The Wife You Buried Is Back from Hell novel Chapter 21

Niki turned her head and immediately caught sight of Raffy's smug grin.

"I saw it first," she said, frowning. "Give it back!"

Raffy stuck out his tongue. "Finders keepers!" he jeered.

She wanted that bottle of juice—she'd spotted it first, after all.

In the past, she would have just given in to her big brother without a word. But lately, Mom had told her she didn't have to take it when someone pushed her around; she could stand up for herself.

Niki was just about to snatch it back when someone stepped between her and Raffy.

Millie towered over Niki, looking down with an unreadable expression. "What's going on here?" she asked.

Her tone wasn't overtly harsh, but to a little kid, Millie's presence was overwhelming.

Niki's frown deepened. Her small hands curled into fists, and before she could get a word out, tears welled up in her eyes.

She stood there stiffly, a little girl feeling utterly wronged, alone, abandoned, as if no one in the world wanted her.

"Oh, here come the waterworks again. Gonna cry, Niki?" Raffy teased, cracking open the juice. "It's not like anyone cares."

He raised the bottle, ready to drink it right in front of her.

But just as the bottle reached his lips, it was yanked from his grasp.

Raffy looked up, annoyed, only to meet Danielle's eyes. He froze for a second.

He had never seen his mother look at him like that before—cold, distant, almost like he was a stranger.

Without saying a word, Danielle turned away and tossed the drink straight into the trash can. The loud clatter made Raffy's heart jump.

Then she knelt down, her voice gentle as she cupped her daughter's cheek. "Junk belongs in the trash. We don't need it, sweetheart."

Alexander's face darkened, but he said nothing.

Without another glance, Danielle took Niki's hand and walked straight back to their private room.

Liam, who'd been watching, turned to Alexander. "What's up with Danielle lately? She's like a whole different person."

She wasn't the same woman as before—the one who'd always orbited around Alexander, who'd doted on Raffy.

Now, she'd become someone else entirely.

Liam quickly drew his own conclusions. "She's really stepping up her game. Guess she's just trying to get your attention."

"You must have too much time on your hands," Alexander replied coldly, clearly uninterested in Danielle's transformation.

Millie patted Alexander on the shoulder, feigning concern. "Davidson, did you do something to upset your wife? She's got quite the temper these days. You'd better go home and smooth things over."