Chapter 196
As soon as Greta finished her words, Lyla felt as though her strength had been completely drained. She swayed for a moment before slowly collapsing to the ground.
Monday arrived, and it was business as usual for Myra. However, today felt slightly different. Tony was her driver, and he dropped her off directly at the front entrance of Stark Group. There was no longer any pretense—they weren’t hiding their relationship.
Before Myra exited the car, Tony leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. As he released her from his embrace, her face flushed a deep shade of red.
“I’ll pick you up later in the evening,” he said with a warm smile before driving off.
Not long after Myra stepped out of the car and started walking, someone abruptly bumped into her. Kris, with an exaggerated expression, exclaimed, “Excuse me, I didn’t even notice you were there!”
It was clear that Kris was trying to belittle Myra, and Myra, fully aware of her intention, replied calmly, “Your eyes are on top of your head, so what could you have possibly noticed?”
Kris’s smile faltered slightly, but she recovered quickly, her tone turning mocking. “Myra, does Tony know that you’re still involved with Sean while you’re seeing him?”
Myra furrowed her brow but kept her composure. “Go wherever you want, but don’t block the corridor.”
“This is a public space, and there’s nothing wrong with me standing here!” Kris moved closer, her voice growing colder. “Don’t assume that just because you’re in a relationship with Tony, you’ve won. The tides will turn. One day, I’ll make sure you’re the one who’s down and out, with no place left for you in the family or in Bradfort City.”
“‘Down and out’?” Myra sneered, her eyes hardening. “That’s a much more fitting description for you and your mother when you both pack your bags and leave the Stark Residence.”
Kris’s face twisted with scorn, and she sneered, “You think you’ve won, don’t you? Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not going anywhere. Mom and I will live a great life just to spite you!”
“Sure,” Myra said coolly as she brushed past Kris and continued walking toward the office. Today was the day Cameron would announce her appointment as general manager of Stark Group. The decision felt rushed, and she wasn’t entirely prepared for it. Still, if Kris wanted a comparison, Myra was happy to give her one.
Meanwhile, Kris stood behind, her chest rising and falling with anger. But she quickly regained her composure, a look of contempt flashing across her eyes.
Myra had expected her appointment to be a low-key affair, but Cameron had other plans. He invited all the department managers to a meeting specifically to congratulate her. Myra stood before them, delivered a few formal words, and the meeting ended with applause. However, just as everyone began to leave, Cameron stopped her.
She had been expecting this conversation ever since Cameron found out about her relationship with Tony.
Her face grew impatient as she watched the last person leave the room. When the door closed, Cameron approached and placed a hand on her back. “Myra, I’m so proud of you. Not only did you manage the Elsinore Garden Project well, but you’ve also won the favor of Director Hart from the Hart Group.”
His words had an undercurrent of something else, something less than sincere.
Myra couldn’t hide her contempt. She shrugged off his hand. “President Stark, you must be joking. The Elsinore Garden Project isn’t even finalized yet.”
“It’s only a matter of time,” he replied with a smile, then casually added, “By the way, there’s an issue with the licensing for the Times Square project on Prairie Road. Do you think you could hint to Director Hart—”
“President Stark, you need to realize there’s such a thing as too much greed.” Myra had already guessed where he was going with this. As she started walking away, she made herself clear. “If you ask for too much, you’ll end up with nothing.”
Behind her, Cameron’s expression darkened. As Myra left the meeting room, her chest tightened. She had known that once Cameron realized she was with Tony, he would try to exploit her position for his own gain. He’d always prioritized his own interests, so it wasn’t a surprise. But she wasn’t going to let him get away with it.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she took it out to check. It was a message from Sebastian.
‘Hey girl, are you working at Stark Group today?’
Myra quickly typed her response. ‘Yes, I am.’
‘Alright, stay nearby when you go for lunch. I’ll be delivering something interesting to you. 😊’
Her mood lightened immediately at the thought of Sebastian’s message, and she typed back with a smile. ‘Okay.’
After sending her reply, she tucked her phone back into her bag and headed toward her new office. With her promotion, her office had been upgraded as well, although Tilly still maintained her position as her subordinate. As they walked toward the office, Tilly couldn’t contain her excitement.
“Myra, is this all thanks to Director Hart?” Tilly asked, her voice a little dreamy. “Gosh, he’s so charismatic. And so romantic, too,” she added with a playful grin.
Myra flicked her on the forehead. “Other than being a busybody, what else can you do? Don’t forget, we have a dinner appointment with a client tonight. Make sure you’ve prepared all the documents.”
“No problem!” Tilly replied, scampering off to her desk.
Myra smiled as she watched her leave.
Later that afternoon, Myra was busy organizing some documents when she found herself staying in the office longer than her colleagues, who had already left for lunch. As she walked to the building’s first floor and was about to leave, the receptionist stopped her.
“Miss Stark, there’s a lady waiting to see you.”
Myra raised an eyebrow, confused. “Who is it?”
The receptionist hesitated, then said, “It’s Lyla.”
Myra’s heart sank. The last person she wanted to see.
She nodded to the receptionist. “Thanks for letting me know.” Then, after a moment’s thought, she walked toward the front entrance.
Lyla was waiting outside. Her face was pale, and she looked fragile. As soon as Myra approached, Lyla’s tears started falling. The receptionist and several staff members stood by, watching in shock.
Lyla, dressed in ballet flats, a midi dress, and a knee-length cardigan, looked nothing like the confident woman Myra had known before. She looked sickly, almost as though the weight of everything had taken its toll on her.
“Myra…” Lyla croaked, her voice barely audible. “I’m pregnant…”
For a moment, Myra stood frozen, stunned by the unexpected revelation. Then, her expression returned to its usual coldness. “Why are you here then? If you’re pregnant, you should be seeing a doctor, not me.”
Despite everything, Myra couldn’t hide her disgust. Lyla had caused her so much pain since arriving in Bradfort City. Myra was no saint, and she couldn’t pretend that all that hurt had simply vanished.
But then, Lyla did something Myra never expected. She knelt down in front of her, crying desperately.
Myra’s heart skipped a beat. She took a few steps back to distance herself from Lyla. She walked around her, trying to avoid being directly in her path. But Lyla wasn’t giving up.
Lyla grabbed her hand tightly, refusing to let go. “Myra, please. Leave Sean and me alone. I’m pregnant with his child. We’re a family now. Please don’t come between us.”
Myra stood still, trying to process the situation. It was a lot to take in, and Lyla’s desperation was only making it harder. As she thought about everything that had happened, she couldn’t shake the memory of her painful past with Sean, her heart still heavy with unresolved emotions.
Lyla’s words hung in the air, and Myra couldn’t help but wonder where this would lead.