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.

enough to risk her own reputation, and she

suddenly felt that her love

car pulled up to what had once been her and Dalton's

had even helped with the painting.

the house was

turned pale from how hard she was biting them, her

He told the maid: "She's filthy.

led Meryl

wrinkled her nose and said, "Miss, when was the last time you

wasn't getting bullied in

maid away, she locked herself in the bathroom

her prison days

abuse. Though the last month

bruises and scratches to long,

The worst was a deep scar on her left foot, which throbbed with each rainstorm, reminding her of the old pain. Whenever the pain became too

shower, she slipped into the fresh

opened the bathroom door, she walked straight into

nearly

hand shot out to steady her, wrapping around her

jarring

herself pressed against his chest, the heavy scent of nicotine wafting