Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After P…
Chapter 649 Great Talent
Meryl took a deep breath, steadying herself before stepping out of the car with Anne.
The venue for the gathering was a high-end hotel, and they were meeting on a floor they had reserved entirely for themselves, a throwback to their days at an elite school.
As they exited the elevator, Meryl was taken aback to see Lydia and a few other familiar faces.
Although the memories were a bit hazy, she quickly recognized them.
They had all been part of Lydia’s clique back in the day, the same girls who had once poured red ink on her chair.
Meryl vividly recalled sitting down and feeling the cold stain seep through her school uniform, the laughter of her classmates ringing in her ears.
It was also these girls who had locked her in the bathroom on a freezing winter day.
Back then, Meryl had struggled to understand why they harbored such cruelty at such a young age.
For a long time, she had lived under the shadow of their bullying.
Chapter 649 Great Talent
But now, with time and distance, it was clear that Lydia had been the ringleader of their little gang.
Looking at Lydia and her friends now, Meryl couldn’t help but notice that despite their polished appearances, they were no longer the untouchable girls they once were.
If she recalled correctly, their families had fallen on hard times and were deep in debt.
It seemed karma had finally caught up with them.
The atmosphere was tense as the girls exchanged glances, clearly unsure how to interact with Meryl now that they were no longer reliant on their family’s status.
They seemed hesitant to meet her gaze, afraid of offending her.
Meryl, however, was unfazed. She smiled warmly at them, but Lydia wasted no time in making a jab at the sight of Meryl’s thoughtful expression.
“What’s wrong, Meryl? Are you crying tears of joy at seeing your old classmates?”
Lydia’s voice dripped with sarcasm, and then she feigned a gasp.
“Oh, wait! I forgot—your husband hasn’t been home in days, has he? Missing him already?”
Her words were deliberately loud, drawing the attention of those passing by.
Chapter 649 Great Talent
Meryl, unfazed, simply placed a hand on Lydia’s shoulder and said, “Lydia, you really haven’t changed a bit. You still can’t show any respect. You could at least call me ‘Aunt Meryl’ when you see me.”
Lydia’s face turned a mix of red and white, as if she had just been slapped.
The girls around her exchanged awkward glances, unsure how to respond.
Just then, the elevator doors opened with a soft ding, and a light laugh echoed out.
Everyone turned to see Felix stepping out in an impeccably tailored black suit, one hand casually tucked into his pocket, his expression radiating confidence.
Meryl, who appeared delicate and fragile, had just delivered a line that left Lydia speechless.
Lydia shot Meryl a furious glare before storming off, clearly humiliated.
Meryl was puzzled by Felix’s presence at the gathering.
Just then, Philip, Felix’s assistant, chimed in, “This hotel belongs to the Powell family. Mr. Powell is here to check on things tonight. If you need anything, Ms. Stone, feel free to have the staff call us.”
Chapter 649 Great Talent
Felix shot Philip a cold look, his eyes narrowing.
“Mind your own business,” he snapped, causing Philip to lower his head in silence as the elevator doors slid shut again.
As the elevator ascended, it seemed as though Felix was merely there to oversee operations, and the two of them vanished from sight.
Anne, who was oblivious to the nuances of Meryl and Felix’s relationship, noticed the familiarity between Meryl and Felix’s assistant and felt her curiosity piqued.
“Hey, girl! Something’s going on with you and Felix…”
It was clear to anyone with half a brain that Felix’s words were meant to back Meryl up.
Meryl shook her head. “Stop making stuff up. We just know each other.”
Anne looped her arm through Meryl’s, cutting straight to the point. “Then why is he here, late at night, just watching you? He’s definitely interested! When did you two get so close?”
Anne had a strong intuition about these things.
Felix didn’t seem reliable, but if he had a girlfriend, he would undoubtedly turn into a devoted partner.
She understood men well enough—those who appeared carefree
Chapter 649 Great Talent
might not have even had their first crush yet, but they could be incredibly sweet and caring towards their girlfriends.
Meryl protested, trying to shake off Anne’s strange ideas, “But he’s Rachel’s fiancé. Besides, I’m already married.”
“That’s perfect! Rachel’s trying to steal you away, and you’re getting tangled up with her fiancé. Nobody loses in that scenario! Worst-case, you both end up hurting each other!”
Meryl raised her hand and playfully tapped Anne on the head. “What’s good about that? Rachel is dead set on breaking off her engagement with Felix. If I get too close to him, it just helps her out!”
Anne chuckled. “Hey, I was just joking!”
Setting aside the ethical dilemmas, Anne knew better than anyone that once Meryl had her heart set on someone, she wouldn’t easily look back.
Right now, Meryl’s heart was probably all about Chandler.
Meryl stole a glance at her phone, but there were no new messages.
She lowered her gaze, unable to hide her disappointment.
It seemed like today would pass by unremarkably; Chandler had completely forgotten their anniversary.
As she stepped into the hall, Meryl was greeted by the sound of
Chapter 649 Great Talent
beautiful music wafting through the air.
She paused for a moment, realizing the melody was oddly familiar.
Since Meryl arrived a bit late, most of her classmates were already gathered, chatting in small groups.
Perhaps the music was so enchanting that everyone’s voice dropped to a hush.
Suddenly, someone asked, “Does anyone know what this song is called? It’s beautiful…”
At that moment, Anne said, “This is the piece that just won an award at the composition competition! You guys didn’t know? The original composer is right here!”
Meryl’s eyes widened in embarrassment; she suddenly wished for a hole to crawl into!
As expected, the next second, Anne pushed her forward. “The composer is my amazing best friend!”
Instantly, all eyes were on Meryl, making her the center of attention.
Meryl felt like Anne had turned into a market vendor, proudly showcasing her prized cabbage, while Meryl stood there, the cabbage being sold.
How embarrassing!
Chapter 649 Great Talent
Someone approached her, asking, “Excuse me, are you…”
In just a few short years, Meryl had changed so much that the person didn’t recognize her at first.
Back then, she was low-key, dressed in plain uniforms, and hadn’t really blossomed yet.
Now, with her delicate features and just a hint of makeup, she couldn’t hide her beauty.
Plus, everyone at the event was dressed to the nines, eager to show off their best selves, making her casual look stand out even more.
Feeling her cheeks heat up, Meryl softly said, “You’re Laird Borden, right?”
She raised her cup in a toast, trying to suppress her embarrassment, and confidently introduced herself. “I’m Meryl Stone.”
Laird’s jaw nearly dropped in surprise, eyes wide with admiration.
Within just a couple of minutes, everyone knew that Meryl was now a composer–a true talent.