The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife novel Chapter 112

717

The Watcher

+25 Bonus

Morning light filtered through Margaret’s sitting room windows as Mr. Harris delivered his report.

“Nothing unusual, Ma’am.” He stood at attention, hands clasped behind his back. “Mrs. Alina Blackwood remains in her room most of the day. The signal jammer is functioning perfectly–no outgoing calls, no messages. Staff interactions are minimal and monitored.”

Margaret sat in her chair, fingers steepled, eyes calculating.

“Something feels off.”

“Sorry, Ma’am?”

“Something feels wrong.” She stood, moved to the window. “People don’t surrender this completely without planning something. I want cameras installed in her room.”

Mr. Harris’s expression flickered. “Ma’am, that would require Mr. Daniel’s authorization. Privacy laws-”

“I don’t care about privacy laws.” Margaret turned to face him. “This is my son’s house. My family. And I will protect it by any means necessary.”

“Mr. Daniel specifically instructed that Mrs. Alina be treated with appropriate dignity-”

“Daniel is blind to threats under his own roof.” Margaret’s voice was ice. “He sees a broken woman who needs protection. I see someone who is usually defiant suddenly become too quiet. Obedient. I’m certain she is planning something.”

Mr. Harris shifted uncomfortably. “With respect, Ma’am, Mrs. Alina seems genuinely defeated. “I think-”

“I don’t need your assessment to tell me what I already know.” Margaret moved closer. “Install the cameras. Hidden. In the bedroom. The bathroom mirror. Angles that cover everything.”

“Ma’am-”

“The feed goes directly to my private server. Not the main security system. No one else has access. Not Daniel. Not the security team. Just me.”

“This is highly irregular-”

“This is necessary.” Margaret’s eyes were steel. “You work for this family, Mr. Harris. For me. You’ll do what I say or you’ll find yourself unemployed. Am I clear?”

The threat hung in the air.

Mr. Harris had three children. A mortgage. Aging parents who needed care.

He needed this job.

“Yes, Ma’am.” His voice was hollow. “Crystal clear.”

“Good. Have it done today. While she’s out of the room. I want full coverage by tonight.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Mr. Harris left, shoulders rigid with the weight of compromise.

Margaret returned to her chair.

1/5

The dry het

Pulled up her phone.

Made another call.

“Mrs. Helen? Come to my room. We need to discuss your schedule.”

***

+25 Bonus

In the staff quarters, Mrs. Helen felt anxious after receiving a call from Margaret. But she quickly hurried to meet her.

“Starting tonight, you’ll be on night shift. Midnight to eight AM. Cleaning, laundry, kitchen prep for the next day.”

“But Ma’am, I’ve always worked days. My knees-”

“Your knees will manage.” Margaret’s voice allowed no argument. “This is a staffing decision. Not a negotiation.”

Mrs. Helen’s throat tightened. “May I ask why the sudden change?”

“Does it matter?”

It did matter.

Because night shift meant no contact with Alina. No morning tea deliveries. No brief conversations while changing linens.

Complete separation.

“Please, Ma’am.” Mrs. Helen’s voice broke. “I’ve worked for this family fifteen years. I’ve never asked for anything. But this–please don’t do this.”

“You should have thought about that before you started sending messages to help Alina.”

The words landed like a slap.

Mrs. Helen’s blood went cold. “I don’t know what you mean-”

“Don’t insult my intelligence.” Margaret’s voice was sharp. “I know you’ve been helping her. Coordinating with outside parties. Trying to undermine this family’s stability.”

“I would never-”

“You already have. The only reason you still have a job is because firing you would make Daniel ask questions I don’t want to answer. But make no mistake–one more step out of line and you’re gone. No reference. No severance. Nothing.”

Tears streamed down Mrs. Helen’s face. “Please-”

“Night shift. Starting tonight. That’s final.”

Margaret waved her hand, dismissing Mrs. Helen.

Mrs. Helen had no choice. She left Margaret’s room in tears and sat down on her small bed as soon as she reached the staff dormitory.

Mrs. Helen broke down crying.

Fifteen years of loyalty.

2/5

Fifteen years of service.

And this was how it ended.

Separated from the young woman she’d watched suffer. Powerless to help. Threatened into silence.

She wiped her eyes with shaking hands.

Thought about Alina alone in that room.

About Junior forgetting her.

About the systematic destruction of a good woman who’d done nothing except love a child.

And Mrs. Helen felt ashamed.

Ashamed that she needed this job more than she needed her conscience.

Ashamed that she was choosing survival over justice.

But she had grandchildren to help support. Bills that wouldn’t pay themselves.

So she would take the night shift.

And she would remain silent, even with that guilt weighing on her.

***

+25 Bonus

Evening approached.

Margaret found Alina in her room, sitting alone by the window with a book unopened in her lap.

“Alina. We need to talk for a moment.”

Alina looked up. Face neutral. Eyes empty.

“Of course.”

Margaret sat across from her. Arranged her features into something approximating pleasantness.

“I’ve been thinking about your situation. Your… isolation.”

Alina waited.

“You’ve been eating alone. In your room or the small dining room. That’s not appropriate for a member of this family.” 1

“You preferred me separated.”

“I preferred you behaved.” Margaret’s smile was sharp. “And now that you are, it’s time to integrate you properly. Starting tonight, you’ll join us for dinner in the main dining room. Every evening.”

Alina’s expression didn’t change. “If you insist.”

“I do. It’s only right that Daniel’s wife be present at family meals. Clarissa agrees. Even Junior thinks it’s appropriate.”

The knife twisted.

Junior had been consulted. Had given his approval for the strange woman to join them.

3/5

+25 Banus

Like granting permission for a distant relative to attend.

“Of course,” Alina replied, neither refusing nor trying to avoid it.

“Seven PM. Dress appropriately. This is a reward, Alina. For your cooperation. Your newfound understanding of your place.”

“Thank you.”

Margaret studied her. Looking for cracks. For signs of the fight that used to burn in Alina’s eyes.

Nothing.

Just hollow compliance.

It should have pleased Margaret.

Instead, it unsettled her more.

“That’s all. I’ll see you at dinner.”

Margaret left.

Alina remained by the window, book still unopened.

She waited until Margaret’s footsteps faded completely.

Then she stood.

Moved to the window.

Looked out at the grounds she couldn’t leave.

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

She understood exactly what Margaret was doing.

Not rewarding her.

But punishing her.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify