The Wife You Buried Is Back from Hell novel Chapter 3

Smack—

Something soft landed by Danielle's feet, jolting her out of her daze.-

She glanced down in confusion. A blue fondant cake lay on the floor.

"Mom, I told you—I don't want you making my birthday cake!" Raffy's voice rang out, sharp with annoyance. He looked up at Danielle, his eyes stubborn. "It's ugly, and it tastes gross. Can't you understand plain English?"

Wait…

Danielle drew a shaky breath.

She was back? Was this really happening?

She was back—back at Raffy's birthday party, one year ago.

Raffy was still complaining, his voice relentless: "I want the cake Miss Fletcher makes!"

"Mom, I think your cake is yummy. If Raffy doesn't want any, I'll eat it all myself," Niki piped up, her voice sweet and soft.

Hearing her daughter's gentle words again, Danielle looked at Niki's small, delicate face. Tears blurred her vision.

She knelt down, cupping Niki's cheeks in her hands, the warmth and reality anchoring her—she really was back.

This time, she swore, she would never let anyone hurt her daughter again.

Niki turned to Raffy. "You can't talk to Mom like that! Aren't you afraid she'll never bake you a cake again?"

"Keep it. I don't care," Raffy shot back, dismissive. He grabbed Millie's hand. "I want Miss Millie to be my mom. Miss Millie makes me all kinds of delicious things. She takes me horseback riding and rock climbing. Mom doesn't even know what riding is—so embarrassing. Dad likes Miss Millie, and so do I!"

Alexander frowned slightly. "What nonsense are you saying?"

Millie, dressed in her usual smart leather jacket, let out a breezy laugh.

This time, she wouldn't let herself—or Niki—suffer through that again.

Danielle bent to pick up the pen, her face calm, her smile gentle. "Since Miss Fletcher is so good with kids, I think you should oversee Raffy and Alexander from now on."

Millie froze, clearly not expecting Danielle to say that. No arguing, no pleading, no meek submission—just a serene, unshakable smile.

A moment later, Millie turned to Alexander. "Davidson, maybe what I said made your wife misunderstand. I'll stop—shouldn't have said so much."

Alexander frowned at Danielle. "You're an adult, not a child. Is that any way to talk? You can't just say whatever you want."

He was so obviously siding with Millie, as if Danielle was the one being unreasonable and making things awkward.

She met his gaze—cold, indifferent, just like always. He never hesitated to take Millie's side, never gave Danielle a shred of dignity, simply because he was certain she'd never leave.

But this time, she wouldn't be the woman she used to be, swallowing her pride just to let her daughter spend a birthday with her father, forcing herself to smile and endure until the very end of the party.