The Wife You Buried Is Back from Hell novel Chapter 1304

Alexander went completely rigid for a split second before his arms slowly lifted to envelop her. He rested his chin against the crown of her head, completely soaking in her warmth. The ruthless, calculating coldness that usually dominated his gaze melted away, leaving behind nothing but pure, unadulterated tenderness.

"Just get some sleep."

Danielle murmured softly against his skin. "I'm right here. The world isn't going to end if you close your eyes for a few hours."

Alexander didn't say a single word. He simply tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest.

For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, the adrenaline crashed. He surrendered to the bone-deep exhaustion, wanting nothing more than to slip into the dark comfort of sleep with her in his arms.

-

Later that morning.

The morning sun finally broke through the curtains.

Alexander's breathing had finally settled into a deep, rhythmic pattern.

A healthy, warm flush had even begun to return to his ashen complexion.

The harsh, abrupt vibration of a cell phone on the nightstand shattered the quiet.

Alexander's dark lashes fluttered, his eyes cracking open to a blurry, sunlit room.

He blinked a few times to clear his vision, his gaze locking onto the caller ID flashing on his screen: Executive Assistant.

Danielle had fallen asleep in the armchair pulled flush against the mattress.

The buzzing jolted her awake. She shot upright, instinctively grabbing his hand, her voice raspy from sleep. "Are you awake? Does anything hurt?"

Alexander shook his head. He reached up to massage his temples, his voice still lacking its usual command, but sounding infinitely better than it had hours ago. "I'm alright."

His eyes flicked back to the buzzing phone, a tiny, barely perceptible crease forming between his brows. "It's the office."

Danielle followed his gaze, a knot instantly forming in her stomach. Before she could even open her mouth to demand he stay in bed, Alexander was already planting his hands on the mattress and forcing himself upright.

His movements were incredibly stiff and lethargic. The simple act of sitting up seemed to demand a massive amount of energy, bringing a fresh sheen of sweat to his brow.

Danielle instantly reached out to steady his arm. "Don't push it. Rebecca gave strict orders for bed rest."

"I can't." Alexander's voice was a quiet rasp. "The foreign operatives are still moving pieces, the Jamison Group fallout requires my signature, and Ninesky has a massive international merger conference call this afternoon. I absolutely cannot miss it."

He gently pulled his arm from her grasp and used the wall to pull himself fully to his feet. He swayed slightly for a terrifying second, but then locked his knees and forced himself to walk steadily toward the bedroom door.

Danielle stared at his broad, unyielding back, her lips pressed into a tight, grim line as a tidal wave of utter helplessness crashed over her.

She knew arguing with him was completely pointless.

This man had carried the crushing weight of his empire on his shoulders his entire life. He simply did not know how to back down.

Defeated, Danielle followed him into the dressing room, retrieving a set of clean, comfortable clothes, and silently watched as he painstakingly dressed himself.

Every single movement—raising his arms, stepping into his slacks—was clearly agonizingly exhausting, yet he executed them with his usual meticulous precision.

"It was a close call, but his vitals are stable. He pushed himself to the breaking point."

Danielle let out a tired breath. "He's in the office right now, handling a crisis."

Bianca's brow furrowed in deep disapproval. "That boy is entirely too stubborn for his own good. He's on the verge of death and he still refuses to step away from his desk."

She paused, turning her full attention to Danielle, her expression shifting into one of profound sincerity. "You're both drowning in chaos right now. Let me take the children off your hands."

"Niki and Raffy are little angels. If they stay with me, it'll take one massive worry off your plate so you can focus entirely on supporting him and saving the company."

A wave of genuine gratitude washed over Danielle, but she gently shook her head. "Thank you, really, but it's okay."

"I prefer keeping them close right now. With everything going on, having them under my own roof is the only thing keeping me sane."

Seeing the fierce, undeniable maternal protectiveness in her eyes, Bianca didn't push the issue. She gave an understanding nod. "Of course. A mother needs her children close in times like these."

But after a moment's hesitation, she reached out and gently wrapped her fingers around Danielle's wrist. "Walk with me to the office," she murmured softly. "There's something important we need to discuss."

Slightly taken aback, Danielle allowed herself to be led down the hall and into the home office.

Alexander heard the door open and immediately paused his typing. He looked up, his brow furrowing as he took in their serious expressions. "Is something wrong?"

"Keep working. I just need a quick word with Danielle," Bianca said smoothly.

Dismissing him with a wave of her hand, Bianca guided Danielle over to the large bay windows on the far side of the room, keeping her voice pitched strictly to a private murmur——