Niki came in just then, carrying a glass of water and some medicine.
“Grandma asked me to bring you these,” she said softly. “She wants you to take the medicine and get some rest. You don’t have to come downstairs for dinner—one of the staff will bring your meal up.”
Niki was always thoughtful, mature beyond her years.
Danielle took a deep breath and accepted the pills from her daughter, swallowing them down.
“If you’re still not feeling better after the medicine, you should probably go see a doctor,” Niki said, her brow furrowed with worry. “You always get really sick when you catch a cold.”
Danielle squeezed Niki’s hand gently. “Are you scared to go downstairs and eat with the whole family by yourself?”
Niki shook her head. “I’m a big kid now, Mom. I’m not scared to eat with them alone—and besides, Great-Grandma will be there.”
Niki might not be afraid, but Danielle was. In the entire Davidson family, aside from Grandma, no one seemed to care much for Niki.
Especially with Raffy there—Danielle couldn’t count on Alexander to look out for her daughter, either.
Setting the glass aside, Danielle stood up.
“I’m taking you with me. We’re not staying for dinner tonight.”
Niki hesitated. “But I wanted you to try the dumplings I made all by myself…”
She glanced at her mother’s pale, drawn face, filled with concern.
Across the room, Paula Davidson leaned toward Bianca and whispered, “She seemed fine earlier, relaxing in the shade. Now she’s suddenly sick—pretending just to stir up trouble, I bet. Anything to keep the house in turmoil.”
“She just wants Alex’s attention,” Paula sneered. “But a husband who doesn’t love her won’t care if she’s sick.”
Bianca gave a cold snort. “That woman’s only got cheap tricks up her sleeve—otherwise, how did she even marry into the Davidsons, taking Millie’s place as Mrs. Davidson?”
“My son deserved a wife who shines, not some empty-headed imposter. If only Millie Fletcher were my daughter-in-law—how much better that would have been.”
She shot Danielle a look filled with thinly veiled hostility.
Raffy, seated nearby, watched Danielle with open disdain, unable to hide her contempt.
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