Chapter 650 He’s Coming

Lydia watched from the sidelines, feeling a knot of discomfort in her stomach. She had invited Meryl here today with the intention of embarrassing her, but who would have thought that as soon as Meryl arrived, she would become the star of the gathering thanks to that piece of music? The news that Meryl had recently become Harvey’s protégé only added fuel to the fire, drawing more and more people eager to curry favor with her.

And who was Harvey? He was a top figure in Kingsdom, with connections that could open doors to countless opportunities. As she watched Meryl bask in the limelight, surrounded by admirers, Lydia instinctively placed a hand on her own belly.

The thought of her unborn child, who was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, twisted her heart with anguish. A flash of resentment flickered in Lydia’s eyes as she glanced at Meryl’s midsection. She quickly dialed Dalton.

Right now, the only card she had to play was her status as Dalton’s wife. She wanted him to come pick her up, a small victory to reclaim some dignity.

“Dalton… I’m almost done here. Can you come and get me?”

Dalton had been busy with work lately, but tonight, he happened to be nearby at dinner, just a five-minute drive away. Charlotte had been keeping a close eye on Lydia, worried about the baby, and had initially insisted she skip the gathering. But Lydia had promised that Dalton would come to fetch her, which finally eased Charlotte’s concerns. Just to be safe, Charlotte had called Dalton to remind him to pick Lydia up after his dinner. No matter how much he might not want to be around her, he still had to respect his mother’s wishes.

A few minutes later, Dalton arrived at the event, impeccably dressed in a sharp suit. Dalton was a year ahead of them in school and had been quite the campus celebrity – everyone knew who he was. As soon as word got out that the well-known Dalton was in the house, several people rushed over to greet him.

Dalton had seen plenty of people trying to butter him up; his family name brought endless opportunities and wealth. Still, he didn’t engage much with them.

But Lydia felt a surge of satisfaction. Finally, she was reclaiming the spotlight that Meryl had stolen from her! Afraid that anyone might miss the fact that they were a couple, she hooked her arm through Dalton’s.

“It’s getting late, and I’m pregnant. You all have fun, but Dalton and I need to head out.”

At last, the crowd’s attention shifted to Lydia’s belly. No wonder she looked fuller; she was expecting! As Dalton was being pulled along by Lydia, someone called out, “Why are you leaving so soon? We just got together!”

“Sorry, but my husband probably has business to attend to.”

Dalton casually glanced over, his gaze landing on Meryl. A spark of surprise flickered in his eyes. She was wearing a caramel-colored coat over a white knitted dress, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. Standing among the crowd, she radiated a fresh, elegant vibe that set her apart. Suddenly, Dalton froze in place, unable to move.

“Dalton?”

Lydia, still linked to him, noticed he hadn’t budged and called his name again. No response. It was as if he hadn’t heard her at all. Following his gaze, Lydia realized he was completely captivated by Meryl, and fury bubbled up inside her.

Biting her lip, she quietly urged, “Dalton, let’s go.”

Still, no answer.

The people around them, sharp as ever, quickly picked up on the tension. Someone broke the ice, raising a glass. “Mr. Dalton Aniston, it’s not every day we see you! You have to try some of the good wine while you’re here!”

In truth, everyone in the room was eager for Dalton to stay a bit longer; after all, they all wanted to get a piece of that lucrative connection. If they could seal some sort of deal tonight, that would be even better. Elite schools had their own hierarchies; not everyone could access the upper echelons of society, and gatherings like this were rare gems.

Dalton found an opportune moment and settled into a seat conveniently facing Meryl, gazing at her with the kind of longing typically reserved for lovers. Lydia’s face turned a deep shade of red with envy beside him.

Anne was the first to notice Dalton’s lingering gaze. She grabbed Meryl’s arm, whispering, “Dalton’s here!”

Meryl instinctively glanced over, and upon catching her eye, Dalton raised his glass in a playful toast, a teasing eyebrow arched. His gesture may have seemed subtle, but with so many eyes on him, someone inevitably caught the interaction. Rumors about the trio’s tangled relationships had circulated through Kingsdom, and now the crowd’s sympathy began to shift toward Lydia. It was painfully obvious that Lydia was the true loser here; this so-called “third party” was clearly falling apart. Even with a baby on the way, her husband’s heart was already flying away.

To maintain some semblance of dignity, Lydia forced a smile. Inside, she was seething, wishing for this party to end quickly. The weight of all those eyes on her was suffocating. As frustration bubbled inside her, she stealthily slipped away to a quiet corner and, unnoticed by anyone, discreetly added a substance to the contents of a high-stemmed glass.

When Philip noticed her actions, he gasped, “Mr. Powell! Someone is trying to poison Ms. Stone!”

Felix, who had been glued to the surveillance screen, narrowed his eyes at the unfolding scene. He fiddled with his ear, as if Philip’s alarm had gotten on his nerves.

“I can see, Philip. I’m not blind,” Felix replied, irritation lacing his tone.

“Shouldn’t we make our move?” Philip pressed, urgency creeping into his voice. “Ms. Stone is pregnant! What if she drinks that tainted stuff?”

It was almost absurdly funny; the very reason Felix was here was for Meryl. Yet the moment he arrived, he had secluded himself in the control room, fixated on the monitor instead of taking action. Philip wondered, “This is his territory, so why is he sitting here? What’s up with Felix? He usually has it all together, but when it comes to pursuing the girl he likes, he seems a little lost. Could it be that there was a fight at the hospital?”

Just as Meryl reached for the spiked glass of water, Felix was about to push Philip forward to intervene. But then, the entire room’s attention shifted as they collectively turned toward the elevator.

Chandler stepped out, exuding an aura of confidence.

Felix clenched his fists. He thought, “What’s he doing here? I’m a second too late.”

Philip sighed, “Mr. Powell… are we still going to make our move?”