The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife novel Chapter 27

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Shattered

At six in the evening, Daniel came home earlier than usual.

His Bentley Continental stopped in front of the mansion with smooth precision that somehow felt menacing.

He got out with briefcase in hand, posture rigid as always. White shirt still crisp despite it being evening. Tie perfectly knotted.

Controlled. Composed.

But there was something in his eyes–a darkness deeper than usual.

Mrs. Helen opened the door before Daniel reached the front steps.

“Welcome home, Mr. Blackwood.”

Her voice was flat. None of the warmth that was usually there.

Daniel looked at her with a slight frown. “Where’s Junior?”

“In the playroom with Miss Sterling and Mrs. Margaret.”

“And Alina?”

Mrs. Helen’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “In her room. As you instructed.”

There was hidden accusation in her tone. Subtle but there.

Daniel looked at her more sharply. “Is there a problem, Mrs. Helen?”

The old woman was silent for a moment–internal conflict clear on her face.

Then she straightened her posture. Professional. Proper.

“No, sir.”

But her eyes said otherwise.

Daniel stepped inside, handing his briefcase to Mrs. Helen without another word.

In the corridor toward the playroom, he could hear sounds–or rather, the lack of sound.

No Junior’s laughter. No excited chatter. Just heavy silence.

Daniel opened the playroom door.

Junior sat in a bean bag with a robot in his hands–not playing with it, just holding it. Eyes staring blankly at nowhere. Small posture somehow defeated.

Clarissa sat on the sofa with a magazine, occasionally glancing at Junior with barely concealed frustration.

Margaret stood near the window, gazing at the garden with rigid posture.

“Papa’s home,” Daniel said, trying to sound cheerful.

Junior didn’t react. Didn’t look. Like he didn’t hear.

“Junior,” Daniel tried again, stepping closer. “Papa’s talking to you.”

Still nothing.

Daniel knelt in front of Junior, trying to be at eye–level. “Buddy, are you okay?”

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Finally Junior looked–but not with excitement or even anger.

With emptiness. Resignation.

“Junior wants Mama.”

Three words. Flat. Hopeless.

Daniel’s jaw hardened. “Junior, we’ve discussed this–”

“Junior wants Mama,” Junior repeated in the same tone. Monotone. Like a broken record. “Junior only wants Mama.”

Margaret turned from the window with a calculated expression–a mixture of concern and something darker.

“Daniel, we need to talk. About what happened today.”

Daniel stood, looking at his mother. “I heard there was an incident. Junior fell?”

“More than that,” Margaret said, stepping closer with a measured voice. “Alina deliberately caused a scene. She came downstairs without permission, manipulated Junior, made the child hysterical.”

“Alina came downstairs?” Daniel’s voice rose slightly.

“Mr. Hayes came,” Clarissa interrupted, putting down her magazine. “Alina met her father in the living room. After that, when Junior came home from school–she was there. Waiting. Like she had planned this.”

Daniel’s jaw hardened. “Planned what?”

Margaret exchanged a glance with Clarissa before continuing. “To sabotage the transition. To make Junior more dependent on her. To prove that she’s still needed.”

“I saw it myself, Daniel,” Clarissa said with a soft voice but clear accusation. “Alina hugged Junior, whispered something in his ear–I couldn’t hear what, but after that Junior became more resistant. More refusing to cooperate.”

“She poisoned the child’s mind,” Margaret added. “Made Junior believe that he’s a victim. That we’re the bad ones. That only Alina truly cares about him.”

Daniel looked at Junior who still sat with defeated posture, hugging his robot.

There was a small bruise on his forehead–barely visible but there.

“And when we tried to separate them,” Clarissa continued, “Alina didn’t cooperate. She practically encouraged Junior to resist. Made a scene in front of the staff. Junior became hysterical, trying to chase her, and he fell.”

“Alina didn’t even care that Junior was hurt,” Margaret said with a voice that was somehow gentle but piercing. “She only cared about maintaining control. About making sure Junior stayed attached to her.”

Something dark stirred in Daniel’s chest. Growing anger.

“All day Junior’s been like a zombie,” Clarissa gestured to Junior. “Won’t eat. Won’t play. Just sits and repeats ‘I want Mama‘ like a robot. This isn’t healthy attachment, Daniel. This is manipulation.”

Daniel’s hands clenched at his sides. “I’ll talk to Alina.”

“No,” Margaret said firmly. “That’s exactly what she wants. Attention. Confrontation. A chance to manipulate you too.

Daniel looked at Junior. The child who sat with empty eyes, somehow unreachable.

“Junior,” Daniel said with a harsh voice. “Look at Papa when Papa’s talking.”

Junior didn’t move.

Shattered