All Chapters of The CEO's Forbidden Wife: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

121 Chapters

Chapter 11: Three Years Between Us

Kathalina’s fingers shook as she broke the seal. The familiar loops and curls of her mother’s handwriting bled across the page, a ghost of the woman she’d lost.My dearest Kathalina,I am sorry I could not stay longer with you. Life has been cruelled in its timing, but I want you to remain strong and loving, even when others have wronged you. Do not let bitterness stain the gentleness in your heart. Remember that you are never alone. I will always be proud of you.Her vision blurred, tears spilling unchecked. The room fell away…. the attorney’s measured silence, Pia’s quiet concern, even the weight of the documents on the table. All she could feel was the aching echo of her mother’s voice, reaching for her one last time through ink and paper.With a broken sob, Kathalina clutched the letter to her chest as if by pressing it hard enough, she could feel her mother’s heartbeat again.Kathalina sobbed harder, clutching the letter to her chest.Attorney Jun waited patiently, though his eyes

Chapter 12: At the Same Table

After their eyes briefly met, Kathalina was the first to look away. Her gaze dropped to her plate, as though the untouched food there could shield her from the storm building quietly inside her chest. She forced her fingers to stay steady around her fork, though she could feel the heat of his stare lingering like a shadow.Across the hall, Thirdie stood among a cluster of businessmen. He was tall, composed, and effortlessly commanding every movement measured, his presence drawing attention even without intent. His voice carried low and steady as he spoke to one of his partners, yet from time to time, his gaze slid across the room, brushing against her like an unspoken call.Among them, an older man caught Kathalina’s notice. His hair was silver, but his eyes were still sharp, alive with wisdom that age hadn’t dimmed. When his gaze wandered past Thirdie, it landed on Pia. Recognition lit up his face, and with surprising energy, he excused himself from the group and walked toward their t

Chapter 13: The Weight of Favor

After finishing their meal, Pia and Kathalina stepped into the lively rhythm of the mall. The hum of voices, the glow of bright lights, the polished floor gleaming under their feet all contrasted so strongly with the quiet of the restaurant they had just left.Pia slipped her arm through Kathalina’s, as if she didn’t want to lose her in the crowd. Kathalina allowed it, walking quietly at her side. She didn’t care about shopping, never had, but this wasn’t about her. This was about Pia.They stopped first at a famous boutique, a place where the latest collections of well-known designers were displayed under glass. Pia’s eyes sparkled like a child’s as she moved from one rack to another, touching fabrics, admiring dresses, lifting bags with delight.“What do you think of this one, Kath?” Pia asked, holding up a sleek designer dress in soft cream silk.Kathalina studied it, her sharp eyes taking in the cut, the lines, the flow of the fabric.“It suits you,” she said simply. “The color wil

Chapter 14: The Art of Dismissal

Agnes froze the moment she saw Pia standing beside Kathalina.Her throat went dry. For years after Kathalina’s disappearance, she had tried everything little gift, careful smiles, forced cheerfulness to get closer to Pia. She offered to help in the kitchen, to run errands, even to sit with her in the afternoons. But Pia never agreed.It was like talking to a wall made of ice. No warmth, no response. Just that steady, unreadable gaze that made Agnes second-guess every word she spoke.Now, caught speaking out of turn in front of Pia and Kathalina, her stomach twisted.“A-Aunt Pia, I was only—”The excuse died in her throat. Pia’s eyes locked on her calm, steady, unflinching. The kind of look that made every false word shrivel before it could be spoken.She didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t have to. When she spoke, her words were sharp and exact, like the edge of a blade.“You always have so much to say, Agnes. And yet……when it comes to what truly matters ……you say nothing at all.”The

Chapter 15: Shadows and Shields

The mall opened into a wide stretch of sunlight where the crowd flowed in all directions. Vendors lined the walkways outside, their stalls bright with colors paintings leaned on low easels, trays of woven bracelets glittered in the afternoon light, and the sweet smell of roasted chestnuts drifted from a cart on the corner.Pia moved with her usual calm. She paused at the chestnut vendor, her face steady, her hands graceful as she accepted a small paper bag of warm nuts. She peeled one slowly, almost absent-minded, as if nothing had happened inside the shop.Kathalina, however, carried the memory of Agnes’s gaze with her. She still felt the weight of it…...cold, sharp, unsettling. Every laugh from a stranger nearby seemed too loud, every shadow too dark. For a moment, she hugged her bag close to her chest, as if to anchor herself.But then she caught Pia’s expression. Not hard, not cruel, simply steady. Pia cracked another chestnut shell with the same patience she might use turning a p

Chapter 16: The Taste of Memory

The office was silent except for the steady sound of typing and the soft hum of the air conditioner. The city outside was already wrapped in night, but Thirdie hadn’t noticed. He hadn’t eaten since noon, and his eyes were still fixed on the screen.Jeff stood near his desk, arms crossed, watching with a sigh.“Boss, it’s late again. You haven’t eaten dinner. You’ll get sick if you keep this up.”Thirdie didn’t look up. He flipped through another document, his voice flat and predictable.“I’ll eat later.”Jeff rolled his eyes.“You’ve been saying that for three years now. Later, later, always later. Do you even remember the last time you ate on time?”Thirdie didn’t answer. His pen scratched across the paper as if Jeff’s words bounced off the walls without reaching him. But the assistant didn’t give up until he pulled out the next report that changed the mood in the room.“Boss,” Jeff said slowly, holding out a folder.“There’s something else. About the upcoming board meeting.”Thirdie

Chapter 17: The Hidden CEO

Kathalina woke up before the morning shine, her lashes still damp from another restless night. She pulled the blanket off and stepped onto the balcony of her hotel room, her arms wrapping around her as she looked up at the fading stars.The dreams never left her alone. Some nights it was her mother’s face, tender and smiling, calling her name. Other nights, it was Thirdie……his back turned, his voice cold, walking away no matter how hard she begged him to stay. Every time, she woke the same way: tears on her cheeks, chest aching, the room around her silent and cold.There was a time she used to ask herself, What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I hold on to anyone? But those questions had no answers. Now, looking back, she knew she wasn’t that same woman anymore. She was stronger. She loved herself more. She had rebuilt pieces of herself that no one else could fix.The sky began to warm, streaks of orange and pink melting into the horizon. Tomorrow she would sit in the boardroom with men twi

Chapter 18: Anchoring the Future

The hum of the elevator was the only sound as Kathalina and Erika stepped inside, the polished steel doors sliding shut behind them. The brief meet-and-greet with the branch employees had gone better than either of them expected. Smiles, applause, curious whispers that carried both awe and excitement, it was still strange for Kathalina to stand in the middle of it all, knowing this was the company she and Erika had built from nothing. TrendChic had grown into one of the most respected names in fashion worldwide, and now she was back at its heart.Erika folded her arms loosely, tilting her head as the elevator glided upward.“So, now that you’re officially back…” Her voice held both curiosity and challenge. “What’s your plan, Kath? You can’t exactly just hide in the office all day.”Kathalina let out a quiet laugh, her lips curving into something between relief and determination.“Actually, I’ve been thinking. Since I can’t return to Milan right now… I want to make this branch…. the Ma

Chapter 19: Calm Hands, Steady Heart

After finalizing plans with Erika, Kathalina stepped out of the Manila branch, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the streets. She didn’t head straight back to the hotel. Her steps were deliberate, purposely she needed to check on the house she had grown up in, the one that had been left in her care but where she hadn’t spent much time lately.The familiar neighborhood welcomed her quietly, the trees lining the streets swaying gently with the breeze. When she reached the gates of her old home, a small pang of nostalgia flickered in her chest. The house looked just as she remembered: immaculate, the lawn perfectly trimmed, the windows shining as if polished daily. Whoever had been managing it in her absence had done their job well, maybe too well. It almost felt surreal, as though the house had been frozen in time, waiting for her return.She pushed open the front door, and a subtle scent of fresh flowers greeted her. The floors gleamed, the furniture arranged with the

Chapter 20: Eyes That Never Left

Ten minutes before the board meeting was set to begin, Attorney Jun and Kathalina entered the sleek lobby of Stone Company. The receptionist immediately rose from her seat, politely blocking their path.“Excuse me, ma’am, sir. May I see your appointment details?” she asked, her tone professional.Attorney Jun adjusted his glasses and reached into his coat pocket. “I’m a board member. Here’s my identification.”The receptionist examined the ID carefully, then called the head office to confirm. After a brief exchange on the phone, she nodded and smiled. “You may proceed, sir. Ma’am.”“Thank you,” Attorney Jun replied with a polite nod as they walked toward the elevator. The ride up was silent, the soft hum of the machine filling the space. When the doors opened on the forty-ninth floor, he stepped aside, then guided Kathalina toward the glass-paneled doors of the main conference room.When they stepped inside, the long mahogany table was already half-filled with members of the board,

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