A Replacement Bride

Chapter 257

The next morning, Joaquin and Noah were taken into the operating room.

Jennifer and Keith were there as well. They waited with Katherine, worried about Joaquin and Noah.

Time passed by at an agonizingly slow pace. A second felt like an eternity.

Keith paced back and forth like a man possessed, while Jennifer clutched the bench's armrest tightly, her eyes filled with worry. Katherine kept her eyes on the doors, the look on her face icy and calm. Two hours later, the sign over the doors finally dimmed. A doctor came out and took off his mask in exhaustion.

Keith darted toward the doctor, and Katherine helped Jennifer get up before they too came up to the doctor.

"How did it go?"

The three of them stared at the doctor. He heaved a sigh of relief and nodded with a smile.

"The surgery is a success. The marrow has been transplanted, but the patients must be kept under observation. They can only be discharged when their health levels return to normal. Also, the girl must come for follow-ups every month. If she remains fine for six months, then she won't need to come back for follow-ups."

Keith, Jennifer, and Katherine heaved a sigh of relief. A weight was lifted off their shoulders. Joaquin and Noah were taken back to their wards. Since he wasn't planning on telling Noah he was her real father yet and he didn't want her to worry, they were taken to different wards. After that, Katherine went around the wards to take care of them.

Jennifer was concerned about her, and she frowned while saying, "Why don't we get a caretaker? At this rate, you're going to tire yourself out."

Katherine didn't mind. "I'm fine, Grandma. This is okay."

If you insist, then. Jennifer looked at Keith and grumbled, "Keith, I can't believe you aren't offering any help."

Keith was a little miffed. "Grandma, I am helping. I'm responsible for buying food!"

Katherine cocked her eyebrow and glanced at him. "That's all you can do. If I left them in your hands, you would mess everything up." Keith grew up not knowing how to do any chores. He had no idea how to care for anyone.

Noah woke up for a moment only to return to sleep, but her vitals were normal. Seeing that everything was fine, Katherine went to Joaquin's ward.

He was still asleep. She stood before his bed, staring at his face in silence. This man used to be proud and mighty, but now he was lying on a hospital bed, weak as a baby. It was somehow charming for her.

She was still indulging in her imagination when Joaquin's eyelashes started to flutter, and then he opened his eyes. He seemed confused, and he stared at the ceiling dumbly. Clarity returned a moment later. He turned his head and met Katherine's gaze. "Hey…" He tried to say something, but the first thing he noticed was how hoarse his voice was.

Oh, he's thirsty. She got him a glass of water and held him up so she could feed him.

Joaquin would have done it himself, but since she was helping him, he let her feed the water to him. "How's Noah doing?" He wanted to know if his daughter was fine.

Katherine placed the glass of water on the bedside table and tilted the bed a bit. She placed a pillow behind his back before answering, "She's fine. She woke up for a moment but the anesthetic worked its magic, and she fell asleep again. Her vitals are fine. The doctor said the surgery was a success. They just have to keep you guys under observation. If nothing happens, you guys can go home."

Joaquin felt relieved.

"What about you? How do you feel?" She asked, "Are you unwell anywhere? Should I get a doctor?"

Joaquin shook his head. "I'm fine. You're the best doctor around. I don't have to worry about anything."

She cocked an eyebrow and teased, "I didn't know you could get a glib tongue through a bone marrow transplant surgery."

Joaquin had no strength to engage in banter. He forced a smile, but all he wanted right now was to see Noah. Yet the moment he lifted his blanket, Katherine stopped him.

"What are you doing? Just tell me what you need."

"I want to see Noah."

Katherine was speechless. "You can't see her right now. Look at you. Get some rest. You'll have time for her once you're better."

Well, if you insist. "I'm fine now. Go to Noah. She's going to be scared if she wakes up and nobody is around."

Katherine was amused seeing him so worried about Noah. "Would you be fine? I'll get Keith over. He can keep an eye on you."

Joaquin shook his head. "No need, I'm fine. Really. Just go to Noah. I'll stay here by myself."

If you say so. She told him to get some rest and was about to leave, but then someone opened a door, and an uninvited guest came in.

"Jayden?" Katherine was surprised to see him. "Why are you here?"

Jayden looked around the ward and stopped for a moment to look at Joaquin. Then he turned his attention to Katherine and smiled. "I heard Noah's surgery was done, so I came. Is she well?"

Katherine nodded. "She is." NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

Alarm bells rang in Joaquin's head, and his face tensed up. The sight of Jayden upset him. I know what he's trying to do. He's coming for my wife. I won't stand for it. He coolly said, "You need to get your eyes checked. Noah is in the ward next door. This is the wrong room."

To his surprise, Jayden wasn't angry. Instead, he smiled. "Thanks for the reminder, Mr. Levisay. Kathy, can you take me to Noah?"