The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife novel Chapter 44

Forced Medicine

Alina stared at the tray before her with empty eyes.

The chicken soup was still steaming. White rice neatly arranged. Warm tea in a fine porcelain cup.

But she wasn’t hungry.

Not after the conversation with Emma. Not after hearing the words “divorce” and “custody battle” spoken aloud for the first time.

But she remembered Mrs. Helen’s message. “Ma’am must eat everything.”

And Mrs. Helen had taken a huge risk for her. The woman deserved cooperation, at least in this.

So Alina ate.

The warm soup went down her throat with mechanical precision. Rice that had no taste- or maybe her tongue had gone numb. Tea she drank until it was gone though too sweet for her taste.

Everything.

As requested.

When the tray was empty, Alina put down the spoon gently and leaned back in her chair.

Her injured hand throbbed–a constant reminder of yesterday, of spilled soup, of sharp bowl shards.

But she didn’t reach for the antibiotics still neatly arranged on the bedside table.

Not tonight.

***

Exactly one hour later, as promised, the bedroom door opened slowly.

Mrs. Helen entered with careful steps, glancing around quickly–checking, making sure nothing was suspicious- before walking to the table.

“Is Ma’am finished?” she asked in a normal voice, but her eyes asked something different.

Alina nodded. “Everything’s gone. As you asked.”

Mrs. Helen smiled thinly–relief clear on her face–then picked up the tray.

But before lifting it, she glanced at the dresser drawer with a meaningful look.

Alina understood.

She walked to the drawer, took the phone that had been turned off and carefully hidden, then–with a smooth, practiced movement–slid it under the napkin on the tray.

Mrs. Helen took the tray, adjusted its position slightly to ensure the phone was truly hidden.

“Safer if I keep it,” she whispered very quietly–almost inaudible. “In case of sudden inspection or

She didn’t need to finish the sentence.

Alina nodded. “Thank you, Mrs. Helen. For everything”

The old woman looked at her with teary eyes. “Ma’am take care. And don’t forget to take medicine.”

Then she left, closing the door gently.

The familiar sound of the key turning was heard again.

And Alina was alone.

***

+308045

Alina stood in the middle of the room, staring at the antibiotic bottle on the bedside table.

She should take it. Three times a day after meals, according to the doctor’s instructions. The wound on her hand could get infected if not properly cared for.

But somehow, tonight she didn’t care.

Didn’t care about the wound. Didn’t care about infection. Didn’t care about anything.

She was too tired to care.

Tired of situations that never improved. Tired of battles that never ended. Tired of pain–physical and emotional

that had become part of her life.

So she didn’t take the medicine.

just lay on the bed fully clothed, staring at the dark ceiling, feeling her hand throb but not caring enough to do anything about it.

Her eyes closed.

Her breathing slowed.

And she sank into restless sleep–sleep filled with dreams of Junior crying, Clarissa laughing, Daniel standing in the distance with a face she couldn’t read.

***

Midnight.

Alina didn’t know exactly what time–too dark to see the clock, too sleepy to care–but there was something different.

Something warm beside her.

Something moving.

Breathing,

Heyes opened quickly–reflex from shock–and she almost screamed before realizing who was lying beside her.

Daniel.

Alina jerked back, moving as fast as she could until her back pressed against the headboard.

Her heart was beating too fast. Her breath was short.

What are you doing?!” her voice came out louder than intended–shock and anger mixed.

+10 Bonus

Daniel lay on the other side of the bed in a relaxed posture–too relaxed for this clearly abnormal situation. He was still wearing his work shirt though rolled up to the elbows, suit pants slightly wrinkled.

“Sleeping,” he answered matter–of–factly. “With my wife.”

Alina stared at him–speechless for a moment–before finding her voice again.

“Why?” she asked sharply. “Why now? Why tonight?”

Daniel turned to face her, though in the darkness Alina couldn’t read his expression clearly.

“My room is being used by Clarissa,” he answered simply. “So I don’t have a room. Starting tonight, I’ll sleep here.

01

Those words hit Alina like a physical slap.

Your room is being used by Clarissa.

Of course.

Clarissa hadn’t just moved into the mansion. She had taken the master bedroom–the room that had been exclusively Daniel’s for five years. The room Alina had never been allowed to enter except to clean.

And now Daniel–who in five years of marriage had never slept a single night with Alina–suddenly appeared in her room because Clarissa had taken his bed.

An irony so bitter Alina wanted to laugh.

Or cry.

Of both.

“You’re insane,” she whispered in a voice trembling between anger and incredulity. “Five years, Daniel. Five years we’ve been married and you never–not even one night–slept with me. But now, because Clarissa took your room, suddenly you want to sleep here?”

Daniel didn’t answer. Just stared at her in the darkness.

Then he sat up, a sudden movement that made Alina alert.

“Have you taken your medicine?” he asked in a different tone–more serious, more concerned.

A question Alina didn’t expect.

Before she could answer, Daniel reached for her injured hand- a quick, decisive movement–and Alina reflexively pulled it back hard.

“Don’t touch me!” her voice was sharp, defensive.

P Daniel had already seen what he needed to see.

The bandage still the same as yesterday. Not changed. Not properly cared for.

His eyes moved to the bedside table to the antibiotic bottle still full, untouched.

“You didn’t take your medicine,” he said–not a question, a statement. His voice dropped to something low and dangerous. “Why didn’t you take your medicine?”

Alina didn’t answer. Just stared at him with defiant eyes.

Daniel cursed—harsh, frustrated words–then got up from the bed and turned on the light.

The sudden light made Alina squint, but she didn’t look away from Daniel walking to the table, taking the antibiotic bottle and glass of water.

He returned to the bed, sitting on the edge with bottle and glass in hand.

“Drink,” he ordered, holding both out to Alina.

Alina stared at the medicine, then at Daniel, then shook her head.

“No.”

Daniel’s jaw hardened. “Alina-”

“I said no.” Her voice was firm, final.

“You’ll get infected if-”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify