Chapter 199
Sebastian’s face remained impassive, but there was a subtle hint of mockery in his eyes. As Sean noticed this, a deep unease spread across his features.
Lately, Sean had been wrestling with complicated feelings towards Myra. After hearing Lyla’s account, he had jumped to conclusions, blaming Myra, as he always did. It had become almost second nature for him to assume that Myra was always in the wrong. Never once had he truly allowed her a chance to explain herself, nor had he ever placed much trust in her words.
A wave of realization hit Sean, and his expression darkened.
For her part, Myra stood stunned by Sebastian’s words. A warm feeling blossomed inside her heart. She knew Sebastian’s impassive demeanor was just a facade. Despite the tough exterior, he had always defended her when it mattered. He reminded her of her late grandfather, who had once stood up for her just as steadfastly. Now, besides Tony, Sebastian was the only one who had that unwavering faith in her.
Sebastian broke the tension, his voice laced with nonchalance. “There’s a way to prove today’s incident,” he said, his arms crossed behind his back as he shot a glance at Lyla, still held tightly in Sean’s embrace. Lyla immediately tightened her grip on Sean’s shirt. Sebastian’s voice grew cold. “However, I reckon someone might not want the truth to come out. Do you still want a fair trial for the woman in your arms, Chase boy?”
The sharp shift in Sebastian’s tone stung. His use of “Chase boy” felt as though he had stripped Sean of his authority, reducing him by generations.
Sean’s face turned ashen at the implication.
Lyla remained silent, visibly trembling in Sean’s arms.
Sean, now realizing the weight of the situation, found himself unwilling to face the truth. The discomfort gnawed at him, but instead of confronting it, he chose to leave. He turned and walked out of the building, his expression stoic, even though Lyla could feel his tight grip, his fingers nearly crushing her hand.
The sunlight outside bathed the fountain in a soft glow, creating a miniature rainbow in the mist of water droplets. Yet, despite the beauty of the moment, Sean remained distant, his gaze unfocused.
Lyla, on the other hand, was far more anxious. “Sean…” she whimpered as her tears streaked down her face. “Do you believe Myra’s words? Do you think I’m the one who…?” Her voice quivered with vulnerability. “I understand what Old Master Hart was implying. He wants to see the security footage. I’m not afraid of that, but I don’t want you going against him. He’s the chairman of the Hart Group. We can’t afford to offend him…”
Lyla’s grip on his shirt tightened as she continued, “But… today, it was so close… Our baby… I almost lost our child again…”
Sean’s heart softened at her words, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he lowered his gaze and finally spoke. “Earlier, did you accuse Myra of pursuing me?” His tone was calm, but his eyes were searching hers.
Lyla froze, meeting his calm gaze with disbelief. She bit her lip, her heart racing. “You… You’d rather believe Myra than me?” Her voice cracked. “Have you forgotten that she caused the death of our unborn child?”
The pain in her words struck Sean, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. He just watched as Lyla tried to pull away from his embrace, but this time, he didn’t stop her. He allowed her to stand on her own, something that seemed to hurt more than he anticipated.
Lyla, flustered, quickly tried to salvage the situation. “No, Sean! Please, I know I’ve been insecure. But you love me, right? You’re still with me because of our baby. We’ll have a beautiful future together, I promise.”
Her tear-streaked face, combined with her disheveled appearance, tugged at Sean’s heartstrings. Despite his inner turmoil, he understood that Lyla was fragile, both physically and emotionally. She was carrying his child, and he had to take care of her. The doctor had said as much earlier, emphasizing how crucial it was for her to remain calm and supported.
Sean thought back to the conversation he had overheard between Myra and Sebastian. It was clear Myra had cultivated strong ties with the Hart family, especially Sebastian, who had just shown his unwavering support for her. Even the thermos Sebastian had handed to her contained chicken soup — a small but telling gesture.
Sean couldn’t deny the connection between Myra and the Hart family, but his thoughts quickly darkened. “Myra’s not as calm as she pretends to be,” he thought. “She’s always scheming behind the scenes.” His thoughts raced as he concluded that Myra’s interactions with Sebastian were part of a larger plan to secure her place in the family.
But right now, Lyla needed him. He pulled her closer, trying to ease her anxiety. “Of course, we’ll have a happy life together,” he reassured her, though a part of him wondered if he truly believed it.
Lyla’s tears softened as she whispered, “I knew you still loved me, Sean…”
Her words reached him, but so did a wave of uncertainty. Deep down, a voice inside him begged to ask the tough questions, to confront his feelings for Myra, but he pushed it aside. He didn’t want to face it, not now. Not when everything seemed so fragile.
“Enough of that, silly girl. Let’s get you to the hospital, and I’ll come back tonight. I’ll make things right with Mom too. You know she didn’t mean what she said.” He spoke gently, trying to reassure her that everything would be okay.
Lyla nodded meekly, her face still a mess from her tears. “I’ll try to get along with your mom. I won’t put you in a difficult position, I promise.”
As Sean led her away, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that things were far from settled.