Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 249

Amelia glanced at Ruby in the rearview mirror. “You’re perfectly fine—didn’t lose a limb or anything. Why on earth should I apologize?”

Daniel clenched his jaw. “You assumed I had a child with someone else. Do you have any idea how much that messed with my head? Isn’t that damage enough? If I hadn’t cleared things up today, would you have just kept thinking that? I don’t have any kids with anyone, Amelia. Why the hell would I have a child with someone else?”

Amelia’s expression hardened. “If you can’t speak to me properly, get out of the car.”

He knew he shouldn’t swear in front of the kid, but his temper was running wild. After a beat, he tried again, voice strained. “Let me say this one more time: you’re the only woman I’ve ever been with. I haven’t touched another woman, not even close. The fact that you could even think otherwise just shows you never really trusted me.”

“Trusted you?” Amelia scoffed. “Don’t sully that word.”

Daniel’s face darkened. Her accusations cut deeper than any knife, his voice dropping low. “What would it take for you to believe me? Do I have to drag Violet here so you can—”

Amelia bristled, like a cat with its tail yanked. “Don’t you dare mention her!”

Realizing her outburst might frighten Ruby, she lowered her voice. “I don’t want to talk about the past—none of it. Whatever you had with her is your business, not mine. It’s got nothing to do with me.”

Something seemed to click in Daniel’s mind; the anger drained out, replaced by a cold, bottomless heaviness. “You don’t care? I mean that little to you?”

“That’s right. You’re not worth it.”

She spat out the words, yanked the car door shut, and drove off without another glance.

Fuming, Daniel kicked the nearest tree. The trunk shook, and a plum dropped, hitting him square on the forehead.

Even the tree was mocking him.

Fine.

If she didn’t care, then he didn’t either. If it was a contest to see who could be colder, so be it—he’d play to win.

…

Ruby picked out a pink butterfly kite and dashed ahead, clutching the reel, while Ashley held the kite high to help it catch the wind.

A gentle spring breeze blew as Ruby’s little legs pumped furiously. She ran, glancing back at Ashley instead of watching where she was going, and collided straight into someone.

“Oh my goodness, you should watch where you’re going, sweetheart…” Nora steadied the elderly woman beside her.

Ruby nearly toppled but managed to regain her balance and stammered an apology. “I’m sorry!”

Grandma Edith looked down at Ruby’s face and froze, then suddenly seized her hand. “Amelia!”

Nora took a closer look and gasped. “She does look just like Amelia.”

Tears sprang to Grandma Edith’s eyes as she uttered something truly astonishing. “Daniel, that stubborn boy, finally has a child!”