Chapter 168
Throwing another cigarette butt to the ground, Sean suddenly found himself reflecting on the early days of his marriage to Myra.
Back then, she hadn’t seemed so weary and distant. She was filled with the optimism of a newlywed, always eager to care for him. Every morning, she made breakfast for him, and every evening, she greeted him with a smile, helping him with his coat. She remembered the smallest things about him—his birthday, his history with stomach issues, his preference for bland food, and all the things that made him who he was. Despite the lack of intimacy, she cared for him in ways that now seemed like distant memories.
As Sean thought back, he began to wonder if he had contributed to Myra’s misery. Had his actions, driven by his own desires, played a role in pushing her into despair?
Was his treatment of her driven by his attachment to Lyla, or had he been lying to himself, making excuses to justify his behavior?
Suddenly, a sharp headache struck, and Sean bent over, coughing uncontrollably. He threw the cigarette he had just lit out the window, feeling an overwhelming sense of discomfort. Memories he had long since buried resurfaced. He recalled the night he had gone to a bar, picking up a woman, and engaging in a one-night affair. The next morning, Myra had arrived to pick him up, only to find him still in bed with the woman.
Despite the situation, Myra didn’t react with anger or despair. She simply told him about a meeting at the company and left without another word. Sean’s mother had scolded him, but Myra had kept quiet. Over time, she grew colder, thinner, but still, she clung to their marriage, determined to make it work.
As Sean stared at his reflection in the rearview mirror, he wondered if things might have been different if he had treated her better. Would she have stayed?
The thought made him question his actions, and for the first time, he felt regret—real regret—over pushing Myra away.
Meanwhile, Myra was asleep, but her dreams were troubled. She found herself reliving a night from six years ago when she and Estelle had gone to a bar. It had been a noisy, chaotic place, but Estelle seemed to know the owner, and they were protected by bodyguards. That night, a street thug had taken an interest in Lyla, and a confrontation ensued with Sean. In the chaos, the thug had tried to harm Lyla, and Sean rushed to protect her.
But Myra had been the one to intervene, pushing them out of the way and taking the blow. The thug had struck her with a broken bottle, and she had fainted from the pain.
In her dream, Myra could only watch as the events unfolded, feeling like a bystander. She saw herself rush to stop the violence, but it was futile. The scene shifted, and Tony appeared before her, asking in a twisted voice, “Do you still have feelings for him? Why dream about him?”
Myra was taken aback. She knew she no longer had any feelings for Sean, so why was he still invading her dreams? She quickly reassured Tony, “I don’t like Sean anymore. You have to believe me.”
When she woke up the next morning, she found that Tony was no longer beside her. Her clothes from the previous day were neatly folded on the bedside table. For a moment, she was disoriented, unsure of where she was, but reality soon returned.
The bed beside her was cold, and she had no idea when Tony had gotten up. After quickly dressing and washing up, she went downstairs.
The dining room was filled with people, but Tony was absent. Henry was the first to notice her and hurried over, taking her hand. “Myra, you’re up early. Come, have breakfast. The driver can take you to the office after he drops me at school.”
Myra managed a smile. “You’re so kind, Henry. But… where’s your uncle?”
Henry rubbed his forehead. “I’m not sure. It seemed like something came up at the office. He was upset and didn’t eat breakfast. He just left.”
Myra frowned, though her expression barely showed her concern.
“Miss Stark, the food’s getting cold,” Serena called from nearby.
Myra nodded and followed Henry to the dining table. She greeted Sebastian and Lisa before sitting down next to Serena. After a while, Serena leaned closer and gently asked, “Did you and Tony have a disagreement last night?”
Myra was surprised. “No, we didn’t.”
It had seemed like they had made up, right?
Serena raised an eyebrow. “That’s odd…”
“What do you mean?”
Serena shook her head. “Never mind. You should give him a call. Maybe I’m just overthinking it.”
Myra’s heart fluttered uneasily as she nodded in agreement.
Before Myra left after breakfast, Lisa called her over. The older woman handed her a small red velvet box. “Take this,” she said, her tone brief but firm.