Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 409

Ruby blinked sleepily and saw Amelia sitting at the edge of the bed. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up. “Mom, Grandma said you had something to do. You’re back so early?”

“I missed you, sweetheart, so I hurried home,” Amelia replied, smoothing Ruby’s tousled hair. “Come on, let’s get you washed up.”

Breakfast passed quietly with just the two of them. Amelia didn’t want to disturb her mother-in-law, hoping to slip out unseen. But that morning, Grandma Edith was up much earlier than usual. The first thing she did was peek into Ruby’s room—only to find the bed empty. When she came downstairs, there were two suitcases standing by the sofa.

“You’re leaving?” Grandma Edith looked as though she’d been struck by lightning. She plopped down on the nearest suitcase, crossing her arms with dramatic defiance. “You can’t go! You’ve only just moved in—I’m not ready to let you leave!”

Amelia ran her hand gently through the old woman’s silvery hair, speaking in the soothing tone she’d use with a child. “It’s not like we’re moving to the ends of the earth. We’re just going back to Elm Estates. If you miss us, you can come visit anytime.”

But Grandma Edith clung to the suitcase handle, refusing to let go. “No way. I want to live with you both.”

Amelia knew her mother-in-law could be a handful; she’d hoped a quiet exit would spare them a scene, but luck wasn’t on her side.

She didn’t push it, deciding to wait out the old lady’s little tantrum before having a real conversation.

Seeing that Amelia wasn’t budging, Grandma Edith tried her luck with Ruby instead. “Ruby, you’ll miss Grandma if you leave, won’t you? Why don’t you stay here with me?”

Ruby pressed her lips together.

She really did love her grandparents, and the old house was wonderful—full of flowers, trees, a sparkling pool, and a gaggle of playful kittens and puppies. But all those things paled in comparison to her love for her mom.

She shuffled closer to Amelia, saying nothing, but her choice was clear.

The scene played out like one of those impossible questions—Mom or Dad? But Grandma Edith quickly realized this wasn’t a custody battle. Amelia had all the cards.

“Fine, I’ll move with you to Elm Estates.” Grandma Edith waved at Nora, the housekeeper. “Start packing. Chop-chop, let’s not make Ruby late for preschool.”

“…”

Amelia barely had time to figure out how to stop her when a plaintive, old voice floated in from the hallway. “You’re leaving me behind again?”

Her vocabulary was so extensive, she could probably moonlight as a professional arguer.

She berated him with a heavy sigh. “You’ve got the nerve to eat breakfast? Your wife’s left you—again!”

Daniel knew Amelia had come back to the old house, but he hadn’t realized she’d quietly moved out that morning. He threw off the covers and got out of bed, feeling a wave of dizziness.

His assistant arrived with breakfast and a document for him to sign, pausing when he noticed Daniel’s flushed face and oddly red lips. “Mr. Campbell, are you running a fever? Should I call the doctor?”

Daniel waved him off. “No need. Just take me to Elm Estates.”

A row of question marks might as well have appeared over the assistant’s head.

Running a fever and yet asking for his wife instead of a doctor? Did Mrs. Campbell have some kind of miracle cure?