Chapter 59
Serena’s eyes narrowed as she observed the man who was holding Myra in his arms. When Henry had mentioned that Miss Stark was a friend of Tony’s, she had assumed Myra might be Tony’s girlfriend—after all, Tony didn’t keep many female friends, let alone bring them home. But now, seeing Myra so intimately connected to this man, Serena’s suspicions deepened.
With a courteous smile, Serena asked, “And who might this be?”
Before Myra could respond, Sean interjected smoothly, “Miss Hart, I believe you’ve already met my wife. I’m Sean Chase, from the Chase Group. We’re here for Old Master Hart’s birthday banquet.”
Serena’s smile faltered slightly, her gaze shifting between Sean and Myra. A sigh escaped her as she glanced at Myra, then turned back to Sean, her tone warm but cautious. “On behalf of my grandfather, I thank you for coming. Please, go ahead inside.”
Myra nodded silently at Serena, her heart thumping as she followed Sean through the entrance, his arm still wrapped around her shoulders. As they walked, Sean’s grip tightened slightly, making her glance up at him.
“Did he just introduce me as his wife?” Myra thought, the question gnawing at her. A whirlwind of emotions surged through her. Could it be that Sean truly saw her as his wife, or was it all just a show for the event?
Tears pricked her eyes, but she quickly steadied herself. She couldn’t let herself believe that any of this was real. They were merely playing a role, nothing more.
As they made their way through the crowd, Myra’s eyes caught sight of a familiar figure—the silver-gray Bentley Musanne pulling up at the entrance. A voice called out, “Director Hart!” and Myra’s heart skipped a beat as Tony stepped out of the vehicle.
Dressed in his usual black suit and white shirt, he was as striking as ever. His presence commanded attention. She had always known Tony had this ability to stand out, no matter where he was. And then their eyes met.
Her breath caught in her throat. Was he still looking at her?
Just then, a sharp pain shot through her arm as Sean’s grip tightened, pulling her attention away from Tony. “Be sure to address him,” Sean murmured coldly, his eyes locking with hers in a warning.
Myra bit her lip, pushing down the anxiety creeping up on her. She shifted her gaze back to Tony and his gaze met hers again, but she quickly averted her eyes.
When Tony saw the “happily married” couple, his expression darkened instantly. His gaze was cold, like a storm gathering strength.
“Tony, please don’t tell me you actually have feelings for Miss Stark—or should I say, Mrs. Chase?” Serena’s voice was low and laced with concern. She had seen Tony’s reaction to Myra, and she didn’t like what she was witnessing.
“So what if she’s married?” Tony replied nonchalantly, shrugging, before striding away from his sister, clearly uninterested in her concerns.
Serena could only watch helplessly as Tony walked off, a weight settling in her chest.
Inside the Ritz Carlton, the atmosphere was formal and high-society. The guests were mingling in groups, and Myra followed Sean as they moved through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with business associates. Myra couldn’t help but feel out of place. She was already tipsy from the wine they had shared, her head buzzing slightly from the unfamiliar feeling of being in such a sophisticated setting.
Sean didn’t offer to take her glass, even though he knew she wasn’t great with alcohol. They had just moved away from a conversation with some of his acquaintances when they ran into Tony and Damian Hart.
Tony was a well-known figure in Bradfort City, especially since taking over the Hart Group. His commanding presence made him stand out, even in a room full of business elites. Damian, on the other hand, was a more reserved figure, a military man who rarely made appearances at social events.
Sean greeted them both with a cordial smile, wrapping an arm around Myra’s shoulders as he approached. “General Hart, Director Hart, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I saw Old Master Hart, but he looked so busy that I didn’t get to wish him a happy birthday.”
Damian froze for a moment, his eyes flickering with curiosity, while Tony simply gave a small, polite nod.
Tony raised his glass and offered a slight smile. “The pleasure is ours, Director Chase. Thank you for attending our grandfather’s birthday banquet. And thank you, Mrs. Chase,” he added, his eyes lingering on Myra.
Myra’s hands clenched involuntarily at the cold amusement in his gaze. His words felt like a jab, and the tension in her body didn’t go unnoticed by Sean, who stepped in front of her, blocking Tony’s view.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Director Chase,” Damian said, his tone light, but there was something calculating behind his words. “We have many guests tonight, so we apologize if we can’t attend to you more.”
Sean nodded with a distant smile, replying, “Don’t worry about it.”
“Well then, if you’ll excuse us, Director and Mrs. Chase,” Damian said, a polite smile on his lips as he steered Tony away, sensing that something was off between his brother and the Chases.
As Tony walked away, Sean’s eyes narrowed. His grip on Myra’s arm tightened, and without another word, he began to pull her toward the back gardens.
Meanwhile, Damian cast a sideways glance at Tony, who seemed unusually tense. “Tony, did you go up against them on purpose?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Everyone knew that Sebastian Hart preferred a quiet celebration, but this particular birthday banquet had turned into a spectacle of matchmaking. Every respectable family in Bradfort City had sent their unmarried daughters, hoping to catch the old man’s eye. But it seemed like Tony had his own agenda for the evening.
Damian sighed, sensing his brother’s mood, but said nothing as they made their way deeper into the crowd.