Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 258

The next evening, Daniel showed up again, but Amelia wouldn’t let him inside.

He didn’t seem to mind at all. He handed the things he’d brought to Ashley—a box of fresh, perfectly ripe strawberries flown in that morning, and a selection of Belgian chocolates.

It was almost deliberate: yesterday it was ruby strawberries, today it was blush-pink ones, tomorrow maybe a crate of Juno Berries. The chocolates changed daily too—Russian, Swiss, Belgian, all the world’s finest brands paraded through their doorway.

Amelia hadn’t wanted to accept any of it, but Daniel always had a reason. He said, “With Grandma Edith staying at your place, if I don’t bring anything over, people will think the Campbell family is stingy. Consider these living expenses.”

Fine. If he insisted, she’d take them.

But no matter how much he brought, Daniel never managed to get past Amelia’s front door. She held her ground, and he’d never once set foot inside.

The week-long arrangement for Grandma Edith’s stay had long expired, but the old lady showed no sign of wanting to leave. Amelia tried to hint, asking if she missed home. In an instant, Grandma Edith’s eyes welled up with tears, and she launched into a dramatic performance.

“Amelia, don’t you love me anymore?”

Amelia sighed. “Of course I love you. How could I not?”

Just like that, Grandma Edith cheered up, wiped away her tears, and skipped off to play with Ruby.

Right then, the doorbell rang. Amelia didn’t even need to guess who it was. Every night, Daniel came by, unable to come in, just lingering at the door for a glimpse of her.

Ashley answered, expertly collecting whatever Daniel handed over, then just as efficiently moved to close the door.

Daniel pressed his palm flat against it, lowering his voice. “Ashley, aren’t you forgetting who your biggest employer is?”

Ashley shot back in the same conspiratorial tone, “Wasn’t it you who said to do whatever Mrs. Campbell says?”

Daniel was momentarily at a loss for words. Just then, a cry came from inside. Grandma Edith, who’d been happily playing with Ruby, suddenly clutched her stomach and collapsed onto the playmat, her face contorted in pain.

Amelia panicked, but Daniel had already stepped inside, scooping Grandma Edith up in his arms.

“We’re going to the hospital.”

Ashley stayed home to look after Ruby. Amelia rushed out the door with Daniel.

“She left?” Daniel felt opportunity slipping through his fingers yet again. “Why didn’t you stop her?”

Ethan looked him square in the eye. “Why should we? Three years ago, we tried, and all it did was drive your wife away. We’re not making that mistake again.”

The words stung. Daniel had nothing to say, slumping onto the sofa and staring up at the ceiling in defeat.

After this, Ethan put his foot down: Grandma Edith had to move back in with the Campbell family.

The drama had played out, the games were over, and the old lady’s stubbornness finally gave way. She agreed to go home.

She needed to stay in the hospital overnight for observation. Ethan, too old for a sleepless night, settled into the next room, while Daniel kept vigil by Grandma Edith’s bedside.

Late into the night, she woke up, her eyes suddenly clear. She sat up and beckoned to Daniel.

“Come here. I need to tell you something.”