Chapter 63
Myra inhaled sharply, her mind racing as she checked her body. Relief flooded her when she realized she was still in the same gown she had worn at the banquet. My body hasn’t been touched by anyone… she thought, a quiet comfort in the reassurance that she wasn’t violated.
She struggled to sit up, the dizziness from her sudden movements overwhelming her. She clutched the blanket for support, her head spinning, before finally managing to rise and make her way out of the room.
Once on the first floor, she noticed that most of the guests had already left. She pulled out her phone, hoping for a message or missed call from Sean, but found nothing. Anxious, she dialed his number—only for it to ring unanswered. Her hand trembled, but she tried again. This time, the phone went straight to voicemail.
As she stood there, her heart sank. Thoughts of the woman she had seen earlier flashed through her mind, and a painful realization settled in: This is why Sean doesn’t love me. Lyla was a part of him, a past that could never be erased. Even though he hated her, she would always hold a place in his heart. Now that Lyla had returned, what would happen to them?
A voice broke through her thoughts. “Excuse me! I have some large items here! Watch out!”
Myra’s reddened eyes and blurry vision couldn’t focus fast enough, and before she realized it, a waiter pushing a cart loaded with wooden planks was rushing toward her.
“Careful!” A low, soothing voice echoed near her ear, and in a split second, Myra found herself caught in a firm embrace.
“Director Hart!” The waiter gasped, realizing he nearly collided with Tony. He quickly apologized, but Tony dismissed him with a wave of his hand. The waiter hurried off, pushing the cart away.
Myra, still dazed, registered the warm scent of mint, tobacco, and a faint trace of red wine in Tony’s embrace. The feeling of his strong arms around her was oddly familiar, and in her foggy state, she mumbled, “Sean…”
Tony’s expression darkened, and his hands stiffened around her. After a moment, he gently pulled away. “Miss Stark, please try to stand steadily,” he said, his voice emotionless but firm.
The sudden loss of warmth made Myra’s legs falter. She crumbled to the floor, feeling weaker than before. A frustrated sigh escaped Tony as he bent down and swept her back into his arms.
Myra’s face pressed against his chest, her nose stinging. Tears welled up in her eyes, and without control, they began to fall. She grasped his strong arms, apologizing through her sobs. “I’m sorry… It was an accident… I… couldn’t stand steadily…”
She had never lost her composure like this before, and yet, the first time it happened, it was in front of Tony. His gaze softened as he silently watched her tears fall, and after a while, he sighed again.
Without a word, he lifted her in his arms, holding her close as he began walking.
“Please don’t mind me…” she murmured, trying to regain some composure. Although there were fewer people in the hotel now, the few remaining guests still witnessed Tony carrying her through the lobby.
Tony’s face remained impassive as he glanced down at her, but he didn’t set her down. There was a quiet tenderness in the way he held her that made her feel something she couldn’t explain. His embrace wasn’t cold like Sean’s—there was warmth, and an unspoken comfort that she wasn’t used to.
Once outside the Ritz Carlton, Tony carefully settled Myra in the passenger seat of his car. The staff opened the door for them, wishing him a safe journey.
As he buckled her in, he noticed her unease and spoke in a calm, reassuring tone. “You accidentally consumed champagne with something added in it tonight. It’s normal for you to feel weak.”
Myra’s eyes widened in shock. Champagne with something added? The realization hit her like a wave. The champagne I drank… could it have been spiked with a drug?
Tony caught the shock on her face and his mood lightened a little. She looked so vulnerable, like a frightened kitten, which softened his expression. He settled into the driver’s seat and leaned toward her, his voice low and soothing. “Don’t worry. Philip took care of the residual drug in your system. You just need to rest, and you’ll be fine.”
His breath was warm as it brushed against her cheek, and her face flushed with an unexpected heat. She instinctively pulled back, but Tony, perhaps intentionally, leaned closer.
His face was dangerously close now, and Myra’s heart raced as she froze. The memory of their earlier interactions in the changing room flashed through her mind. Subconsciously, she reached out, her trembling hands pressing lightly against his chest. Before she could process what was happening, she heard a click—Tony had backed off, sitting up straight again.
Myra glanced at her seatbelt, still buckled in place, and felt a strange sense of disorientation. She realized, with some embarrassment, that she shouldn’t have gotten in the car at all, but her decision had been made in a haze, perhaps influenced by the alcohol.
“Thanks,” she murmured after a long pause. Tony had taken care of her, ensuring that someone had tended to her after the drugged champagne. Without his help, who knew what could have happened?
“You’re welcome, Miss Stark,” Tony replied coolly, though his eyes softened when he noticed her flushed face. The redness reminded him of the warmth he had felt when he held her earlier.
The car radio played softly in the background, and an entertainment news segment caught Myra’s attention. The host discussed a famous celebrity’s messy divorce, caused by her discovery of her husband’s infidelity. The host advised the female listeners to be cautious when choosing a life partner, emphasizing that a woman’s greatest happiness was finding a man who truly loved her.
Myra’s attention wavered as the words resonated with her. Her grandfather had warned her years ago, before she had agreed to marry Sean, that Sean didn’t love her. But back then, blinded by love, she hadn’t listened. Now, she understood what her grandfather meant, but it was too late.
Lyla’s return had dealt a blow to her heart, and the overwhelming sadness left her numb. The words from the radio barely registered as the car slowed to a stop. Myra didn’t even notice until the seatbelt clicked open.
Tony gently pulled her toward him, guiding her into his embrace as he stepped out of the car. Before Myra could make sense of what was happening, his lips descended on hers in a kiss. The heat of his touch and the firm strength of his arms made her forget everything else, her world narrowing to the sensation of his embrace.