The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife novel Chapter 188

Daniel arrived at St. Catherine's close to nightfall.

The corridor lights had already been dimmed, and the hospital felt quieter than usual. When he approached the nurse station on the fourth floor, a nurse looked up at him with an uneasy expression.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Blackwood," the nurse said carefully. "Visiting hours are over. And there are instructions that all visits must go through the medical team's approval first."

Daniel smiled faintly — a smile that was polished on the surface but never reached his eyes.

"I understand," he said calmly. "But I'd just like to check on her for a moment." He fixed the nurse with an expression carefully constructed to look like concern. "Only a few minutes. You're welcome to accompany me inside if that makes you more comfortable."

The nurse hesitated. But Daniel's reason sounded reasonable, and his offer to be supervised made refusal feel excessive.

"All right," she said at last. "But only briefly, sir. And please don't tire the patient."

"Of course. Thank you."

Daniel walked toward room 412 with unhurried steps, a small, quiet victory tracing the corner of his mouth.

---

The door opened, and Alina, who had been resting against the headboard, went rigid the moment she saw who walked in.

Her body froze. Her hands clutched the blanket.

"Alina." Daniel closed the door behind him and approached, his voice soft. "Have you eaten? You and our baby?"

Alina didn't answer. She turned her face toward the window, refusing to look at him.

Daniel wasn't troubled by the silence. He pulled up a chair and sat at the side of the bed, setting a small box of snacks on the table.

"I was just at a fundraising event," he said, his tone as if sharing ordinary pleasant news. "And as it happens, your mother was there."

Alina turned sharply. For the first time since Daniel had entered, her eyes showed a reaction.

"Mama?" Her voice came out quietly, full of wariness. "You saw Mama?"

"Yes." Daniel smiled. "Helena looked healthy and happy. Beautiful as always. Her friends adore her." He took out his phone and showed her a photo of Helena smiling widely at the event. "Look. I took this for you. She said she misses you terribly."

Alina stared at the photo of her mother. Something tightened in her chest — a mixture of longing and fear. Her mother who knew nothing. Her mother who still saw Daniel as the perfect son-in-law.

"What do you want from Mama?" Alina asked, her voice trembling as she held her emotions in check.

"Want?" Daniel raised an eyebrow, as though the question wounded him. "I don't want anything. I was simply greeting my mother-in-law. And as it happens, your mother asked me for a favor." He paused, letting his words hang in the air. "About David. Your brother just graduated, and he needs a job. Your mother asked me to take him on at Blackwood Enterprises. Of course I agreed. He's family, isn't he?"

The color drained from Alina's face.

David. Her younger brother — naive, innocent, who knew nothing about who Daniel truly was. And now he was about to walk into Daniel's company — into the grasp of the same man who had already imprisoned Alina.

One more thread. One more chain.

"There's no need," Alina said quickly. "David doesn't have to work at your company. He can find something else—"

"But your mother already asked," Daniel cut in softly. "And I already gave my word. You wouldn't want to disappoint her, would you?" He took out his phone again. "Actually, your mother has been wanting to speak with you. How about we call her right now?"

Before Alina could refuse, Daniel had already dialed Helena's number and switched to speakerphone.

It rang only twice before Helena's warm voice came through.

"Daniel? Is Alina with you?"

"She is, Mama," Daniel replied in a voice dripping with false warmth. "I'm with Alina right now. She's been missing you, so she asked to call even though it's late. She couldn't sleep without hearing your voice."

Daniel's eyes locked onto Alina — a silent command that needed no words.

*Behave. Or there will be consequences.*

"Alina, sweetheart? Are you there?" Helena's voice came through, full of hope.

Alina took the phone from Daniel and swallowed. Her throat felt dry.

"Yes, Mama," she said, forcing her voice to sound normal, light. "I'm here. I've missed you."

"Oh, my darling. Mama has missed you so much too. How are you doing? How is the pregnancy? Daniel said you need lots of rest."

Tears began to gather in Alina's eyes, but she held them back. She forced a smile her mother couldn't see. "I'm fine, Mama. Just a little tired. But don't worry. Daniel is taking good care of me."

The words felt like poison on her tongue.

"Thank goodness," said Helena, the relief in her voice unmistakable. "Have you heard about David? Daniel is so kind to offer him a position. We're lucky to have a son-in-law like him."

"Yes, Mama," Alina whispered. "We're lucky."

Daniel helped Alina lie back, then tucked the blanket carefully around her body with movements that were almost attentive. His fingers smoothed a strand of hair that had fallen across her forehead.

Then he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"Get plenty of rest," he murmured. "So you recover quickly. So you can come home to us soon."

Alina squeezed her eyes shut, tears sliding silently into the pillow.

Daniel stood and looked at his wife for a moment with a gaze full of possession, then turned and walked out of the room.

---

In the corridor, a few nurses who crossed his path lowered their eyes — the residue of fear from the confrontation some time ago still clinging to them. They stepped aside carefully, avoiding his gaze.

Daniel walked toward the elevator at an unhurried pace.

But before he reached it, the faint sound of tense conversation drifted from the direction of the nurse station. A cluster of staff had gathered, their voices low but laced with panic.

*"Have you heard? Apparently there's a report that was reopened about a negligence case from two years ago—"*

*"That's not all. There are issues with some of the facility permits. Media is starting to cover it. The director is in a panic—"*

*"The hospital's reputation could be ruined if this keeps being reported—"*

Daniel stopped walking.

He turned his head slightly, listening as the panic rippled through the staff. Then the corner of his mouth lifted slowly — a cold, satisfied smile.

Marcus worked fast. Exactly as instructed.

St. Catherine's was beginning to crack. And when an institution was under pressure, when their reputation was on the line, they would be far more willing to yield to a request to discharge a particular patient — to avoid a far greater problem.

Before long, there would be no one left to protect Alina here.

Daniel looked straight ahead, toward the elevator doors sliding open.

"That was just a warning," he murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible, meant only for himself. "For anyone who dares try to stand between me and Alina."

Daniel stepped into the elevator. The doors closed, carrying that cold smile down with him.