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.

to risk her

love

up to what had once been

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

was filled

it was being pierced by needles. Her lips turned

the maid: "She's filthy. Get

led Meryl to

the maid wrinkled her nose and said, "Miss, when was the last time you bathed? You

if she wasn't getting bullied in prison for years. But Myrel didn't say a

sending the maid away, she locked herself in the bathroom and scrubbed

prison days still

abuse. Though the

bruises and scratches to long, jagged

left foot, which throbbed with each rainstorm,

shower, she slipped into the fresh

the bathroom door, she walked straight into

stumbled, nearly

shot out to steady her, wrapping around her

jarring for both of

as she found herself pressed against his chest, the heavy scent of