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 go

glare at the guard, but

was Chandler's man, Dalton decided to let it

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

to keep his

won a hand and erupted in

over. His

clung to his arm, silently urging him to stay

ended, and it had been twenty minutes since

time to speak up. "Uncle Chandler, if you have any issues, take them

"Oh, look at you, playing the knight in shining armor. You two must have quite the thing going on!" Lydia's face flushed, but she knew better than to

someone she could afford to cross, even

cue. Tossing aside his

some great wine stashed here.

clear that Dante was trying to

not wanting to leave Lydia alone with the

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

at

couch and pointed at Lydia. "Then let your lover pour