Filed to story: The Billionaire’s Replacement Wife (River & Noah) Novel Online Free
After a brief break, as she prepared to resume her search, Emma entered the room.
“Miss, it’s almost time for dinner. Would you like to go to the cafeteria and grab a bite?”
River declined politely, wearing a smile. “Thank you, but I’ll continue for a while longer. If I can’t find it, I’ll return tomorrow.
Emma nodded and placed a key on the table. This is the key to the iron door. When you leave later, please lock it for me. You can hand the key to the teacher here. I’ll go home first.”
River pocketed the key and nodded gratefully. “Alright, thank you very much.”
After Emma departed, River immersed herself in the archives once again. At half–past seven in the evening, she carried the last stack of documents from the floor to the table.
Organizing them chronologically, she discovered a few more folders containing information from nineteen years ago. Just as she was about to examine them, she heard faint footsteps approaching the door.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she turned toward the window. The darkness outside prevented her from seeing anyone. She gulped as a trace of fear crept into her thoughts.
The row of buildings where the information was stored was old and dilapidated, and the open. space in front was overgrown with weeds, indicating that very few people visited, especially at this hour.
She got up and cautiously surveyed the area, and her eyes fell on an iron rod in the comer. She picked it up, suppressing her apprehension, and slowly approached the door.
When she was less than a meter from the door, the footsteps sounded again.
When Noah received River’s call, he had just arrived at the orphanage.
Frowning slightly, he glanced at the name on his phone screen and wondered, “Why is she calling me at this hour?”
He picked up the call and before he could speak, he heard River’s vigorous coughing.
“Noah, save me!” River shouted anxiously, her voice filled with desperation.
Noah’s handsome face immediately darkened, his eyes turning cold. “Where are you?”
“I’m at Cloude Orphanage, in the old shack at the back,” River managed to say amidst her coughs. “Someone Cough! Cough! Someone purposely set the place on fire and locked me inside.
Cough! Cough. Noah! Save me! Cough! I can’t get out!”
Upon hearing her words, Noah’s gaze shifted to the orphanage, his expression filled with a chilling determination. Without wasting any time, he opened the car door and swiftly stepped out.
“River, cover your mouth and find an air vent. Stand near it. I’m coming right away.”
Reuben, noticing something was amiss, quickly exited the car and asked, “Mr. De Marco, what’s happening?”
Noah quickly briefed him, saying, “Gather some men and head to the old shack at the back of the orphanage immediately. River is trapped there.”
With that, he rushed into the orphanage, his heart pounding with worry. Running towards the rear of the building, he encountered a large blue iron door from which thick smoke billowed out. The bodyguards following closely behind him attempted to kick the door open.
After a few forceful kicks, the door swung open, revealing the third shack that was engulfed in flames.
Noah’s heart skipped a beat as he called out, “River!”
River was hiding under the window in the shack. When she heard Noah’s voice, she immediately responded, “Noah! I’m here!”
Noah glanced at the door that was secured with an iron lock. He screamed coldly, “Stay back!”
Then, he forcefully kicked the door open
Dense smoke gushed out of the shack.
Fanning away the smoke with his hand, Noah spotted River trembling and coughing in a corner. Without waiting for the bodyguards‘ assistance, he darted into the fire, determined to save her.
River, having inhaled a significant amount of smoke, felt dizzy and weak. Her legs failed to support her when she tried to stand up. Noah’s expression hardened as he crouched down and swiftly lifted her before rushing out of the burning room.
He carried her back to the car and scolded her fiercely as she settled in. “Are you out of your mind? Why did you come here alone? If I hadn’t arrived, you would have been burned to death.”
k you.”
River sniffled, her voice hoarse. Thank
She sounded very sincere.
Her gratitude touched Noah, causing his anger to subside. He calmed down and noticed the folders she held in her arms. Frowning, he asked, “What did you manage to retrieve from there?”
Regaining her composure, River carefully placed the documents on her lap. She switched on the car lamp and anxiously searched through the documents,
Noah’s eyes narrowed. “Are you looking for information about the time you spent in the orphanage?”
Her hands momentarily froze as she realized something. Looking up at Noah, she asked, confused, “How did you get here so quickly?”
Noah glared at her. “Have you become dumb from all the smoke?”
River attempted to calm herself down, recollecting what Noah had just told her. He had asked if she was looking for information, which she now realized. Shocked, she stared at him and asked, Do you know something?”
Noah picked up a set of information from her lap. “Your father told me that you were adopted by your mother.”
River was stunned. Questions flooded her mind. ‘He knew it all along? Why didn’t he tell me? How did he arrive so quickly? Did he come here with his men to search for information?‘
River blinked, her mind in a daze. “Did you find anything?”
“No,” Noah replied, growing frustrated. “River, let me ask you one last time.”
Noah’s cold gaze bore into her. “That year…
“I don’t know.” River knew what he wanted to ask, so she interrupted him. I’ve lost my memories.”
Noah furrowed his brows, briefly scrutinizing her before returning his attention to the information. They searched for a long time, but found no details about River’s adoption or even a photograph resembling her.
Disappointed, River glanced at the scattered information in the car and remarked, “Well, everything’s gone now. The remaining information was burned together with the shack.”
Noah’s eyes narrowed. “You mentioned on the phone that someone deliberately set the place on fire?”
River nodded and proceeded to recount the events leading up to the fire in great detail.
After a moment of silence, Noah let out a cold laugh. “The person who destroyed the information might have knowledge about your background. Moreover, the person who attacked you on two previous occasions could very well be the same individual.”
River felt a surge of fear upon hearing his words. “Are you suggesting that they are enemies of my parents?”
“Enemies?” Noah’s gaze grew intense. “Why do you assume it’s their enemies?”
River averted her eyes. “I have the right to withhold answers to your questions.”
Without any leads, she couldn’t reveal her mother’s warnings to Noah just yet.
Noah did not pressure River for an answer when she refused to disclose the truth.
Once the firefighters and police officers arrived at the scene, he escorted her to a nearby hospital after she finished giving her testimony.
The doctor examined her lungs, and upon being assured of her well–being, they departed.
On her way home, drowsiness overcame River, causing her to accidentally bump her head against the car door from time to time.
Seeing that, Noah pursed his thin lips and extended his hand, gently supporting her head and allowing her to rest it on his shoulder.
Reuben, who was driving, caught a glimpse of the scene through the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but suppress his laughter.
‘Mr. De Marco is stubborn, but he does care about Ms. Healy,‘ Reuben mused to himself.
Two hours later, they arrived at Villa Rosa.
Initially, Noah had intended to carry River out of the car, but the moment he touched her legs, she abruptly awakened and shrinked back in fear. When she realized it was Noah, she averted her! gaze and asked hesitantly, “Are we at Redwood Neighborhood?”
Redwood Neighborhood was the neighborhood where River rented her house.
“You’ll be staying at Villa Rosa, Noah replied, his tone devoid of warmth.
River regained her composure, widening her eyes in surprise. “Villa Rosa? No, I want to go home.”
Noah furrowed his brows, his voice taking on a slightly somber tone. “River, do you think you’ll always be this incredibly lucky?”
River pursed her lips and whispered, “I can hire a few bodyguards.”
“And for how long do you intend to do that?” Noah scoffed.
River fell silent, realizing she didn’t have sufficient funds to hire bodyguards indefinitely.
However, Noah was on the verge of becoming engaged to Daniella. If River remained at Villa Rosa, she would be labeled a homewrecker.
As they reached an impasse, Reuben’s phone suddenly rang. He stepped out of the car to answer the call and hurriedly returned, exclaiming, “Mr. De Marco, they’ve apprehended the people responsible for setting the fire. Do you want them brought here?”
River immediately lifted her gaze and locked eyes with Noah. A faint smile appeared in his eyes, as if he was awaiting her decision.
River looked away and said, ‘T’ll go home after listening to them.”
With that, she opened the car door and rushed into the villa.
At the same time, in International Residence, Daniella received a call from Nic.