Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After …

Chapter 652 Recharge My Batteries

Meryl was still trying to wrap her head around why Chandler had suddenly shown up at her class reunion.

She thought, “I haven’t mentioned the venue to him, so how does he find out? At this hour, shouldn’t he be at Rachel’s bedside, caring for her?”

But then, the memory of seeing Chandler kiss Rachel earlier that day darkened her mood.

With so many eyes on them, Meryl couldn’t confront Chandler directly, but her gaze definitely held a hint of coldness.

As the party continued, Dalton felt increasingly out of place. He found a flimsy excuse to excuse himself early.

Lydia instinctively started to follow him, but he shot her a glare that made her hesitate.

Lydia bit her lip nervously as she followed behind. The moment the two of them stepped into the elevator, she quickly put on a pitiful expression.

“Dalton, what’s going on? We were just fine a minute ago. Why are you ignoring me?” she asked, her voice softening.

Because ever since Chandler had arrived, Dalton felt like everyone was looking at him as if he were the punchline of a joke. Especially after Chandler’s snide remark, he felt utterly humiliated.

All of this was Lydia’s doing. If she hadn’t meddled and stirred up trouble between him and Meryl, things might have turned out differently.

Once they were in the elevator, away from prying eyes, Dalton dropped his facade.

“Lydia, just stop following me! You’re disgusting!”

“Mom asked you to drive me home. Where do you think you’re going?” Lydia shot back, trying to regain control.

As the elevator doors opened in the garage, Dalton shoved her away.

“Why should I report my whereabouts to you? You think you’re someone important?”

He climbed into his car, refusing to even glance at her as he slammed the door and slammed his foot down on the gas, speeding off without another word.

Lydia was left standing there, feeling abandoned. She had finally managed to ease the tension with Dalton. While he didn’t love her, at least they had reached a point where they could coexist peacefully. She had hoped that once their baby was born, it would create a new bond between them. Surely, Dalton would give her some respect for the sake of their child.

Now, thanks to this reunion, everything was spiraling downward again.

Watching Dalton drive away, she felt her heart sink. It was getting late, and as a pregnant woman, she had no choice but to head back to the hotel lobby to catch a cab.

But just as Lydia turned around, she nearly collided with a man in a wheelchair.

Lydia froze, recognizing him as Felix. She didn’t know him personally, but she had heard enough about his unpredictable temperament to keep her distance.

However, as Lydia tried to pass him to get to the elevator, Felix blocked her way. As she tried to find a way around him, she found Felix blocking her path on the other side.

She thought, “What’s going on?”

“Mr. Powell, could you please move?” Lydia asked politely.

“Move?” Felix smirked, his eyes glinting with malice. “What makes you think I’ll listen to you?”

Lydia sensed the hostility in his tone and quickly assessed the situation. She had no reason to engage with him, so she decided to walk away.

But as Lydia turned, she was taken aback to find several burly bodyguards closing in around her.

Taking a couple of steps back, she felt a rush of panic. “What do you want? Felix, I’m Dalton’s wife! You can’t do this!”

Felix scoffed, his expression dripping with disdain. “Dalton? Please. Even if he saw me, he’d have to call me respectfully.”

Lydia felt a chill run down her spine at his implication.

Protectively, she cradled her belly. “If you come any closer, I’ll call the police!”

Lydia had no idea why Felix had suddenly surrounded her with so many people. Her threats held no weight in Felix’s eyes.

With a casual wave of his hand, the bodyguards lunged forward, quickly covering Lydia’s mouth and shoving her into a burlap sack.

At the reunion, the atmosphere was lively, with laughter and clinking glasses echoing around the table. People kept approaching Chandler to toast him, and he handled it all with ease, downing drink after drink without a hint of intoxication.

He made sure to give Meryl the attention she deserved, but her classmates fawned over Chandler as if he were a celebrity, eager to curry favor. Beneath the table, Chandler held Meryl’s hand tightly, their fingers intertwined. Whenever their eyes met, his gaze was filled with warmth and affection.

Despite her earlier annoyance, Meryl couldn’t help but feel a flutter in her heart. Just the way he looked at her made her irritation fade significantly.

Finally, when there was a brief lull in the chatter, Chandler leaned in with a charming smile. “Why the long face? Is the food not to your liking?”

Meryl raised an eyebrow. “How did you even know I was here?!”

Chandler smirked slightly. “Dante.”

It wasn’t hard to connect the dots. Anne had come to the reunion, so she would hand Bella over to Dante for the evening. Dante had a reputation for being a bit of a blabbermouth, so he’d spill the beans about everything.

Chandler’s deep, resonant voice whispered in her ear, “How am I doing tonight, babe? Am I making you proud?”

At reunions, it was all about comparisons. Men flaunted their wealth and status, while women showcased their designer bags and successful marriages. Chandler was giving Meryl the ultimate upgrade.

Even though he was putting on a great show, Meryl still felt a twinge of discomfort.

“You were just hugging Rachel! What are you doing here with me?”

They were close enough that her voice was barely above a whisper, meant only for his ears.

Chandler frowned, realizing for the first time that Meryl’s lack of enthusiasm tonight was due to jealousy. “When did I ever hug and kiss Rachel?” he asked with a laugh.

“I saw it with my own eyes!” Meryl shot back.

Chandler feigned innocence, a hint of hurt in his expression. “You must have seen it wrong!”

“Wrong?” Meryl narrowed her eyes. She thought, “I’ve witnessed them together at the hospital earlier—there is no way I could have misinterpreted that.”

Their quiet exchange was laden with meaning, but to the others at the table, it looked entirely different.

Anne poured herself a drink, observing the chemistry between Chandler and Meryl. It was clear to her that there was genuine affection there.

Just moments ago, Meryl had been complaining about Chandler spending time with Rachel and forgetting their anniversary. But seeing the way Chandler was with Meryl now, it was evident he hadn’t forgotten at all.

Anne knew better than anyone the struggles Meryl had faced. After all the hardships, seeing her finally happy brought Anne a sense of relief.

But alongside that relief was a pang of envy. Since her breakup with Yancey, Anne’s life had returned to a dull routine. If Yancey had been the spice in her life, now it felt bland and flavorless.

Bella was adorable, and with her baby nearing three months, maybe it was time for Anne to think about reentering the workforce. But what could she do? Before having Bella, she had been a model, and how many models were also mothers?

Still, Anne didn’t regret her choice. Though she had given up her modeling career, she had gained a beautiful baby in return.

Even though Chandler could handle his liquor well, he was starting to feel the effects after several rounds. When Meryl noticed his ears turning a shade of red, she quickly stepped in to block another toast from a classmate.

Chandler flashed a charming smile at the approaching guest.

“Sorry, my wife says I’m done for the night,” he said, wrapping an arm around Meryl and rising to bid farewell to the group.

He exchanged a few polite words, and to Meryl’s surprise, everyone stood up in response, looking a bit taken aback.

Watching Chandler navigate the social scene with such ease made her heart swell with admiration. He was smooth and attentive, effortlessly charming those around him.

As soon as they stepped out of the hotel, Chandler leaned heavily against Meryl, resting his head on her shoulder as he pulled her into a warm embrace.

“Babe, I think I’ve had one too many. I can barely stand,” he murmured, his voice low and slightly slurred.

The warmth of his breath tickled Meryl’s ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

“Give me a kiss to recharge my batteries, will you?” he added, his tone playful yet sincere.