The Wife You Buried Is Back from Hell novel Chapter 691

Danielle ruffled Niki’s hair. “Go play for a bit, honey. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”

Niki nodded and slipped out of the kitchen.

Through the open doorway, she saw the man in the living room, sitting stiffly on the couch, his attention buried in a newspaper.

Niki pressed her lips together and settled herself at the far end of the dining table, putting as much distance as she could between them.

“Why are you sitting all the way over there?”

Niki glanced at Alexander. “Don’t you not like having me around? If I stay out of your way, I won’t bother you.”

It was the first time she’d ever spoken to Alexander like this. Before, she’d always looked at him with hopeful eyes, silently longing for a father’s affection, wishing he’d acknowledge her, even just once.

She’d dreamed of calling him Dad.

But now she understood things she hadn’t before. Like that uncle had told her, real life wasn’t a fairy tale. You couldn’t just wish for something and make it come true. If her father didn’t want her and her mother in his life, then she and her mom would be just fine on their own.

Someday, when she grew up, she’d earn lots and lots of money, so her mom wouldn’t have to work so hard all the time.

Right now, her mother was working herself to the bone just to give her a good school and a decent home.

When she got older, she’d help carry the burden—so for now, her job was to study hard, not waste time on impossible wishes.

Alexander heard his daughter’s words, and his brow twitched, the only hint of emotion on his otherwise impassive face.

He didn’t answer. He just lowered his eyes to the newspaper in his hands.

No one spoke after that. The silence between father and daughter was thick, the distance between them impossibly wide—strangers, in every way that counted.

Before, at moments like this, Niki would have crept closer, or at least stolen a glance at him now and then. But today, she was cold and aloof, just as Danielle had told her to be—pretending he didn’t exist.

Danielle finished making breakfast not long after.

Niki went to eat.

At that moment, Alexander’s phone rang. He stood, casting a brief look at Danielle.

She looked up at Danielle. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll take care of myself. I don’t want you worrying about me anymore.”

“Every time I show any sign of a cold, you get so anxious.”

“I know you worry about me, so I’ll make sure to take good care of myself.”

Danielle smiled softly and smoothed back her hair. “You’re still so little. You don’t need to worry about things like that. I can take care of you.”

—

Alexander strode out of the building, his expression stony.

Nash was waiting for him at the curb. “Mr. Davidson.”

“Have someone keep an eye on them. I want Danielle and Niki kept safe at all times.”

Alexander’s voice was cold. “What’s Nathan doing now?”