Chapter 154 Boldness

Meryl sometimes wondered, “If only Anne hadn’t fallen ill on the day she was supposed to confess her feelings to Dante five years ago, maybe Lola would never have taken her place. But life is full of 'what ifs,' isn’t it? Maybe some people are simply meant to part ways from the start. Just like me and Dalton. I chased him for seven years, and look where it got me.”

“Mrs. Aniston.”

Chandler’s voice cut through Meryl’s thoughts, his brow furrowed. “Are you thinking about another man again?”

Meryl looked up at Chandler, about to respond, but he had already seized her wrist and was pulling her into the car.

In the backseat, Meryl was pressed against the seat, watching as Chandler’s handsome face drew closer. The door slammed shut with a thud, sealing them in the tight, enclosed space. Her heart raced wildly as Chandler began to undress her right away.

“What… what are you doing?” Meryl was stunned, instinctively trying to move back. Her back met the hard door, leaving her nowhere to retreat.

“Take off your pants,” Chandler commanded in a low, firm voice.

Meryl’s eyes widened in shock. She thought, “Chandler can’t be thinking of having sex in the car, can he?” Her cheeks flushed bright red, and her body tensed. She mused, “Although the parking lot is mostly empty at this hour, it is still a public place. Isn’t this a bit too daring?”

Before she could fully process her thoughts, Chandler gently pulled her into his embrace. Her breathing grew heavy. As he noticed her nervousness, Chandler’s gaze turned into a half-smile, his fingers trailing along her waist, sending an electric shiver through her. He tightened his grasp around her, his eyes filled with a deep concern.

“Why didn’t you say anything about your injury?”

Meryl was taken aback. She thought, “Is Chandler undressing me to check my injury? How does he even know I’m hurt? I don’t even know myself.”

Chandler guided her to lean against him. Her lower back was covered with a large bruise from where she’d hit a curb stone. Chandler’s fingers gently brushed over the tender spot, his concern palpable.

“Let me take you to a doctor, okay?” His tone was gentle.

Meryl shook her head softly. “It’s just a bruise. It’s no big deal. A bit of ointment is all I need. There’s no need for a doctor.”

Chandler wore a teasing smile. “Why is your face so red? Did you think I was going to do something else?”

Meryl felt quite embarrassed, thinking, “Oh, even if you know, don’t make it so obvious!”

“I wasn’t planning on doing anything just now, but now…” Chandler swallowed hard, his gaze filled with a greedy hunger. The car was shrouded in darkness, with only the moonlight illuminating their faces. Chandler’s unfinished sentence was fraught with tantalizing possibilities.

She thought, “What is he thinking of doing?”

Chandler’s warm breath brushed against Meryl’s face as he locked his intense eyes on hers. Meryl found herself lying across his lap, her neck resting on his arm. Chandler lifted her clothing, caressing her injured waist with a mix of boldness and tenderness. The fiery, tingling sensation from her lower back made Meryl’s breath hitch, her mind drifting back to hours earlier when Chandler had pinned her to the bed, their bodies entwined in a fierce embrace.