The Wife You Buried Is Back from Hell novel Chapter 95

Danielle swung the car door open and stepped out. Once she was out, the driver climbed in and drove away without a word.

She stood on the curb, eyes lowered to the brooch in her hands, her fingers tight around the box. The weight in her chest wouldn't lift.

At least returning the brooch meant she could cross one heavy item off her mental list.

She took a steadying breath and headed upstairs, clutching the box.

Kirsten spotted her and raised an eyebrow in surprise. "He just gave it back to you?"

That was quick.

Shouldn't he have used the brooch to hold something over her?

"Things like that don't mean anything to people like them," Danielle replied coolly. "Keeping it would only mean more of my pestering. There's no point."

She gave a wry smile. Rather than let her keep showing up to demand the brooch, it was easier for them just to hand it over and be done with her.

Millie had given it up readily enough.

Danielle hadn't expected Alexander to surrender it so quickly, though. Yesterday, he'd seemed so detached and unconcerned—she'd honestly thought he hadn't listened to a word she'd said.

"It all went so smoothly it's almost creepy," Kirsten said, giving a little shudder. "Neither of them seems like the forgiving type. You should be careful."

Danielle smiled. "I'm getting a divorce. Whatever they want, it's not going to involve me anymore."

She figured Millie would want out soon enough, too. Danielle wouldn't have to push for the divorce—Alexander would be eager to get it finalized himself.

After all, how could he stand to keep his precious girl as a secret mistress?

"What's the gossip?" Gian strolled over, cradling a coffee mug, his gaze settling on Danielle. "We've got a business dinner with the partners tonight. You're coming, right?"

"We're just talking shop," Kirsten replied. "If anything comes up, it's good to have you there."

Danielle nodded. "Alright."

"But I need to pick up Niki first," she added. She didn't want to trouble her mother—Vivian was already stretched thin.

Kirsten hesitated. "There'll be plenty more dinners like this in the future. Maybe, when things settle down, you could hire a nanny for Niki? It'd make life easier."

The working world was brutal—especially for women with kids. Soon, Danielle would be a single mom, juggling both her career and home.

Danielle felt a jolt of surprise when she saw who walked in.

It was Millie's mother, Leanne.

Leanne paused too, not expecting to see Danielle, but she quickly masked her reaction with the kind of smooth, practiced smile only seasoned professionals could manage.

"Good evening," Leanne said with an easy laugh.

Gian made the introductions and small talk.

Danielle kept her expression neutral—she had no intention of letting personal history bleed into business.

Business dinners weren't her forte—she preferred to bury herself in technical work. When she'd accompanied Alexander to these things before, she'd only been expected to sit quietly and drink.

Tonight was no different; she found herself playing the same role.

Whenever someone toasted Gian, Danielle deftly intercepted the drinks for him.

Leanne glanced at Danielle and let out a barely audible, dismissive laugh. So this was the woman her daughter had worried about? Millie had gone to Ninesky Technologies hoping for a senior technical position, and Danielle—Danielle was nothing but a forgettable assistant, someone only good for pouring drinks.