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.

ruthless enough to risk

felt that her love

as the car pulled up to what had once been

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

was filled

it was being pierced by needles. Her lips turned pale from how hard she

He told the maid:

led Meryl to the

the last time you bathed? You should take better care

getting bullied in prison for years. But Myrel didn't say

herself in

her prison days still

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

from bruises and scratches to

her left foot, which throbbed with each rainstorm, reminding her of the old pain. Whenever the pain became too much, Meryl would keep telling herself that the

she came out of the shower, she slipped into the fresh clothes the maid had left, which fit her surprisingly

the bathroom door, she walked

stumbled, nearly

shot out to steady

jarring

raced as she found herself pressed against his chest, the heavy scent of nicotine wafting from