Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 4

This time, he replied quickly: [What is it? Just say it.]

Amelia stared at the screen, silent.-

She had to admit, after two years of marriage, they knew each other far too well. The moment her expression shifted, Daniel picked up on it—he always did when something was up.

Amelia: [My dad’s in Silkwood. He wants to have dinner with us tonight.]

Daniel: [Okay, I’ll come by after work.]

That afternoon, Amelia drove to the train station to pick up her dad.

She’d reserved a table at a cozy bistro near Daniel’s office so it would be convenient for him to join them.

After parking, she was about to send Daniel the address when his message arrived first.

[Something came up at work, tell your dad I’m sorry.]

What’s his excuse this time? He’d already promised he’d come.

Why does he always back out of things he’s agreed to?

Amelia’s lashes swept down, hiding the dejection in her eyes as she realized Boris had already gotten out of the car. Quickly, she pulled herself together and followed.

“Dad, Daniel’s got to work late. He can’t make it to dinner tonight. He asked me to apologize to you,” she said.

“Work’s important,” Boris replied, unfazed. “Just remind him, no matter how busy things get, he still needs to take care of himself.”

It had been over half a year since they’d last seen each other, but they never had much to talk about. When Mrs. Lilian Turner was alive, she’d managed to smooth over the awkward silences; since cancer had taken her, there was no one left to break the ice. The meal felt cold and empty.

After they finished eating, Boris stood and excused himself to go to the restroom.

As he walked down the hall, he overheard a familiar voice coming from one of the private dining rooms.

He paused, glancing through the door left slightly ajar. Inside, Daniel sat with his arm resting casually on the back of a chair—occupied by a woman with jet-black hair. They were sitting close, their body language intimate.

Amelia was out in the hallway as well, picking up a fruit order she’d placed for her father. The delivery guy couldn’t find their room, so she’d stepped out to meet him.

She noticed her father standing motionless and started to approach, but then caught sight—out of the corner of her eye—of Daniel and the woman in the private room, unmistakably close.

Her whole body went rigid.

Boris turned and saw her. Their eyes met. In that moment, Amelia felt as if she’d been slapped in the face—her cheeks burning with shame.

Back in the car, her tears came without warning—rushing out in a torrent she couldn’t control.

It was a strange thing, tears. She could hold them back when she was in pain, when she was exhausted, but let her feel humiliated, and they betrayed her every time.

She lay against the steering wheel, sobbing for what felt like forever, until her reflection in the mirror showed two swollen, red eyes.

Wiping her face, Amelia stared out the window and thought of the three-year classified project at work.

Her mentor, Baron, had always valued her—had often told her he hoped she would devote herself fully to the defense project. But Amelia had always hesitated.

She wasn’t ambitious. All she’d ever wanted was a peaceful, happy life with the person she loved, and who loved her back.

But with Violet’s return, Amelia was forced to admit that the happiness she’d clung to was nothing more than a mirage—shatteringly fragile.

She glanced at the calendar on her phone. Twenty-seven days left until the team selection was finalized.

Twenty-seven days...

She couldn’t help wondering: was there really any point in holding on?