The Billionaire's Fake Wife

Chapter 7: The Threat

The ICU was too quiet after that phone call.

Ada sat on the edge of her mother’s bed, her hands wrapped around a cold cup of water she hadn’t drunk. Kene stood by the window, his phone pressed to his ear, his voice low and sharp as he gave orders to his security team.

Madam Ngozi hadn’t left Ada’s side since the call. Her eyes kept darting between Ada and her son, like she was trying to piece together a puzzle she didn’t like.

“Security is on every floor now,” Kene said finally, ending the call and turning to face them. “No one gets into this wing without my approval. Not even doctors.”

Ada nodded, but it didn’t make her feel safer.

If Victor could threaten her mother over a phone call, what else could he do?

Madam Ngozi pulled Ada into a side hug. “You did the right thing telling us, my dear. We won’t let anything happen to your mother.”

Ada forced a small smile. “Thank you, Madam.”

“Don’t call me Madam anymore,” Madam Ngozi said firmly. “If you’re really married to my son, then you’re family now. Call me Mama.”

Ada’s breath caught.

Family.

The word felt strange. Warm. Dangerous.

Kene’s eyes flickered at that, but he didn’t say anything.

Before Ada could respond, the ICU door opened again.

A nurse walked in, holding a clipboard and looking nervous.

“Excuse me,” the nurse said. “There’s been a… problem with Mrs. Okeke’s medication.”

Ada shot to her feet. “What problem?”

The nurse swallowed hard. “The sedative we were supposed to administer an hour ago is missing. The pharmacy records show it was checked out, but it never made it to the ward.”

Ada felt the blood drain from her face.

Missing medication. Right after Victor’s threat.

Kene’s expression darkened instantly. “Who was on duty when it went missing?”

The nurse hesitated. “A new staff nurse. We’ve never seen her before. She said she was covering for someone who called in sick.”

Kene was already moving toward the door. “Show me the CCTV footage. Now.”

Madam Ngozi turned to Ada, her voice steady but urgent. “Don’t leave your mother’s side, Ada. Not for one second.”

Ada nodded, but her hands were trembling so badly she had to sit back down.

This wasn’t a coincidence. Victor had made good on his threat.

Ten minutes later, Kene stormed back into the room, his face like thunder.

“The nurse on CCTV isn’t a hospital staff. And the footage cuts out 30 seconds after she enters your mother’s room.”

Ada’s heart pounded. “Is my mother okay? Did she take anything?”

“The doctor checked her immediately,” Kene said. “She’s stable. But the sedative was replaced with saline. If your mother had been in pain and they didn’t notice the switch…” He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to.

Ada covered her mouth with her hand, tears welling up in her eyes.

Victor hadn’t just threatened her mother. He’d tried to hurt her.

Madam Ngozi stepped forward, her voice cold and final. “That man has gone too far.”

Kene pulled out his phone again and dialed. When someone picked up, his voice was ice.

“Victor. We need to talk. And this time, it’s not on the phone.”

There was a pause on the other end. Then Kene hung up.

“He agreed to meet me at the company tower in one hour,” Kene said, turning to Ada. “I’m going to confront him. Face to face.”

Ada grabbed his arm before he could leave. “No. It’s too dangerous. What if he hurts you too?”

Kene looked down at her hand on his arm, then back at her eyes. For a moment, the cold mask dropped.

“If I don’t go, he’ll keep coming after you. After your mother. I won’t let that happen, Ada.”

Ada felt her chest tighten.

He said her name like it meant something. Like she mattered.

“Then I’m coming with you,” Ada said firmly.

Kene shook his head. “It’s too risky—”

“I’m his target too, Kene,” Ada cut him off. “If he wants to get to you through me, then I have the right to face him.”

Madam Ngozi watched them both, then nodded slowly. “She’s right, Kene. You can’t protect her by locking her away.”

Kene stared at Ada for a long time, searching her face. Finally, he sighed. “Fine. But you stay behind me. Always.”

Ada nodded. “Deal.”

As Kene walked out to arrange the car, Madam Ngozi pulled Ada aside.

“Be careful, my dear. Victor is ruthless. But Kene… Kene has changed since you came into his life.”

Ada looked confused. “What do you mean?”

Madam Ngozi smiled faintly. “The old Kene wouldn’t have stayed in a hospital all night for a stranger. The old Kene wouldn’t have risked his reputation to protect anyone.” She paused. “The old Kene wouldn’t look at you the way he looks at you now.”

Ada’s cheeks flushed. “Mama, it’s just a contract—”

Madam Ngozi raised an eyebrow. “Is it?”

Before Ada could answer, Kene called from the hallway. “We need to go. Now.”

Ada took one last look at her mother, then followed Kene out the door.

Her heart was racing.

Not just from fear.

But from something else she didn’t want to name yet.

*Thirty minutes later.*

The Udoka Tower lobby was empty except for two men standing by the elevators.

Kene walked in first, Ada right behind him. Victor stood there in a tailored suit, smiling like a snake.

“Well, well,” Victor said, his eyes landing on Ada. “If it isn’t the famous Mrs. Udoka.”

Kene stepped in front of Ada immediately, blocking her from Victor’s view. “Don’t you ever speak to her again.”

Victor chuckled. “Or what, Kene? You’ll fire me? You’ll expose me?” He shrugged. “Go ahead. But before you do… you should know I have insurance.”

Kene’s jaw tightened. “What insurance?”

Victor pulled out his phone and held it up. On the screen was a video.

It showed Ada’s mother’s hospital room. The fake nurse. The missing medication.

“But that’s not the interesting part,” Victor said smoothly. “The interesting part is what happens next.”

He pressed play.

The video showed someone entering the room after the nurse left. A man in a hoodie. He placed something small under Mrs. Okeke’s oxygen machine.

Then the video cut out.

Ada’s blood ran cold. “What did you put there?” she whispered.

Victor smiled. “Let’s just say… if you don’t sign over 20% of your company shares to me by tomorrow morning, Kene… your wife’s mother won’t survive the night.”

The elevator doors opened behind Victor with a soft _ding_.

Two security guards stepped out.

Victor tossed the phone to Kene. “One hour, Kene. Or I press send. And trust me… the police won’t believe it was an accident.”

With that, Victor walked toward the elevator, his guards flanking him.

Kene stood there, motionless, the phone trembling in his hand.

Ada stared at the black screen, her heart pounding in her ears.

Victor’s voice echoed one last time as the elevator doors closed.

“Tick tock, Kene. Tick tock.