Chapter 345 I Told Him

News from the police came through after two long days of interrogation: Rocky had changed his story.

He flatly denied any collusion with Lydia and refused to admit he had taken any money from her.

Unfortunately for John, all the evidence he had recorded in the villa had mysteriously vanished.

Meryl rested her chin on her hand, gazing out the window.

She thought, “If only Dalton would come forward to testify…. But once he found out Lydia had been with Rocky, he wouldn’t just sit back and take it. Yet, it’s been days, and there’s been no word from him.

Maybe, since Lydia’s pregnancy is safe, Dalton has softened. After all, they’re still married, and old feelings can’t just disappear.”

Lost in her thoughts about the baby, Meryl picked up her phone and called Anne.

“Hey, Anne, how’s the baby doing?”

Chandler, just stepping out of the bathroom with a towel in hand, paused mid-stride.

He strained to listen, but Meryl was clearly keeping her voice low, making it hard to catch what she was saying.

Chandler opened the bathroom door and stepped out.

Seeing him, Meryl quickly wrapped up her conversation with Anne and hung up, smiling, “Wow, you’re done already?”

Chandler couldn’t shake the feeling that something was being kept from him.

“I’m all set. You should hurry too; we still need to head to the Aniston Villa.”

Meryl nodded as she walked toward the bathroom.

Chandler, holding his phone, stepped out onto the balcony and dialed Dante’s number.

After three rings, Dante picked up, his voice heavy and tinged with despair. “What’s up?”

“What’s the situation with you and Anne?” Chandler asked.

Dante fell silent, staring at the divorce papers he had just signed. He had given in, ready to let Anne go and free himself in the process.

“We’re divorced,” Dante said, lips pressed together.

“Did you get the divorce certificate?” Chandler frowned.

“Not yet. I’ll pick it up this afternoon,” Dante replied.

“Maybe the baby is still there,” Chandler added.

Dante froze for a moment, then realized what Chandler meant. “Who are you talking about? Anne?”

Chandler said, “Yeah, I overheard Meryl talking to Anne on the phone.”

Before Chandler could finish, Dante bolted out the door.

The sound of the door slamming echoed on the phone, and Chandler shook his head in resignation.

“Thanks, Chandler,” Dante said hurriedly, still clutching the phone.

“Sure,” Chandler replied, knowing he was risking Meryl’s wrath by sharing this news. But Dante had been in such a dark place lately that it felt right to lend a hand.

After hanging up, Dante raced toward Anne’s place, while Chandler tightened his grip on his now-blackened phone screen, instinctively glancing back.

Just then, Meryl emerged from the bathroom, freshly washed and looking radiant.

Their eyes met, and Chandler felt a flicker of guilt flash across his face before he quickly looked away.

Meryl didn’t seem to notice.

She walked into the dressing room, and just as she finished getting dressed, she felt a warm embrace from behind.

“Hey, babe,” Chandler murmured, planting a soft kiss on Meryl’s hair, his lips brushing against her ear.

The sudden intimacy made Meryl shiver slightly, but she steadied herself and asked, “What’s going on?”

Chandler hesitated, his lips twitching. “There’s something I need to confess.”

“Yeah?” Meryl replied, curious.

“I overheard your call with Anne.”

Meryl paused, her composure slipping as she forced herself to ask, “What did you hear?”

Chandler replied, “I called Dante.”

Meryl’s facade cracked. “You told him?”