The Wife You Buried Is Back from Hell novel Chapter 1305

"Danielle, I know exactly what you've been agonizing over lately."

"Raffy's parentage is... complicated. I know you've been terrified that if he continues growing up side-by-side with Niki, the day he eventually learns the truth about his bloodline will destroy their bond entirely."

Danielle's heart skipped a nervous beat. She hadn't realized her private, agonizing fears had been so incredibly transparent to the older woman.

Over the past few weeks, she and Alexander had spent countless nights debating the exact same thing. But every time they watched how incredibly sweet and well-behaved the boy was, they physically couldn't bring themselves to send him away.

Noting her painful hesitation, Bianca's voice softened into something incredibly maternal. "The boy has been dealt a tragic hand."

"The monstrous sins of Harold should never be passed down to an innocent child."

"That's why I think the best solution is for me to take guardianship of Raffy."

"I live out at the old estate. It's incredibly peaceful out there, and I have all the time in the world to give him the structured, loving environment he needs."

"You and Alexander could come out to visit him whenever you wanted."

"It allows him to grow up safe and loved, while completely mitigating the risk to your own family dynamic. It's the only solution that truly protects everyone involved."

Danielle's mind was spinning wildly.

Every single point Bianca made struck a deeply undeniable chord of truth.

She looked out the bay window. Down in the sunlit courtyard, Niki and Raffy were chasing each other across the grass, their bright, innocent laughter ringing through the glass like delicate silver bells.

She remained locked in silence for a long time before finally letting out a ragged breath. "It's not my decision to make."

"We have to ask Raffy what he wants."

Bianca's eyes lit up with genuine relief, and she nodded enthusiastically. "Of course. That's entirely fair."

"We'll let the boy decide for himself."

When the two women stepped out of the office, they found Niki practically dragging Raffy through the front door, both of them flushed and out of breath from running.

Bianca immediately stepped forward and knelt down to meet the boy at eye level. Her gaze was incredibly tender. "Raffy, sweetheart, could I ask you a question?"

Raffy stopped in his tracks. He stared at the older woman with his large, serious eyes and gave a polite little nod. "Yes, ma'am."

"Would you be willing to come live with me at the old estate for a little while?"

Bianca kept her voice incredibly soothing, as if speaking to a startled fawn. "It's a beautiful place with so much room to run, and we have those little bunnies you loved feeding last time."

"I'll make sure you have all your favorite meals, and we can read your favorite books together every single night."

Raffy's gaze wavered. His eyes immediately darted toward Danielle, silently seeking permission.

Danielle closed the distance and dropped to one knee, wrapping her hands around his small, slightly chilled fingers.

She met his anxious gaze, her tone radiating absolute, unconditional support. "Raffy, whatever you decide is perfectly fine."

"If you want to go stay with her, you can. If you want to stay right here with us, you can. It is entirely up to you."

He had just wrapped up the grueling international conference call. A thin sheen of sweat clung to his brow, and his impeccably pressed clothes did absolutely nothing to hide the bone-deep exhaustion radiating from him.

He lowered himself into his chair at the head of the table. Danielle immediately slid a glass of water toward him. He drank it down, savoring the cool relief it brought to his raw throat.

Bianca, seated to his right, eyed his haggard appearance with obvious disapproval. "No matter how critical the merger is, you cannot neglect your health."

"If you work yourself into an early grave, what exactly do you expect Danielle and the children to do without you?"

Alexander didn't argue. He simply gave a tired nod, picked up his fork, and took a bite of the steamed vegetables.

Danielle sat close to his side, ladling a generous portion of the broth into a bowl and setting it gently in front of him. "Take it slow," she murmured. "The broth has been simmering for hours. It's incredibly rich."

Niki and Raffy were seated across from them, chattering away in rapid, overlapping bursts of energy.

Raffy was animatedly discussing the rabbits at the estate, while Niki enthusiastically recounted an intense architectural dispute over wooden blocks at preschool. Their bright, innocent voices effortlessly sliced through the heavy, oppressive tension in the room.

Bianca watched the domestic scene with a soft, deeply satisfied gleam in her eyes. But then, as if suddenly remembering a crucial piece of business, she set her silverware down. She looked directly at Alexander and Danielle, her expression shifting into one of utter seriousness. "Actually, there is one final matter I need to discuss with you two."

Alexander's hand froze halfway to his mouth. He slowly lowered his fork, his dark eyes locking onto hers, waiting in silence.

Danielle slowly lowered her spoon, a sudden, intuitive flash of realization hitting her.

"When exactly do the two of you plan on making things official and getting remarried?"

Bianca's voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the dining room with absolute authority. "You're living under the same roof, raising children together, and acting as a single unit in every conceivable way. It is entirely unacceptable that you are still doing so without a marriage license."