(Not) The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

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 violating 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 glare 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.

“According 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 – 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.NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

“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 his lap. 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 everything last night,” Gerald replied in the same soft tone. They stared at each other. Gerald lifted his hand and played 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 speculate 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.

Ariana twirled her fingers through the ends of Gerald’s black 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 her last 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 clarified. Either let Ariana continue with her actions or stop her.

“Ariana…” the man growled. Ariana tried to hold back her laughter 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 play with me.” Said Gerald, who quickly turned Ariana’s body over until the girl was lying on the bed.

Ariana laughed, seeing Gerald’s face looking at her with passion. “Consider it revenge. Last night, you did the same thing to me.” Ariana answered, still with laughter 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.