Chapter 65
Myra continued to call Tony a jerk, but deep down, she knew it was just a kiss. It shouldn’t have been enough to make her feel so terrible. The real reason behind her distress was something much deeper—the feeling of being unnoticed, uncared for by the man who should have been there for her.
Then, unexpectedly, she felt Tony’s arms around her, and a soft sigh brushed against her ear. She froze, her body tensing. But this time, Tony didn’t try to do anything further. He simply held her, offering no further advances.
Myra’s sobs grew louder in his embrace. She wasn’t pushing away from him, not because she didn’t want to, but because she lacked the strength to do so. The warmth of his chest against her felt strangely comforting, even though everything inside her screamed for release from this moment.
Outside, the street was bustling with pedestrians and cars, but inside the car, it felt like a still, unspoken tension lingered between them. Tony remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the world outside the window, and for a long while, it was unclear what was going through his mind.
When Myra finally became aware of her surroundings, the car had already been parked not far from the Chase Residence. The dim streetlights outside barely penetrated the dark interior, casting an almost eerie atmosphere within the car. Yet, in the midst of the shadows, she could make out Tony sitting at the wheel, casually holding a cigarette between his fingers, his arm resting on the window. The smoke curled around him, adding to the mystery of his expression, which was unreadable, complicated.
As though sensing she was awake, Tony turned toward her, tossing the cigarette butt out of the window. His eyes, once cold, softened slightly as he observed her. “You’re awake,” he said, his voice calm.
Myra sat up, a slight sense of relief washing over her as her strength returned. She was beginning to regain control over her body. However, when she moved, a black suit slipped off her shoulders, and she stared at it blankly for a moment, too exhausted to ask any questions. Her head throbbed, her body ached, and a dull pain was settling in her chest. But the emotional storm she had just experienced was calming now, and she took a deep breath.
As she lifted her gaze to Tony, she saw the gentleness in his eyes that contrasted with his usual stoic expression. His warmth stirred memories of their time together—his unwavering belief in her during the Hart Group misunderstanding, his quiet affection that had felt so sincere, the way he had defended her in the plagiarism case, and the photo he had used to clear her name. She hadn’t thought much of it then, but now she realized the photo had been taken from a distance and angle that only someone hidden could have captured. Why would he have taken it unless there was some deeper intent?
It made her question everything about their interactions. “Director Hart, are you planning to have an affair with me?” she asked, her voice steady but laced with the uncertainty of her own realization. She had always thought Tony was different from the men in high-powered firms, that he didn’t operate by the same rules. But now, she wondered if she had been wrong all along.
Tony’s gaze grew warmer, but his voice remained cryptic as he replied, “If possible, I’d like to change the word you used.”
Myra was taken aback. She had expected him to deny it or brush her off, but instead, he was being… thoughtful? She wasn’t sure what to make of it, so she pressed on. “Director Hart, I remember telling you that I am a married woman. Don’t you care?”
“Why should I care?” Tony’s response was so blunt, it left her momentarily speechless. His directness stung, and she looked away, hurt. “But I care,” she murmured softly, the words escaping her before she could stop them.
The tension in the car thickened, and Tony’s expression darkened as he narrowed his eyes. Myra continued, pushing through the discomfort. “Director Hart, I noticed your intentions, but I thought it was just a misunderstanding on my part, until that day in the hotel. I’m thankful for all your help, but I won’t sacrifice myself for the project. I will do my best for the Sunny Bay Project, but that’s all I can give.”
Her voice faltered, but she couldn’t hold back the truth any longer. After the pain Sean had caused her, she couldn’t face this uncomfortable situation with Tony any longer. But as much as she wanted to avoid it, she would have to work with him again, and they needed to clear the air.
The temperature in the car dropped sharply. Myra’s words seemed to have set something off inside Tony, and his icy gaze locked onto her. She could feel the weight of his stare as if he was dissecting every word she had said. Fearing his response, she tried to open the car door, but it was locked with a sharp click.
“What do you want?” Myra asked, frustration building as she turned to face him. His expression was stormy, and his presence felt overpowering.
Tony’s tone was cold as he spoke, “Give your all and do your best in the Sunny Bay Project? How exactly do you plan to do that?”
The mocking tone in his voice made Myra’s fists clench. She turned away, trying to maintain her composure. “Director Hart, are you threatening me with the Sunny Bay Project? I’m married, and I love my husband very much.”
Her words, spoken with a mixture of pride and defiance, were meant to cut him off, to signal that she was not someone who could be bought or manipulated. But to Tony, they sounded like an invitation to dig deeper. His response was swift, and his words cut through her defenses. “That kind of husband?” His voice dripped with disdain.
The words sent a chill through Myra. The memory of Sean’s dismissive expression when he saw Lyla at the banquet flooded her mind. The humiliation, the self-deception she had tried to maintain, all came crashing down. She couldn’t lie to herself anymore—not after what had happened.
Before she could reply, Tony lit another cigarette, his demeanor indifferent. “Miss Stark, I didn’t know you were the kind of person who could be so generous with her husband fooling around with other women.”
Myra’s anger flared, but no words came. She trembled, unable to respond to the cruelty in his tone. The door clicked open, but it felt more like a trap than an escape. She was about to leave, but his voice stopped her.
“Miss Stark, I believe you still owe me a thank you, yes?”
The coldness in his words made her freeze. She couldn’t believe he was still acting like this after everything that had happened. With a deep breath, she forced herself to mutter a thank you without turning to face him. She took a few steps away from the car, but then stopped, realizing that this situation wasn’t over.
She hesitated before speaking again. “The Chase and the Hart Group will still collaborate in the future. It’s best if we pretend that nothing happened today.”
Her words were meant to smooth things over, to make peace, to ensure that their business dealings wouldn’t be affected by their personal issues. But it was clear that she had underestimated the situation. Tony’s eyes darkened as he processed her words, and a bitter sneer curled his lips.
“I wondered what could have happened today,” he said coldly.
Myra froze, unable to react before the car engine roared to life. The car sped off, leaving her standing in the street, alone. The bitter taste of her naïveté lingered as she watched the taillights disappear into the night.