Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 212

She was old enough now to start preschool.

Besides picking a school for Ruby, Amelia also needed to find a housekeeper. There was no way she could juggle both work and caring for Ruby all on her own.

The glow from her laptop screen lit up her face as Amelia suddenly thought of the housekeeper they’d had back at Emerald Meadows. That woman had truly cared for her, always quick on her feet, and her cooking was delicious—Ruby would absolutely love her.

But… the housekeeper had been hired by *him*. Even if she wanted to poach her, it wouldn't happen. Best to let it go.

Amelia stayed up late again, only getting to sleep near dawn. The next morning, she was up bright and early, taking Ruby to visit the three preschools she’d shortlisted.

All three were international schools that welcomed children from both local and foreign families. Tuition was sky-high, and the admission requirements were strict. But Ruby was sharper than most kids her age, breezing through the interview without a hitch.

In the end, Amelia chose a school that matched all her expectations.

The school handed her a stack of forms to fill out—Ruby’s personal information, family background, the usual.

She filled them out smoothly until she reached the section for the father’s information. Her pen paused.

But only for a moment. Neatly, she wrote two words in the father's section: *Widowed*.

Ruby, sporting her brand-new backpack from the school, was over the moon. She chattered away nonstop all the way home.

A regular little chatterbox.

Later, the domestic agency called to say they’d arranged for two candidates to come by for interviews. Amelia wasted no time, interviewed both, and decided to try one out for a two-day trial.

She was so exhausted by evening that she fell asleep halfway through Ruby’s bedtime story, claimed by sleep before she even realized it.

He started scheming the next step.

If Daniel could handle a birthday party, surely he could handle meeting someone new.

Just then, a friend mentioned a new lounge that had opened up—not big, but with a great atmosphere. The owner was in the entertainment business, and a couple of the house musicians were actually well-known on the indie scene.

The moment Daniel heard the word “lounge,” he hung up. He’d have to be out of his mind to go to a place like that.

But Finley refused to give up and called again. And again.

Daniel accidentally answered the call. Finley launched right into his pitch: “Come on, man, if you’re my brother you’ll show up. I promise, there’s a surprise. Just trust me for once.”

“What kind of surprise?” Daniel leaned back in his chair, pulled off his silver-rimmed glasses, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Is it an angel? Or the Virgin Mary herself? If not, I’m not sure it qualifies as a surprise.”