Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After Prison

Chapter 7 Falling Apart

When Dalton saw Meryl show her scar to everyone, a strange feeling stirred inside him.

Seeing her act like she didn't care about him anymore broke his heart.

For years, Meryl had devoted herself to him, loving him without conditions.

He had gotten used to it, taking her love for granted.

"Meryl, please stop. If it means that much to you, I'll give you my position." Lydia's hands shook as she covered her head.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have stayed with the Stone family. I should have died the day I was kidnapped three years ago."

"But your suffering in prison has nothing to do with me or our parents. Prison is full of bad people. You were bullied because you ended up there."

Tears filled Lydia's eyes, but she held them back.

saved me. I would

washed her hands of any responsibility for Meryl's

"People who really want to die don't just talk

"Meryl!"

tense as he shielded Lydia, patting her hand reassuringly before turning to Meryl. "I told you to behave. Do you realize the consequences of your actions today?" Meryl's lips twisted into

bared her deepest wound, and to him, it was

to stand by me? Dalton, how can you defend another woman in front

made everyone

had

past three years, rumors had been

on a project, Stone Group's proposals seemed to pop up everywhere, with Lydia handling most of

weren't unusual, but the frequency with which

gave it too much thought. High society valued appearances and dismissed any scandal as too outrageous to

people start connecting the

Lydia, though it sounded like a plot twist

rich, gossip was common, but fresh, juicy gossip about the