The Wife You Buried Is Back from Hell novel Chapter 952

The Director, clearly finding the suggestion plausible, nodded in agreement. “That’s not a bad idea. A public clarification would indeed be more effective. Danielle, what do you think?”

Danielle looked up, meeting the unconcealed anticipation in Lorie’s eyes, then shifted her gaze to the Director’s trusting expression. After a few seconds of silence, she finally spoke, her voice calm but firm. “Thank you for the kind offer, Miss Gaylord, but the engagement party is an important day for you and Mr. Davidson. It would be inappropriate for me, as his ex, to attend. It might even give people more to talk about. It’s better to leave the official clarification to the Aerospace Institute and the two of you. I’d rather not get involved in the spectacle.”

Lorie’s smile froze. She clearly hadn’t expected such a blunt refusal and quickly tried to persuade her. “Chief Engineer Crawford, please don’t say that. We’re colleagues, and this is to clear up a misunderstanding. There’s nothing inappropriate about it…”

“That won’t be necessary.” Danielle cut her off, rising to her feet and giving the Director a slight nod. “Director, I’ll follow the Institute’s arrangements for any clarification, but I really can’t attend the engagement party. The project handover documents are complete, but feel free to contact me if any issues arise. I’ll be leaving now.”

Without a backward glance at Lorie’s instantly crestfallen face, she turned and walked out of the office. The moment the door clicked shut, Danielle distinctly heard Lorie’s soft voice behind her, “Is Chief Engineer Crawford still upset about…?”

She didn’t slow her pace, a cold, mocking laugh echoing in her mind. Colleagues in the hallway saw her and instinctively averted their eyes, their whispers trailing behind her. She didn’t look back or stop.

-

Danielle fell silent. River was right. She was trapped. If she refused to attend the party, they’d say she was guilty. If she went, she’d walk right into Lorie’s trap. No matter what she chose, she was on the defensive.

Seeing her silence, River took a deep breath, as if steeling himself. He looked her straight in the eye and said earnestly, “The only way to completely shut down these rumors is to find a man and publicly announce that you’re getting married. Once you have a clear romantic partner, the accusations of you being a homewrecker will fall apart. Even the old slander about you abandoning your husband and son will look like a malicious smear campaign. You have to go to that engagement party, and not only that, you have to go with your fiancé.”

River looked at her. “I can help you with that.”