Chapter 52 Hold Your Head High
Meryl nodded, saying, “You’re Dalton’s uncle, the head of the Aniston family. Anne told me everything. Dalton practically has to tiptoe around you, and yet you married me. How will it feel to sit at the same table as him without it being awkward?”
She had spent the entire day trying to wrap her head around it. If things went south, Chandler might end up the butt of someone’s jokes – a situation he definitely didn’t need. Sure, one could call it a favor, but there were countless ways to repay a debt.
Noticing Chandler’s silence, Meryl asked, “So, can you help me make sense of it all?”
Instead of answering her directly, Chandler leaned back slightly, a knowing look in his eyes.
“Mrs. Aniston, since you’re aware that I’m Dalton’s uncle, you must understand what marrying me signifies, right? You’ll be able to hold your head high in the Stone family, no longer needing to worry about anyone else’s opinions. From now on, when Dalton sees you, he’ll have to call you ‘Aunt Meryl.’ You’ll be able to walk through Kingsdom like you own the place, with me backing you up. So, after all that I’ve said, Meryl, do you get what I’m trying to say? You should be thinking about how to cling to me for dear life. While I still remember your life-saving kindness, you should figure out how to make me completely devoted to you.”
Meryl blinked innocently, her mind racing. She thought, “Why does Chandler sound just like Anne?”
On the way back from the hospital today, Anne had been relentless, whispering in her ear, “You’ve got to find a way to make Chandler fall for you. That’s the only way you’ll secure your place as Mrs. Aniston and take charge of your own destiny.”
Meryl found it ridiculous. “Make Chandler fall for me? Are you kidding? We’ve barely met!”
But Anne had been insistent, even driving Meryl to buy two sets of lingerie. "If all else fails, just seduce him. Men are easy that way! The more he can’t live without you, the more secure your position will be. And don’t forget, you guys are legally married! Not having sex? That’s just silly! Look at Chandler–he’s got that face, that body. You wouldn’t be losing out if you slept with him!”
Meryl had been utterly flabbergasted, clutching the sexy lingerie Anne had picked out for her as she returned home.
Now, hearing Chandler’s words, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu. She thought, “But Anne was coming from the perspective of a friend. What about Chandler?”
Meryl found herself staring at him, taking in the sight of him lounging on the couch. His crisp white shirt hugged his physique perfectly, the top two buttons undone, revealing a tantalizing hint of his chest.
She quickly averted her gaze, feeling her cheeks flush. Out of the corner of her eye, Meryl noticed him adjusting the watch on his wrist – a simple gesture, yet it exuded an air of effortless elegance.
Meryl instinctively closed her eyes for a moment, her heart racing.
Seeing her lost in thought, Chandler lightly tapped her forehead with his finger. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“Nothing…” Meryl bit her lip, unconsciously rubbing the spot where he had tapped her.
“Let’s set aside some time for you to meet my family properly in the Aniston Villa.”
Meryl’s eyes widened in surprise. “Back to the Aniston Villa?”
That meant facing Dalton head-on as Chandler’s wife.
Chandler nodded, his expression calm. “We might be keeping our marriage under wraps, but there’s no need to hide it from my family. Don’t you want to see Dalton’s reaction when he finds out I married you?”
“But I used to chase after Dalton. Bringing me back–won’t that be awkward for you?”
Chandler replied, lifting his chin slightly, “Why would it be awkward for me? You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re young, beautiful, and more than capable. You have nothing to feel insecure about.”
Suddenly receiving such praise, Meryl felt a rush of warmth spread through her. She had always thought that her past with Dalton was significant, but to Chandler, it was just a fleeting memory – something he didn’t care about at all.
Meryl felt a peculiar sense of relief wash over her as she realized just how genuinely wonderful Chandler was. She thought, “As a husband, he is emotionally steady, exuding the charm of a mature man. His position provides me with a sense of security, making him seem like the perfect partner. It’s almost too good to be true. But if I go home with him, things will get really complicated.”