A Replacement Bride

Chapter 182

Noah secretly glanced at Katherine. However, she quickly retracted her gaze, obediently closed her eyes, and slept as she feared that Katherine would discover her peeking.

That night, the room's dim light showered upon the two figures who were sleeping soundly with faint smiles on their faces on the bed.

Meanwhile, Joaquin, also in the room, suddenly felt a warm sensation flowing through his heart as he listened to the mother-daughter duo's shallow breathing. This! This is the life that I've always yearned for but never achieved. Just a family of three being happy together.

"Good night," he whispered softly. Then, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep after a while.

Tonight was the night Joaquin had slept the most peacefully and steadfastly in so many years. He slept so soundly that he didn't even have nightmares.

Nightmares had been haunting Joaquin almost every night since he entered Area Seven, particularly after becoming the head of Area Seven. He never stopped having nightmares, especially after killing someone for the first time, and he always dreamt of a gory bloodbath every night when he slept.

Tonight was the night he had slept the most peacefully in the past twenty years.

The morning sunshine shone through the window and into the room the next day. Noah was the first to open her eyes. She got up and stretched comfortably.

Little did Noah know, Katherine had long woken up. She kept lying in her original sleeping position because she was afraid of waking Noah. She only moved and stretched her arm, which was slightly sore from getting pressed all night, when she saw Noah wake up.

Noah's face blushed in embarrassment when she saw Katherine's action. Feeling sorry, she asked shyly, "Mom, d-did I hurt you?"

Noah couldn't help but feel excited last night, considering it was the first time she slept by Katherine's side. Later, she was even more ecstatic when she discovered she could sleep in Katherine's arms. For that reason, she was really reluctant to change her sleeping posture and kept sleeping in the same position all night. Yet, now that she looked at Katherine massaging and stretching her shoulder, she realized that she might have caused Katherine to feel uncomfortable.

As Katherine watched Noah asking with an apologetic look, she reached up, patted her head, and comforted her lightly by saying, "I'm fine. Get up and go wash up in the bathroom. I'll make breakfast for us all."

Seeing that Katherine seemed not to get angry with her, Noah silently breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she involuntarily glanced at Joaquin, who was still sleeping soundly on the floor, before secretly asking Katherine, "Mom, isn't Mr. Joe going to wake up?"

Upon hearing that, Katherine, too, glanced at Joaquin. An unexpected expression painted across her face as she stared at the sleeping man. Odd. This man would usually wake up even if there were only a tiny commotion. Yet, today he's sleeping rather soundly. This is a rare sight indeed.

After she made sure Joaquin was breathing normally, and there was nothing wrong with him, she ignored him and said to Noah, "He's fine. He's just tired, that's all. Let him sleep for a little longer."

With that, she went to wash herself up in the bathroom.

Once Noah noticed that Katherine didn't bother to wake Joaquin up, Noah naturally paid no attention to him either. She got up and went back to her room to wash up.

Joaquin only woke up after Katherine finished making breakfast. I can't remember how long I haven't had a good sleep. The feeling of waking up naturally is so darn good that even the migraine that has been bothering me seems to have gotten much better.

When he left the room, he saw Katherine, Noah, and Jennifer having breakfast at the dining table. The three laughed as they chatted, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Perhaps affected by the good vibes, Joaquin couldn't help but smile. Then, he walked over to the dining table, pulled out a chair beside Katherine, and sat down. "Morning."

"Morning," Katherine replied casually.

On the other hand, Jennifer looked at Joaquin with a smile before saying, "Johdy, you're up! You're looking good today. As expected, a fine young man like you should have a good rest and sleep to energize yourself. That way, you'll have the strength to do anything." There was no doubt that Jennifer's words had a hidden meaning.

Joaquin naturally understood her implications. Therefore, he scratched his nose in embarrassment as he said, "Yes, Grandma. You're right."

"It's good that you know I'm right. But, act fast, so I can have another great-grandchild to accompany me besides Noah. It's best that you and Kathy give this family a healthy great-grandson." As Jennifer was delighted with Joaquin's reply, she took the opportunity to reiterate her past agenda.

Katherine, who was drinking her soy milk, almost choked to death when she heard what Jennifer had said to Joaquin.

She glanced at Jennifer, feeling speechless at how Jennifer was grabbing each and every opportunity that she could get to urge her to give birth.

Noticing Katherine's stare, Jennifer couldn't help but glare at her unhappily. "Why are you looking at me? You're not even listening to me when I talk to you about this matter. Don't you want me to see you and Johdy have a child of your own even until the day I die? Johdy is a good person and treats you so well. So, what's there for you to be worried about? Unlike your sc*mbag of a Dad, he certainly won't abandon you under any circumstances."

Katherine knew that Jennifer would never stop once she started nagging and lecturing, so she hurriedly raised her hand in surrender. "Grandma, I was wrong. I'll listen to you. I'll listen to everything you say, alright?"

As he looked at how Katherine was powerless against Jennifer's nagging, Joaquin couldn't help chuckling.

Joaquin couldn't believe that Katherine, who was fearless and always calm in the face of any sort of encounter, actually acted like a child when facing Jennifer.

Just like that, the four of them finished their breakfast in such a joyful atmosphere.

Katherine was doing all the cleaning and washing when Joaquin suddenly received a call just as he was about to leave the dining table.

He raised his brows slightly once he saw the caller ID. The smile on the corners of his lips faded a little, and his gaze turned cold. NôvelDrama.Org holds this content.

Then, he palmed his phone as he went to the side and answered it. He asked coldly, "What do you want from me?"

"Listen to yourself! What kind of attitude is this? I'm your Dad! Is that how you talk to your Dad? Your Grandma is going to celebrate her 90th birthday in three days. Come home and bring along your wife,"

John reprimanded Joaquin angrily before stating the primary purpose of his call as he was infuriated by the latter's disrespectful attitude.

Joaquin curled his lips into a sneer and said, "Got it."

"Since you don't live with us after you get married, your Grandma misses you very much. So drop by and stay for a few days whenever you're free." Although John disliked Joaquin, he still spoke to him nicely and patiently, for he remembered Elizabeth's order.

As for Joaquin, he didn't reply to John and simply pretended he heard nothing.

John still felt his blood boil in anger even though he had long been used to Joaquin's disagreeable personality. Nonetheless, he suppressed all his rage when he thought about the rumors circulating outside and that he might have to turn to Joaquin for help.

Joaquin hung up the phone with the corners of his lips curved into a mocking smile. Growing up in that family, I know they won't take action without a clear target. They're definitely up to no good, considering they personally take the initiative to invite me back to the Levisay Residence out of the blue and even specify that I should bring Katherine. Grandma's 90th birthday? There's still more than half a year until Grandma celebrates her 90th birthday. Organizing a birthday party at this period of time? Are they trying to make a fool out of themselves?

Still, Joaquin didn't decline the offer, for he, too, wanted to see what tricks the Levisay Family had up their sleeves.

He slid his phone back into his pocket, then walked over to see Katherine leaving the kitchen.

"Kathy, accompany me back to the Levisay Residence in a few days," Joaquin requested softly as he looked at Katherine.

"Huh? Did something happen?" Katherine asked while raising her eyebrows and glancing at Joaquin. Considering Joaquin never once let the Levisay Family be involved in such a big event as our wedding, I know how bad his relationship with the Levisay Family is. So, why is he suddenly going back to the Levisay Residence now?

"Grandma is celebrating her 90th birthday, and she's inviting us back to celebrate together with her." Joaquin twitched his lips into a sarcastic sneer, and a slight mockery sounded in his tone.

Just one look at him and Katherine knew that Elizabeth would incite trouble. Also, she knew she wouldn't need to prepare any gifts and could just go empty-handed.