Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After Prison

Chapter 17 Knowing Her Well

Meryl lowered her eyes and said firmly, "I won't marry him."

In her most helpless moments, Dalton had once been a beacon of hope, a light that brightened her life.

Because of that, she had believed in him all these years.

No matter how many times he hurt her, just recalling the scarf he threw to her outside the bathroom that day would make her forgive him.

She had kept compromising, forgetting that people could change and that light could shine on someone else.

Anne sighed with relief. "I'm glad you see it now. You were too fixated on him before."

She gently touched the scar on Meryl's ankle, her voice filled with guilt. "I'm sorry, Meryl. I couldn't protect you." Meryl shook her head.

During that time, the Blanchett family was in chaos, and Anne had broken her leg in a performance accident. She had her own troubles, and Meryl understood.

They got so absorbed in their conversation that Walter quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.

He headed to the parking lot where Chandler was sitting in the car, smoking.

Seeing Walter approach, Chandler raised an eyebrow. "How did it go?"

"Ms. Stone was pretty surprised. Doesn't seem like she's up for a quick marriage," Walter said honestly.

Chandler stretched his legs, leaning back in his seat with a slight smile. "I figured as much."

He knew Meryl wouldn't agree to something so sudden without a strong reason.

This thought deepened his gaze.

arm out of the window, thin wisps of smoke rising

"Sir, maybe you should

uncle. If she marries you, she'll have a strong position in

would have to respect her, and she'd be safe

tempting offer. If I were her, I'd

excited as he spoke, almost

himself

slightly. "Interesting

scratching the back of

Chandler quickly shifted his tone. "But

"What do you

so he couldn't risk that. Chandler played with the lighter in his hand, thin

upscale private club, Dalton and

visibly nervous, fidgeting with her

low-profile, the chaos of last night's birthday party had

was anxious, worried that Chandler had asked to see her to break her and

murky background, hardly a match for someone from such a prestigious

his formidable reputation, was

spent a decade in the police force and then taking. control

power player, sidelining other family members and consolidating

clearly

family was a large, distinguished

decided she was a problem, Dalton might not dare

grew with

with unshed tears. "Dalton, I'm really

shoulder, his voice soothing.

vulnerable as