The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife novel Chapter 106

9/9

The spinning Storm

The Gathering Storm

Monday arrived with continued rain.

Alina woke to find Daniel already gone. A note on his pillow–the first he’d ever left.

Early meeting in the city. Back by dinner. -D

Brief. Impersonal. But somehow more communication than they’d had in days.

Alina crumpled it and threw it in the wastebasket.

She dressed carefully. Nothing too formal. Nothing that would draw attention.

Just another day of playing the compliant wife.

***

+25 Bonus

Breakfast was in the small dining room. Margaret had declared the formal dining room “too much effort for everyday meals” now that Clarissa was managing the household.

Alina arrived to find Clarissa already seated with Junior beside her.

The boy was eating scrambled eggs, chattering about something to do with his new robot.

He looked healthier. The bandage was smaller now. His color better.

Recovering well.

Without her.

“Good morning,” Clarissa said with a bright smile. “We saved you a seat.”

At the far end of the table. As far from Junior as possible while still technically being in the same room.

“Thank you,” Alina murmured.

She took her seat. A maid immediately appeared with coffee and toast.

Junior looked up briefly. His eyes landed on Alina. Flickered with that same uncomfortable confusion.

Then he returned to his eggs.

“Junior had a wonderful morning,” Clarissa announced. “We did puzzles in the sunroom. He completed a fifty- piece all by himself. Didn’t you, sweetheart?”

“Uh–huh.” Junior nodded enthusiastically. “It had dinosaurs.”

“That’s wonderful,” Margaret said from her position at the middle of the table. She’d appeared sometime after Alina sat down. “Very advanced for his age. Especially after the injury.”

“The doctor said cognitive activities are excellent for recovery,” Clarissa explained. “So we’re doing lots of puzzles and reading and games.”

She reached over to ruffle Junior’s hair affectionately.

The gesture was so natural. So maternal.

So perfectly crafted.

1/9

The causing Stormm

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Alina forced herself to take a bite of toast. It tasted like cardboard.

“We’re also planning Junior’s birthday party,” Margaret continued. “Three weeks from Saturday. Clarissa has some lovely ideas.”

“Just something simple,” Clarissa demurred. “Family and a few of Junior’s friends from school. Magician, maybe. Face painting. What do you think, sweetheart? Would you like a magician?”

Junior’s face lit up. “Yes! Can he make things disappear?”

“I’m sure he can.” Clarissa laughed. Warm and genuine–sounding.

“Speaking of disappearing,” Margaret said, her tone shifting slightly, “we need to discuss the guest list. I was thinking the Hendersons, since they’re still in town. The Chens. Perhaps the Lockwoods–their son is Junior’s age.

“Perfect,” Clarissa agreed. “I’ll start sending invitations this week.”

Alina set down her coffee cup carefully. “Will there be cake?”

The question came out before she could stop it.

Three pairs of eyes turned to her.

“Of course there’ll be cake,” Margaret said, her tone suggesting Alina had asked something ridiculous.

“Junior likes chocolate,” Alina continued quietly. “With vanilla frosting. Not too sweet. And he doesn’t like fondant. The texture bothers him.”

Silence fell across the table.

Junior looked confused. “I like chocolate?”

“You used to,” Alina said, then caught herself. “I mean… I thought you did.”

Clarissa’s smile was gentle. Patient. “We’ll try a few different options, won’t we, sweetheart? See what you like now. Tastes can change, especially after what you’ve been through.”

Erasing even that.

Even the small details of Junior’s preferences that Alina had learned over five years.

Replacing them with new preferences. New memories. New truths./

Margaret cleared her throat. “In any case, the party planning is well in hand. Clarissa and I will manage it.”

Translation: Your input isn’t needed or wanted.

Alina nodded. “Of course.”

She finished her toast in silence while Clarissa and Margaret discussed decorations and entertainment and guest lists.

Junior interjected occasionally with excitement about games and presents.

Never once looked at Alina.

When breakfast ended, Clarissa took Junior by the hand.

2/9

The Vattening Storm

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“Say goodbye to Grandmother,” she prompted.

“Bye, Grandma!” Junior waved.

“And to your father’s wife.”

Junior looked at Alina. Uncertain.

“Bye,” he said quietly.

Not “bye, Alina.”

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