Standing Before Love (Myra and Sean)

The guilt in Eve tripled at the hurt in Myra’s voice. The latter did not have a scheming nature but she had been framed anyway. Eve grew angry at the thought of this and she said, “I never thought Miss Torres from the Hay Group could do something as distasteful as this! As for Miss Foster, I’ve called Sean and told him that he ought to take strict disciplinary actions against her. It wouldn’t be fair to you otherwise.”

She paused and gave Myra a comforting pat on the hand. “Besides, Richard told me that Sean’s been looking for evidence to clear your name. He doesn’t say it, but he truly cares for you.”

When Richard—Sean’s secretary—told her about this, Eve felt a huge sense of relief. She thought perhaps this might be an open gambit for both Myra and Sean to mend the broken pieces of their relationship.

Myra’s hand stiffened at this piece of news.

She still remembered what Mr. Xavier had told her in his office yesterday. Tilly had also mentioned something about Sean trying to clear her name. Could it be that he had believed in her all along though he refused to admit it?

Meanwhile, Eve was aware of Myra’s feelings for her son. For the past two years, the latter had stood by him despite all the resentment and hurt that he put her through. All the pain she had sustained, she kept to herself—Eve’s heart went out to her, but she couldn’t help but worry for her as well.

Seeing Myra like this, Eve was sure that Sean still held a special place in Myra’s heart. Relieved, she patted Myra’s hand and said placatingly, “You know how Sean is. Talk to him after he gets home from work. I know you’re attending Old Master Hart’s birthday banquet with him and according to the staff at the atelier, he’s had an evening dress made for you in Paris. It’s a limited edition and it’s being flown over as we speak! Myra, Sean really is changing for the better, and although he’s made mistakes in the past, I hope you won’t hold them against him. Try your best to look at the bigger picture and spend your days happily with him…”

That night, Myra tossed and turned in bed, but she could not find slumber.

She had grown desperate and hopeless over the span of the last two years. She even asked Sean for a divorce, but she knew she would not be able to live that down.

She had spent her best years loving him and she had given up so much for him; how could she leave without putting up a fight? Would that not mean that her love was as flimsy and fragile as a house of cards?

But should I put my trust in him again? Each time that she did, she ended up hurting herself more than the last and with every drop of blood she spilled, her courage went with it. Eventually, she was drained, and if she were to trust him again this time—

Her thoughts were cut off when the bedroom door slammed open with a bang.

bolted upright in shock and saw that the man she

be drunk as he staggered into the bedroom. He slammed the door shut behind him and began walking

on the bedside table, worried that he might trip over his own feet in

as a frozen lake. His almond-shaped eyes were a wintry slate as

she could react and out of the blue, his hand shot out

chin was suddenly in his iron grip. The stabbing pain that radiated from her old injury made her eyes tear up.

as she pushed at his arm. If anything, his grip only tightened on her jaw. Against her face,

have some nerve, Myra Stark! Some nerve!”

pain. “What the hell are you

in the dimness, her neck and collarbones exposed beneath the nightdress. His hand slid

know exactly what two grown ups could get up to in a bedroom. I’m only telling you this so

think, he had believed her enough to ask people to look into the plagiarism incident, just so he could help clear her name, only for

but it was not enough to placate his rage. “Are you so desperate to climb into bed with other men? Have

his eyes were growing red—he looked

a mixture of shock

an eyelash, and now that he had found out about her vulgar lifestyle, he ought to divorce her! But that would be playing into her devious plans and he refused to let

suddenly flung her

look on his face. However, before she could scream, he pinned her down on the bed. His lips slammed against

she couldn’t move. There was no gap in between them. With one hand, he grabbed both of hers before she could claw him and with