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Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 36

“Kids?”

Daniel turned to look at her, the question catching him off guard.

He was just about to respond when the housekeeper’s voice called from the foyer, “Mr. Campbell is home.”

Ethan Campbell was well into his seventies, but he showed little sign of slowing down. Retirement wasn’t in his vocabulary—he still oversaw the company himself. As Daniel liked to put it, the man was destined to work his whole life.

Of course, Daniel only said that behind Ethan’s back. The old man was famously stern, his presence commanding enough that the younger generation always straightened up in his company.

Every time Amelia saw Ethan, she felt like a schoolgirl summoned to the principal’s office. She stood up quickly. “Grandpa.”

Of all the Campbell grandchildren, Daniel was the least intimidated by the old man. Years of childhood scoldings—and more than a few spankings—had toughened him. Now, he even had the gall to pinch Amelia’s cheek right in front of Ethan. “See how she acts around you, Grandpa? Like a mouse spotting a cat. Next time, I’m calling you ‘Little Mouse,’ Amelia.”

He didn’t stop there, either—Daniel had the nerve to tease Ethan directly. “Honestly, Grandpa, you really ought to smile more. Look how much you’ve scared my wife.”

Ethan was used to Daniel’s antics and couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Come to my study. I need a word.”

Once Ethan left, Amelia let out a sigh of relief. Seeing there was nothing else to do, she headed out to the back garden to find Grandma Edith.

The study was filled with the gentle scent of tea.

The company’s Stellar Leap project was the biggest initiative of the year, and Daniel was running it solo. Ethan hadn’t interfered, but he wanted an update and asked more questions than usual.

For all his mischief, Daniel never slacked off when it came to business. Most of the issues Ethan raised, Daniel had already anticipated and dealt with. Ethan rarely gave compliments, but there was a glimmer of satisfaction—and a trace of pride—on his usually stoic face.

“If you want to praise me, just say it, Grandpa,” Daniel grinned. “It’s good for your health, you know.”

“Violet’s back, isn’t she?”

Daniel’s hand tightened on the doorknob. “Yeah.”

Ethan absently twirled the pen in his fingers, but his words were deliberate. “The feud between the Scott and Brown families in Elm City isn’t something that gets settled easily. The Campbells might be influential, but we’re not about to get dragged into someone else’s mess for a girl who means nothing to us. You’re the only heir to the Campbell family. It’s not just your life on the line—it’s the future of all of us. Don’t forget that.”

Daniel lowered his gaze, lashes hiding whatever emotion flickered in his eyes. “I understand.”

“You’ve already gone to great lengths to protect the Scott girl. Things are where they are, so I won’t say more. But if you’re going to shield her, then keep her well out of sight. Make sure she keeps her head down, too. The Campbells have done enough by helping once—there won’t be a second time.”

“And another thing,” Ethan added, glancing at Daniel’s back, “You married Amelia as a cover, and that’s not fair to her. Only you would come up with such a reckless plan—marrying one woman to protect another. I don’t care what’s going on between you and the Scott girl. Amelia married into this family; she’s a Campbell now. Your wife is Amelia—and it’s never going to be the Scott girl.”

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