The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife novel Chapter 48

The Lawyer’s Call

Three days passed in a blur of careful avoidance.

Daniel didn’t return to Alina’s room, though she heard from Mrs. Helen that he hadn’t slept in the master bedroom either. He’d been staying in his study, working late into the night, sleeping on the leather couch when exhaustion finally claimed him.

Clarissa played the perfect hostess during the day—smiling, charming, monopolizing Junior’s time with elaborate activities and expensive gifts. But her eyes tracked Daniel’s movements with increasing frustration, especially when he found excuses to avoid being alone with her.

Margaret watched it all with growing displeasure, her disapproving glances at the dinner table making it clear she blamed Alina for the household’s dysfunction.

And Alina… Alina waited.

Waited for Emma’s text. Waited for the right moment. Waited while documenting everything in her hidden notebook–every slight, every restriction, every hour she was denied access to Junior.

The text came on Thursday afternoon.

Alina was in her room–her usual prison–when the old flip phone vibrated in its hiding spot. She’d been checking it obsessively, and this time there was a message:

*“Rachel can talk today. 3 PM. Can you call?“*

Alina’s heart jumped. She glanced at the clock. 2:47 PM.

She typed back quickly: “Yes. Will call at 3.“*

The thirteen minutes until three o’clock felt like hours. Alina paced her room, rehearsing what she would say, trying to organize the chaos of her situation into something coherent.

At exactly 3 PM, she locked herself in the bathroom–the safest place for private conversation and dialed the number Emma had sent.

Two rings.

“Hello, this is Rachel Chen.”

The voice was professional, confident, with an undertone of warmth that immediately put Alina slightly at ease.

“Ms. Chen, this is Alina Blackwood. Emma referred me to you.”

“Yes, Mrs. Blackwood. Emma briefed me on your general situation. But I’d like to hear it from you directly. Can you tell me what’s happening?”

Alina took a deep breath, then began.

She told Rachel everything–the five–year marriage that was never really a marriage. The contract she signed. Clarissa’s return. Junior being taken from her. The locked bedroom. The systematic isolation. Daniel’s mother’s manipulation. The threats about boarding school.

And finally, voice dropping to barely above a whisper, the kiss three nights ago that felt more like violation than intimacy.

Rachel listened without interrupting, only occasionally making notes–Alina could hear the soft scratch of pen on

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paper.

When Alina finished, there was a moment of silence.

“Mrs. Blackwood,” Rachel said finally, her voice serious but not unkind. “I’m going to be direct with you. Your situation is complicated, but not impossible. However, you need to understand what you’re up against.”

“I understand they have money. Power. Lawyers-”

“It’s more than that.” Rachel’s voice was gentle but firm. “The Blackwood family has significant resources, and from what you’ve described, they’re already building a narrative against you. The locked room, the restricted access to Junior–they’ll frame it as concern for your mental health. The injury to your hand will be used as evidence of instability.”

Alina’s stomach dropped. “But I’m not unstable. The hand injury was an accident-”

“I believe you. But in custody battles, perception matters as much as truth. And right now, they’re controlling the perception.”

“So what do I do?” Alina heard the desperation creeping into her voice and hated it.

“First, we need to establish your legal standing. You mentioned a contract–do you have a copy?”

“No. Daniel has it. It’s in his safe, I think.”

“We’ll need to obtain that, legally if possible. It will be crucial for your divorce proceedings. Second, you need to continue documenting everything, but more strategically. Dates, times, witnesses. Every instance you’re denied access to Junior. Every threat made. Can you do that?”

“Yes. I’ve been keeping notes.”

“Good. Third–and this is critical–we need to establish that you’re Junior’s psychological parent. Five years of primary caregiving should give us a strong case for custody or at least significant visitation rights, even though you’re not his biological mother.”

Hope flickered in Alina’s chest. “You think I have a chance?”

“I think you have a case worth fighting. But Mrs. Blackwood, I need you to be realistic about what fighting means. This will be expensive, public, and ugly. The Blackwoods will use every resource they have. They’ll dig into your past, question your character, paint you as someone who married for money and is now trying to take their heir.”

“I didn’t marry for money-”

“I know. But that’s what they’ll say. And we need to be prepared for that narrative.”

Alina closed her eyes, leaning against the cold bathroom tile. “What’s my first step?”

“We need to meet in person. I need to see those notes, assess your injuries, and get your full statement on record. But given your situation–locked in the mansion, monitored–that’s complicated.”

“I can try to get out. Maybe”

“Don’t do anything that could be used against you. If you escape or break their rules, they’ll use it as evidence of recklessness or instability.” Rachel paused. “Is there any legitimate reason you could leave the mansion? A doctor’s appointment? Something where they’d have to let you out?”

Alina thought frantically. “My hand. It’s healing but maybe… maybe I could say it needs a follow–up. That it’s getting infected?”

“That could work. But it has to be convincing. Can you make that happen?”

“I think so. Mrs. Helen–the housekeeper–she’s helping me. She might be able to arrange it.”

“Good. Once you’re at the doctor’s office, you can meet me nearby. We’ll keep it brief and discreet. Bring any documentation you have–notes, photos of injuries, anything.”

“Okay.” Alina’s mind was racing. “Ms. Chen, one more thing. If I file for divorce… will they take Junior away immediately? Send him to Switzerland like Daniel threatened?”

Rachel’s silence was answer enough.

“They might try,” she said finally. “Which is why we need to move carefully. Ideally, we file for divorce and emergency custody simultaneously, with enough evidence to convince a judge that removing Junior from your care would be harmful to the child. But that requires preparation.”

“How long?”

“A few weeks, maybe a month. We need to build an airtight case before we move.”

A month felt like forever. A month of being locked in this room. A month of watching Clarissa play mother to her son. A month of Daniel’s guilt–laden presence hovering at the edges of her awareness.

But what choice did she have?

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” Alina said quietly. “Junior deserves better than this. Better than them.”

“Then we’ll fight for that.” Rachel’s voice was firm, determined. “I’ll text Emma with secure instructions for our meeting. In the meantime, stay safe. Don’t confront them. Don’t give them ammunition.”

“I won’t.”

“And Mrs. Blackwood? One more thing.”

“Yes?”

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