Chapter 113 Indifference
Chandler kept his gaze fixed ahead, holding a piece of tissue in his hand, walking at a moderate pace. He raised his hand and gently wiped the water stains on his palm. Those hands were strong. As the tissue grazed the back of his hands, his entire demeanor radiated an air of aloofness and nobility.
Meryl was stunned, and the moment she saw Chandler, her face became a canvas of surprise. “Chandler is here, too? It makes sense. Chandler and Dante are friends. Since Dante was here, Chandler is naturally here too,” she thought. Meryl’s gaze remained fixed on him.
Seeing Chandler seated not far away, she stood up and readied herself to approach him.
“Meryl! What are you doing!”
Realizing she was about to leave, Dalton subconsciously tightened his grip on the cup in his hand and stood up.
Dalton clearly saw that as soon as Chandler appeared, Meryl’s attention was no longer on him. Even though he was sitting next to her, Meryl ignored him as if she was bewitched by Chandler. A somber expression crossed Dalton’s face. He had always doubted the sincerity of Meryl’s public declaration of love for Chandler, considering it to be nothing more than a facade. But now, Meryl’s reaction at this moment inexplicably gave him a hunch that Meryl really didn’t love him anymore.
As Meryl walked past him, Dalton felt an instinctive urge to reach out and grab hold of her, but to his dismay, he caught nothing. Meryl continued walking without even casting a glance in his direction, let alone turning her head towards him. A wave of pain washed over Dalton, causing his expression to darken with gloom.
Meryl approached Chandler and took a seat beside him in plain sight. Everyone immediately exchanged glances secretly. They thought, “How brave! She actually dared to sit beside Chandler. It seems those rumors from before about her boldly kissing him in public were true.”
Chandler didn’t react much to Meryl’s approach. He closed his eyes gently, as if he was drunk, while one hand rested on his temple. He showed no intention of talking to her.
Meryl cast a quick glance at the table before her, where a partially eaten birthday cake sat, most of which had been consumed. Additionally, she noticed several fingerprints on the cake, obviously showing that someone had wiped it. “Is someone having a birthday today?” she thought.
Just then, someone approached Chandler with a wine glass in hand and raised a toast, saying, “Chandler, happy birthday.”
Chandler opened his eyes and waved his hand gently. Lifting his wine glass, he clinked it with the man but didn’t drink. The toasting man drank the wine in one gulp. He then turned the glass upside down, shook it, and said, “Be my guest.”
“So it’s Chandler’s birthday?” Meryl thought, stunned.
Brycen emptied his drink, yet he didn’t intend to leave. He looked at Meryl and teased, “Come on, Chandler. She’s right here, sitting next to you. Talk to her. You’ve been single for 29 years, and now a girl dares to approach you. Don’t be too distant or you might scare her off.”
Chandler turned his head, glanced at Meryl indifferently, and said nothing.
At this time, Dalton also came over. Seeing Meryl and Chandler sitting close together, Dalton paused momentarily. He felt relieved when he noticed that Chandler didn’t even spare a glance at her.
“Uncle Chandler, I heard it’s your birthday today?” Dalton retracted his gaze, picked up the red wine, and filled his glass. “I’ve been busy preparing for the wedding these past couple of days, completely forgetting about your birthday. I’ll make it up to you with a birthday gift later.”
Chandler glanced at him and replied nonchalantly, “Yeah.”
Dalton didn’t plan to leave. Instead, he taunted Meryl, “Oh, so you no longer want a gigolo to accompany you now, and you’re pestering my uncle instead?”