Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 1

“Amelia, are you sure about this? Once you join the confidential project, there’s no backing out. All contact with the outside world will be cut off. Have you really thought it through?”

Amelia Turner stared blankly at the slowly melting slice of birthday cake in front of her, her heart aching with a thousand tiny needles.

Yesterday had been her birthday. Daniel Campbell had ordered her favorite vanilla cake, but he’d vanished for the entire evening and never came home.

She sat in silence for a long time.

On the other end of the line, her upperclassman sighed. “Every couple argues now and then. Think carefully. If you go, you’ll be gone for three years. Are you confident your marriage can survive that? The final list won’t be set for another month. Take your time before giving me your answer.”

After the call ended, Amelia glanced at the framed photo on the table.

In the picture, a handsome man stood beside a bright-eyed girl, her head tilted against his shoulder, both of them smiling.

She loved Daniel—loved him so deeply that, even knowing his heart belonged elsewhere, she had agreed to marry him without a second thought when he asked.

She’d believed that love was a glass jar: if she poured in enough of her heart, eventually it would be full.

But she’d forgotten—some jars have no bottom. No matter how much you pour in, they’ll never fill.

Blinking back the sting in her reddened eyes, Amelia rubbed them gently and headed to the study to sort through her research materials.

She’d stayed up waiting for him until late last night, barely slept, and exhaustion quickly overtook her. It wasn’t long before she fell asleep at her desk.

When she woke, it was to the shrill ring of her phone.

It was Daniel’s friend. “Amelia, Daniel’s had a bit too much to drink. Could you come pick him up?”

Her arm tingled with pins and needles as she reached for the phone. She was about to suggest sending the driver, but remembered Daniel’s sensitive stomach. She didn’t trust anyone else to take care of him. After a brief pause, she said, “Text me the address.”

At the restaurant, Daniel’s closest friends were gathered in a private room.

Violet Scott had just returned from overseas, and they were throwing her a welcome-back party.

Daniel didn’t love her, but he’d always given her respect and dignity. His friends were unfailingly courteous because of it.

The awkwardness from their overheard conversation lingered. As Amelia walked in, the room fell silent.

She crossed to the sofa and gently touched Daniel’s shoulder. “Daniel, let’s go home.”

His eyelids fluttered. When he saw her, his lips curved into the faintest smile. “You came.”

Just those three simple words made something inside her melt, despite the coldness that surrounded her heart. She asked softly, “Can you stand?”

Daniel reached up, took her hand, and leaned on her as he got to his feet.

Together, they made their way to the door—only to come face to face with Violet, who was returning in her wheelchair.

For a moment, the four of them stood there, eyes locked. Amelia couldn’t help but notice the striking resemblance between Daniel and Violet, a similarity that made her heart ache with embarrassment and pain.