Filed to story: The Billionaire’s Replacement Wife (River & Noah) Novel Online Free
River could tell it was Noah.
“I didn’t expect him to be here so early,” Neil exclaimed.
River looked away. “In his opinion, his mother was his only family member.”
Yet, the person Noah valued the most had no regard for him. River had her mother and Lily, who loved her. In fact, even Jamie treated her well. What did Noah have? He had nothing but money and status.
River exhaled and got out of the car.
Neil wanted to join her, but she stopped him. “I’ll go. Please wait for me in the car with the children, Neil.”
Neil didn’t comment further and nodded as he passed the bouquet to her. She turned and walked over to Noah. Her footsteps on the lawn were clearly audible. He turned and locked eyes with her. She could see the loneliness in his eyes and felt her heart ache.
She stood next to Noah and placed the bouquet before the tombstone. “I’m here to visit Jamie,” River said.
“Why didn’t you sleep in? You had a long night,” Noah asked hoarsely.
River stood upright. “I wanted to visit them first thing today. They’re my family, after all.”
Noah noticed River’s reddened nose and pulled up her scarf due to the cold. “You should dress warmer.”
River was briefly stunned before pushing up her scarf and saying, “Hmm, I have one more graveyard to visit later.”
“Are you visiting your biological parents?” Noah asked nonchalantly.
River nodded. “Yes, so I won’t stay here long.”
Noah’s gaze landed on Jamie’s photo, and he said, “I’ll come with you.”
“No-“
“Don’t reject me,” Noah interrupted before River could finish her sentence.
She looked at him in astonishment. Il visit my parents by myself.”
“I’m meeting them sooner or later,” Noah blurted before walking back to his car.
River watched his silhouette depart and thought, ‘I haven’t agreed to be with you yet, right?”
Noticing that River didn’t follow, Noah stopped walking and turned. “Don’t you think I should visit Axel’s grandparents too?”
River blushed and thought, “What was I thinking?
“I’m going with my brother. He’s waiting in the car,” River informed.
Noah remained silent but reached for his phone to make a call.
He said, “Follow River’s car. I’m going with them.”
After hanging up, he asked River, “You don’t mind me tagging along, right?”
River looked at him in shock. He was demanding to come along even though he had a car, and he hadn’t sought her approval. Could she still reject him now?
They all got into the car, and Noah was visibly surprised to see the three children.
River explained, “It’s lucky we took the MPV today. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have a place to sit. I brought the children so they could visit my parents.”
She turned to Neil and said, “Neil, he wants to join because he’s Axel’s father, after all.”
Neil didn’t say much after hearing River’s remark.
Liora clung to Noah while he played with her.
Neil whispered to River, “I didn’t expect him to be so patient with children.”
In frustration, River said, “I don’t know when he started being so gentle with Ty and Lia. He used to call them bastards…”
Neil frowned. “Is it because he found something?”
“I don’t think so. He would have asked me if he found out about it,” River said.
“That makes sense.”
Twenty minutes later, River got out of the car with the children while Noah carried Axel and joined Neil in getting out of the car.
An elderly man with a hunched back, wearing an old gray coat, was sweeping at the graveyard’s entrance. When he heard the commotion, he turned to look at the newcomers.
Neil greeted him, “Hello, Benjamin. We’re here to visit.”
Neil introduced him, “River, this is Benjamin, the gravekeeper.”
River looked at the man named Benjamin.
Liora broke free from her hold and hid behind River before she could see Benjamin, which startled River a bit.
Benjamin appeared to be around 60 years old, with sallow, deeply wrinkled skin and a permanently hunched back, even when he stood upright. But the most shocking thing about him was his eyes: one was normal, while the other only had whites. He exuded a gloomy presence even in the daytime.
River was also startled but didn’t show any dramatic reaction. She held Liora’s hand tightly and smiled at Benjamin. “I’m sorry for intruding so early in the morning. Benjamin.”
Benjamin stared at River indifferently, and Liora was so scared that she hid behind her.
He said, “The child is not allowed to enter.”
River looked at Neil in astonishment. The latter shook his head, showing his confusion about the situation.
River asked respectfully, “Why is the child not allowed to go. Benjamin?”
Benjamin explained, “Her body is too weak, and she might attract unknown entities. Besides, the sun isn’t out yet, so it’s not suitable for her to be here.”
River smiled upon hearing Benjamin’s explanation. “We don’t believe that.”
Benjamin looked away and continued to sweep. “As you wish, then.”
River didn’t comment further but walked to the graveyard after nodding to Benjamin. She followed Neil to the tombstones. Liora let go of River’s hand and ran over to hold Noah’s hand.
She stood on her tiptoes and clutched Noah’s top, softly begging, “Can you carry me? It’s cold out here…
Noah frowned and put Axel down. “Axel, stand here for a while.”
Axel obediently nodded. “Carry Lia, Daddy.”
Noah carried Liora, and she buried herself in his arms, avoiding looking at the tombstones. Neil and River were too distracted to notice Liora’s condition.
After cleaning the tombstones, Neil held River’s hand as they placed bouquets of flowers.
Neil said, “Mom, Dad, I brought River to visit you. I’ve found her, so you can be at peace now.”
River felt a connection as she looked at the photos on the tombstones but didn’t know what to say. In the end, she softly muttered, “Mom, Dad.”
Neil smiled at River. “Don’t be too tense. I’m sure our parents are thrilled to see you.”
River didn’t know what to say, so she glanced at her children. She waved at Axel and Tyler, then.
looked at Liora, who was hiding in Noah’s arms.
She was surprised. “Lia?”
Liora’s head moved, but she had no intention of showing her face.
Noah looked at River. “She’s cold.”
Suddenly, Benjamin’s words came to her mind, but she quickly dismissed the strange thought.
She took Tyler and Axel’s hands and led them to the tombstones Neil said, “Mom, Dad, these are River’s children…”
Just as his voice faded, a strong wind began to blow, leaves rustled, and Liora trembled in fear.
“Let’s go!” Liora cried in Noah’s arms. I want to go!”
River patted Liora’s back with concern. “What’s happening, Lia? Can you tell me?”
“I don’t want to be here anymore! I want to go!” Liora cried.
River looked at Neil, and he nodded solemnly. “Let’s go. We’ll leave if Liora’s scared.”
River and the others hurriedly left the graveyard.
Benjamin appeared before they departed. He glanced at Llora and told River, “Come here, ma’am.”
River was surprised. She walked over to Benjamin and asked, “How can I assist you, Benjamin?”
Benjamin handed her an old amulet. “Hold onto this amulet. The girl may face difficulties as an adult. Let her keep this with her and never take it off. If she struggles, bring her to me.”
Noah frowned deeply upon hearing Benjamin’s words. ‘This is absurd!‘
Just as Noah was about to lead River away, she said, “How much does the amulet cost, Benjamin? I can’t accept your generous gift for nothing.”
–
“It’s fine. I feel a connection with the girl. Benjamin waved his hand dismissively.
River wanted to say more, but Benjamin frowned. “I said I don’t want money!”
River relented after seeing Benjamin’s persistence. She asked, “May I know your full name, Benjamin?”
Benjamin replied, “They call me Blind Ben, but you may address me as Benjamin.”
Benjamin took a deep look at Liora, shook his head, and walked toward a run–down cottage nearby.
They returned to the car, and Noah looked at River seriously. “Do you believe what he said?”
River gently comforted Liora and said, “Benjamin seems like a kind person. Plus, it’s just an amulet.
How much harm can it cause?
Noah looked away with a cold demeanor. ‘It’s nothing but baseless superstition.”
River countered, “Do you have to interpret his good intentions so negatively?”
Noah was displeased. “Don’t casually accept gifts for the children from someone else.”
“Don’t you find your remark contradicting?” River asked.
Noah replied, “I don’t think so!”
River couldn’t help but retort, “If you don’t believe in baseless superstitions, why do you care about his gift to Lia?”
Noah explained, I’m concerned that the item might not be clean.”