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.”