The Billionaire's Hidden Wife

Episode 9

As Catherine stared out the car window at the starry sky, the memories of that beautiful night came flooding back. The melody of the song she sang that evening echoed in her mind, lingering and refusing to fade.

It wasn’t surprising that she thought of that night, given how tonight’s moon and stars mirrored that night so perfectly. Yet, so much had changed since then. The world was different, and so were they. But why did her heart, on the verge of breaking, remain so stubborn?

From the time she was seven, through sixteen years of love, nothing had changed. She had laughed, cried, sacrificed, and gone mad for him. She had willingly forgotten herself for his sake, giving up everything she had. No one knew that the wish she had made years ago was to marry him.

He wasn’t wrong—she really had done everything she could to become his wife. And now, she had achieved her dream. But was she happy?

There was no answer, and Catherine wasn’t sure there ever would be. She sighed deeply, overwhelmed by the emotions that weighed so heavily on her heart. It was exhausting.

Soon, they arrived at their villa. Catherine stepped out of the car first. Alex stayed behind, seemingly giving instructions to his staff. Catherine didn’t wait for him, her body too weary, and she dragged herself inside.

The dining table was still cluttered with dishes from earlier, a reminder of her interrupted day. Alex had always been particular about cleanliness—he would surely be upset by the mess—but Catherine didn’t have the energy to tidy up. All she wanted was to collapse onto her bed and sleep.

Alex eventually came inside. Catherine instinctively moved aside, but he didn’t even glance her way. Instead, he yanked at his tie, tossed his jacket aside, and walked straight into the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water filled the silence. Catherine let out a sigh of relief—at least he wouldn’t bother her tonight.

As she headed to the bedroom, Alex’s phone rang. Catherine glanced at the clock—it was nearly 11 p.m. Who could be calling him so late? She chuckled bitterly to herself. Did it even matter anymore? What business was it of hers? She continued walking, but the phone kept ringing, pulling her back.

Without thinking, she picked up his phone from his pocket. Her heart sank when she saw the caller ID: it was Serena. She remembered Serena telling Alex to wait for her call. Catherine hadn’t expected it to come so soon. Could Serena really be...?

Before Catherine could finish the thought, pain stabbed at her heart, a familiar ache she thought she’d grown numb to.

“What gives you the right to touch my phone?” Alex’s voice, cold and thunderous, startled her. His anger was palpable, and Catherine’s hand trembled, causing the phone to slip from her grasp and crash to the floor.

“I’m sorry, I was just worried…”

Before she could explain, Alex bent down, picked up the phone, and cut her off with a harsh warning. “Don’t ever touch my things again!”

Catherine glanced up at him, catching his piercing gaze. His freshly showered appearance—his damp hair and the intoxicating scent that clung to him—stirred something deep within her. His sharp, chiseled features were illuminated by the dim lighting, making him look even more alluring. It was almost unbearable.

But instead of lingering, Catherine quickly looked away, her voice barely audible. “I understand.”

Without responding, Alex turned and walked away, slamming the door behind him, leaving Catherine standing alone in the silence.

The villa returned to its usual stillness, and Catherine stood frozen in the living room for what felt like an eternity. This morning, she had sent him that message, filled with hope and courage. She had imagined so many possibilities for how he might respond.

Maybe he’d come home and notice her efforts. Maybe he’d begin to forgive her. Maybe he’d eventually become the man he once was. Or maybe… he’d stay cold and distant.

She had imagined a thousand outcomes, but none of them prepared her for this. Catherine let out a self-deprecating laugh. How foolish she had been to dream that he would love her again, that he’d treat her with the same tenderness he used to. She had been so naive.

In frustration, she tossed all the uneaten food into the trash before heading into the bathroom. As she stepped inside, the familiar scent of Alex still lingered in the air, suffocating her.

After a quick shower, Catherine emerged, only to hear Alex talking on the phone from his study. Was he speaking to Serena? The thought made her feel pathetic. What kind of wife had she become?

Determined to avoid more trouble, Catherine tiptoed down the hall, moving so quietly that when she passed the study, she overheard Alex mentioning a name—Henry. The name was unfamiliar to her. These days, his social circle was a mystery to her, and she no longer had the right to ask.

She made it to the guest room and instinctively locked the door behind her, letting out a long breath of relief. Perhaps tonight would pass without incident after all.

Though exhausted, sleep refused to come. The past kept intruding on her thoughts, replaying like a movie—starting from the moment she met Alex when she was just five years old until now.

Midnight had passed. One day had ended, and another had begun.

Today was their second wedding anniversary. Did he even remember?

Catherine wasn’t sure when she finally fell asleep, but it was late. The next morning, she was jolted awake by the sound of her phone ringing. Groggy and with a pounding headache, she fumbled for the phone. It was Ethan calling. She hesitated but didn’t answer. Instead, she silenced the phone and tossed it aside, wanting nothing more than a moment of peace.

When she finally opened her eyes again, she was startled to see that it was already 10 a.m. She had slept in so late. Her thoughts immediately turned to Alex—was he still here?

Catherine quickly dressed and stepped out of the guest room. The villa was eerily quiet, and it was clear that Alex had already left. She checked the study and the bedroom, both immaculately clean as though he’d never been there at all.

She frowned. Perhaps it was for the best. Being around him was more of a torment than anything else. He would probably be gone for a long time again, and this time, she swore she wouldn’t reach out to him.

After pulling herself together, Catherine headed to the bathroom. The mirror reflected her pale face and the dark circles under her eyes. She looked terrible. Just as she was about to wash up, the doorbell rang. Catherine froze—who could it be at this hour?