Chapter 128
Chapter Title: Trouble Brewing
The weather that day was perfect—clear skies and the sun shining brightly—ideal for a relaxing day of fishing.
But for Sebastian, relaxation was far from his mind. The night had been restless. After forcing Elliot to spill the truth about Myra’s identity, Sebastian couldn’t sleep a wink. He tossed and turned in bed, plagued by thoughts of what he had learned. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. His constant fidgeting had annoyed Lisa so much that she had left their bed, seeking solace in the study.
The morning found Sebastian with dark circles under his eyes, his usual sharpness dulled by a lack of sleep. His temper flared more easily than usual. It started with a petty complaint about the housekeeper’s breakfast.
“This noodle soup is terrible! There’s no beef in it, and the noodles are dry. How am I supposed to eat this?” he grumbled.
He moved from one complaint to the next, criticizing everything he could find. The garden was too hot, the air in Bradfort City was getting worse, and to top it all off, his grandchild wasn’t even visiting him.
Lisa, growing increasingly frustrated with his endless complaints, finally snapped. “If you’re so upset, why don’t you go fishing and calm down?”
Sebastian knew she was tired of hearing his gripes, so he quietly gathered his fishing gear, avoiding any further arguments. The chauffeur drove him to the club, but along the way, Sebastian had a particular detour in mind. He instructed the driver to take the longer route so they could pass by the Civil Affairs Bureau.
As they passed by, he saw Myra exiting the building, accompanied by a man. To his surprise, she climbed into a black Maybach—a car that Tony had received as a gift for his 34th birthday.
Sebastian’s heart sank. He felt as though he had been left out of the loop, and the anger in his chest grew. “The girl must be up to something. She seduced my grandson, which is why he’s obsessed with a divorced woman like her!” he muttered under his breath, his fury blinding his judgment.
He immediately told the chauffeur to drive away, eager to put the scene behind him.
Arriving at the club, Sebastian headed straight for the lakeside, determined to calm himself through fishing. He set up his gear and bent down to prepare the bait. The familiar routine should have helped him focus, but he found himself struggling. His hands were shaky, and his waist felt stiff. Despite several attempts, the line wouldn’t cast.
Frustration mounting, he cursed under his breath, his temper only growing worse.
Just then, a soft voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Let me help you, Old Master Hart.”
Sebastian turned to see a woman approaching him. She moved quickly, her steps light and purposeful. Before he could stop her, she reached for the fishing rod, but just as quickly, the rod shifted, and she missed it.
He glared at her, his mood already sour. “Who are you?”
His tone was sharper than he intended, the irritation in his voice unmistakable.
The woman froze, her hands held up in the air in surprise. She quickly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, offering an apologetic smile. “I’m Sasha Hay,” she said, her voice sweet and polite. “I’m the one in charge of the Hay Group’s bid for the Sunny Bay Project.”
Sebastian frowned. “I don’t know you.”
His curt dismissal hit Sasha harder than expected, but she quickly recovered. “I’m sure you remember. My grandfather spoke with you about the project. The Hay Group is one of the three companies bidding for the Sunny Bay Project…” she added, trying to jog his memory.
Sebastian squinted at her, recognition finally dawning on him. “Oh, yes… I remember you now,” he muttered, his voice still cold.
Sasha let out a quiet sigh of relief, but her victory was short-lived.
“I heard that three companies were in the running, but two were involved in plagiarism,” Sebastian continued, his voice flat and accusing. “Your company’s involvement doesn’t seem entirely honest.”
Sasha’s smile faltered, but she maintained her composure. She had expected this, but she wasn’t deterred. She pushed forward, her voice taking on a more subtle, almost hesitant tone. “Old Master Hart, do you know… Miss Stark?”
At the mention of Myra’s name, Sebastian’s face darkened. He remembered how she had looked earlier that day, leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau with that man. He snorted in disdain, his anger flaring up again.
Sasha saw her opening and seized it. “Old Master Hart, don’t you think it’s strange? Miss Stark was one of the three contenders, and yet, two of those companies were accused of plagiarism. And there’s something else you might not know—have you heard about the incident with the Hay and Chase Groups?” Her tone was low and secretive, as though sharing some private, hidden knowledge.
Sebastian remained silent, his posture stiff. But despite his indifference, he couldn’t entirely ignore her words. His curiosity was piqued.
Sasha leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “I heard… last night, Miss Stark was thrown into jail for a crime.”
The words hung in the air.
Sebastian’s eyes widened in shock. “What? She was thrown into jail last night?!” he exclaimed, his voice loud enough to startle the fish in the lake. He stood up abruptly, abandoning his fishing entirely, his anger bubbling to the surface.
Sasha’s expression twisted into one of faux sympathy as she continued, “I heard it’s not the first time she’s committed a crime…”
“Enough, girl!” Sebastian snapped, his patience worn thin. “Stop talking in circles. Just tell me why she was thrown into jail!”
Sasha bit her lip, taking a deep breath before answering, “I heard it was related to some financial misconduct. The details are unclear, but it’s serious.”
Sebastian’s face turned red with fury. He was no longer interested in fishing. He gathered his bucket and rod in one swift motion, his hands trembling with anger.
As he walked away, his mind raced. The thought that Myra might be involved in a crime—let alone in something so shady—infuriated him. The woman he had once seen as an ally to his grandson was now the center of a scandal. Sebastian couldn’t help but wonder how deep this went.