The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife novel Chapter 72

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Shattered Trust

In the morning, Alina woke to the sound of screaming from the end of the corridor.

“Optimus! Optimus is missing!”

Junior’s voice. High–pitched. Panicked.

Alina sat up immediately, heart pounding. She recognized that tone. Junior only cried like that when something was truly wrong.

She leaped from bed, ran to the door, tried the handle.

Locked. Of course it was locked.

“Junior!” Alina shouted, pounding on the door. “Junior, sweetheart, what happened?”

But her voice didn’t reach him. Or was ignored.

She could hear more voices now. Running footsteps. Clarissa’s soothing voice. Margaret’s sharp voice with questions.

And Junior still crying. “Optimus! Mama, where’s Optimus?!”

Mama.

He was calling for Alina.

But Alina was locked inside, unable to reach him, unable to comfort.

Frustration and panic mounting, Alina pounded harder on the door. “Open the door! Junior needs me! Open it!”

No one came.

The voices outside grew more chaotic. Junior still crying. Clarissa’s voice trying to calm. Margaret barking orders at the staff.

Then a voice that made Alina’s blood run cold.

Daniel.

“What’s happening here?”

His voice was loud, authoritative, clearly just woken from his study.

“Papa! Papa!” Junior’s voice broke with sobs. “Optimus is gone! Optimus isn’t here!”

“What do you mean gone?” Daniel’s voice closer now, right outside Junior’s room.

“I slept with Optimus but now he’s gone! I looked everywhere but can’t find him!”

Alina stood at her bedroom door, hand still on the handle, listening with growing dread.

Optimus Prime. The Transformers robot Alina had given Junior three years ago. The toy Junior took everywhere. That he hugged every night. That he considered his protector.

Gone..

“Maybe it fell under the bed,” Daniel’s voice trying to be calm. “Or in the bathroom. Let’s look together.”

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“I already looked!” Junior hysterical now. “I looked everywhere, but it’s not there!”

Sound of furniture being moved. People searching. Junior still crying with heartbroken sobs that made Alina’s

chest ache.

Then Clarissa’s voice. Loud. Excited. From a direction too close to Alina’s room.

“Daniel! Daniel, come here quick!”

Running footsteps. Multiple people.

“What?” Daniel’s voice sharp.

“Look at this.” Clarissa’s voice breathless. “Under Alina’s door.”

Silence.

Silence that lasted too long.

Then Daniel’s voice, low and dangerous. “What is that?”

“Plastic.” Clarissa’s voice full of shocked disbelief that was too perfect. “Blue and red plastic. Like… like from a Transformers toy.”

“NO.” Alina’s voice came out as a horrified whisper.

She backed away from the door, staring at it as if it would provide answers.

Plastic under her door?

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