Filed to story: The Billionaire’s Replacement Wife (River & Noah) Novel Online Free
Daniella opened the door and walked into the room in her heels.
As she observed the man soundly asleep in bed, she discarded her clothes without hesitation, allowing them to fall carelessly onto the floor. She gingerly climbed into the bed, mindful not to disturb his slumber.
She slept soundly until 7 a.m…
Suddenly, Noah’s eyes fluttered open from an upset tummy, his face contorted with discomfort.
He frowned when he realized that he was in a hotel room
“Mmph… Noah, you’re awake?” Daniella’s voice filled the air, carrying a hint of sleepiness as she gazed at him sheepishly.
In that moment, a rush of memories from the previous night flooded Noah’s mind. He recalled the ringing of the doorbell, his hazy consciousness as he stumbled towards the entrance, and pulling someone inside upon recognizing a familiar voice. He had mistaken Daniella for River–his heart sank.
Annoyed, Noah threw off the blanket and rose from the bed, his frustration evident on his handsome face.
With disappointment evident in her voice, Daniella quickly sat up. “Noah! Do you despise me to the extent that you don’t want to be intimate with me?”
Noah’s handsome face stiffened, his voice ice–cold. “Did you bring me here?”
“I had been drinking too. I realized it wasn’t safe to drive you home, so I brought you here. I intended to get some honey water to help sober you up, but the kitchen was closed. When I returned, you suddenly pulled me in and things escalated… Noah, if you loathe me, I can pretend this never happened.”
Feeling wronged, she recalled the images she had seen on the security camera and lied.
Noah’s fists clenched tightly as he spoke, ‘Daniella, I’ll make it up to you, but not right now.”
Secretly relieved by his response, she hoped he wouldn’t recall River’s presence.
Her focus was now on ensuring everything went smoothly when her adoptive parents–who had promised to come–arrived.
Meanwhile, River had just finished showering when Noah returned home. She crossed paths. with him, an instinctive desire to ask about his well–being tugged at her.
However, before she could utter a word, he spoke coldly. “Did you know that Daniella took me away last night?”
She nodded. “I do.”
Frowning, disappointment evident in his eyes, Noah continued. “You truly are something, River.
With that, he swiftly made his way to their room, slamming the door with a resounding thud, leaving River standing at the entrance, bewildered and lost.
Perplexed by his sudden outburst, she couldn’t fathom what she had done to trigger such a tantrum. Noah had been fine the previous night, but this morning, he seemed like a completely. different person
Deciding not to dwell on it, she headed downstairs for breakfast before setting off to the hospital.
The bodyguards stationed themselves outside the ward, allowing her to enter alone.
River’s heart squeezed painfully at the sight of her pale and tearful mother, Katie, lying in the hospital bed and sobbing.
She quickly went up to ask. “Mom? What’s wrong?”
Katie hurriedly wiped away her tears upon seeing River and choked out, “You’re here, River.”
She nodded, her mind racing as she considered her next question. “Was Dad here?”
A weary sigh escaped Katie’s lips. “Let’s not talk about him, River. Please, let’s not.”
Rage began to simmer within River. “Mom, did he cause trouble for you again? Did he demand more money?”
“Stop it, River. I’ve already paid Doctor Wilson back.” Katie said.
“We owe him too many favors. We’ve burdened him enough; we can never repay him…”
River’s emotions were complex. She knew all too well that her father would inevitably return, seeking money once more, given his character. However, she hadn’t anticipated it happening so
Soon
Taking a deep breath, she made a determined declaration. “Let me handle it, Mom. I won’t allow him to come back.”
Katie stared at her in disbelief. “What are you going to do, River?”
“Call the police,” she stated firmly.
She refused to be a passive victim any longer. Even if it meant being labeled “ungrateful” and
Recognizing her daughter’s resolute character, Katie refrained from dissuading her. Exhausted, she closed her eyes, silently watching as River left the ward.
In her heart, she hoped that Bradley would finally learn his lesson.
River instructed the bodyguards to take turns keeping watch outside the ward
Bradley appeared two days later.
The bodyguard secretly recorded the abhorrent scene as Bradley coerced Katie into handing over money and resorted to physically assaulting her.
The footage was swiftly sent to River, shattering her heart as she witnessed her mother being callously thrown to the ground and struck by her own father.
River immediately commanded the bodyguards to intervene and put a stop to Bradley’s abusive.
actions
Simultaneously, she rushed to the police station, presenting the incriminating video evidence to the officer in charge.
In no time, the officer accompanied River back to the ward
She felt sad and helpless seeing Bradley being detained.
“River, you ungrateful daughter! How dare you call the police on me!”
His eyes widened with fury as he unleashed his scathing words upon River.
“Just you wait! I’ll hunt you down when I get out! I will make you suffer along with your mother!”
After recording her statement with the police officer, River returned to the ward to comfort her mother, Katie.
Meanwhile, in a nearby restaurant, Daniella and Noah sat next to each other. They were there to meet with the individuals posing as her adoptive parents.
“Mum, Dad, why didn’t you let me know you were coming back?”
Her fake adoptive father mustered a strained smile and said, “Hi, Daniella. Please, have a seat.”
Her fake adoptive mother glanced at Noah and deliberately inquired, “And who might this be,
Daniella?”
Daniella blushed shyly. “Mom, this is Noah, the person I’ve told you so much about.”
Her adoptive mother appeared stunned, but she nodded in acknowledgement. “Ah, so this is Mr. De Marco. Please, join us.”
Noah sat down, his dark eyes fixed on the couple who seemed to have appeared out of thin air. They poured him water and engaged in casual conversation.
Barely had they settled in their seats when the waiter arrived to serve the food.
“Daniella, Mr. De Marco seems like a reliable man. We are relieved that you’ve found someone like him,” her adoptive father commented.
“Yes, indeed her adoptive mother chimed in, her gaze shifting towards Noah. “Mr. De Marco, when you plan to make your relationship with Daniella official?”
do
Noah wiped his hands slowly with a napkin, his tone distant and cold. “What kind of relationship are you referring to?”
“Engagement, of course.”
“We haven’t reached that stage yet. There are some matters I still need to attend to,” Noah responded, his voice devoid of warmth.
Daniella played along sweetly. “That’s right, there’s no rush. Noah is quite busy, and we’ve only just started dating.”
Hearing her words, Noah suddenly recalled River’s statement, “I don’t want to be a mistress.”
Annoyance welled up within him. He discarded the napkin and abruptly stood up. “I have some urgent matters to attend to. Please, continue without me.”
Daniella panicked at his sudden departure. She hurriedly followed him, calling out, “Noah! Are you angry with me?”
He halted and turned his head to look at her, his expression icy. “Daniella, I don’t wish to say hurtful things to you.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “But we’ve already been intimate. Aren’t we considered to be in a committed relationship after that?”
“No one can make that decision for me.”
With those words, he turned away and left.
Upon returning to the car, Noah instructed Reuben, who was in the driver’s seat. “Arrange for an investigation into Daniella’s adoptive parents.”
Reuben expressed doubt. “You want to investigate Ms. Love’s childhood?”
Noah loosened his tie and gave a grunt with his deep voice.
Later that night, River returned to Villa Rosa..
She hadn’t eaten much for dinner and, after taking a shower, descended the stairs to request some fruit from Lily to replenish her vitamins.
Coincidentally, Noah had just arrived back and encountered her as she left the bedroom. His eyes were drawn to the water droplets trickling from her hair to her chest. It ignited a smoldering desire within him.
He swallowed hard and questioned, “Where are you going?”