A Replacement Bride

Chapter 256

"Really?" She stared at her mother with anticipation in her eyes.

Katherine gave her a gentle smile. "Of course. I never lie."

Elation filled Noah's heart. Her face was even gleaming, and her eyes shone like stars. She hugged her mother tight, immersing herself in this pool of happiness. Tears even began to well up in her eyes. "Promise me, Mommy. You, Daddy, and I will go to the amusement park together."

Joaquin? Katherine looked away. She chose not to talk about Joaquin. "Yes."

Noah was reminded of something. She backed out of Katherine's embrace and looked up at her carefully. "Mommy, are you fighting with Daddy lately?"

Katherine was a little surprised by that. "Why do you ask?"

"Because you two haven't been talking much," the girl answered seriously. Before Katherine could say anything, she quickly pleaded, "Mommy, Daddy still likes you. He's nice to you, so can you not split up? I want him to be my Daddy."

Katherine was more astonished that the girl would make that request. "Do you like him that much?" she asked.

Without hesitation, Noah nodded. "Yeah. I like Daddy. I don't want anyone else to be my daddy. Please stop fighting with him, Mommy."

Katherine was a little amused. She wasn't fighting with Joaquin. His sarcasm got on her nerves, that was all. She wouldn't try to butter up anyone who wouldn't talk nicely to her. If he wouldn't talk like a mature adult, she wouldn't talk to him.

But the girl's concern did catch her by surprise. Katherine patted her head and smiled. "Don't worry too much. This is between your father and me. Just rest up and prepare for tomorrow's surgery. Get plenty of rest after that. We'll go home when you get better, alright?"

The girl nodded and returned to her bed. She stared at her mother, hesitating for a long time, and finally, she asked, "Mommy, who's the donor? Have you… found him?"

Katherine stopped tucking her in for a moment and stared into the girl's eyes. She noticed the trepidation hiding within. A moment later, Katherine pulled her hands back. Instead of answering, she asked, "Do you want to know who your real father is, Noah?" Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Noah paused for a moment. First, she nodded, then she shook her head.

Katherine smiled. "Is that a yes or no?"

"Yes, I mean both." A moment of silence later, she muttered, "I'm worried. What if I lose Daddy if I find out who my real father is?"

She was talking about Joaquin, and Katherine knew that. She wondered what she should say. Should I tell her the Daddy she likes so much is her real father?

After some deliberation, she decided to keep quiet about it. The implications of that fact would be big. Noah might feel a thousand emotions coursing through her at the same time should she find out the truth. And I bet he wants to tell her himself.

She smiled gently. "Don't think about it. What's important now is your surgery. Be brave. We'll be rooting for you, you hear?"

If Mommy says so. Noah eventually didn't press on with any more questions. She nodded and closed her eyes. Before sleep claimed her, a thought crossed her mind. Mommy's a lot gentler and warmer

now. It feels like the wall of ice between us is finally melting.

Once the girl was fast asleep, Katherine came out of the ward. She saw Joaquin standing at the end of the corridor, staring out the window. He looked a bit forlorn, and her eyes glinted. She approached him. "Why are you standing there? You're going to catch a cold. You don't want to delay the surgery, do you?" She closed the window.

Joaquin looked at her. He whispered, "Is she asleep?"

"Yes." She nodded and arched her eyebrow. "She likes you a lot and is starting to be reliant on you. She even dislikes her father, whom she has never seen before. What now? When are you planning to tell her that you're her real father?"

Joaquin froze for a moment. Eventually, he regained his senses and pursed his lips. "I don't know." This wasn't a small matter. He had no idea what to tell the girl, nor did he have any idea how to face her. He wondered how Noah would feel when she knew the truth.

Katherine looked at him. For some reason, his musing face tickled her funny bone. "Ah, so you do fear something. You won't tell your daughter you're her real father."

A frown creased Joaquin's forehead. His face fell, and he pursed his lips.

Katherine cocked her eyebrow, and a sigh escaped her lips. "Alright, I was just teasing you. It's fine if you want to be honest. She loves you. If she knows you're her real father, she'd be ecstatic. You keeping it a secret is just going to make her worry. She might be young, but she's more attentive than you think. She might be coming up with a lot of worst-case scenarios."

A moment of silence later, Joaquin eased up a little, and then he nodded. "I understand."

Katherine said nothing more on the subject. "Get some rest. The surgery is tomorrow." She was about to leave, but Joaquin held her hand. Katherine stopped for a moment and shot him a curious look. "What is it? Do you have something else to say?"

Joaquin stared at her for a long while, but he said nothing. Eventually, he let her go. "Nothing. Good night."