Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 259

Daniel had just finished replying to work emails, his eyes heavy with fatigue. He hooked his foot around a chair and dragged it close to the hospital bed, sinking into the seat.

Grandma Edith studied him intently for a moment, then picked up her phone. She scrolled through her photos, finally holding one up beside Daniel’s face with all the seriousness of a high-stakes negotiation.

Daniel glanced at the screen out of the corner of his eye—there was a close-up of Ruby, her features crystal clear.

“See anything familiar, Daniel?” the old woman asked.

Grandma Edith scrutinized the photo with more focus than she ever gave to managing her estate, not missing a single detail. At last, she nodded, triumphant.

“Ruby is your daughter!”

Daniel had heard enough of Grandma Edith’s wild theories over the years to take this one in stride. “I know you’ve wanted to see four generations under one roof for ages,” he said, playing along. “And I have been thinking about welcoming Ruby into the Campbell family.”

“Not welcoming her in—bringing her back,” Grandma Edith insisted, her gaze unwavering. “She’s always been a Campbell. Just look at the two of you!”

Daniel’s exhaustion faded a little. “How exactly are we alike?” he asked, genuinely curious. Ruby was the spitting image of a young Amelia; he couldn’t see even a hint of himself in her.

“Her eyelashes,” Grandma Edith replied without missing a beat.

Daniel stifled a groan. “Why not just say her pores look like mine?”

“You can laugh, but I mean it,” she said, dead serious. “I stayed at Amelia’s house for nearly ten days, and you think I was just there for a visit? No, I was observing. Every day, I watched. The way Ruby frowns when she’s thinking—it’s exactly how you looked as a child. She doesn’t like onions, just like you. And she loves watching nature documentaries. Remember how much you loved animals? You used to tease the dog in the backyard until it almost bit your hand off—”

Daniel quickly covered her mouth. “Okay, I get it. So what’s your point?”

She batted his hand away. “I’m telling you, I’m absolutely positive Ruby is your daughter.”

Without warning, Daniel changed the subject. “Wanna play rock-paper-scissors?”

“Are you serious? I’m not a little kid,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes.

Daniel gently smoothed her silver hair. “Alright, go to sleep. You can lecture me all you want in your dreams.”

He turned off the light and lay down on the sofa, folding his arms behind his head.

The hospital room was dim and hushed. Despite his exhaustion, sleep was impossible.

Grandma Edith’s episodes were frequent now, her words a mix of truth and nonsense that no one took too seriously. Everyone just went along, indulging her, hoping she’d be happy.

She wanted Ruby to be her great-granddaughter. But deep down, Daniel realized, he wanted it just as much. He couldn’t help wondering: if Ruby really was his daughter, did that mean Amelia still had feelings for him?

After all, if there was no love left, why would she have kept their child?

Suddenly, Daniel sat up, a flicker of hope sparking in his chest.