Chapter 350 We Need to Talk
“What’s up?” Meryl felt a bit puzzled as Chandler suddenly fixed his gaze on her.
“Nothing much,” Chandler replied with a smile, affectionately ruffling her hair.
After lunch, Meryl began to feel drowsy, her energy waning.
“How about we take a nap at the Aniston Villa before heading back?” Meryl suggested.
After all, they had their own rooms here. Chandler preferred the quiet, staying in a separate building away from the rest of the family so they wouldn’t have to worry about interruptions.
Chandler wrapped his arm gently around Meryl’s waist. “You give me a kiss, and I’ll carry you to the room.”
Meryl blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Huh?”
His voice wasn’t low, and with the rest of the Aniston family just leaving the dining table, everyone heard him.
Surprised looks were exchanged, as if they were seeing a different side of Chandler altogether.
Dylan cleared his throat lightly, perhaps feeling the awkwardness, and buried his face in a newspaper.
The others, equally stunned, fell silent, unsure of how to react.
In the midst of their astonishment, Chandler scooped Meryl up in his arms.
“Even if you don’t kiss me, I’ll still carry you to your room,” Chandler said, his voice low and teasing.
Meryl gasped, her mind racing. “Chandler!”
“Yeah?”
“You jerk!”
She thought, “There are so many people watching. The Aniston Villa is packed today–old folks, young ones, even a kid in elementary school. This is so embarrassing!”
Chandler’s smile deepened, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Yep, I’m a jerk, but I’m also your husband.”
With that, he strode out of the main building, carrying Meryl as if they were the only two people in the world.
Ethan exchanged glances with Dalton. “Help! Is Uncle Chandler really throwing out that kind of romantic vibe?”
Dalton’s irritation flared. “Ethan, shut it!”
After lunch, everyone scattered to their own activities.
Dalton grabbed his coat, ready to head out, when Charlotte suddenly piped up. “Dalton, you’re leaving already?”
Since his arrival at the Aniston Villa, Dalton hadn’t exchanged a single word with Charlotte.
She was well aware of the tension between them.
Dalton resented her for pushing Lydia to keep the baby, especially since he didn’t want it.
When Dalton had wanted to marry Lydia, Charlotte had refused.
Now that he didn’t want her anymore, Charlotte insisted on keeping Lydia in the family.
“Dalton, everything I’m doing is for your father. As the eldest son of your Grandpa, he was sent abroad and can’t even come home for the holidays. If you have a child, it gives your father a reason to return, and we can all be together again.”
Dalton’s gaze was cold as it swept over Charlotte. “So you want me to make a sacrifice?”
Charlotte couldn’t comprehend his perspective. “How can having a child be a sacrifice? It’s a joyous occasion!”
Dalton’s expression hardened. “My heart belongs to Meryl.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What did you just say? Dalton, are you out of your mind? She’s your Aunt Meryl! What are you doing? You’re willing to throw away your own child for a woman who’s off-limits?”
Dalton let out a sarcastic laugh, not wanting to engage in a lengthy argument with her.
He thought, “There’s no point in explaining myself. I’ll reclaim my woman when the time comes.”
His stance was clear: he wanted nothing more to do with Lydia.
If Charlotte insisted on keeping the baby, he would respect that.
But Dalton would never harbor any feelings for Lydia again, and his relationship with Charlotte would plummet to an all-time low.
Charlotte, however, remained unfazed.
She believed Dalton just needed time to come around. She thought, “Once that baby is born, who wouldn’t melt at the sight of a sweet, chubby little thing calling them Dad?”
Dalton had just lit a cigarette, its smoke curling up as he reached the car. Lydia burst out of the house, hurrying after him.
“Dalton, we need to talk!”