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.

out of the window, thin wisps of smoke rising from his

Chandler before speaking, "Sir, maybe you should just tell her who you

marries you, she'll have a strong position

to respect her, and she'd be safe from

I were her, I'd consider

he

himself and wiped his

slightly.

smiled, scratching the

quickly shifted his tone. "But

blinked, puzzled. "What do

so he couldn't risk that. Chandler played with the lighter

8 PM, outside an upscale private club, Dalton and Lydia

was visibly nervous, fidgeting with her hands

being relatively low-profile, the chaos of last night's birthday

Chandler had asked to see

a fake socialite with a murky background, hardly a match for

his formidable reputation, was

a decade in the police force and then taking.

other family members

person clearly had

large,

she was a problem, Dalton might not dare to go.

grew with

Dalton's sleeve, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Dalton, I'm really scared... What if your uncle tries to split us

shoulder, his voice soothing. "Don't worry. I'm not

wide and vulnerable as she looked