The Wife You Buried Is Back from Hell novel Chapter 809

He looked from the pillbox on the coffee table to the wedding portrait on the wall, his heart feeling hollow and tight, as if caught in a vice.

But most of the time, people just don't get a choice.

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In a conference room at the Nexus Prime Aerospace Institute, Danielle was leading a meeting with her technical team, reviewing project data.

She looked down at the report. “The sensor accuracy still isn’t meeting our requirements. We need the guild to coordinate with suppliers and prioritize the latest infrared modules. Otherwise, it’s going to delay next month’s field tests.”

Larkin, one of the engineers, immediately raised his hand. “Chief Engineer Crawford, I contacted the guild’s liaison yesterday. They said resources are tight and we’d have to wait in line. What should we do?”

Danielle frowned and picked up her phone. “I’ll speak with them directly.”

She found the contact number in her directory and pressed dial, already running through how she would persuade them to expedite the request. She never expected to hear a voice on the other end that would make her heart stop.

“Hello.” Alexander’s voice, as deep and cool as she remembered, came through the receiver.

Danielle’s grip on the phone tightened, the color draining from her face.

Taking a sharp breath, she composed herself. “This is Danielle from the Nexus Prime Aerospace Institute. I’m calling to discuss the resource allocation for the drone project. We need the guild to prioritize…”

“I know,” Alexander cut her off, his tone unreadable. “I’ve already had Nash compile the specific requirements. I’ll be coming over in person this afternoon to coordinate with you directly.”

“You’re coming here?” A knot of tension formed in her stomach. “You don’t have to do that. The liaison can…”

“It’s no trouble,” Alexander said calmly.

She looked up to see a tall man in a crisp white shirt. His smile was playful, but his eyes held a sharp intelligence.

“And you are?” Danielle asked, frowning. He looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place him.

“River Atwood. I just got back from a business trip and was assigned to your project team,” the man said, extending a hand. His smile held a hint of mischief. “I’ve heard so much about the genius Chief Engineer Crawford. It’s an honor to finally meet you in person. You’re even more impressive than the rumors suggest.”

Danielle’s brow furrowed. River Atwood. She had heard the name—he was the youngest chief engineer at the institute. She just hadn’t expected him to be *this* young.

She looked down and briefly shook his hand. “Welcome to the team. We’re on a tight schedule, so I appreciate you jumping in.”

“I don’t mind the hard work. It’s a privilege to work with you, Chief Engineer Crawford,” River said, following her toward her office, his eyes lingering on her.

Danielle was dressed in a pale blue jumpsuit, her hair tied back in a low ponytail. Her profile was cool and composed.