Filed to story: The Billionaire’s Replacement Wife (River & Noah) Novel Online Free
“Wait!” Alex quickly stopped River as she was about to end the call.
He calmly lied, “Reuben can’t make it due to some issues.”
Silence enveloped River before she responded, “Alright, send me the address.”
Twenty minutes later, River stepped out of the car at the entrance of Wild Sides.
Both Alex and Lucas were waiting at the club’s entrance, supporting Noah, whose head was hanging low.
River furrowed her brow as she approached. When she noticed the peculiar redness on Noah’s handsome face, she confirmed that he was indeed drunk.
However, she was just 170 centimeters tall. How could she support Noah, who stood at 190 centimeters?
Alex pushed Noah into her arms and asked, “Ms. Healy, did you meet the woman Noah has been searching for?”
Lowering her gaze, River replied, “Yes, I did.”
Alex smiled and said, “It’s likely because of her that Noah resorted to drinking tonight, though I’m uncertain of the exact reason. Please take him home and take good care of him.”
Suddenly, River’s heart was filled with excruciating pain.
However, that pain seemed slightly less prominent than before.
She offered a faint smile to Alex before she struggled to leave with Noah.
Once they were a distance away, Lucas immediately exclaimed, “Alex, have you lost your mind?”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “What’s the matter?”
Lucas indignantly pointed at River’s retreating figure. “You know very well that Noah drank because of Ms. Healy, yet you claimed it was because of his first love.”
Alex chuckled. “A little suffering will do Noah some good.”
Lucas became puzzled. “How will he benefit from suffering?”
Alex explained, “Chill. You’ll find out in the future.”
Lucas was left speechless.
Upon returning to Villa Rosa, River exerted herself to bring Noah back to his master bedroom.
As a result, she was so drained that she weakly collapsed at the edge of the bed.
Looking up, she carefully examined his flawless face.
His short hair was slightly disheveled, partially covering his forehead.
His captivating eyes were tightly shut. The thin lips beneath his prominent nose were firmly pressed together, indicating his discomfort.
As she observed him, an impulse surged within her. She felt an urge to smoothen the space between his eyebrows.
However, Noah suddenly opened his eyes the moment her fingertips touched his face. He grabbed her wrist.
His sudden movement startled River. She attempted to retract her hand, but he didn’t give her the opportunity.
“Why didn’t you run away when you had the chance?” Noah demanded coldly.
River answered insincerely, “I won’t get any money if I run away.”
Noah’s expression turned frigid as he tightened his grip on her wrist.
“What else do you care about apart from money?” he asked.
She pretended to ponder. “According to a certain someone, it seems that I also care about other men.”
Wasn’t that the answer Noah desired? Well, she would give him exactly what he wanted.
As anticipated, a deep sense of disgust manifested in his dark eyes.
“Our contract isn’t over yet. Act as a mistress should,” he bellowed.
His outburst caused her heart excruciating pain, to the point where she felt suffocated.
He could shamelessly engage intimately with his first love, while she was deemed so inferior that she could only be his concealed mistress, too shameful to be acknowledged.
She was unwilling to accept such a role.
Therefore, she suppressed her bitterness and took a deep breath.
She gazed up at him. “Noah, let’s put an end to this relationship, alright?”
Suddenly, his breathing became erratic. In the next moment, he grabbed her chin tightly and declared fiercely, “River, I always have the final say in this arrangement. You don’t have the right to terminate it!
“From this day forward, you are not allowed to leave Villa Rosa without my permission!”
River couldn’t comprehend how she had managed to walk out of Noah’s room.
Following his cruel warning, he ruthlessly violated her dignity and slept with her.
If she could turn back time, she would retract her previous words. That way, she could still attend to her job at the company and visit her mother at the hospital, maintaining some semblance of her former life.
However, now she was reduced to being merely his pet, someone he could toy with and discard at his whim.
River endured an entire week of confinement.
She busied herself with the design drafts in her hands.
Once she received the payment for the commission, she promptly transferred it to Katie’s bank account.
As she was about to log off from social media, her good friend Paige sent her a message.
[River, Ylesir is organizing an online fashion design event. Are you interested in participating?]
River was taken aback for a moment. [Could you please send me the qualifications and participation requirements?]
Paige quickly sent her a link, and River clicked on it to review the website. She found that she met the necessary criteria to enter the competition.
The competition spanned three months and comprised three rounds.
The cash prize for the champion amounted to an impressive 700,000 dollars.
That sum of money would be sufficient to cover her mother’s medical expenses, and it would also give her the confidence to leave Noah.
River replied, [Thank you. This means a lot to me.]
Paige responded, [You’re welcome. Just treat me to a meal when you have some free time.]
River agreed to the proposition.
Just as she was done filling out the application form, Lily knocked on her door, informing her food was ready.
River promptly closed her laptop and headed downstairs.
After settling at the dining table, Lily served River a bowl of freshly cooked mushroom soup.
Upon seeing the yellow and greasy layer on the soup, River felt a wave of nausea wash over her.
Overwhelmed by the intense feeling, she hurriedly made her way to the restroom.
Lily was left speechless, witnessing the scene unfold before her. However, soon, a joyful expression appeared on her face.
When River returned, her complexion pale, Lily smiled and asked, “Ms. Healy, is your period late?”
River weakly lifted the teacup from the table. “My period is never on time.”
Lily spoke up, “If my guess is correct, Ms. Healy, you might be pregnant.”
River’s hand froze suddenly, and she looked at Lily in shock. “Pregnant?”
Lily nodded. “Yes, I’ll help you get a pregnancy test kit later. You’ll have clarity after taking the test.”
River managed a bitter smile. “Lily, Noah and I always use protection. Maybe my body isn’t feeling well lately. It’s unlikely that I’m pregnant.”
But Lily felt a hint of regret. “Well, I’ll prepare some dishes to nourish your body, just in case.”
River nodded, her emotions mixed. “By the way, Lily, please don’t mention anything to Noah about any issues with my body.”
Lily tried to persuade her. “Mr. De Marco cares deeply for you.”
However, River let out a chuckle. “I know. But he’s incredibly busy. I don’t want him to be distracted because of me…”
After finishing dinner, River quickly made her way upstairs.
She was uncertain whether she was pregnant or not. That night in the car, she and Noah had not used any protection.
However, it could also be a result of some other illness.
She raised her hand, placing it on her belly with a troubled mind.
If she was indeed pregnant, could she choose to keep the child? Certainly, Noah would not want the child of his mistress.