Chapter 90
The faint glow of the wall lamp cast an angled light on Sean, making his figure appear even taller and more imposing as he stood in front of the French window in the bedroom. His presence was stark against the backdrop of the evening, his silhouette commanding attention. Unlike Tony’s mixed-race elegance, which carried a certain noble refinement, Sean’s features were distinctly Asian. His high brow ridge gave his eyes a refined, piercing look, and his thin lips, set beneath a sharp nose, carried an air of cold detachment. His expression was not as unreadable as Tony’s, though; Sean’s icy demeanor was still raw and partially pretentious—likely a reflection of his immaturity. Maybe one day, Sean could become someone like Tony, Lyla mused, her eyes clouded with a hint of sadness.
As the thought crossed her mind, she paused in her task of drying her hair and sighed bitterly. “Sean… of course, I love you,” she began, her voice tinged with hesitation, “It’s just that… if you regret it and decide to chase after Myra again… I won’t blame you.”
Lyla’s sorrowful expression was not lost on Sean. He knew that his two-year marriage to Myra had left a lasting wound on Lyla, and the weight of it pressed down on him. He exhaled slowly, then tightened his embrace around her. “Lyla,” he murmured softly, “You know how I’ve been living these past two years. Even Myra could tell I’ve been waiting for you. Don’t worry, I’ve never loved her. I was just caring for her as my employee, since she’s the best designer at the Chase Group. But you… you’re the one I love, and you’re the woman I want to marry.”
At that moment, his heart overflowed with tenderness. But as he spoke those words, a strange flutter stirred within him, and he found himself wondering why his heart had skipped a beat when he said he never loved Myra.
“Lyla…” Her voice quivered as she moved closer, her tears brimming once again. She had just stepped out of the bathroom, wearing only Sean’s oversized bathrobe. The soft fabric dragged lightly on the floor, and the robe, too large for her, accentuated her slender waist. Her exposed neckline, framed by the robe, was enough to make Sean’s pulse quicken.
He couldn’t help but stare at the exposed skin, feeling the heat of his embrace intensify. His gaze darkened as his thoughts grew hazy. After two years of waiting, the woman he loved was finally in his arms. He felt the weight of this moment settle over him.
“Sean… I love you,” Lyla whispered, stepping onto her tiptoes, her trembling lips brushing against his thin ones. She kissed him, slow and tentative at first, but then more passionately, teasing him as she once did. The connection between them deepened, and Sean’s grip on her waist loosened, his gaze fixed on her as the bathrobe fell slightly, revealing her bare form beneath it.
Lyla, her face full of coyness, closed her eyes and pressed her body into his, her breath warm against his ear. “Sean… I’ve never been with anyone else. For the past two years… I’ve only been waiting for you.”
Before she could finish her sentence, Sean kissed her again, this time more urgently, and in a swift motion, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the large bed nearby.
Meanwhile, Myra had started to return to the Chase Group on occasion, dealing with the accumulated work she had neglected. She had planned to submit her resignation soon, as her marriage to Sean was nearing its end. She didn’t want to remain at the Chase Group after the divorce.
The gossip in the office was relentless. As Myra arrived one afternoon, Tilly eagerly approached her. “Miss Stark, you won’t believe it—Director Chase has gotten a new girlfriend! She’s a pianist who recently returned from the United States!”
Another colleague chimed in, “Yes, and they say she’s his first love! People are already betting on how long this relationship will last.”
Myra responded with an indifferent smile, “He probably won’t settle down this time either.”
Tilly shook her head, disagreeing. “Director Chase? He’s a notorious womanizer. He’ll never settle with anyone. For a man like him, only the unattainable women catch his eye. Trust me, it won’t last. Unlike my Dreamboat Tony, who’s a man of integrity and virtue. Whoever marries him will be the luckiest woman alive!”
As Tilly went on, animated and oblivious to Myra’s discomfort, Myra couldn’t help but chuckle. Tilly’s endless admiration for Tony was something Myra had long grown used to.
After finishing some work at the Chase Group, Myra went to the Hart Group for a meeting, then spent the afternoon overseeing a construction site. Days passed without incident, but Myra found herself increasingly adrift. Without a clear purpose or direction in her life, she drove aimlessly after leaving the site, unsure where she was headed. She didn’t want to return to a home that felt so cold and unwelcoming, and she had no one to confide in.
She picked up her phone, considering calling Estelle, but hesitated. She was worried that Estelle might be with Shawn and didn’t want to interrupt them. So, she put the phone down and continued driving, her thoughts spiraling.
When she finally realized where she had driven, she was stunned. Her car was parked outside the Hart Group’s building. Why did I park here? she wondered, her mind racing.
The answer was clear, though she didn’t want to admit it. Tony’s presence had been haunting her thoughts—his face, his expressions, even his rare moments of tenderness.
Just as she was about to start the car again, a deep voice interrupted her thoughts. “Myra?”
Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately recognized the voice. As she looked up, she saw Tony standing outside her car, his expression a mix of surprise and something else—something she couldn’t quite place. The frustration, awkwardness, and embarrassment she felt flickered across her face as she slapped the steering wheel.
Don’t overthink this, she told herself. Just stay calm.
She rolled down the window with a forced smile. “Hi, Director Hart… Fancy running into you like this.”
Tony raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “It’s not a coincidence. This is the Hart Group office. Didn’t you just finish your meeting this afternoon? What brings you here now?”
“Uh, nothing, really. I just… wanted to stop by,” Myra stammered, still trying to figure out why she had driven here. It took her a few moments to find the right words. “I went to the construction site this afternoon, so I’m just here to tell you that everything is fine with the site, Director Hart.”
Her voice wavered slightly, but she tried to keep her composure, even as her mind swirled with confusion.