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.

anxious little girl. Stretching

her lip and slowly shuffled toward

her forehead gently. "Noah, we didn't tell you earlier

he could finish, she argued, "I'm okay now. I want

expression. "She wouldn't go so

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 you could not accept it. Besides, your great-grandma wouldn't want you to be sad for her and hurt

a tantrum. Instead, she cried silently with her mouth slightly open, voice choked with how much she was holding back her

had happened to her since

on, the tears running 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 was always thinking about my great-grandpa. They're probably

heartbroken at Noah's reaction. She bit her 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

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

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

watched on, feeling sad yet

him with a serious

who asked first. "Who

Noah was in the hospital, so