Filed to story: The Billionaire’s Replacement Wife (River & Noah) Novel Online Free
Compelled by curiosity, she shrugged off the blanket and quietly slipped out of the room to answer the call. With bated breath, she awaited the caller’s introduction.
“Hello? Is this River? This is Novamere Prison,” the voice on the other end revealed.
Prison?”
River’s heart started to flutter with unease. “What’s going on?”
I regret to inform you that your father passed away at the prison at 3.52 AM. Please come to claim.
his body tomorrow,” the voice informed her solemnly.
River’s mind went blank, a wave of disbelief crashing over her.
“Bradley… he’s dead?” she murmured in disbelief.
Slowly, River lowered the phone, her eyes filled with an overwhelming sense of shock.
Despite harboring resentment toward Bradley, she couldn’t deny the hardships he endured while caring for the family during her childhood.
Suppressing the pain welling up in her chest, she weakly collapsed onto the sofa.
‘Why does everything have to happen so suddenly?‘ she wondered, a sense of turmoil gripping her.
The next morning, Noah received the same news. Without hesitation, he rushed to the prison alongside River in the early hours.
Guided by a prison guard, River made her way to claim Bradley’s lifeless body.
Upon seeing her father’s face, marred by injuries, tears welled up in River’s eyes uncontrollably.
Noah stood outside the door, silently observing her anguish. His own pain became too difficult to bear.
Turning to the prison guard, Noah’s voice grew icy as he demanded, “Who did this?”
The prison guard sighed heavily. “There was an altercation in the prison, and Bradley was beaten
Noah furrowed his brow. He knew that seeking compensation for her father’s life would be meaningless
After a while, River emerged from the room, her expression devoid of emotion. She approached Noah and spoke with a detached tone, Thank you for driving me here.”
Narrowing his eyes, Noah stared at her intently. The extreme calmness in her eyes cast a somber shadow over his own.
“River…” Noah called out to heri
“Thank you. You can leave now,” River interrupted, her lips pursed. “I can handle it.”
Noah fell silent, his gaze fixed on her for a moment before he turned around and departed.
A funeral home car arrived promptly River joined them, and together they headed to the crematorium.
With no friends or relatives to bid him farewell, Bradley’s funeral was simple and understated.
While waiting for the cremation to conclude, River reached out to the cemetery.
Once the cremation was over, River received Bradley’s ashes and proceeded to the cemetery for his burial.
Having taken care of all the necessary arrangements, River purchased a bouquet of chrysanthemums and made her way to Katie’s grave.
She gently placed the flowers against the tombstone and knelt down slowly. In a soft murmur, she addressed her departed mother, “Mom, are you at peace in heaven?
“You harbored so much hatred toward Dad, didn’t you? But now, there’s no need for that because he’s passed away as well.”
“Now, I’m the only one left…”
In the distance, both Noah and Reuben quietly observed River as she knelt before the tombstone. After a while, Reuben let out a sigh and remarked, “Mr. De Marco, Miss Healy is truly pitiful.”
Noah remained silent, his eyes clouded with gloom, revealing the depths of his emotions.
After a moment, Noah inquired, “Have you found out who was responsible?”
Reuben bowed his head. “Mr. De Marco, the person we’re dealing with is cunning. Every time we uncover a clue, it’s swiftly erased.”
Noah’s displeasure manifested as a frown. “What I want is results.”
“Understood, Mr. De Marco,” Reuben replied
Noah averted his gaze, retrieving a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it. After taking a drag, he asked, “How about the orphanage? Any news?”
“The new director is still searching for information from that year. It will take some time,” Reuben reported.
Flicking the ash off his cigarette, Noah made a decision. ‘I’ll go there tomorrow.”
“Mr. De Marco, Reuben reminded, “Your father is coming to Novamere City tomorrow.”
Noah’s frustration surfaced on his face. “Then I’ll go the day after tomorrow.”
“Got it…”
As Reuben spoke, he noticed River standing unsteadily.
Without warning, she suddenly collapsed.
“River!” Noah exclaimed, tossing his cigarette aside and rushing to her side.
“River!”
In a room adorned with cartoon pictures, a girl huddled on the bed, clutching her knees tightly.
She wept relentlessly, repeatedly calling out for her mother.
She screamed until her voice grew hoarse, but her mother never appeared.
Suddenly, the door swung open.
The girl straightened up, her gaze fixed on the doorway, only to find a few girls her age entering the room. She pouted and shrunk back.
“You’re crying again. All you do is cry all day long! What a jinx!”
The leader, with her hair tied in a ponytail, was consumed by anger. She grabbed a doll from the floor and hurled it forcefully at the girl on the bed.
“If you cry again, I’ll stuff your mouth with towels.
The girl stopped crying, but she glared at the girl in a ponytail with a deep sense of injustice.
“Don’t you dare glare at me! How dare you!” the ponytailed girl stormed toward her, raising her fists and striking her head repeatedly.
“I’m going to teach you a lesson, you jinx!”
“No… Stop hitting her!” River shouted at the top of her lungs, suddenly jolting awake.
She panted heavily, fear lingering in her eyes as she stared at the ceiling.
She had dreamt once again of that pitiful girl being subjected to violence.
“Ms. Healy is awake!” a familiar voice exclaimed, jolting River back to reality.
She turned her head and saw Lily rushing out of the room, brimming with excitement.
River spun around and found the phone.
Upon seeing the unfamiliar number displayed on the screen, a frown involuntarily creased her forehead.
Who was it calling her in the middle of the night?
Compelled by curiosity, she shrugged off the blanket and quietly slipped out of the room to answer the call. With bated breath, she awaited the caller’s introduction.
“Hello? Is this River? This is Novamere Prison,” the voice on the other end revealed.
Prison?”
River’s heart started to flutter with unease. “What’s going on?”
I regret to inform you that your father passed away at the prison at 3.52 AM. Please come to claim.
his body tomorrow,” the voice informed her solemnly.
River’s mind went blank, a wave of disbelief crashing over her.
“Bradley… he’s dead?” she murmured in disbelief.
Slowly, River lowered the phone, her eyes filled with an overwhelming sense of shock.
Despite harboring resentment toward Bradley, she couldn’t deny the hardships he endured while caring for the family during her childhood.
Suppressing the pain welling up in her chest, she weakly collapsed onto the sofa.
‘Why does everything have to happen so suddenly?‘ she wondered, a sense of turmoil gripping her.
The next morning, Noah received the same news. Without hesitation, he rushed to the prison alongside River in the early hours.
Guided by a prison guard, River made her way to claim Bradley’s lifeless body.
Upon seeing her father’s face, marred by injuries, tears welled up in River’s eyes uncontrollably.
Noah stood outside the door, silently observing her anguish. His own pain became too difficult to bear.
Turning to the prison guard, Noah’s voice grew icy as he demanded, “Who did this?”
The prison guard sighed heavily. “There was an altercation in the prison, and Bradley was beaten
Noah furrowed his brow. He knew that seeking compensation for her father’s life would be meaningless
After a while, River emerged from the room, her expression devoid of emotion. She approached Noah and spoke with a detached tone, Thank you for driving me here.”
Narrowing his eyes, Noah stared at her intently. The extreme calmness in her eyes cast a somber shadow over his own.
“River…” Noah called out to heri
“Thank you. You can leave now,” River interrupted, her lips pursed. “I can handle it.”
The passage about her father dying in prison and her claiming his body was repeated twice in this chapter.