(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

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 glass balcony railing.

On one side of the balcony, there was a long chair that looked comfortable 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.

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 cosplaying as Aladdin?” 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 glass 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 a large 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 clad 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 came complete with an artificial fireplace 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 black 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 placed 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 placed 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 placed them on the grill. Ariana didn’t want to help him at all. Instead, she chose to sit back and relax 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.From NôvelDrama.Org.

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.