A Replacement Bride

Chapter 343

Joaquin could see how much Katherine blamed herself and he squeezed her fingers. "Don't think too much about that. It's already in the past, plus you didn't want things to turn out this way. You have done your best. Honestly, it's my fault. If I had not mistakenly identified…"

His eyelashes fluttered and he lowered his gaze. "Noah wouldn't have such a repressed childhood."

As the atmosphere became grave, Katherine exhaled and turned her palm to grip his hand, thereafter gently moving it. "That's enough. Is this a confessional? You're right. It's all over now and things are getting better, so let's not mention the past anymore."

Joaquin inclined his head. After some hesitation, he asked, "When are you going to tell her about her grandmother's passing?"

Katherine fell silent at that and she looked slightly reluctant. "I haven't thought about that yet."

He knew why she was so conflicted. "I know that it's difficult. Noah's grandma was her closest relative and I'm worried that Noah cannot accept it as she has just recovered. However, you should know that she is a perceptive child and will suspect that sooner or later after not seeing her grandma for a long time."

Just as he finished speaking, a child's voice came from behind them. "H-Has Grandma passed away?"

The couple turned around to see Noah standing at the entrance of the ward. Her hair was cascading down her shoulders, revealing her pale face. Her sharp gaze was fixed unblinkingly on them while Keith stood behind her, shrugging helplessly and spreading his hands.

Katherine's heart stuttered and her lips moved, but she didn't know what to say.

saw the anxious little girl. Stretching out

bit her lip and slowly shuffled toward

Katherine before kissing her forehead gently.

finish, she argued, "I'm okay now. I want to hear it,

stubborn expression. "She wouldn't go so

any longer and gritted her teeth. Her voice was gentle when she spoke. "Noah, great-grandma is gone. She couldn't come back and is now buried together with your great-grandfather in Kyoland. I will take you there to visit her when I have the time. I didn't tell you immediately because I was afraid

damp tracks on her face. She did not sob loudly or throw a tantrum. Instead, she cried silently with her mouth slightly open, voice choked with how much she was

came back, so I knew something had happened to her since she always carried it about. She has definitely passed away because she was always unwell and suffering from her

down her cheeks a testament to her heartache. "It's good that she has passed as she doesn't have to suffer any longer. She

lip and held the girl silently as she gently patted her back. The girl shivered briefly before hugging her mother tightly, no longer able to contain

only have you and Daddy now…" Noah cried so hard that she only stopped after a long time and

then carried her back into her room and cleaned her tear-streaked face with

feeling sad

then, Keith approached him with a serious expression.

was the one who asked first. "Who is

people knew that Noah was in the hospital, so whom