(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

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.NôvelDrama.Org owns all content.

Soon, he placed the fragrant and delicious-smelling steak onto a plate, 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 plate.

Ariana accepted the plate and murmured her thanks. She placed it on the square table between them.

“Chris and I don’t have any relationship,” Ariana replied flatly. 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 explain 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,” Gerald commented. 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 plate with hers and proceeded to cut the meat that had been on Ariana’s plate earlier.

“It’s not like that,” Ariana replied, frustrated.

She couldn’t explain 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.

Ariana complied. She lifted the plate onto her lap 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 moments later.

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 flatly.

Ariana glanced 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 plate, as if the remaining pieces of meat were more interesting than Gerald’s question.

“Ariana?” he repeated.

“Nothing. I was just asking,” she replied flatly.

“Are you jealous of your twin sister?” Gerald asked again. He had already placed the empty plate 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 plate, 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.

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 accepted 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 related 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 fireplace 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 relationship. 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 incompatibility 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.