The Billionaire's Forgotten Wife
Chapter 103: What Best Friends Do

Chapter 103: What Best Friends Do

Back in the kitchen, Xavier and his team were busy cooking, chopping, plating, garnishing, each movement practiced and swift. The sound of sizzling pans and clinking utensils filled the air as plate after plate was sent out to the dining room.

Meanwhile, guests were enjoying their meals, chatting, and taking pictures of the beautifully plated dishes.

During a short break, Xavier stepped out from the kitchen, wiping his hands with a clean towel draped over his shoulder. He made his way through the tables, smiling and greeting the guests one by one.

"Hi, thanks so much for coming. How’s everything?" he asked, stopping by a group of well dressed guests near the window.

One of them looked up and grinned. "Xavier! The food is incredible. That lamb dish? Unreal."

Another chimed in, "Seriously, I don’t usually like cauliflower, but whatever you did to it, amazing."

Xavier laughed lightly. "I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Let me know if anything’s missing or if there’s something we can do better."

"Nothing to improve," someone said. "Everything’s perfect."

"You and your team really nailed it," another guest added.

Xavier gave a humble nod. "Thank you. We’ve worked hard for this day. I’m happy it’s showing."

After several more greetings, he walked over to Cassidy’s table. Claire was busy munching on bite sized pieces of filet mignon, while Cassidy sipped her mocktail.

Xavier smiled. "Enjoying everything?"

Cassidy looked up. "It’s delicious. Claire already asked for seconds."

Claire nodded enthusiastically. "Your food is so yummy, Uncle Xavi!"

Xavier’s grin widened. "Well, there’s plenty more coming."

After a short chat, he excused himself politely. "I’m going to check on my family for a second, then back to the kitchen."

"Okay."

He made his way toward the private dining area reserved for his family. But before he could say anything, Xavier froze for a second.

Seated beside Hannah, now back from the restroom, was a face he didn’t expect to see.

Gianna.

She was dressed elegantly, a soft smile on her lips as she nodded politely at something Hannah said.

Xavier blinked.

What is she doing here?

Xavier did invite Gianna. But he didn’t expect to see her sitting with his family.

As he stepped into the room and spotted her beside his grandfather, his feet halted for a split second.

Beatrice noticed his hesitation. "What are you doing just standing there like a statue?"

Snapping out of it, Xavier replied quickly, then shifted focus. "How’s the food? Everything okay?"

Johnny grinned. "Delicious. You’ve done well, Xav. I’m proud of you."

Soon after, Lukas, Beatrice, Hannah, and Thomas also added their comments, saying the food was really good. Everyone at the table looked happy and seemed to be enjoying the meal.

Xavier smiled in response, grateful for their support.

Xavier then turned his gaze to Gianna and asked, "What about you, Gianna? Is the food to your liking?"

Gianna wiped her mouth with a napkin before answering, "It’s delicious. You never fail to make good food."

"Thank you."

After a brief chat with his family, Xavier excused himself and returned to the kitchen.

***

After finishing their meal, Hannah and Thomas said their goodbyes, as they had another event to attend.

As they passed by Cassidy’s room, Hannah paused for a moment and stepped in to say goodbye.

As Hannah and Thomas stepped out of Xavier’s restaurant, Thomas casually asked, "Who was that you just said goodbye to?"

Hannah paused, looking at Thomas with a hint of surprise. "You really don’t know who she is?"

Thomas frowned, trying to recall the two women and the little girl he saw in the room earlier. "I don’t. Should I? Who are they?"

Instead of answering right away, Hannah simply continued walking and got into their car. Once inside and buckled in, she finally said, "Zeke’s ex-wife."

Thomas, who had just started the engine, nearly choked on his own breath. He turned to her sharply, eyes wide. "What? What did you just say, love? Zeke’s ex-wife?"

Hannah nodded casually. "Yeah, Zeke’s ex-wife."

Thomas, still in disbelief, blinked hard. "My Ezekiel’s ex-wife?"

Hannah rolled her eyes at his dramatic tone. "Yes, your best friend, Ezekiel Salvador. His ex-wife. Have you seriously never seen her before?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Thomas still looked stunned. "That woman... she’s Zeke’s ex-wife? How do you know? I’ve never even seen her. Zeke never introduced her to me. That’s why I didn’t recognize her."

Hannah pulled down the sun visor and flipped open the mirror. She glanced at her reflection briefly, checking herself casually.

"I met them a few years ago at a charity gala. It was before they split. She was with Zeke then."

Thomas had never imagined he would run into Zeke’s ex-wife, someone he had always been curious about, in Xavier’s restaurant of all places.

He taps his fingers on the steering wheel, still trying to process everything he just heard.

"Do you know her well? Zeke’s ex?"

Hannah shakes her head.

"Not really. But Xavier knows Cassidy well."

The moment the words leave her mouth, she scolds herself in her head. That wasn’t supposed to slip. She can already sense where this conversation is headed.

Sure enough, Thomas frowns, clearly picking up on the clue she just dropped.

The fact that his brother-in-law is close with Zeke’s ex-wife only leaves Thomas more confused and curious. His brows knit together, and questions begin to pile up in his head.

Then suddenly, he remembers Zeke’s random phone call from almost a month ago. The one that felt out of place, like something was weighing on him.

The weird part is he was asking a lot about Xavier.

He turns to Hannah, his voice lower now, more serious. "How does Xavier even know Zeke’s ex?"

Hannah sighs, knowing there’s no point in holding it back anymore. "They met back when they were both living in Switzerland."

Thomas’s eyes narrow as another realization dawns on him. "So... Cassidy’s been living in Switzerland all this time?"

Hannah nods. "That’s what I heard from Xavier."

A beat of silence passes before Thomas suddenly stiffens. He turns to Hannah again, his voice more urgent now.

"What about the little girl in that room? Who is she?"

Hannah’s brows furrow as she recalls her brief interaction with Claire at the airport not long ago. She remembers how Cassidy introduced the little girl as her daughter, but she never asked who the father was. Still, she couldn’t ignore how fond Xavier was of Claire.

She turns to Thomas and says quietly, "The little girl’s name is Claire. She’s Cassidy’s daughter."

Thomas gapes, stunned. "What? That child’s name is Claire? So, she is the Claire?"

Hannah winces and rubs her temple. "Could you lower your voice? My ears hurt when you yell like that."

His mind races as a memory surfaces. Zeke had once asked him if he knew a little girl named Claire. At the time, Thomas had simply said no. He didn’t know any child by that name.

The past ten minutes have been one shock after another, and this one nearly knocks the wind out of him.

Thomas exhales sharply, trying to control his reaction. "I’m sorry, my love. But you’re telling me Zeke’s ex-wife has a daughter? Did she remarry?"

He leans back in his seat, still trying to process it all. He muttered, "Ah, and what about Zeke? I know he never got over her..."

Hannah answers calmly, "No, Cassidy hasn’t remarried."

Thomas lets out a breath of relief. "Phew... Then that little girl, is she adopted or something?"

Hannah shakes her head slightly. "I don’t think so. She looks too much like Cassidy, same nose, same lips, same smile. I’m pretty sure she’s her biological daughter."

Thomas narrows his eyes, gears turning in his head. "So, if she’s really Cassidy’s daughter and Cassidy hasn’t been with anyone else..."

He trails off, eyes widening as a new possibility creeps into his mind.

"Is she Zeke’s daughter? Did Zeke know?" Thomas asks.

"I don’t know."

"I need to call Zeke."

"Are you insane?" Hannah snaps, her voice rising a full octave. "You can’t just call him!"

But Thomas is already grabbing his phone. "Zeke needs to know if Claire is his daughter. He deserves to know."

Hannah exhales in frustration, her jaw tightening. She doesn’t say another word, just watches as Thomas dials.

He calls Zeke.

No answer.

He calls again. This time, the line picks up right as it’s about to go to voicemail.

"Zeke," Thomas says, trying to sound casual, but his voice is tight.

"Why are you calling me?" Zeke’s tone is calm but cautious.

"Where are you right now?"

"Seattle. What’s wrong?"

Thomas glances at Hannah. She gives him a sharp look, don’t say anything stupid. But he presses on.

"I saw your ex-wife."

There’s a brief pause. Zeke’s tone stays neutral. "Cassidy? Where did you run into her?"

That tone throws Thomas off. He was expecting panic, desperation, something. Isn’t Zeke the one who’s been looking for her?

Has he moved on?

Thomas hesitates, then says, "At my brother-in-law’s restaurant."

There’s silence.

And then Zeke’s voice drops, cold and sharp. "Xavier’s restaurant?"

***