The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife novel Chapter 23

The Last Friend

At nine in the morning, the false calm at Blackwood Mansion was disturbed by the sound of shouting from the front yard.

“LET ME IN! I WANT TO SEE ALINA!”

Emma’s voice was loud, angry, and desperate.

Alina, who was sitting on the edge of the bed with swollen eyes from crying all night, immediately startled. She ran to the window, looking down.

At the main gate, Emma stood facing two security guards. She was arguing, trying to push past them. Emma’s hair was messy, makeup not perfect as usual, eyes red–signs she also hadn’t slept.

“Miss, we already told you–Mrs. Blackwood can’t receive visitors right now,” one of the guards said in a firm but professional

tone.

“BULLSHIT!” Emma shouted, not caring about neighbors who might hear. “Alina is my best friend! She would never refuse me. I know she’s inside! Hurry and call her! ALINA! ALINA, CAN YOU HEAR ME?”

Alina’s heart pounded hard. She opened the window, wanting to shout back, but her voice caught in her throat.

Alina knew that if she responded, if she made a scene, Daniel would create worse consequences. For Emma. For herself. For

everyone.

But seeing Emma there, fighting for her, refusing to give up–made the hope in Alina’s chest that had slowly died begin to beat

again.

At least there was one person who cared. One person who wouldn’t give up.

The mansion door opened loudly. Daniel came out with rigid posture, hardened jaw, and dark eyes.

The man was already weam work shirt, ready to go to the office. His expression was controlled. But there was tension in his shoulders showing restrained an

“What’s happening

was loud, authoritative–the tone he usually used to intimidate business rivals.

Emma turned, looking at Daniel with burning eyes

“You! I’m the one who should be asking what’s happening here, Daniel Blackwood! What are you doing to Alina?” She stepped closer, ignoring the guards trying to hold her back. “Why hasn’t Alina been reachable for a week? Why is her phone dead? Why aren’t my emails being answered?”

Daniel stepped down from the front stairs with measured steps. “That’s none of your business, Miss Carter.”

“NONE OF MY BUSINESS?” Emma almost screamed. “Alina is my best friend! I know she’s inside! I know you’re locking her up! And I know- “Emma’s voice cracked slightly, -I know about your threats!”

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Daniel froze for a moment. His jaw tightened more.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“DON’T PLAY DUMB!” Emma stepped even closer, now face to face with Daniel despite guards trying to pull her back. “Mr. Hayes called me last night! He was crying! A man who has maintained his dignity even when bankrupt–crying on the phone because you threatened to destroy his family if Alina didn’t ‘cooperate‘!”

Daniel’s eyes narrowed –dangerous.

“I didn’t think you were such a coward! Pressuring weak people just to make your wife submit.”

“Watch your mouth, Miss Carter. Don’t cross the line! I know you’re Alina’s friend, but I can take firm action.

Ferd

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“You mean by getting me fired?” Emma scoffed while looking at Daniel full of anger.

This past week Emma suddenly got warnings from her boss. About ‘mistakes‘ she never made. About ‘complaints‘ from clients that never existed. She was almost fired. And Emma knew it was because of Daniel Blackwood.

Martin, Emma’s boss, was Daniel’s school friend. And these past few days, he who usually supported Emma was suddenly cold, distant, saying he ‘got pressure from above‘ to ‘evaluate my performance more strictly.‘

Emma wasn’t stupid. She knew that Blackwood Corporation had shares in the parent company where she worked. Daniel was using his influence to threaten Emma’s job to stay away from Alina!

“You think I’m scared? I won’t be affected by your threats at all!”

Daniel’s jaw hardened until the tendons in his neck were visible.

“I just came to see my friend, Mr. Blackwood. I’ve tried to contact her for a week, but her phone’s dead. Emails not answered. Even text messages on social media, read but no response. I know something’s wrong!”

Emma looked at the large mansion behind Daniel, then back to the man’s eyes accusingly.

“Let me see her for a moment, then I’ll leave.”

Daniel’s posture didn’t change. Still rigid. Still controlled.

“Miss Carter,” Daniel said in a cold, measured voice. “Alina can’t see anyone right now. So I suggest you leave now.”

“Can’t see anyone or you’re forbidding her from seeing anyone?” Emma’s voice rose again. “You’re locking up your own wife! You’re threatening her family with debt! You’re committing ABUSE!”

The last word echoed in the suddenly too–quiet yard.

Daniel’s eyes became darker–dangerous.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Daniel said in a low, menacing voice. “You better leave nicely before I force you.”

“I won’t leave before seeing Alina.”

“This is my house.”

leave. Or I’ll call to Daniel’s voice was loud now. Final. “And I determine who can enter. Now, I’m asking for the last time,

Emma laugh

police for trespassing.”

an incredulous sound. “Police? You’ll call the police on me because I’m worried about my friend?”

“I’ll call the police because you entered private property without permission and are causing a disturbance.” Daniel gestured to the guards. “Escort Miss Carter out. Now.”

The guards immediately moved–each taking one of Emma’s arms.

“LET ME GO!” Emma struggled. “ALINA! ALINA, I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR! I WON’T STOP COMING UNTIL I SEE YOU! I’LL FIND A WAY-”

“If you come again,” Daniel cut in with a cold, final voice, “I’ll make sure you don’t just lose your job. I’ll blacklist you from every firm in this city. Every company with connections to Blackwood Corp–which is almost all major companies–will know not to hire you. You’ll be unemployable. Permanently.”

Emma froze. The guards still held her arms, but she had stopped struggling.

She looked at Daniel with wide eyes–shock, disbelief.

“You… you’ll destroy my career? Just because I care about my friend?”

“I will protect my family,” Daniel said without emotion. “By any means necessary. And if that means removing destructive external influences–then yes, I’ll do it.”

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Emma looked at Daniel with a mixture of horror and hatred. “You’re a monster. A monster wearing an expensive suit and hiding behind ‘family protection‘. But in the end, you’re just an insecure man who can’t handle the fact that your wife loves a child who’s not her blood more than you the biological father–ever could.”

Daniel’s hand clenched until his knuckles turned white.

“Get her out,” Daniel said to the guards, voice barely controlled. “Now.”

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