Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 264

Amelia slumped against the wall, numb and hollow, as if all the life had drained out of her. She didn’t even bother to hide her defeat anymore—if the truth was out, so be it. At this point, she was ready to let everything go up in flames.

She watched, powerless, as Daniel pulled out the thin stack of papers and flipped straight to the final page.

With a resigned breath, she closed her eyes.

Time seemed to freeze.

The air thickened, hanging heavy between them for ten long seconds.

Without a word, Daniel tossed the test report onto the table, his expression unreadable.

Was that… normal? Shouldn’t he be reacting more?

For a moment, Amelia wondered if Daniel had mastered the art of stoicism—calm in the face of disaster—or maybe, he simply didn’t care whether Ruby was his daughter. Maybe none of it mattered enough to rattle him.

She stepped forward, picked up the report, and her eyes landed on the last page:

[According to our center’s analysis, the submitted biological samples show no genetic relation.]

Amelia’s eyes widened. She thought she must have misread, so she flipped back and read the statement word by word.

How could this be…

With his back to her, Daniel’s voice came out cold, tinged with mockery. “Pretty desperate, huh? One test wasn’t enough, so you had to do a second.”

Amelia was still reeling, unable to find her voice.

Daniel’s chest rose and fell, sharp and uneven. It was hard to tell if it was anger or disappointment—or maybe both.

That’s how it goes, isn’t it? You can’t give people hope. Giving hope, then snatching it away, is like tossing a lifeline to someone drowning, letting them taste fresh air, then yanking it away and watching them sink.

The suffocating ache was impossible to articulate.

They stood with their backs to each other, unable to see the turmoil twisting their expressions. One was drifting in the clouds, the other crashed to earth.

After a long, heavy silence, Daniel finally moved, turning to face her. His voice was flat: “Let’s go.”

Amelia slipped the report back into its folder, her tone tentative. “Do you need to get a shot? I’ll come with you.”

Daniel shot her a sideways glance. “What, not going to take the opportunity to mock me? That’s almost too kind—it’s not like you.”

She paused. “Are you sure you don’t need a shot? You always look pretty hilarious when you’re about to faint.”

Maybe Daniel could only handle barbs—soft words never sat right, but sarcasm, at least, went down smooth.

The car ride home was quiet; neither spoke. Daniel seemed lost in thought, somewhere far away. After a while, Amelia broke the silence. “Drop me off at the café. I’ll drive myself home from there.”

As she stepped out, she paused, hand on the car door, and looked back. “Can we make a decision in the next couple of weeks? Let’s not drag out the divorce. You’re tired of me, and I’m tired of you.”

Daniel turned his head slowly, studying her for a long moment before asking, “Did you ever love me?”

It was the kind of jarring question that felt like someone switching from world politics to the price of lettuce at the supermarket.

Amelia’s fingers curled against the door. She didn’t hesitate. “No.”

“Then why marry me?” He stared straight into her eyes.

She looked away. “The timing was right. We were a good match. At first, things felt new and exciting, but that faded. I don’t think that counts as love.”

She never did get a straight answer about when to go to the courthouse, but she figured the knife had gone deep enough to sever the last threads. He’d have to agree now.

After she left, Daniel leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

Amelia sat up straighter. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“It’s not me. It’s Daniel.” Grandma Edith’s voice was different than usual—heavy, with a hint of helplessness. “His gastritis is acting up, and this time it’s bad. The medicine isn’t working, and he refuses to get a shot. If he keeps this up, something serious will happen.”

Amelia was quiet for a few seconds. “Grandma, you know I can’t go.”

“I know I’m putting you in a tough spot, but…” Grandma Edith sighed. “Please, just come and talk to him. If you feel uncomfortable, you can leave right away. I promise.”

Amelia said nothing.

Grandma Edith could be dramatic sometimes, but she loved her grandson deeply. “I know you want a divorce. Just come—I’ll help you convince him.”

The mention of divorce was the carrot on the stick, and just like that, Amelia found herself being led along. She ended up going to the hospital.

The Campbell family had a private clinic—one of the best in Silkwood, with top-notch care.

As soon as she arrived, an attendant escorted her to the elevator.

The ride took her straight to the sixth floor. As Amelia stepped out, she glanced up—and her eyes landed on a delicate figure.

A woman stood ahead, dressed in a white dress with a soft yellow cardigan, long black hair cascading down her shoulders. Beneath the hem of her skirt, her legs looked impossibly slender. Even from behind, she radiated gentle warmth.

Amelia froze.

Sensing someone behind her, the woman turned, and their eyes met.

Violet.

Violet—standing tall, healthy, her legs completely healed.