Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 42

A biting wind swept through, shaking the last brittle leaves from the trees. Bare branches, already stripped of life, shuddered in the cold, their bleakness impossible to miss.

Amelia curled her fingers deeper into her coat pockets and rubbed at her nose, which the wind had turned a bright red.

It’s freezing. Why is it so cold, but there’s still no snow? By this time last year, it had already started.

Maybe the lack of snow had sapped her desire for a walk. She turned back, retracing her steps.

Back at the hospital room, Mr. Boris Turner was just waking from a nap. He noticed Amelia’s red eyes and the tip of her nose but didn’t ask any questions. “It’s freezing out. You should stay inside,” he said, assuming the cold wind was all that troubled her. Maybe it was, in part.

Amelia settled into the chair beside his bed, her voice soft and even, betraying nothing. “Dad, I spoke with the doctor earlier. You’ll be able to go home in a couple of days.”

She paused, then added, “Daniel probably isn’t coming by.”

“I thought you said he’d be back tomorrow?” Boris remembered her mentioning it.

“I’m not sure anymore.” She stared at her hands. “Whenever he comes back—if he does—it doesn’t matter now.”

The man who was supposed to return tomorrow had shown up at Silkwood Hospital today.

Had he really gone to Sunland as he claimed, or not?

Amelia suddenly felt as if she were trapped in a dream woven from lies.

All those supposed business trips—how many were real? How many were just convenient stories? Maybe after ending a saccharine video call with her, he’d turn around and spend the evening with Violet.

Violet had been overseas for so long, and Daniel had made all those trips abroad. A grand love story played out across continents—how touching.

Boris was a reserved man, but not unperceptive. He understood perfectly well, and though a thousand thoughts spun through his mind, he simply sighed and said, “Whatever you decide, your father will stand by you.”

Amelia managed a smile, though her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Daniel barely reacted, glancing at his phone with growing frustration before holding out his hand to Charles. “Let me borrow your phone.”

Charles didn’t move. He’d already noticed the string of unanswered calls on Daniel’s screen. “Even if you use mine, she probably won’t pick up.”

Daniel hadn’t slept a wink all night. Now, exhaustion and irritation wrestled inside him, leaving him restless and discontent.

His thoughts kept circling back. “Have you seen Amelia lately?” he asked.

Charles squeezed his phone in his pocket. “No.”

Just then, Violet emerged from the examination room and Mogan called for Daniel. He loosened his collar and strode over, frustration heavy in his steps.

Violet’s leg wasn’t healing well; the weather had made things worse. She’d need to stay in the hospital for a while.