Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 437

Daniel leaned back, startled by Amelia’s sudden intensity.

…He hadn’t even said much—why was she reacting like this?

A thought struck him. Was it because he’d criticized Robert? Was Amelia angry at him for badmouthing Robert, and now taking it out on him?

Daniel’s expression chilled. “I’m just being honest and objective. Why are you so worked up?”

Amelia felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. Why bother arguing? No matter how heated her words, what difference did it make? She was the one who’d chosen to have this child. The fault wasn’t in the donor—it was in her own choice.

She reached for her utensils, but Daniel, still fuming, nevertheless caught her hand and swapped out her fork and knife for a clean set. “Don’t bother defending Ruby’s father in front of me. It’s bad enough I already look like a fool; don’t make it worse.”

Amelia didn’t answer. Her throat felt blocked, as if the dinner roll she’d just bitten into was stuck halfway, dry and heavy, making its way from her throat to her chest.

Daniel’s phone buzzed. He stepped outside to take the call, and when he returned, he didn’t sit down. Instead, he lingered near the table, watching her eat.

He was clearly distracted. Amelia said, “I’ll be done soon. You can go.”

“I’ll wait till you finish.”

She stuffed the rest of the roll in her mouth, cheeks puffed out, and mumbled, “I’m done. You can go.”

With her face bulged like a chipmunk, Daniel couldn’t help but chuckle. He ruffled her hair. “I’ll come by when I’m finished with work.”

“There’s no need,” Amelia said flatly.

Daniel, as usual, ignored her brush-off. “There’s a lot going on with this international project. Once things settle down, I’ll make it up to you and Ruby.”

He left the hospital and got in his car. “Take me to St. Mary’s,” he told the driver.

The call had been from Eunice. Her son was about to go into surgery, and she’d called specifically to thank Daniel. She was so overwhelmed with gratitude, she could barely speak, her voice trembling with tears as she repeated her thanks over and over.

On his way to the office, Daniel stopped by St. Mary’s. He wanted to check in; after this, he’d have done what he could for Rose and could put the matter to rest.

Eunice hung up, wiped her eyes, and followed her son’s hospital bed as the nurses wheeled him toward the operating room.

At that very moment, on the other side of the hospital, a nurse rushed into the lounge to find Amelia. “Your daughter’s thrown up again. Come quickly!”

Amelia shot to her feet, accidentally knocking over the thermos and spilling soup all over the table.

…

Ruby had already vomited everything she could the day before. Other than a little water, she hadn’t kept anything down; now there was nothing left to throw up but yellow bile.

She rarely cried—at least, not in the hospital. But now, she was so miserable that tears streamed down her cheeks.

Amelia gathered Ruby gently in her arms, her heart twisting with pain.

Mr. Martinez entered with two other physicians from internal medicine for a joint consultation. Once Ruby was stable, he asked to speak with Amelia alone in his office.

Numb with worry, Amelia nearly stumbled walking in.

Mr. Martinez caught her. “Take a breath. It’s not as bad as you think.”

How could she possibly not worry? Ruby was only getting worse, and being surrounded by three doctors felt like having three curved blades pressed to her throat, ready to cut at any moment.

“Today we’ll run a full series of tests,” Mr. Martinez said gently. “It’s time to work out a chemotherapy plan.”

Ruby, perceptive beyond her years, asked calmly, “Are you talking about chemotherapy?”

She wasn’t as devastated as Amelia had feared. She accepted it as if she’d simply been told there was no roast chicken today, just regular baked chicken instead.

Mr. Martinez glanced at Amelia, his eyes saying, See? Ruby’s tougher than you think.

He smiled. “Yes, chemo. But it’s not as scary as it sounds, Ruby. You don’t need to be afraid.”

Ruby nodded, docile as a porcelain doll, then suddenly looked up. “Mr. Martinez, before chemo starts, can I go out with Mom?”

“Go out?”

“I want to visit the Natural History Museum. Is that okay?” Her eyes shone, full of hope.

Mr. Martinez melted. “The treatment plan should be ready in about a week. If you’re feeling up to it and your condition allows, you can go.”

Ruby beamed, her smile bright as sunlight.

Amelia walked Mr. Martinez out of the room. “Thank you.”

When Amelia returned, she found Ruby with a bit more appetite, sipping on her soup again.

Amelia took the thermos from the nurse and sat at Ruby’s bedside, feeding her spoonful by careful spoonful.

When Ruby had nearly finished, Amelia asked softly, “When did you find out?”