Early the next morning.
By eight o'clock, Danielle had signed Niki's discharge papers.
Her grandmother called, insisting she come back to the family home for breakfast—and bring Niki along.
"I've arranged a special nourishing soup," her grandmother said, "something to help Niki recover."
Danielle held the phone, her voice calm and steady as she replied, "That's not necessary, Grandma. Niki needs rest right now."
There was a long pause on the other end.
"Dani... you're still upset with me, aren't you?"
"It's my fault. I'm just an old woman who failed to look after Niki properly."
Danielle pressed her lips together, silent for a while.
Lowering her gaze, she packed Niki's things as she spoke. "Grandma, what happened was an accident. There's no point assigning blame."
"You're getting older, and watching over children is exhausting. Niki's a handful. Next time, I'll bring her by to visit you."
Her meaning couldn't have been clearer.
That "next time" was a vague promise, one that might never come.
Danielle would never again leave Niki alone with anyone from the Davidson family.
She trusted her grandmother—she knew her love for Niki and for herself was genuine. But she hadn't expected Grandma to let Alexander take Niki away without telling her. She should have seen it coming.
At the time, life was just too hectic to think it through.
On the other end, her grandmother could only sigh in resignation.
"Then let Niki rest. I'll have someone from the house send over some things for her."
"No need, Grandma. I know what Niki likes to eat."
For a moment, her grandmother was taken aback.
Was Danielle really cutting her off from caring for Niki entirely?
She lowered her eyes, guilt and helplessness churning inside her. In the end, the old woman just murmured a few words of concern and hung up the phone.
Danielle stared at the screen for a moment, then slid her phone away.
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