Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 130

Amelia tossed her phone aside and buried her face in her knees.

After a while, she picked up the phone again, deleted the photos, blocked the number, and, while she was at it, blocked Daniel’s number too.

There. Peace and quiet at last—utter, unshakable silence.

It wasn’t until two days later that Sophia found out Amelia was staying in the staff dorms. Amelia accidentally let it slip, but Sophia could have figured it out with her eyes closed: of course that no-good ex and his sidepiece had pulled something again. Fuming, she caught a ride to Silkwood, cursing the whole way.

The driver couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer volume of creative insults Sophia could come up with. He kept his eyes on the road, determined not to give her any reason to turn her fire on him.

Amelia met Sophia at the entrance to the base. As soon as Sophia saw her, she swept Amelia into a giant bear hug. “My poor darling, spending the holidays all alone—look at you, you’ve lost weight! My heart just aches for you.”

Amelia hugged her back, smiling. “It’s not as bad as you think. I’ve been living off takeout and binge-watching shows. No relatives to deal with, so honestly, it’s been kind of relaxing.”

That was Amelia all over—no matter how upset she was, she never let it show. Sophia’s heart twisted painfully, determined to make it up to her friend.

“Come on, let’s go! Most restaurants are open again, it’s time for a proper feast!”

Amelia grinned. “Your treat?”

Sophia, usually tighter than a drum with her wallet, grit her teeth. “Of course! My precious girl’s been all alone for ages—she deserves the best food in town!”

Thinking of Sophia’s hard-earned money, Amelia made sure not to pick anywhere too pricey. They ended up at a cozy bistro serving regional cuisine.

As soon as they finished ordering, Amelia heard someone call her name. She turned and spotted Charles.

“My family’s having a get-together here. Small world. The food’s great—my dad’s a big fan.”

“No, I’d rather not see him.” The cinema had nothing on a tropical getaway, after all.

Charles saw her flat refusal and let the matter drop.

After the movie, they moved with the crowd toward the exit when Sophia suddenly announced, “Shoot, I need the restroom. Wait here for me.”

The theater was packed for the holidays. Charles tugged Amelia aside. “Stand here. Watch out—you’ll get trampled.”

No sooner had he spoken than a kid clutching a giant tub of popcorn barreled past. Charles reacted instantly, shielding Amelia. “Careful!”

He blocked the kid, but in the close quarters, Amelia instinctively stepped back—and bumped right into a staff member livestreaming ticket sales. Her face appeared on camera for a split second.