Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 157

“Don’t look at me like that,” Samuel said, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You’re Mrs. Campbell, after all. What do you think I’d dare do to you?”

He slid off his barstool and sauntered over, studying Amelia with bright, curious eyes. “I’m just wondering, does Daniel actually love you, or is he more taken with that Deceptive Lily?”

Every word from this bastard was a knife. Amelia turned her face away, staring out the cabin window into the heavy darkness. “No need to wonder. He loves Deceptive Lily.”

Samuel’s gaze was sharp as ever. “Deceptive Lily doesn’t even come close to you, you know. Sure, you two look alike, but none of her features have your refinement.”

What good is being refined, Amelia thought bitterly. He wants the original, no matter how rough around the edges.

“Everyone’s got their own type,” she said quietly. “You said yourself, Deceptive Lily is gentle, easygoing. It’s only natural Daniel would fall for her.”

“Not me,” Samuel replied, eyes fixed on her, unblinking. “I like the wild ones. The ones that fight back.”

His stare was intense, predatory. Amelia’s guard shot up. “Don’t even think about it. I’m warning you!”

Samuel just laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Relax, Mrs. Campbell. I know my boundaries.”

Amelia watched him, wary, unsure what this lunatic really wanted. He didn’t go through all this trouble just to chat.

Samuel left the room for a moment. The instant he was gone, Amelia tried to steady her breath, desperate to will her body back to normal.

She’d barely regained any strength when the door creaked open again.

Samuel returned, holding a garish, grotesque mask. “Waited long enough, haven’t you? I’ve got a show for you.”

Amelia frowned, not understanding. Then he grabbed a remote, and a projector screen descended. Footage flickered to life: a lounge, Daniel seated directly facing the camera. Two men stood opposite him, backs to the lens—one of them unmistakably Mogan.

Amelia jolted upright in shock, only to collapse back, legs too weak to hold her.

Samuel chuckled, glancing her way. “The show hasn’t even started yet. What’s the rush? Sit back and enjoy.”

His tone was light, but the meaning was clear: Back off.

Horace Brown let out a low laugh. “Just joking. You’ve called me ‘brother’ all these years—I can’t help but care about my little sister. Nothing more to it.”

Daniel said nothing, letting the cigarette dangle from his lips, his gaze devil-may-care, as if nothing in the world could touch him.

Then his phone rang.

He stubbed out his cigarette with slow precision, long fingers fishing out his phone. An unknown number. He glanced at it, dismissed the call, but the phone rang again.

Daniel’s brows drew together. About to hang up, he hesitated—something about the number felt familiar. He answered, standing as he brought the phone to his ear.

Sophia’s voice burst through, frantic and shrill. “You bastard! Amelia’s missing! Did you lock her up again?”