Chapter 14
Tony stood frozen for a moment, then rose to his full height, grabbing the black suit that had been draped on the chair beside him. He slipped it on with practiced ease and walked out of the room, leaving a lingering tension behind.
Meanwhile, Myra, still reeling from her emotions, stepped out of Zion Club, her head pounding. She wasn’t sure if the fever medication had worked because her body still felt off, but she pushed through. As she walked to the reception area, she sank down into a chair, hoping to catch her breath.
Her hand instinctively went to her forehead, which was burning hot. She sighed, planning to rest for just a little while longer before heading home. That’s when a group of people entered the club, and her gaze automatically shifted to the man leading them—Sean.
He wore a sharp gray suit, his sideburns meticulously groomed, his expression as cold as ever. Myra immediately recognized him. Of course, she hadn’t expected Sean to show up with his childhood friends at Zion Club.
The group was a typical sight in places like this: wealthy men, each with a beautiful woman on their arm. But the one in Sean’s embrace was different. She was quiet, shy even, dressed in a simple white dress with delicate makeup. She seemed docile and weak, leaning into Sean as if he was her anchor.
Myra’s chest tightened at the sight, and without thinking, she stood up to leave. But before she could make her way to the exit, one of Sean’s friends noticed her. Sean’s face instantly darkened when he saw her, and after releasing the woman from his arms, he walked over to her with a displeased expression.
Myra took her purse from the couch, intending to slip out the other way. But before she could, someone grabbed her wrist from behind.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Sean’s voice was cold, his grip firm.
Myra winced from the pain in her wrist as she turned to face him. Her gaze briefly flickered to the woman dressed in white, who was now watching them with an almost sorrowful expression. She’s making it seem like I’m the mistress here, Myra thought bitterly. A self-mocking smile tugged at her lips.
“My reason for being here is the same as yours,” Myra said, her voice steady but laced with underlying frustration.
Sean’s expression shifted, becoming sharper. “You said you had something to do tonight—was it really to come here and mess around?”
Myra’s eyes flashed with emotion. “Why? Are you the only one allowed to have fun with other women here? And I can’t do that too? Sean Chase, why do you have the right to fool around with someone new every day, while I’m expected to stay loyal in a loveless marriage? Have you ever once thought about how I feel when you’re with other women?”
Her words felt like a release of the pent-up frustration that had been building inside her for so long. She couldn’t hold back anymore. Perhaps it was Estelle’s words from earlier that night, or maybe it was the constant ache of abandonment that had worn her down. She couldn’t control her emotions any longer.
Sean, however, seemed to misunderstand her. He softened his expression slightly, though his voice remained stiff. “That woman… she’s just an act. I don’t even know her.”
Myra’s heart sank as her disappointment deepened. She didn’t respond to his words, instead muttering, “Whatever…”
She shook his hands away with more force than necessary, but as the dizziness washed over her again, she almost lost her balance. Sean, noticing her flushed face, immediately caught her, his concern evident.
“You’re running a fever,” he said, his frown deepening. “I’ll send you back.”
“Don’t bother,” Myra snapped, pulling away from him once again, though her voice held a mix of tears and bitter laughter. “I’m such an unreasonable woman, aren’t I? Why don’t you go console your other woman? I bet she’s been waiting for you for so long.”
Her words stung, but it was the despair in her eyes that made Sean hesitate. His breath caught in his chest, and he stepped forward, wanting to help her to her feet. But just then, Myra’s phone rang.
Without looking at the caller ID, she answered the call, her voice betraying none of the emotions swirling inside her. “Hello, who’s this?”
There was a slight tremble in her voice, but she masked it well. As she grabbed her purse, she exited the club, leaving Sean in stunned silence behind her.
“Miss Stark, this is Leo, Director Hart’s secretary. We’ve met before,” came Leo’s voice from the other end of the line.
Leo’s words were rushed, his nervousness evident, though he tried to hide it. He was speaking to Myra in front of his boss.
“Leo, is there something I can help you with?” Myra asked, her voice lowering as she walked toward the parking lot, her head still heavy from the fever.
She hoped that the call was about the Sunny Bay Project, but she had no way of knowing that the conversation would lead her down a different path entirely.