A Replacement Bride

Chapter 253

The looks on Katherine and Joaquin's faces changed. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Joaquin snapped out of it first. He placed the girl on the bed and patted her cheek. "Stay here. Daddy and Mommy need to go out, but we'll be back in a moment, okay?"

Katherine's heart fluttered as she witnessed how tenderly he treated the girl, and she pursed her lips.

The girl looked at him, then at Katherine. She wanted to know what was going on, but she didn't ask any questions. "Sure," she promised. "I'll wait for you."

Joaquin stood up. His eyes met with Katherine's, then both of them left the room. They stood side by side in the corridor, staring at the doctor solemnly.

In the end, Katherine broke the silence. "What's the result?" Her voice was calm, but a hint of trepidation hid within.

The doctor handed them the results with a smile. "Miss Cornell, Mr. Levisay, good news. The marrows match."

Surprise grasped Katherine's heart for a moment, and then relief took over. She took a look at the results, and once she confirmed it, a weight was lifted off her shoulders.

For once, Joaquin froze. A moment later, he snapped out of it and asked, "When can I do the transplant, then?"

The doctor mused over it for a moment. "The patient isn't fully healed yet. Once the toxins are removed and her health returns to normal, we can do the transplant."

He was then reminded of something, so he said, "Oh, Mr. Levisay, don't just focus on the patient's numbers. You should take care of yourself as well. A marrow transplant is no small surgery. The donor and receiver must be kept under strict observation."

Joaquin nodded. "Of course. I'm fine with it."

The doctor left, and Joaquin looked at Katherine. There was excitement and delight in his eyes. "This is good news. We can save Noah now!"

Katherine might look calm, but the excitement in her eyes proved otherwise. "Yeah, we can save Noah now," she muttered. She could finally feel relieved.

Joaquin then checked in to the hospital and stayed in the same ward as Noah. The girl wondered why he was wearing patient attire. "Are you sick, Daddy? Is that why you're staying in the hospital?"

Joaquin opened his mouth, but he had no idea how to explain the truth, so he made up an excuse instead.

"I'm feeling unwell, so I'm staying with you. Is that okay?"

Noah nodded. She then slid off her bed and waddled over to his bed. The girl leaned on his chest and looked up at him. "You're unwell? Want me to massage you?"

She's so understanding. Joaquin paused for a moment, and then he laughed. For once, a gentle light shone in his eyes. "I'm fine, Noah. As long as you're here, I'm fine."

"Really?" Noah was a little skeptical. "Tell me if any spot starts to hurt, Daddy. Don't hold it in."

Joaquin's eyes glinted at that. "Why do you care about me so much, Noah?"

"Of course, I care." She nodded. "You're my daddy."

She was on guard when he first appeared in her life, but Noah was always paying attention to detail. It didn't take long for her to figure out Joaquin was genuinely nice to her. Moreover, she loved the time she spent with Joaquin and her mother.

It was the kind of life she never had the chance to live, but now her dream was coming true. She leaned on his chest, muttering under her breath, "I wish you were my true dad, Daddy."

Joaquin froze for a moment. He then snapped out of it and looked at the girl. A moment of hesitation later, he asked, "Do you miss your real father, Noah?"

The girl put some thought into that question, and then she shook her head. "No."

Something glinted in Joaquin's eyes. He asked, "Really?"

Instead of answering his question, she asked, "Will you stop being my daddy if my real father comes?"

The question made Joaquin pause, but he said in the end, "Of course not. As long as I'm with your mother, I am your daddy."

"What if you stop being together with Mommy?" A look of concern flooded her face.

Joaquin shook his head, smiling. "Impossible. Don't think too much, Noah. We'll always be together."

"Really? Are you sure?"

She's still worried. Joaquin looked down. "What's wrong? Are you worried about something?"

The girl bit her lip and looked down. She mumbled, "If my real father shows up, Mommy might break up with you. But I want you. I don't want any other daddy. I want to get better, but some part of me doesn't. If I get better, then that means my real father has shown up."

Wow. She's young, but she thinks a lot. This is… surprising. A surge of warmth filled his heart. It was surprising to learn how much Noah valued him.

I wonder how she would feel if I told her that I am her father. The idea had just popped up, but then someone opened the door, and in came a man.

"Kathy!"

The voice caught Joaquin's attention. He looked at the man. His face fell and he clenched his jaw.

The man looked surprised to see him as well. "What a coincidence, Mr. Levisay."

"It is, Mr. Hall."

The gentlemen greeted each other. Joaquin looked at Jayden, impatience creeping into his eyes.

"Why are you here?"

"How did you find this place?"

The men asked at the same time.

A frown creased Jayden's forehead. He scanned the room and finally looked at Noah for one moment before looking away.