All Chapters of The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

At 8:30, Alina's phone rang. She had just finished helping Junior bathe and get dressed, and now the child was playing with Legos in the playroom with Mrs. Helen watching.Alina reached for her phone—expecting maybe Emma checking on her.But the name on the screen made her chest tighten.Dad.Richard Hayes.With trembling hands, Alina answered. "Dad?""Alina!" Her father's voice—relieved, worried. "Thank God you answered. We were so worried last night. We saw the news—you left the gala dinner, then couldn't be reached—""News?" Alina froze. "Dad saw the news?""Sweetheart, it's everywhere," her mother's voice now—speakerphone. "On TV, online, tabloids. Everyone's talking about 'Mrs. Blackwood fleeing the gala dinner.' There are videos of you leaving the hotel alone, videos of Junior crying..."Oh God.Alina hadn't thought about the media. She'd been too focused on surviving last night, on Daniel's ultimatum, on having to come back."We're okay, Dad, Mom," Alina said quickly, trying t

In her room on the second floor, Alina stood behind the curtain of the window facing the back of the mansion.From her position, she could see below—past the backyard with its swimming pool and gazebo—directly to the large window of the family room on the first floor. That window was floor-to-ceiling glass, providing a perfect view inside.Clarissa sat on the carpet with Junior, playing with the Transformers robot. Daniel sat on the sofa right behind them, occasionally coming down to the floor to join in—teaching Junior how to transform the robot patiently.From a distance, through that clear glass, they looked like a real family.Father, mother, child.Picture perfect.Margaret sat in a chair with tea in hand, watching with a satisfied smile—finally, the Blackwood family was "complete" again.Alina saw Daniel laugh—a genuine laugh—when Junior successfully transformed the robot correctly. The man ruffled his son's hair with an affection Alina rarely saw.Daniel had never laughed like

Junior fed Alina carefully, his small lips moving as he talked—probably telling Alina to "eat a lot to be strong." Alina smiled—a genuine smile that Daniel rarely saw lately—as she fed Junior back.They laughed together about something.Bonding that was natural. Easy. Full of love.Daniel felt something painful in his chest.This was what he never had with Junior. This easy affection. This natural care.Junior never worried about whether Daniel ate or not. Never checked Daniel's temperature when Daniel was sick. Never looked for Daniel when upset.But with Alina? Junior did all of that naturally. Because Alina taught him to care. Alina showed him unconditional love.And Daniel just realized—with painful clarity—that he was missing out. He'd missed five years of moments like this with his own son because he was too focused on work, too closed off emotionally, too unable to move past Clarissa.And now he was trying to force Junior to bond with Clarissa—a woman who was essentially a stra

At nine in the morning, Alina had just managed to get Junior back to sleep—the boy was exhausted from crying—when a hard knock on her bedroom door made her jump.Mrs. Helen entered with an apologetic and nervous face."Ma'am, sorry to disturb. But... there's a message from Mr. Daniel."Alina's stomach dropped. "What?"Mrs. Helen took a white envelope from her apron pocket, handing it over with trembling hands.Alina opened the envelope with building dread. Inside was a letter—typed formally, like a company memo.FROM: Daniel BlackwoodTO: Alina Hayes BlackwoodRE: House Rules - Effective ImmediatelyEffective today, the following rules are enforced:All external communications via phone, email, or messaging apps must be approved first. Communication devices (phone, laptop, tablet) will be collected and stored in my study. Access only with permission.Mrs. Alina's bedroom door will be locked from outside from 10 PM until 6 AM for "security." Security will be on standby 24/7 in the corr

On the fourth morning in her luxurious prison, Alina woke to the sound of the door being opened from outside.Mrs. Helen entered with a breakfast tray—toast, scrambled eggs, orange juice, and chamomile tea. The old woman placed the tray on the table with hands that weren't entirely steady, avoiding eye contact."Good morning, Ma'am," Mrs. Helen greeted softly. "Breakfast for you."Alina sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the food without appetite. "Where's Junior?""Already had breakfast this morning. With Mrs. Margaret and Mrs. Clarissa." Mrs. Helen still wasn't looking at Alina. "Mr. Daniel left for the office at seven."Of course. Daniel ran away again—as usual."Didn't Junior ask about me?" Alina couldn't hold back that question.Mrs. Helen finally looked at her, eyes teary. "Young master keeps asking about you, Ma'am. He asks why he can't play with you. Why you don't come down for breakfast. Why Mr. Harris is always in front of your room door."Something clenched in Alina's c