Chapter 140
Chapter Title: Myra’s Resolve
“Nonsense!” “Nonsense!”
Two voices, both sharp and firm, spoke in unison.
Myra fixed her gaze on Lyla, who had remained eerily silent up until now. The woman before her had only grown more stunning over time, a fact that Myra couldn’t deny. Lyla had succeeded in everything: she had slipped between Myra and Sean, taking her place. Every one of her schemes had paid off.
With a sudden shift, Myra leaned in closer to Lyla, her voice low but clear. “Miss Fisher, you’ve gone to great lengths to be with Sean, haven’t you? But you should know—heaven watches over both the wicked and the virtuous. One day, your true nature will be exposed for all to see.”
Lyla flinched, shrinking back into Sean’s arms, her fear palpable. “Myra, you’ve betrayed us time and time again. Even though Sean made the mistake of sending you to prison, there’s no need for this bitterness. Haven’t we cleared the air between us? Your debt to us is forgiven.”
As Lyla hid behind him, Sean, his gaze cold, met Myra’s eyes. “We didn’t know you’d be here when we decided to come today,” he said, his tone defensive.
“I had no idea you’d be here either,” Myra replied coolly. “Had I known, I would’ve gladly avoided this encounter.”
With those words, Myra turned and began to walk away. But as she neared the exit, her eyes caught sight of Eve, who seemed ready to speak. Without hesitation, Myra added, “Don’t try to stop me again, Mrs. Chase. I know your son is popular, but he means nothing to me now.”
She walked briskly toward the hotel, leaving behind an atmosphere thick with tension. Eve and Sean’s expressions darkened, their faces twisting in disbelief. They hadn’t expected Myra to change so completely after the divorce.
“She… She’s… insufferable!” Eve’s hands trembled with frustration. “I’ve treated her like family, and now she turns her back on me after the divorce? Sean, you have to stay away from her from now on!” Her breath came in sharp gasps, the anger evident in every movement.
Sean’s face grew stormy. Myra’s words had struck a nerve. While a part of him felt embarrassed by the coldness she displayed, another part of him smirked in disdain. “She’s just trying to act calm. Let’s see how long that lasts,” he muttered under his breath.
“Hmm,” he replied indifferently to his mother, his mind clearly elsewhere.
As Eve finished speaking, her gaze drifted toward the Ritz Carlton.
The Ritz Carlton was the crown jewel of Bradfort City—a symbol of grandeur and wealth, its yearly profits rivaling those of a mid-sized company. Myra’s words echoed in Eve’s mind: ‘Fifty percent of the Ritz Carlton belongs to me. I have every right to be here.’
Eve’s thoughts spiraled. She remembered how the Ritz Carlton manager had treated Myra with such respect, and her stomach turned. How had Myra kept her ownership of the hotel a secret from them?
Myra felt a rush of frustration as she left the confrontation behind. Standing outside Conan’s office, she took a long, steadying breath. With a quick shake of her head to clear her mind, she knocked on the door.
“Come in,” a hoarse voice called from inside.
The familiar sound made Myra’s heart tighten with emotion. She pushed the door open, and her gaze immediately found Conan, sitting behind his desk.
Time had taken its toll on him. Where once there had been streaks of white in his hair, now it was nearly completely silver.
The sight of him stirred something deep inside her, a mixture of guilt and tenderness. She approached slowly, her voice soft as she spoke, “Mr. Engelhard, I should have come to apologize sooner… I don’t know if you can ever forgive me…”
It all came rushing back—the time when the Chase Group faced financial ruin. In desperation, Myra had sold twenty percent of her shares in the Stark Group to Conan. She had even considered selling her share of the Ritz Carlton to help the Chase Group stay afloat.
But Conan had strongly opposed it, and in the heat of the moment, she had cut ties with him, feeling angry and misunderstood. Now, years later, she regretted her actions, but shame had kept her away until now.
Conan’s eyes softened as he looked at Myra. She had changed—grown more mature, more thoughtful. He had watched over her from a distance, and though he’d never interfered in her life, he had always kept an eye on her well-being.
The divorce with Sean, he knew, had been a turning point. He waved her over gently. “Come here, Myra,” he said.
Myra’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she moved to kneel before him. “Mr. Engelhard, I know I’ve made many mistakes. Can you ever forgive me?”
Conan reached out, gently ruffling her hair as if she were his own granddaughter. “There’s nothing to forgive. I’ve never been angry with you. I only worried about your future. The past is behind us now. You’re free, Myra. Don’t let that heartless man cloud your thoughts anymore.”
Myra’s heart twisted at his words. She had been foolish to stay away from him for so long.
“I won’t think about him anymore. I’m not the same Myra I once was,” she said, her voice steady but filled with emotion. She looked up at him with determination. “Mr. Engelhard, I’m ready to go back to work at the Stark Group.”
Conan’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I’ve decided to return to the Stark Group,” she repeated, her voice firmer this time.
Conan studied her, his heart warmed by her newfound strength. The girl who had once been stubborn and impulsive had now become someone brave and resolute. He nodded, his gaze filled with quiet pride. “Are you sure, Myra?”
She met his gaze with unwavering certainty. “Yes.”
This was not a decision made lightly. Myra had considered returning to the Stark Group for a long time. It was the company her mother had built, and she couldn’t bear to leave it in the hands of the woman who had replaced her. She had once believed that Sean would eventually choose her, that they could rebuild what had been broken, but now that hope was gone. The divorce had set her free.
She smiled faintly, a thought of Tony softening her features. “Mr. Engelhard…” she began, then hesitated, before continuing gently, “There’s someone I’d like you to meet someday.”
“The boy from the Hart family?” Conan raised an eyebrow in amusement.
“How did you know, Mr. Engelhard?” Myra asked, surprised.
Conan chuckled. “Silly girl, how could I not know about your life?”
The young man had visited him recently, and Conan had kept his own counsel on the matter.
He sighed. “Myra, you’ve grown up. It’s not for me to say whether he’s right for you or not. Only you can decide if he’s the one. Just be sure, that’s all.”
Though Conan had his own thoughts about Tony, he knew better than to interfere now.