The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife novel Chapter 10

The Choice

“You’re defending her. Making excuses for her. Questioning decisions you made yourself. You’ve fallen in love with your contract wife.”

“I haven’t-”

“Daniel.” Margaret’s voice was soft but firm. “I’m your mother. I know you better than anyone. And I see the way you look at Alina. The way you hesitate every time you have to enforce consequences. This isn’t about Junior anymore. This is about your feelings for her.”

Daniel couldn’t answer. Because there was a part of him- -a part he refused to acknowledge–that knew Margaret was right.

“But you can’t love her,” Margaret continued, stepping closer. “Because she’s not the right woman for you. Clarissa is. Clarissa is from an appropriate family, with matching status, with the same background.”

“Clarissa left me five years ago.”

“Because she was young and confused. But now she’s mature. Ready to be a wife and mother.” Margaret touched Daniel’s arm. You need to let go of Alina. For the good of everyone—including yourself.”

Daniel stared at the documents on his desk–the prenup that would strip all of Alina’s rights.

“Sign it,” Margaret said, following his gaze. “Present it to Alina tomorrow. Give her a choice–sign or face consequences for her family. She’ll sign. And after that, the transition will be easier.”

“Transition to what?” Daniel asked in a tired voice.

“To the life that’s supposed to be,” Margaret answered. “You with Clarissa. Junior with his biological parents. And Alina will move on. Find her own life. This is the kindest thing for everyone.”

Margaret left the study, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

Daniel sat back down, staring at the prenup.

Sign it.

Present it to Alina.

Force her to choose between her rights or her family.

That’s what he had to do.

But why weren’t his hands moving to pick up the pen?

Why did his chest feel like there was a crushing weight?

Why wouldn’t the image of Alina–holding Junior, tears streaming, begging to just be allowed to be a mother–leave his mind?

Daniel poured whiskey, downing it in one gulp.

Then he stared at the prenup again.

And finally, with hands that were somehow not steady, he picked up the pen.

Ready to sign the document that would seal Alina’s fate.

But before the pen touched the paper, voices from memory haunted him.

Junior’s voice. “Papa is mean. Junior doesn’t like Papa.”

Alina’s voice. “For five years I was there for Junior. You? You left.”

17

The

+25 Bonus

The voices from memory still echoed faintly. Junior crying. Alina begging. But Daniel brushed it all aside by signing his name on every page marked by Mr. Harrison. His signature was firm, clear, decisive–like every other business contract he’d ever signed.

Daniel closed the folder, placing it in the corner of the desk with a controlled movement.

Done.

He poured whiskey again more this time and sat back in the dark leather chair. The study was lit only by the dim desk lamp, leaving most of the room submerged in shadow.

Daniel should have felt relieved. Should have felt like he’d taken the correct step to protect his family and assets.

But what he felt was something else.

Something uncomfortable. Growing. Expanding in his chest like a crack slowly widening in ice.

He drank the whiskey, trying to drown the feeling.

But the feeling remained. Persistent. Refusing to be ignored.

Daniel stared at the darkness outside the window, with the signed document on his desk–silent testimony to a decision that couldn’t be undone. 1

1

And for the first time in years, Daniel Blackwood wasn’t sure if he’d made the right choice.

At six in the morning, Alina woke to the sound of her bedroom door opening without a knock.

Daniel entered in a perfect black suit, navy blue tie already tied neatly at his neck–a man ready for the office with a familiar businesslike posture. But there was something in his hand that made Alina’s heart immediately pound hard.

A thick brown folder.

Daniel closed the door behind him, walking to Alina’s small desk with measured steps. He placed the folder on the wooden surface with a sound that somehow felt final.

“We need to talk,” Daniel said without preamble.

Alina sat slowly on the edge of the bed, pulling her thin cardigan tighter around her body. Her hair was still messy from sleep, face pale without makeup, eyes slightly swollen–traces of crying last night after separating from Junior.

“About what?” her voice was hoarse from sleep.

Daniel didn’t answer immediately. He opened the folder, taking out two separate sets of documents. One thick with a formal cover reading “PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT (REVISED).” The other thinner but looking older, paper slightly yellowed at the edges.

“This,” Daniel pointed to the thick document, “is the new prenuptial agreement. Which will replace the old one.” Then he pointed to the second document. “And this is your family’s debt contract. I think you need to review both before making a decision.”

A decision. As if Alina had a choice.

Alina stood on legs that weren’t entirely steady, walking to the desk. She picked up the new prenup with trembling hands, opening the first page.

PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT (REVISED)

Between: Daniel Jonathan Blackwood (“Husband“)

And: Alina Marie Hayes Blackwood (“Wite“)

Alina scanned page after page, her heart growing heavier with every sentence she read.

Thys Pho

+25 Bonus

Essentially the document stated several things:

In the event of divorce before 10 years of marriage, Wife is not entitled to alimony in any form.

In the event of divorce before 10 years of marriage, Wife is not entitled to division of marital property or property settlement.

In the event of divorce before 10 years of marriage, Wife is not entitled to file for custody or visitation rights regarding Daniel Blackwood Jr.

All gifts, allowances, or financial support given during the marriage are considered final and cannot be reclaimed.

Wife agrees to maintain confidentiality of all aspects of the marriage and will not make public statements detrimental to Husband’s reputation or the Blackwood family.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify