Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After

Chapter 662 Emilia’s Visit

Meryl hurried down to the living room without even putting on her shoes, her bare feet hitting the cool floor as she searched for the first aid kit, anxious about Chandler’s injury. She took out some iodine and cotton swabs, pulling Chandler down onto the sofa with a gentle insistence.

“Honestly, Chandler, you get into a fight and end up hurting yourself? That’s quite the way to lose the battle!”

As she carefully treated his wound, Chandler leaned back on the couch, watching the woman he adored pour her concern into each careful touch. He felt surprisingly grateful for the pain. It was a rare feeling to be this cared for. No one had ever treated him with such tenderness or worried whether he felt hurt.

Relieved it was only a surface wound, Meryl breathed a sigh of relief. “Just a heads-up—keep that hand away from water for a few days. Be careful while washing your hands…”

Before she could finish, Chandler pulled her into his lap in one swift motion. He spread her legs apart and placed her on his lap. At such close quarters, Meryl felt a bit uneasy, her entire waist now cradled in Chandler’s arms. With a casual gesture, Chandler cupped her bottom and carried her upstairs, their bodies entwined in an intimate embrace.

“What are you doing? Let me down! I can walk up on my own,” she protested, her voice a mix of embarrassment and playful resistance.

Chandler replied matter-of-factly, a hint of affection in his tone, “You’re barefoot. It’s only right I carry you.”

Meryl buried her face in his chest, silencing her protests as he effortlessly lifted her, cradling her like a treasure as he made his way upstairs. The intimacy was palpable, and she felt more bashful than ever—too shy to wriggle free even if she wanted to.

Once they reached the top, Chandler shut the door behind them, pressing her against it as he captured her lips in a fervent kiss. Meryl giggled softly between kisses, her words tumbling out with a mix of laughter and a hint of shyness. “Chandler, wait… don’t kiss me like that here.”

In the shadowed hallway, Rachel caught sight of this scene from her room. Initially lying in bed, she had gotten up, drawn to the commotion outside, only to stumble upon Chandler and Meryl entrenched in their tender moments. Her chest tightened with frustration. With an exasperated huff, she turned back, slamming her door shut. This was too much to handle! She could hardly stay here for another second!

Later that night, Dalton appeared at the hospital with a visible bruise on his face, drawing Lydia’s immediate attention. “What happened to you?” she asked, her voice laced with concern. But Dalton remained tight-lipped, leaving her with only questions. Unable to get answers, Lydia resolved to dig deeper.

By the next morning, she learned that Dalton had been associating with a woman of questionable repute. Rage boiled within her at the thought. “Dalton clinging to memories of Meryl is one thing, but to go find a substitute resembling her? That’s just unacceptable!”

However, she couldn’t unleash her fury on Dalton directly, so when Charlotte came to visit her in the hospital, Lydia vented to her instead. Yet, to her dismay, Charlotte seemed indifferent, encouraging her not to sweat the small stuff and focus on her pregnancy instead. How could Lydia ever feel at ease when her husband was involved with another woman?

Charlotte had never been entirely pleased with her to begin with, and now even Charlotte wasn’t standing up for her. Feeling overwhelmed, Lydia felt tears spill down her cheeks. This marriage, which she had desperately fought for, had transformed into a source of misery. Everything was slipping through her fingers, including the health of her unborn child, who was plagued with congenital heart issues—leaving her feeling hollow and terrified about the future.

The bleak uncertainties loomed large, suffocating her with despair as she cried fiercely, each sob echoing her sense of hopelessness. Cate sat nearby, her face a mix of confusion and concern as she watched Lydia cry. Lydia, desperate for someone to confide in, grabbed Cate’s hand and poured out her heart about the struggles in her marriage. At just over twenty and still in college, Cate found it hard to relate. She had never been in a serious relationship herself, so sympathy for Lydia didn’t come easily.

To Cate, it seemed like Lydia was reaping what she had sown. Eventually, Lydia cried herself to sleep, her tears soaking the pillow. Cate clasped her hands together, shaking her head in exasperation. “Are those anime guys not as dreamy as they seem? No marriage, no kids—just peace of mind.”

XXXXX

Meanwhile, Rachel was playing a dangerous game of pretend at home. The charade was wearing her thin. With cameras everywhere, stepping outside meant she had to be on her best behavior. To avoid the hassle, she decided to lock herself in her room for a long nap.

When Meryl noticed it was ten o’clock and Rachel still hadn’t emerged, she made her way to Rachel’s door and knocked. “Rachel, are you in there?” Meryl called out, her tone light and carefree.

“Ugh, Meryl, I’m trying to sleep! What’s with the noise?” Rachel replied, irritation clear in her voice.

Meryl didn’t skip a beat. “Come on, bestie! I’m bored out of my mind here. Let’s chat a little.”

“Bestie? Who are you calling bestie? I’m not coming out!” Rachel huffed, pulling the covers over her head.

Meryl smiled to herself and said, “Are you sure? I’ve got cherries! If you come out, I’ll even wash them for you.”

Rachel ground her teeth, thinking, “Meryl’s not inviting me for cherries, but she’s trying to mock me. And I swear she knows I’m pretending. Why else would she have set up all those cameras around here?”

“I don’t want your cherries! I hate cherries!” Rachel snapped back.

Meryl continued, undeterred, “Okay, then what do you like? Grapes? Mangoes? I can slice mangoes into perfect little cubes, just like the ones you buy at the store. I can show you…Oh wait, I just remembered—you can’t see them anyway!”

“Ugh, Meryl, can you just stop?!” Rachel shouted, exasperated.

“Seriously, Rachel, why are you pretending? Your eyes are the windows to your soul. Doesn’t it feel uncomfortable to be in the dark like this?"

Silence filled the room as Rachel chose not to respond. She tossed and turned on her bed, feeling like she was losing her mind. Meryl sensed Rachel’s frustration and took a step back, deciding to give her some space.

She felt relieved that Rachel had moved in. It was a smart decision. With Rachel under her roof, any mischief Rachel thought about would require careful consideration.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Curious, Meryl walked over and opened the door to find a beautiful young woman standing there, holding a gift. Meryl blinked, momentarily taken aback.

“Can I help you?”

The woman looked familiar, as if Meryl had seen her somewhere before.

“I’m Emilia Clarke. Thank you for saving me the other day,” the woman said with a warm smile.

“Emilia?”

Meryl’s eyes widened as recognition dawned on her.