Filed to story: The Billionaire’s Replacement Wife (River & Noah) Novel Online Free
Kenny also became concerned when he noticed the situation.
“This is strange. Why is it taking them so long to change?” Kenny asked with a puzzled look Paige furrowed her brow in thought, and then her eyes widened. She grabbed Alex’s hand, speaking softly. “Alex, do you think they’re…”
Alex was taken aback. “Doing what?”
“What do you think? I’m going to check on River!” Paige looked at Alex contemptuously.
Alex realized the situation and exclaimed, “Hold on! I’m coming tool”
“Count me in!” Kenny stood up.
Paige and Alex glanced at Kenny sternly.
Paige said, “Stay put and mind your own business!”
Alex added, “Exactly! Why get involved in the first place?”
Kenny was rendered speechless. ‘Weren’t both of you the first to get involved?
The tipsy Kenny turned to Neil and declared, “Neil, they’re up to something indecent!”
Neil glanced at Kenny and then at Scott, who remained silent while eating. He sighed and said, “River has the freedom to choose. I won’t interfere.”
The three children listened in on the adult conversation from their spot on the rug, where they played after dinner.
Liora playfully nudged Tyler and asked, “What are they talking about, Tyler? Are Mommy and Daddy playing a game upstairs?”
Tyler and Axel exchanged a glance, and Axel patiently explained, “Lia, they’re probably discussing something important.”
Liora wondered, ‘Then why is Godmother sneaking upstairs?”
Tyler set down the block in his hand. “Lia, you’ve been wanting to be a big sister for a long time, right?”
I Liora’s eyes lit up. “Can I be a big sister?”
Axel smiled. “Do you want a little brother or sister?”
Liora replied, “Neither!”
Tyler and Axel asked together, “How will you be a big sister, then?”
Liora giggled. ‘I want to be the big sister to both of you!”
They were at They were at a loss for words.
Meanwhile, Alex and Paige stood by the door, trying to eavesdrop on the commotion from the room. Alex.
frowned and remarked, “Why is the sound insulation so good? I can’t hear a thing.”
Paige said, “In theory, it shouldn’t be this effective. I used to hear River when she was on the phone.”
Alex looked at Paige. “Could it be that Noah is muffling her?”
“Out of fear we might hear them?” Paige asked excitedly.
Alex mused, “I don’t know. It’s also possible that River didn’t dare to make a sound.”
Paige noted, “This is way beyond her control!”
Alex suggested, “Let’s forget it and head downstairs since we can’t hear anything.”
“Alright…”
At half past 11:00 p.m., River and Noah came downstairs together.
Everyone, including the children, turned their attention to them.
Confused, River asked, “Why are you all looking at me like that?”
Paige gestured to the seat next to her and said sternly, “Come, River. I have something to ask you,”
River took a seat, perplexed.
Paige grinned and asked, “So, what were you and Noah doing in the room for so long?”
River calmly replied, “I was helping him dress his wound.”
No one wanted to believe River’s statement.
Initially, she and Noah had been on the verge of intimacy, but she had stopped him in time. Afterward, she had helped him tend to his burn wound in the room, which took a while because she had waited for him. to finish his shower.
Paige asked, “Are you telling the truth?”
River shook her head. “Yes.”
Scott stood up and announced, “It’s getting late. Time for fireworks.”
Liora excitedly put down her cake and exclaimed, “Let’s play with fireworks!”
Neil gently caressed Liora’s head and advised, “Lia, it’s not safe to play with fireworks. I’ll carry you, and we can watch.”
Everyone got distracted by the idea of playing with fireworks.
River and Noah exchanged glances, and she looked away shyly, Joining the others outside.
Noah’s gaze dimmed as he wrestled with mixed feelings, thinking, “When will she finally agree to be with.
me?
At midnight, Kenny and Alex set up and lit the fireworks.
The crowd of people exchanged smiles as the fireworks illuminated the night sky.
Noah glanced at Reuben, who then retrieved three thick gift packets brimming with money from the car. He handed the packets to Noah, who distributed one to each child.
Liora touched her gift and beamed, exclaiming, “This is thick. It must be full of money!”
Neil and the others walked over and presented their gifts to the three children.
After expressing their gratitude, Tyler turned to River and asked, “Mommy, did you prepare gifts for us?
River said, “Don’t you already have enough gifts?”
Tyler insisted, “Wouldn’t you like to give us gifts too, Mommy?”
River smiled and began giving her gifts to the children one by one. “Axel, Ty, Lia, Happy Mardi Gras! May you grow strong and healthy!
The three children chorused, “Happy Mardi Gras, Mommy!”
“Happy Mardi Gras!” Suddenly, Noah’s voice echoed from behind.
River turned, her face illuminated by the colorful fireworks, and replied, “Happy Mardi Gras!”
On Mardi Gras morning at 5:00 a.m., River woke the children, got them ready, and fed them before taking them to the graveyard.
Neil was already waiting outside.
Seeing River and the children, he approached and said, “The things are ready, River.”
Confused, Liora rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked, “Mommy, where are we going?”
River gently patted Llora’s head and answered, “I’m taking you to visit Grandma, Lia.”
Liora’s eyes widened as she recalled, “Grandma? Oh, I remember now. You said I have two Grandmas, but they’re gone…
–
River assured, “I’m taking you to visit them today.”
“Okay.”
River and Neil held each child’s hand as they walked toward the graveyard. Katie and Lily were buried there.
River first led them to Lily’s tombstone.
The children placed a bouquet in front of the tombstone. Observing River’s silence, Nell said, “River, aren’t you going to speak to Lily?”
River smiled bitterly and shook her head, I always feel like Lily didn’t die from the surgery but was murdered. However, I haven’t found the murderer or the cause of her death, so I can’t bring myself to talk to her.”
Neil reasoned, “Why blame yourself when this matter has nothing to do with you?”
River slowly shook her head. “Lily wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for me.”
“Mommy, if you’re sad, the departed won’t be happy in heaven either,” Axel said, gently squeezing River’s hand.
River was taken aback but soon smiled and said, “You’re right.”
After visiting Lily, River and Neil took the children to visit Katie. The three children gazed at the photo on the tombstone. River motioned for them to place the bouquet.
The children followed her instructions, and River wiped the tombstone with a tissue. “Mother, I brought the children to visit you. Do you think they resemble me?”
Neil smiled and said, “Lia looks like me.”
River chuckled, “I forgot to mention, this is my brother. You remember him, right? You’ve worked at Xander Residence for so long. You must have taken care of Neil, too.”
Just as River’s voice faded, Tyler suddenly spoke.
River turned and followed Tyler’s gaze to Liora, who stood there absentmindedly. “Lia? What’s going on?”
Liora stretched her hand to point at the photo on the tombstone, but she stopped herself, thinking it would be inappropriate.
“Nothing.” Liora shook her head.
The person in the photo seemed familiar, but she couldn’t recall where she had seen them before.
‘Was it in a dream?‘ she wondered.
Liora stared at the photo with her head tilted until River finished her visit.
River stood up and said, “There’s another graveyard next door. Jamie is buried there, and I’d also like to visit her.”
“Sure. I’ll carry you, Axel,” Neil replied as he picked up Axel.
Axel didn’t decline the offer. After all, he was tired from walking due to his recent hospitalization. They soon got into the car.
They drove to the graveyard where Jamie was buried.
River noticed a figure in the distance before they reached the area. A man in a black overcoat with a straight posture was standing in front of a tombstone. He was surrounded by mist, adding a touch of loneliness to his presence.