Chapter 116
Standing Before Love
âEstelle!â Myra spoke through clenched teeth. âIâm still married to Sean!â
âWell, it doesnât matter! Itâs just a matter of time before the divorce is finalized. Besides, I know that lately heâs been up to no good with Lyla recently. Iâve heard of how they wrongly accused you! Myra, donât keep giving him second chances. In fact, you should have gotten a divorce ages ago! I daresay, your graciousness is just giving him a chance to take advantage of you. As weâre talking, heâs probably plotting something else behind your back! Please donât fall prey to him once more.â
âNo, I wonât allow this to happen againâ¦â Myraâs voice trailed off.
âAnyway, it doesnât matter! All I want is for you to promise that youâll go after Tony and win his heart!â
Estelle pursed her lips as she set eyes on Myraâs troubled face, and she continued, âCome on, letâs be frank here. Donât tell me youâre not the least bit attracted to him?â
After all, Tony Hart was a legend in Bradfort City; there was no need to find out information on him from anywhere else. This was because her recent encounters with him were proof enough that she was attracted to him.
However, this was all pointless.
Her expression became quite downcast as she murmured, âEstelle⦠Do you know whatâs the biggest lesson Iâve learned from being in this marriage with Sean?â
âWhat do you mean?â Estelle instinctively furrowed her brows.
Myra took a deep breath, then she turned around to look Estelle squarely in the eyes. âIâve learned not to yearn for something that doesnât belong to me.â
Previously, she had always believed that as long as she tried hard enough, she would gain what she was after in return. However, she was proven wrong. The harsh reality was that despite putting in effort, anything that wasnât hers would never belong to her; the end result would always be disappointing.
Estelle argued, âHow can Sean be comparable to Tony?! Myra, youâre just slightly apprehensive after your failed marriage, but actuallyââ
Myra interjected, âThatâs quite likely, but it doesnât matter. Right now, all I want is to proceed with the divorce. As for Tony, well truthfully, heâs not part of any of my future plans.â
Right at this moment, Jack rushed over. He looked at the two girls apologetically before turning to Estelle and saying, âMy dear, the director has been hounding me for the past 30 minutes! He wants you ready on set as soon as possible. Can you please continue this conversation later?â
Myraâs disheartening words were grating to Estelleâs ears. Frustratedly, she was just about to go seek out Jack and ask for the rest of the day off. Just then, Myra got up from her chair abruptly and smiled at Jack before saying, âSheâs all yours now. Iâve got something else going on, so Iâll head off now.â
âMyra, hold on!!â Slightly annoyed, Estelle followed suit and got up from her seat. Facing Myra, she asked, âIâve never known of you to be such a coward. Tonyâs different! I understand your concerns, but you wouldnât be able to know the outcome unless you give it a try. I mean, you would never know. The two of you might be the perfect match for each other!â
âI donât want to try,â Myra replied firmly. She realized that in order to avoid a heartache, it was a wise idea to nip things in the bud from early on.
Dazedly, Myra recalled her encounter with Tony at the golf course the other day. He was smitten and had looked at her with such a tender, loving expression on his face. However, she took a deep breath and willed herself to say the following words, âIâm sorry, but Iâve made up my mind, Estelle.â She was completely exhausted right now.
Just then, Myra received a phone call from Eve. She had been expecting this phone call for a while now, for she knew this conversation was way overdue.
âMyra⦠Iâm aware that Sean has hurt you in many ways. Iâm sorry this happened and I would like to apologize to you on behalf of our family.â Eve chattered incessantly as Myra listened on. âHowever, trust me, Iâve always regarded you as my own daughterâ¦â
This was actually a difficult phone call for Eve to make. She was torn by guilt and this was eating at her.
However, she knew this was an absolutely necessary move.
As she listened to Eveâs words, Myra couldnât help feeling a sense of dejection. Tilly had described to her how Eve responded to the news of what happened between her and Sean. Shortly after she walked out from the company on that fateful day, Eve stormed into the place and slapped Lyla directly on the face. The reason was because she wanted to teach Lyla a lesson on Myraâs behalf. However, this was no longer Myraâs concern.
Her grip on the phone tightened as she stammered, âMom⦠I mean, Mrs. Chase, thank you for watching over me all these years. Iâve always looked up to you as a mother figure, and Iâm extremely grateful for all the affection youâve showered upon me.â
This was heartfelt as Myra had experienced endless warmth and love from Eve ever since her mother and grandfather passed away.
However, this was all short-lived. Soon, she would no longer be a part of the Chase family.
âMyra, I really hope there wonât be any hostility between us and between you and Sean. Itâs a shame your marriage didnât last, but I sincerely hope that you will fall in love again and find someone else who appreciates you.â As she spoke, Eveâs hands trembled. Noticing the look Lyla gave her, she then willed herself to convey the subsequent message. âMyra, can you pop over later on? I would like to have one last meal with you. Itâll be just the three of us, like the old times. Please? Just for old timeâs sake? This will likely be the last chance for us to see each other.â
Myra would never bear to hurt Eveâs feelings. Besides, she also wanted to pack up some of her belongings left at Chase Residence, so she accepted the invitation graciously and replied with a resounding, âSure!â
Myraâs car was still at the workshop after the incident with the construction workers. Therefore, Myra decided to take a cab to Eveâs. Just as she walked out of the lift, she noticed a familiar grayish-silver Bentley parked in front.
As soon as she came into view, the man in the car sounded the car horn, and soon after that, the car window was wound down; a handsome, well-sculpted face then appeared in front of her. He yelled out, âCome on, where are you headed? Iâll give you a ride!â
It was Tony in the car.
Myra was momentarily dazed as she cast her eyes on his beaming face. Recalling her conversation with Estelle, she felt apprehensive. Hence, she replied, âItâs alright. I can take a cab. What brought you here?â
âWould you believe it if I said I was just coincidentally in this area?â Tony casually responded as he raised his brows.
Subsequently, Myra fidgeted uneasily as she racked her brains, trying to find a comeback.
Tonyâs eyes twinkled when he noticed her trying to avoid his eyes. He chuckled and asked, âNow that weâre no longer working together, does this mean that the esteemed Miss Myra will no longer grace me with her presence?â
âThatâs not it!â Myra shook her head immediately.
Just then, she recalled Estelle mentioning that he had decided to cancel Lylaâs ambassadorship. For a split second, her thoughts also went toward the text message he sent her. He had comforted and reassured her that Sean and Lyla would not be able to lay a finger on her. Therefore, was this his way of exacting revenge on her behalf?
She then wondered, Was Estelle right about this? Are all of his current decisions because of me?
Suddenly, the door to the passenger side popped open. Tony had a slightly resigned look on his face as he remarked, âSurely weâre still considered friends even if weâre no longer working together! Why do you keep rejecting me? Youâre hurting my feelings!â
Although he mentioned his feelings were hurt by her, judging by the sparkle in his eyes, she knew it was more of a joke. She knew she shouldnât get into his car, but after some hesitation, she went ahead anyway.
âIâm going to Chase Residence.â Myra mentioned this with a bleak expression on her face.
As soon as she entered the car, he started the ignition and sped off. He raced off without stopping; it was as if he was afraid she would change her mind.
The journey was a fairly uneventful one. Myra stared out the window throughout the ride as she tried her best to avoid eye contact with him. Their conversation was fairly casual and both of them carefully avoided any mention of awkward topics.
Upon their arrival, Tony didnât go up the driveway but considerately parked his car two doors away.
Before getting off, Myra quickly muttered âthank youâ under her breath and reached out for the door handle.
Immediately after that, she felt a tight grip around her arms.
âMyra, do you loathe me?â
Myra was still reeling in shock by his touch when suddenly, she heard his low voice ring out from behind her. Startled, she turned her head back to look at him. The expression on his face that greeted her was a brooding look.