Married to the Cold Billionaire (English)

Chapter 2

CATHERINE

"Why are you still awake?"

Catherine straightened up from her sitting position when she heard Travis's cold voice. She slowly raised her gaze, meeting his cold expression and eyes.

She also noticed his furrowed brows as he looked at her.

For a moment, she bit her lower lip. "I-I'm waiting for you," she replied, secretly scolding herself for the tremble in her voice.

She couldn't sleep that moment, so she decided to wait for Travis instead. She was a bit worried because sometimes he would come home drunk, and she was concerned that something bad might happen to him.

And even though he doesn't care about her, she's still worried.

As she looked at Travis, she noticed one of his eyebrows raised, and aside from the anger etched on his eyes, she couldn't see any other emotion. And every time she gazed into his emotionless eyes, she couldn't help but feel a pang in her heart.

"Acting like a good wife?" Travis asked her in a still cold tone, with sarcasm evident in his voice. She was about to speak when he continued. "Stop acting like my wife. Because you're only my wife on paper, Catherine. I don't consider you my wife, and always remember that. So, stop acting like you're my wife because you're just wasting your time," he said, his voice still cold.

He didn't give her a chance to speak anymore because he just walked away, continuing to move forward.

Catherine bit her lower lip as she felt her eyes well up with tears, hurt piercing her heart from Travis's words. That he was no longer just another person in her life. Because the man was now her husband.

She married Travis after her parents, especially her father, found out she was pregnant, and they were pressured into a shotgun wedding.

When her parents found out she was pregnant and Travis was the father, they talked to him. And then they also spoke with Lianne.

She had no idea what was discussed because she wasn't included. But when she saw Travis's dark expression and Lianne crying as she came out of the library, she had an idea what was talked about.

And she confirmed her suspicions when her parents spoke to her next. They told her what they wanted to happen.

Her parents wanted Travis to take responsibility for what happened between them, especially for the child she was carrying. They didn't want their daughter to have a child out of wedlock. They didn't want her to be disadvantaged because of what happened.

She refused to go along with her parents' wishes because she didn't want to hurt Lianne, who she knew deeply loved Travis. And even though she loved the man, she didn't want to bind him to her. She didn't want him to think she was using the pregnancy to trap him.

But her father didn't listen to her. He insisted on his desire for the two of them, her and Travis, to get married. He wouldn't allow his grandchild to be born out of wedlock. Travis had to take responsibility.

And she didn't know what her parents said to Travis to convince him to marry her. It was a forced marriage between them. Because two days before her parents found out she was pregnant, she and Travis were married, with only the judge and their parents as witnesses. No one came from Travis's side; she had no idea if his parents knew about their marriage or her pregnancy. But it seemed like they didn't know, since they didn't attend their civil wedding.

As a result, Lianne left and they didn't know where she went. She ran away without a trace. Catherine knew Lianne was hurt by what was happening and understood it, because if she were in Lianne's shoes, she would do the same. She would leave and not show herself. Because of what happened to Lianne, Travis got even angrier with her. He blamed her for everything, and she wanted to defend herself because, honestly, it wasn't just her fault. They both did it. And it wasn't just Travis who was angry with her, but Lianne's parents too.

They called her names. Like Travis, they blamed her for everything. She accepted the hurtful words they threw at her because she understood how they felt. They were parents, and it hurt them to see their child, Lianne, get hurt. They were also angry with her parents, questioning why they had to force Travis to marry her. They suggested that Travis could just support the child financially, and marriage wasn't necessary.

But her father stood firm on his decision. And it wasn't just her relationship with them that was damaged, but also the relationship between their parents.

Two weeks had passed since she married Travis. But Travis never treated her as his wife. He was cold to her. She lived in his house, but she could count on her fingers the times they spent together. They rarely talked or saw each other alone.

Catherine would wake up to find Travis already gone, seemingly leaving for work early, and he'd come home late at night. If she didn't wait up for him, she wouldn't even see him. And whenever they did see or talk to each other, he'd make it clear how much he despised her, as if he was only tolerating her presence out of obligation.

It seemed like Travis wanted to torment her, making her question her decision to agree to marry him. Every time she felt this way, her heart would ache. She felt like a dagger was stabbing her heart whenever she sensed that she meant nothing to him.

Catherine shouldn't feel that way anymore, given their situation, she expected it, but she couldn't help it because she loved him.

That's just how it is. You'll get hurt when you know the person you love can't love you back.

"But you'll really get hurt, Catherine, because you chose that, you chose to marry a man who doesn't love you," her mind whispered.

Catherine sighed deeply once again. She held her still-flat stomach to draw support from the child inside her. Whenever Travis treated her that way, she found strength in her child.

"We can do this, baby. Your father will accept us too," she said to her child in a trembling voice. She couldn't hold back the tears that fell from her eyes due to the emotions she was feeling.

For the nth time, Catherine took a deep breath again. After that, she went upstairs to follow Travis. She knew he didn't want to see her, but she still wanted to fulfill her responsibilities as his wife. Even though he didn't consider her his wife, she still wanted to do her part, not because she wanted him to love her too, because she knew that wouldn't happen. Because Travis is in love with Lianne. And he had told her that several times and made it clear to her.

She was only fulfilling her responsibility because of the vows she took in front of the judge who married them.

Catherine knocked on the master bedroom door. She didn't hear a word, so she decided to turn the handle and enter.

Catherine's gaze immediately fell on Travis's coat, which was sloppily thrown on the bed, likely tossed there as soon as he entered. And based on the sound of running water from the bathroom, it seemed Travis was there, taking a shower.

While Travis hadn't come out yet, she needed to do what she came for. Because if he saw her there again, he would probably get angry again.

She stepped closer to his coat that had fallen on the floor and put it in the laundry basket. Then she walked towards his walk-in closet.

She got his sleepwear, a white t-shirt and pajamas, and also grabbed his underwear and brought them to the bed. Just as she placed them down, she felt the bathroom door open.

And when she looked up, she saw Travis, fresh from his bath. And she couldn't help but be taken aback by his appearance.

A small towel was all that covered his nakedness, and his bulge was evident beneath it. She also noticed the water droplets on his hair and body.

"What are you doing here?" he asked in a cold but deep voice.

She immediately closed her mouth upon hearing Travis's cold voice.

"I-I just prepared what you're going to wear," she replied to him.

She noticed his eyebrows furrow. "I told you, don't waste your time being a good wife, Catherine. Because it doesn't change anything. You are not my wife," he said in a cold voice. "And next time, don't touch my things. I don't want anyone else handling my belongings."

He really didn't consider her his wife, because to him, she was someone else. She felt a pang in her heart again. "And next time again, don't enter my room without my permission. I don't want you here in my room," he added. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes," she replied, struggling to hold back tears in front of him.