Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After Prison

Outside the club, two burly bodyguards stood by the entrance.

Dalton was about to lead Lydia inside when the guards abruptly blocked their path with their arms.

Dalton's expression turned icy. He shot a cold glare at the guards, his voice sharp. "My uncle asked us here. What's the hold-up?"

The guards, towering and unyielding, spoke with a chill in their voices. "I need to report this inside first."

Annoyed, Dalton was about to lose his cool when Lydia gently lugged on his sleeve.

Sensing Chandler was likely trying to make things difficult for her, she gave the guards a warm, if slightly strained, smile. "It's alright if I wait here. Can you let Dalton go in?" The night air had turned sharply cold after the rain, and the draft at the club's entrance made it even worse.

Lydia, wearing a sleek satin dress, was visibly shivering, her nose reddening from the chill.

The guard was unmoved by her plea and responded firmly, "No."

Dalton's face turned stormy.

Frustrated and without a clear outlet for his anger, he watched the guard disappear into the club, leaving them out in the cold.

Finally, after more than ten minutes, the guard reappeared.

can

strode forward, casting a warning glare at the guard, but the

the guard was Chandler's man, Dalton decided to

room, Chandler was deep into a card game with Dante and a few others. He didn't even glance up when

keep his tone

hand and erupted in

frustration boiled over. His

his arm, silently urging him to stay

had just ended, and it

have any issues, take them up with me. Don't make

Chandler could reply, Dante's voice rang out with a mocking edge. "Oh, look at you, playing the knight in shining armor. You two must have quite the thing going on!"

Paltrow family was not someone she could afford to cross, even without the added complication of

on the couch, and Dante quickly caught the cue. Tossing aside his cards, he wrapped an arm around Dalton's

I heard you've got some great wine stashed here. Let's

that Dante

not wanting to leave Lydia alone with the

"Mr. Paltrow, how about this? I'll have the wine brought here so we can enjoy it in the

over at Chandler.

and pointed at