Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 27

“So you’re saying I staged this whole thing just to hurt myself?!” Violet shrieked, cutting her off. “Why would I do that? I’ve got nothing against her—why would I even bother? If anyone should have a grudge, it’s her. I took her thesis, not the other way around! She’s the one who hates me, not the other way around!”

The lights in the private room were dim, casting half of Daniel’s face into shadow, making his expression unreadable.

Amelia ignored Violet, her gaze fixed on Daniel. “Don’t be so quick to draw conclusions. Go investigate. If you find out I’m wrong, I’ll keep my mouth shut. I promise.”

Mogan patted Violet’s shoulder, signaling for her to calm down, and then glanced meaningfully at Amelia. “We have witness statements and testimony. There’s really nothing left to investigate. Amelia, you’re being awfully aggressive about this.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Violet suddenly snapped. She grabbed the fruit bowl from the coffee table, smashed it to pieces, and pressed a jagged shard of glass to her own throat. “Amelia, I know you despise me! In your eyes, I’m just a manipulative witch. Fine. Let me show you just how ruthless I can be—”

Mogan lunged and snatched the glass from her, but not before it sliced into Violet’s skin. Blood welled up instantly.

“Daniel!” Mogan shouted.

Daniel hurried over, pressing his hands against Violet’s neck to stop the bleeding.

Amelia was still frozen, when suddenly she felt someone push past her. It was Ella—she shoved Amelia aside, snatched another shard from the floor, and raised it toward herself.

“I didn’t do it! I’d rather die than admit something I didn’t do!”

Amelia’s heart leapt into her throat. “Ella!”

Luckily, Amelia was close by, and Ella’s shaking hands made her slow. Amelia tackled her, wrenching the shard away and tossing it aside.

“Only an idiot would hurt herself just to prove she’s innocent!”

Ella stared up at her, stunned. Then she collapsed to the floor, limp as a rag doll, all the fight drained out of her.

The room was quiet again, like the calm after a storm.

Mogan reminded Daniel, “She’s still bleeding.”

Amelia could tell they were about to leave. She crouched on the floor, looking up at Daniel, her eyes dim but holding a faint, desperate hope. “So that’s it? You’re really not going to look into it?”

Daniel didn’t meet her gaze, his voice cold. “There’s nothing left to investigate.”

With that, he turned his wheelchair and headed for the door.

“Daniel,” Amelia called out softly, one last time.

He paused, but didn’t turn back.

“No need. I’ll pick some up myself in a bit.” Amelia smiled. “Go on—get back to the dorm before the housekeeper starts nagging.”

Ella got out, waving at her through the window.

Amelia rolled the window down, smiled back, and only drove away after she saw Ella disappear into the dormitory building.

It was a small cut, really. Some antiseptic and a bandage, and it would heal in a few days.

Physical wounds fade with time. The ones inside your heart don’t.

That feeling crept back in—hard to name, harder to bear.

Almost on impulse, Amelia pressed down on the bandage. Pain shot through her palm, sharp and real. Suddenly, she let out a soft, bitter laugh.

Why cling to something you’ll never have? For people who aren’t loved, isn’t this always the way?

She scrolled through her contacts, found the number for the divorce attorney she’d saved a while ago, and dialed.

“Mr. Harper, I’d like to talk to you about getting a divorce.”