Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 337

Amelia clung tightly to Ruby as if holding a long-lost treasure, burying her face in her daughter’s neck. Her shoulders shook, and even after a long moment, she couldn’t steady her emotions.

The shop owner smiled at Daniel. “This little girl is just adorable. She walked in here all by herself, clutching a hundred-dollar bill, and said she wanted to buy apple tarts. She told me there were too many people around and insisted on staying put until her mom came to get her. You folks must have been searching for a while—her mom looked worried sick.”

Daniel thanked the owner repeatedly, then turned aside to give his assistant a few quiet instructions.

He knelt down in front of Ruby, gently brushing her soft, pale cheek. “You did great, Ruby. You’re much braver than your crybaby mom, you know that?”

Amelia pulled away, her face still flushed from crying. Now that the chaos had passed, reason crept back in, and she realized how embarrassing it was—Ruby hadn’t shed a single tear, but she, an adult, had broken down completely.

Ruby, acting far older than her years, reached up and patted her mother’s head. “Mom was just worried about me. Don’t cry, okay? I’m fine, really. I even had some chicken nuggets.”

Daniel raised his brows in surprise. “Wait, are you telling me the person who took you didn’t hurt you, actually bought you chicken nuggets, and then let you buy apple tarts?”

What kind of kidnapper does that?

“Not exactly,” Ruby replied, her words clear and steady. She explained everything that had happened, leaving out the scariest parts—she didn’t want to upset her mom any more than she already was.

When she finished, Daniel glanced at Amelia. “She’s got real potential. You should nurture that—she’s going places.”

For a moment, both Daniel and Amelia were silent, struck by the same realization: Ruby was far braver and tougher than they’d ever imagined.

Even though Ruby was back safe and sound, the whole incident was too strange to let go. They’d have to get to the bottom of it.

After they left, the shop owner started tidying up the little table Ruby had used. Just then, a man in a crisp suit walked in, handed him a check, and said, “This is to thank you for looking after the child. Please accept it.”

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