Chapter 58
Standing Before Love
Sean hadnât wanted to bring Myra to the banquet, having changed his mind at the last minute.
However, when he got home today, an angry-looking Eve came up to him and demanded, âSean, did you and Myra have another fight?â
He did not answer but his own expression was sour after all that had happened recently.
After a long moment of hesitation, Eve pressed on, âIâll ask you this, Seanâare you still holding a grudge against Myra for what she did to the other woman and her unborn child?â
Eve hadnât wanted to bring this up because she hated talking about the other woman, but there was one other reason that kept her from asking Sean about this. Her heart clenched tightly. She knew that there was no easy way to go about this conundrumâit might even end up making things worse between Myra and Sean.
Seanâs face grew darker. âMom, Iâve married her just like you asked. What more do you want from me?â
âHow dumb can you possibly be?â Eve snapped, then sighed heavily as she continued, âWhy do you still blame Myra for hurting that child? Do you still love the other woman? Is that the reason?â
He looked up abruptly and his gaze darkened dangerously as he hissed, âYou know as well as I do what that woman did to me. Why would I still be in love with her if sheâs already moved on with another man?â
âSo why are you treating Myra so horribly?â Eve argued, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. âYou say this isnât about the womanâso does this have anything to do with her child? Is that child the reason why youâre being so cruel to Myra?â
âThat child wasnât just hers, he was mine, too! And he was supposed to be your grandchild!â Sean thundered, his voice threatening to freeze the air around them.
âMom, think about itâthat child wasnât even born yet, and Myra didnât think twice about getting rid of him. How do you expect me to live with a woman like that? Havenât I done enough? She asked for marriage and I gave it to her, but I never promised to love her.â
Upon hearing the words âthat child wasnât even born yetâ, Eve took a couple of steps back. She trembled as the past flashed in her mind.
She clenched her fists and her voice was hoarse as she said, âRegardless of what you think of Myra, canât you at least see all the things sheâs done for you all these years? I know what kind of person she is and you know this too, but you refuse to admit it. What if what happened in the past was only a misunderstanding? What if Myra didnât know the woman was pregnant? Sean, all Iâm asking is for you to stop treating Myra the way you do. The affection she has for you wonât last foreverâ¦â
Sean spent the entire afternoon cooped up in his office. He didnât change his mind in the end, and instead called Richard into his office.
Myraâs fingers tightened around her pen after she heard what Richard had said.
In the two years of their marriage, Sean rarely brought her along to formal events. She had thought that he hated her and after their relationship soured, he was even more unlikely to bring her along as a date.
Anxiety rose within her as she thought about the idea of attending the banquet with him.
As if reading her mind, Richard consoled, âPlease donât fret unnecessarily, Miss Myra. You are his wife, after all. Director Chase was only putting on an act with all those other women.â
âPutting on an act?â she repeated with a cold chuckle. After their big fight the other night, Sean had left to spend the night with a young model. Both of them made headlines in the tabloids the next day, with pictures of them looking as though they could not bear to part from one another. If all those were only an act, Myra dreaded to think how much he could truly hurt her.
Richard was still standing before her, looking awkward. Upon seeing this, Myra said flatly, âGo and get the car. Iâll wait for you outside the building.â
She had only agreed so that the rest of the office wouldnât grow curious about Richardâs presence. It was only a banquet, after all; Sean was probably only trying to put up a decent front. Though their marriage was kept under wraps, there were still many in the upper-class who knew about them anyway. She only had to do this for show, so there was really no reason for her to be bothered by it.
The traffic was clear along the way. When they arrived at the atelier, Myra was greeted by the service staff who came out to open the car door for her.
A womanâwho was the manager of the atelierâstepped up from among the staff, smiling at Myra as she said, âMrs. Chase, weâve readied the dress that Director Chase picked out for you. Itâs a limited edition and air-flown from Paris, too!â
Myra nodded and was about to head into the atelier when she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Hastily turning back with a stony expression, she caught a glimpse of the red Ferrari that was parked not too far away.
She had seen a woman get into that car after the latter came out of the atelier. That womanâ¦
Myra stiffened and without another thought, she rushed over to where the car was. However, the car started before she could reach it, and it drove away from the curb.
Myra stared after the red car in shock. If my guess is correctâ¦
Presently, the manager from the atelier approached her and asked cautiously, âMrs. Chase, is everything alright?â
âMiss Sherwood, who was that lady just now?â Myra demanded, her tone anxious.
The manager looked as though she wanted to evade the question and she chuckled awkwardly. âThat would be Miss Fisher. She was here to pick out an evening dress.â
âMiss Fisher? Wouldnât that be Lyââ Myra broke off. She ought to be relieved but for some reason, her heart raced even faster.
The dress that Sean picked out for Myra was exquisite. It was a simple, ivory-colored dress, worn off-
the-shoulder and hemmed at the knee. The only embellishments on it were the mother-of-pearls that were strung along the waist. The skirts were flared underneath a thin layer of tulle, adding a somewhat romantic touch to the dress.
This is the dress Sean picked out for me?
Standing outside the Ritz Carlton, Myra felt as though she was in a daze.
She couldnât remember the last time she had attended a banquet like this. She fidgeted in her dress and was beginning to feel out of place when a gentle female voice said close to her ear, âMiss Stark.â
She looked up and locked eyes with Serenaâthe eldest of the Hart siblings. Myra had seen her once at the Hart Residence and remembered that she was Henryâs mother.
Seeing as Serena was Sebastian Hartâs eldest granddaughter, she had been standing by the entrance to greet the guests and usher them in. She was surprised to see Myra but she was delighted too, if not more so.
She wasnât sure what Myra had said to Henry the other evening in the garden but later that night, he had come up to Serena and solemnly told her that he would stand by any of her decisions, as long as she was happy. After that, it was as though his entire demeanor shifted. Henry started making little gifts for her just to make her smile, which comforted and surprised her to no end. Serena hadnât expected any of this from himâafter all, this was the same child who had avidly protested against her divorce.
No matter how she saw it, Henryâs change in attitude could only be attributed to his conversation with Myra. Serena had wanted to thank her ever since, but there was no opportunity for her to do so, until today.
âAre you here today as Tonyâs date?â Serena asked, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. She came up to Myra, then clasped the latterâs hand in her own. âBy the way, Miss Stark, Iâve been meaning to thank you. You know youâre welcome at our place any timeâHenry absolutely adores you.â
It took a while before Myra realized what Serena was thanking her for. She recalled Henry, the little boy with whom she had a conversation the other night, and shook her head as she said, âYou donât have to thank me, Miss Hart. I like Henry, too. As for the banquetâ¦â she trailed off and winced slightly, unsure as to how she should phrase her words. âIâm not here with Director Hart.â
âArenât you here because Tony invited you?â Serena asked with wide eyes.
âMyraââ someone interjected, his voice a pleasant baritone.
Before Myra knew it, she was pulled into a loose embrace. The same voice then said, âYouâre here at last. Iâve been waiting for you for a while now.â