The Billionaire's Insignificant Wife novel Chapter 76

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Margaret’s Manipulation

The drive home from Dr. Linda’s office was silent.

Junior sat in his car seat in the back with headphones, staring out the window with the same blank expression as in the waiting room earlier. Daniel kept glancing in the rearview mirror, feeling the weight of the conversation with Dr. Linda still heavy on his chest.

“Junior spent five years with Alina as his primary caregiver. In his mind, she is his Mom.”

“You’re not just taking away a babysitter. You’re taking away his Mom.”

Those words repeated in Daniel’s head until he wanted to scream.

The car pulled into the mansion’s driveway just as the sun began to set. Junior got out with slow, mechanical movements, walking to the front door without waiting for Daniel.

Mrs. Helen opened the door, looking at Junior with obvious concern. “Young Master Junior, would you like a snack?”

Junior shook his head without looking at her, walking straight toward his room.

Daniel entered with Dr. Linda’s folder still in hand, watching Junior’s small back disappear upstairs.

“Daniel.”

Margaret’s voice called from the living room.

Daniel closed his eyes briefly, took a breath, then walked over.

Margaret sat in an armchair with perfect posture, teacup in hand, looking at Daniel with an expression that had clearly been waiting a long time.

“Where did you take Junior this afternoon?” she asked without preamble. “Clarissa said you canceled their playtime without explanation.”

Daniel placed the folder on the coffee table with a deliberate movement. “I took him to a child psychologist.”

“What?”

Margaret set down her teacup with a hard clink.

“Junior’s teacher called. She was concerned about behavioral changes. Falling grades. Lack of focus in class. I arranged an appointment with a specialist.”

“Without consulting me first?” Margaret’s voice rose slightly. “Without discussing it with Clarissa, his biological mother?”

“This was my decision as his father.” Daniel’s voice was firm. “And after today’s session, I’m glad I did it.”

“What do you mean?”

Daniel opened the folder, took out two drawings, and placed them on the table.

Margaret looked at them, her expression shifting from annoyed to something more complicated as she saw the picture of Alina smiling, then the picture of Clarissa whose face was violently scribbled out until it tore.

“Dr. Linda said Junior is experiencing significant emotional distress,” Daniel said in a controlled voice with

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tension beneath it. “Because of separation from his attachment figure. Because of the forced introduction of a stranger he resents.”

“Stranger?” Margaret’s voice was cold now. “Clarissa is his biological mother. Not a stranger.”

“To Junior, she is a stranger. He has no memory of Clarissa. No bond. What he has is Alina. And we’re taking that away from him.”

Margaret stood with an abrupt movement. “We’re not taking anything away. We’re giving him a proper family. The mother he should have. Not a contract mother who will leave soon.”

“Junior doesn’t care about the contract!” Daniel’s voice rose for the first time. “He doesn’t care about biological connections or proper family structure! He cares about the person who raised him. Who was there for him every day for five years. Who he calls Mama.”

“He’s just confused!” Margaret stepped closer, her voice dropping to something sharp and calculated. “Because Alina manipulated him. Made him dependent. Made him think she’s his mother when she’s just an employee. A temporary arrangement.‘

“Dr. Linda said-”

“I don’t care what that psychologist said!” Margaret cut in harshly. “She doesn’t know the full context. She doesn’t know that Alina is the problem here. All of this is because of her, Daniel. All of it.”

Daniel looked at his mother with something that might have been disbelief. “How is this Alina’s fault?”

“She’s the one who made Junior too attached. She’s the one who refused to step back when Clarissa returned. She probably destroyed Junior’s toys herself to make herself look like a victim!” Margaret’s voice was passionate now, with absolute conviction. “And now you take Junior to a stranger who feeds you the narrative that we’re wrong? That Clarissa is wrong?”

“Dr. Linda didn’t feed me anything. She’s an objective professional—”

“No one is objective if they only hear one side!” Margaret stepped closer, her voice dropping to something more dangerous. “Do you think Alina is innocent? Do you think she’s not manipulating this situation? She knows exactly what she’s doing. Playing victim. Making Junior dependent. Making you feel guilty.”

“Mom-”

“And it’s working, clearly.” Margaret looked at Daniel with cutting disappointment. “You’re standing here, defending a woman who was supposed to be temporary, while the biological mother of your child is waiting upstairs, trying her best to build the relationship that’s rightfully hers.”

Daniel opened his mouth to argue, but Margaret wasn’t finished.

“Clarissa made mistakes when she left. I acknowledge that. But she came back. She’s trying. She deserves a chance to be a mother to her child. And instead, you sabotage by taking Junior to a psychologist who will obviously side with the status quo because it’s easier, less disruptive.”

“That’s not-”

“How much longer will you prioritize Alina’s comfort over Junior’s wellbeing?” Margaret’s voice cracked slightly with something that might have been genuine emotion or very good acting. “How much longer will you let guilt about a failed marriage dictate decisions about your child?”

Those words hit harder than Daniel expected.

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Because there was truth there. Though twisted. Though manipulated.

There was truth.

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“I’m not…” Daniel’s voice came out less firm than he wanted. “I’m trying to do what’s best for Junior.”

“Then trust my judgment. Trust Clarissa. We have Junior’s best interest at heart. Not a psychologist who met him once. Not Alina who has her own agenda.”

Margaret placed her hand on Daniel’s arm, an uncharacteristically gentle gesture.

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