Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 209

Ruby blurted out, “My name is Ruby!”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than she remembered her mom’s warning: never tell your name to strangers, especially strange adults.

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “Ruby what? Rubin?”

Ruby tried to cover her tracks and nodded quickly. “Yeah!”

Finley, catching on to Daniel’s line of questioning, couldn’t help but interject. “Daniel, it’s been so long, and there’s been no trace. There’s no way this little girl could be—”

Halfway through, he realized he was going down the wrong path and hurried to correct himself. “No, no, what am I saying? She’s only two—impossible, no matter how you look at it. Just ignore me, must be the mushrooms I had for lunch talking nonsense.”

Amelia’s been missing for three years, and this little Bunny is only two. If she were Amelia’s, Daniel would probably lose his mind right here and now.

There are so many people in the world who look alike—it’s just a coincidence.

Clearly, Daniel was thinking along the same lines. The faint hope in his eyes faded away as he leaned back in his seat.

Just then, Ruby’s smartwatch rang. She glanced at the screen and saw it was her mom calling. She spun around. “My mom’s calling—I have to go.”

“Wait.” Daniel called after her. “Did you want this balloon?”

Ruby nodded so fast it looked like her head was on a spring.

Finley didn’t even get a chance to finish his “Oh, come on—” before Daniel snatched the balloon right out of James’s hands and handed it to Ruby. “Here. It’s yours.”

“Thank you, Uncle! You’re the best!”

Sweet as sugar, Ruby accepted the balloon and skipped away, beaming.

Meanwhile, James stared in stunned silence for a good ten seconds before finally bursting into tears.

Finley shook his head in disbelief. “Daniel, if you’re going to suddenly start channeling fatherly instincts, could you leave my kid out of it? Once he starts crying, he can go on for ages.”

Amelia had never been truly angry to begin with, and that tiny kiss chased away whatever hint of sternness she’d tried to muster. She hugged her daughter close. “This place isn’t like where we used to live. Anything can happen, and you’re still so little. I just worry, that’s all.”

Sophia joined in on the hug, grinning. “Me too! The three of us—one big, happy family.”

After dinner, Amelia slid into the back seat of the car. As Sophia gripped the steering wheel, Amelia noticed the diamond ring on her friend’s finger—she’d spotted it earlier at the table, but hadn’t said anything.

“You got married?”

Sophia tossed her hair with a laugh. “Not that easy. We’re not married yet—just engaged a few weeks ago.”

A gentle smile touched Amelia’s lips. “I always thought you and Mr. Harper were perfect together.”

Sophia shrugged, but her eyes sparkled. “Oh, we’re alright, I suppose.”

“When’s Mr. Harper coming back from his business trip?” Amelia asked.