The Billionaire's Forgotten Wife
Chapter 47: Waiting For Her

Chapter 47: Waiting For Her

Zeke stood in front of his closet, adjusting the cuff of his shirt for the third time. He’d already changed outfits at least four times, each one somehow not quite right. Too stiff. Too casual. Too much.

Today was Elise’s birthday, a milestone celebration surrounded by close family in the countryside. But for Zeke, it wasn’t just about that. There was a chance, just a chance, that Cassidy might show up.

The thought made his stomach twist with a mix of nerves and anticipation. After finally settling on a semi-formal look, dark slacks, a tailored blazer, and a crisp white shirt, Zeke grabbed his car keys and headed out the door.

Zeke arrived at Elise’s countryside home two hours before the party was set to begin.

The backyard was already being decorated with string lights, soft linen-draped tables, and fresh flowers, all arranged carefully under the warm afternoon sun. Everything had been set up to feel intimate, just close family, the way Elise liked it.

But for Zeke, the day wasn’t only about celebrating his grandmother’s 80th birthday.

It was also about her.

He had personally planned every detail of the event, down to the guest list. And though he hadn’t told Elise, one name mattered more than the rest.

Cassidy.

Zeke wasn’t even sure if she would show up. She hadn’t replied to his message, not directly. But he’d sent the invitation through Georgia, along with the time and the location. It was all he could do.

The air felt heavier with expectation as he stepped into the kitchen from the back door, where Elise was sipping tea at the counter. She looked up, surprised.

"Zeke? You’re early," she said with a gentle smile. "The party’s not for another two hours."

"I know," Zeke replied, setting down a gift bag on the table. "Just wanted to make sure everything’s ready."

Elise walked over and kissed his cheek. "You always take care of me."

He smiled. "Of course. This day’s important."

She eyed the backyard through the window, then turned to him. "You’ve gone all out. It’s beautiful."

Zeke glanced out too. "Glad you think so."

Elise narrowed her eyes slightly, reading him as only grandmothers could. "There’s something else, isn’t there?"

Zeke hesitated. Then gave a small shrug. "Maybe."

Elise chuckled, patting his hand. "Well, whatever it is... I hope it turns out the way you want."

Zeke nodded but didn’t respond.

At around 3:30 PM, family members began arriving at Elise’s house. The quiet backyard quickly filled with warmth, laughter, hugs, and familiar voices echoing across the garden.

Zeke’s uncles and aunts from his mother’s side started showing up, followed by his cousins and their children. The atmosphere grew livelier by the minute. Kids ran between tables, dodging flower arrangements and chasing each other with squeals of excitement.

Margaret, Zeke’s mother, arrived shortly after. She greeted him with a quick "Zeke," pressed a kiss to his cheek, then moved on to greet her mother and the rest of her relatives.

"Zeke," a familiar voice called.

Zeke turned and smiled. "Robert," he replied, shaking hands with one of his maternal cousins. They quickly fell into conversation, talking shop, comparing projects, and swapping business updates.

Soon, more cousins joined the group. Some offered warm admiration; others teased him for being the "mysterious" one who rarely showed up to family gatherings. Despite the casual tone, it was clear Zeke was respected. To many of his younger cousins, he was the gold standard, the successful one they looked up to.

Meanwhile, the backyard was filling up. Guests took turns greeting Elise with hugs and birthday wishes. A stack of beautifully wrapped gifts began to form near the garden archway, and Elise’s face beamed with happiness.

The celebration officially began. Soft jazz music floated through the air. The scent of rosemary chicken and warm bread mingled with the breeze. It was cozy, full of love, exactly how Elise liked it.

But Zeke wasn’t fully present.

He stood off to the side, holding an untouched glass of wine. His eyes kept drifting toward the front gate.

Still no sign of Cassidy.

He checked the time. His jaw tensed. One hand fidgeted with the cuff of his blazer while the other slid into his pocket.

Was she not coming after all?

Just as Zeke took another sip of his drink, a familiar voice called out to him.

"Hey, stranger."

He turned to see Luna, his cousin and a renowned cardiologist. Her father, Zeke’s uncle on his mother’s side, had chosen a path in medicine, and it seemed to run in the family. Luna, along with her siblings and mother, were all specialists in various fields.

"Luna," Zeke greeted, smiling. "You made it."

"Wouldn’t miss Grandma Elise’s birthday," she said, giving him a quick hug before standing beside him. "You holding up okay?"

Zeke gave a tight smile. "Yeah. Just... taking it all in."

They made small talk for a bit. About work, their parents, and the chaos of family reunions before Luna suddenly tilted her head and asked, "Do you remember Jessica?"

Zeke blinked. "Jessica?"

"Jessica Olsen," Luna prompted. "She’s a doctor friend of mine. You met her once, at my birthday dinner two years ago."

Zeke frowned, trying to recall. "Sorry. Doesn’t ring a bell."

Luna let out a dramatic sigh. "Of course you wouldn’t. Meanwhile, she practically carved your name into her heart the moment she saw you."

Zeke raised an eyebrow.

"She’s gorgeous, smart, from a respected family. And yeah, pretty well-off too," Luna added casually. "She’s basically the most sought-after doctor in our hospital. Guys line up for her and she turns them all down."

Zeke gave her a look.

"Because," Luna continued, "she compares every man to you. Which is ridiculous, by the way. No one’s going to beat the Zeke Salvador standard."

Zeke gave a faint chuckle and shook his head.

"I’m serious," Luna said, exasperated. "It’s giving me a headache. She keeps pestering me to set you two up on a blind date."

"And you said no, right?" Zeke asked, his brow raised.

"I’ve been saying no for months," Luna groaned. "But she’s relentless. So I told her, fine, if you say no yourself, she has to promise to stop asking."

Zeke gave her a long, amused look. "And now you’re dragging me into this mess."

"You owe me," Luna deadpanned. "I was the one who saved you when Grandma tried to set you up with her friend’s granddaughter, back when you weren’t married yet."

Zeke smirked. "Touché."

Luna raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. "So? What do you say? Wanna give it a shot? A blind date with Jessica?"

Zeke didn’t even hesitate. "No."

Luna let out a small laugh. "Yeah, figured you’d say that."

As Zeke and Luna continued chatting, another cousin, Ashley, walked over with a curious smile. "What are you two talking about? Mind if I join? It looks like a fun conversation."

Luna grinned. "I was just telling Zeke I tried to set him up on a blind date with a friend of mine. But of course, he shot me down."

Ashley’s eyes lit up. "Oh, come on! I’ve got friends who’d line up for the chance to date you, Zeke."

She leaned in, teasing. "You do know you’re basically the most wanted bachelor? Well, technically, the most wanted divorcé on the market, right? Half the women I know either want to date you or marry you."

Luna burst out laughing, and Ashley joined in.

Zeke shook his head with a faint smile, though his mind had already drifted elsewhere. As they joked and laughed around him, he kept glancing toward the entrance, still waiting. Still hoping Cassidy would show up.

After a while, Zeke excused himself and stepped away from the group, leaving Ashley and Luna still chuckling together. He made his way toward the front of the house, needing a breath of fresh air and maybe a moment to reset his thoughts.

As he approached the driveway, his eyes caught a man in a sleek black suit standing just outside the gate. The man looked out of place, clearly not part of the family gathering.

Zeke walked up to him. "Can I help you?"

The man gave a polite nod and handed over an elegant paper bag. "I was asked to deliver this to Mrs. Elise. That’s all." With that, he turned and walked away before Zeke could ask anything more.

Zeke looked down at the bag, eyebrows slightly furrowed. Inside, he found a velvet jewelry box and a small handwritten card.

He opened the card.

Happy birthday, Grandma Elise.

Wishing you health, joy, and all the love in the world.

With warmest thoughts,

– C.C.

Zeke stared at the initials. His heartbeat picked up.

Zeke stared at the card for a long moment, then let out a breath, part frustration, part disappointment.

"So... she chose not to come," he murmured, voice low.

He scoffed softly, shaking his head. "Of course she didn’t. Why would she? We’re nothing now. She doesn’t owe anyone here a thing."

He dragged a hand through his hair, tension in his jaw. He had spent the whole day pretending not to care, telling himself it didn’t matter. But deep down, he’d hoped. Hoped she’d walk in, even just for a moment. Hoped for something that clearly wasn’t going to happen.

Now, with nothing but a gift bag in hand, he felt foolish for having hoped at all.

***