Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After Prison

Chapter 2 The Harsh Truth

Meryl's face went pale, her eyes losing their sparkle. Those hellish three years should have taught her something.

She took a deep breath, trying to control the storm of emotions inside her, her fingers curling into fists.

As the car passed under a bridge, the shifting light cast shadows on Dalton's face, highlighting his unchanged coldness. Swallowing her bitterness, Meryl asked, "Dalton... Did you pay off those people in prison, asking them to bully me?"

In prison, she had broken down many times, even thinking about ending it all.

But she couldn't let go of Dalton. She was scared he wouldn't manage without her.

She couldn't believe he could be so cruel to her.

Dalton's response was chillingly calm. "What do you expect me to say?"

Meryl froze for a moment, then a wry smile crossed her lips.

Was this his way of confirming it?

To him, she was just a jealous woman and had arranged for Lydia's kidnapping, leading to Lydia almost being assaulted.

The evidence had been plenty, leaving Meryl with no defense.

was ruthless enough to risk her

that her love of seven years were utterly

the car pulled up to what had once

detail of the house, from the major renovations to the placement of flower pots. She had even helped with the painting. She

was

Her lips turned pale from how hard she was biting them, her heart

He told the maid:

and led Meryl to

when was the

getting bullied in prison

maid away, she locked herself in the bathroom and scrubbed her skin for an

from her prison days

prison, she endured relentless abuse. Though the last month had brought

from bruises and

a deep scar on her left foot, which throbbed with each rainstorm, reminding

into the fresh clothes the maid had

as soon as she opened the bathroom door, she walked straight into

stumbled, nearly falling

hand shot out to steady her, wrapping

was jarring for both

she found herself pressed against his chest, the heavy