Chapter 426 The True Target

Meryl quietly said, “Why don’t we wait until Dalton recovers so he can explain everything himself?”

She wanted to see how Dalton would justify his actions to everyone.

Charlotte, standing nearby, breathed a sigh of relief when Meryl didn’t mention the kidnapping.

But before she could fully relax, Dalton’s lips moved.

Lydia was the first to notice Dalton waking up. She immediately grabbed his hand and asked, “Dalton, are you feeling any better?”

Though weak, Dalton pulled his hand away from Lydia’s grasp. His coldness toward her was obvious. It was clear that he wanted no contact with her whatsoever.

Lydia’s expression darkened as she saw Dalton’s gaze fix firmly on Meryl.

His voice was faint, barely audible. “It was the criminal who stabbed me. Meryl had nothing to do with it…”

“Dalton!” Charlotte, turning her back to everyone, glared fiercely at him, cutting him off.

She thought, “Why is Dalton so stubborn? That way, she’ll be too busy defending herself to pursue the kidnapping.”

“I know you have a sense of chivalry, but you can’t just admit to being stabbed like this. That wound nearly cost you your life!”

Morton chimed in, “Exactly! Dalton, I came back specifically to fight for your justice. You’re injured so badly, and Meryl’s completely unharmed. Everyone could tell there is something off about her.”

The couple’s coordinated efforts drowned out Dalton’s weak defense.

Lydia, teary-eyed, piled on, using her pregnancy to pressure Meryl.

“Meryl, we’re family now. I’m carrying his child. Can’t you, for the sake of this baby, let Dalton and me live our lives in peace?”

They acted as if Meryl had committed some terrible crime.

But it only took Meryl a moment to figure out their game.

She realized they saw Dalton’s injury as an opportunity to twist the story and frame her.

Meryl didn’t want to strike while Dalton was down, but they were using her kindness against her, turning the tables.

It dawned on Meryl that they were terrified the truth of Dalton imprisoning her would get out. After all, if it got out, the Aniston family would likely expel Dalton.

She never thought her decency would be weaponized against her.

Meryl’s voice was calm, but it carried strength. “Aren’t you even a little curious why Dalton and I were there at that exact time, crossing paths with that criminal?

“There are phone records on Dalton’s phone showing contact between him and the attacker. And that man’s real target was Chandler. So, the person who was supposed to get hurt wasn’t Dalton. It was Chandler.”

When she finished, the room fell silent.

Everyone was stunned by what Meryl had just revealed.

They realized that if what Meryl said was true, then Dalton had a private connection with the criminal.

Meryl’s words implied that Dalton and the criminal intended to harm Chandler together.

Charlotte’s face paled. She had only learned last night, after running into Meryl at the hospital, that Dalton had imprisoned her for half a month.

She hadn’t imagined Dalton was also in league with the criminal.

In the span of a few seconds, Charlotte’s mind raced. She knew Dalton absolutely could not admit to this.

“You’re lying! I’m his mother. No one knows Dalton better than I do. How could he possibly be involved with the criminal? Meryl, your accusations are outrageous!"

Dalton had held onto a sliver of hope.

He had thought Meryl’s silence meant she still cared for him, that she might leave him a way out.

But hearing her say all of this without hesitation, he realized Meryl truly did not want any relationship with him anymore.