BOUGHT BY THE BILLIONAIRE

JEALOUSY

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*Chapter 16: JEALOUSY*

Victoria walked into the mansion like she owned it.

Because she used to.

Tall, blonde, red dress worth more than Chioma’s life. Diamonds at her throat. Smile sharp as a knife. Daniel’s ex-fiancée. The woman who broke his mother’s heart by proxy.

“Daniel, darling,” Victoria purred, dropping her designer bag on the marble floor. Maids scattered. “You didn’t tell me you had a guest.”

Daniel stood from his desk. Suit perfect. Face blank. “Victoria. You’re not welcome here.”

Victoria laughed and looked at Chioma. Up and down. Slow. Judging.

“So this is her. The ‘contract wife’.” She said the words like poison. “Cute. She looks... broke.”

Chioma froze by the stairs, Ada’s medicine in her hands. Heat rose to her face. She wanted to disappear.

Daniel’s jaw ticked. “Watch your mouth.”

“Oh please,” Victoria walked closer to Chioma. Heels clicking like gunshots. “We both know this is fake, sweetheart. A business deal. He pays you, you pretend to love him. Clause 7, right?” She leaned in, perfume choking. “He told me all about it when we were engaged.”

Chioma’s hands shook. Clause 7. No feelings. She wanted to agree. Wanted to say “yes, it’s fake” so Victoria would leave.

But the words stuck in her throat.

Daniel moved before she could breathe.

He was beside Chioma in 2 steps. Close. His arm went around her shoulders. Solid. Warm. Protective.

“She’s my wife,” Daniel said. Voice low. Deadly calm. CEO mode + something else. Something dangerous. “Real enough. Paper-signed. Legally binding. Sleeping in my house. Eating at my table.”

Victoria’s smile dropped. “Daniel, don’t be stupid. You don’t do relationships. You have Clause 7 tattooed on your soul—”

“I tore up Clause 7,” Daniel cut her off. Lie. But he said it so smoothly even Chioma almost believed it. “Last night. With a pen and fire.”

That was a lie. Chioma knew it. But her heart still jumped.

Victoria laughed, but it sounded forced now. “You’re bluffing. You’re scared of love, Daniel. Your mother died because of love.”

Daniel’s arm tightened around Chioma. Not painful. Just... there. Like an anchor.

“My mother died because she loved the wrong man,” Daniel said quietly. His eyes locked on Victoria’s. Cold. Final. “I’m not making that mistake again. And Chioma is not a mistake.”

The mansion went silent. Even the maids stopped breathing.

Victoria’s face twisted. “You’ll regret this. She’s poor. She’s nobody. She’ll break you like—”

“Get out,” Daniel said. One word. Final.

Two security guards appeared from nowhere. Victoria’s face went red.

“This isn’t over, Daniel Okoye,” she hissed, grabbing her bag. “You think you can replace me with some hospital rat? Good luck.”

She stormed out, heels slamming the door behind her.

Silence.

Daniel’s arm was still around Chioma. He didn’t move it. Didn’t let go.

Chioma stared at his chest. Could feel his heart beating fast. Too fast for a CEO who “doesn’t do emotions”.

“Daniel,” she whispered. “Clause 7—”

“I know,” he cut her off, voice rough. He finally dropped his arm. Stepped back like her skin burned him. “It was a lie. To protect you.”

Chioma nodded. Chest empty. Hollow. “Thank you. For protecting me.”

Daniel looked at her for a long time. Then at the door Victoria left through. His expression was unreadable.

“You’re not a hospital rat, Chioma,” he said quietly. Not looking at her. “You’re the woman who stayed up 48 hours for her sister. You’re the woman who cried in my arms and still stood up. You’re...” He stopped. Swallowed.

He didn’t finish.

He walked to his office and closed the door. Hard.

Chioma stood there, hand on her shoulder where his arm was. Still warm.

Clause 7 said no feelings.

But Daniel just told his ex she wasn’t a mistake.

That was worse than “I love you”.

That was a billionaire breaking his own rules... for her.

And Chioma was in trouble. Deep trouble.

*End of Chapter 16*

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