Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After…

Chapter 585 A Twinge of Sympathy

Something was off. Meryl’s phone showed [No Service], as if someone had deliberately cut her off from the network.

Though spring had started, the night air was still bitterly cold. She instinctively pulled her coat tighter, but the icy wind pierced right through it. Even with the main doors locked, a chilling unease hung in the air.

Unable to get inside, she retreated to the lounge. In the dead of night, the place felt eerily empty, her voice echoing when she tried calling out. The lights had been turned off, plunging the space into a ghostly darkness.

Fear crept over her, making her curl up tightly on the couch. “Who could have done this?” she thought.

After some thought, she concluded it had to be Christine. Earlier that evening, when she got off the bus, she thought she caught a glimpse of Christine across the street.

Time crawled by, and the temperature dropped further. Meryl turned on her phone’s flashlight, hoping to catch someone’s attention outside.

But as the battery ticked down, there was no response.

Resigned, she sat back down, wondering how this sleepless night might affect tomorrow’s internal auditions.

Chapter 585 A Twinge of Sympathy

The biting cold gnawed at her body, making it impossible to relax. Her hands had gone completely numb, and her legs felt as stiff as iron.

Suddenly, she thought of Chandler. They had planned to have dinner tonight.

She thought, “Will he realize something had happened when he can’t reach me?”

Chandler arrived at the orchestra entrance right on time, waiting for Meryl.

But the evening wore on, and she still hadn’t shown up.

Thinking she might have been delayed, he waited another twenty minutes.

Just then, Rachel emerged from the building. She spotted his car and ran over, her face lighting up.

“Chandler! What brings you here?”

“I’m waiting for Meryl. We’re having dinner.”

Upon hearing this, Rachel’s expression dimmed. “Oh… I thought you came to see me.”

Chandler didn’t reply, his eyes fixed on the building. Rachel, uninvited but undeterred, opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat.

Chapter 585 A Twinge of Sympathy "Then I’ll wait with you."

Chandler’s gaze flickered briefly, but he said nothing. Ten minutes later, Rachel sighed dramatically.

“I’m starving. Why is she such a diva? Why isn’t she out yet?”

Chandler frowned. “I’m taking Meryl out later. If you’re hungry, grab something yourself.”

“I don’t want to eat alone. What’s the harm in taking me along?” Rachel pouted with a hint of petulance in her voice.

“Rachel, I made it clear last time. I don’t want Meryl to get the wrong idea. I’m a married man, and you tagging along would only make things awkward for everyone. Don’t you think?”

Rachel was left speechless. After a long pause, she lowered her head, tears welling up. “Chandler,” she murmured, her voice trembling. “Do you know what today is?”

He looked at her, puzzled.

“It’s my twenty-third birthday. Did you know that?”

She bit her lip, her fingers interlaced as though holding herself together.

“Back home, my birthdays were a big deal. My parents would each give me a gift, and I was the little princess of the family.”

Chapter 585 A Twinge of Sympathy…

Her gaze drifted to the window, lost in the glow of past memories.

“But later, my family is gone. The only one who ever celebrated with me after that was my brother Andy.”

Her voice wavered, thick with emotion. “And now… Andy’s gone too.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto her clasped hands.

She wiped them away gently, her movements as delicate as her fragile voice.

Chandler froze.

He hadn’t known it was Rachel’s birthday.

He pulled a couple of tissues from the glovebox and handed them to her. “Here.”

Rachel took them, dabbing at her eyes.

“Chandler,” she said softly, “I just didn’t want to eat alone. Don’t worry, even if I tag along, I won’t interrupt your date.”

Chandler hesitated, a twinge of sympathy stirring in him. “Fine. When Meryl gets here, I’ll talk to her about it.”

Rachel’s tears turned to smiles. She instinctively reached for his hand.

Chapter 585 A Twinge of Sympathy

From a short distance away, a man stood watching through the open car window, catching the entire exchange.