡± Shelma continued.


    Gerald chose to close his ears to her words.


    ¡°Sir,¡± Vivan finally spoke up after being sure the two snake-like women had left. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not influenced by what they said,¡± she said softly. Unlike her usualposed and t tone, Vivan was now positioning herself as Gerald¡¯s friend. ¡°What they did was deliberate, trying to shake your trust in Miss Ariana. If you waver, then they win,¡± she continued.


    Gerald looked up. The headache in his head was getting worse, and his vision was starting to blur now. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, Van,¡± he replied weakly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure who to believe.¡±


    ¡°Maybe Miss Ariana did go to the obstetrician. But it doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s actually pregnant. Think of something else. What if Miss went there for a pregnancy consultation, not a check-up,¡± Vivan tried to make Gerald think of something else. But Gerald remained silent.


    He stared at the door where the two women had left. His anger surged again. He wanted to throw everything in front of him, destroying everything until nothing was left. But he chose to remain silent. What was the point of doing all that? Besides his body being hurt, the rest of his frustration would still remain.


    Ariana? Is it true what Shelma and Karenina said? Is his wife really pregnant?


    If that¡¯s the case, why didn¡¯t Ariana tell him about this joyful news? Ariana clearly knew how much Gerald wanted a child born from her womb.


    Is it true what Karenina said? Ariana didn¡¯t want to ruin her body because of her pregnancy? Or were the assumptions of those two women correct? If the fetus in his wife¡¯s womb wasn¡¯t his? Gerald shook his head immediately. No. for that matter, if Ariana was indeed pregnant, Gerald was sure it was his child. Because he was the first man to touch her.


    Chris? Is it true that Ariana was nning to secretly terminate the baby because she wanted to be with Chris? If that was the truth, it hurt him even more.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Or is Vivan right here? What if Ariana actually went for a pregnancy consultation, not a check-up?

 Chap 125 : Because of Chris Alessandro

    The bad thoughts kept repeating in his head. Vivan, who was still standing there, could only look at Gerald with concern, but she didn¡¯t say much.


    Chris. Once again, that name echoed in Gerald¡¯s mind. All because of Chris. If only that man didn¡¯t show up again, none of this trouble would have happened.


    Yes. Gerald could be sure, even though Ariana had spent a few nights with Chris, he was sure Ariana and Chris hadn¡¯t gone too far. But what about make out? Could they have done it? He wondered silently. Suddenly his chest felt hot. He was jealous. But even so, he still felt victorious because he was the one who took Ariana¡¯s virginity first.


    Yes. Gerald was certain Ariana was still a virgin. Gerald knew that for sure. Although virginity operations were not umon nowadays, Gerald knew Ariana hadn¡¯t done it. So if Ariana was really pregnant, Gerald was one hundred percent sure that the baby in her womb was his.


    So the other option Gerald had was his second assumption about Shelma. Was Ariana nning to abort the baby without his knowledge?


    But why? Because she wanted to pursue Chris? Or¡­


    Gerald recalled Ariana¡¯sst words. That his wife was not ready to be a mother. Trauma from abandonment made her afraid of bing a woman like her mother. He felt pessimistic that she wouldn¡¯t be a good mother like her mother. But then again, Ariana wouldn¡¯t be capable of killing her own flesh and blood, right?


    Gerald¡¯sst option was once again focused on Chris.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Yes, Shelma was right. Everyone knew that the reason for this marriage was Axel and his adoption. But he had resolved to make this marriage work. He had even promised that to Ariana¡¯s father. And he was convinced that Ariana also wanted this marriage to be a real one. Wasn¡¯t that why Ariana had given herself to him? Because his wife had opened her heart and trusted him. So why now?


    Was it because Chris¡¯s departure made his wife realize that she had feelings for that rude man all along? Did she want Chris now and intended to leave him and Axel to chase after that man? Was that the reason why Ariana brought up Axel¡¯s adoption again? Because she had changed her mind and wanted to end this marriage quickly to pursue her true love?


    But should she sacrifice their unborn child? Gerald mmed his fist on the table, making the objects on it vibrate. If that was what Ariana had in mind, he couldn¡¯t forgive her.


    Gerald looked up and nced at Vivan, who was still standing there. ¡°Sir,¡± the man said softly.


    ¡°Find out where Ariana is now. And also find out what information Mommy has about her. Send me all those reports today!¡± he said coldly.


    Vivan stared at Gerald in silence. Gerald knew his assistant wanted to refuse what he had ordered. But Vivan didn¡¯t have the right to do that. Considering he was just someone working for Gerald. In the end, the man just nodded and retreated, leaving Gerald¡¯s office.


    Time passed slowly for Gerald. His usually quick-changing emotions now lingered in prolonged turmoil. Eventually, Gerald chose to leave the office and return home.


    Hourster, Gerald sat on the sofa in his room, reading the reports that Vivan had sent him. The throbbing in his head intensified. He wanted to m the tablet, but he knew it wouldn¡¯t aplish anything.


    ***


    Ariana returned home in the evening. After briefly greeting Axel, she chose to go upstairs and was quite surprised to find Gerald already there. Her husband had changed out of the suit he wore earlier into casual clothes and seemed to be sitting silently on the sofa with the TV on, although he wasn¡¯t really watching.


    ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± Ariana asked casually.


    Gerald remained motionless. Either he didn¡¯t hear Ariana¡¯s greeting, or he did but chose to ignore it. Ariana didn¡¯t know. She chose not to care. Perhaps Gerald¡¯s mind was wandering somewhere else, unable to focus on her. Or maybe her husband was still sulking, wanting Ariana to persuade him. Fine, thought Ariana. She would persuade himter after she felt clean.


    As a result, Ariana chose to enter the bathroom and clean herself. She didn¡¯t want to admit it, but her body was already too tired even though she hadn¡¯t done much. She wanted to confess this to Gerald, but she felt the timing wasn¡¯t right.


    Ariana showered quickly and then changed into casual clothes she had recently bought. When she came out, she wasn¡¯t too surprised to see Gerald still sitting in his original spot.


    Time to coax her husband so he wouldn¡¯t sulk anymore, she thought. Ariana then sat down beside Gerald and tried to be sweet. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± she asked softly. As she reached out to touch Gerald¡¯s hair, he stiffened his body and instead moved away from Ariana. Ariana furrowed her brows in confusion.


    ¡°Where did you go all day?¡± Gerald¡¯s question came, cold and using.


    Ariana raised an eyebrow, looking at her husband with dislike. ¡°Are you acting like this again? Following me?¡± Ariana was irritated. Just the suspicion that Gerald had ordered someone to follow her again ignited her anger. It red up more when she saw Gerald¡¯s sharp gaze directly on her.


    Her husband was angry. Really angry. Although Ariana didn¡¯t know the reason for his anger and felt that anger should be directed at her, she had to admit that his anger was well-founded.


    ¡°I have to do it whether I want to or not.¡± He was at it again. Ariana didn¡¯t say much. She refused to talk. She didn¡¯t know who was angrier here, her who was being followed again, or Gerald, who felt deceived. ¡°If only you were honest with me, I wouldn¡¯t have to do this,¡± he continued harshly. ¡°I had stopped following you before, but now I¡¯m doing it again because you lied to me,¡± he said roughly.


    ¡°Lied?¡± Ariana looked at her husband confused.

 Chap 126 : Gerald Accused

    ¡°Yes! You lied to me, Ariana. I trusted you!¡± the man snapped harshly.


    Ariana continued to stare at him in silence, her eyes starting to well up. Not because she was scared, but more because she was holding back her anger. ¡°What do you mean I lied?¡± she asked, not understanding.


    ¡°Everything,¡± Gerald replied harshly. ¡°Everything!¡± he repeated, his voice rising. ¡°You said you didn¡¯t go anywhere, but all day long, since I dropped you off at the restaurant, you were never there. You didn¡¯t even step inside. Where did you go? Did you meet another man out there?¡± he used roughly. ¡°And some time ago, you went to the mother and child hospital. Why didn¡¯t you tell me you went there? What were you doing there? Were you checking your pregnancy and nning to abort it without my knowledge?¡± he continued with usations that sounded unreasonable to Ariana.


    Instead of answering his questions, Ariana burst intoughter. ¡°What is this? Are you writing a screeny?¡± she asked mockingly.


    ¡°I¡¯m not writing a screeny. I¡¯m asking you based on facts,¡± Gerald replied coldly.


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t the person who gave you these ¡®facts¡¯ tell you where I was all day?¡± Ariana challenged again. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he tell you that I went to Jody¡¯s house and stayed there all day beforeing back home?¡± she asked with restrained emotion.


    Gerald stared at Ariana, unable to provide an answer. But then he grabbed an envelope from the table and threw it onto the table in front of Ariana.


    Ariana picked up the envelope and saw pictures of herself inside. Pictures of her entering the hospital area. Pictures of her going into the obstetrician¡¯s room and also when she came out shortly after. Ariana just looked at them in silence. It was indeed her, although it seemed Gerald didn¡¯t know the reason for her presence there.


    She then tossed the photos back onto the table. Let him hear what was on Gerald¡¯s mind before she said what was on her mind. ¡°So?¡± Ariana looked at Gerald with a t expression.


    ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, right?¡± Gerald asked again. ¡°ording to you?¡± Ariana asked again.


    ¡°And you didn¡¯t want to tell me about it? Especially since this morning, the issue was discussed at the breakfast table,¡± he replied again, this time with fiery intensity.


    Ariana nodded, agreeing with his statement. ¡°Yes, your ex-lover brought it up. That¡¯s what I remember,¡± Ariana replied still in her t tone.


    ¡°And why didn¡¯t you answer that you were pregnant at that time?¡± Gerald asked with a lower voice. ¡°Or after we were alone together?¡± he continued hesitantly. ¡°If you thought this was a surprise and you wanted me to be the first to know? Why did you ask about Axel¡¯s adoption issue instead of telling me this good news? Why, Ariana? Why?¡±


    ¡°Why do you think?¡± Ariana countered.


    ¡°Do you want to abort it because you want to go back to your lover?¡± he challenged. Lover? Ariana repeated the word in her mind. ¡°Are you regretful and realized that you actually love Chris, you want to pursue him but the existence of my child hinders your desire, is that it?¡±


    Ariana wanted tough at his words. But she held back. She just looked at Gerald coldly. Was that how Gerald saw her? Was that all the trust he had in her? She wondered in her mind. ¡°If that¡¯s your assumption, I can¡¯t say anything,¡± she replied coldly.


    Gerald stared at Ariana with wide eyes and open mouth. Her answer was so painful to him. It hurt more than when he had broken his bones. Something in his chest squeezed so tight that for a split second he felt his heart stop beating. Was Ariana really nning to do what Shelma suspected?


    He couldn¡¯t believe it. But hearing iting from her own mouth, what else could Gerald say?


    ¡°Why?¡± Gerald asked softly. ¡°Why do you want to do that?¡± he continued with an expression of disbelief.


    ¡°There are many reasons,¡± Ariana replied nonchntly. She even shrugged without taking her eyes off Gerald. ¡°First, I¡¯m not ready to be a mother, and you already know that,¡± Ariana answered casually. She chose to lean back against the sofa¡¯s backrest and stared at Gerald defiantly. ¡°Second, because I¡¯m really not ready to be a mother. And third, maybe you¡¯re right, I realized that Chris means a lot to me, and this time I don¡¯t want to let him go.¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Gerald still couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you can kill it. It¡¯s your flesh and blood! It¡¯s our flesh and blood!¡± Gerald shouted loudly.


    ¡°He is indeed my flesh and blood. Gerald!¡± Ariana retorted with an equally loud voice. ¡°But this body is mine.¡±


    She hissed. ¡°And I have more rights over this body than this fetus.¡± Ariana replied again.


    Gerald shook his head in disbelief. He slumped weakly on the sofa. His eyes looked at Ariana with sadness. Ariana knew she had hurt Gerald, but she didn¡¯t care. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you have to get rid of it. He¡¯s your flesh and blood! Our flesh and blood!¡± Gerald pleaded.


    ¡°He is my flesh and blood. Gerald!¡± Ariana replied with the same volume. ¡°But this body is mine.¡±


    She hissed. ¡°And I have more rights over this body than this fetus.¡± Ariana replied again.


    Gerald shook his head in disbelief. He slumped weakly on the sofa. His eyes looked at Ariana with sadness. Ariana knew she had hurt Gerald, but she didn¡¯t care. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you have to get rid of it. He¡¯s your flesh and blood! Our flesh and blood!¡± Gerald pleaded.


    Ariana continued to look at him with her t expression. ¡°When will the matter of Axel¡¯s adoption be settled?¡± Ariana asked again. A question that Gerald didn¡¯t expect toe out of Ariana¡¯s mouth at a time like this.


    ¡°Why? Why are you asking that? Do you really want all of this to end so we can end this marriage?¡± Gerald asked, still in disbelief.


    ¡°This marriage should never have happened, right?¡± Ariana countered. ¡°Ana¡­¡± Gerald couldn¡¯t say anything anymore.


    ¡°Finish the adoption process soon, Gerald. I just want my normal life back. Let¡¯s return everything to the original n. Get custody of Axel while you¡¯re still my husband, or you can get custody after you divorce me and marry Karenina. Because I can¡¯t wait too long anymore, Gerald,¡± Ariana stood up from her seat.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Gerald asked, displeased.


    ¡°To where I should be. Call me when social servicese and conduct the survey. If there¡¯s no business with it, I hope you won¡¯t bother me. I don¡¯t care if you follow me or not. I¡¯m just tired of staying in this ce,¡± she said as she walked away. But at the door, Ariana stopped in her tracks. ¡°And don¡¯t order anyone to follow me. If you do, your worst nightmare will trulye true. This child will never be born, and you won¡¯t have a chance to see  it.¡±

 Chap 127 : Time Bomb

    ¡°A Widowed Leaf!¡± the shout echoed loudly, causing the listener to raise an eyebrow. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a trendy type of nt?¡± Ariana asked her cousin.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Amber looked at Ariana, puzzled.


    ¡°As far as I know, this is still my apartment, Amber,¡± Ariana replied casually. She, who had been standing in the kitchen, now walked over to the sofa in front of the TV.


    ¡°So, are you going to kick me out?¡± Amber asked, annoyed.


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll think about itter,¡± she replied and chose to turn on the television.


    Amber, who had just put her shoes in the closet, now walked towards Ariana, who was changing channels without any interest in watching TV. ¡°I¡¯m seriously asking you, Ariana. What are you doing here? Does your husband know?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he knows where I am. You know he has subordinates everywhere,¡± Ariana replied casually. Amber shook her head, refusing to ept her friend¡¯s answer.


    ¡°Are you two fighting again? Are you running away again?¡± she asked.


    Ariana nodded. ¡°I¡¯m following your methods from the other day when you were angry with me,¡± she said, shing a sweet smile at Amber.


    Amber rolled her eyes. ¡°Are we going to talk about this again? Haven¡¯t I felt embarrassed enough because of you?¡± she asked, sounding irritated. Ariana leaned casually against the sofa¡¯s backrest, folded her arms in front of her chest, and looked at Amber still with a sweet smile on her face. She then shook her head slowly. ¡°Come on, Ariana. Don¡¯t keep making me feel guilty because I got angry with you,¡± her friendined. Ariana responded with a shrug. ¡°So, what¡¯s the reason for your fight now?¡± Amber chose to change the subject.


    ¡°The same reason that made you leave me some time ago,¡± Ariana replied.


    Amber frowned. ¡°Chris again?¡± she asked. Ariana nodded. ¡°But he¡¯s gone now. What else is Gerald jealous of from him?¡±


    Ariana fell silent for a moment, choosing the right words to say. Then, she walked into her room, grabbed her bag, and handed something from inside it to Amber. At first, Amber assumed the small book was some sort of diary. But when she saw her friend¡¯s logo and name written there, she was shocked. ¡°You?¡± she asked, looking back and forth between Ariana and the book. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, Ariana?¡± she asked, astonished. Ariana nodded in response. ¡°Oh my God¡­ Ariana¡­¡± Amber instantly rose and embraced her friend. ¡°Oh God,¡± she said within the embrace. After hugging Ariana, Amber invited her friend to sit down. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, but why are you here?¡± she asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Because of Chris,¡± Ariana answered tly.


    ¡°What does this baby have to do with¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Amber stared wide-eyed at Ariana. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me your guy thinks this is Chris¡¯s child!¡± It wasn¡¯t a question, but a statement. ¡°Ariana, you have to tell your guy the truth. He needs to know that it¡¯s not Chris¡¯s child,¡± she continued.


    Ariana smiled and shook her head. ¡°Gerald clearly knows it¡¯s not Chris¡¯s child,¡± she replied firmly. ¡°And then?¡± Amber asked, confused. ¡°If he knows Chris isn¡¯t the father of this baby, why are you still here?¡±


    ¡°Do you really want me not to be here?¡± Ariana asked back. ¡°Oh my God, I¡¯m asking seriously, Ariana!¡± Amber replied, annoyed.


    Ariana just chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Amber said. ¡°Just give me the conclusion.¡±Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°From the beginning, I didn¡¯t tell Gerald about this pregnancy,¡± Ariana said matter-of-factly. Amber looked at her with furrowed brows.


    ¡°Why? Doesn¡¯t he want to have a child?¡± she asked, curious.


    Ariana shook her head again. ¡°On the contrary, he really, really wants a child,¡± Ariana replied honestly. ¡°The problem is with me,¡± she said sadly. ¡°This marriage was never part of my n, Amber. Let alone a child,¡± she continued.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Amber looked at her friend, her heart suddenly filled with sorrow.


    ¡°You know about my past. You know everything. Being a mother was never in my ns. It was never even in my life¡¯s dictionary to be someone¡¯s wife,¡± she said, her throat choked.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡±


    ¡°But now, I¡¯ve changed my mind,¡± she replied softly. ¡°I¡¯m surprisinglyfortable with all of this. I love Axel. That kid makes me feel like I¡¯m worthy, like I can be a mother. His eptance, his genuine attitude, they¡¯ve changed my mind and made me believe that I can be a better mother than that woman ever was, and Gerald too. For the first time in twenty-five years, I feel truly wanted, needed, and missed,¡± a tear escaped her eye.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± once again, Amber could only whisper her friend¡¯s name softly.


    ¡°I thought this marriage would work out. And when he said he wanted to have a child with me, you can¡¯t imagine how happy I was. In the end, I became a part of someone¡¯s future ns. And I was genuinely happy, even though back then I said the opposite,¡± Ariana wiped her tears roughly. ¡°And when I found out that one by one those desires wereing true, my happiness grew. I couldn¡¯t believe all of this was happening to me. I kept wondering if I deserved all of this,¡± she said, unbelieving. ¡°But once again, reality isn¡¯t as beautiful as dreams,¡± she continued.


    Amber looked at Ariana in silence. ¡°Does all of this have something to do with that?¡± Amber pointed to a small stic container inside Ariana¡¯s bag. Ariana nodded. ¡°Gerald doesn¡¯t know about this?¡± she asked again. Ariana shook her head once more.


    ¡°I was given a choice, Lan,¡± Ariana replied softly. ¡°And when I gave myself time to choose, reality came.¡± She replied sadly. ¡°Shelma and Karenina really haven¡¯t let Gerald go for me.¡± She said with a bitter smile.


    ¡°What else has Karen done?¡±


    ¡°Gerald thinks I didn¡¯t tell him about this baby because I wanted to abort it.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Just to chase Chris,¡± Ariana continued.


    ¡°Insane!¡± Amber eximed. ¡°Ariana! You really need to tell Gerald the truth. How could he think like that?¡±


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°Believe me, exining something to someone who doesn¡¯t want to hear any reason is futile,¡± Ariana replied with a cynical smile.


    ¡°Ariana..¡± Amber grabbed Ariana¡¯s hand and squeezed it gently. ¡°So what now? Are you going to just let it be? Let those two widowed leaves win?¡±


    Ariana shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s like me needing time to control my emotions. I also know Gerald needs time to clear his mind.¡±


    ¡°But if left alone, one small problem can be a ticking time bomb.¡±

 Chap 128 : Scared

    Ariana, ¡°Ariana, I¡¯m serious!¡±


    Ariana chuckled. ¡°I can only rely on his feelings, Amber. All I¡¯ve asked from him is trust. If he doesn¡¯t trust me anymore¡­¡±


    ¡°Ariana, for God¡¯s sake!¡± Amber looked at her cousin in frustration. ¡°Trust is built, not something you can just ask or give. Do you think trust is like candy?¡± Amber retorted angrily. ¡°Besides, your marriage is still in its infancy. Even couples who have been dating for a long time still often doubt each other. They don¡¯t trust each otherpletely.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    And after they get married, they¡¯re still surprised to find out that ¡®he¡¯ is not what ¡®he¡¯ showed all this time. They¡¯re not as beautiful, handsome, romantic, and not even as put-together as they appeared to be.


    They¡¯re still surprised by the habits¡­ you know what I mean,¡± Amber replied, irritated. ¡°Andpare all of that to your rtionship!¡± she ordered. ¡°You never knew who Gerald Zeroun was before. Just like he didn¡¯t know who you were. Your rtionship, I mean, your marriage, clearly started in the negative, not even at zero. Let alone knowing small habits, you don¡¯t even know big habits about each other. Come on, Ariana, think rationally.¡± She urged.


    Ariana could only fall silent. What Amber said was not wrong, but painfully true.


    ¡°Tell him the real facts, Ariana. I know you¡¯ve been used to keeping everything to yourself. You¡¯re used to being independent and not relying on others. But now, you have someone to lean on. That¡¯s Gerald.


    And even at a nce, I can tell he really likes you, truly cares for you, and loves you. He¡¯s clearly afraid of losing you. He already trusts you as much as he can. If he didn¡¯t trust you, he couldn¡¯t possibly love you, Ariana. And if he¡¯s uncertain right now because of the whispers of those two devils, it¡¯s not his fault. It¡¯s because he¡¯s doubting himself. Because until now, you haven¡¯t been able to give him the trust, not the other way around.¡±


    Amber stared at the silent Ariana. She knew her friend was processing what she had said. ¡°Stop fighting alone. Stop keeping everything to yourself. There¡¯s nothing wrong with starting to depend on someone, Ariana. No one can live alone. No matter how strong you are, I know deep down here,¡± Amber pointed to Ariana¡¯s chest. ¡°You are weak. And deep down, you really need someone like Gerald.¡± Amber continued. Ariana chose to remain silent. ¡°If you can¡¯t bring yourself to tell the truth to Gerald, I¡¯ll be the one to say it all to him.¡± Amber threatened.


    Ariana looked up, gazing at her friend and cousin with a surprised expression. Then she shook her head. ¡°No, Amber. Don¡¯t,¡± she replied softly.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you tell him. Tell him that all of this is not easy for you!¡± Ambermanded.


    ¡°But that¡¯s what he has to do, Ariana. It doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re asking for pity, but you¡¯re asking him to understand. If he¡¯s selfish, it means my perception of him all this time was wrong.¡± Amber replied again.


    Ariana fell silent. Unconsciously, she twisted her fingers. Amber didn¡¯t say much anymore. The burden on Ariana was already heavy enough. She didn¡¯t want to make her friend even more pressured. But as a rtive, she wanted the best for her cousin. If she didn¡¯t try to open Ariana¡¯s eyes, she didn¡¯t know if there would be others who could do it.


    Feeling both right and guilty at the same time, Amber reached out and then hugged her friend and cousin. Ariana rested her head on Amber¡¯s shoulder. Meanwhile, Amber gently stroked Ariana¡¯s stomach. ¡°You¡¯re not a bad person. But being selfish is not a mistake. You can¡¯t make everyone happy and sacrifice your own needs, Ariana. Everyone will understand the choices you make. If they don¡¯t, they¡¯re the selfish ones. Don¡¯t sacrifice anymore, Ariana,¡± Amber pleaded softly. ¡°Before it¡¯s toote,¡± she added.


    And long after that, Ariana still sat silently in her dark room. She stared at the night view outside, asionally apanied by the noise of vehicles on the street below. Her hand rose and gently rubbed her stomach.


    She was afraid. Of everything. Her marriage. Her love for Gerald that she didn¡¯t know when it started and how deep it was. Her love for Axel, which started at first sight and then grew bigger over time. She was afraid. She was afraid of losing all of it if the truth came out.


    If she held onto it now, she would be the one to leave eventually. But if she let go now, she knew that one day she would be left behind again.


    Nothing was advantageous for her. And Amber was right, Ariana couldn¡¯t always make others happy.


    She rubbed her stomach again. She wanted this baby so much. Because deep in her heart, as a woman, she wanted to be perfect. And that would be achieved if she became a mother.


    Afraid of not being a good mother. Afraid of bing a bad mother like her own. Those were all excuses she made to cover her other pain. What Ariana was afraid of was that the child in her womb would experience something worse than what happened to her now. Nothing had happened yet, but Ariana was afraid of bing someone her child would hate.


    A knock on the door plus a faint light entered her room. ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Amber called. Ariana, who had her back to the door, turned slightly toward her friend. ¡°Are you okay?¡± her friend asked, approaching. She circled the bed until she could see Ariana¡¯s swollen face.


    Yes,st night after returning to her room, Ariana kept thinking and thinking until she didn¡¯t know what time she finally fell asleep.


    Amber put her hand on her forehead and checked her body temperature.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ariana replied softly.


    Amber just nodded slowly. Anyway, Ariana¡¯s body temperature was fine. Although her face looked pale and she had dark circles under her eyes, her body temperature was normal.

 Chap 129 : Jody and Amber

    ¡°Are you going to the restaurant?¡± Amber asked again. Ariana shook her head. ¡°Why should I go there when I have you and Jody?¡± she replied sharply.


    Amber chuckled. ¡°Alright, alright, Boss. In that case, I¡¯ll leave now,¡± she said. Ariana just nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to have breakfast,¡± she ordered. And once again, Ariana just nodded. After Amber closed the door, Ariana curled up again under her warm nket in her dark room.


    Amber left the apartment after making sure everything was in order. Although she couldn¡¯t bear to leave Ariana alone, she knew that her friend hated being pitied. And if Ariana chose not to go to the restaurant-the ce that had been a source of her problems for so long-it meant that what Ariana was going through was heavier than it seemed. Yes, years of knowing Ariana had given her some understanding of her friend¡¯s character.


    The atmosphere in the restaurant seemed normal as Amber entered. Jody, Dara, and several other friends were already getting ready for their respective tasks. Amber, who headed straight to the second floor and started her work, had to look up when she heard a knock on the door and saw Jody¡¯s face there.


    ¡°Can we talk?¡± the man asked hesitantly. ¡°In private,¡± he added when he received no response from Amber.


    Amber just shrugged. The man immediately took a seat in front of her table. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Amber inquired. ¡°Do you know Ariana came to my house yesterday?¡± Jody asked without preamble.


    ¡°She went to your ce?¡± Amber asked back. She clearly didn¡¯t know because Ariana hadn¡¯t told her anything. Jody nodded. ¡°What did she say?¡±


    ¡°My mom didn¡¯t say much. She just mentioned that Ariana looked sad. I came here because I wanted to ask you, what¡¯s going on with her? What happened to her?¡± he inquired, wanting to know.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t say much either. But it¡¯s true,tely she¡¯s been constantly troubled by unresolved feelings,¡± Ambermented.


    Amber could only take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Jody was not wrong; in fact, he was absolutely right. And part of the problem Ariana was facing was herself.


    ¡°My mom said she seemed different. Like someone who¡¯s pregnant,¡± Jody continued. Amber blinked instantly. ¡°Your mom knows? Did Ariana tell her?¡±


    Jody shook his head. ¡°So, she really is pregnant?¡± he directed the question more to himself. Amber sighed deeply and nodded wearily. ¡°How is she doing now? She must be confused,¡± he asked.


    Reluctantly, Amber nodded again. ¡°I¡¯m sure she spent the whole night thinking about it. When I checked on her this morning, she looked really exhausted.¡±


    ¡°Does Gerald know?¡± Jody asked again. Amber shook her head.


    ¡°I want to be angry at him. At Gerald too. But what can I do? At one point, I left her too because of a misunderstanding a while back,¡± Amber replied, her face filled with regret. ¡°On one hand, I can¡¯t me Ariana because she has self-esteem issues. But on the other hand, I also feel she¡¯s right in protecting herself like she is now. But she¡¯s wrong too because she demands Gerald to trust her while she doesn¡¯t trust him,¡± Ambermented. Jody nodded in agreement. ¡°But Gerald is also at fault. Because all of this is too extreme for Ariana. Even those of us who grew up with her sometimes find it hard to get close to Ariana. For her to trust us and tell us everything, we also need time. But Gerald is demanding too much from Ariana,¡± Jody nodded again.


    ¡°But I¡¯m sure Ariana is starting to have feelings for her husband,¡± Amber agreed. ¡°If she didn¡¯t have any feelings for Gerald, there¡¯s no way she¡¯d be this confused. It¡¯s precisely because she¡¯s thinking about that guy that she¡¯s confused right now,¡± Amber said.


    Both Jody and Amber could only take deep, heavy breaths and exhale sharply. ¡°Should we be the bridge for their rtionship? Should we just talk to Gerald about what we know?¡± Jody suggested hesitantly.


    Amber shook her head. ¡°Ariana wouldn¡¯t like it if we meddle in her affairs. Even if she knows we mean well,¡± she said firmly. Jody nodded again.


    ¡°I feel sorry for Ariana, Amber.¡±


    ¡°And you think I don¡¯t?!¡± Amber replied, her tone rising.


    Jody chuckled. ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯re not angry with Ay [Ariana] because of Chris anymore!¡±


    Amber threw her pen at Jody. ¡°You jerk!¡± she cursed. But then she realized Jody was bringing up that name again. ¡°Chris!¡± she eximed loudly.


    ¡°Why? Missing him, are you?¡± Jody teased, his tone mocking.


    ¡°Damn you, Jod!¡± Amber cursed again. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I meant, one of Ariana¡¯s current problems is Chris.¡±


    ¡°I know. You got upset and left because of Chris, right?¡± Jody taunted again.


    Amber grimaced. ¡°It¡¯s not that, you jerk,¡± Amber denied. ¡°The thing is, Karen and another one of Ariana¡¯s enemies said that the baby inside her might be Chris¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Damn! Did Karen really say that?¡± Amber nodded. ¡°And does Gerald believe it?¡±R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Amber shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know if he believes those two witches or not. All I know is that¡¯s why Ariana chose to leave home,¡± Amber replied. ¡°So the choice is for Chris to help sort this out. To convince Gerald that the baby isn¡¯t his.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure that it¡¯s not Chris¡¯s baby?¡± Jody looked at Amber teasingly.


    Amber stared at Jody with her mouth wide open. Frustration and anger blended on her face. ¡°Are you insulting Ariana?¡± Amber asked, incredulous.


    Jody shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. Who knows if Chris can handle Ariana while with you¡­¡± his words trailed off.


    ¡°Jody! You bastard! Are you implying I¡¯m not attractive?¡± Amber asked loudly.


    Jody chuckled and nodded. ¡°You know, if I had topare, you¡¯re like a pir in an ancient pce, while Ariana¡­¡±


    ¡°Jody! Damn it! Get out right now or I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart!¡± Amber shouted loudly. She was clearly very angry at his words. Jody raised both his hands andplied with what Amber said. He left, leaving the girl with a mocking expression.


    Jody frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

 Chap 130 : Can’t Choice

    Ariana sat on the bed, holding her head in her hands. The throbbing in her head had been there for the past few days, even before she found out about her pregnancy. Initially, she thought it was just a regr headache. But eventually, she understood the reason behind it, as it always came at the same time every day.


    More than that, the pain in her head was always apanied by nausea, causing her to vomit whatever food she put into her mouth. Just like what had happened a moment ago, even though she had just had breakfast. Not really breakfast, but more like ate morning meal since it was already past ten-fifteen. Despite the bitter taste in her mouth, she forced herself to swallow something for the sake of the baby growing inside her.


    Ariana went back to the kitchen, searching for fruits she could eat. She needed to rece what she had just thrown up with fresh food. She smiled when she saw a dragon fruit ced on a bowl on the kitchen table. Hopefully, its sweetness could rece the bitter taste in her mouth. Just as she was about to grab a knife, she heard the doorbell of her apartment ring. With a furrowed brow, she walked towards the door, peeked for a moment from inside, and then with a smile on her face, she opened the door.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± the shout echoed as small hands collided and embraced her legs. ¡°Axel missed Mommy, why didn¡¯t Mommye home?¡± the little boy asked, his voice sounding petnt.


    ¡°Mommy had to tidy up our home,¡± Ariana reasoned. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Axel at school?¡± she questioned the handsome boy in front of her.


    ¡°Because Mommy isn¡¯t here,¡± he replied innocently.


    Ariana looked at the boy sharply. ¡°Whether Mommy is here or not, Axel must go to school. Does Axel want to be ignorant?¡± she scolded. The boy shook his head with a pouty face. ¡°Promise Mommy you won¡¯t skip school anymore?¡± she ordered. The boy obediently nodded his head. Ariana¡¯s expression softened into a smile, and she ushered the boy inside the apartment. ¡°Mommy is going to eat dragon fruit. Does Axel want some?¡± she asked. The little boy nodded eagerly. ¡°Does Grandma want some too?¡± she inquired, looking at the elderly woman who came in with Axel. Mrs. Rosaline just nodded and followed her grandson to sit on the sofa.


    Ariana returned to the kitchen and resumed peeling the fruit. An hour earlier, Mrs. Rosaline had contacted her, telling her about Axel¡¯s protest due to Ariana¡¯s absence. The little boy refused to have breakfast and even refused to go to school, throwing a tantrum in front of Gerald and demanding Ariana¡¯s presence. But Gerald, who was equally emotional, chose to ignore Axel and went to the office anyway. Consequently, the only option Mrs. Rosaline had was to call Ariana and inform her about Axel¡¯s situation.


    Ariana refused to return home without giving a definite reason. However, she didn¡¯t object when Mrs. Rosaline offered to bring Axel to her apartment. So, here they were. In her living room, with the television on, showing one of Axel¡¯s favorite kids¡¯ shows.


    ¡°How are you holding up?¡± Mrs. Rosaline asked when Axel was already engrossed in the show.


    ¡°Not any better,¡± Ariana replied tly.


    ¡°Why are you doing all of this? Why do your problems never end?¡± she asked, her face filled with worry. ¡°And now, why are you letting all of this happen, Ariana?¡± Mrs. Rosaline continued to scrutinize Ariana carefully. ¡°You know Gerald loves you so much. But why can¡¯t you trust him?¡± she asked, her eyes filled with sadness.


    Ariana looked down. ¡°I love him too. I¡¯m aware of that. But I¡¯m confused about the reality I have to face right now,¡± Ariana replied.


    ¡°No one knows the mysteries of human life, Ariana. We humans can only specte; the truth is only known to God.¡±


    Ariana fell silent once again. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to avoid something painful.¡±


    ¡°Painful for whom? Gerald or yourself? Because from what Grandma observes, all of this will only hurt you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m used to it all.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    But then Mrs. Rosaline reached out and took Ariana¡¯s hand. ¡°No one gets used to pain, Ariana. Even though you often feel it. At least, if Gerald is with you, the pain might be a little easier to bear.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to involve him in unnecessary pain,¡± Ariana replied wearily. ¡°I don¡¯t want to make him choose,¡± she continued.


    Mrs. Rosaline reached for Ariana¡¯s hand and squeezed it gently. ¡°But life is about choices, dear. Not everything in this world can be ours. If you want one thing, it means you have to let go of something else. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Mrs. Rosaline asked, trying to convince her. Ariana could only remain silent, while at the same time, her chest felt tight.


    She shifted her attention to Axel, who was still focused on the screen in front of him. The little child had slowly captured her heart, as did his father. ¡°Isn¡¯t there any way to expedite the custody process?¡± she asked Mrs. Rosaline again.


    ¡°Why? What will you do after Axel¡¯s custody is settled?¡±


    Ariana forced a smile. ¡°Maybe find some peace somewhere?¡± she asked hesitantly.


    ¡°Ariana, listen to me. I don¡¯t want you to regretter on,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said, squeezing Ariana¡¯s hand gently. ¡°Right now, Gerald does love you. He will still forgive any mistakes you make. But he¡¯s not a saint. The Gerald I know is not a man who will just sit idly if he¡¯s hurt. He¡¯s the revengeful type. So, it¡¯s better if you tell him everything now before he misunderstands further and ends up hating you,¡± the old woman pleaded with her pitiful gaze.


    ¡°Maybe at that time, I won¡¯t be able to feel his hatred,¡± Ariana replied softly.


    ¡°Ariana, please. Don¡¯t be so stubborn,¡± said Mrs. Rosaline again. ¡°It¡¯s like you¡¯re defending yourself in a pit of pain you¡¯ve created yourself. Try once more to trust someone else,¡± Mrs. Rosaline pleaded again.


    Ariana looked down. ¡°If only I could,¡± she said softly. ¡°I¡¯ve tried all ways to change myself, to give my trust to others. But it only makes things worse. I feel tired,¡± Ariana replied. ¡°I¡¯m tired of being hurt. That¡¯s why I prefer to suffer alone rather than hurt or be hurt by others.¡±


    ¡°But what you¡¯re doing now is hurting Gerald,¡± Mrs. Rosaline admonished. ¡°Believe me, give your heartpletely to him. He won¡¯t hurt you, dear.¡± However, no matter how hard Mrs. Rosaline tried to persuade her, Ariana seemed unyielding.


    ¡°When everything is over, whatever the oue, I hope I can give Gerald what he wants. Something that can make him happy, even if it won¡¯t earn his forgiveness.¡±

 Chap 131 : Not Good

    A week had passed since Ariana left Zeroun¡¯s residence. But if Gerald noticed, the atmosphere at his home seemed normal. Even Axel, who used to sulk when going to school, now appeared just like before. It was as if things had returned to the way they were before Ariana entered their lives. The only one who felt Ariana¡¯s absence was Gerald.


    Yes. Every night, without realizing it, Gerald would wake up with his hand reaching out to Ariana¡¯s empty side of the bed. Then he would stay awake until the early hours of the morning, missing the woman who had been apanying his sleep and patiently listening to his meaningless chatter.


    Ariana. Why was she doing all this? How could she be so heartless to her own child? How could she be so cruel to Gerald? Didn¡¯t she have any feelings for him? Gerald was convinced that Ariana had started to open up to him. If Ariana didn¡¯t have feelings for him, she wouldn¡¯t have agreed to be with him. She wouldn¡¯t have prepared his favorite meals, listened to his ramblings, or spent time with him. Or was it all an act? Or just pity? Feeling sorry for Gerald, who always professed his love?


    Gerald shook his head to clear his thoughts. No, he was sure that Ariana¡¯s feelings for him were genuine. At least her love for Axel was sincere. If not, why would Axel continue to stay with him?


    Gerald massaged his temples. Another thing that had changed since Ariana left was his increasingly severe headaches at the same time every day. And for some reason, when the pain surfaced, Gerald¡¯s desire to meet Ariana grew stronger.


    He looked at the envelope in front of him. The report he received about Ariana. In the past week, Gerald hadn¡¯t received any strange reports. ording to the recent reports, Ariana hadn¡¯t left her apartment. She hadn¡¯t gone anywhere, not even to a restaurant. And she hadn¡¯t received any visitors, not even from her own family.


    Was Ariana intentionally hiding her situation even from her family? Gerald wondered. Surely, if her family knew, they would be happy, right? Ariana was the first child of the Bradley family, and she would give the man a grandchild. Typically, a grandfather would be delighted to hear such news. But if there was no movement from the Bradleys, it meant Ariana hadn¡¯t told her father anything. Or maybe she had told them but had forbidden them from visiting?


    Gerald¡¯s thoughts wandered too far. But he had to consider all possibilities and prevent the worst from happening. He didn¡¯t want to be caught off guard and regret itter. Yes, until this moment, Gerald was still convinced that Ariana hadn¡¯t mentioned the pregnancy issue because she intended to terminate it. That was why he had assigned several people to watch over Ariana, to monitor her movements and report if she ever truly attempted her n. No one must harm the Zeroun heir. The baby had to survive no matter what. If necessary, Gerald would keep Ariana confined until the baby was born.


    Even ifter she would leave him to return to her first love, he didn¡¯t care. What mattered was that his flesh and blood were safe with him.


    A knock on his door made him look up. Vivan walked in and ced another folder on his desk. ¡°The Social Services Department informed us that they will conduct a survey in theing weeks, sir,¡± the man said with his usual calm tone. Gerald, who had just read a bit of the report, furrowed his brow.


    ¡°Can you confirm the exact timing?¡± he asked Vivan. ¡°You know the state of Zeroun¡¯s residence now. I don¡¯t want any failures,¡± he said coldly. Vivan understood what Gerald meant without needing a lengthy exnation.


    ¡°You can determine the time, sir,¡± Vivan replied. Gerald only nodded and continued reading the documents in front of him. It took him a while before he finished reading the documents and signed them.


    ¡°Have you received any news about his whereabouts?¡± he asked, handing the leather-bound folder back to Vivan. Again, Vivan understood whom Gerald was referring to.


    ¡°I apologize, sir. His location was only traceable up to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport. After that, his trail vanished.¡±


    ¡°So he didn¡¯t return to Paris?¡± Gerald asked, unbelieving.


    Vivan shook his head. ¡°Our prediction was wrong, sir,¡± Vivan replied regretfully.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Gerald gripped his pen tightly, and his grip was so strong that he ended up breaking the expensive pen easily. ¡°Pay anyone, no matter the cost. I want to know where he is. I don¡¯t want Ariana to reach him first,¡± he growled angrily. Vivan just nodded and chose to leave.


    Damn it! Once again, his misfortune multiplied. What was happening to him? Whytely did it seem like luck was not on his side?


    Chris. He had to find him before Ariana did. He must. If Ariana¡¯s reason for wanting to terminate her pregnancy was because of him, then he would ask Chris to restrain himself at least until the baby was born. What difference would waiting seven more months make to him? They had been apart for almost half a decade, and they were fine.


    Meanwhile, elsewhere.


    Ariana sat slumped, her body feeling weak. The pain in her chest from throwing up the little food she managed to eat made her body ache. It felt as if someone was pounding small hammers on her joints. Her head was incredibly light. Her knees felt like they couldn¡¯t carry her anymore. As a result, she curled up on the couch in front of the TV.


    She didn¡¯t allow any light to enter. She kept her apartment dim. She closed all the windows and only turned on a few lights. The sunlight truly hurt her eyes and made her head ache. Sheughed at herself for it. Even when looking in the mirror, she felt increasingly pitiful. She felt like a vampire in self-imposed exile.


    Her face was pale, and even the hollows under her eyes started to show. All this because she could only fall asleep after 2 AM. Sometimes she couldn¡¯t even close her eyes until 4 AM. Her cheeks were sunken due to the limited food intake. She wasn¡¯t okay. And she was even less okay right now. Ariana gently rubbed her stomach. Although there were no signs of pregnancy yet, her belly had slightly hardened. And because of it, she smiled. There was a baby inside her. Her baby and Gerald¡¯s.


    She nced at the vitamins in front of her. Even those vitamins couldn¡¯t improve her condition.


    The doorbell made her furrow her brow. Ariana looked at the wall clock, and the crease on her forehead deepened. Who could be visiting at this hour? It couldn¡¯t be Amber or Mrs. Rosaline. Both of them had gained ess to her apartment.


    With reluctance, Ariana got up from her reclined position and, with dragging steps, walked to the door without checking who the visitor was and directly opened it. A mocking smile met her. The uninvited guest had even let himself in and shamelessly sat on her favorite couch.

 Chap 132 : Let’s Just Go Ourselves

    ¡°Ariana!¡± that morning was greeted by Amber¡¯s loud shout echoing through the empty apartment room. Amber half ran, approaching the bed where Ariana was curled up like a fetus, her body trembling violently. ¡°Ariana?¡± she called again on the bedside. Her faint voice couldn¡¯t hide her panic. Amber knew what was happening; this was not unfamiliar to her, although it rarely urred. Ariana slowly opened her eyes, gazing at her friend and then smiled gently.


    ¡°Calm down,¡± she whispered softly, clearly in pain. Amber gently wiped Ariana¡¯s forehead. Cold sweat flooded her friend¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°Where is the medicine?¡± she asked in a whisper. Her eyes searched the room corners. Instead of answering, Ariana shook her head. ¡°Ariana, it¡¯s not the time to be stubborn!¡± Amber said in frustration.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ fine¡­¡± Ariana replied, gasping for breath. Nevertheless, her hands clutched the nket tightly, her fingertips turning white.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to the hospital now!¡± Amber said firmly. She moved away from the bed, opened Ariana¡¯s wardrobe, and grabbed her friend¡¯s jacket. Returning to the bed, Amber helped Ariana sit up and lie back on the pillows. But when Amber was about to put the jacket on Ariana, Ariana stopped her. ¡°What now?!¡± the girl asked, irritated and worried.


    ¡°Find¡­ suitable¡­ clothes¡­¡± Ariana requested weakly, still gasping for breath.


    ¡°We are going to the hospital, not to a party!¡± scolded Amber. Frustrated that Ariana was more concerned about her appearance than going to the hospital immediately.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°Later,¡± she said again. With trembling hands, Ariana pointed to her phone on the nightstand. Amber reached for it, though her face still showed irritation. Ariana took the phone and unlocked it with her fingerprint, then handed it to Amber.


    Amber took the phone and read the message inside, then snorted in annoyance. The message was from Ariana¡¯s husband¡¯s assistant, saying that the Department of Social Services would be visiting Zeroun¡¯s residence today. Ariana was expected toe so that the adoption process could proceed faster. The condition was that Ariana had to wear appropriate clothes to impress the department.


    ¡°Damn it! Who is this Vivan?!¡± Amber cursed angrily. ¡°Your healthes first, family matterse second, Ariana!¡± she said again. However, Ariana shook her head again, disagreeing with her statement.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°I¡­ asked for everything to be resolved quickly,¡± she whispered. Amber looked at her anxiously. She knew Ariana was not okay. Her friend was clearly in pain. But why was she prioritizing others over herself?


    ¡°Can¡¯t it be rescheduled?¡± she asked, forcing her tone. ¡°At least let¡¯s go to the hospital first, get first aid, and then go to Zeroun¡¯s residence.¡± Amber pleaded again. However, Ariana shook her head. Eventually, Amber got angry at her friend¡¯s behavior.


    ¡°Jody¡­¡± she said. Amber frowned but then nodded in understanding. She walked out of Ariana¡¯s room and searched for her own phone, dialing the name Ariana mentioned earlier.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± Amber asked without preamble.


    ¡°Restaurant. Why haven¡¯t youe yet?¡± Jody asked back.


    ¡°Ariana rpsed,¡± she said, ncing at Ariana¡¯s room door that she had purposely left open. ¡°But she doesn¡¯t want to go to the hospital.¡± She continued quickly. ¡°You know what you have to do. Come here right now!¡± Amber ordered. And she hung up the phone. Amber walked back to Ariana¡¯s room. She saw her friend trying to stand up again. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she said in annoyance. Ariana sat back on the edge of the bed.


    ¡°Take me there,¡± she requested softly.


    Amber looked at her angrily but proceeded to the wardrobe and found clothes that she thought would befortable for Ariana to wear at the moment. ¡°What do you think Gerald will say when he sees you like this? You clearly look like a walking corpse, Ai,¡± shemented, putting a long-sleeved dress on the bed.


    ¡°Am I that bad?¡± Ariana asked, chuckling.


    Amber just snorted. She helped Ariana change out of her short-sleeved cotton nightdress into a knee-length dress. ¡°Worse than that,¡± Amber replied sternly. Then she helped Ariana put on new underwear since her friend¡¯s current underwear was soaked with sweat. ¡°Are you sure you can handle this?¡± Amber asked again after finishing putting on the new clothes.


    Ariana just smiled and nodded faintly. ¡°Hair,¡± she said, pointing to theb on the vanity table. ¡°Don¡¯t tie it,¡± she requested when Amber startedbing it. Amberplied. Shebed Ariana¡¯s hair gently, caressing the beautiful and dense ck hair softly. After a moment, she left Ariana and came back with several items in her hands.


    Amber ced a fabric headband on Ariana¡¯s head, hoping it would beautify her appearance and hide the sweat still trickling down from her forehead. Then she also tried to apply makeup on Ariana to make her face not look too pale.


    Right after Amber finished applying makeup on Ariana, the apartment door was heard opening. Jody walked in with a bag in his hand. Ariana looked up and smiled at her friend. ¡°Later¡­ In the car,¡± she said softly. Jody didn¡¯t say much. He handed the bag he was carrying to Amber and walked toward Ariana.


    Jody crouched in front of Ariana, indicating that he wanted her to get on his back. Ariana didn¡¯t protest much. She approached Jody¡¯s back and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then Jody effortlessly lifted Ariana and walked out of the apartment with Amber following behind.


    Amber overtook Jody and pressed the elevator button. Once Jody got in, she entered and pressed the basement button where Ariana¡¯s car was parked. Amber walked in first and opened the door for Jody. Carefully, Jody seated Ariana in the back left seat. He closed the door and then grabbed the bag from Amber and walked around to enter the car from the other door. Amber did the same. She walked around from the front and got into the car, then sat behind the steering wheel. With practiced movements, Jody took out theplete infusion equipment with the needle from the bag. He carefully set it up on Ariana¡¯s left hand before hanging it on the car door, which had previously been fitted with a hook. ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked Ariana after her infusion was perfectly set up.


    Ariana just smiled and nodded. ¡°Enough,¡± Ariana replied softly. Both Jody and Amber could only look at Ariana in silence. Their disagreement with Ariana¡¯s actions would clearly end in vain.


    Amber then started her car. She pulled the handbrake lever and started driving the car slowly to a ce she had never known existed. But as if knowing about it, Ariana then mentioned the location of the Zeroun family¡¯s residence.


    It took quite some time to get there. Amber had to drive as smoothly as possible so as not to disturb Ariana¡¯s infusion process. And Jody was the one who always made sure the infusion


    went in perfectly. asionally, he wiped Ariana¡¯s forehead, still cold and sweaty, and also held Ariana¡¯s clenched fist every time his friend felt pain.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Jody whispered. His eyes were fixed on Ariana¡¯s pale appearance under the makeup. ¡°Let¡¯s just go ourselves,¡± he asked Ariana softly. Both Amber and Jody understood the meaning behind that sentence.

 Chap 133 : Grandma

    ¡°Pull over, Amber¡­¡± Ariana whispered softly.


    But it seemed Amber didn¡¯t hear her. Eventually, Jody had to tap her shoulder andmand her to pull over. Without many words, Amber immediately steered and parked the car on the roadside as fast as she could. ¡°What time¡­¡± Ariana nced at Jody, who was still watching her silently.


    Jody reached for his phone in his pants pocket. ¡°A little past eight,¡± he replied softly.


    Ariana nodded, choosing to close her eyes and lean her head back against the car seat. Besides the noise of passing vehicles outside, all they could hear inside the car was Ariana¡¯s heavy breathing. Both Amber and Jody could only gaze at Ariana in silence.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Amber released her seatbelt and turned around to face Ariana, looking at her with concern. ¡°When was thest time this happened?¡± she asked, curious.


    Ariana opened her eyes. Her gaze seemed distant, but then she lifted her head and looked at Amber, then smiled.


    ¡°This is the first time it¡¯s happened since thest time,¡± Ariana replied softly.


    Amber furrowed her brow, looking at Ariana in disbelief. But it wasn¡¯t possible for Ariana to lie to her.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t asked about this since earlier,¡± Jody broke the silence. ¡°But what¡¯s going on? Why don¡¯t you want to go to the hospital? Why are we going to Gerald¡¯s ce instead?¡± Jody looked at Ariana and Amber alternately, hoping one of them could give him a satisfying answer.


    ¡°There was a survey from the Social Services today,¡± Amber replied curtly. ¡°For what?¡± Jody asked, confused.


    ¡°Regarding Axel¡¯s custody,¡± Amber continued. ¡°The reason Karenina married Gerald was to gain full custody of Gerald¡¯s younger sibling, Axel.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know about that. But can¡¯t it be postponed?¡± he asked Ariana, who closed her eyes again.


    ¡°I asked for everything to be settled quickly,¡± Ariana replied quietly.


    ¡°Yeah, okay, but a one or two-day dy wouldn¡¯t make a significant difference, right? You should prioritize your current condition,¡± Jody said, frustrated.


    But Ariana shook her head. She opened her eyes again and looked at Jody. ¡°Gerald told someone to tail me,¡± she answered in a hushed whisper. ¡°If that person finds out I¡¯m going to the hospital, everything will be a mess,¡± she continued.


    ¡°How do you know that?¡± Amber looked visibly surprised and nced at Ariana in disbelief.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Grandma,¡± Ariana replied.


    Jody looked at Ariana again with a disbelieving furrowed brow. ¡°I¡¯m actually amazed by the lives of wealthy people. I thought things like this only happened in TV dramas or mafia movies. But it really happens, huh? Rich people spending their money to hire someone to tail someone else?¡± Ariana chuckled, and Amber snorted.


    ¡°Hello, Jody. Where have you been all this time?¡±


    ¡°I was out with Peter Quill to steal a mystical orb,¡± Jody replied casually. Amber rolled her eyes. Jody and his love for Marvel movies weren¡¯t strange anymore to them. ¡°I mean, I thought all of this was over. I thought your man already trusted you.¡±


    However, Jody¡¯s statement made Arianaugh tiredly.


    ¡°From the beginning, there has always been doubt in our rtionship,¡± she said sadly. ¡°It¡¯s not Gerald¡¯s fault. It¡¯s entirely mine,¡± she continued before Jody interrupted.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Jody looked at Ariana sadly.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Amber chimed in. ¡°The fault lies in you not beingpletely honest with him. Not beingpletely honest about your feelings. Not beingpletely honest about your fears.¡± This time, Amber answered with a sharp tone. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s entirely your fault. He¡¯s also at fault. It¡¯s his fault for not being thorough, not being loyal. Gerald¡¯s grandmother must have sessfully bribed that person so they wouldn¡¯t tell him a hundred percent about your current condition, right?¡± Amber looked at Ariana. But Ariana didn¡¯t provide any response. ¡°Who is his informant? Why didn¡¯t Gerald tell that person to interrogate me and Jody instead?¡± she asked angrily.


    Ariana chuckled again. ¡°Ask Grandma about that,¡± she replied.


    Amber red at Ariana and then rolled her eyes.


    ¡°So, Gerald¡¯s grandmother already knows about this issue?¡± Jody looked at Amber and Ariana, curious. Ariana nodded. ¡°About your current condition?¡± he pointed to the IV hanging on the left side of the car, now two-thirds empty. Ariana nodded again, slowly. ¡°And she didn¡¯t tell Gerald? Why?¡± he asked in astonishment.


    ¡°I asked her not to,¡± Ariana replied. Both Jody and Amber now furrowed their brows, looking at Ariana confused. ¡°I gave Grandma a choice. She could tell Gerald, with the possibility of losing her great-grandchild. Or she could stay silent and eventually get her great-grandchild and make Gerald happy in the end.¡±


    ¡°And I guess she chose her great-grandchild?¡± Amber asked, to which Ariana weakly nodded.


    ¡°Grandma Rosaline is one of the many mothers who want happiness for her children and grandchildren,¡± Ariana replied with a sad smile on her face.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Jody squeezed Ariana¡¯s hand, still holding her back. He had been silent the whole time, observing Ariana who asionally gripped his hand tightly. Jody knew Ariana was in pain right now. But as usual, his friend always tried to hide her feelings and show her best side.


    Ariana now focused her attention on Jody. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t polite, Jod,¡± she said softly, taking another deep breath. ¡°After I asked you toe, now I¡¯m asking you to get out here,¡± she said. Jody furrowed his brow in confusion. But then Ariana exined, ¡°It will look strange if Gerald sees you here too.¡± She continued, ¡°Amber¡¯s presence still makes sense because she¡¯s my apartment mate. But you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m your assistant at the restaurant. If anyone asks why I¡¯m here with you, just say I happened to be going to your apartment and wanted to borrow your car. But before that, you asked me to drive you to Gerald¡¯s ce,¡± Jody gave a reason he thought was rational.


    ¡°Amber can pick you up after everything is settled,¡± Ariana said again.


    But Jody shook his head. ¡°If you don¡¯t want Gerald to know about your condition, you have to ept my presence, Ai. I don¡¯t want to bear the risk if you have an episode in front of him. If you have an episode while I¡¯m there, at least I can take you away, not Amber,¡± Jody said again. Although Amber¡¯s face seemed displeased, she nodded and agreed with Jody¡¯s words. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as you handle your business there, I¡¯ll wait for you in the car. Just consider me the driver right now,¡± the man continued. Ariana smiled, her hand gripping Jody¡¯s hand again, and vice versa.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said softly.


    Jody smiled back. ¡°This doesn¡¯t even begin to repay everything you¡¯ve done for me,¡± Jody replied softly. ¡°Are you ready to  move forward now?¡± he asked to shift the conversation away from the mncholic topic.


    Ariana nced at the IV on her left side. ¡°Wait until it¡¯s halfway done,¡± she said with a heavy breath. ¡°After that, remove it. I can¡¯t possibly enter that house with a needle stuck in my hand,¡± she continued. Jody only nodded. And the three people in the car chose to lean back, their backs feeling stiff.

 Chap 134 : That, Was The Beginning

    Gerald nced at his watch once again, for what felt like the hundredth time. He looked at Vivan, who stood motionless nearby. ¡°Are you sure you informed her about this?¡± he asked, probably for the hundredth time too.


    ¡°I have given her the information, sir. And she confirmed that she woulde,¡± Vivan replied firmly.


    Of course, she woulde, Gerald thought. She must be eager to hear the news that the Social Services Department wasing for the adoption process. But the question now was, where was she? Why hadn¡¯t she shown up yet?


    Gerald sat back in his chair in his office. More than a week had passed. Deep down, he missed Ariana¡¯s presence. Every night and morning, he felt a void when he realized her side of the bed was empty. He missed her smile, her cooking, her warmth wrapped in her cold demeanor. But this time, Gerald resisted the urge to approach his wife. He didn¡¯t want to be the one always pleading. He refused to be the person begging for love from the woman he truly loved.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°What did your informants say?¡± Gerald asked again.


    ¡°They left about half an hour ago, sir,¡± Vivan answered the question Gerald had asked multiple times. ¡°He is still monitoring her movements. He said her car is parked on the roadside. She might arrive shortly,¡± he added.


    And indeed, less than five minutester, Gerald heard news from one of his servants about Ariana¡¯s arrival.


    With a heart beating twice as fast as it should, Gerald walked towards the living room where Ariana and the rest of her family were. As he entered, he scanned the room. But he was surprised because it wasn¡¯t just Ariana, her mother, and her grandmother there. Amber and Shelma were present too.


    ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯te,¡± Gerald replied, his tone cold.


    Realizing she was being addressed, Ariana looked up and met Gerald¡¯s gaze, but she didn¡¯t say anything. Gerald furrowed his brow instantly. Something was off, or was it just his imagination? In his eyes, Ariana appeared even thinner, and she seemed so tired. Even the makeup she wore couldn¡¯t conceal the paleness of her face.


    Hold on, Gerald. Don¡¯t bother. She never cared about you. Reminded his inner voice.


    ¡°What time exactly will the social workers arrive?¡± this time the voice came from his grandmother.


    ¡°They should be here by nine in the morning,¡± Vivan answered the question. Everyone in the room nodded quietly.


    The room fell silent, eerily quiet. No one spoke. Everyone seemed engrossed in their own world and thoughts. His mother was busy flipping through a fashion magazine in her hands. Shelma, sitting next to her, asionally nced at andmented on the contents of the magazine. Meanwhile, Ariana, seated between her grandmother and her friend, remained silent and didn¡¯t say much. She didn¡¯t even bother to look in his direction. Frustrated? Of course, Gerald felt frustrated. At least he hoped Ariana would look at him with the same longing gaze she had a moment ago before she tried to hide her feelings.


    The sound of footsteps from several pairs of shoes made everyone lift their heads. Two women and two men dressed formally smiled at them. Reluctantly, all the upants of the house stood up to wee them.


    They introduced themselves and shook hands politely. ¡°We have prepared some questions for each family member. And we have divided our tasks. My colleague and I will interview the family. The others will interview some staff and conduct a survey of the surroundings. Do you mind, sir, ma¡¯am?¡± one of the social workers asked Gerald.


    Gerald raised the corner of his mouth and nodded. The social worker smiled back. ¡°Thank you for your cooperation,¡± she said. ¡°We can start now. First, I will interview the prospective parents. Where can we have a private conversation?¡± she asked again.


    Gerald stood up, indicating for the social worker to follow him. ¡°Together or one by one?¡± he asked, noticing Ariana still seated.


    ¡°One by one,¡± the social worker replied. ¡°Perhaps we can start with the prospective Father,¡± she continued. Gerald just nodded and proceeded, followed by Vivan behind him.


    They entered Gerald¡¯s office again, with Vivan standing guard outside the door.


    Almost twenty minutester, Gerald emerged. He looked at Ariana, who was now standing, but once again, she didn¡¯t bother to nce at him. She just passed him and entered his office without knocking.


    Without a knock, Ariana entered and received a warm smile from the social worker. ¡°Mrs. Ariana Leonidas?¡± the fifty-year-old woman asked Ariana. Ariana just smiled and nodded. The woman Ariana had heard was named Mrs. Sri gestured for her to sit on the sofa next to her. ¡°I apologize for asking, are you not feeling well?¡± she asked again.


    Ariana smiled again and nodded. ¡°Is it that obvious, ma¡¯am?¡± she replied. Mrs. Sri nodded gently. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant,¡± Ariana replied, her smile still on her face.


    The middle-aged woman¡¯s face lit up immediately, and she congratted Ariana sincerely. ¡°Seeing you like this, it seems you¡¯re experiencing severe cravings,¡± shemented.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ariana answered softly.


    Mrs. Sri smiled again, touching Ariana¡¯s hand and patting it gently. ¡°I know what it feels like to be pregnant and be a mother. So, I understand what you¡¯re going through right now. Be strong; all this fatigue will be worth it when the baby is born,¡± Ariana nodded gently. A smile still lingered on her face, even though the chest pain had returned and felt so heavy it reached her back. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s begin,¡± the woman said, opening the sheets of paper in her hands. She read it for a moment but then ced the paper on the table. She looked at Ariana with a judgmental gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s keep it brief. From what I hear, you married Mr. Gerald on the basis of an arranged marriage. Is that correct?¡± she asked.


    Ariana nodded. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct,¡± she replied firmly.


    ¡°Did this marriage serve as a reason for Mr. Gerald¡¯s family to adopt Axel?¡±


    Ariana nodded again, confirming it. ¡°Initially, yes,¡± she answered honestly. ¡°But then we forgot about that because we felt like we were a real family. Until I realized that Axel¡¯s position here was still in question, and I asked my husband to speed things up,¡± she continued.

 Chap 135 : Question

    ¡°What makes you rush?¡± Mrs. Sri asked again. ¡°Just so I can feel at ease,¡± Ariana replied honestly.


    Mrs. Sri looked at her again with a scrutinizing gaze. ¡°Your marriage is still in its early days. From what I know, marriage isn¡¯t easy, especially for those who are arranged like you and Mr. Gerald. Don¡¯t you need more time to get to know each other?¡± She asked again.


    Ariana just smiled. ¡°In the end, I realized that we will never fully know someone who is close to us 100%. Throughout the marriage, we will always adapt to each other. And waiting for us to be perfectly matched might take a long time. Meanwhile, I can¡¯t wait. Axel will slowly grow up, and when his mind starts toprehend the situation, he will question his status. And I don¡¯t want to give him ambiguous answers.¡±


    Mrs. Sri nodded her head. ¡°But you know that Axel also has family on his mother¡¯s side?¡± Ariana nodded. ¡°That means you also know that it¡¯s not just your and Mr. Gerald¡¯s obligation to take care of Axel?¡± Ariana nodded again. ¡°Especially now that you are pregnant with Mr. Gerald¡¯s child. Won¡¯t you favor that child? Blood is thicker than water. No matter how much we love an adopted child, we love our biological child more. That¡¯s what I know. Because in any case, Axel¡¯s position right now is just a cousin to the baby you are carrying and just a nephew to you and Mr. Gerald.¡±


    Ariana smiled again. ¡°What I know about feelings is that they will grow over time,¡± she replied softly. ¡°I can¡¯t promise that I will be fair because the measure of feelings cannot be determined by anything. But I can assure you that I, especially my husband, will do our best for him. Honestly, I grew up in a broken home.¡± Ariana answered with a bitter smile on her face. ¡°I know how it feels to be abandoned. And I don¡¯t want that to happen to Axel. In this house, he will receive so much love. Not just from me and Gerald. But also from his grandparents. In this house, he will also get a lot of attention. Because clearly, financially, you can see for yourself the state of the Zeroun family.¡± Ariana said again.


    Mrs. Sri nodded her head. ¡°Alright, I think I¡¯ve heard your opinion. Thank you, Mrs. Ariana. I hope your pregnancy goes smoothly,¡± the woman said. Ariana just smiled, whispering her thanks before leaving the room.


    Shortly after she left, Mrs. Rosaline entered. Ariana sat back in the living room, in the same chair she had upied before, where Amber now looked at her anxiously. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± Amber whispered. Ariana just nodded her head slowly. Her head felt so light, and her vision was starting to blur. All she wanted right now was to leave this ce and return to her home.


    ¡°How¡¯s your pregnancy?¡± the question came out of Mrs. Isidora¡¯s mouth casually. Ariana looked up, directing her gaze at her mother-inw and the woman sitting next to her. Without bothering to nce at Gerald, who seemed to be watching her intently, she replied tly, ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t look fine; is your craving severe?¡± the woman asked again. Not a tone of concern, but what Ariana heard clearly in her ears was a tone of mockery.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Ariana replied again. She didn¡¯t want to discuss all of this. She felt truly exhausted. Even speaking seemed to drain all the remaining energy from her.


    ¡°I¡¯m actually curious. When Shelma said you were pregnant during ourst breakfast together, you didn¡¯t say anything. And you chose to leave on the same day? What¡¯s the matter, Ariana? Is it true what Shelma predicted, that it¡¯s not Gerald¡¯s baby?¡± Mrs. Isidora asked in a low whisper. Ariana suspected the woman was trying to make sure she wasn¡¯t overheard by social workers who might suddenly appear.


    ¡°It¡¯s indeed not Gerald¡¯s baby,¡± Ariana replied coldly. ¡°The child in my womb is mine. I don¡¯t need to tell anyone who the father is.¡± She continued. She tried to take a deep breath without attracting attention. Suffocating. That¡¯s what she felt right now. Was there a way she could leave this ce quickly?


    Amber seemed to realize it because before Mrs. Isidora could ask another question, Amber spoke first. ¡°Ariana is experiencing severe morning sickness, especially at this time of night,¡± she said with a tone that could be considered harsh. ¡°Can she rest for a while? Maybe there¡¯s a room she can use?¡± her gaze was directed at Gerald. Just as Gerald was about to speak, Mrs. Rosaline appeared.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Going upstairs will only make her more tired. Go and take Ariana to the guest room,¡± she ordered Amber. Amber just nodded and got up to guide Ariana. ¡°If you can¡¯t help her go to her room, ask Vivan to take her there,¡± the older woman ordered her granddaughter.


    Gerald frowned. He looked at his grandmother and then at Ariana alternately. But Ariana¡¯s voice interrupted. ¡°No need, Grandma. Just Amber is enough,¡± she refused. And indeed, Ariana seemed to avoid him. His wife chose to ept Yosef¡¯s hand when the man suddenly appeared out of nowhere.


    ¡°Let me help, Madam,¡± the elderly man said. Ariana smiled gently at him and nodded. Gerald¡¯s chest suddenly felt tight.


    Ariana, Amber, and Yosef left the living room and headed to a guest room that was quite far from there. Not the guest room Shelma had used before. Gerald was sure Yosef wouldn¡¯t take his wife there.


    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about her, go and check on her condition. If you¡¯re not worried, sit back, Gerald,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said again. Gerald shifted his gaze to his grandmother, who was now sitting in her chair. He didn¡¯t answer his grandmother¡¯s statement and sat back in his ce even though his feelings were still in turmoil.


    Meanwhile, on the way to the guest room, Ariana gripped Amber and Mr. Yosef¡¯s arms tightly. The nausea in her stomach, coupled with the pain in her chest and her vision starting to blur, became abination of feelings she didn¡¯t want to experience right now.


    ¡°Madam, are you alright?¡± Yosef asked worriedly. He opened the door slowly and guided Ariana in.


    ¡°Sir, is there a way for my friend to enter here without anyone else knowing?¡± Amber answered Yosef¡¯s question with another question. ¡°Ariana is not okay. But she doesn¡¯t want others to know about her condition, especially when there are people from the Social Services here. She doesn¡¯t want to jeopardize their survey,¡± Amber reasoned.


    Yosef didn¡¯t say much. He just nodded and gave Amber instructions on what to do.

 Chap 136 : Mirror

    All the staff had gathered in the living room. The interviews with the entire family were done, as well as surveys of the employees and Zeroun¡¯s residence.


    ¡°I apologize for my grandson¡¯s absence,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said apologetically. ¡°He¡¯s not feeling well and is resting now. I hope it won¡¯t affect your evaluation.¡± Her words were directed more towards the middle-aged woman who had conducted the interview in Gerald¡¯s office.


    Hearing Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s words, the woman smiled and nodded. ¡°I understand,¡± she said. ¡°I am a mother too, and I know how it feels to be unwell during pregnancy, like Mrs. Ariana. I had morning sickness all the way until my children were born.¡± She continued. Mrs. Rosaline looked relieved hearing this. ¡°Such matters won¡¯t change our assessment. But we need to inform you that after this, we will also go to Axel¡¯s school to interview the teachers.¡± Mrs. Sri, as the woman was called, continued.


    Mrs. Rosaline and Gerald just nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure the school will also speak highly of my granddaughter,¡± Mrs. Isidora said. Mrs. Sri just smiled.


    ¡°When will this process likely be finished?¡± Gerald asked impatiently.


    Mrs. Sri looked at Gerald with her motherly gaze, always with a smile on her face. ¡°Once this is done, we will prepare the documentation immediately. If there are no other ims from Mrs. Axel¡¯s family, there won¡¯t be a trial. Just confirmation and issuance of the certificate,¡± Mrs. Sri said. Gerald nodded in understanding. ¡°In that case, we¡¯ll take our leave,¡± Mrs. Sri said, representing her colleagues.


    After the four of them left the living room, Gerald looked at Vivan. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said coldly. Mrs. Rosaline frowned. ¡°Where are you going?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Work, Grandma. Where else?¡± Gerald¡¯s response to Mrs. Rosaline was as cold as it was to Vivan.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to check on Ariana¡¯s condition?¡± she asked, her tone pleading in Gerald¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Should I?¡± Gerald asked back, his tone sharp towards his grandmother, unknowingly causing two women listening to the conversation between grandmother and grandson to smile happily.


    ¡°Gerald?¡±


    ¡°She chose to leave this ce, so why should Gerald care? Whatever happens to her, as long as she doesn¡¯t do anything harmful to her unborn child, let her do and feel as she pleases,¡± he continued, still cold. And after that, Gerald indeed left, with Vivan following behind him.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Grandma,¡± Shelma spoke up. ¡°You don¡¯t need to try so hard to mend their rtionship,¡± she continued, sneering. ¡°Gerald will never be happy with Ariana. Women like her are not suitable for Gerald.¡±


    Mrs. Rosaline looked at her daughter-inw with a raised eyebrow. ¡°And do you think Gerald will be happy with you?¡± she inquired.


    With a proud smile, Shelma nodded. ¡°Of course,¡± she replied firmly. ¡°Grandma should judge correctly. Haven¡¯t you noticed that I am suitable for Gerald? Gerald and I are on the same level. Wee from wealthy families, have higher education, and our social circles are the same. Being with me will elevate the Zeroun family¡¯s status. Beyond that, in the business world, I won¡¯t embarrass Gerald. I understand the business world, and Grandma can¡¯t deny that my father has many connections. That means opportunities to advance the Zeroun business.¡± She said with undisguised arrogance.


    ¡°Perhaps, if you look at it from that perspective, you¡¯re right. But from my perspective, if my grandson marries you, it will only bring misery,¡± Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s reply was equally sharp.


    ¡°What do you mean, Mommy?¡± Now Mrs. Isidora spoke up.


    ¡°Gerald has never and will never love you. Because whether you admit it or not, his love has already anchored to Ariana. And my great-grandchild? If Gerald ends up marrying you, then my great-grandchild will suffer the most. Because I don¡¯t see an ounce of affection from you. You will never be willing to clean up after him. Take care of him when he¡¯s sick. Orfort him when he throws a tantrum. For you, your appearance is number one, and how people perceive you is number two. Family has never been your priority.


    Your skincare routine is more valuable. Your expensive bags are what you pay more attention to. And your socialite friends are your main focus. And you want to be a stepmother to my great-grandchild?¡±


    Shelmaughed with a mocking face. ¡°Grandma forgot? Didn¡¯t all of that apply to Karenina too? So why were you willing to marry Gerald to Karenina back then?¡± In fact, she is no different from me.¡± Shelma replied, annoyed.


    ¡°Are youparing yourself to someone lower? To Karenina?¡± Mrs. Rosaline scoffed. ¡°When I arranged Gerald¡¯s marriage to Karenina, it¡¯s because I knew Karenina had a kind heart. At least, she still respects me. She still obeys her mother. And she submits to Gerald. But you?¡± Mrs. Rosaline looked Shelma up and down. ¡°Do you realize that in my eyes, you¡¯re no better than a beggar?¡± Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s words made Mrs. Isidora gasp in shock. ¡°At least beggars know what they¡¯re asking for. But you?


    You¡¯re not asking anymore, Shelma. You¡¯re demanding.


    You want something you shouldn¡¯t want. Does your father know everything you¡¯ve done? And I want to ask you, Isidora.¡± Mrs. Rosaline turned her gaze to her daughter-inw. ¡°If Darrel were still alive, would you want to marry your beloved son to her?¡± Mrs. Rosaline nodded her head towards Shelma. ¡°I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t want to do it because you¡¯d want the best for your child. So why don¡¯t you do the same for Gerald?


    Even though he¡¯s not your biological son. Even though you don¡¯t love him like you loved Darrel. But marrying my son also means you¡¯re responsible for him. If you can¡¯t give him love, then let him be with the one he loves. Or perhaps, do you want to repeat the past?¡± Mrs. Rosaline asked sharply.


    ¡°If Gerald is with her.¡± Once again, Mrs. Rosaline nodded her head at Shelma. ¡°Then Axel will go through what Gerald went through. And maybe even worse than what Gerald ever experienced. At least at the beginning of the marriage, I knew you genuinely cared for him, although over time that affection was eroded by your greed.


    Take a look in the mirror, Isidora. Maybe you canpare your past self with him and predict what will happen in the future.¡± Mrs. Rosaline continued in a low tone. Mrs. Isidora was stunned, her eyes wide. Meanwhile, Mrs. Rosaline lifted the corner of her mouth and smiled mockingly. ¡°He is your reflection from your younger days. Or perhaps even worse than that. Do you understand what I mean?¡± Mrs. Rosaline challenged.


    Shelma, standing beside Mrs. Isidora, tightened her fists and didn¡¯tThis content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    hide her angry re.


    Mrs. Rosaline chose to ignore her and walked away, leaving the two women of different ages. She let them fight with their own thoughts. She continued walking towards the guest room where Ariana was.


    Her chest was pounding harder due to the emotions she felt. Her frustration with her grandson¡¯s stubbornness and Shelma¡¯s and Isidora¡¯s obsession heightened her emotions to the point of anger. She knew her blood pressure would rise right now.


    Right in front of the guest room door, Mrs. Rosaline fell silent. She took a deep breath to calm her feelings before knocking on the door. Silence; there was no answer from inside.


    Mrs. Rosaline opened the door slowly, afraid of disturbing the people inside. But when she stepped in, her old eyes were surprised because the room appeared empty.

 Chap 137 : Emergency Room

    Mrs.  Rosaline called the nearest servant to her. ¡°Where is Yosef?¡± she asked the servant, who turned back to look at Mrs.  Rosaline with fear in his eyes. Understandably so, her Christian face clearly disyed anger.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Um, ma¡¯am, Mr. Yosef went out with Mrs. Ariana¡¯s guest earlier,¡± the young servant stammered.


    Mrs.  Rosaline simply nodded and went back into the living room, closing the door behind her. She grabbed her phone and searched for Yosef¡¯s name there. He picked up the call on the first ring. ¡°Where are you?¡± she asked the middle-aged man who had devoted more than half his life to their family.


    ¡°On the way to the hospital, ma¡¯am,¡± Yosef replied from the other end. He was now sitting in the car being driven by Jody, looking back where Ariana was held in Amber¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Which hospital?¡± Mrs.  Rosaline asked again. Yosef mentioned the name of a hospital well-known to Mrs.  Rosaline. ¡°Very well. Do as we discussed earlier,¡±manded Mrs.  Rosaline before ending the call.


    Yosef looked back at Ariana, who closed her eyes in pain. He tried to conceal his sympathy every time he looked at her face. Ariana, the woman who had be his Christian daughter-inw, kept too many secrets. Yosef suspected that only a few people knew the extent of her troubles. He, along with the two others in the car, was among them. Add Mrs.  Rosaline, who had recently found out the reasons behind all of this.


    Yosef focused his gaze on the road ahead of him. Yosef, the old man, hade to regard the Zeroun family as more than just a Christian family. Nobody knew that Yosef¡¯s presence in the Zeroun residence was a request from Mrs.  Rosaline¡¯s parents. As a token of gratitude, Yosef had agreed to serve the family for the rest of his life. Even though he had received better job offers with higher sries, he chose to reject them. Because the Zeroun family, especially Mrs.  Rosaline, was his priority.


    In his years of service, he had learned all the ins and outs of the Zeroun family. There were no secrets he didn¡¯t know. He knew more about Mrs.  Rosaline than Gerald did, and vice versa. His job required him to know everything. And now, he felt that he knew Ariana, his new daughter-inw, even better than his own son.


    Yosef nced at Ariana again, who was now in obvious pain. He felt a deep sadness. There was only one step left for his master to achieve happiness. But why did trials keeping their way? And why was this young woman sitting behind him, why was she suffering so much?


    They arrived at arge hospital that had be a regr destination for the Zeroun family. A stretcher quickly approached them as their car pulled up in front of the emergency room. A nurse in a blue uniform moved Ariana onto the stretcher and gently pushed her inside.


    ¡°She¡¯ll be alright,¡± Jody tried to reassure Amber in his arms. They were now in front of the ER waiting room when Yosef took care of his master¡¯s administrative matters.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you persuade her not to lose the baby?¡± Amber looked at Jody usingly, her hands covering her face.


    ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Amber. Do you want me to ask her to kill her own child?¡± Jody looked back at Amber, disappointed.


    Amber fell silent, sitting with her hands covering her face, crying softly. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I panicked. I was scared,¡± she said through her tears.


    Jody sat down next to her and embraced Amber again. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m not scared? Do you think I¡¯m not panicking?¡± he asked in a softer tone. ¡°I¡¯m scared too, Amber. You know how much she means to me.¡± He continued. Jody hugged Amber tighter. Amber moved into his embrace and hugged him just as tightly. ¡°Has your uncle said anything yet?¡± Jody asked above Amber¡¯s head.


    Amber shook her head slowly. ¡°She made me swear not to tell anything to Uncle Bradley,¡± Amber replied softly. Jody nodded and gently rubbed Amber¡¯s back tofort her. ¡°Why is she being so selfish?¡± Amber asked in a hushed voice.


    Jody didn¡¯t answer. He understood what Ariana wanted. And he also knew what Amber was afraid of. But this time, even though he knew Amber¡¯s desire was right, he would support Ariana more. Knowing them since they were young made him develop feelings beyond just friendship. Both Amber and Ariana had be like his own sisters. He wanted to protect them and make them happy with whatever he could do. Even though he knew he couldn¡¯t make them happy with his wealth, he could always be there when they needed his help.


    Jody looked up when he saw the woman who had been appearing in front of himtely. It was none other than his friend¡¯s mother-inw. ¡°The doctor is still examining her,¡± Jody said tly. Amber, who was still crying, also looked up.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked in confusion. Amber looked at Jody, realizing something from his expression. ¡°Is there something I don¡¯t know, Jody?¡± she asked, probing.


    Jody turned. At that moment, the ER door opened again. A doctor in a blue uniform without his coat appeared and looked at Mrs.  Rosaline directly. ¡°How is she?¡± Mrs.  Rosaline asked, ignoring Amber¡¯s previous question.


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it in the room,¡± the man said. Amber and Jody got up and followed the senior doctor away from the ER room. Meanwhile, Yosef, who had just finished his administrative work, nodded slightly to Mrs.  Rosaline and walked towards the ER.


    The three of them entered arge room dominated by white color. A young and handsome doctor was already there with a report in his hand. ¡°This is Dr. Akara, my assistant,¡± the senior doctor introduced. The handsome young man simply looked at the three guests brought by his senior and nodded his head slightly in greeting. When the senior doctor sat down, the young doctor ced his report and began to exin.

 Chap 138 : I’m Leaving

    ¡°From the EKG results we¡¯ve obtained, for now, we can confirm that Mrs. Ariana is experiencing tachycardia. This is a condition where the heart beats faster than it should,¡± he continued quickly as three pairs of eyes stared at him with confusion. ¡°Have you ever experienced your heart beating faster during exercise?¡± the young doctor¡¯s question was directed more towards Jody. Jody nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s happening to Mrs. Ariana right now. But clearly, it¡¯s not because of her exercising.¡±


    ¡°There are many reasons why someone might experience tachycardia aside from exercise. Hypertension, anemia, stress, and several other factors can cause a patient to experience something like this,¡± the senior doctor exined again. ¡°We need to conduct further tests on Ariana¡¯s condition.¡±


    The three people in front of the doctors nodded. ¡°Do your best for them, Doctor. I want my granddaughter-inw and future great-grandchild to be under the best care,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said. The two doctors nodded simultaneously.


    ¡°We need to study the patient¡¯s medical history. Because this also involves the patient being pregnant at the moment,¡± the young doctor said. ¡°In my opinion, it¡¯s highly likely that this isn¡¯t the first time the patient has experienced something like this. Is there any medical history for the patient?¡±Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Amber immediately nodded her head. After all, it wasn¡¯t a secret anymore. Until now, she and Jody had kept Ariana¡¯s condition a secret from everyone because it was what the girl wanted, but the presence of Mrs. Rosaline here meant the elderly woman already knew about Ariana¡¯s health condition. Even though Amber didn¡¯t know how much she knew.


    ¡°The first time Ariana experienced something like this was in high school,¡± Amber exined. ¡°She fainted after exercising. The doctor said she had tachycardia, just like you said. But at that time, the doctor also said it was normal considering Ariana was exercising and rmended that she no longer participate in strenuous sports.¡± Amber remembered the moment when she panicked and rushed Ariana to the hospital and afterward when her friend asked her not to tell anyone at home.


    ¡°Just as the doctor advised, Ariana didn¡¯t engage in excessive activities anymore. Until one day, without doing anything, she said she felt shortness of breath and chest pain. We thought she just caught a cold until one day Ariana suddenly asked for a more thorough examination at the hospital, and the doctor who examined her then said Ariana had arrhythmia.¡±


    The two doctors nodded simultaneously. ¡°We¡¯ll conduct a more thorough examination on that. So, is the patient currently on any treatment?¡±


    Amber nodded again. ¡°She practices yoga to manage stress. She tries her best not to overexert herself, and she knows when to stop. She also takes medications, but she decided to stop recently because of her pregnancy.¡±


    ¡°So, she has consulted with an obstetrician?¡± the young doctor asked again. Amber nodded once more.


    The three of them left the room with downcast faces. Mr. Yosef was already there, waiting for them. ¡°Mrs. Ariana has been transferred to the recovery room,¡± he said before the others could ask. They all nodded and followed Yosef wherever he led them.


    Yosef led the three of them to a VVIP room that looked empty. There were only two nurses sitting behind a desk in the corridor, staring at square screens in front of them.


    Yosef opened the door for them, and there they saw Ariana, lying on a wide bed with a bedside monitor lit up on her right side. An oxygen tube was attached to her nose. They noticed a few things attached to the back of her shirt and her thumb. Ariana seemed fine, her face looked peaceful. A little pale, but peaceful.


    Mrs. Rosaline approached the bed and sat in the avable chair. She reached for Ariana¡¯s hand and held it gently.


    ¡°Since when did you know about Ariana¡¯s condition?¡± Amber¡¯s sudden and sharp question made Jody tense, and he immediately nudged his friend¡¯s arm. ¡°Why?¡± Amber asked back at Jody, clearly unhappy. ¡°Am I the only one who shouldn¡¯t know about this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Amber. But this isn¡¯t the time,¡± Jody replied. ¡°Then when?¡± she asked, still with her sharp tone.


    ¡°I found out about Ariana¡¯s condition recently,¡± Mrs. Rosaline replied. ¡°If you really knew about Ariana¡¯s current condition, why didn¡¯t you help her exin to your beloved granddaughter that her condition isn¡¯t okay? Haven¡¯t you heard about the risks of arrhythmia in pregnant women? Even for someone who didn¡¯t have a history like hers, it could be dangerous, let alone with Ariana¡¯s previous condition!¡±


    ¡°Amber!¡± scolded Jody angrily.


    Amber looked at her friend with teary eyes. Her face turned red from anger. She sat on one of the sofas in the room roughly, covering her face with both hands. Jody approached, feeling Amber¡¯s trembling body. He knew that Amber was sad right now. He also knew that besides her anger, Amber felt disappointed right now. Not just with Ariana but more with herself.


    ¡°Why does it have to be like this? Why does she insist on getting pregnant? She should prioritize herself and terminate the pregnancy. The fetus isn¡¯t even alive yet. Why can¡¯t she be selfish?¡± Amber asked these questions one after another. Her voice was muffled between her hands and her sobs. ¡°Why can she be so stupid? What? Does love have to make her sacrifice herself? The doctor said she could have childrenter. Why didn¡¯t she consult with a doctor before deciding to get pregnant?¡± she asked again. ¡°And where is Gerald? Where is he when Ariana is like this? He surely chose that woman, didn¡¯t he?¡± Amber opened her eyes and stared sharply at Mrs. Rosaline. ¡°If only I knew about this marriage, if only your granddaughter didn¡¯t do something sneaky like kidnapping my uncle and forcing Ariana to marry him, Ariana would be fine now. She wouldn¡¯t be lying there.¡± She pointed at Ariana, who was still keeping her eyes closed.


    No one spoke. Besides Amber¡¯s sobbing, the only sound they could hear was the beeping from the monitor.


    A long pause followed. The silence in the room became increasingly unpleasant. Until finally, the person they were waiting for showed signs of consciousness.


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡± Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s voice made Jody and Amber instantly raise their heads and look toward the bed. Ariana was indeed awake. Her eyes were looking at the people who had been waiting for her one by one.


    ¡°I made you worried, huh?¡± she asked with a hoarse but yful tone.


    Amber snorted, choosing to turn her face away and wiping her face harshly. ¡°You made us worried, damn it!¡± Amber said sharply.


    But immediately the girl stood up and approached. The same went for Jody.


    Mrs. Rosaline raised the bed¡¯s back until she felt Ariana could see her friendsfortably. ¡°Thirsty?¡± Mrs. Rosaline offered patiently. Ariana smiled and nodded. She epted the straw that had been inserted into a bottle of mineral water and drank slowly.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Amber asked after Mrs. Rosaline put the


    bottle back on the table. ¡°I¡¯m leaving, Amber,¡± Ariana¡¯s answer made Amber freeze again.

 Chap 139 : Tell Him

    Amber stared at Ariana with a sharp gaze. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked, unsure.


    ¡°I¡¯m going away,¡± Ariana replied again, deliberately repeating her words even though she knew Amber had heard them before. ¡°As soon as the adoption papers are out, I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    Amber continued to look at her, confused. ¡°Where are you going?¡± she asked, anger rising again. ¡°Where do you want to go? Your family, your home, everything is here,¡± she reminded her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve consulted with a doctor, Amber. I can¡¯t stay here for long,¡± Ariana said softly. ¡°So where are you going?¡± she asked again, her voice filled with frustration. ¡°You want to leave? To whom? Your family, your home, everything is here,¡± she reminded her.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯ve consulted with a doctor, Amber. I can¡¯t stay here for long,¡± Ariana said softly. ¡°So where are you going?¡± she asked again, her voice filled with frustration. ¡°You want to leave? To whom? Your family, your home, everything is here,¡± she reminded her.


    ¡°I need to go far away,¡± Ariana answered with a smile on her face. ¡°I need time, so I can clear my head.¡± ¡°And distance yourself? Go to a ce where you don¡¯t know anyone?¡± she asked again.


    Ariana nced at Jody. Amber also looked at Jody, and her anger red up again. ¡°Is there something else I don¡¯t know about here?¡± she asked coldly, staring at Ariana, Jody, and Mrs. Rosaline in turn. ¡°Are you still holding a grudge against me for what happened with Chris earlier? Is that why you didn¡¯t include me in your n? Don¡¯t you trust me, Ariana?¡± Amber used Ariana. Jody grabbed the girl¡¯s arm, which she promptly shrugged off harshly. ¡°And you too! You¡¯re mean to me, Jody. I hate you!¡± she shouted and immediately left the room.


    Jody nced at Ariana and received a nod from her. He then left the room and chased after Amber.


    In the room, only Mrs. Rosaline and Yosef remained. ¡°Are you sure? Have you made up your mind?¡± Mrs. Rosaline asked softly.


    Ariana nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it, and I think your n is the best way forward for me right now,¡± she replied in a soft voice, but she was confident Mrs. Rosaline could hear her.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± said Mrs. Rosaline and held Ariana¡¯s hand tighter. ¡°Grandma knows this is difficult for you. But Grandma promises, Grandma will give you both the best.¡± The elderly woman¡¯s gaze was directed at Ariana¡¯s still-t stomach. Ariana just nodded andid her head back on the pillow.


    Meanwhile, at Zeroun¡¯s residence.


    ¡°Papa, is Mommy noting back?¡± Axel asked, his eyes filled with hope.


    Gerald returnedte in the evening. He deliberately sought out Axel in his room just so his heart could feel a bitforted. He hoped that his anger towards Ariana would vanish when he saw Axel. But it seemed his choice to visit his son was wrong. Because instead of making him forget about Ariana, Gerald felt his anger rising again.


    ¡°Mommy won¡¯t being back, sweetheart. From now on, Axel, you don¡¯t need to ask about Mommy anymore,¡± Gerald said softly. He tried to hide his resentment towards Ariana in front of Axel. However, Axel didn¡¯t know anything. He was just a child longing for a mother who was not ready to be a real mother.


    ¡°Papa, is Papa mad at Mommy?¡± Axel¡¯s voice brought something Gerald was trying to suppress to the surface. Should he admit to his son that he wasn¡¯t just angry? He was truly furious and deeply disappointed in the woman he loved.


    Yes, Gerald did love her deeply, and she knew it. But even with that knowledge, she managed to kill his feelings by intending to kill their unborn child.


    Yes, Ariana was that heartless. How could she destroy their child like that? Even after Gerald assured her that he would take care of the baby. All Ariana had to do was endure for nine months, keep the baby in her womb. And then, it would be over. Gerald would be overjoyed if, after the baby was born, her heart was moved, and she was willing to take care of their child with her own hands. If that happened, Gerald would feel incredibly happy. He would be grateful above all else. But¡­


    From the beginning, Ariana never wanted it. She never wanted to be tied to him. Despite her kindness towards Axel, the intention to separate was always rooted in her mind. And now, with the adoption process for Axel getting closer, their separation was also drawing near.


    Was Gerald willing? If one day Ariana vanished from his life. Could he? Could he be single again and experience the other side of his cold, unupied bed? Or should he force her? Demand that Ariana continue to be with him even though he knew she didn¡¯t want it? Should he beg for Ariana¡¯s love? Then where was his self-respect? He, who had been admired by many women, now had to lower himself in front of someone who consistently rejected him. His ego was clearly wounded.


    As if there were no more women out there who desired him. As if there were no women out there willing to be his wife. If he really wanted it, there would be many women lining up to be with him. But did he want them by his side? Warming his bed? Was he willing to look at a face he didn¡¯t love every morning and night?


    If he did want that. There was still Shelma, who clearly volunteered to rece Ariana. But clearly, Gerald¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t be swayed by that woman. Even if she did everything in front of him to bind him, Gerald¡¯s thoughts always returned to Ariana.


    ¡°Papa¡­¡± Axel¡¯s voice brought him back from his reverie. Gerald looked at his son again.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Is Papa mad at Mommy?¡± the child repeated the same question.


    ¡°No, Axel, Papa is not mad at Mommy,¡± Gerald said softly.


    The child¡¯s face lit up with a wide smile. ¡°I told Mommy the same thing. I told her Papa isn¡¯t mad at her. Papa loves Mommy, right?¡± he asked again. Gerald couldn¡¯t possibly tell his son that right now, he wanted to hate Ariana. Instead, he nodded his head. ¡°Papa loves the baby, too, right?¡± he asked again. Gerald was about to nod his head. But his movement paused. He turned, furrowing his brows, and looked at his son.


    ¡°The baby?¡± Gerald inquired, curious.


    Axel nodded. ¡°Because Mommy has a baby in her tummy,¡± Axel replied innocently.


    Gerald fell silent. How could Ariana say that to Axel when she intended to terminate the pregnancy? Why did she give Axel hope? Allowing the child to believe he would have a sibling. Why was Ariana so cruel? The anger he had been holding back surged to the forefront of his mind.


    ¡°There¡¯s no baby in Mommy¡¯s tummy, Axel,¡± Gerald snapped. Axel looked at Gerald, confused, with his innocent face. ¡°But Papa¡­ Mommy said¡­¡±


    ¡°Stop mentioning Mommy in front of Papa. Stop looking for her because she won¡¯t be with us for much longer, she¡¯s leaving us, leaving you, leaving this house. She won¡¯t be your Mommy anymore. Do you understand?¡± Gerald said, his voice rising, making Axel frightened. Axel looked at him with teary eyes, his face turning red as he tried to hold back his tears.


    The bedroom door opened suddenly, and Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s face appeared. The elderly woman was still wearing the same clothes she had on when the officials visited. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Gerald?¡± she asked her grandson. Her aged body approached her great-grandson. Axel immediately threw himself into Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s arms, hiding his face in the old woman¡¯s chest, and then he cried.


    ¡°Tell him that from now on, Ariana is no longer his Mommy and won¡¯t give him the sibling he wants!¡± she said harshly and walked away, leaving the two of them in silence.

 Chap 140 : What If

    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 nce briefly and frown.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°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 eximed, 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 ce?¡± 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-inw. Don¡¯t make me lose my patience and kick you out of this ce.¡± She continued, her tone ice-cold. Mrs. Isidora, who had intended to reply, reluctantly kept her mouth shut.


    She nced at Gerald and Axel again but chose not to say much. Mrs. Rosaline apanied 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 y 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 y without inviting Papa.¡±


    ¡°Why did Mommy go to y without inviting Papa?¡± Axel asked innocently.


    ¡°Axel, Uma is asking Axel. Sometimes Axel doesn¡¯t like to y 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.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Axel said shyly. Mrs. Rosaline lovingly ruffled the boy¡¯s hair again. At Ariana¡¯s ce.


    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. Herplexion 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 hadshed 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 tly.


    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 herughter. Amber¡¯s anger always made her want tough.


    ¡°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 apanied 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 ufortable; 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,e true.¡±


    ¡°But what if Gerald refuses to ept herter?¡± Amber asked softly.

 Chap 141 : Story

    Amber stared at Ariana with a jumble of thoughts in her mind. ¡°I don¡¯t understand your thoughts,¡± she said softly.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Ariana, who was reading a book in front of her, looked up to gaze at her cousin and friend. ¡°What don¡¯t you understand, Amber?¡± she asked just as softly.


    ¡°You! I don¡¯t understand your thoughts!¡± Amber huffed in frustration. Ariana just smiled. Amber¡¯s explosive emotions were oddly entertaining to her. ¡°We¡¯ve kept this secret for years. Even your dad doesn¡¯t know anything about your illness. You let everyone believe you¡¯re fine, when in fact, you¡¯re not. And now, you¡¯re pregnant with the person you love, and he loves you too. But why are you keeping all of this a secret from him? Isn¡¯t love supposed to be apanied by facing hardships and joys together, sickness and health? Why do you want to bear it all alone?¡± she asked again. Amber knew, she understood what Jody had said earlier. But still, she was curious about Ariana¡¯s mindset, and she wanted to hear it all from Ariana¡¯s mouth, not from someone else.


    Ariana closed the book she was reading and ced it on the nightstand. ¡°Because I love him, that¡¯s why I don¡¯t want him to experience the pain I¡¯m feeling, Amber,¡± she said with a wry smile on her face.


    ¡°You¡¯re surrendering before the battle, Ariana,¡± Amber said usingly, albeit softly.


    Ariana smiled again and nodded. ¡°I already know what it¡¯s like to fight and lose. I also know what it¡¯s like to give up even before the battle begins. At least, if I give up before the fight, only I will feel all this pain, Amber.¡±


    ¡°But what if, suppose you fight and win the battle?¡± Amber asked again.


    Ariana smiled once more. ¡°Even a general knows when to retreat. If he feels he can¡¯t win, he won¡¯t sacrifice his troops for something futile. Why? Because there are many things he has to sacrifice. But if he believes he has a chance to win, even with fewer troops, he will continue the fight. And I, here, know that my chances are slim, Amber.¡±


    ¡°Ariana¡­¡±


    ¡°My biggest hope here is for me and this baby to be safe. But you know my condition.¡±


    ¡°That cursed arrhythmia!¡± Amber hissed sharply. ¡°Why did you get pregnant without nning?¡± she used Ariana. Ariana chuckled. ¡°I got married without nning, in case you forgot,¡± Ariana said mockingly.


    ¡°Ariana, let¡¯s terminate this first, then if you get pregnantter, you can consult a doctor, make sure your physical condition is okay for pregnancy. Then you can have a child with Gerald. If necessary, make it quadruplets. He¡¯ll understand if we exin it properly.¡±


    Arianaughed again hearing Amber¡¯s response. ¡°Sure, if I¡¯m given a chance to get pregnant again, what if not?¡± Ariana asked, her smile still on her face but clearly tinged with sadness.


    ¡°Arrggghhh!¡± Amber screamed hysterically. She walked in circles, asionally ruffling her hair. ¡°You!¡± she said, frustrated but didn¡¯t say much more.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t love myself. I don¡¯t want to be the only superhero here. I don¡¯t want to be a lone patient, Amber. But I know Gerald. He¡¯ll sacrifice a lot if he knows my condition. He¡¯ll even be the first person to suggest I terminate this pregnancy if he knows. He¡¯ll be the one willing to set aside his dreams just to make me happy. But I won¡¯t be happy above all of that. Even if he¡¯s willing, I¡¯m not. At least, I can fulfill one of his most precious dreams in return because he¡¯s been so in love with me all this time,¡± Ariana replied, her voice choked. ¡°I love him. A lot. Even though he doesn¡¯t know it. But I¡¯ve been in love with him for a long time. I¡¯m the one who¡¯s been trying to suppress my feelings because I convinced myself that all of this wouldn¡¯tst long. I don¡¯t want to repeat the past. I don¡¯t want to have a second Ariana. I don¡¯t want a second Mrs. Caitlyn or Uncle Bradley.¡±


    Her response was met with Amber¡¯s disbelieving stare. Amber slumped down in front of Ariana, looking at her friend with a mncholic gaze. Why did Ariana have to think this far?


    She wondered to herself, then Amber¡¯s memories returned to the years before.


    They were still wearing their red and white uniforms. Amber was overjoyed when her dad announced that Ariana and her uncle were finally moving in with them. And she was even happier when she found out that Ariana would be attending the same school as her. Although Ariana and Karenina were twins, Amber could only get close to Ariana because she had an open and friendly personality. Amber also didn¡¯t like her aunt, Caitlyn, because somehow she was always harsh to everyone.


    Back then, Ariana and her dad had been living at Amber¡¯s house for a month. Ariana neverined, even though she now had nothing, and her father¡¯s stroke condition meant that Ariana had more responsibilities than someone her age should. But she remained cheerful. And everything changed that afternoon.


    Amber and Ariana were supposed to attend math lessons after school. Their parents already knew about it. And maybe because they assumed Ariana and Amber woulde home in the evening, they felt free to talk at that time. Conversations that Amber and Ariana were never supposed to hear.


    They entered through the kitchen, a path they thought was faster than going around the front of the house. They didn¡¯t see anyone there, but they heard voices talking.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Caitlyn even ask about Ariana?¡± That was Amber¡¯s dad¡¯s voice. Surely Ariana and Amber were overhearing her dad talking to her own mother.


    ¡°No, Mas. I¡¯ve been waiting for a message from her for days. But Mrs. Caitlyn didn¡¯t send any messages or calls at all.¡± Hearing her mom¡¯s name mentioned, Ariana stopped in her tracks. And she signaled Amber to be silent. Amber looked at her with surprise, but Ariana gestured for her friend to stay quiet and keep listening. Amber just nodded in agreement.


    ¡°How can there be someone so heartless like her?¡± They heard Amber¡¯s dad¡¯s voice again. ¡°At the very least, she should be worried about Ariana¡¯s condition. Ariana is also her daughter, just like Karenina. At the very least, she should be concerned about whether her daughter can eat properly, sleep soundly. Or at the very least, she should know if we¡¯re providing the child with a decent ce to live or neglecting her. But how can she be so biased?¡± her dad snorted again.

 Chap 142 : Story (2)

    ¡°Mom!¡± called Amber¡¯s mother again. They seemed unaware of the two little heads peeking out from behind the nearby wall.


    ¡°That¡¯s the truth. She never really considered Bradley her husband, just a recement husband. She only saw Bradley as a substitute for Anton, especially financially. To her, Bradley was just a walking bank ount. She asked him for this and that for her needs but never appreciated Bradley the way she should have. Bradley indeed became a perfect father in the eyes of their two daughters. But not a perfect husband in her eyes. More than that, she treated Bradley like trash.


    I can¡¯t me Bradley; love is blind. But that doesn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t redirect his feelings to another woman. He was wrong, why stay in love with a woman who was already married to his own twin brother? But I can¡¯t justify Caitlyn¡¯s actions either. I don¡¯t know what was going through her mind when she epted Bradley¡¯s proposal. Maybe she needed to feel financially secure, but if in the end she couldn¡¯t make Bradley her husband, couldn¡¯t love him the way she loved Anton, why did she persist this far?¡±


    Ariana pondered from her hiding spot. Amber was in the same state. Their petite bodies seemed glued to the wall behind them. Amber hesitantly nced at Ariana. The girl looked pale, her eyes clearly red.


    ¡°And why do my two younger siblings have to suffer like this? Why did Anton have to die because of heart failure? And now? Why does Bradley have to endure this? Meanwhile, that woman? Why is she perfectly fine? Why did she marry another man while my brother is hanging between life and death like this? How could she heartlessly leave a child to take care of an adult man who had a stroke all alone?¡±


    ¡°Dad¡­¡± the faint voice tried to calm them down. From a distance, they could hear the sobbing of an adult man.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Ariana remained silent in her ce. Amber could only grip her friend¡¯s arm, not knowing what to do. And since that moment, everything changed. Ariana¡¯s world changed.


    Her father often questioned Ariana¡¯s change in attitude. They suspected it was her father¡¯s physical condition and their financial situation that caused Ariana¡¯s drastic change. But the reality was different. Knowing that the man she fed morning and night was not her father hurt Ariana. Not because she didn¡¯t love him. Ariana still loved the man, even more so after discovering his true identity. But Ariana didn¡¯t reveal the truth that she knew: the man she had regarded as her father was actually her uncle.


    The secret remained a secret. Bradley was indeed her father legally, on paper, and in the family card. But he was not her biological father. Karenina and Ariana¡¯s biological father was Antony, Bradley¡¯s own twin brother, who had long suffered from a heart condition. It was a disease that now afflicted Ariana, something she found out when she turned eighteen.


    Until now, Bradley didn¡¯t know that Ariana was aware of the truth. But Amber¡¯s parents knew that Ariana knew. Ariana had asked them. It was from them that Ariana learned the reasons why her biological father passed away and why Bradley chose to take his ce.


    And when Bradleyter married Hestia, Ariana was the first person to feel happy. She yed a role in bringing them together. She felt she had to repay Bradley by giving him another kind of happiness that he deserved.


    But when Hestia, who they thought would never have a child, gave birth to a sibling, Ariana chose to step back. Not because she hated Bradley or Hestia. Not because she didn¡¯t want to be a part of their family. But she didn¡¯t want to feel alienated in the future.


    Ariana felt disheartened. In her mind, she was sure that someday it would be proven that a father¡¯s love would always weigh heavier on his biological child than on a niece. Ariana only protected herself from being hurt again, before she ¡®felt¡¯ unfairly treated. Before she ¡®felt¡¯ her parents were showing uneven affection. She chose to distance herself. She chose independence. That¡¯s why Ariana decided not to live with her parents anymore.


    Even when her first heart attack urred, only Amber and Jody knew. Only Amber and Jody stood by her. Ariana didn¡¯t tell Bradley, Hestia, or even her own mother. She tried to control herself to prevent a simr incident. And she held onto that control until now. Until her world, which she had believed was under her control, was shattered by a letter. A guardianship letter Bradley sent for Karenina, forcing Ariana to be a recement bride for her own twin brother.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be someone ungrateful like my mom.¡± Ariana¡¯s statement brought Amber back to the present. ¡°At least, let me repay Gerald¡¯s love by giving him the child he has always dreamed of.¡± She continued with a smile on her face. ¡°He might hate me, but he won¡¯t hate his own child. And if, by any chance, my n fails. If only this baby survives, he will thank me because he will realize I¡¯m not that heartless. His hatred toward me will slowly fade away. And if I and this baby don¡¯t survive, at least, he won¡¯t hate himself for hating me and thinking that this baby never existed from the beginning.¡± She said with tears in her eyes.


    ¡°What if you survive and the baby doesn¡¯t?¡± Amber asked, her voice choked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that far because I¡¯m sure both I and this baby will make it. But it has to be this way. If it¡¯s God¡¯s will. I¡¯ll do my best; for the rest of my life, I¡¯ll make sure to avoid Gerald. I won¡¯t show my face in front of him.¡± Ariana answered confidently.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Amber reached for Ariana¡¯s hand and held it tightly.


    ¡°You, Jody, just pray for me. That¡¯s all I ask.¡± Ariana replied, her smile still on her face. ¡°I¡¯m sure wherever I am, I¡¯ll take care of myself. I¡¯m optimistic that I and this child will be fine. But again, fate is something only God knows.¡± She continued.


    Amber could only fall silent and gaze at her friend¡¯s face. Slowly, she took a deep breath and then nodded resignedly. Everything was back in the hands of the Creator. He was the one who determined human destiny.


    ¡°Why do you have to go through all of this, Ariana¡­¡± Amber whispered softly.


    ¡°Because I am strong. That¡¯s why God gave me a test like this. Because if I were weak like you, God wouldn¡¯t give me a test like this. Instead of being strong, you¡¯d cry and wail while wing at your pillow.¡± Ariana teased. Amber nced at her, making Arianaugh in her seat.

 Chap 143 : Divorce Proceedings Begin

    A week after the arrival of the orphanage officials, the long-awaited decision finally came. Fortunately for Ariana, two days after being admitted to the hospital, she was allowed to go home. So, when the foundation representatives came to hand over the adoption confirmation documents, she appeared healthy, as if she didn¡¯t have any illness at all.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you well, Mrs. Gerald,¡± Mrs. Sri said with her usual smile.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°I¡¯m healthy, very healthy,¡± Ariana replied, full of gratitude. She was aware of Gerald¡¯s sarcastic nces and soft scoffs beside her, but she chose to ignore them.


    ¡°Alright, we can start signing the documents,¡± she said, returning to the original topic. The woman then took something out of her leather bag and read it aloud. ¡°Here, in this document, it is stated briefly that Axel¡¯s custody rights now fully belong to Mr. and Mrs. Gerald.¡± She paused, looking at Ariana and Gerald alternately.


    Both Ariana and Gerald nodded in response.


    ¡°This document was created after we, the foundation, conducted a survey as required. We assessed the living conditions, the family environment, and also the school environment. From the data we gathered, all the individuals we interviewed separately exined that Axel¡¯s condition under the Zeroun family¡¯s care was excellent,¡± she continued, speaking wisely.


    ¡°I hope this willst forever. Your family will be happy and blessed with righteous and pious offspring,¡± her prayer, which was responded to with nods from Gerald and affirmed by Ariana softly.


    Afterwards, the adoption documents were signed by the foundation representatives, Ariana, and Gerald. Witnessed by Mrs. Isidora, Mrs. Rosaline, and Gerald¡¯s personalwyer. Once everything was done, Mrs. Sri and the foundation officials bid farewell and left the Zeroun residence.


    They escorted the foundation people to the front door, waving with smiles framed on their faces. Gerald¡¯s hand was casually draped over Ariana¡¯s shoulder as a camouge. A split second after the foundation¡¯s car drove away, Gerald reverted to his usual mode: cold and indifferent. He walked back to his study without looking back. He didn¡¯t care whether Ariana followed him or not.


    If previously Gerald had sat next to Ariana, now, upon his return, he chose to sit on a single sofa to avoid her. His gaze was fixed directly on his familywyer. ¡°Everything is done now; it seems our divorce proceedings can proceed,¡± Gerald said coldly.


    Pain, of course, that was what Ariana felt. But what could she do? She was the one who started all the lies. Therefore, she had to end it properly.


    ¡°A good idea,¡± Mrs. Isidora said, still in the living room. Her aged face showed a happy smile.


    Meanwhile, Mrs. Rosaline, for a moment, nced at Ariana but then turned to her grandson. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to wait for a while?¡± the elderly woman asked hopefully. Ariana looked at her in confusion, surprised by the woman¡¯s request.


    Gerald looked at his grandmother, then shook his head. ¡°I did what Grandma asked for: I got married to gain custody of Axel so he could live with us. Although at first, divorce was never in my thoughts. But because from the beginning my bride wasn¡¯t her, everything must return to the starting point.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, going back to the beginning? Are you nning to remarry your twin?¡± Mrs. Isidora asked incredulously.


    Gerald raised the corner of his mouth. ¡°She should have been the one I married from the start. I shouldn¡¯t have cared if she had an affair behind my back. At least, if I married her, I would have a submissive wife. And maybe I wouldn¡¯t be disappointed because I lost my own blood. I thought she was better than my sister and her mother. But it turns out she¡¯s far worse than them,¡± he continued, his gaze directed at Ariana.


    Ariana remained silent with her chin up. Although her heart ached from Gerald¡¯s humiliation, she acted as if everything Gerald said was just a passing breeze.


    ¡°The apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree,¡± Mrs. Isidora snorted. Mrs. Rosaline was about to interrupt, but seeing Ariana¡¯s subtle shake of her head, the elderly woman stopped her intention.


    ¡°How long will the process take?¡± Ariana asked coldly.


    ¡°If there are no problems. In this case, if you don¡¯t demand alimony or contest custody and refuse mediation, the divorce process will run much faster,¡± thewyer said inly. Ariana simply nodded in understanding.


    ¡°Of course, she won¡¯t demand alimony. What can she ask for? Her days as Axel¡¯s mother can be counted on one hand,¡± Mrs. Isidora remarked.


    Ariana raised the corner of her mouth and smiled sarcastically. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that, Mrs. My life was prosperous enough before your stepson came and forced me into his life. Just regaining my single status will be satisfaction enough for me,¡± Ariana replied defiantly. ¡°What do I need to do?¡± she asked again, turning to thewyer.


    ¡°Will you be using awyer for this divorce, Mrs.?¡± Thewyer asked back.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°I think that¡¯s unnecessary,¡± she said tly. ¡°Hiring awyer will only increase my expenses, considering I won¡¯t demand anything in this divorce. I think everything should be left to your side and the court,¡± Ariana replied clearly.


    Thewyer nodded again. He then took something out of his folder. ¡°These are the documents you and Mr. Gerald can sign. Once this file is submitted to the Religious Court, the court will take care of the rest. You just need to wait for your divorce certificate,¡± thewyer exined again. ¡°You will receive the certificate after Mr. Gerald signs the divorce documents.¡±


    Ariana simply nodded, although not all of the information had fully registered in her mind. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll wait for the certificate promptly. You know where to send it,¡± Ariana said firmly. She then signed thewsuit letter given by Gerald¡¯swyer and handed it back to him.


    ¡°Alright, I will process everything from here on,¡± thewyer replied. Before thewyer could stand up, Ariana had already beaten him to it.


    ¡°Thank you for your cooperation,¡± she said, extending her hand.


    The fifty-year-oldwyer also stood up, smiling and epting Ariana¡¯s handshake. ¡°It¡¯s my duty, Mrs.¡±


    Ariana simply nodded. ¡°May I ask for your assistance?¡± Thewyer looked at Ariana in confusion.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a heavy burden, sir. I just want to hitch a ride in your car until the end of the road,¡± she said casually.


    Thewyer seemed to widen his eyes in surprise. But then he smiled and nodded his head. ¡°With pleasure, Mrs.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll wait for you outside until your business is truly finished,¡± she said as she left.

 Chap 144 : First Trial

    Gerald¡¯s mood had worsened since he received a message from hiswyer about the schedule of the first hearing of his divorce case with Ariana. He had spent the previous night drinking and still had a headache. In his emotional state, he threw his phone against the wall, causing the screen to crack. Immediately, he shouted for the household staff, who rushed to his room in panic.


    ¡°Why are her belongings still here?¡± Gerald scolded all his employees, who avoided eye contact out of fear. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to burn all her stuff? Why is everything still here?¡± he shouted again.


    Mrs. Rosaline, who had previously hidden Axel, now entered her grandson¡¯s room and observed the staff, who stood with their hands sped in front of them, heads bowed in fear. Her gaze briefly shifted to Yosef before settling on her grandson, who was pacing back and forth with disheveled clothes from the previous night, bloodshot eyes, and a clearly angry expression.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it! The room must be empty by the time Ie out of the bathroom!¡± he shouted at his employees and then stormed into the bathroom, mming the door shut, leaving the staff startled.


    ¡°Move quickly. Make sure nothing is left behind,¡± Yosef ordered in his usual calm tone.


    Mrs. Rosaline sat down on the bed. Her aging body could only sigh deeply, confused about what to do. Her greed had caused pain to those around her. Yes, it was all because of her greed. She had asked Gerald to marry Caitlyn¡¯s daughter in exchange for an investment to gain ownership rights over her great-grandson, Axel. She didn¡¯t expect that, in the end, her weapon would be turned against her. Her granddaughter-inw fell in love with the recement groom. Now, after her granddaughter had fallen in love, due to her greed to obtain another great-grandchild, she easily agreed to Ariana¡¯s request to conceal all the facts.


    They did love each other. But their desire to protect each other ended up hurting each other. Rosaline felt like she was caught between a rock and a hard ce. Should she proceed with her n, risking Gerald¡¯s pain? Or should she stop her n, risking not getting her great-grandchild? If she went through with this n, there was still a possibility that she could regain Ariana and her great-grandchild.


    Rosaline sighed deeply again. The servants were moving around with items in their hands. Luckily, they had Yosef. His reliability, his calmness, were incredibly helpful in this chaotic situation.


    ¡°Everything will end beautifully in its own time,¡± he said in front of Rosaline. ¡°We just need to pray and ask God to provide the best way for both of them. And as soon as possible,¡± Yosef said sincerely. Rosaline could only look at him in silence.


    Thest employee in the room had taken all of Ariana¡¯s belongings out. Rosaline also stood up. She let the person who was about to make Gerald¡¯s bed tidy up the room peacefully. She followed Yosef, who continued walking towards the back of the house.


    ¡°What are you going to do with all of this?¡± Mrs. Isidora asked, stopping Yosef with her graceful manner. Yosef didn¡¯t respond at all, and it made Mrs. Isidora snort ungracefully. ¡°Didn¡¯t Gerald ask you to burn them? But why don¡¯t I see anyone preparing for a bonfire?¡± she asked sarcastically, directed at Mrs. Rosaline. Again, there was no response from either Yosef or Mrs. Rosaline herself. They both kept walking towards the pavilion at the back of the house.


    ¡°Pack everything neatly. Don¡¯t store it in the warehouse. Tell someone to deliver them to Ariana¡¯s apartment,¡± Mrs. Rosalinemanded, immediately acknowledged by her employees. Afterward, she walked back into the house.


    Gerald looked moreposed, although his facial expression still showed anger. Axel was also ready in his uniform. Both of them sat in front of the dining table with equally grim faces, all because of Ariana.


    Gerald went to his office without saying a word. Meanwhile, Axel would be takenter by Mrs. Rosaline. ¡°Later, after school, we¡¯ll go to Mommy¡¯s ce,¡± she persuaded in a soft whisper. Axel looked at his grandmother, and a smile instantly appeared on his handsome face.


    As promised, Axel left with Mrs. Rosaline for Ariana¡¯s ce. Axel¡¯s stepmother was currently at a restaurant. She did nothing there except sit and watch other people work. It¡¯s not that Ariana didn¡¯t want to help, but right now, there was someone else she had to take care of. Yes, her baby in her womb.


    ¡°Gerald is changing more and more as time goes on,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said softly. Ariana remained silent. She nced at Axel, who was napping during his afternoon rest. ¡°His condition is much worse than before he met you,¡± Mrs. Rosaline continued.


    Ariana looked at the elderly woman in front of her. ¡°It will onlyst for a while. All of this is happening because I hurt his ego,¡± Ariana replied.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you thinking of changing your mind? I¡¯m sorry for suggesting that n earlier. But now, I want to cancel it,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°No, Grandma. The advice you gave was right. Believe me, everything will get better over time.¡± Mrs. Rosaline sighed deeply again. Yosef had said the same thing. But, she felt doubtful now. ¡°Besides, the trial process has started. As soon as Grandma says that none of Gerald¡¯s henchmen are following me anymore, that¡¯s when our n will begin,¡± Ariana continued.


    Yes, Ariana knew from Mrs. Rosaline that Gerald still had his henchmen follow her. Of course, the elderly woman knew because she was the one paying Gerald¡¯s henchmen twice as much. Andter, she would also be the one paying people to help Ariana go to her hiding ce. Gerald had underestimated her, that was the fact. Hismon sense disappeared because he put his anger and ego first.


    If Gerald thought Ariana wouldn¡¯t show up at the first hearing, then he was wrong. Because, in fact, a few days after the announcement of the first hearing, Ariana came without awyer. She did it all to expedite their divorce. Gerald, who knew about it, became even more furious.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°He¡¯s so eager to separate from me? He even bothered toe to the hearing just so the judge would make a quicker decision?¡± he asked Vivan, who could only stand there stunned. ¡°Tell thewyer to make it difficult for the divorce. I don¡¯t want her to get away easily!¡± Vivan just nodded before leaving his boss¡¯s office.


    ¡°He wants the divorce to proceed slowly,¡± Vivan said to someone on the phone. Apparently, without Gerald¡¯s knowledge, Vivan had alreadypromised with her father and Mrs. Rosaline.


    ¡°Just do what he wants. We will still carry out our n,¡± Mrs. Rosaline replied firmly.

 Chap 145 : Weak

    Ariana had already heard the news from Mrs. Rosaline about Gerald wanting to slow down the divorce proceedings. Initially, she was indifferent to the news, but over time, considering Gerald¡¯s impulsiveness, Ariana thought she should also proceed more carefully. With Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s help, Ariana finally found a reliablewyer. Mrs. Rosaline herself stated that thewyer wouldn¡¯t ept any payment from Ariana, as she would cover all the expenses.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Ariana¡¯s days, since leaving Gerald¡¯s residence, could be described as quite monotonous. She still went to the restaurant, but she could no longer be active in the kitchen as she was before she got pregnant. She also refrained from going to the market to apany Jody and shop for fresh ingredients for her restaurant. She preferred to iste herself in her room upstairs, reading books or watching television and doing other rxing activities, which she rarely did before but now felt she ¡®had¡¯ to do.


    On the other hand, Ariana could be considered lucky because her pregnancy didn¡¯t make her experience morning sickness, which she always heard young pregnant women suffer from. She didn¡¯t vomit, although she always felt dizzy, but it never went beyond that. Perhaps the unborn baby knew that if her mother vomited, it would worsen her arrhythmia. Because inevitably, when someone vomits, their heart rate elerates and affects overall body weakness.


    Ariana also knew that her staff had been questioning ¡®where Gerald was,¡¯ given that he had never been absent from picking her up or dropping her off at the restaurant, andtely, he was conspicuously absent. It seemed as if he had vanished without a trace. However, these questions remained whispers among them, as none dared to speak up to ask.


    Amber looked at her friend without saying much. After finishing a rather unappetizing breakfast, Ariana chose to sit on the sofa facing out the window. She didn¡¯t turn on the television but preferred to read a book that Amber didn¡¯t know what it was. Even though the booky on her friend¡¯sp, her fingers never moved to turn the next page.


    Amber knew Ariana wasn¡¯t okay, despite her friend always saying the opposite. She knew that divorce wasn¡¯t something on Ariana¡¯s mind. Amber knew very well, as Ariana had revealed earlier, that she loved Gerald deeply. And for that man, she did all of this. Willing to part ways and ept his negative assumptions about her to preserve his dreams. But what Ariana clung to, what her friend fought for, Amber found it all foolish.


    Amber was angry. Ariana acted like the protagonist in a drama who chose to suffer alone to endure. Amber wanted to be furious, especially with the old woman who had caused all of this to her friend. Who else but Mrs. Rosaline? The woman who had pushed Ariana into a marriage Ariana never wanted-even though falling in love was not within Mrs. Rosaline¡¯s power-but that woman made Ariana decide to suffer alone. If there were an ounce ofmon sense in both their heads, all of this shouldn¡¯t have happened.


    If only Amber didn¡¯t care for Ariana. If only she weren¡¯t bound by her promise to that woman. Honestly, right now, Amber wanted to go to Gerald and spill everything. All these secretive games had gone far enough. Gerald deserved to know the facts about Ariana. The facts about Ariana¡¯s pregnancy and the illness she had been dealing with for a long time. Not just Gerald, but her uncle should know what was really happening to Ariana too. Who knows, if they knew, they might be able to change Ariana¡¯s mind.


    There¡¯s no stubbornness here. There¡¯s just weak persuasion.


    Amber looked at Ariana again. It was time for her to go to the restaurant and work. She wanted to ask if Ariana woulde to the restaurant with her or not. She called Ariana¡¯s name, but Ariana didn¡¯t respond to her call. Finally, Amber walked closer and saw her friend, who was sitting there, leaning her back against the high pile of pillows she had arranged behind her, fast asleep. Both her legs were raised up on the couch, straight out. A thick romantic novely face down on her stomach.


    Catherine Andersone, Comanche Moon. Amber knew her friend had read this yellow-covered book many times, even though she didn¡¯t know what made Ariana like it. Amber walked to her friend¡¯s room, took the thin nket from Ariana¡¯s bed, and then covered her friend¡¯s legs. After that, she went to the restaurant alone.


    ****


    Gerald returned to the bathroom, for what felt like the umpteenth time. His head was throbbing, and his stomach was so nauseous. Damn it! he cursed inwardly. What was wrong with him? He used to be able to sleep after getting drunk, but he would return to normal in the morning. Dizzy, yes. But not this severe. Not to the point of continuous nausea and vomiting.


    His throat felt sore, and his tongue tasted bitter. There was nothing left for him to throw up. What he saw in the sink was yellowish liquid with small specks of blood, perhaps the effect of his injured throat.


    Gerald stumbled out of the bathroom and crashed his body onto the bed.


    A knock on the door made his head pound even more. ¡°Come in!¡± hemanded, his growl barely restrained. Yosef appeared from outside, looking at Gerald with a furrowed brow. Another new habit of Gerald¡¯stely; he didn¡¯t like the curtains open in the morning. The morning sunlight made his eyes dazzle from the re.


    ¡°Breakfast is ready, Sir,¡± Yosef informed him.


    ¡°Ignore me, just tell them to have breakfast without me,¡± he said, adjusting his position on the bed to make himself morefortable. Gerald felt weak; his whole body ached. ¡°Get me some warm sweet tea, or whatever can ease this nausea,¡± he ordered without looking at Yosef. Yosef only nodded and retreated soundlessly.


    Gerald closed his eyes with one hand. He didn¡¯t want to lie down weak like this while he was sure his body was healthy. But even getting up from his bed made him dizzy. He couldn¡¯t go to the office in this condition; it would only embarrass him, and he might lose his authority. He also couldn¡¯t work as hard as he wanted to. In the past, he neverined about working sixteen hours a day. But now, let alone sixteen hours, spending eight hours in his room alone felt like too much for him.


    The sound of a knock on the door echoed again. Gerald suspected it was Yosef, returning with the sweet tea he had requested. ¡°Just leave it there,¡± he ordered without opening his eyes. He could sense someone approaching, but catching a whiff of a perfume that pierced his nose made Gerald instantly open his eyes and look at the person entering his room with an angry re before he ran to the bathroom and vomited what wasn¡¯t in his stomach. ¡°Damn it!¡± he cursed from inside the bathroom.

 Chap 146 : Old Plan

    That figure approached and stood at the slightly ajar door, gazing at Gerald with a worried expression.


    ¡°Gerald, you okay?¡± she asked, her voice filled with panic.


    Instead of answering, Gerald red back at the woman through the ss, his eyes filled with anger. ¡°What are you doing here, Shelma?¡± he used, his eyes pointedly locked on the mirror in front of him. The woman attempted to step closer before Gerald extended his left hand, silently instructing her not to approach. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer, your scent makes me nauseous!¡± he rasped. As Gerald took a breath, he felt the unbearable nausea return. God, his throat was really burning now.


    ¡°Gerald?¡± the woman spoke softly. However, her call was drowned out by Gerald¡¯s retching.


    ¡°Yosef!¡± Gerald shouted loudly. He clutched his stomach, feeling the tension. ¡°Yosef!!!¡± he yelled even louder.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Yosef came hurriedly. He stood at the doorway right next to Shelma, who was looking at Gerald with a furrowed brow and a scornful expression.


    ¡°Take that woman away from here. Her smell makes me sick!¡± he said, sitting weakly on the closed toilet seat. Both of his hands massaged his temples, trying to get rid of the throbbing pain that refused to go away. ¡°And get her scent out of my room, now!¡± he ordered, which Yosef acknowledged.


    ¡°Come on, Miss,¡± Yosef requested. He politely gestured for Shelma toply with Gerald¡¯s wishes. Shelma nced at Gerald before turning her gaze to Yosef with an using look. She stomped her foot harshly on the floor before walking out of the room.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Gerald?¡± the soft voice came from Mrs. Rosaline. She stood where Shelma had been standing before.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Gerald replied weakly. He tried to get up but his knees felt weak. He ended up plopping back onto the cold toilet seat and rubbing his temples again after wiping his face roughly. ¡°I just¡­¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said wearily, his slumped shoulders even more slouched.


    Gerald rested his head against the wall behind him. His eyes were still closed, but he could feel when Mrs. Rosaline approached and gently squeezed her grandson¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Are you sick? Should we go to the doctor?¡± she asked again.


    Gerald shook his head, lifting the corner of his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Grandma,¡± he answered sarcastically. ¡°Just need a little moment to rest,¡± he said softly.


    ¡°Gerald?¡± Mrs. Rosaline called softly. Eventually, Gerald opened his eyes and locked eyes directly with his grandmother. The old woman could see Gerald¡¯s eyes turning red. Not from anger, clearly not from the vomiting either. But his eyes were red from trying to hold back tears. Tears of pain, tears of longing, tears of love. ¡°If you miss Ariana so much, why don¡¯t you go to her?¡± she inquired.


    ¡°After she aborted our child?¡± Gerald snorted disgustedly. ¡°What¡¯s the point?¡± he asked more to himself.


    ¡°To talk,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said softly. ¡°Grandma knows you want to keep her by your side. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t make your divorce with her soplicated.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I did it because I didn¡¯t want her to be happy so easily after making me suffer, Grandma,¡± Gerald said sharply.


    ¡°If you really hated her that much, Grandma knows you could be even more cruel than that,¡± Mrs. Rosaline reminded.


    Gerald chuckled. ¡°So what does Grandma think?¡±


    ¡°Grandma thinks you still want her. You miss her. You love her. And more than that, you forgave her even though you know she made a mistake with that baby, didn¡¯t you?¡± Mrs. Rosaline probed. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Gerald replied sorrowfully.


    He tried to stand up again. He stood tall in front of his grandmother and walked back to his room with his remaining strength. Somehow Yosef managed to remove Shelma¡¯s scent; now, it was Ariana¡¯s perfume that Gerald smelled there. A scent he had missed so much.


    Gerald instantly looked at his grandmother walking behind him. ¡°Why is this perfume still here?¡± he asked usingly. Mrs. Rosaline just shrugged in response.


    ¡°Stop holding onto your ego, Gerald. If you really want her, go to her and convince her. Maybe that¡¯s what she needs from you,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said earnestly.


    Gerald sat on his bed, snorting. What kind of foolish advice was that? he asked himself. ¡°As if I haven¡¯t done that all this time,¡± he muttered dully. ¡°As if I haven¡¯t begged for her love and attention. She never believed. She was never sure if I loved her. Why? Because she didn¡¯t love me,¡± Gerald said angrily.


    ¡°But that¡¯s not what Grandma sees in her,¡± Mrs. Rosaline replied softly.


    Gerald raised his head and looked at his grandmother with a mocking gaze. The elderly woman in front of him seemed to have lost her sensitivity. Yet she was someone who could be said to be good at reading people¡¯s minds.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, what does Grandma see in her? Love? Or disgust?¡± Gerald challenged.


    ¡°Neither,¡± Mrs. Rosaline replied softly. She sat down next to Gerald on the bed. For a moment, she bowed her head, her two fingers, wrinkled with age, appeared to twist. Gerald could hear her taking a deep, not-so-graceful breath before exhaling it quite loudly. ¡°Whatever Ariana feels for you, it¡¯s her right to say it directly to you,¡± she answered wearily. ¡°Grandma is curious,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said softly. ¡°Honestly, this is the first time Grandma has seen you fall in love with a woman.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and unfortunately I fell in love with a woman who has no heart,¡± Gerald interjected with his sharp tone.


    Mrs. Rosaline shook her head again. ¡°No, dear. Not like that,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said worriedly.


    Gerald looked at his grandmother with a confused furrowed brow. What was wrong with this elderly woman in front of him? Mrs. Rosaline wasn¡¯t the type to be nervous. She wasn¡¯t the type of woman to hesitate. She usually acted with certainty or not at all. And this time, Gerald saw her in a dilemma- or fear? Was that what Gerald saw on her face right now?


    ¡°You and Grandma know why we agreed to Isidora¡¯s n to marry you to Karenina. It¡¯s because of Axel,¡± she said softly. ¡°Let¡¯s consider all of this just a game. You get married to gain custody of Axel, so when Karenina is absent, and Ariana appears. Grandma still thought, ¡®Okay, everything will be fine. Your marriage is your business, and Axel¡¯s affairs will be my responsibility.¡¯ That¡¯s what was on my mind back then.


    But when I first saw Ariana, saw the hatred in her eyes for Caitlyn, Grandma knew something was wrong. But for some reason, my feelings told me that I liked her. Everything about her, her demeanor, reminded me of yourte mother.¡± Mrs. Rosaline said with a tear falling from the corner of her eye.

 Chap 147 : Keep Persuading

    ¡°You might not remember how your mother was, but looking at Ariana, Grandma feels as if she¡¯s seeing your mother still here. A woman I admire so much,¡± tears rolled down the woman¡¯s cheeks again. ¡°That¡¯s when Grandma decided to find out who Ariana is. A woman who has Karenina¡¯s physical appearance but your mother¡¯s soul.¡±


    ¡°I did too,¡± Gerald whispered, although he himself was still confused about where his grandmother¡¯s conversation was heading.


    Mrs. Rosaline shook her head. ¡°But you didn¡¯t get all the information about her,¡± Mrs. Rosaline said again. Gerald furrowed his brow again. ¡°In fact, there are things you don¡¯t know about her, and I can¡¯t tell you this. Honestly, Grandma feels guilty, towards the three of you. You, Ariana, and also Axel. When Grandma wanted to keep her because she missed your mother, Grandma didn¡¯t know you would fall in love with her like this, Al,¡± she continued, her voice full of apologies. ¡°I thought our n would go as we nned. You would marry Ariana and divorce her after we get custody of Axel. And we would part ways amicably. But reality doesn¡¯t always align with ns.¡±


    ns. Something that made Gerald feel disgusted with himself. The n to have a lifelong marriage that he once said to Ariana wasn¡¯t actually a genuine n. Because the phrase ¡®marriage for a lifetime¡¯ only came to Gerald¡¯s mind after he met Ariana, not Karenina.


    With Karenina, there was never the word ¡®forever.¡¯ Only ¡®temporary.¡¯ And they had agreed on that with a specific amount. Not only with Brooks but also with Karenina herself. But Karenina¡¯s escape, considered a misfortune for Ariana, turned out to be Gerald¡¯s stroke of luck.


    Gerald had to admit that the idea of marrying Karenina had been a bad ely. If he had to be honest, when Vivian and Yosef informed him that Karenina was missing, his initial reaction was the shame he would endure. But after thinking, maybe it was fate¡¯s way of preventing him from getting trapped with that ill-tempered woman.


    He didn¡¯t think about the sin of ying with marriage. He didn¡¯t n to live celibate. And he didn¡¯t n to touch Karenina during their marriage. What he said to Ariana earlier, it all came out spontaneously, unnned. Because that was what was on his mind and in his heart at the time.


    So that night, Gerald happily called off the wedding-regardless of the embarrassment it would cause him in front of his colleagues because the bride ran away-he saw Ariana. A duplicate of Karenina but with different characteristics. And he fell in love at first sight for the first time.


    A sudden feeling of challenge arose. He felt like a climber wanting to reach the highest peak of a mountain. Feeling like a swimmer wanting to cross the ocean. His desire to have her was so strong.


    And when the vows were exchanged, his mind, his feelings suddenly said that this would be his lifelong marriage. That Ariana would be his only wife. That she would be the mother of his future children.


    And when he touched her body, he knew he could live a passionate life with her. Because even though her mouth said no, her body clearly said otherwise.


    He missed Ariana. That was the truth. He loved that woman. He was obsessed with Ariana Leonidas.


    She was undeniably beautiful, and her heart was too. Despite her firmness, she was a woman with a gentle soul. And clearly, it wasn¡¯t just him who fell in love, Axel did too. So what reason could Gerald find to separate from her? There was none.


    And now, the fact that his grandmother also liked her was another plus point for Ariana. Unfortunately, Ariana didn¡¯t feel the same way. She didn¡¯t love Gerald, nor Axel. Since the beginning of their marriage, she openly dered war. Stating that she was trapped in a ce she didn¡¯t want to be.


    Gerald thought as time went on, her feelings, her mindset, would change. He thought that seeing how Ariana openly waged war with Shelma was her way of reciprocating his love. She would be with him forever. But once again, he was wrong. Ariana wanted to separate from him. Of course, it was because of that damn man. Chris!


    ¡°She loves another man,¡± the words escaped his lips, something he didn¡¯t want to admit but finally did.


    Mrs. Rosaline shook her head again. ¡°No. She doesn¡¯t love Chris,¡± she said firmly.


    ¡°How does Grandma know?¡± Gerald asked, narrowing his eyes.


    Mrs. Rosaline just shrugged. The old woman reached out and squeezed Gerald¡¯s hand tighter.


    ¡°Fight for her,¡± she pleaded softly. ¡°Do whatever it takes to win Ariana back,¡± she continued. ¡°What Grandma means is, maybe you haven¡¯t been persistent enough. So this time, persuade her again. Again and again until shees back to this house. Back to you, back to Axel, back to all of us,¡± she said rapidly.


    Gerald furrowed his brow even more. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Grandma? Don¡¯t make my headache worse.¡±


    Mrs. Rosaline wanted to answer, but doubt silenced her. ¡°Ariana is always at the restaurant, if not, she will be in her apartment,¡± the woman said, deflecting Gerald¡¯s question.


    ¡°I know. I ordered someone to tail her,¡± he said firmly.


    Mrs. Rosaline shook her head again. ¡°But your spy doesn¡¯t know what she¡¯s hiding in her apartment,¡± she said and then stood up.


    ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t y guessing games again. Tell me what¡¯s really happening? I¡¯m sure Grandma knows something.¡± Gerald used sharply.


    Mrs. Rosaline shook her head again. Instead of answering Gerald¡¯s question, she just walked away, leaving him behind and quietly closing the door.


    Gerald ran his hand through his hair. He nced at the sweet tea Yosef had ced on the nightstand. The steaming heat had dissipated from the cup, much like his nausea.


    Gerald chose to ignore it and theny down on the bed. He used one hand to cover his eyes. Somehow, he drifted off into the feeling of exhaustion and weariness throughout his body.


    The room was dominated by white and arge window. Gerald blinked to ward off the re from the intense sunlight. He woke up from his confusion. Why was he here? The ce where he took Ariana some time ago. Gerald heardughter. A crispughter he knew so well, but when he sat up and looked around, no one was there.


    Gerald got out of his bed and walked slowly out of his room. When he opened the door, theughter sounded louder and more intense. Gerald walked towards the stairs, down to find where the source of that happyughter wasing from. Right on thest step, Gerald froze. There, in one of the rooms with arge window overlooking the backyard, he could see two figures he loved dearly. Ariana, and their son Axel.


    Ariana looked beautiful, wearing a white nightgown that reached below her knees. The V-shaped neckline and the very short sleeves allowed Gerald to admire her beautiful white skin bathed in the morning sunlight. She looked even more beautiful withText ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    the cheerfulughter on her face. Apuding as if encouraging something. So was Axel. The boy was running as if being chased by something. But instead of being scared, the boy wasughing too.


    Gerald¡¯s steps drew closer. ¡°Ariana,¡± he called.

 Chap 148 : Maximillian

    Ariana suddenly straightened her shoulders. The woman turned, her smile still on her face. Her left hand reached out as if to wee Gerald. ¡°Good morning,¡± she greeted so softly. Gerald took her hand, and Ariana¡¯s hand moved to wrap around his waist. Her crimson lips gently met his, igniting an instant passion in Gerald. He didn¡¯t want to let go of the kiss his wife had given him; he responded by embracing her waist and wanting to kiss her even deeper. However, Ariana ced her hands on Gerald¡¯s chest and pushed him gently. ¡°Embarrassed in front of the children,¡± she whispered.


    Gerald furrowed his brow. Children? he wondered silently. He followed where Ariana looked. There, he saw a little Ariana,ughing, taking hesitant steps, chasing Axel, who was still trying to tease her by moving back and forth in front of the beautiful toddler.


    Gerald widened his eyes for a moment. But the light was gone. All that remained was darkness. He woke up in his bed at Zeroun¡¯s residence. His breath was heavy, and the corners of his eyes felt wet.


    What was that? he asked himself. What had he just dreamed about? Was it a child that Ariana had lost?


    If he felt this much pain, what about Ariana? Did she also feel guilty? Did she regret removing a life that would have grown to be like Gerald or herself? Did Ariana regret it?


    Gerald reached for his phone and called his servant. ¡°She hasn¡¯t gone anywhere, Sir. She¡¯s still in her apartment.¡±


    ¡°Amber?¡±


    ¡°Miss Amber left two hours ago,¡± the servant replied.


    ¡°Keep an eye on her, and let me know if anything strange happens or if anyone visits her,¡± he ordered sternly.


    Gerald then walked to the bathroom. He felt more refreshed now. He intended to clean himself up, and then he would go to the office to catch up on his work that had piled up due to his abnormal condition.


    An hourter, Gerald was in his office, preparing to tackle his mountain of tasks and forget about Ariana and the beautiful dream that could never be reality.


    A knock on his door made Gerald look up. Vivan stood there with a neutral expression. ¡°Mr. Maximilian requests to meet with you, Sir,¡± she informed.


    Hearing his old friend¡¯s name made a smile bloom on Gerald¡¯s face instantly. A tall, handsome man with the typical Italian tycoon¡¯s face walked in, a smile just as wide on his face. ¡°H, mi amigo. Mucho tiempo sin verte,¡± he greeted in his father¡¯snguage, Spanish. (Hello, friend. Long time no see.)


    Gerald left his desk and extended his hand. For a moment, they embraced each other and patted each other¡¯s backs as a sign of friendship. ¡°I thought I¡¯d never see your face again, buddy,¡± Gerald replied in the samenguage.


    ¡°I was hesitant to visit you, thinking you wouldn¡¯t ept me. But I thought I shoulde to investigate,¡± Gerald furrowed his brow at the man¡¯s statement. ¡°About your marriage,¡± he continued with a mocking smile. ¡°Although I know questioning it might get me kicked out of here,¡± he added with a teasing expression.


    ¡°By God, I wouldn¡¯t do that,¡± Gerald said confidently. He led the man to the sofa. ¡°What would you like to drink?¡± he asked Maximilian.


    ¡°Anything, as long as it¡¯s not poison or alcohol,¡± he replied. Vivan, who was still standing by the door, nodded before retreating and closing the door.


    ¡°Since when did you stop drinking alcohol? As far as I know, alcohol is your best friend,¡± he teased, making the one hundred ny-centimeter tall manugh.


    ¡°Since I fell in love?¡± he said hesitantly.


    Gerald raised an eyebrow. ¡°Love does make sane people go insane, doesn¡¯t it?¡± he teased. ¡°Are you mocking yourself, huh?¡± Max asked with an equally teasing look.


    Gerald leaned back, shrugging his shoulders. ¡°Something like that,¡± he replied resignedly.


    ¡°So, is that why you look old, with dark circles under your eyes as if you¡¯ve been working like a ve all year? Because of your wife? What is she doing? Did she ask for something you can¡¯t fulfill?¡± Maximilian asked continuously.


    ¡°If she did that, I guess I wouldn¡¯t mind having dark circles. But no, it¡¯s not because of that. I¡¯m just tired, a result of vomiting from being too drunk?¡± he said.


    ¡°What do you mean? Morning sickness?¡± Maximilian asked confused. Gerald furrowed his brow. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± he asked puzzled.


    ¡°Morning sickness?¡± Maximilian repeated. Gerald nodded. ¡°Come on, buddy, you don¡¯t know what morning sickness is?¡± he replied mockingly. But seeing Gerald silent, Max knew that Gerald genuinely didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Morning sickness is the vomiting usually experienced by pregnant women.¡±


    ¡°What does that have to do with me? I¡¯m nauseous and vomiting because I was drunk all night.¡±


    Max furrowed his brow and looked at Gerald in confusion. ¡°You¡¯re clearly not the type of person who would have a bad morning even if you drank two barrels of alcohol, buddy. I know that,¡± Maximilian said. Yes, when they were in college, Maximilian was Gerald¡¯s ¡®naughty¡¯ friend. They once lived in the same t, and they certainly shared alcohol, although not with women involved.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe because I¡¯m old, and my alcohol tolerance has decreased,¡± he replied.


    Maximilian shook his head again. ¡°The eptable level of alcohol for someone is like a dose of medicine. The longer, the higher. Not lower. Don¡¯t fool yourself,¡± he snorted. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just ask your wife? Maybe she doesn¡¯t realize she¡¯s pregnant. I experienced that too.¡±


    Gerald¡¯s brow furrowed when he heard Max¡¯s words. Vivan came in again; behind her was an office girl carrying a tray with two steaming sses of drinks and snacks.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Max thanked the female employee, who blushed immediately. Gerald just nodded. After that, Vivan escorted the office girl out and closed the door again.


    Max raised his espresso ss, inhaling its aroma before sipping it. ¡°Hmm¡­ delicious,¡± he murmured, then took another sip of his drink.


    ¡°It seems Vivan made this specifically for you,¡± Gerald replied, to which Max nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m really impressed with her. She can endure your personality,¡± he said. They had been friends for more than a decade. That¡¯s why Max knew what kind of character Gerald had, one that was not easy to oppose. If only the tragic incident hadn¡¯t happened, maybe they would still be living in a country far from Indonesia, building their ownpany as they nned during their college years. But dreams were just dreams. Everything in front of him now seemed moreplicated than just building arge business.


    ¡°What¡¯s with you? Haven¡¯t seen you in a while, and you seem to have changed a lot. Is it because of your wife?¡± Max asked, curious. ¡°When are you going to introduce her to me?¡± he asked again. ¡°I want to apologize to her in person for not being able to attend your wedding a while ago. Not to make excuses, but Gina¡¯s condition really couldn¡¯t allow me to travel  far,¡± he said with a smile on his face.

 Chap 149 : I’m In Love Like Crazy

    ¡°How about her?¡± Gerald asked, curious. He genuinely wanted to know because in the past, Max seemed to despise Gina. The innocent Japanese girl who preferred books over Max himself. The love story between the two had originated from a challenge made by Max and Gerald¡¯s friends during their college days. Whatever happened, one day Max admitted that he lost a bet. Since then, they never discussed Gina again. Even when Gerald returned to Indonesia and Max decided to go back to Spain, that topic never surfaced again. Until a few yearster, he heard Max was getting married, to Gina, the woman who had once been the subject of their bet.


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Max replied when Gerald asked how they ended up marrying each other. And now, ironically, Max was head over heels for his wife, bowing down to her. ¡°And my wife, she¡¯s fine. Honestly, we are happy.¡± He said happily, without any intention of mocking Gerald, who seemed visibly annoyed.


    ¡°I brought her here and told her that I would introduce her to you and your wife. She was very excited. She wants to meet the woman who made you willing to get married. Honestly, I¡¯m curious too. You never told me anything about her, even though we talked on the phone. It was always business, nothing more. And that made me even more curious,¡± Max said without hesitation.


    Gerald shrugged. He never wanted to discuss it because, back then, he nned to get married just to get a divorce. He didn¡¯t want to be the subject of his friend¡¯s mockery. But now he was mocking himself because he was trapped in the trap he had set for himself. And again, he couldn¡¯t tell Max that he was in the process of getting a divorce, could he?


    Gerald shrugged again. ¡°You made empty promises to her, Max,¡± he replied wearily.


    ¡°Why? Is she not in the country? Did you marry a foreigner, just like me?¡± Max asked, curious.


    Geraldughed and shook his head. ¡°No, it seems I prefer local products. Ariana is one hundred percent Indonesian,¡± he said proudly. Unconsciously, he had just dered his ownership of his future ¡®ex-wife.¡¯ He could also see the mocking smile when Max raised an eyebrow momentarily.


    ¡°Ariana, huh?¡± Max said, with a tone that Gerald could interpret as teasing. ¡°So, you didn¡¯t marry Shelma, then?¡± Max asked suspiciously.


    ¡°Why Shelma?¡± Gerald asked, curious.


    Max picked up his ss again. Clearly, he deliberately created a pause before giving an answer to his friend. He put his ss down again and leaned back, crossing his right leg over his left and intertwining his fingers on his knee. He looked at Gerald meaningfully.


    ¡°I heard everything. About you recing your bride,¡± he said tly. Gerald raised an eyebrow. Max didn¡¯t say it usingly, but hearing Ariana referred to as a recement bride made Gerald feel angry. ¡°When I heard you reced your bride, I thought it would be Shelma.¡±


    ¡°Why her?¡± Gerald repeated his question.


    Max shrugged again. ¡°At some point, she came to my ce,¡± he began his story. ¡°She said she was on vacation. You know Gina never liked her from the beginning?¡± Gerald nodded in response. ¡°Then Gina told me that Shelma lied to her. That someday she would make Spain their honeymoon destination, after she married you. Because, ¡®coincidentally,¡¯ your marriage happened after she divorced her father¡¯s chosen husband, right?¡± Max replied, mocking.


    Gerald sneered. ¡°A dream,¡± he said. ¡°She did get a divorce, that¡¯s true. But I would never be her husband.¡± ¡°We all know how much she loved you.¡±


    ¡°It was just her foolish obsession,¡± Gerald retorted. But Max chuckled.


    ¡°Why? I thought for bedroom matters, she wouldn¡¯t be doubted. Didn¡¯t you say that someday, even if you didn¡¯t love her, it would be enough if she could satisfy you in bed? And I thought, Shelma must be good at that,¡± Max said.


    ¡°That was just a youthful fantasy, Max. Stop your nonsense,¡± Gerald snapped, embarrassed by his past words. ¡°So, who is this Ariana?¡±


    ¡°Her twin,¡± Gerald replied tly. But not so with his feelings. Remembering the moment he decided to make Ariana Karenina¡¯s recement made his heart race with longing.


    ¡°Switches bride,¡± Max murmured, making Gerald widen his eyes. Max didn¡¯t say it usingly, but hearing Ariana referred to as a recement bride made Gerald feel furious. ¡°You¡¯re in love with her, aren¡¯t you?¡± he asked again.


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    Max raised an eyebrow again. ¡°I know you love her, G. Your expression changes every time I talk about her. You¡¯re in love with her, just admit it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m in love with her like crazy,¡± Gerald finally admitted. Max smiled happily to hear it, but when he saw Gerald roughly wipe his face, he knew something was wrong.


    ¡°What happened between you two?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Everything happened so quickly and unpredictably. What I wanted, what I expected from her, I couldn¡¯t get it. She did everything opposite of what I imagined for us,¡± Gerald said at length. He didn¡¯t know, he had to talk about it. He had to vent his frustrations. And for some reason, he just told Max everything. Maybe because for him, their closeness was more than just a friendship. And perhaps, unknowingly, Gerald hoped Max would give him advice since the man was experienced in marrying a woman who had once been very reluctant towards him, just like Ariana was now.


    ¡°There¡¯s always a first time for everything, G,¡± Max reminded him.


    ¡°Yes, and I eventually realized that I fell in love with the wrong woman. Because let alone reciprocating my feelings, she heartlessly killed our child. She killed the baby inside her without an ounce of guilt. For what? Just to regain her single status and so she could separate from me. In essence, her dreams and my dreams are different,¡± Gerald said passionately.


    Max furrowed his brow and looked at Gerald in disbelief. Was Gerald really in love with a woman so wicked? If that was the case, what was the difference between her and Shelma? But for some reason, Max felt doubt in Gerald¡¯s conviction.


    ¡°We¡¯re in the process of getting a divorce,¡± Gerald said, bringing Max back to his senses. ¡°She filed for it right after we received Axel¡¯s adoption papers.¡±


    ¡°So fast?¡± Max asked incredulously.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes. From the beginning, she never wanted to get married. And I forced her into a marriage she never wanted. I tied her down, in an unconventional way,¡± he said softly.


    Max furrowed his brow again. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked, confused.


    ¡°I kidnapped her father just so she would agree to stand at the altar in her sister¡¯s ce,¡± he said. ¡°You what?¡± Max looked at his friend in disbelief.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re not deaf, Max,¡± Gerald snorted. He knew his friend might judge him, but strangely, the man burst outughing.

 Chap 150: Gina Nakagawa Cariann

    ¡°I¡¯m crazy,¡± Max said, shaking his head. Gerald winced upon hearing it.


    ¡°I thought before, when you said he was the twin brother of your runaway fianc¨¦e, he did it-at least under pressure, but it was his parents¡¯ pressure. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d stoop so low, G.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know the whole story,¡± Gerald replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know she existed before that day if she hadn¡¯te to the Brooks residence.¡± And so Gerald spilled the entire story: his desire for her at first sight, his passion when he saw her anger, how he incited Brooks to exploit her weakness, which turned out to be her own father. He also told Max how they officially became husband and wife in bed, about Gerald learning about Ariana¡¯s past, and Ariana discovering his. His dreams, aspirations, everything he had never revealed to any woman before.


    ¡°You¡¯ve truly be a love ve,¡± Max interjected during his story.


    ¡°Now she¡¯s handing me a nuclear bomb. She openly stated that she doesn¡¯t want a child in her body because it belongs to her, and then she demands I set her free. I feel manipted,¡± Gerald said resignedly.


    Max furrowed his brow again. ¡°Something feels off about all this, G,¡± he said.


    ¡°What¡¯s off? Everything is clear, out in the open. From the beginning, she never wanted me. Especially when that scoundrel came back, she was more than willing to be with him. And when he left, she probably wanted to chase after him. I tied her down at the wrong time. If that scoundrel hade after our child was born, I swear, even if Ariana didn¡¯t want me, I would¡¯ve bound that child to me,¡± he cursed.


    ¡°Who¡¯s the scoundrel you¡¯re talking about? Do I know him?¡± Max inquired.


    ¡°Know him? Of course, you know him,¡± he said harshly. ¡°Chris Alessandro. The bastard who always disrupts my life just like Shelma.¡±


    Max widened his eyes, then burst intoughter.


    ¡°What are youughing at, bastard?¡± Gerald asked angrily. But Max didn¡¯t stopughing; in fact, heughed even louder.


    ¡°Bro, do you forget who Chris is?¡± Max asked, wiping the corner of his eye from tears ofughter. ¡°I¡¯m not senile; I know he¡¯s from the Alessandro lineage.¡±


    Gerald waved him off. ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean,¡± he said. He took a sip of the water on the table, opened the bottle cap, drank a quarter of it, and then spoke again. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what they¡¯re saying about Chris?¡± he asked, which Gerald answered with a shake of his head. ¡°Chris Alessandro is a gay. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t want to stay in US, because he¡¯s avoiding his father. He doesn¡¯t want his family and his father¡¯s clients to hear about that scandal.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke!¡± Gerald said, irritated. Sexual deviation wasn¡¯t something to joke about.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°I¡¯m not joking,¡± Max said. ¡°One of our friends saw him sleeping naked with another man in his t. What do you think they were doing? You and I have never slept naked together, right?¡±


    Gerald shuddered in disgust. Imagining being with a naked man next to him made him feel nauseous and want to vomit immediately.


    ¡°Chris is a gay. People assumed he liked you, that¡¯s why he always bothered you. I thought you knew that, considering how much you¡¯ve disliked him all this time,¡± Max said loudly.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t like him because he always sabotaged my dates,¡± Gerald gritted his teeth. ¡°Damn it!¡± he eximed. ¡°So, all this time, he teased my dates because he liked me? Not them?¡± Max shrugged. ¡°Damn it!¡± Gerald eximed again. ¡°If he really is a gAriana, it means Ariana fell in love with the wrong man.¡± Gerald ruffled his hair roughly. ¡°This can¡¯t happen. If Ariana is determined to chase after that man and finds out he¡¯s not a normal man, she¡¯ll be devastated.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want your Ariana to be sad? Even though she¡¯s hurt you?¡± Max asked, curious. Gerald understood the meaning behind the question and felt no need to answer it. Max nced at his watch. ¡°I think I¡¯ve been here for too long. I have to go; Gina might be angry waiting for me. We¡¯ll continue our meetingter because I¡¯ll be in Indonesia for some time. And you, I don¡¯t care; I promised Gina I¡¯d introduce her to your wife. So, in any way, you have to make them meet. Otherwise, the agreement we¡¯re going to sign next week is off,¡± Max threatened his friend.


    Gerald looked at Max with disbelief. His friend never involved personal matters withpany affairs. ¡°You can¡¯t act like this, Max. It¡¯s not fair to me,¡± he pleaded. He wasn¡¯t ashamed anymore; Max already knew the extent of his ws since the beginning.


    Max shrugged again. ¡°All¡¯s fair in love and war,¡± he said before leaving.


    ¡°You can meet her at her restaurant without me,¡± Gerald said loudly. ¡°Gina can meet her at her restaurant without me. Go to Leonida¡¯s. Find its owner. You¡¯ll meet her there,¡± Gerald said.


    Max furrowed his brow, then nodded his head. Gerald¡¯s suggestion wasn¡¯t a bad idea to try. After all, he didn¡¯t want to hurt his friend any further. Max could clearly see how frustrated Gerald was at the moment.


    *****


    Leonida¡¯s was bustling, as usual. It inevitably made Ariana proud. She sat in her chair on the restaurant¡¯s upper floor and looked down. All the tables were upied by customers. A knock on the door diverted Ariana¡¯s attention. ¡°Come in,¡± she called to whoever was outside.


    ¡°Ariana, sorry,¡± Amber appeared with a panicked expression. ¡°A kid threw up, and the downstairs restroom is full. I brought her here to clean up. I hope you don¡¯t mind,¡± Amber said again. Ariana nodded her head, and then a white-skinned woman with nted eyes walked shyly behind Amber.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± the woman said in fluent English. ¡°My child threw up, and I didn¡¯t want to make other restaurant customers feel disgusted. I asked for a private room to change our clothes.¡± She spoke hesitantly, still in English.


    Ariana smiled. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can use this room,¡± Ariana said understandingly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go back downstairs,¡± Amber said. ¡°I¡¯ll tell her husband to bring the change of clothes he asked for here.¡± Ariana only nodded upon hearing Amber¡¯s words. She then guided the woman to enter her room. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry,¡± the woman said apologetically. Ariana just smiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s really fine,¡± she said. Ariana approached them and looked at the handsome baby in the woman¡¯s arms. The baby clearly didn¡¯t resemble his mother at all, with his reddish-white skin typical of Europeans. His eyes were green, and his hair was blonde. ¡°He¡¯s very handsome,¡± Ariana praised sincerely. The baby reminded her of Axel. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± she asked the woman, who was most likely of Asian descent.


    ¡°Kenzo


    Alessandro Cariann,¡± the woman said proudly. ¡°My husband is of Spanish descent,¡± she continued. ¡°My name is Gina Nakagawa Cariann.¡±

 Chap 151 : Fit To Be a Mother

    ¡°Kenzo, the handsome baby,¡± praised Ariana again. The woman smiled, whispering her thanks. ¡°I¡¯m Ariana,¡± she introduced herself.


    ¡°Are you the owner of this restaurant?¡± Gina asked again, curious. Ariana nodded. ¡°I thought the owner would be a woman in her forties or older. But it turns out you¡¯re still very young,¡± she said, impressed. Ariana just smiled in response. Another knock sounded, and Ariana asked the person outside toe in. A tall, handsome man with dark brown hair and thick eyebrows looked inside with confusion.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Darling, I¡¯m here,¡± Gina said instantly and approached the door. The man handed a bag to Gina but his eyes kept wandering back to Ariana with a perplexed look. ¡°Can my husbande in?¡± the woman asked Ariana for permission. Ariana nodded, and the man then stepped inside Ariana¡¯s room. ¡°This is my husband, Maximilian Cariann,¡± Gina introduced warmly. Ariana smiled again, extending her hand politely.


    ¡°Ariana Leonidas,¡± she said, stating her full name.


    ¡°I thought the owner of this restaurant would be older, but it turns out she¡¯s young and beautiful. Isn¡¯t she?¡± Gina asked her husband enthusiastically.


    Max continued to observe Ariana, but he nodded in response to his wife. ¡°What should I do?¡± he asked his wife. ¡°Can I change Ken¡¯s clothes? Do you need help with that?¡± he asked again.


    The beautiful woman with straight ck hair shook her head. ¡°Just wait for us outside. I¡¯ll join you after cleaning up Kenzo and, of course, changing my own clothes,¡± she said gently.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to wait outside,¡± Ariana said then. ¡°You can wait for your wife here if you want.¡± She gestured that she didn¡¯t mind.


    ¡°Do you mind?¡± Max asked, curious. Ariana shook her head, indicating that she was fine with it.


    ¡°Come on, the bathroom is right here,¡± Ariana took the bag from Gina¡¯s hand and guided her to another door leading to her private bathroom. ¡°The bathroom is over there,¡± Ariana then pointed to the bathroom door and ced the baby¡¯s necessities on her bed. The woman nodded and entered the bathroom.


    Ariana was about to leave the room, but fearing the woman might have trouble, she mustered the courage to approach the bathroom. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, there are no facilities for changing babies here,¡± Ariana said shyly. She knew that abroad, or in most ces in the city, there were dedicated nurse rooms for babies and nursing mothers.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± the woman said, who then sat on the closed toilet. She then ced the baby on herp and started to undress the baby, chatting with the baby, making himugh. Seeing this, Ariana couldn¡¯t help but smile and feel a pang of jealousy.


    ¡°You¡¯re very skillful,¡± Ariana blurted out suddenly. Gina raised her head and looked at Ariana in confusion. Although her hands were busy wetting a cloth and wiping the baby¡¯s body covered in milk. ¡°I mean, judging by the way you and your husband are dressed, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not ordinary people. And from what I usually know, most wealthy wives prefer to leave childcare to babysitters rather than taking care of it themselves. Sorry, don¡¯t be offended,¡± Ariana quickly added.


    Gina, who had efficiently cleaned Kenzo, brought the baby back to her chest and left the bathroom. ¡°No, I¡¯m not offended. It¡¯s true. But you should know, before I married my husband, I was just a regr postal office worker¡¯s daughter in Japan. I¡¯ve been independent since I was a child, and taking care of Kenzo with my own hands is a joy,¡± the woman said with a smile on her face. ¡°Is it alright if Iy Kenzo on the bed?¡± she asked Ariana. Ariana hesitated for a moment but then nodded her head.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Gina said as sheid Kenzo on the bed. The toddler¡¯s hands and feet couldn¡¯t stay still. It seemed like the lively baby was trying to turn over. ¡°It must be delightful to see him grow every day,¡± Ariana mumbled unconsciously. Gina, who was taking out clean clothes from her child¡¯s bag, momentarily stopped her movements.


    ¡°Yes, it is,¡± she said joyfully. ¡°I wasn¡¯t very sure about getting married at first. Especially since my husband was a yboy, it made me hesitate even more to ept his proposal,¡± she said without being asked. ¡°Our past wasn¡¯t smooth either. Don¡¯t tell him, but I used to be his betting chip,¡± she whispered.


    Ariana widened her eyes, looking at the woman in disbelief. She then nced at the open bedroom door and saw her husband standing near Ariana¡¯s chair, gazing out the window. Perhaps observing the visitors down there, just like Ariana usually did. She looked back at Gina, who was now applying baby oil on Kenzo¡¯s body, probably a kind of ointment simr to what Indonesians called ¡°telon.¡±


    ¡°We were separated for years until an unexpected event happened. He and I were reunited in a construction project, and he suddenly became my superior. You know, like the CEO-themed romances we often read in novels, that was my life before. Maybe it still is now,¡± she continued, shrugging nonchntly. The woman put new clothes on Kenzo, making the baby look even more handsome and adorable. ¡°I have to clean my clothes. Do you mind watching Kenzo for a while?¡± she asked Ariana. Ariana hesitated for a moment but then nodded her head.


    ¡°Can I hold him?¡± she asked a step after Gina walked towards the bathroom.


    Gina turned, smiled, and then nodded. ¡°Sure, but don¡¯tin if you find him heavy,¡± she said. Ariana smiled and nodded. Then she carefully tried to lift Kenzo with both her hands. Her left hand supported the baby¡¯s neck, and her right hand supported his chubby bottom.


    ¡°Hi, Kenzo. This is Aunt Ariana,¡± she whispered. The baby responded to her greeting by spitting something from his mouth. Ariana chuckled with amusement. ¡°If only Axel were here, he would have liked you too. Axel really wants a little sibling,¡± Ariana said again. Kenzoughed again. His chubby little hands reached upward. Ariana brought her face closer, and the baby¡¯s pudgy hands squeezed her cheeks on both sides. Arianaughed again, feeling fondness for the baby.


    ¡°You¡¯re perfect as a mother,¡± Gina said, who had returned from the bathroom.


    Ariana smiled. ¡°I hope so,¡± she said softly. ¡°My son says he wants a baby sibling.¡± She said without looking at Gina and chose to focus on Kenzo instead.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re married?¡± the woman asked, wanting to know. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m asking because I didn¡¯t see a ring on your finger. And at a nce around this room, I didn¡¯t see any photos indicating a ¡®personal figure¡¯ in your life,¡± she continued.


    Ariana just smiled at her observation. The woman was indeed very observant. Ariana had previously ced a photo on her nightstand. A picture of herself, Axel, and Gerald taken from her phone, which she had printed and put in a frame


    . But Ariana hid the photo in a drawer because she didn¡¯t want to remember the sweet memories she would soon leave behind.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m married and have a son,¡± she said then. ¡°How old is your son?¡± she asked, wanting to know.


    ¡°Five years old, turning six next year,¡± Ariana answered with a smile on her face.


    The Japanese woman¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re young, but your son is already five years old?¡± she asked in disbelief. She instantly covered her mouth and looked at Ariana with embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Ariana replied. She refocused her attention on Kenzo. ¡°So, you got married young?¡± the woman asked again, curious.

 Chap 152 : Defect

    Ariana shook her head. ¡°I got married a few months ago,¡± she admitted.


    Gina¡¯s forehead wrinkled again. The woman looked at Ariana in disbelief. ¡°So, you married a widower with a child?¡± she asked, curious.


    Ariana raised the corner of her mouth. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± she said softly.


    ¡°Do you really love him so much to marry him?¡± Gina inquired. Ariana responded with a smile once again. ¡°As far as I know, marrying a widower, especially one with a child, is not easy. This is Indonesia, not a Western country that easily epts the status of a man or a woman. What I know about this country is the social perception of those who are widowed or widowers, virgins or not. Am I wrong?¡± the woman asked hesitantly.


    Ariana smiled again. ¡°No, you¡¯re not wrong. Some people-somemunities do indeed make a big deal out of such things. But others-those with open minds, don¡¯t see it as a problem,¡± she replied. ¡°And to answer your first question, yes, I love them very much. My husband and my child. I love both of them deeply,¡± Ariana answered confidently.


    Ariana could see a wide smile spread across Gina¡¯s Oriental face. ¡°I can see it,¡± she said. ¡°So, because I see you love the little one so much, does that mean you wouldn¡¯t mind having your husband and your child as adorable babies like Kenzo?¡±


    Ariana smiled. ¡°If only I could, I would love to do that,¡± she said, her eyes wandering.


    ¡°Why? What are you doubting?¡± Gina asked. The woman now sat beside Ariana, letting Ariana still hold Kenzo with both hands. ¡°Are you afraid of giving birth?¡± she asked. Gina then shrugged nonchntly.


    ¡°Okay, I have to admit that being pregnant and giving birth is not pleasant. Morning sickness, continuous dizziness, not to mention the back and waist pain when the belly gets big, and swollen feet. Plus, your face will change due to hormonal effects,¡± the woman shuddered.


    ¡°Being a pregnant woman feels like being the ugliest woman in the world. Afraid that our husbands would turn to other women because we can¡¯t fulfill their needs and look unattractive in their eyes. And the moments of giving birth¡­¡± the woman fell silent.


    ¡°I can¡¯t say it¡¯s not painful. People say giving birth is a battle between life and death, it¡¯s not a lie. But hearing the baby¡¯s first cry, then when they put the baby on your chest for early breastfeeding initiation. All that pain, those exhausting months disappear. Even when the paramedics are stitching you up,¡± she pointed to Ariana¡¯s lower body. ¡°The pain doesn¡¯t make you lose focus on this divine gift,¡± she said, stroking Kenzo¡¯s eyebrows with her index finger. ¡°And spending days with them from morning till night, makes you fall more and more in love and amazed at God¡¯s miracles,¡± she continued.


    Ariana just smiled listening to the woman¡¯s story. Afraid? Yes, that¡¯s what she felt. But not afraid of the pain Gina described. Afraid of the fate of the child in her womb. Kenzo was incredibly lucky to have a mother who praised him so much. But what if her unborn baby¡¯s fate was the same as his older brother, Axel¡¯s? What if the baby inside her couldn¡¯t get his love because God took him away?


    ¡°What makes you hesitate?¡± the woman asked again, bringing Ariana¡¯s attention back to the present.


    Ariana handed Kenzo to his mother. ¡°Nothing makes me hesitate,¡± she said then. Unconsciously, she stroked her stomach, whispering the best prayers for her baby in her heart. Gina noticed the movement. The woman looked at Ariana with a wrinkled forehead.


    ¡°Are you pregnant?¡± she asked hesitantly. Ariana winced, then nodded. A smile formed on her face. ¡°How many months? You look small for a pregnant woman,¡± she said.


    Ariana stroked her stomach again. ¡°Twelve weeks,¡± she said.


    Gina was wide-eyed again. ¡°You didn¡¯t experience morning sickness?¡± she asked, curious. Ariana shook her head. ¡°Lucky you. Just feeling tired, hungry, and sleepy. Besides that, this baby is really good to me,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Your husband?¡± Gina asked again. Ariana looked at her puzzled. ¡°When I was pregnant with Kenzo, I was just like you. No morning sickness. But him,¡± Gina nodded her head towards the door. ¡°He had severe morning sickness. Even up to a week before I gave birth, he still vomited and felt nauseous in the morning,¡± she said.


    ¡°Really?¡± Ariana asked curiously. Gina nodded.


    ¡°My mother-inw said it¡¯s not umon. While for me, I just considered it some sort of karma for him,¡± she said,ughing. ¡°I¡¯m grateful that God gave him morning sickness; at least he could feel that being a pregnant woman is not that enjoyable.¡± She continued. ¡°During my pregnancy, what he liked was sleeping on myp every morning. Or else, he would sniff my scent. You know, hugging the clothes I wore? Disgusting, right?¡± Gina teased with her unique chuckle. Arianaughed along.


    ¡°Weird,¡± she replied, agreeing. Then she remembered the moment when she didn¡¯t know about her pregnancy. Gerald¡¯s strange behavior. When she saw him nauseous and dizzy and thought he just caught a cold. Gerald hugged her and asked her to wipe his forehead. The man then calmed down. And Ariana also remembered when he wanted something that should have been asked by a young pregnant woman. Mrs. Rosaline then suspected that Ariana was pregnant. And she finally knew. The fact that gave her two conflicting feelings.


    She wasn¡¯t-wasn¡¯t ready to be a mother, but she was happy because God entrusted her to be a perfect woman. And then, she felt afraid. Because her condition wasn¡¯t a normal woman¡¯s condition ready to conceive and give birth. Although from the outside she seemed fine, but not from the inside. Not mentally, but physically. She was wed. Yes, that was the fact. Although she didn¡¯t want to admit it from the beginning, but now she knew for sure that she wasn¡¯t healthy. Death haunted her and her baby.


    ¡°Honey, are you done?¡± a voice at the door made both of them turn simultaneously. Gina¡¯s husband appeared at the doorway, looking at his wife inquisitively.


    Gina nodded her head. The woman quickly got up from her seat and grabbed her child¡¯s belongings. Before the bag was ced on her shoulder, Ariana took over and carried it to the door, handing it to Gina¡¯s husband.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said sincerely. Ariana just nodded.


    Gina then extended her free hand and touched Ariana¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I really like you, you know?¡± she said, which Ariana answered with a smile. ¡°I hope we can meet again, is that possible?¡± she asked hopefully.


    Ariana smiled and nodded. ¡°You know where to find me,¡± she said as an answer.


    ¡°Oh, of course, even if I can¡¯t find you here, my husband can find thousands of waysR¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    to find you. You know, he¡¯s a mafia,¡± the woman said with a mocking tone that made Ariana chuckle. Meanwhile, her husband could only roll his eyes in exasperation.

 Chap 153 : Why Him

    ¡°Enjoy your dinner,¡± he said again. Gina nodded, kissing Ariana¡¯s cheeks before walking towards the exit, apanied by her husband who held her back protectively.


    ¡°If only I were normal too, Gerald and I would look as happy as that couple,¡± Ariana thought to herself. She returned to her seat by the window, gazing at the view below. Soon, she saw the couple returning to their seats, cing the baby back in the stroller adorned with special toys. How beautiful, she murmured to herself.


    Reluctant to witness the intimacy that made her jealous, Ariana chose to leave the restaurant. The silence of her apartment could be her sce, though it didn¡¯t diminish her longing for Axel and Gerald. What was her husband doing right now? Did he miss her too? One thing Ariana was certain of, he must hate her deeply at this moment.


    A knock on the door woke Ariana from her sleep. She nced at the clock on the wall and saw it was two in the morning. Who could it be? If it was Amber, her cousin wouldn¡¯t be knocking on the door at this hour.


    Ariana put on her night robe and left her room. ¡°Amber?¡± she called out. Ariana saw her cousin¡¯s door closed and the lights off. She walked over to check; Amber wasn¡¯t there.


    Ariana then walked to the front door, peering through the peephole to see who was knocking. If it was a strange and unfamiliar person, she would call her apartment security. To her surprise, the person outside was Gerald. Oh God, what was he doing here at this hour of the morning?


    ¡°Ariana! Open the door!¡± he shouted loudly. He harshly shook the door handle. Ariana was puzzled. She was reluctant to open the door, but if Gerald continued standing and shouting outside, her neighbors would surelye out andin. Ariana didn¡¯t want that to happen.


    Ariana slipped the door chain and then opened it to a maximum gap. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Ariana asked, her tone sharp.


    Gerald looked up. His eyes were red, and his breath reeked of strong alcohol. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Aarzu,¡± he said, waving his hand. ¡°Or should I say, ¡®future ex¡¯ Mrs. Aarzu?¡± he sneered.


    ¡°Go away, Gerald. Don¡¯t create a scene here,¡± Ariana ordered. She still hesitated to fully open the door. However, upon hearing hermand, Gerald leaned against the wall next to the door.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that easy to get rid of me, Darling. I¡¯m the one who brought you into my life. And I¡¯ll be the one to kick you out if I want. But not now,¡± he said, his voice slurred.


    ¡°How much have you been drinking, Gerald?¡± Ariana asked again. Instead of answering, Gerald forcefully pushed the door.


    ¡°Unlock this damn door or I¡¯ll break it down!¡± he said angrily.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you in,¡± Ariana replied firmly. ¡°Where¡¯s Vivan? She should have taken you home instead of letting you wander around like a madman.¡± She scolded. Ariana didn¡¯t open the door; instead, she walked back to her room and searched for her phone. She intended to call Vivan. However, the sound of the door being smashed made Ariana turn back. Gerald had managed to forcibly remove the door chain lock. The chain now hung weakly by the door. ¡°You! What are you doing! You¡¯re damaging property, and I can sue you for that,¡± Ariana said angrily.


    Instead of answering, Gerald kicked Ariana¡¯s apartment door roughly. ¡°I told you to open it, but you ignored it,¡± he said angrily. He then walked closer to Ariana. stumbling over the sofa, groaning, and rubbing his foot before kicking the sofa violently. Seeing this, Ariana tried to suppress herughter.


    ¡°What do you want, Gerald?¡± Ariana asked again. This time, she felt afraid; she saw anger in Gerald¡¯s face. Who knew what a drunken man might do? What if he decided to torment her as an outlet for his rage?


    Gerald approached, and Ariana stepped back until she realized she was trapped beside her bed. With lightning speed, Gerald reached out and grabbed Ariana, hugging her tightly and burying his head in the crook of Ariana¡¯s neck, inhaling her scent as if he were thirsty. ¡°I miss you. I love you. Pleasee back. I forgive you even though you aborted our baby. Let¡¯s consider it wasn¡¯t meant to be. Please, Ariana,e back to me. I can¡¯t lose you,¡± he said rapidly.


    Ariana was torn. She missed him too. Her desire to embrace Gerald was as strong as his. But she tried to resist.


    Gerald slowly loosened his grip. His hands moved to hold Ariana¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to go to Chris. If you truly love a man, don¡¯t love him. He doesn¡¯t deserve your love,¡± he said with a sharp gaze fixed on Ariana.


    ¡°Why? Because he¡¯s your rival?¡± Ariana asked mockingly.


    ¡°Damn it! Not because of that,¡± he said. Ariana could see the conflict in his face. ¡°All I know is if you love him, he won¡¯t love you,¡± he said earnestly. ¡°Is that true? Why? Am I not attractive enough to be loved?¡±


    ¡°Damn it, Ariana! Not that!¡± He then raised both his hands and cupped Ariana¡¯s face gently. ¡°You are very attractive, very beautiful, very kind, and very worthy of love. But that bastard doesn¡¯t deserve your love.¡±


    ¡°Why? Because you think you¡¯re more deserving of being loved?¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°Yes! No?¡± he said hesitantly. ¡°I know I¡¯m a bastard too. I know I cheated on you. And I don¡¯t deserve your love. But I hope you can love me,¡± he said loudly.


    ¡®I already love you so much without you asking, Gerald,¡¯ Ariana said in her heart. ¡°But Chris. Why do you have to fall in love with that gay man?¡± she said harshly.


    Ariana frowned. How did Gerald know? Who told him that secret? Even though Ariana didn¡¯t believe her friend¡¯s confession.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you fall in love with a normal man?¡±


    ¡°If I fall in love with a normal man, will you let me go?¡± Ariana challenged.


    Gerald stared in shock. He released his hands from Ariana¡¯s face and said firmly, ¡°No! I won¡¯t let you marry anyone.¡± He threatened. ¡°Anyone who tries to get close to you or you try to approach. I¡¯ll make that man leave you. Whatever it takes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re cruel!¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am cruel. And you made me a viin,¡± Gerald said passionately. He grabbed Ariana¡¯s arm again and squeezed it gently. ¡°Come back to me, to us. Axel and I need you,¡± he said. But Ariana shook her head.


    ¡°From the beginning, all of this was wrong,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll fix everything from the beginning. What do you want? A proper proposal? I¡¯ll do it to your father. I¡¯ll ask him for you. Then what? Wedding party? How grand do you  want it? Who do you want to invite? Which celebrities do you want to invite? Where do you want to go for our honeymoon? Whatever it is, I¡¯ll do it for you,¡± Gerald promised.

 Chap 154 : I’m Not Drunk

    Ariana swallowed hard in distress. Why did Gerald have to promise her all those beautiful things? Why did he have to offer something irresistible to women? Why was he so in love with her? Why didn¡¯t Gerald want to lose her? These questions flooded her mind, creating a strong pulse there.


    ¡°Please,¡± the man pleaded. His hands reached for Ariana¡¯s arms and squeezed them gently. Then, he lifted Ariana¡¯s hand to ce it on his broad shoulder. He then cupped Ariana¡¯s face with both of his hands, running his thumb over her jaw. ¡°I love you, Ariana. Can¡¯t that reason make you stay by my side?¡± he asked again. ¡°Or should I beg you to stay?¡± The man touched his forehead to Ariana¡¯s. Ariana could faintly smell the mixture of perfume, body odor, and alcohol.


    Gerald brought his face closer to Ariana¡¯s. His breath brushed against her face. His lips neared Ariana¡¯s, causing her heart to beat faster involuntarily. Gerald then touched his lips to Ariana¡¯s. Warmth. That¡¯s what Ariana felt. Oh God, how she missed the sensation of his lips.


    Seeing that Ariana did not resist his lips, Gerald became bolder, kissing her even more deeply. Ariana weed it until she felt her heart racing, making it difficult for her to breathe.


    Ariana tried to push Gerald¡¯s body away, but he seemed reluctant toply with Ariana¡¯smand. He continued to try to kiss her until Ariana pushed him away with the remaining strength she had.


    ¡°Go away, Gerald!¡± Ariana said with a gasping breath, an effect, Gerald assumed, of their recent kiss. Part of it was true, but another part was due to different reasons.


    Gerald tried to approach again, intending to persuade Ariana, but she grabbed his arm and squeezed it tightly as a form of defense.


    The tightness and the umting pain in her chest caused Ariana to finally copse in front of her husband.


    ¡°Ariana?¡± Gerald called her name. However, Ariana seemed unfocused on him. Her eyes closed and opened slowly. The grip of her hand on his arm was quite strong.


    ¡°Ariana?¡± Gerald called her name again, but somehow, Ariana fell into his arms. ¡°Ariana?!¡± Gerald shouted loudly. His hands gently pped Ariana¡¯s cheeks, trying to wake her up. But she didn¡¯t respond at all.


    ¡°Ariana, don¡¯t make me panic,¡± Gerald said. It was evident that he was genuinely scared at this moment. He quickly stood up, carrying Ariana in his arms. Instead ofying her on the bed, he carried her out of the unit and continued taking her out of the apartment.


    Gerald¡¯s private driver promptly opened the back door upon seeing Gerald exit the basement elevator. ¡°To the hospital, quickly!¡± hemanded, answered by the driver¡¯s nod. ¡°Ariana, darling, wake up. What happened to you?¡± The man spoke softly, full of plea.


    If Ariana suspected Gerald came to her apartment drunk, she was mistaken. As Max had mentioned earlier, the longer one drinks, the higher the alcohol content in the body, not the other way around. Gerald had deliberatelye to Ariana¡¯s residence pretending to be drunk, hoping for her pity. Or perhaps he used alcohol as a shield for his courage? The bottom line was that Gerald could no longer contain his longing for Ariana.


    The hospital was now in sight. The driver stopped the car in front of the emergency entrance. Gerald again carried Ariana with both hands and walked inside. A man in a white uniform approached and pushed a bed towards Gerald. ¡°She suddenly passed out, I don¡¯t know why,¡± he said, met with a scoff from the male nurse. Clearly, the nurse must have caught a whiff of alcohol on him. ¡°I¡¯m not drunk! Quickly, take action!¡± Gerald snapped at the nurse.


    The nurse swiftly pushed Ariana¡¯s bed. A woman in scrubs approached. She looked at Ariana and then Gerald alternately. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Gerald grumbled. ¡°She¡¯s the one you should examine, not me!¡± He scolded harshly as the woman remained silent. ¡°Are you a new doctor?¡± Gerald askedter when he noticed the woman trembling in fear. ¡°Summon a more senior doctor!¡± He shouted at anyone in the room, immediately drawing the attention of many. ¡°I don¡¯t want my wife to be handled by someone ipetent!¡± He emphasized, more directed at the young doctor.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    A man in scrubs approached and then stared at the figure lying with widened eyes. ¡°Step aside,¡± he said roughly, then examined the patient¡¯s condition. The man leaned his head against Ariana¡¯s chest while his right hand felt her wrist and pressed his index and middle fingers on her pulse. Afterward, he put on a stethoscope and ced the diaphragm on Ariana¡¯s chest, listening for a moment while shifting the round object several times. Then, he took a small shlight from his pocket and opened Ariana¡¯s eyes.


    The young male doctor, just like the young female doctor, gave instructions to the nurse and ordered her to take Ariana to the ICCU (Intensive Coronary Care Unit).


    ¡°Are you a family member of the patient?¡± the doctor asked coldly.


    ¡°Her husband,¡± Gerald replied just as coldly.


    The doctor seemed to lift the corner of his mouth in a mocking manner. ¡°You better clean yourself before apanying the patient in the ICCU, Sir.¡± It wasn¡¯t a suggestion but amand. Unwillingly, Gerald had to admit that what the man said wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°But before that, you can register her at the administration desk,¡± he continued and then walked away without another word.


    For the first time in his life, Gerald received rude treatment from a man. However, he also knew he was at fault, as the doctor likely assumed he was currently drunk, given the strong smell of alcohol emanating from his clothes. Damn it, even though he bought expensive drinks, why did the scent still seem cheap?


    Gerald walked towards the administration. Usually, in times like this, he would rely on Vivan or Yosef, but since both were absent, Gerald had to do it himself. He called his driver to bring the spare clothes he kept in the car¡¯s trunk and instructed him to bring them into the hospital. Afterward, he asked about the location of a public bathroom and cleaned himself there. And again, for the first time in his life, he hurriedly showered in a public restroom much smaller than the luxurious bath in his home.


    Gerald was now wearing a long-sleeved shirt and jeans. He walked towards the ICCU, but overheard the grumpy doctor instructing a nurse to take Ariana. Gerald was told to put on sterile clothing before entering. Inside, he could see Ariana lying with an oxygen mask covering her nose and mouth. Various devices were attached and peeking out from beneath her clothes. The nightgown she had worn earlier was reced with a in pajama with buttons in the front. A monitor was also installed on the right side of her bed, and an IV was attached to her left arm. Gerald furrowed his brow. What happened to Ariana? Just a while ago, his wife seemed perfectly fine. Why was she now being treated like a patient in distress?


    Doctor Akara reentered the room. ¡°You look fresher,¡± he said tly, whether intending to mock or genuinelypliment Gerald. ¡°Is your mind also free from alcohol now?¡± he asked, and this time there was clearly a hint of disdain in his tone.


    ¡°I¡¯m not drunk,¡± Gerald retorted sharply. He radiated a clear sense of hostility toward the young doctor.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s good then,¡± the doctor said again, ncing once more at the papers on the clipboard in his hand.


    ¡°What happened to my wife?¡± Gerald finally asked, growing weary of the silence in the room.


    The doctor looked at Gerald with confusion. Of course, as a doctor, the young man found it strange to hear a husband who didn¡¯t know what had happened to his wife. Especially considering it wasn¡¯t the first time Ariana had been admitted to the hospital for the same reason. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± the doctor asked, puzzled.

 Chap 155 : Child

    ¡°I won¡¯t ask if I already know. I¡¯m not someone who pretends to be foolish,¡± Gerald snapped.


    ¡°Yes, but it seems like you enjoy pretending to be drunk in front of a woman with a heart condition. Why? To make her anxious and die in front of you?¡±


    ¡°He-heart condition?¡± Gerald stuttered momentarily. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± he asked, confused.


    ¡°Yes. Your wife has a congenital heart disease. She suffers from atrial fibrition, a condition where the heart beats faster and irregrly,¡± the young doctor exined.


    ¡°Ho-how is that possible?¡± Gerald asked, bewildered.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°From the patient¡¯s history, this happens due to gic factors,¡± the doctor said again. ¡°History?¡± Gerald mentioned one word that seemed ambiguous to him.


    ¡°Yes, Sir. History. Because this is not the first time she has been admitted to this hospital in the same condition,¡± the doctor continued. ¡°The previous patient experienced dizziness, shortness of breath, and chest pain that made her faint. Fortunately, the patient did not suffer cardiac arrest because if she had, the person you brought here today would not be a patient anymore, but a corpse,¡± he said curtly. Gerald clenched his jaw and clenched his hands tightly. He clearly didn¡¯t like the young doctor¡¯s know-it-all attitude in front of him. However, he really needed further exnation from the man whom Gerald had to admit seemed talented in his field.


    ¡°Please,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°Tell me clearly, what is her actual condition?¡± Among all the people he had ever worked with, this was the first time Gerald Aarzu Zeroun had asked for help from someone he didn¡¯t know.


    Doctor Akara Reynard then exined everything he knew about Ariana¡¯s condition. He was specifically instructed by his mentor to monitor Ariana¡¯s progress and handle her case if she had to return to the hospital.


    Akara wanted to act professionally. But considering he had a sibling who also had a congenital condition since birth, Akara was reluctant to keep a secret about someone close to the patient. Regret was something he was reluctant to burden others with. And as a man, even though he was considered meddling in someone else¡¯s rtionship, he knew that if the man truly loved the woman, he should stand by her in her toughest times. The woman might refuse, reluctant to be pitied, but Akara knew that deep down in women¡¯s hearts, they wanted the man they loved to be there to strengthen them.


    ¡°S-so, she¡¯s pregnant.¡±


    ¡°Yes. And it¡¯s risky for her own physical condition,¡± Akara said firmly. ¡°Patients with a history like your wife should have received treatment beforehand before deciding to get pregnant if she didn¡¯t want it to affect her own life. Because if she¡¯s pregnant, the effects are not only on the patient but also on the baby in her womb. Even a normal woman can suddenly have arrhythmia during pregnancy. Let alone your wife, who already had that condition before.¡±


    ¡°So, she didn¡¯t abort the pregnancy?¡± Gerald asked with an empty stare that made the young doctor roll his eyes.


    ¡°If she had aborted the pregnancy, she wouldn¡¯t be here pregnant, Sir,¡± he said annoyed.


    Gerald then looked at the doctor sharply. ¡°Damn!¡± he cursed. The young doctor clearly widened his eyes, shocked by the man¡¯s curse. ¡°I¡¯m not cursing you, doc. I¡¯m cursing someone else,¡± he said. ¡°Will my wife regain consciousness soon?¡± he asked.


    The doctor looked back at the patient lying on the bed and shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s sleeping now. She might wake up tomorrow morning,¡± he answered confidently.


    Gerald nodded understandingly. ¡°Thank you, Doc. For everything,¡± he said, then shook the doctor¡¯s hand, who looked at him puzzled. ¡°Can you get a nurse to take care of my wife? There¡¯s something I need to do,¡± he said.


    ¡°All the nurses on duty here will take care of your wife without you needing to ask,¡± he replied tly.


    Gerald nodded again. Then after that, he chose to leave the hospital.


    The Zeroun residence appeared serene. Of course. The time showed it was already four in the morning. Everyone was probably still fast asleep until the rooster crowed and woke them up. But the anger Gerald felt right now didn¡¯t allow him to wait until the rooster crowed. Especially not to wait for the sunrise.


    As he entered the house, he shouted. Calling out a name that had been on his mind since he left the hospital.


    The servants who were awakened by the sound of his shouting hurriedly approached their master. ¡°I¡¯m looking for Yosef! Not all of you!¡± he barked at the employees. Meanwhile, the man called Gerald walked with his measured steps. Not long after, the door opened again, and the son who had been called earlier came with clothes that looked more normal than the rest of his servants. ¡°All of you, leave!¡± he snapped at those who were not needed and then walked to the office in a hurry without making sure if the two men behind him were following him or not.


    Gerald walked towards his desk, grabbed something there, and threw it carelessly towards the bookshelf, causing the ss of the bookshelf to shatter into pieces. Scattered on the floor covered with luxurious carpet.


    ¡°Damn!¡± he shouted as he ruffled his hair roughly. ¡°Who ordered you to hide Ariana¡¯s condition from me?!¡± he scolded Vivan and Yosef. Who else but Vivan and Yosef. Both of them seemed to lower their gaze with a nk expression. ¡°Answer!¡± he shouted again. But the two men remained motionless. Gerald walked quickly towards Vivan and grabbed his shirt and gripped it quickly. ¡°Tell me who made you keep your mouth shut and hide all of this from me?¡± he hissed in the younger man¡¯s face. Vivan just stayed silent, clearly wanting to keep his mouth shut. Gerald was infuriated, so in the end, he clenched his hands and punched the handsome man¡¯s face as hard as he could.


    Vivan copsed, falling to the floor a meter away from where he originally stood. The man seemed to wipe his torn and bleeding mouth with his left arm before getting up again and standing while bowing his head.


    ¡°Do you consider my orders all this time a joke?¡± the man asked. Vivan remained silent, and that made Gerald even angrier. ¡°Since when have you known the facts about Ariana?¡± he asked, wanting to know, but Vivan still chose to remain silent. Angry, Gerald then kicked Vivan¡¯s shinbone, making the man¡¯s knees bend, and he stood with both knees on the floor. ¡°I considered you my friend, but do you consider yourself just an employee?¡± Gerald asked cynically. ¡°Am I not valuable enough to know about my wife¡¯s condition, huh?!¡± Gerald shouted in front of the man. Gerald grabbed Vivan¡¯s clothes again with his left hand and clenched his right hand¡¯s fingers. About to hit Vivan¡¯s face for the second time when the door opened, and Mrs. Rosaline appeared. Wearing sleepwear covered with her wide robe. The woman looked at Yosef, Gerald, and then Vivan, who was still kneeling on the floor.


    ¡°Stop, Al!¡± she ordered with her t tone.


    Gerald squint


    ed at his grandmother. But his left hand truly released its grip on Vivan¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°So, Grandma, it was you who ordered this scoundrel to keep quiet?¡± he used. And his grandmother didn¡¯t deny her grandson¡¯s statement. ¡°Why? Why did you do all this?¡± he wanted to know.


    ¡°Because you wanted a child, didn¡¯t you?¡± Mrs. Rosaline countered her grandson.


    ¡°So, because I wanted a child, Grandma wants me to lose the woman I love, is that it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not Grandma¡¯s choice. That¡¯s Ariana¡¯s choice,¡± his grandmother replied firmly.


    Gerald snorted. ¡°Really? Is this Ariana¡¯s wish, or is all of this because Grandma manipted her mind to sacrifice herself for me?¡± he challenged.


    ¡°Gerald!¡±


    Gerald raised the corner of his mouth and looked at his grandmother scornfully. ¡°What else does Grandma want now? An heir? Grandma already has it. There¡¯s me, there¡¯s Axel. What else? What else does Grandma want? Aren¡¯t we enough to satisfy Grandma?¡± he asked, snorting in disgust. ¡°I¡¯ve got Axel for Grandma who wants the Zeroun name to continue. Is that not enough? Does Grandma still want another Axel in this house? Does Grandma want to repeat the same story by creating apetition in this house?¡± he said sharply. ¡°Does Grandma want both Darrel and Gerald in this house?¡±


    Mrs. Rosaline looked at her grandson with a bewildered expression. ¡°Axel might not necessarily be the one who can make the Zeroun name endure,¡± she said in the end.

 Chap 156 : Arrogant Doctor

    Gerald chuckled.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know what Axel will be like in the future. He might follow in his father¡¯s footsteps. Besides, no one knows how smart he¡¯ll be. We need a backup to ensure the Zeroun family survives,¡± the woman replied tly.


    Gerald¡¯s chuckle turned into a boomingughter that sounded more like mockery than genuine happiness.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s fine for me to lose the woman I love as long as Grandma can secure an heir for this rotten family?¡± he sneered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t push it, Gerald!¡± his grandmother snapped, her voice barely contained. The woman clearly stood stiffly before him. Perhaps it was because of Gerald¡¯s loud voice, or maybe one of the servants had awakened her. Because now, behind his grandmother, stood another woman who was the second mistress in the Zeroun household.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Mrs. Isidora asked Gerald with a puzzled look. However, her question was ignored by Gerald and the three others present in the room.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough for all my sacrifices all this time? Is it not enough to confine me to a life I don¡¯t want, Oma?¡± Gerald asked with fiery eyes. ¡°I am here, running thepany and fulfilling my duties as an heir as Grandma wishes, even though it¡¯s not what I truly want. At least, give me credit for my hard work. Give me my Ariana. Why can¡¯t Grandma do that?¡± he used without averting his gaze from Mrs. Rosaline.


    Mrs. Isidora, who tried to process Gerald¡¯s words, now looked back and forth between Gerald and Mrs. Rosaline.


    ¡°I asked you to persuade her,¡± his grandmother reminded.


    Gerald remembered the conversation they had had earlier. Yes, his grandmother had indeed asked him to persuade Ariana again. But back then, his grandmother had remained mysterious. Gerald¡¯sughter grew louder because of it.


    ¡°Fine, Grandma feels remorse in her final moments, doesn¡¯t she? That¡¯s why Grandma asked me to persuade Ariana. Just so I could be with her in what Grandma thinks are her st moments,¡¯ so I wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake my father did with my mother, like that? No wonder Grandma is so sentimental, saying how much Grandma liked myte mother. In reality, that sentimentality stems from Grandma¡¯s guilt for asking Ariana to preserve her pregnancy for the sake of an heir and being willing to sacrifice her life, making her love for me the reason. Like that?¡± Gerald used without shifting his gaze away from Mrs. Rosaline.


    Mrs. Isidora, who attempted toprehend Gerald¡¯s words, now looked at Gerald and Mrs. Rosaline alternately.


    ¡°As long as Grandma knows. To me, that child means nothing because what I want is Ariana. Not a piece of flesh that I don¡¯t even know what it will turn into,¡± he stated firmly. ¡°And never try to persuade Ariana to do something I don¡¯t want to happen. If Grandma influences that woman to run away from me to save that baby, I swear, the Zeroun kingdom that Grandma takes pride in will crumble, leveled to the ground.¡± He threatened. He then looked at Vivan and Yosef alternately. ¡°I thought I could trust you. But it seems¡­¡± Gerald shook his head and swiftly left the room, his steps echoing in the air.


    Ariana slowly opened her eyes. The light from themp above her head blinded her, forcing her to squint and blink to focus her vision again. Ariana tried to move her hands, but she felt something holding her back. She turned and saw Gerald sleeping in a sitting position, his head leaning against the bed, and both his hands holding hers tightly. What was he doing here? She wondered to herself.


    Ariana chose to shift her sleeping position to lie on her right side, leaning toward Gerald. She decided to observe the sleeping man¡¯s face carefully. It had been a long time since Ariana woke up to see Gerald¡¯s face. When she was still living in the Zeroun residence, she used to stare at Gerald¡¯s face when he was still sound asleep.


    She lifted her left hand to brush away the hair that covered Gerald¡¯s forehead. Ariana¡¯s index finger then trailed down his forehead straight to his nose. Unconsciously, her lips curled up into a smile. Her eyesnded on Gerald¡¯s lips, which were slightly reddened, and she smiled again. Last night, those lips had made her heart race. If he did more, would Ariana suffocate? Yes, perhaps. But Ariana was reluctant to find out the truth.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t my face still handsome even when I¡¯m asleep?¡± the question made Ariana¡¯s eyes widen in surprise. Gerald suddenly opened his eyes without changing his sleeping position.


    Ariana quickly pulled her hand away from his grip. Gerald smiled, got up, and straightened his body. He stretched and moved his shoulders and head to relieve the stiffness.


    ¡°Why are you still here?¡± Ariana asked curtly.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Gerald pulled the bottom of the chair and sat closer to Ariana. ¡°If not me, who are you expecting? Your lover is clearly not here, as he ran away to hide, isn¡¯t he?¡± Gerald challenged.


    Ariana narrowed her eyes in annoyance as he stared at her with a mocking expression. ¡°Stop bringing up Chris¡¯s name. I know he¡¯s not what you think. He¡¯s just a regr guy; he¡¯s just lost his way,¡± Ariana defended, remembering their conversation from the previous night.


    Gerald shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t care if he¡¯s normal or not. What I care about now is you and your n to escape from me,¡± Gerald said, his brows furrowing and his sharp eyes fixed on Ariana. ¡°Why did you do something foolish without discussing it with me first, Darling?¡± he asked coldly.


    Ariana clearly understood what he was talking about. However, she chose to feign innocence.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked confusedly.


    Gerald lifted the corner of his mouth. ¡°You clearly know what I mean,¡± he said mockingly. ¡°But it¡¯s okay; let me exin everything to you so that you can understand what I mean.¡± He said. ¡°You, clearly told me that you were aborting our child, but in reality, you were keeping the baby. Why? Did you want to be a hero by making an orphan like me happy by giving me a child?¡± Gerald used with a condemning tone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me if I wanted it or not?¡±


    ¡°You wanted it. You wanted a child. You clearly told me that,¡± Ariana replied softly. ¡°Yes. I did want a child. But from aplete family,¡± she said just as softly.


    Her throat felt constricted just thinking about the possibility of having a child but losing the woman she loved. ¡°I want a child who receives love from both a father and a mother. I do want a biological child, my flesh and blood. But I¡¯d rather not have a child than lose you. Don¡¯t you understand that?¡± Gerald pleaded with a pitiful expression.


    Ariana smiled again. ¡°I understand very well. That¡¯s why I¡¯m doing all this,¡± she replied firmly. ¡°I know that if you knew all the facts about me, you would choose me over this child.¡±


    ¡°If you know all that, so why do you insist on your  foolish idea?¡± Gerald challenged.


    ¡°Because unconsciously, I also want to know what it feels like to be a perfect woman,¡± Ariana said softly.


    ¡°In my eyes, you¡¯re already perfect. Youck nothing. I love you whether or not there¡¯s a child in your womb. More than that, we already have Axel. He¡¯s our child now; isn¡¯t that enough for you?¡± he asked angrily.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°People are never satisfied, Mr. Aarzu. Right now, your emotions are unstable, so you¡¯re saying you don¡¯t want a child. But there¡¯s no guarantee that tomorrow you won¡¯t say the same thing.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I know. I won¡¯t deny the fact that someday that desire might arise. That longing will surface. But we can find other ways to do it. We can treat you first. We can make sure your body is capable enough to sustain and bear a child before we decide to have one. So please, for now, what if we abort this fetus? After all, it hasn¡¯t been given a life yet. It¡¯s still just a lump of flesh,¡± Gerald pleaded, making Ariana look at him incredulously.


    Ariana shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish. Even though it hasn¡¯t been given life yet, its heart is already beating, Gerald. Moreover, I won¡¯t kill my own flesh and blood. Whether there¡¯s life in it or not. Besides, there¡¯s no guarantee that after I recover, no matter how they treat me, I¡¯ll be given another child. What if God punishes me because I¡¯ve wasted the gift given to me by not giving me another blessing?¡± she challenged with a defiant stance. ¡°I won¡¯t follow your foolish idea.¡±


    ¡°If the child is born, and then you leave. I swear I¡¯ll hate that baby,¡± Gerald promised earnestly. ¡°If you do that, it means the love you profess to me is just empty words. If you¡¯ll hate this baby, you better give it to someone else or put it in an orphanage.¡±


    ¡°Ariana. That¡¯s not what I want.¡±


    ¡°I know what you want. And you¡¯ve been selfish with your desire, Gerald. Or do you secretly hope that I won¡¯t survive this pregnancy?¡± Ariana used, instantly making Gerald gape in disbelief. ¡°No! For God¡¯s sake, you¡¯re being ridiculous!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one being ridiculous!¡± Ariana retorted. ¡°If you truly love me, you should love this baby too and hope for our safety. Not think of the worst-case scenario that may never happen,¡± she said.


    ¡°What, are you ming me now?¡± Gerald used. ¡°You¡¯re the one who thought of the worst from your own condition. If not, you wouldn¡¯t have decided to hide all this from me; you wouldn¡¯t have nned to hide yourself from me.¡±


    ¡°I did all that because I was thinking of you. I didn¡¯t want you to suffer and then me yourself for my condition.¡±


    Gerald thenughed. ¡°I¡¯d regret myself more if I didn¡¯t know the truth about you. If that arrogant doctor didn¡¯t reveal it to me, I¡¯m sure, even if all witnesses died, I wouldn¡¯t know the truth and would forever drown in my hatred for you. Wouldn¡¯t I look even more pathetic then? Hating something I shouldn¡¯t. Being angry at something I should love?¡±

 Chap 157 : I Promise

    Ariana hung her head in defeat as she listened to the man¡¯s ount. Both of them were wrong. Both she and the man were equally wrong. They had been overthinking without allowing fate to answer their questions. Because, in reality, no one knew what would happen afterward.


    Ariana feared the possibility of making Gerald sad if she didn¡¯t survive when their baby was born. Yet, she believed that Gerald would love the baby because it was his flesh and blood. Meanwhile, Gerald feared losing the woman he loved so much, so he chose to erase something that hadn¡¯t even happened yet.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± the words finally came out simultaneously from both their mouths.


    Ariana gazed at Gerald, and he did the same. Gerald moved closer and held his wife¡¯s hands in his own.


    ¡°I know I was wrong. I was too selfish. I love you too much, so I¡¯m afraid of losing you,¡± he said softly.


    Ariana looked at her hands within his grasp. ¡°I am also at fault. I have been too afraid of myself. I truly feared hearing what you said. I want this baby to be loved, just like Axel, even if I¡¯m not there.¡±


    ¡°The things we fear will never happen. You and our baby will be safe,¡± Gerald said confidently. ¡°Promise me that if something happens to me someday, you will save our baby first,¡± Ariana pleaded earnestly. Gerald froze and looked at his wife in disbelief. He shook his head slowly. ¡°If you won¡¯t promise, I will leave you no matter what,¡± Ariana threatened.


    ¡°Ariana.¡±


    ¡°Promise me,¡± she demanded. Gerald stared at Ariana without blinking. ¡°Don¡¯t try to give me false promises, Mr. Aarzu,¡± Ariana threatened again.


    Gerald stood up angrily. He truly hated Ariana now because she could read his mind.


    ¡°Fine, I promise,¡± Gerald said again.


    ¡°If you break your promise, I will hate you for the rest of my life if I survive. And I will haunt you with nightmares if I die,¡± she threatened again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Gerald said, annoyed. ¡°You will be safe. I will find the best obstetrician and cardiologist for you.¡± He promised.


    Ariana raised the corner of her mouth and said, ¡°That Arrogant Doctor is handsome too. Besides, he¡¯s young and seems talented. I like him; I like being treated by him.¡±


    Gerald squinted at Ariana. ¡°Never show your beautiful smile to him.¡±


    He said angrily. Ariana justughed at her husband¡¯s threat.


    ***


    Ariana left the hospital two dayster after aprehensive examination. During her heart and subsequent examinations, including EKG, echocardiogram, and even coronary angiography, Gerald continued to apany her. Even when the examination required Ariana to undress, even if only partially, he always looked suspiciously at the young cardiologist named Akara.


    ¡°For now, everything can be categorized as good. But still, Mrs. Ariana, you have to take care of yourself and your diet. Don¡¯t overexert yourself, and if you experienceints, whether it¡¯s dizziness, nausea, or shortness of breath, you have to rest immediately,¡± said the doctor named Akara again. Ariana just nodded her head, while Gerald clenched both hands on his thighs.


    He then took her home afterpleting the paperwork. Ariana suspected that Gerald would take her back to Zeroun¡¯s residence. Or to his private residence, which Ariana liked very much. But he took her to a luxurious apartment not too far from the hospital. ¡°This is to make it easier for you to control,¡± the man replied simply.


    ¡°But this apartment is far from your office,¡± Arianamented.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. Besides, I don¡¯t have to go to the office every day. I¡¯m the boss. Even if someone fires me, I don¡¯t care. I can still support you and Axel and this babyter,¡± Gerald replied.


    ¡°Our baby,¡± Ariana corrected. She didn¡¯t like it when Gerald referred to the fetus in her womb as ¡®this¡¯. As if the fetus were an inanimate object.


    Apparently, Gerald didn¡¯t take Ariana to the apartment but to a luxurious penthouse. The penthouse was built on two floors with four rooms inside. Luxurious, spacious, andfortable. That was the first impression Ariana got when she entered Gerald¡¯s penthouse. Its kitchen hadplete equipment, almost like Ariana¡¯s restaurant, and even with more expensive cooking utensils. Not to mention a swimming pool on its terrace. Axel would surely love this ce.


    ¡°When did you buy this ce?¡± Ariana asked her husband.


    Gerald shrugged. ¡°I bought it a long time ago. It¡¯s just that the kitchen is new,¡± he said shyly. Ariana approached her husband, reached for his waist, and tilted her head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you made this kitchen for me?¡± she teased.


    Gerald raised an eyebrow and looked at his wife with a cynical look. ¡°What do you think? Did I make it for Jody?¡± he asked, snorting.


    Arianaughed again. She tiptoed and then quickly kissed her husband¡¯s cheek. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Aarzu,¡± she said sincerely.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Gerald lowered his head. His hands also reached his wife¡¯s waist and pulled her closer. ¡°Is that all your thank you?¡± he asked challengingly.


    ¡°What do you want? Do I have to cook for you?¡± Ariana teased. Her hands lifted, moving to Gerald¡¯s chest. Continuing upward until it ended up hugging his neck.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tease me. You know I can¡¯t do anything to you right now even though I want to,¡± Geraldined, emphasizing the lower part of his body, touching Ariana¡¯s stomach. Ariana widened her eyes, feeling the man¡¯s body tense. ¡°I¡¯ve been tormented enough just by your shadow, Mrs. Aarzu. Especially now, when your body is really here,¡± he sighed.


    Ariana felt guilty toward her husband. She knew his libido, she knew his passion. And for a while, she could still match him, although asionally she felt a pain in her heart. But she enjoyed it. But now, although both of them wanted the same thing, both Ariana and Gerald didn¡¯t want to take the risk to fulfill their mutual desire.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ariana said again softly.


    Gerald grabbed his wife¡¯s face with both hands. ¡°No need to apologize. You know I¡¯m a strong and tough man. I can endure, not touching you, as long as you don¡¯t leave me again,¡± he requested softly. He stared into his wife¡¯s eyes. A smile appeared on his face. The woman nodded her head agreeing.


    ¡°I promise. I won¡¯t run away. I won¡¯t leave,¡± Ariana said earnestly. Gerald smiled and nodded his head. He then kissed his wife¡¯s forehead and hugged her tightly, very tightly. If only he could stop time. He didn¡¯t want to let Ariana go. He was afraid, when his embrace was gone, Ariana would disappear again. But this time, he would hold on to Ariana¡¯s promise. He believed in his wife¡¯s words. And for him, as long as Ariana was with him, that was enough. Because Ariana was his greatest source of happiness.

 Chap 158 : Prisoner

    In the evening, Axel came to the penthouse with his nanny and also his personal driver. The couple, Gerald and Ariana, dered that they would stay in the penthouse and would not return to Zeroun¡¯s residence until Gerald allowed it. Gerald also hired the services of twopletely new house assistants, not people he took from Zeroun¡¯s residence. Ariana was initially confused why there was no Vivan or Yosef or other house assistants who had previously worked at Zeroun¡¯s residence. However, she didn¡¯t dare to ask her husband.


    Ariana spent her time with Axel. The boy repeatedly asked Ariana if she would leave him again or not, or if Ariana would stay in the apartment and leave him with Gerald or not. Ariana promised Axel while looking at her husband that she would not leave the two of them no matter what happened. It took quite a long time to make Axel believe. The boy¡¯s questions had to stop when he fell asleep, of course, with Ariana by his side. Because once again, Axel was afraid Ariana would leave him.


    ¡°So, Axel meets you when you¡¯re gone?¡± Gerald asked after Axel fell asleep. They slept in the main bedroom of the penthouse, with Axel peacefully asleep between them.


    Ariana nodded. ¡°Grandma often brings him. Whether it¡¯s to the apartment or a restaurant. Axel often spends time with me and only goes back to Zeroun¡¯s residence in the evening or when we know you¡¯re also back,¡± Ariana replied honestly.


    Gerald snorted. Once again, he felt deceived. So why had he been paying someone to follow Ariana if his hired person didn¡¯t tell him the truth? Should he choke that person? he wondered in his mind. But then he turned, looking at his wife who was observing Axel carefully. A warm feeling rushed through his heart. Oh God, how much he loved the two people beside him. Gerald truly couldn¡¯t bear to lose either of them. Could he be greedy? he wondered in his heart.


    Ariana woke up in the middle of the night due to her natural needs. It¡¯s true what people say, pregnant women often need to urinate. And that¡¯s what Ariana needed to do right now.


    She opened her eyes and saw Axel¡¯s side empty. Ariana was instantly rmed. Where was Gerald? Where had her husband gone in the middle of the night like this? Ariana then sat up from her bed and was quite surprised to see her husband sitting on the prayer rug with both hands raised. He was praying with a voice so faint that Ariana couldn¡¯t even hear it. Ariana, who had initially intended to put her feet on the floor, suddenly changed her mind. She could hold it for a little longer.


    She stared at her husband¡¯s back. She couldn¡¯t see his face, but the light from the balcony was enough for her to gaze at her husband¡¯s body, which now seemed to be trembling. Was Gerald crying? she wondered in her heart. She narrowed her eyes, focusing her gaze on her husband. And indeed, her husband seemed to be crying softly.


    ¡°Gerald?¡± Ariana called out. The man seemed to freeze for a moment. His back straightened. And quickly, he wiped his face. He cleared his throat before answering Ariana¡¯s call.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Gerald turned around. He looked at his wife. The man crawled closer and stopped when he was near Ariana. He lifted his head, and although Ariana couldn¡¯t clearly see his face and eyes, she knew Gerald had just cried. ¡°Do you need something?¡± he asked, curious.


    Ariana shook her head. Her hand reached out and touched Gerald¡¯s face. ¡°Are you crying?¡± she asked softly.


    Gerald raised his hand and cupped his wife¡¯s hands that were holding his face. ¡°No, I¡¯m not crying,¡± he replied with a smile appearing on his face.


    ¡°Tell me, why?¡± Ariana asked. She doubted her husband wasn¡¯t crying. Besides his hoarse voice, Ariana could feel her husband¡¯s face was damp.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Gerald replied again. ¡°I just finished talking to my God. Asking for forgiveness because I¡¯ve been neglectfultely,¡± he said honestly. He didn¡¯t want to tell Ariana that he had prayed to his Lord for her healing and the safety of her and the baby inside her. ¡°I fell back into drinking when you left me. I¡¯m ashamed, and I admit it,¡± he said honestly. Yes, he did apologize to the Owner of Life for all the mistakes and transgressions he had madetely.


    He was ashamed, very ashamed before the Owner of Life because he had redirected his pain to alcohol. Neglecting his duty to prostrate. He was ashamed for not asking for His help from the beginning. And Ariana¡¯s return, the woman who was the beginning of his return to his Lord, made him prostrate again. Grateful. And then ask.


    Ariana smiled and stroked her husband¡¯s face with both her hands. Without saying much, the woman kissed her husband¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Gerald asked when Ariana got up from her seat. ¡°I have to go to the bathroom,¡± Ariana replied softly. Gerald stood up too, trying to help his wife to the bathroom, but Ariana refused him. ¡°I can go by myself, dear,¡± she said gently.


    Gerald was stunned. He looked at his wife in disbelief. Disbelieving his own ears, actually. ¡°What did you say?¡± he asked unsurely.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Ariana just shook her head and walked to the bathroom inside their room.


    *****


    The days that followed for Ariana could be described as monotonous. If before Gerald knew about her pregnancy, she could still go to the restaurant. Now she couldn¡¯t anymore. Gerald truly imprisoned Ariana, not allowing her to go anywhere if he wasn¡¯t with her. Gerald preferred if Ariana invited people from the restaurant to their residence rather than letting her go out and tire herself on a journey that couldn¡¯t be considered close.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather have this ce filled with your friends than my heart being troubled worrying about your condition,¡± he said one time when Ariana asked for permission to go to the restaurant.


    ¡°But I still have to supervise the restaurant,¡± Arianained to her husband. But Gerald replied with a shake of his head.


    ¡°There¡¯s still Amber and Jody taking care of everything. What¡¯s the point of you supervising them if they can¡¯t handle the job?¡± Gerald replied curtly. Ariana only answered his words with a scoff. Because of her irritation, she left Gerald and chose to shut herself in her room. Ariana also couldn¡¯t me Gerald. The man also sacrificed for her by moving his workce to their residence. He preferred to ask the employees he trusted toe to the penthouse back and forth and only went out if there was a meeting he couldn¡¯t leave or couldn¡¯t do virtually.


    Gerald stepped into the room without knocking. Ariana, who was sitting on the Strandmon sofa that Gerald had repositioned to face their bedroom balcony some time ago, looked up. The man walked closer and then pulled the Strandmon footstool, the sofa that apanied Ariana, and sat next to the woman. Hisrge hand reached out to hold Ariana¡¯s hand, and he deliberately rested his head on Ariana¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°I feel like a house prisoner,¡± Arianained softly


    .


    Gerald tensed. He knew he had been excessive with his wife. But no matter what, the fear of seeing his wife faint again was greater than facing her anger.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Gerald said weakly. ¡°You know very well what I¡¯m afraid of,¡± he said afterward.


    ¡°But I¡¯m not an invalid, Gerald. I need to move too. I need to breathe different air than the one in this room,¡± Ariana replied. ¡°I like meeting my customers. I like seeing how my restaurant operates. I like all the chaos in the kitchen and smelling the aromas of spices wafting in the air,¡± she continued, her gaze fixed on Gerald. ¡°It¡¯s not about Amber or Jody being able to control the restaurant or not. But it¡¯s about me and thefort I need,¡± she said with a pleading tone. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m aware of my condition. I haven¡¯t been to the kitchen to cook since I found out about my pregnancy. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask everyone in the restaurant. They won¡¯t lie to you,¡± she said passionately.


    Gerald took a deep breath and looked at his wife, who was now silent with teary eyes. He had hurt his wife unintentionally. Something he thought was good and safe turned out to be difort for Ariana. ¡°Alright,¡± he said finally. Ariana then looked up, gazing at her husband and asking him to repeat his decision. ¡°We¡¯ll go to the restaurant,¡± he said afterward. A cheerful smile instantly appeared on Ariana¡¯s face. The woman hugged her husband tightly as a sign of happiness and gratitude.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get ready,¡± she said, answered by Gerald¡¯s nod.

 Chap 159 : Gina and Max

    They had just arrived at the restaurant when Gerald¡¯s phone suddenly rang. Gerald nced at the t object and saw his friend¡¯s name disyed there. ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°How are you?¡± the man on the other side asked, clearly curious.


    ¡°Estoy bien,¡± Gerald replied, making Ariana furrow her brows. ¡°He¡¯s my friend from Spain,¡± he whispered to his wife. Ariana just nodded and continued walking inside the restaurant. ¡°Have you returned to Spain?¡± Gerald inquired.


    ¡°Not yet. We are still in Indonesia. Gina keeps urging me to remind you of your promise,¡± the man answered. ¡°She still wants to meet you and your wife. It¡¯s as if she hasn¡¯t met you yet.¡± Maximn said with a chuckle.


    ¡°Meet? Who? Gina and Ariana?¡± Gerald asked, confused.


    ¡°Who else do you think?¡± Max snorted rudely. ¡°You know, her spy instincts kicked in at that moment. She deliberately made me go to your wife¡¯s restaurant, and suddenly she pretended to be sick, forcing us to borrow your wife¡¯s private room then.¡± He exined with a smirk.


    ¡°So, what does Gina think?¡± Gerald wanted to know. He nced inside the restaurant, where the door was closed, and saw Ariana talking to a girl who was attending the guests¡¯ table.


    ¡°She is sure that your wife is pregnant, just like my suspicion that you are experiencing morning sickness like I did when Gina was pregnant with Kenzo some time ago,¡± the man replied enthusiastically. ¡°I wanted to contact you back then and tell you directly, but then my never-ending work made me forget until Gina reminded me of her request.¡± He sighed.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Gracias, Max,¡± Gerald said, making his friend on the other side confused. ¡°Because of your visit to the office that day, I suddenly wanted to meet Ariana. And eventually, I found out everything. Gina was right; Ariana is indeed pregnant. I was just too foolish to believe that my wife had aborted our baby.¡± Gerald said, sounding defeated.


    ¡°But why don¡¯t you sound happy?¡± Max asked, puzzled. ¡°Because of various reasons,¡± Gerald replied ambiguously.


    ¡°You can tell me all about it. Can we have dinner together? Because I don¡¯t want Gina to be furious if I don¡¯t fulfill her request.¡± Max pleaded. ¡°Love ve,¡± Gerald teased.


    ¡°Como no lo hiciste,¡± Max sneered in disgust. (As if you didn¡¯t) Geraldughed at his friend¡¯s mockery. ¡°So, what about dinner?¡±


    ¡°Come to the restaurant tonight. Ariana and I will be at Leonida¡¯s. But tell Gina that this is not a formal dinner, so she should wear something casual. So that my wife won¡¯t feel out of ce,¡± Gerald instructed.


    ¡°Bien,¡± Max replied eagerly. (Alright). And after that, Max ended the call.


    Gerald walked into the restaurant. His wife had already gone upstairs, and when he entered their room, Ariana was sitting in a chair facing the lower floor of the restaurant. Gerald approached and then hugged his wife from behind, resting his chin on her petite shoulder. He breathed in the scent of her perfume that he loved so much, mixed with the fresh scent of her shampoo. A scent intoxicating to him. ¡°My friend wants to meet you; he and his wife want to have dinner together. I invited them toe tonight, do you mind?¡± he asked his wife.


    Ariana nced at her husband briefly. Or it¡¯s more appropriate to say she red. ¡°You¡¯ve already invited them here, why do you need my permission again?¡± she mocked, which Gerald answered with a chuckle.


    ¡°I can cancel it if you don¡¯t want to meet them,¡± Gerald said then.


    ¡°No need,¡± Ariana asserted. ¡°What do they know about me? I mean, maybe they know that you were supposed to marry Karenina?¡± she asked, not intending to mock at all.


    Gerald shook his head. ¡°Max knows that my wife¡¯s name is Ariana, not Karenina,¡± he said firmly.


    Ariana nodded again. ¡°So, what should I wear tonight?¡± she asked, turning around and hugging her husband¡¯s neck.


    Gerald frowned as if thinking. His eyes looked up and down, carefully observing his wife¡¯s appearance. ¡°This outfit makes you look beautiful, Mrs. Aarzu,¡± he said sincerely. ¡°Besides, I also asked them to dress casually. We don¡¯t need a formal dinner. I don¡¯t intend to change my clothes either,¡± he said. Gerald was now wearing a dark gray polo shirt with ck stretch fit jeans. He looked like he was in his twenties. Younger than his actual age. Even if he went to a campus, Ariana was sure he would still be mistaken for a student rather than a lecturer. While she was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt covered withfortable ck baby terry overalls. She also looked like a teenager with her hair tied in a ponytail.


    ¡°Alright, if you think this outfit looks good and decent,¡± she said then. Gerald nodded, then kissed his wife¡¯s forehead. ¡°What about Axel? Is he having dinner here?¡±


    Gerald frowned. He forgot about Axel. He also forgot to tell his son¡¯s nanny to bring Axel to the restaurant. Ariana seemed to realize it because she then looked at her husband with narrowed eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll call them right away,¡± she said, reaching into her pocket and taking out her phone.


    Ariana was quite surprised when evening came, and the guests Gerald mentioned turned out to be a woman who had a son who had vomited a while ago. She nced usingly at Gerald. Suspecting that Gina hade to the restaurant earlier on his orders. But both Gina, Max, and Gerald denied Ariana¡¯s usations. Gina openly stated that her presence earlier was purely out of curiosity about who Gerald¡¯s wife was because her husband and Gerald were very difficult to introduce her to Ariana.


    The atmosphere that night was clearlyfortable and friendly. Axel even seemed delighted, watching the baby lying in the stroller and ying with her until the baby fell asleep on her own. ¡°Axel will have a sibling soon,¡± the boy said in fluent English. Of course, Axel grew up with his mother¡¯s family and also attended an international school. So he certainly understood the foreignnguage.


    ¡°ording to Axel, is his sibling a boy or a girl?¡± Gina wanted to know. The woman then looked at Ariana. ¡°Supposedly, children¡¯s guesses about babies in the womb are always urate. More urate than obstetricians.¡± She said with a smile on her face. Ariana just smiled hearing the Japanese woman¡¯s belief.


    ¡°Axel¡¯s sibling is a girl,¡± she said confidently. ¡°She will be as beautiful as Mommy,¡± she continued.


    ¡°Of course, she will be as beautiful as Mommy. There¡¯s no way she¡¯ll be as beautiful as Shelma,¡± Gina replied softly at the end of the sentence.


    Gerald and Maximilian looked at Gina with different expressions. But Ariana justughed. She really liked Gina and her straightforward attitude.


    They parted ways when the clock showed ten at night. Axel was already sleeping in his room unapanied, while his parents chatted. ¡°Next time, take a vacation to Spain. I¡¯ll take you around there. The food there is just as delicious as the food in your restaurant.¡± Gina invited sincerely. She often praised  the dishes served to them as dinner.


    Ariana nodded. She couldn¡¯t fullymit to her husband¡¯s friend because she herself didn¡¯t know what would happen to her in the future. But Gerald said otherwise. ¡°Certainly, we will go there. Because Ariana and I haven¡¯t had our honeymoon yet. So, yes. Spain seems like a beautiful honeymoon destination.¡± He said. ¡°Who knows, we might have the chance to see a bullfight.¡±


    ¡°Let alone a bullfight, you could be chased by a bull,¡± Ginaughed. ¡°Where do you want to go? Beach, hills, or just enjoy the restaurants and architecture there? I¡¯ll apany you.¡± She promised.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ariana said for the woman¡¯s offer. They escorted the married couple to the parking lot. During that time, Gerald never let go of his arm around Ariana¡¯s waist.

 Chap 160 : Chaotic

    The fact that Ariana is pregnant is no longer a secret. The news has reached her father and Mother. It also reached her mother and siblings. Especially Shelma. The woman looked furious when she heard that Ariana had dropped her divorce case and returned to Gerald.


    She intended to confront Ariana at Zeroun¡¯s residence. However, when she arrived there, she didn¡¯t see Ariana, Gerald, or Axel. When she asked Isidora, the woman replied that Gerald had taken his ¡®family¡¯ and left Zeroun¡¯s residence. Including his grandchild.


    Shelma went hysterical. Her dream of being with Gerald seemed shattered again because of Ariana.


    Meanwhile, Mrs. Caitlyn openly came to Zeroun¡¯s residence to ask for more financial help her husband needed. Of course, in the form of funds that would revive her husband¡¯s business. But again, she was disappointed because the person she was looking for was not there.


    Unintentionally, Mrs. Caitlyn, Karenina, and Shelma went to Zeroun¡¯spany to find Gerald. Once again, they were disappointed to find out that Gerald spent most of his time working at his apartment, not in the office. The three women demanded Gerald¡¯s secretary to disclose his address, but the secretary refused.


    They had two options left: Caitlyn¡¯s ex-husband¡¯s residence or the restaurant. Considering that Amber was the closest person to Ariana, the three women went to the restaurant to meet Amber.


    Amber was surprised by the presence of her aunt, cousin, and a woman who had been trying to disrupt her cousin¡¯s marriage and friendship. ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked coldly to the three people standing in front of her. ¡°Tell me where Gerald is.¡± The three people simultaneously uttered a name.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Amber was stunned. Jody, who had juste out of the kitchen, now stood next to Amber with a puzzled look. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he wanted to know.


    Amber turned and raised her head to the three stylish women standing in front of her. ¡°They¡¯re asking about Gerald, thinking this is Zeroun¡¯s residence?¡± she said mockingly.


    ¡°Amber, Aunt knows you know where Gerald is. Tell Aunt, Aunt has business with him.¡± Amber furrowed her brow. ¡°Who is this Gerald?¡± Amber asked back, making the two women shocked to hear it.


    ¡°He¡¯s my daughter¡¯s husband,¡± replied Mrs. Caitlyn loudly. Now, not only Amber and Jody were in the middle of the restaurant. Several kitchen staff had also appeared and were curious about themotion. They all looked at the three stylishly dressed women, their gazes directed more toward Karenina and Caitlyn.


    ¡°Whose daughter are we talking about?¡± Amber wanted to know. ¡°Don¡¯t y games, Amber,¡± Karenina snapped.


    ¡°I¡¯m not ying games, Karen!¡± Amber retorted. ¡°Ariana hasn¡¯t been your sister, nor your daughter, since you left her with my uncle fifteen years ago.¡± Amber said loudly. ¡°You never even cared about her condition when she was left with my helpless uncle because of his stroke because you were too enchanted by your new husband¡¯s wealth. And now, why do you have to bother iming her as your daughter again? Where were you for thest fifteen years? Where were you? What do you know about your daughter?¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m the one who made her marry Gerald, the man who should have been Karenina¡¯s husband.¡± Mrs. Caitlyn replied, nodded at Karenina. ¡°He should be my son-inw now. And by marrying Ariana, Gerald still remains my son-inw.¡±


    Amber raised the corner of her mouth. ¡°But Ariana didn¡¯t ask to marry Gerald. If your daughter hadn¡¯t run away before the wedding, maybe. Gerald would have been your son-inw. But considering she fled and Ariana had to be a recement bride. So you can¡¯t im Gerald as your son-inw anymore. More than that, it wasn¡¯t Ariana who wanted to marry Gerald, but Gerald who trapped Ariana so she had no choice but to marry him. Stop bothering Ariana and her life. Go back to your life that you¡¯ve been enjoying for the past fifteen years. Find another husband for Karenina. There are still plenty of wealthy men in this country. Whether they are single or married, young or old. You and your daughter won¡¯t mind as long as your partners can provide the luxury you need, right?¡±


    ¡°How dare you!¡± Mrs. Caitlyn raised her hand and was about to p Amber. But Jody was quicker and held the woman¡¯s small hand.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like violence, Ma¡¯am,¡± Jody said sharply.


    ¡°Why should Aunt be angry? The fact is, Aunt left my uncle and became a home-wrecker just because the man was wealthy. Don¡¯t be ashamed because the stench of the corpse will still be smelled.¡± Amber continued shamelessly. ¡°At least have a little shame, Aunt. If you can¡¯t fulfill your duties as a mother to Ariana, let her live peacefully with the person she loves. Don¡¯t disturb her life, don¡¯t bother her.¡± Amber pleaded with a tone full of pain because of her fear for Ariana¡¯s condition. About the possibility of Ariana¡¯s remaining lifespan during pregnancy and childbirth. As a friend and cousin, Amber also wanted to be a part of Ariana¡¯s life that could make her happy.


    ¡°It¡¯s useless here, Mom. We better go.¡± Karenina grabbed her mother¡¯s arm and pulled her back. While the other woman looked at Amber with an angry look but didn¡¯t say much and followed Karenina and Caitlyn out of the restaurant.


    ¡°Now where do we go?¡± Shelma asked Caitlyn.


    ¡°Bradley Leonidas.¡± The woman said in a hesitant, soft tone. Shelma just nodded and told the driver to take the car to the address Caitlyn mentioned.


    Leonida¡¯s residence, which was indeed simpler than Brooks¡¯s residence, became a mockery for Caitlyn, Karenina, and Shelma. ¡°No wonder your sister became such a bad person. She grew up in a bad ce.¡± She said sarcastically. Karenina immediately looked at the woman sharply. But her hand didn¡¯t let go of her mother¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Do we really have to go to Dad¡¯s ce?¡± she whispered to her mother. Caitlyn turned to look at her daughter and without many words stepped inside.

 Chap 161 : Caesar

    Ariana¡¯s pregnancy was progressing, her belly growingrger. Time seemed to pass incredibly fast as she savored these moments. She enjoyed the times when Gerald pampered her. Although they often disagreed when Gerald refused to fulfill Ariana¡¯s wishes, and vice versa, they always found a middle ground in the end.


    Axel also turned out to be a good child. He seemed content with his daily routine, alternating between school and their apartment. He wasn¡¯t fussy and didn¡¯t ask for his grandmother or his nanny. Ariana, Gerald, and the unborn baby seemed to be enough for him.


    During holidays, they spent time together. Gerald didn¡¯t dare take Ariana on exhausting trips. Instead, they mostly enjoyed watching movies, having meals together, or reading. If Axel wanted to go to the yground or swim in a public pool, his caregiver was always with him while Gerald and Ariana chose to stay back and enjoy their time in their own way.


    Gerald also regrly apanied Ariana to her medical check-ups. Not just to the obstetrician but also to the cardiologist. Yes, that arrogant doctor became Ariana¡¯s specialist now. Despite Gerald¡¯s jealousy, he knew the man was indeed skilled in his field.


    So far, Ariana hadn¡¯tined about her condition. Though there were asional chest pains on her left side, she chose not to mention it to Gerald, fearing he might overreact.


    As for their intimate life, Ariana felt pity for her husband. But Gerald was so considerate. Because he was reluctant to risk anything for the baby in Ariana¡¯s womb, Gerald abstained. He felt content with Ariana¡¯s kisses and embraces. Holding her at night, he said, was alreadyforting for him. And Ariana was truly grateful and appreciative of her husband¡¯s understanding.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Regarding Mrs. Rosaline, Ariana still didn¡¯t understand why Gerald had shut the door of their residence to the woman. What she knew for sure was that Gerald had explicitly warned everyone not to let Mrs. Rosaline in. If Mrs. Rosaline wanted to meet Axel, she could do so outside the apartment.


    Ariana also heard news from the restaurant staff about her mother and her twin sister¡¯s arrival, apanied by Shelma. Clearly, her mother wanted to see her with the intention of asking for money from Gerald. As for Shelma, Ariana didn¡¯t know what the woman wanted. What was clear was that Shelma was likely to confront her because she had decided to go back to Gerald.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what your mom wants; she came to the restaurant and caused a scene,¡± Amber recounted her conversation with her mother, her twin, and Shelma.


    ¡°Amber, Aunt knows you know where Gerald is. Tell me, Aunt has some business with him,¡± Amber furrowed her brows. ¡°Who¡¯s Gerald, anyway?¡± Amber asked back. ¡°Don¡¯t joke, how could you not know who Gerald is?¡± Karenina¡¯s voice now cut in.


    Amber rolled her eyes. ¡°I know who Gerald is, if you¡¯re talking about Gerald Zeroun. But who is he to you?¡± she countered, leaving the two women stunned.


    ¡°He¡¯s my daughter¡¯s husband,¡± Caitlyn replied firmly. Not only Amber and Jody were present in the restaurant¡¯s central area now. Several kitchen staff had also emerged, curious about themotion. They all looked at the three stylishly dressed women, their gazes more focused on Karenina and Caitlyn.


    ¡°Whose daughter are we talking about?¡± Amber inquired, wanting to know the whole story.


    ¡°Don¡¯t y games, Amber,¡± Karenina snapped.


    ¡°I¡¯m not ying games, Karen!¡± Amber hissed. ¡°Ariana hasn¡¯t been your sister, your daughter, since you left her with my uncle fifteen years ago.¡± Amber stated loudly. ¡°You never cared about how she was left with my uncle, helpless due to his stroke because you were too enamored with your new husband¡¯s wealth. And now, why should you bother acknowledging her as your daughter again? Where were you for thest fifteen years? Where were you? What do you know about your own daughter?¡±


    ¡°But I arranged her marriage to Gerald, the man who should have been Karenina¡¯s husband,¡± Mrs. Caitlyn replied, with Karenina nodding in agreement. ¡°He should be my son-inw now and marrying Ariana, Gerald remains my son-inw.¡±


    Amber raised her eyebrow. ¡°But Ariana didn¡¯t ask to marry Gerald. If your daughter hadn¡¯t run away before the wedding, maybe. Gerald would have been your son-inw. But considering she fled and Ariana was forced to be the recement bride, you can¡¯t im Gerald as your son-inw anymore. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t Ariana who wanted to marry Gerald, but Gerald who trapped Ariana so that she had no choice but to marry him. Stop bothering Ariana and her life. Go back to your life that you have enjoyed for thest fifteen years. Find another husband for Karenina. There are plenty of wealthy men in this country. Whether they¡¯re single or married, young or old. It seems like neither you nor your daughter would mind, as long as your partners can provide the luxuries you need, isn¡¯t that so?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re audacious!¡± Mrs. Caitlyn raised her hand as if to p Amber. However, Jody was quicker and caught the woman¡¯s small hand.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like seeing violence, ma¡¯am,¡± Jody said sharply.


    ¡°Why should you be angry, Aunt? In fact, you left my uncle by being a homewrecker, just because the man was rich. No need to be ashamed, because a corpse will still stink.¡± Amber continued without shame. ¡°At least have a little shame, Aunt. If you can¡¯t fulfill your duties as a mother to Ariana, at least let her live peacefully with the person she loves. Don¡¯t disturb her life, don¡¯t harass her.¡± Amber said with a pleading tone, her words containing pain due to her fear for Ariana¡¯s condition. About the possibility of Ariana¡¯s remaining years during pregnancy and childbirth. As a friend and cousin, Amber also wanted to be a part that could make Ariana happy.


    ¡°Sorry if I went too far, but I¡¯m really disgusted with your mother and your sibling.¡±


    Ariana didn¡¯tment much. Although she felt Amber¡¯s words were excessive, she believed Amber did it out of love for her. Considering Amber had known her history all along. In return, Ariana asked Amber not to say anything to Gerald and make him lose control and do something irrational.


    Amber herself promised that this would remain their secret. Because she and Jody had asked the restaurant staff not to speak about it.

 Chap 162 : Caesar (2)

    ¡°They were spending the evening snacking on treats Amber had sent from the restaurant. Amber, their friend and cousin, had deliberately visited, iming to miss them. However, it seemed that missing them wasn¡¯t the real reason Amber hade, because tens of minutester, Ariana felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, making it difficult for her to breathe right then and there.


    Amber quickly reached out to Ariana, calling Gerald, who was in his room at the time, busy with a conference call with his colleagues. Hurriedly, Gerald approached Ariana, whom Amber had purposely seated on the sofa, propped up with pillows behind her back.


    ¡°How¡­ how can this be?¡± Ariana asked amid her pain. She looked at Amber with concern, then gripped her friend¡¯s arm tightly as the pain resurfaced.


    Amber nced at Ariana¡¯s legs, now covered in pinkish fluid. ¡°You¡¯re going intobor,¡± Amber replied, her face pale. She knelt down, holding Ariana¡¯s hand and squeezing it gently. Gerald, who had juste out of his room, grabbed the car keys and approached Ariana, making sure to assess his wife¡¯s condition first.


    ¡°I¡¯ve called Dr. Akara and your obstetrician. We¡¯re going to the hospital now,¡± he said, to which Ariana only nodded. With ease, he lifted Ariana and nced at Amber, instructing her to bring Axel and the bag Ariana had prepared for her delivery well in advance and take it downstairs.


    The journey to the hospital was apanied by Ariana¡¯s moans. Amber, sitting beside her, tried to calm her cousin down, though she herself was equally anxious. Meanwhile, Gerald drove the car quickly, doing his best not to jostle his wife¡¯s body. His efforts resulted in beads of sweat forming on his forehead.


    They arrived at the hospital. Gerald stopped the car in front of the Emergency Department just as a male nurse brought a wheelchair for Ariana. ¡°Let¡¯s examine her first before we proceed with anything else,¡± said the obstetrician, who had been Ariana and Gerald¡¯s trusted doctor throughout the pregnancy.


    Ariana was led into the obstetrician¡¯s office. Shortly after the examination, the decision to perform a Caesarean section was made. Although Ariana didn¡¯t want it, the two doctors apanying her exined reasons she couldn¡¯t argue with anymore. ¡°Considering your heart condition, we can¡¯t inducebor, even though it can be done for most mothers whose water breaks without contractions. If we let natural contractions ur, there¡¯s a high likelihood of you getting infections in the vagina and uterus,¡± the obstetrician exined, shaking their head. ¡°We have to avoid that risk. We also don¡¯t want to jeopardize the baby¡¯s condition, do we?¡± they asked, to which Ariana nodded. ¡°This won¡¯t make you any less of a woman. Every pregnancy process carries its risks, as I¡¯ve often exined to you,¡± the doctor said again. ¡°We will proceed with spinal anesthesia. You¡¯ll be able to witness the birth of your babyter,¡± the doctor added.¡±


    Ariana was allowed in. Gerald wore sterile clothing and entered the operating room along with the experts. Meanwhile, Doctor Akara stood guard. The man anticipated what might happen to Ariana, although they all hoped for the best for both Ariana and her unborn child.


    The process began. After Ariana was given anesthesia through her back, she wasid down. While waiting for the medication to take effect, Gerald stayed by her side. He stood beside her, holding her hand, asionally wiping Ariana¡¯s forehead and kissing her. He murmured how much he loved her and didn¡¯t want to lose her, trying to reassure his wife that everything would be fine.


    Gerald didn¡¯t hear the doctor¡¯s instructions as they performed the surgery to deliver their baby. He was focused only on Ariana, solely on his wife. Until he heard the loud cries of a baby. He lifted his head and saw the doctor smile at him.


    ¡°A girl, beautiful and perfect,¡± he proudly eximed before the baby was handed over to a nurse to be taken care of and examined more closely.


    ¡°Come, Ariana,¡± the nurse said to Gerald, urging him to follow her to exin the baby¡¯s condition. Gerald looked at Ariana, who was also looking at him with tears of joy in her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring her back to you,¡± Gerald said, and Ariana nodded.


    ¡°Please, look. She has two hands, each with five fingers and they are open. Her legs areplete, each with five toes, and they are open too,¡± the nurse exined about their baby. Suddenly, panic ensued in the room.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Gerald didn¡¯t understand what they meant, except for the words ¡°blood¡± and ¡°heartbeat.¡± He looked at the monitor showing Ariana¡¯s slowing heartbeat and continuously dropping blood pressure while people started approaching his wife, each of them doing their respective tasks.


    ¡°Please leave the room,¡± a male nurse said, grabbing Gerald¡¯s arms without permission and guiding him towards the door.


    ¡°W-what¡¯s happening?¡± Gerald asked, feeling his knees go weak and his gaze fixed on Ariana, whose eyes were now closed on the operating table.


    ¡°We need to take action on the patient. Please wait outside, Sir,¡± the nurse said firmly, a tone Gerald knew would only cause trouble if he refused and insisted on staying.


    When the door was opened, Gerald saw the heart surgeon enter the operating room. ¡°Please, save Ariana,¡± he whispered, receiving a nod in response from the man.


    Gerald was then led to the waiting room where Amber, Axel, and Rosaline were sitting. All three of them looked at Gerald and inquired about Ariana. Instead of answering, he sat down heavily, bowed his head, and covered his face with his hands.


    Amber and Rosaline could only remain silent in their ces. A few minutester, the baby trolley was wheeled out by a nurse who promptly called Gerald¡¯s name to confirm their baby¡¯s condition. The baby had been tagged with the same bracelet as her mother before being taken to the special baby care unit.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure your wife will be fine,¡± the nurse reassured Gerald as she took the baby from his arms and ced the newborn back on the baby trolley. ¡°I¡¯ll take her to the perinatology department.¡± She informed Gerald and his family before leaving.


    It took a long time before the door opened again, and the obstetrician who had been attending to Ariana reappeared. ¡°It¡¯s under control,¡± she said calmly. ¡°We¡¯ve located the source of the bleeding and managed it. It took eight units of blood to stabilize Mrs. Ariana. As for her heart, we still need to monitor it. But for now, everything is okay,¡± she said, a statement met with relief from everyone present.


    Ariana was then transferred to the ICCU (Intensive Coronary Care Unit) after her surgery. When Gerald entered the room, his wife looked incredibly pale and thin in a short span of time. There were dark circles under her eyes, making a stark contrast.


    Gerald continued to sit by her side, holding his wife¡¯s slightly cold hand and kissing it repeatedly. He was truly afraid. Losing Ariana would be his worst nightmare. Even though he understood that humans have their destinies, he couldn¡¯t easily ept it if God took away the woman he loved most.


    Ariana woke up two hourster. She immediately looked at her husband and tried to muster a smile. ¡°Thirsty?¡± Gerald asked, to which Ariana nodded. Gerald opened a bottle and put a straw in it. ¡°Sip by sip, okay?¡± Gerald instructed, a direction Ariana agreed to with a nod.


    ¡°How¡¯s the baby?¡± she inquired.


    Gerald smiled and gently brushed his wife¡¯s cheek with his fingers. ¡°Beautiful, just like her mother,¡± Gerald said, his voice filled with emotion. ¡°Her cries are strong too. It seems she¡¯ll be as spirited as her mother.¡± He said, making Ariana grimace because she couldn¡¯tugh like Gerald. ¡°What hurts?¡± Gerald asked in panic.


    Ariana shook her head. She only felt numbness in her legs, but she knew it was the lingering effect of the anesthesia. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± Ariana reassured. ¡°When can I see her?¡± she asked, eager to hold her baby. However, she understood that her current condition didn¡¯t allow her to meet her precious little one just yet.


    ¡°As soon as you leave this room,¡± Gerald said, a statement Ariana epted with resignation, nodding in agreement.

 Ending

    Two dayster, after receiving proper treatment, Ariana¡¯s condition was dered stable enough to be transferred from the ICCU to a regr 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 apanied 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 form 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 ns.


    ¡°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.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    ¡°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 y 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 epted 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 arge 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¡¯vemitted. 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 thatter. 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 dayster, 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 ss, 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 y area for Axel and Clemira,plete with swings, slides, a seesaw, and several other toys.


    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about the kids ying outside, let their friends y 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.


    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 recement bride for her runaway twin, she had epted 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 wouldst forever.


    A few yearster:


    ¡°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 ept him as her son-inw. 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 be 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.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!