Chapter 28: Chapter 28

The first thing Myra realised when she woke up the next morning was how her head throbbed. It was the first time she had thrown up after a few glasses. She normally had a good tolerance for alcohol. Maybe she hadn’t been sleeping well these days because of guilt, so she reassured herself.

It was a mystery how she had even got home. Would the badass Lionel even give in and give her a lift home? That was hardly possible. He didn’t know where she lived. Or had it been Lillian? She scratched her head, sorting her dishevelled mound of hair. She had to be an emotional mess right now in the mirror.

She had changed clothes, even if she had no memory of doing so. Probably one of the girls had helped her.

Did she create a ruckus last night at the party? Had she got drunk easily and fled the scene, she was skeptical if the whizzes would give her a hand with her studies now. It was borderline dangerous. She had to keep up with her grades, or it would affect her internship.

A few knocks followed, prompting her response. She hurriedly pulled the blanket over her.

“Come in!”

Hart strode in, looking as charming as ever in his casual wear. At the sight of him, part of her was relieved. But she knew the guilt remained.

“Did you have a good sleep, my princess?” He bowed valiantly. She nodded hesitantly.

“I’m just having a headache. It’s just the weather, I guess.”

He didn’t ask more, but just handed her a glass of lukewarm water that he poured from a jug nearby. She rummaged through her bedside drawer for two tablets of paracetamol, and downed them with the water he handed her. So, Hart must have come to her rescue last night.

After some minutes, she felt a lot better. She didn’t confirm her guesses with Hart but instead, she asked him about his job.

“Has your work made you busy lately? I’ve been trying to call, but there was no answer.”

His hand unconsciously went to his head. There was a lot on his mind, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell her what had happened between him and Waley. In the end, he just nodded.

“Yeah, I’m set up with this girl from another company. We are collaborating on a project, and I might not have so much time to spend with you, dear. But I’ll try.”

Try? Was this the best he could say to her? After how he had been thinking about how Waley resembled Milla, day and night?

That uncomfortable feeling was right there inside him. He knew the answer; he just wanted both. While he couldn’t stop thinking about how Waley resembled Milla, just only a bit better because of her eccentric habits and her openness, not to mention her capability at work.

He wanted to see more of Waley, but on the other hand, it disturbed him that he was cheating on Myra. He told her he loved her, but when Waley appeared, he no longer knew whether he could continue that promise to her in future. He still hadn’t solved the mystery about the birthmark and if Waley was Milla. But whether or not that Waley was Milla, it surely didn’t matter anymore. It happened now, that he was intrigued and obsessed with Waley.

This was so wrong. He had to make it up to Myra. After all, it was the weekend.

“Hart, I have something to tell you.”

She swallowed, chewing on her lower lip nervously as she stood up from the bed and as she moved closer to him, she carelessly tripped on a fold on the carpet. Her recklessness threw her into his arms, and instinctively Hart embraced her tightly.

The sparks were still there, weren’t they? He closed his eyes and placed his lips on her, running his fingers over her nightdress till he found her buttons. Then he opened his eyes once more and started to do his magic.

Things were going to get better, she told herself, allowing him to undress her. He was her boyfriend after all, wasn’t he? She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as Hart lifted her into his arms easily and took her back to the bed. Feeling his touch reminded her of their past, but why did she feel that they were strangers?

Their clothes were now a messy heap on the floor. She submitted to him as he mounted her slowly, the warmth of his chest gluing her to him. She breathed fast and hard, knowing it was the moment she should atone for her wrongdoings. She and Jake weren’t meant to be from the beginning, but Hart was her man.

“You’re so hot, Myra,” he whispered. “I can’t wait to be inside you, sweetie.”

Myra stifled a moan. Even if her heart still fawned after Jake, it could be different after this one incident. Then it hit her hard. Hart had never bothered to use protection. The fact she had stopped taking the pill could mean it could turn out differently. By now, she hadn’t seen her ‘good friend’ for about three weeks now. Could she be…

She halted herself in her thoughts. Would Hart be ready to be a parent? And would she be?

But if she was indeed in this arduous position, it could change the fact she was to marry Jake. Even with an engagement arranged by their families, no man would be willing to raise another man’s child as his own.

But before Hart could do anything more, his cellphone rang.

“I’m sorry, Myra, give me a few minutes. It’s work.”

She sighed as she saw his magnificent behind disappear into the corner. She understood his work was highly confidential, but work on a weekend? Did he need to be so secretive even with her?

The caller’s name started with W. She knew that among his colleagues and his uncle, none of their names started with W. He had to be speaking with that ‘girl from another company’.

“You know you can ask me anything, dear. In the future, no secrets, no bottling up questions.”

Hart’s voice rang in her head, triggering another guilty response inside her. She felt so bad because she harboured feelings for Jake, even when he had hurt her in the past. Even if she had misunderstood him that night, it didn’t matter anymore. She had Hart now, but why couldn’t she put down her first love?

There were just too many secrets she had kept hidden from the man who had swore to protect her. She didn’t know what to do. She was now quite the sinner.

She had to allow him to have her, to bring those feelings for Hart back. Those feelings that she had for Hart in the two months they had been together, that she hadn’t thought about Jake. Until Jake suddenly resurfaced...

[But you can’t hide from your feelings for long.] A voice resounded inside her. It had to be her inner voice again. That voice was right. Even if she avoided Jake for an eternity, she couldn’t mask her feelings for him. She was in such a dilemma.

Twenty minutes had passed. Hart seemed to be still on the phone, so she took up the blanket from her naked body and pulled open her secret compartment of her bed, before taking out the sexy lace lingerie she had bought yet kept for a special occasion. Maybe this was what they needed. A little spice.

Putting it on carefully, she tiptoed to the corner where he attended his call. But the moment he turned around, not seeing her, she was taken aback by what she saw on her lover’s face.

Hart was smiling idiotically like a playful teenager, at the same time looking entranced. She had never seen him so happy since they were running from his father’s people in Bali. She wasn’t mistaken, he bore the visage of a fool in love.

She wanted to call out her name, but she stopped herself and continued eavesdropping on his conversation.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll be over soon. Just give me half an hour.” His voice sounded seductive. She recognised his smiles and his acts to be flirting with the girl whose name started with W.

Baby? Her chest hurt suddenly, feeling his deception cut through her heart. She attempted to hold herself up, but everything seemed to go fuzzy.

The minute he turned around, he froze. He didn’t know how long she had listened to his conversation, but then she fell backwards, collapsing on the floor.

No matter how Hart called out to her or shook her, she didn’t respond to him. He feared for the worst, but he needed to leave soon to get to Waley. She had mentioned it was important.

Darn, what should he do now?

But since she heard his conversation with Waley, did it mean it was finally over between them?