Chapter 416 Luckiest Guy

Meryl had made her choice so decisively, leaving Dalton without a glimmer of hope.

For some reason, Dalton’s mind drifted back to their student days.

It was their senior year, when they were both eighteen, at the graduation ceremony.

Their school had a tradition of hosting a masquerade ball for each year’s commencement.

Back then, Dalton hadn’t been in the car accident yet, nor had he mistaken Lydia for Meryl.

On the night of graduation, Dalton showed up at the masquerade in a sharp tuxedo.

Even with a mask on her face, he spotted Meryl instantly among the sea of girls in cocktail dresses.

Dalton approached Meryl, extending his hand to her like a true gentleman.

When Meryl took his hand, becoming his date for the evening, Dalton felt like the dashing and luckiest guy in the room.

He could even picture a future where Meryl walked down the aisle towards him in a wedding dress.

It all seemed like it had happened just yesterday.

But what he couldn’t wrap his head around was how a woman who once loved him so intensely could suddenly fall out of love.

Dalton felt a deep sense of loss. In all those years of their relationship, he still couldn’t compete with Chandler, who had only been around for a few months.

It was only now that he fully realized just how much Meryl honestly resisted him.

Even though he had confined her for over half a month, spending most of that time together day and night, he’d done everything in his power to treat her well, even learning to cook for her sake, but it still hadn’t been enough to sway her heart.

Meryl spotted Chandler’s car parked at the entrance of the villa.

She guessed he must still be around somewhere.

Not wanting to waste any more time with Dalton, Meryl shook him off and headed deeper into the neighborhood.

Watching Meryl’s figure grow smaller in the distance, Dalton felt lost, his eyes filled with intense sorrow.

Dalton’s instinct was to chase after her, but suddenly, a dark figure darted out from nearby.

Dalton jumped, startled, before recognizing it was Zane.

Zane’s face looked rough, sporting fresh bruises – clearly Chandler’s handiwork.

Dalton had only heard about Chandler’s ten-plus years in the police academy and his agility, but he’d never actually seen him in a real fight.

Clearly, Zane’s ambush on Chandler had backfired spectacularly, leaving him in this sorry state, freshly plucked from Chandler’s grasp.

Zane’s face was a mess of bruises and cuts, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

He hacked out a cough, spitting a glob of bloody phlegm. “Mr. Aniston, that woman who just bolted past you – that’s Chandler’s wife, ain’t it?”

Dalton’s brow furrowed as he coldly demanded, “What are you planning?”

“I’m thinking of using her to get to Chandler,” Zane replied, his tongue probing the inside of his battered cheek.

A wicked grin spread across his face. “You probably don’t know about the blood feud between your uncle and me. I’m here to settle the score.”

It was clear that Zane was no match for Chandler. A confrontation would be a losing battle, so he had set his sights on Meryl instead.

Dalton’s refusal was immediate and resolute. “With me here, you won’t lay a finger on her.”

Zane let out a sudden snicker. “Well, well, well. Who’d have thought? The golden boy’s actually got a soft spot? But hasn’t she already tied the knot with Chandler?

“I heard every word you two just said, and it’s clear as day her heart’s not with you. Is she really worth sticking your neck out for?”