Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After Prison

Chapter 10 Dalton's Uncle

After Meryl left, the mood in the Stone Villa turned awkward.

She had been the one pushing for the engagement with Dalton, and now she was suddenly calling it off.

The family exchanged confused looks, shocked by the sudden change. No one could believe that Meryl, usually so easygoing, left without even looking at Dalton.

Breaking the silence, Lydia tried to calm her parents. "Mom, Dad, please, don't be mad. Meryl's been through a lot in prison. She's confused and upset. She's not thinking straight..." "Confused? She's 24!" Malcolm fumed, slamming his fist on the table.

"She's old enough to know what she's doing! Does she think she can just call off the engagement on a whim? What will people think? That there's something between you and Dalton? "So inconsiderate!"

Lydia bowed her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "If it makes Meryl happy, I can take the blame. I don't care about the gossip."

Bianca, feeling a pang of sympathy, rubbed her shoulder gently. "Your reputation matters. If you marry Dalton now, what will people say?"

Lydia bit her lip, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.

She glanced at Dalton, who sat silently on the sofa, a cigarette between his fingers, his expression unreadable through the smoke. Something was off about him.

Feeling a rising anxiety, Lydia was about to speak to him when he abruptly stubbed out his cigarette and stood up.

"I'm leaving."

Bianca exchanged worried looks and

"It's raining. Let me walk you

of earshot, Malcolm's worry spilled. over. "Do you think Dalton will call off the engagement? He looked

and many would kill to

was an important

publicly jilted was a huge blow

Chapter 10 Dalton's Uncle

has always been headstrong. But she's always come

Young people fight and make up. She'll realize

about

the years, they had all seen how deeply Meryl

Dalton.

prison, she never missed a week writing to

up together and shared seven years of memories. Feelings

and Bianca convinced themselves she

door and reached up to straighten

filled with

she said, tears

compete with her for you, but