Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 118

Amelia drew a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

The words barely left her lips before she turned to leave. As she stepped forward, something caught her foot. She lost her balance, and before she could react, she tumbled headlong into the pool.

The water closed over her in an instant.

Icy coldness wrapped itself around her, seeping into her bones.

She knew how to swim, but as the freezing shock flooded her limbs, a sudden, wild thought flashed through her mind.

Maybe it’s better this way—just lie here, let the water fill my lungs and seep into my chest.

No one escapes death; sooner or later, it comes for everyone. No one cares about her anyway. Maybe it wouldn’t matter if she simply disappeared.

Strong hands caught her around the waist, hauling her up toward the surface.

“Amelia…”

Daniel’s voice was both near and far, echoing strangely in her ears. She drifted for a moment before her eyes fluttered open. Through a blur of water, she saw Daniel’s face—his hair plastered to his forehead, his eyes anxious and dark.

A sudden image flickered through her mind.

She’d been pulled from the water like this before—not by Daniel, but by a boy she could barely remember, his face lost in a haze.

Charles was late to the party, delayed by surgery. As he entered the crowded hall, he caught snippets of gossip—a woman had fallen into the pool, Daniel’s name mentioned in the same breath. He hurried to the poolside.

“Amelia?” The sight of her made his heart sink. She was still pregnant.

Without hesitation, Daniel scooped Amelia into his arms and started to leave, but she caught sight of Charles and tried to push herself free. “I don’t need your help.”

Daniel’s chest heaved, still shaken. “Are you seriously going to act tough now? If you don’t want my help, then whose do you want?”

Her head was swimming, fragmented memories swirling together in a confusing blur. The chaos made it impossible to think straight.

She closed her eyes, and soon she drifted off to sleep.

…

“What on earth happened?” Mrs. Johnson was flustered, cornering Charles after he finished tending to Amelia.

“She’s running a fever. It’s easier to look after her at home than at the hospital.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Mrs. Johnson pressed. “Does Daniel know you brought his wife here? I hope you’re not getting any funny ideas—never mess with a friend’s wife, Charles. Don’t lose your head over this.”

He shot her a sidelong glance. “Don’t be ridiculous. Daniel knows. I took her straight from him.”

Mrs. Johnson stared at him, speechless.