Chapter 300: Didn't Have the Right
Meryl had a slender waist, and since she was friends with Anne, she often accompanied her to dance classes during their school years to practice the basics. Thanks to this, she had impressive flexibility and a graceful figure that stood out among her peers.
When Dalton first met Meryl, she was going through her teenage years. Occasionally, during study sessions, the boys in the back would chat, and Meryl’s name was often mentioned. Their conversations usually revolved around which girl was the prettiest or the purest. Whenever Meryl was brought up, they couldn’t help but praise her long, straight legs. Her physique perfectly matched the typical male aesthetic—though she was thin, she wasn’t lacking in all the right places.
At that time, Dalton didn’t know who Meryl was and hadn’t saved her yet. The only thing he remembered was that there was a girl with exceptionally slender legs and eyes so clean and clear that they seemed to cleanse the soul with just one glance.
It wasn’t until that night in the restroom when Dalton saved Meryl that he finally connected her name with her face. It was an instant, unforgettable connection. From that moment on, Meryl haunted Dalton’s dreams for a whole month. The adolescent fantasies were intense and left him red-faced. Each morning, he woke up to find the sheets and bedclothes damp with the evidence of his dreams.
Dalton had to admit that he felt a worldly desire for Meryl a long time ago. During the seven years Meryl pursued him, Dalton never acted on those feelings. Partly because her eyes were so pure, he always felt that pursuing her further would be like desecrating something sacred. Partly because he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He was reluctant, plain and simple.
But with Lydia, Dalton never had those reservations. Their first time together was just a month after Meryl was imprisoned. That night, Lydia called him, crying on the phone, describing how every time she closed her eyes, she saw those thugs trying to assault her and asking if he would reject her. Dalton comforted Lydia for a while, and they ended up drinking together. Dalton had a decent tolerance for alcohol, but that night, just half a glass was enough to knock him out cold. When he woke up, he found himself in a hotel bed with Lydia.
Lydia’s first words to him were, “Dalton, I knew you had feelings for me too. Last night…”
On the white sheets, there was a dark red stain. Lydia said it was her first time. It was also Dalton’s first time, although he had no clear memory of what happened. The events of that night felt like they had been erased from his mind, leaving only a vague impression. However, the evidence was right there on the sheets. Dalton couldn’t just pretend nothing had happened because he couldn’t remember it.
Before that night, Dalton had no particular feelings for Lydia. Everything changed because of the drunken encounter.
Hearing that Meryl was satisfied with Chandler in bed made Dalton feel as if a part of him had been hollowed out. It left him feeling empty and uncomfortable. Dalton wanted to argue that he wasn’t lacking, but he suddenly realized he didn’t even have the right to say that to Meryl.