Filed to story: The Billionaire’s Replacement Wife (River & Noah) Novel Online Free
River shot Daniella a disgusted side glance before heading out of the washroom. To her surprise, Daniella quickly followed and forcefully grabbed her hand.
Instinctively, River pushed her away, and in the next moment, a scream pierced the air. River swiftly turned around to find Daniella lying on the floor.
Struggling with pain, Daniella looked at River with a pained expression. “Ms. Healy, why would you do this to me?”
River was at a loss for words.
What was Daniella trying to achieve?
Tears welled up in her eyes as Daniella continued, “I was concerned about you and just wanted to see your face injury. Why did you push me?”
River let out a cold laugh. As she was about to respond, she heard footsteps approaching from behind.
“What is going on here?”
Upon hearing the cold yet familiar voice, River’s heart skipped a beat. She turned around to see Noah walking toward Daniella.
With tears streaming down her face, Daniella threw herself into Noah’s arms. “Noah, my legs hurt so much.”
“I know.” Noah lifted her up and shot River a chilling glare before heading toward the office.
River’s heart sank as she watched their retreating figures.
One of them was acting a role, while the other willingly believed it. Suddenly, she found herself cast as the unexpected villain in this twisted narrative.
As she walked into the office, two colleagues passing by couldn’t resist mocking her.
“Ms. Healy, you’re getting what you deserve.”
“I thought she was on her way up. Turns out, she’s just a substitute for Ms. Love. How absurd!”
River gave them a cold glance. “If your performance at the end of the month doesn’t meet the required standard, I can make sure you leave anytime.”
With her head held high, she walked back to her office.
After work, Reuben gave River a ride back to Villa Rosa. Lily had prepared dinner for her.
As River washed her hands and sat at the dining table, Lily smiled and said, “Ms. Healy, you’re so fortunate.”
River was taken aback and looked at Lily in confusion. “Me?”
Lily nodded and explained, “Yes, you. Mr. De Marco told me that you enjoy these dishes, so he asked me to cook them before you came home.”
River looked down at the dishes in front of her. They were indeed her favorites.
But what did it matter if they were her favorites? She had lost her freedom.
She ate a few bites casually, lacking appetite, and then prepared to head upstairs.
However, just as she reached the top of the stairs, Noah walked into the villa.
Lily immediately went to greet him. “Mr. De Marco, welcome back.”
Noah handed his coat to her. “Where is she?”
Lily replied, “Ms. Healy just went upstairs. She didn’t eat much. It seems like she’s in a bad mood.”
Noah furrowed his brows. He hadn’t even asked her why she pushed Daniella, yet she was already in a sour mood.
Glancing at the nearly untouched dishes on the table, he ascended the stairs with a cold expression and knocked on the door without much emotion.
Shortly after, River opened the door. Observing the cold man standing outside, she asked nonchalantly, “Mr. De Marco, is there something I can assist you with?”
Noah grew irritated at her distant demeanor. “Shouldn’t you provide me with an explanation?” he questioned.
River kept her gaze lowered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Noah narrowed his eyes. “River, stop asking the obvious and testing my patience!”
However, River chuckled. Suddenly, she lifted her head and stared directly at him. “Well, even if I had the courage to do so, would you believe me?”
Noah responded icily, “So, that’s why you refuse to explain? River, she sprained her ankle because of you!”
River struggled to contain her laughter.
He had already deemed her guilty from the very beginning, so what was the point of asking so many questions?
River faked a smile. “You posed the question yourself. You just want me to confess that I pushed her, right? Well, there you have it. I’m such a wicked woman.”
Didn’t he despise her for having relationships with other men? Didn’t he sympathize with his first love? Since he despised her so, he should just drive her away.
Witnessing her exuding confidence even after admitting her mistake only fueled his anger further.
He forcefully grabbed her, pulling her into an unwelcome embrace.
Forcing his lips upon hers, he kissed her aggressively and delivered a painful bite. A cry of pain escaped River’s lips, and the taste of blood filled their mouths.
Her tried to push him away but her futile attempts were met with an even tighter grip as he continued to trap her in his arms.
In that heart-wrenching moment, she realized she was nothing more than an object for his amusement. Bitter tears streamed down her face as she resigned herself to endure his cruel treatment.
Suddenly, feeling the wetness of her tears, he abruptly released his grip. A mix of sorrow and turmoil filled his eyes as he saw the tears clinging to her long eyelashes. His brows furrowing deeply with a blend of concern and inner conflict.
He couldn’t help but feel that something was slipping through his fingers.
However, that fleeting thought quickly gave way to a surge of anger, evident in the intensity of his gaze.
His voice dropped to a menacing tone as he bellowed, “Does it pain you so much to share a kiss with me?”
River remained silent with her head bowed and her feet rooted to the spot.
Witnessing her stubbornness, he spun around and stormed away in a fit of rage.
Before long, the sound of a car engine resonated from downstairs.
She looked out of the window in a daze.
Once, she had been willing to be a substitute, but now she realized her limits—she refused to become a home wrecker.
Meanwhile, inside the confines of the private room at the Wild Sides club, two men exchanged dismayed glances as Noah entered.
They endured the stifling tension and icy atmosphere, sitting in silence for a while. Eventually, one of them could no longer contain his curiosity.
Alex Price approached Noah and remarked, “Noah, did you once again find the wrong person?”
Noah shot him a cold glare. “Watch your tongue!”
Alex promptly fell silent and shot a quick glance at Lucas Jensen, who was seated nearby.
Lucas nodded and spoke up, “Noah, why didn’t you bring your secretary along today?”
A shadow cast over Noah’s face. “Mention her again, and you’re gonna miss the company of women for the next six months.”
Fear crept into Lucas’s widened eyes as he swiftly stood up, putting as much distance as possible between himself and Noah.
Alex, now enlightened, realized that Noah’s anger stemmed from River.
After contemplating for a moment, he changed the subject. “Noah, when will you introduce us to your new partner?”
Lucas seized the opportunity and chimed in, “Yes, let us finally meet the woman who occupies your thoughts day and night.”
A moment of silence enveloped Noah. “What triggers such sudden transformations in a person’s character?”
Alex and Lucas exchanged knowing glances, sensing a potential source of gossip.
Alex responded, “Life experiences and the people who surround them.”
Noah looked at him, his gaze filled with contemplation.
River had finally managed to fall asleep before dawn, only to be abruptly awakened by the sound of her ringing phone.
She reached for her phone and saw that the caller was Alex, prompting her to quickly answer the call.
“Ms. Healy, are you asleep?” Alex asked.
River sat up, fully awake now. “Mr. Price, what can I help you with?”
Alex glanced at Noah beside him who got drunk because of Lucas and him. “Mr. De Marco is drunk. Can you come and get him?”
River was taken aback by the request.
She knew that Alex and Lucas were Noah’s closest friends, and they were always in his company. She suspected they had gotten Noah drunk to sound him out.
She did not know what was up their sleeves at the moment, and she was unwilling to be deceived. Therefore, she declined the request simply. “Mr. Price, please contact Reuben instead. It’s inconvenient for me to go at the moment. If there’s nothing else, I’ll end the call now.”