(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

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 glanced 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 accept 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 your complaints. 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 flaws to others.’ And until now, I try to hold on to her words. To me, my flaws 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 available. I could eat whatever I wanted. And I was even accustomed 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. Similarly, 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. They lack 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 accused, her eyes squinting sharply.

Gerald laughed 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.”This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“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 playful 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 just laughed. 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.

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?