Chapter 164
Myra wept bitterly. She had hoped to make a good impression on the Hart family today, but it seemed as though the atmosphere had been ruined. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on her heart.
Tony, seeing her so distressed, felt his own heart break. The sight of her tears softened him, and he embraced her tightly, his voice now gentler than before. “Alright, alright. I’m sorry for causing a fuss. Don’t cry anymore, okay? If you don’t want to continue eating, we can leave. We’ll go home, alright?”
His soothing voice and the warmth of his embrace began to calm the storm inside her. After a few moments, she gripped his shirt tightly, opening her mouth to speak. But before she could get a word out, the bathroom door was suddenly pulled open.
Shocked, she instinctively buried her face deeper into Tony’s chest, feeling mortified. It was Shawn standing there, his expression unreadable. “Grandpa wants you both to hurry up and join us for dinner. His exact words were: ‘What’s this with making the entire family wait for the two of them?!’”
The mention of the family’s waiting made Myra’s body stiffen even more in Tony’s arms. She felt her ears burn with embarrassment, and Tony, sensing her discomfort, patted her back reassuringly. He glanced at Shawn, his voice tinged with annoyance. “Got it.”
But Shawn didn’t leave right away. His lips curled into a smirk as he raised an eyebrow, eyeing Myra with a knowing look. “Just a little advice—if you care about your privacy, you might want to lower your voice next time.”
Myra’s face turned bright red as Shawn’s words sank in. It dawned on her that the entire conversation between her and Tony—her struggles, his advances, everything—had likely been overheard. The realization made her feel exposed, humiliated. Her body trembled slightly with a mix of anxiety, frustration, and embarrassment.
Tony noticed the shift in her and shot Shawn a glare. Shawn shrugged casually, then helped them close the bathroom door behind him before leaving them in peace.
Once the door shut, Myra pushed away from Tony’s chest, her voice lowering as she muttered, “Look at what you’ve done…”
Tony merely smirked, his arms still wrapped around her waist. “What did I do?” he asked, as if he genuinely didn’t understand her distress.
“You—” She tried to shove him away, but his grip was firm. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he pressed his finger to his lips. “Shh. If you keep yelling, everyone outside will hear you.”
Frustrated, Myra glared at him, but the edge of her anger softened when she realized how helpless she felt in his grasp. Instead of pushing him away, she sighed, “I want to wash my face.”
At last, Tony released her but followed closely behind her as she moved to the sink. She reluctantly used the facial cleanser he handed her, noticing the familiar scent of it. After washing her face, she dried off with a towel, the comforting scent lingering in the air.
She knew she couldn’t avoid facing the family again. Sighing heavily, she tidied herself up and stepped out of the bathroom. Tony, always a step behind her, slid his arm around her waist once more, his expression as calm as if nothing had happened. But Myra was acutely aware of how the tension between them hung in the air.
As they rejoined the others, everyone seemed to carry on as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. But Henry, ever observant, leaned toward Myra and whispered, “Did Tony bully you?”
His question was a relief to Myra, sparing her further embarrassment in front of the family. Dinner continued on, albeit with an undercurrent of tension that only Myra and Tony seemed to feel.
After the meal, Serena, sensing the awkwardness, quickly pulled Myra and Henry into the living room. She engaged them in light conversation about business matters, steering the discussion away from the earlier tension. The shift in focus made the atmosphere more relaxed.
Meanwhile, Tony wasn’t so lucky. As soon as dinner ended, his grandfather called him into the study. The scolding that followed was fierce, so much so that the crash of an ashtray hitting the floor echoed from upstairs. Myra flinched at the sound, her heart tightening in worry.
Serena, noticing Myra’s concern, glanced upstairs with a knowing smile. “What’s wrong? Are you worried about Tony?”
Myra hesitated. “I’m worried they might get violent…” Her voice trembled slightly.
Serena chuckled softly. “Don’t worry. Tony will probably talk back to Grandpa, but as for what Grandpa might do to Tony… well, that’s anyone’s guess.” She paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. “Tony’s been in trouble with Grandpa plenty of times before. I think the worst was when he nearly fractured his forehead.”
Myra’s eyes widened. “What happened?”
Serena shook her head with a laugh. “It was over a blind date Grandpa arranged for him. Tony kicked the poor woman out, and Grandpa didn’t take it well.” She smiled at Myra. “You see, Tony might seem calm and mature now, but back then, he was rebellious, like a completely different person. When I found out he was in love with you, I knew you were the one who could tame him.”
Myra’s heart fluttered at Serena’s words. She understood now—Tony’s domineering behavior came from his deep feelings for her. It was love, in all its complicated forms. She smiled at Serena, appreciating the understanding between them.
Just then, Henry entered the room with a plate of fruit salad, his face bright with excitement. “Look, Myra! I made you some fruit salad!”
Serena couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of her son’s affection for Myra. But she quickly turned to him with a knowing smile. “Henry, you should get to bed soon. You have school tomorrow.”
Henry sighed dramatically but obeyed. As he left, he turned back to Myra. “Don’t forget to eat it!”
Myra smiled warmly at him, grateful for his innocence and care. As he left the room, she allowed herself to relax, the events of the evening slowly fading into the background.