The Billionaire's Forgotten Wife
Chapter 37: Because We Don’t Look Like Money

Chapter 37: Because We Don’t Look Like Money

The next day, just after lunch, Cassidy moved into her new apartment. It wasn’t the kind of flashy, ultra-luxury place she used to live in after the divorce. But it was big enough, bright, and quiet, exactly what she wanted. What they needed. Just her, Claire, and Clara.

She didn’t want a home that screamed money. She wanted one that felt like theirs.

Back in Switzerland, they lived simply. Peacefully. And that’s the kind of life she wanted Claire to remember, something grounded. Normal. Real.

As soon as they stepped inside, Claire ran around the apartment with excitement, peeking into every room.

Cass smiled, setting her purse down. "So... what do you think?"

Claire stopped, her eyes wide. "Is this our new house?"

"Our new home," Cass corrected gently. "Do you like it?"

Claire nodded, but her smile started to fade. "What about our house in Switzerland? Are we going back?"

Cass crouched in front of her. "Not for a while, sweetheart. We’re going to stay here now."

"Why?"

"Because Grandma’s not feeling well. She needs us right now."

Claire blinked up at her. "So... we’re staying forever?"

Cass gave a small nod. "Yeah. For a long while."

Claire’s lips trembled. "Does that mean I won’t see Grandma Clara or Uncle Xavi again?"

Cass’s heart tugged. She wanted to squeeze Claire’s cheeks and kiss her forehead, but she knew Claire didn’t like being pinched when she was upset. So instead, she smiled and cupped her little hands gently.

"You’ll see them," Cass said with a smile. "Grandma Clara’s coming tomorrow. We’ll pick her up at the airport in the afternoon."

Claire’s whole face lit up. "Really?"

Cass nodded. "Really."

Then Claire hesitated. "What about Uncle Xavi? Is he coming too?"

Cass’s smile faltered, just slightly. "Uncle Xavi couldn’t come with Grandma Clara this time. He has to finish some work first."

Claire’s expression fell, her bottom lip jutting out a little.

Cass leaned in, touching her nose to Claire’s. "But you’ll see him soon, I promise. He said he’ll come as soon as he can."

Claire gave a small nod and wrapped her arms around her mom’s neck. Cass held her close, pressing a kiss to her temple.

After they finished looking around the apartment and settling in a bit, Cassidy glanced at the time and let out a small sigh. She’d almost forgotten, they barely had anything with them.

Most of their clothes, toiletries, and daily essentials were still in Switzerland.

They had only packed light for the trip, thinking they’d figure the rest out later. Now that "later" was here, and with the decision made to stay in New York, there were things they needed to get.

Her cargo shipment from Switzerland had just been picked up by the moving company that morning. The earliest it would arrive was in another week, maybe more.

That meant they couldn’t wait.

She turned to Claire, who was now lounging on the couch with her little bunny plush, humming to herself.

Cass smiled. "Hey, baby..."

Claire looked up. "Yeah, Mommy?"

"We need to go shopping."

Claire’s eyes lit up. "For toys?"

Cass laughed. "Not just toys. We need clothes, shampoo, toothbrushes... and maybe a little something fun too."

Claire jumped up, already excited. "Can I get a dress? A blue one?"

Cass nodded. "You can pick one. But just one, okay?"

"Okay!"

Cass took her purse. "Let’s go... we’ve got shopping to do." Hand in hand, they walked out, heading to the mall.

***

Their first stop was a children’s clothing store, bright and colorful, with rows of tiny hangers lined up neatly. Claire’s eyes lit up the moment they stepped inside.

Cassidy grabbed a shopping basket and handed it to her daughter. "Alright," she said gently, "we need a few tops, some shorts, pajamas, and just one princess dress. Remember our deal?"

Claire nodded eagerly. "Okay. Then I’ll pick the most beautiful princess dress."

Cass chuckled. "Of course you will."

They walked the aisles together, Claire’s eyes lighting up as she picked out a few t-shirts with animals and stars, two pairs of denim shorts, a set of cozy pink pajamas, and, after much thought, a sparkly blue gown that made her smile from ear to ear.

Cass watched her hold it up to herself, glowing like she’d just found treasure. "That’s the one?" she asked gently.

Claire nodded, clutching it with both hands.

"Yes. I love it."

Cass ruffled her hair. "Then it’s yours."

Smiling, Cass added a soft jacket, a sweatshirt for her, and a warm parka to their cart, already imagining how adorable Claire would look in them.

They grabbed a few essentials for Cass too, comfortable tops, a simple dress, and a lightweight jacket. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to get them by until their shipment from Switzerland arrived.

As they left the store and stepped back into the mall’s open space, Cassidy’s gaze drifted across the walkway, to a sleek car showroom gleaming behind tall glass windows.

She paused, considering.

Of course. A car. She couldn’t rely on taxis forever, not now that they were staying for good.

"Hey, Claire," she said, glancing down, "you wanna go see some cars?"

Claire’s face lit up. "Really?"

Cass nodded. "Really. I think it’s time we have our own ride again."

Claire beamed. "Can we get a blue one?"

Cass laughed. "We’ll see what they have."

After finishing their shopping, they headed to a BMW dealership just a short walk from the mall.

The moment Cass stepped inside, a young female staff member with a bright smile approached her.

"Good afternoon, welcome," she said warmly. "Is there anything in particular you’re looking for today?"

Her name tag read Carol, and she moved with the confident ease of someone who loved what she did. She began walking alongside Cass, pointing out several models on display and describing each with just the right blend of enthusiasm and professionalism.

Claire, wide-eyed and full of curiosity, gently slipped her hand from Cass’s and wandered a few steps ahead, drawn by the sleek shapes and shiny exteriors. Cass followed her closely, her gaze never leaving her daughter even as she listened to Carol’s steady voice.

Carol glanced between Cass and Claire. "Is there a certain type of car you’re looking for?"

Cass smiled softly, then nodded in Claire’s direction. "Something safe and comfortable, good for a little one like her."

Understanding immediately, Carol motioned toward a stylish SUV near the corner of the showroom. "In that case, I think this one might be perfect for you. It’s spacious, smooth to drive, and has excellent safety ratings."

Just as Cass turned to look at the SUV Carol had pointed out, a loud thud jolted the room.

Claire had bumped into a young boy, maybe five or six, who’d been running with a toy car clutched in his hand. In the collision, the plastic wheels scraped hard against the side of the newest, most expensive BMW in the entire showroom. A fresh model, high-end, limited release. Its deep obsidian paint now bore a visible, jagged scratch.

A second later, a sharply dressed male employee, older than Carol, likely in his mid-30s, stormed over. His eyes went wide the moment he saw which car it was.

"Oh great," he snapped, panic bleeding into fury. "Do you have any idea what you two just did?!"

Claire flinched and immediately burst into tears. Cass rushed forward and knelt to scoop her up, but before she could say anything, the boy’s mother had already arrived at the scene.

She took one look at the scratch and went pale. "No, no, no—oh my god," she murmured, hugging her son tightly.

Then, her eyes flicked to Claire and narrowed.

"She hit my son first," she said quickly. "He was just walking, and she bumped into him. He fell—hit his head on that car, and now this—" she gestured wildly at the scratch, "this is what happened!"

Cass straightened, holding Claire against her chest protectively. "Excuse me? My daughter wasn’t even running. She was walking. Slowly. How could she have knocked your son down hard enough to cause that?"

The woman’s tone turned sharp. "You should be asking yourself that. If someone has to pay for the damage, it better be you."

Cass’s jaw clenched. "Then maybe we should check the security footage."

Carol, who had remained quiet until now, finally stepped in.

"I think that’s fair," she said, glancing between the two women. "There are cameras around the showroom. We can review—"

"No need," the male employee cut her off coldly. His name tag read Vincent. "I saw it. The little girl was running. She hit the boy. End of story."

Carol looked at him, shocked. "Vincent, that’s not—"

"I said I saw it," he repeated, louder this time. Then he turned to Cass. "So I’m going to need your details. Management will be in touch."

Cass’s eyes narrowed. "No. I’m not giving you anything until I see the footage."

Vincent looked visibly annoyed. "We don’t show footage to customers."

"That’s convenient," Cass said, voice cool but hard.

Carol stepped closer to Cass, lowering her voice. "We can talk to the floor manager. Maybe—"

But Vincent snapped, "Carol, that’s enough."

Cass held her daughter tighter as Claire cried quietly into her shoulder. Her heart was pounding with anger, not just from the accusation, but from how quickly people judged based on appearances.

Vincent’s eyes had flitted from the wealthy-looking woman, clearly a returning client, to Cass’s simple but elegant outfit and Claire’s unbranded dress. And just like that, he had picked a side.

Cass knew the look. She’d lived her whole life surrounded by it.

And she wasn’t going to let it slide.

***