Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 17

The shrill ring of Daniel’s phone cut through the tension, saving her.

Amelia’s nerves were shot. She shoved him away, muttering, “Go answer your phone—it’s driving me crazy.”

Daniel left to take the call. Meanwhile, Amelia swung her bare feet to the floor, hastily scooping her scattered lipstick and the half-spilled box of condoms back into her purse.

That was close. If he’d seen those, it would’ve been a disaster.

She spent the whole day at home, sleeping off her exhaustion. By the time she finally climbed out of bed in the afternoon, every bone in her body felt blissfully boneless.

The housekeeper, knowing Amelia had just returned from her work assignment, figured the couple must’ve had a fight. Thinking some “marriage therapy” was in order, she suggested, “Would you like to make dinner tonight?”

A home-cooked meal, made by the wife and shared with her husband after a long day—what could be more romantic? Surely, it would patch things up and bring them closer.

Amelia rarely cooked, but she could manage. With nothing else pressing, she shrugged and agreed.

Before she started, she texted Daniel to ask if he had any plans that night. His reply came back: No, nothing.

Cooking was easy with the housekeeper’s help. Dinner came together quickly.

But—

By nearly 7:30, Daniel still wasn’t home.

Traffic jams were one thing, but this was getting ridiculous.

Amelia hesitated, then called his phone.

No answer.

She was used to this by now—calls that went unanswered, Daniel disappearing without a word. It didn’t sting so much anymore, just left her with a dull emptiness.

That emptiness made her call again.

Just as she was about to hang up, someone picked up.

“When are you coming home?” she asked.

But it wasn’t Daniel’s voice she heard. It was Violet. “Amelia? Is that you? Daniel, he…”

Amelia didn’t wait for her to finish. She hung up at once.

She didn’t touch a single bite of dinner. Instead, she stood, walked to the bedroom, and started packing.

“You’re leaving?”

“The driver will take you home. I have something to do.”

“Daniel—”

She tried to sound sweet, hoping he’d stay, but Daniel didn’t even glance at her. He grabbed his coat, pulled out his phone—and suddenly paused, eyes flicking up to her. “You answered my call?”

Violet’s pulse stuttered under his gaze. She looked momentarily confused, then seemed to remember. “Oh, your phone kept ringing. I thought it might be urgent, so I picked up.”

She pouted, “Was I not supposed to answer?”

Mogan clapped Daniel on the shoulder. “It was just a call. You’re scaring her.”

Daniel’s expression softened a little. “Don’t do it again.”

He drove home, pushing the speed limit all the way back to Emerald Meadows.

The housekeeper had already cleaned up the kitchen by the time Daniel walked in. He scanned the room. “Where’s Amelia?”