The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife novel Chapter 169

The Complaint

Lisa Brennan opened the door wider.

“Thank you for being willing to listen, Ms. Brennan,” Vincent Palmer said in a gentle voice. “May I come in? We can discuss the details more comfortably.”

Lisa stepped back, allowing Vincent to enter her small apartment.

The man looked around quickly-noting the worn sofa, old TV, children’s toys scattered on the floor.

All signs of someone struggling financially.

Perfect.

With her situation of lacking everything, Lisa would be easy to influence and get to cooperate.

“Please sit down,” Lisa said in a voice that was still wary but beginning to soften.

They sat on the sofa-Lisa at one end, Vincent at the other with a respectful distance.

Vincent placed a white envelope on the coffee table.

“Fifty thousand dollars,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Cash. No strings attached. This is compensation for your time and effort in filing a formal complaint.”

Lisa stared at the envelope with teary eyes.

“What exactly do I have to do to get that money?” Lisa asked carefully.

Vincent took a tablet from his work bag and opened it.

“You only need to file a formal complaint with the Medical Board about Dr. Ingrid Halvorsen,” he explained calmly. “The complaint will question her competence, objectivity, and ability to make fair evaluations— especially in cases involving allegations of abuse.”

Vincent swiped the tablet screen and showed it to Lisa.

“I’ve prepared a draft,” he said smoothly. “Based on your experience five years ago. But of course, this is your complaint. So I want you to read it and tell me if anything needs to be changed. It has to sound like your own words –not scripted.”

Lisa took the tablet with slightly trembling hands and began reading.

The complaint draft was carefully written-sounding emotional but not hysterical. Personal but not petty. Legitimate but with subtle bias.

“I, Lisa Brennan, wish to file a formal complaint against Dr. Ingrid Halvorsen based on my personal experience with her evaluation five years ago.

In 2020, Dr. Halvorsen conducted an evaluation of my family situation after my child had an accident. That evaluation resulted in a recommendation for Child Protective Services intervention that subsequently proved

unnecessary.

Although further investigation found that no abuse had occurred, the damage caused by Dr. Halvorsen’s initial evaluation was profound and long-lasting. My family’s reputation was destroyed. My partner experienced tremendous stress that contributed to his death three years later.

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I believe Dr. Halvorsen has bias in her evaluations-particularly a tendency to conclude abuse too quickly without sufficient evidence. I also believe she has bias against father or husband figures in families, with the assumption that men are the most likely perpetrators.

I’m worried that Dr. Halvorsen is doing the same thing to another family now. I’ve heard she was recently involved in a case involving a pregnant woman and her husband, and I’m afraid the same bias may be influencing her evaluation.

I’m filing this complaint not out of personal revenge, but out of genuine concern that Dr. Halvorsen is incapable of conducting objective and fair evaluations-especially in complex and sensitive cases like this.

I ask the Medical Board to review Dr. Halvorsen’s qualifications and track record, and to consider whether she should continue to be allowed to conduct evaluations in cases involving allegations of abuse.”

Lisa read slowly-every word sinking in deeply.

This was exactly what she felt.

Exactly what she’d wanted to say for five years.

“Nothing needs to be changed,” Lisa whispered in a trembling voice. “This is exactly how I feel.”

Vincent nodded with false understanding.

“I know. And that’s why this complaint is important. Not just for you, but for other families who might suffer from the same bias.”

Lisa looked at Vincent with teary eyes.

“What happens if I file this?” she asked. “Will the Medical Board actually investigate?”

“They have to,” Vincent answered with conviction. “A formal complaint from a former evaluation subject is serious. Especially when there’s documentation of evaluation error-which in your case, there is. The investigation ultimately found no abuse. That’s an indisputable fact.”

He paused.

“And if this complaint is filed now-while Dr. Halvorsen is involved in another case-the Medical Board will be very careful. They might question her evaluation in the current case. Might request a second opinion from another psychiatrist.”

Lisa took a deep breath.

“How quickly does this need to be filed?” she asked.

“Ideally, tonight,” Vincent answered carefully. “The Medical Board has an emergency review process for complaints involving ongoing cases. If we submit before midnight, they’ll review it tomorrow morning. And that could affect the case Dr. Halvorsen is currently handling.”

Lisa was silent for a long time.

Her mind spinning quickly.

Fifty thousand dollars.

Justice for what happened to her family.

A chance to prevent another family from experiencing the same thing.

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“May I add a few things to this draft?” she asked finally.

Vincent smiled with hidden triumph.

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“Only if you feel something is inaccurate or doesn’t reflect your experience,” he answered smoothly. “This is your complaint. Your words. Your voice. So just write if you want to add something.”

Lisa read again more carefully this time.

Then she began typing-changing some phrases, adding specific details about her experience, making the complaint sound more personal and less scripted.

Vincent sat patiently, occasionally offering subtle suggestions.

An hour later, the final complaint was ready.

Lisa stared at it on the tablet screen with bated breath.

“This is it,” she whispered. “All of this is exactly what I wanted to say.”

“Are you sure you want to file this?” Vincent asked in a concerned tone as if giving Lisa one last chance to back

out.

But they both knew the answer.

“Yes,” Lisa said in a firm voice. “I’m sure.”

Vincent nodded and pressed several buttons on the tablet.

“Your complaint has now been submitted to the Medical Board,” he said in a satisfied tone. “They’ll receive notification in a few minutes. And a copy will also be sent to Judge Melissa Hartford-the judge handling Dr. Halvorsen’s current case.”

He stood and picked up the white envelope from the table.

“This is the promised compensation,” Vincent said while handing the envelope to Lisa. “Fifty thousand dollars. Cash. Thank you for being willing to speak up, Ms. Brennan. You did the right thing.”

Lisa took the envelope with trembling hands.

The weight was real.

The money inside was real.

And for the first time in five years, Lisa felt like she was finally getting something back from the nightmare that destroyed her life.

Vincent walked to the door with measured steps.

“If the Medical Board contacts you for follow-up, just tell your experience honestly,” he said in a reassuring tone. “You don’t need to mention our meeting. This is your own decision to file the complaint.”

“Thank you,” Lisa whispered in an emotion-filled voice. “Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”

Vincent smiled warmly and genuinely on the surface but full of manipulation underneath.

“Thank you for being willing to fight for justice,” he answered smoothly.

The door closed with a soft click.

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Lisa sat back on the sofa with the envelope in her hands and tears flowing down her cheeks.

She felt like she was finally doing something meaningful.

Something that would prevent other families from experiencing what she experienced.

Lisa didn’t know that the complaint she just filed would be used to destroy a real abuse case.

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Didn’t know that the woman Dr. Halvorsen was now trying to save was a true victim-not a false accusation like her case back then.

Lisa didn’t know that the fifty thousand dollars in her hands was blood money paid by a monster to protect

himself.

What Lisa knew was only that she was finally getting justice.

And that felt like victory.

At St. Catherine’s Medical Center, Alina sat in bed with pillows propped behind her back.

Richard sat in the chair beside the bed with his hand still holding his daughter’s hand-unwilling to let go even

for a moment.

Emma stood on the other side with her hand gently touching Alina’s shoulder.

And Adrian stood near the window with an upright posture but eyes very focused on Alina.

“Alina,” Richard said gently but with urgency behind it. “Tell Papa what happened. Everything. We need to know so we can protect you.”

Alina stared at her father’s hand holding hers-Richard’s hand was large, warm and comforting.

She wanted to tell.

Wanted to let out everything she’d been suppressing for months. Especially the rape Daniel committed.

But Daniel’s voice echoed in her head.

“Eight million dollar debt. If I collect it, your father will lose everything.”

“He… he locked me in the room,” Alina whispered in a very soft voice. “For the past three months. After Junior’s accident. Since Junior lost his memory and… didn’t recognize me anymore.”

Tears began falling down Alina’s cheeks.

“I couldn’t go out without permission,” she continued in a broken voice. “Couldn’t meet anyone, Couldn’t make phone calls. All my communication was monitored. Every word I said was heard by him.”

Richard felt anger boiling in his chest but he suppressed it+focusing on his fragile daughter.

“And your physical condition?” Emma asked gently. “Why did you end up like this? Didn’t he feed you?”

“He gave me the best food,” Alina answered honestly. “It’s just that I had no appetite. Especially after getting pregnant. At first, I only had normal morning sickness. But then it got worse. Just smelling food made me nauseous. And every time I tried to eat, I threw up.”

Alina looked at her thin hands.

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“Dr. Ross gave me IV nutrition,” she whispered. “But apparently it wasn’t enough. I kept losing weight. Feeling weak. And…”

Alina’s voice cut off.

Adrian stepped closer with a very serious expression.

“Alina,” he said in a voice that was firm but gentle. “We need to know everything-has your husband ever hurt you physically? Has he ever hit you? Forced you to do something you didn’t want?”

Alina froze.

The question hung in the air like a blade.

She opened her mouth to answer.

But Daniel’s voice echoed louder in her head.

“If you say things you shouldn’t say… I’ll make sure you deeply regret it.”

“Daniel…” Alina stopped, her breathing becoming faster. “He…”

Alina couldn’t say anything about the rape.

About the nights full of violence and tears.

About how her body was no longer her own.

Because if she said that, Daniel might be very furious. And her father would lose everything.

“He threatened me,” Alina finally whispered in a broken voice. “He threatened to destroy Papa if I talked too much.”

Richard flinched.

“He threatened you?” he repeated in a voice rising with shock and anger. “He did that?”

“Eight million dollar debt,” Alina cut in with a very soft voice. “Daniel uses that as a threat. He said he could collect it anytime. That Papa would lose everything. House. Business. Reputation. Everything.”

Richard froze with total shock.

His face became very pale.

“Alina,” he whispered in a broken voice. “Have you not been talking all this time because you were afraid I would be destroyed?”

“I couldn’t let him destroy Papa,” Alina said while sobbing harder. “I couldn’t. Whatever happened to me- I could endure it. But I couldn’t let Papa lose everything because of me.”

Richard felt tears flowing down his face.

“Alina, listen to Papa,” Richard spoke in a voice full of overwhelming emotion. “I don’t care about money. I don’t care about business, house or reputation. All I care about is you. Your safety. Your life.”

He squeezed Alina’s hand tighter.

“Never sacrifice yourself to protect me from financial consequences,” he said with deep conviction. “I would lose everything a hundred times if it meant you could be free from that man.”

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Emma was crying now too.

“Uncle Richard is right, Alina,” she whispered while hugging her best friend. “No money or business is more important than your life. Than your safety.”

Adrian walked closer with a very serious expression.

“Financial threats are a common tactic used by abusers to control their victims. And yes, your husband could technically call in that debt. But-”

He knelt beside the bed to be at eye level with Alina.

“There are legal protections,” Adrian continued in a reassuring tone. “There are ways to protect Uncle Richard’s assets in a situation like this. And more importantly-if Daniel Blackwood calls in that debt now, in the context of an abuse case being investigated, it will look like retaliation. Intimidation. And that will be very detrimental to his position in court.”

Adrian looked at Alina with unblinking eyes.

“Are there other crimes Daniel has committed? We can’t fully protect you if you don’t tell us how dangerous the threats he’s given are,” Adrian probed again. Certain there was still something Alina was hiding. “We need the complete truth. Because only with that can we build a case strong enough to free you.”

Alina looked at Adrian with tear-filled eyes.

She wanted to speak.

Reveal the rape Daniel had committed. But Alina didn’t yet fully trust that they could protect her.

Alina was also thinking about her baby’s future. Didn’t want her child to be hurt later if they knew they were the result of rape.

Regardless, Alina loved her unborn baby, even though they hadn’t been born yet.

“There’s nothing,” Alina whispered in a hoarse voice. “Nothing more I can tell you. Right now, I just want to divorce and leave the Blackwood family peacefully.”

Adrian was silent for a moment. Not entirely believing Alina’s statement. Alina’s own eyes seemed to say many things she was hiding.

“Alright,” Adrian answered gently. Not wanting to force her. “You can tell us another time. Now, you’re not alone anymore. We’re here. And we won’t let him hurt you again.”

Before Alina could answer, a nurse entered with an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry,” she said in a gentle voice. “But visiting hours are over. Family must leave the patient to rest tonight.”

Richard didn’t want to move.