Chapter 269: What Are You Doing?

Dalton’s voice was hoarse, and his eyes glistened with tears. “We were in love, Meryl. You loved me once.

“I was blind, deceived by my own judgment. But now I see my mistakes. Come back to me, let’s start over.

“I know you still have feelings for me…”

Meryl shook her head. “Dalton, you’ve had too much to drink. I’ll just take what you said tonight as drunken rambling.”

“I’m not drunk!” Dalton’s eyes reddened. “I’m completely sober, and I know exactly what I’m doing!”

The cold wind blew relentlessly, but Meryl’s heart remained calm.

She had once been foolishly in love, but now she was wide awake.

She dodged his touch, but Dalton was too strong, and Meryl couldn’t break free. She raised her hand and slapped him across the face. “Dalton, if you’re going to lose your mind, don’t drag me into it!”

“Meryl…” Dalton’s breath caught in his throat.

Meryl took a few steps back, then turned to run.

To her surprise, Dalton followed her.

“This is the Aniston Villa. Let go of me!” Meryl glared at him, her eyes filled with anger.

At that moment, a voice suddenly interrupted them. “Dalton, Meryl, what are you doing?”

Cate walked over from a short distance away.

In truth, she had noticed the two of them struggling much earlier.

She didn’t intervene right away but instead stayed hidden, listening to their conversation.

This was the first time Cate had seen her brother Dalton lower himself so much for a woman.

His arrogant brother had always looked down on women, but now he was actually begging Meryl to take him back!

Cate didn’t like Meryl, but she had an even lower opinion of Lydia.

As a fellow woman, Cate thought Lydia was too pretentious, with a poor background and an air of pettiness – hardly a match for her brother.

Now, hearing that Meryl had been wronged back then, Cate was utterly shocked.

But shock didn’t mean she agreed with Dalton’s actions.

Seeing Dalton becoming more and more unreasonable, Cate immediately stepped in and interrupted their quarrel. “Dalton, Meryl is Chandler’s wife now, and you’re begging her to take you back? If Chandler finds out, do you want to keep living?”

In the Aniston family, everyone feared Chandler.

Besides, Chandler held absolute authority in the Aniston family. If he found out that Dalton was stealing what belonged to him, not only Dalton but the entire first branch of the family would likely suffer the consequences.

Dalton’s eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions. Seizing the moment while he was distracted, Meryl quickly pulled her hand away.

“Cate, take your brother away,” she said coldly.

“Meryl! Please, don’t tell Chandler about this!” Cate rushed forward, grabbing Dalton and placing herself between him and Meryl.

Meryl’s eyes flickered with emotion.

“Meryl, Dalton is drunk and not thinking clearly. If Chandler finds out… he’ll punish him severely. He’s already been deceived by a woman like Lydia – he’s been through enough. He’s a victim too.

“Please, for the sake of the bond you used to share with my brother, let him go, Meryl. Please? Otherwise, Chandler might break his legs! I’m begging you!”

Meryl pressed her lips together, her gaze settling on Dalton’s face.

His eyes were vacant, and he looked like a man who had lost his soul.

It was the first time Meryl had seen Dalton in such a state – probably too much to drink, leaving him dazed and unclear-headed.

She agreed, realizing there was no point in arguing with a drunk.

Meryl turned and went back into the house, unaware that a dark figure nearby had been watching them closely the whole time.

Chandler stood behind a large tree, its dappled shadows casting him in complete darkness.

He was tall and imposing, a flicker of surprise glinted in his narrow eyes.

Only when he saw Dalton being helped away by Cate did Chandler finally step forward, heading toward the attic.

Inside, Meryl had already laid down.

Suddenly, the door creaked open – Chandler stepped in from outside.

A chill clung to him as he walked in, and without a word, he moved over Meryl, pressing down on her.

His fingers slid beneath her nightgown, grasping the collar and ripping it open in one swift motion.

Her chest was suddenly exposed, and Meryl let out a gasp, instinctively covering herself with her hands. “Chandler, what are you doing?”