Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 77

“Daniel,” Amelia snapped, irritation creeping into her voice. “You didn’t use to be this shameless!”

Daniel grinned. “Are you complimenting me now? Trying to boost my confidence even higher?”

Amelia rolled her eyes, defeated.

Daniel kept a firm but gentle grip on her wrist—tight enough that she couldn’t slip away, but not enough to hurt her. “Let me drive you back to the institute. It’s raining, and it’s not safe for you to drive.”

A memory flashed through Amelia’s mind: that night she’d been in a taxi accident. She hadn’t been badly hurt, but she’d run through the rain to the hospital alone, clutching her test results as she wandered down empty, echoing corridors. That cold, lonely feeling had branded itself into her bones. She’d gotten used to holding her own umbrella, because there were too many times she’d needed him and he simply hadn’t been there.

“Amelia!” Baron’s voice called out.

Daniel’s grip loosened just enough for Amelia to yank her hand away.

“Come on, I’ll take you,” Baron said, glancing at his watch. “My driver’s already waiting.”

Amelia seized the chance to ditch Daniel, who was sticking to her like glue. “Perfect.”

Daniel’s jaw clenched in frustration. He wanted to stop her from leaving, but Baron fixed him with a steely glare. “You’re practically ancient history. Don’t try to play the devoted lover now. Heard the saying ‘belated love is worth less than weeds’? Don’t embarrass yourself.”

Daniel took the verbal punch to the gut and could only watch as Amelia slid into Baron’s car and disappeared down the street.

“No wonder she’s never cared much about her career,” he muttered bitterly to himself. “Turns out her husband’s the CEO of the Campbell Group. Guess rich wives don’t need to work.”

Baron’s sarcasm filled the car as soon as Amelia shut the door.

Amelia rubbed her nose, embarrassed. “Come on, Professor, don’t tease me. We’re divorced now. That title doesn’t apply anymore.”

Baron’s opinion of Daniel was set in stone—nothing was going to change it.

He snorted. “Tall, handsome, rich—if you left a guy with all that going for him, I can only imagine how lousy he must be in every other department. What were you thinking marrying him in the first place?”

Amelia gave a rueful smile. “People do crazy things when they’re in love. But I’ve learned my lesson. Never again.”

Grandma Edith, ever the strategist, sighed heavily. “Winning your wife back isn’t about pride. You just need the result. No one cares how you get there. Remember, a persistent man always wins the day. Don’t give up!”

Daniel thought about that fortress of a research base Amelia was hiding in and felt a wave of frustration. “Can’t exactly be persistent when I can’t even get in to see her.”

Amelia was living inside the institute, and if she refused to come out, Daniel could stage a fireworks show outside and she still wouldn’t know.

Grandma Edith hung up, then began pacing circles around her living room.

“What are you up to, ma’am?” asked Nora, the housekeeper.

“Thinking.”

As she wandered, she caught sight of the frost-laced tree branches outside the window, and suddenly, inspiration struck.

Aha! That’s it!