Chapter 108
Chapter Title: A Clash of Hearts
Tony released his grip on Myra’s arm, his attention drifting over to where Belle stood, isolated and clearly upset. The sight of her—chewing on her lip, eyes glistening with unshed tears—sent a pang of something unfamiliar through Myra. She couldn’t explain why, but it felt like a rush of disappointment as Tony began walking toward Belle.
Myra shook her head and turned her focus back to her golf swing, trying to block out the scene. She focused on the motion, just as Tony had taught her. Stay composed. Don’t let distractions take you off course, she reminded herself.
Belle, however, wasn’t content to stay quiet. As Tony approached her, she looked up at him, eyes red-rimmed, and asked in a voice laced with vulnerability, “Tony, is that woman… your girlfriend?”
The question hit Myra in a way she hadn’t expected. She wasn’t sure why it stung, but it did. She couldn’t bring herself to look at them directly as Belle continued, chewing her lip like a sad puppy. She was clearly hurt, and that was enough to make Myra’s heart tighten.
Belle’s voice quivered as she tried to make sense of things. “I thought… I thought Tony and I were going to be together. But you…” Her eyes flickered to Myra, still practicing her swing from a distance, and it was obvious she wasn’t happy about it. “What does she have that I don’t?”
Tony’s reaction was calm, almost detached. He didn’t respond immediately, instead reaching for the pack of cigarettes he had been holding off on earlier. He lit one, the flicker of the flame illuminating his chiseled features, before exhaling a cloud of smoke. He was unfazed, but his words, when they came, were blunt.
“She’s not,” Tony answered, his tone casual.
Belle looked up, her brows furrowing slightly. “She’s not?”
Tony took another drag from his cigarette, his gaze sweeping to where Myra was still struggling to perfect her form. There was a quiet tenderness in his eyes, but the words he spoke next would leave Belle reeling.
“But she will be.”
The words hit Belle like a slap to the face. She looked at Myra, her mind racing. How could a woman like her—ordinary, just a simple office worker—compete with Belle? Myra wasn’t from an influential family, didn’t have the prestigious background, and didn’t have the kind of social standing Belle was used to.
“Why?” Belle cried out, her tears spilling uncontrollably now. “Why her? What does she have that I don’t? I have more than she could ever dream of. I’ve been abroad, I have family connections, and I’m… I’m not ugly!” She wiped at her eyes, her hands trembling in frustration. “Why her, Tony?”
Tony leaned in closer, the smoke from his cigarette swirling around him. He seemed lost in thought for a moment before he replied, his voice softer than before.
“She doesn’t have to be perfect,” he said, the words weighted with something deep and unspoken. “She already is. As long as I’m with her, that’s enough.”
Belle’s face crumpled in shock. The tenderness in Tony’s voice shook her. It was something she hadn’t expected, and it hurt more than anything. She took a step back, tears continuing to fall, her hands fisted in frustration.
“You’ll regret choosing her over me, Tony!” she shouted through her tears, her voice cracking. She turned and stormed off, disappearing into the restroom before Tony could respond.
Tony didn’t look after her. Instead, he dropped his cigarette into the bin with a casual flick, his face unreadable. His gaze shifted back to Myra, his eyes softening as he watched her, a rare gentleness filling his expression. There was no doubt in his mind now—Myra was the one he wanted.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the moment. He answered, his face hardening as a familiar voice filled his ear.