The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife novel Chapter 173

Adrian moved closer and sat in the chair beside the bed–close enough to have a serious conversation but maintaining professional distance.

He looked at Alina with eyes that held both compassion and determination.

“There’s something you need to know,” he began carefully. “And I’m not going to hide it from you because I think you deserve to know the truth about what’s happening.”

Alina’s body tensed.

Her hands gripped the blanket tighter.

“What is it?” she whispered.

Adrian took a deep breath.

“Someone has spread rumors about you,” he said directly. “Photos of you have been circulated online–on social media, gossip sites, anonymous forums. They’re claiming that you’re mentally unstable. That your pregnancy is unwanted. That you’re obsessed with keeping Daniel.”

Alina’s face went even paler–if that was possible.

Her eyes widened with shock.

But there was also something else in her expression.

Something that looked almost like… she’d been expecting this.

“The comments are brutal,” Adrian continued, watching her reaction carefully. “People are calling you crazy. Manipulative. Some are even saying you’re dangerous to your own baby.”

Alina closed her eyes.

A single tear slid down her cheek.

“I knew it,” she whispered so quietly Adrian almost didn’t hear. “I knew something like this would happen.”

Adrian leaned forward slightly.

“Alina, this is clearly a coordinated attack,” he said with conviction. “The timing is too perfect. Right when we’re building a case. Right when you’re in the hospital and vulnerable. Daniel is trying to destroy your credibility before you can even tell your side of the story.”

To his surprise, Alina shook her head.

“No,” she said softly.

Adrian frowned.

“What do you mean, no?”

“It’s not Daniel,” Alina said with quiet certainty.

Adrian felt frustration rising in his chest.

1/5

+25 Bonus

She was defending him.

Even now–even after everything–she was still protecting Daniel.

“Alina,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm but firm. “Why are you so sure? Daniel has every reason to do this. He wants to make you look unstable so that no one will believe you in court. So that if you try to get a protective order, the judge will think you’re just a mentally ill woman making false accusations.”

Alina remained silent.

But in her heart, she was thinking.

Daniel was cruel, yes.

He’d done terrible things to her.

But she knew him.

She’d been married to him for five years.

And Daniel wasn’t the type to use such underhanded tactics–especially not tactics that would damage the reputation of a woman who was still technically his wife.

Daniel was possessive.

Controlling.

Violent in private.

But he wasn’t a coward who would hide behind anonymous accounts and public smear campaigns.

He preferred direct control.

Direct intimidation.

This… this wasn’t his style.

Adrian watched the silence stretch on.

He moved even closer–close enough that he could see the exhaustion etched into every line of Alina’s face.

“Alina, please,” he said, and there was something rawer in his voice now. “If you want to be free of Daniel, you need to tell us everything. Everything he’s done. Everything he’s threatened. Every detail that you’ve been holding back.”

He paused, choosing his next words carefully.

“Right now, your reputation is being destroyed anyway,” he continued. “Staying silent isn’t protecting anything anymore. The only way to fight back is to tell the truth–the complete truth–so we can show the world and the court who Daniel Blackwood really is.”

Alina looked at him with eyes that were filled with pain and conflict.

Part of her wanted to tell him.

Wanted to finally let it all out.

2/5

Chapter 16’s

+25 Bonus

But the fear was still there.

The threats still echoed.

“I need… time to think,” she whispered finally.

Adrian felt disappointment crash over him.

But he forced himself to stay calm.

Getting angry wouldn’t help.

Pushing too hard might make her shut down completely.

“Okay,” he said quietly. “I understand. But Alina–time is something we don’t have a lot of. Every day you wait, they get stronger. Their narrative gets more established. Please think about that.”

Alina nodded weakly.

Adrian stood, preparing to leave.

As he did, he gently touched her shoulder–just for a moment.

A gesture of comfort.

Of solidarity.

“I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk,” he said softly. “You’re not alone in this.”

Then he turned and walked toward the door. ⚫

Neither of them noticed the hospital staff member standing just outside in the corridor–phone raised, camera capturing the moment through the small window in the door.

The moment where Adrian’s hand rested on Alina’s shoulder.

The moment where he leaned close.

The moment that, from the right angle with the right framing, could look like something more than professional concern.

The staff member quickly sent the photos to Dr. Whitmore with a brief message: *As requested. Lawyer

visiting patient again.*

Within seconds, Dr. Whitmore forwarded them to Margaret with his own message: *Mrs. Blackwood, the photos you requested. There appears to be considerable closeness between Mr. Lawson and the patient.*

Meanwhile, across the city at Blackwood Enterprises, Daniel sat in his office staring at his tablet screen.

His face was dark with fury.

Jaw clenched so tight it was painful.

Eyes burning with rage barely contained.

3/5

Chapter 5

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify