Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 5

Amelia hadn’t expected the kind of man who’d have dinner with his first love to come home that night. So when Daniel walked through the door, it caught her off guard—a surprise edged with bitter irony.

“Have you been crying?”

Even in the dim light, he noticed her swollen eyes right away.

Amelia turned away, then, not satisfied, pulled the comforter over her head so she wouldn’t have to see him at all.

“If you suffocate under there, am I supposed to find myself a new wife?” Daniel sat on the bed, tugging at the blanket covering her.

Amelia abruptly let go, flinging the covers aside and sitting up. “So you do remember I’m your wife after all.”

Her anger rolled right off him—he didn’t even try to defend himself. His attention was fixed on her red-rimmed eyes. He reached a hand to gently tilt her chin, but as soon as his fingers brushed her skin, she slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me!”

Like a hissing kitten, he thought.

A hissing kitten with puffy eyes—oddly adorable.

A faint smile touched Daniel’s eyes as he ruffled her hair. “Did you have an explosive dinner with Dad tonight or something?”

The more casual and unfazed he acted, the more ridiculous her anger seemed in comparison. Fuming, Amelia grabbed the tissue box from the nightstand.

Daniel’s brow twitched. He caught her wrist before she could throw it. “Again?”

He leaned in close, his handsome face just inches from hers, and pointed to his forehead. “You already gave me a lump the size of a golf ball last time. I had at least ten people ask me today who punched me. Am I supposed to have no pride?”

The bruise was hard to miss, an ugly swelling right in the middle of his forehead.

Amelia stared at the bump and ground out her reply, her voice tight. “You. Deserved. It.”

“Yeah, yeah, I deserved it. I deserved to end up with a feisty little hellcat for a wife.”

Daniel’s breezy attitude left Amelia spluttering, her anger stuck in her throat.

He picked her up and set her on his lap, his thumb gently brushing the reddish corners of her eyes. “Why is my kitten crying?”

Amelia hated how easy it was for him. Just a hint of tenderness and her resolve crumbled. She despised how weak she was for him.

Now, there was only empty space beside her, and her feet were freezing.

Pathetically, Amelia found herself wishing Violet wouldn’t come back.

The thought made her feel even worse about herself.

That afternoon, Amelia packed a few outfits and headed to the university’s research center.

The school gave everyone on the research team a single room to help them focus on their work.

Amelia stayed at the center for two days, never reaching out to Daniel.

The truly pathetic part? He didn’t contact her, either.

He probably hadn’t even been home—probably had no idea she’d moved out.

That afternoon, Amelia was reviewing a set of guidance system specs when a senior colleague knocked on her door with a message: the dean wanted her to greet an important visitor.