Despite the complicated look in Myra’s eyes, she didn’t put out her hand immediately. “This document…”
When she saw that Myra seemed unhappy, Olivia became nervous at once. She thought to herself, Would Myra think that I’ve gone too far by doing this? I sent the document over despite knowing that it was never mine and my mom’s in the first place; would she misunderstand me because of this? “I don’t mean anything else. Myra… Miss Stark…” Fearing that she might have addressed Myra in an overly familiar way, she addressed Myra in a more formal way despite her disappointment. Then, she held the document out further to Myra. “This isn’t mine and my mom’s in the first place—this is yours. I’m only bringing this to you in hopes that this might be of help to you…”
As she noticed how the little girl’s face flushed and blanched by turns in trepidation, Myra felt sorry for her for a moment. After all, this girl and her mother were innocent. After looking at this document, she gave a sigh. “Just keep this document yourself.”
Upon hearing this, the few people next to her were startled for a moment. In particular, Olivia’s eyes reddened slightly in a matter of seconds. Since she didn’t know what to do, she only stared at Myra. “I’m sorry… I thought you needed it… I just… I just want to help you; I don’t mean anything else… Really… I’m sorry… Miss Stark…”
Upon seeing Olivia’s response, Myra was somewhat dumbfounded. It wasn’t until she turned around and saw the look of resignation in the eyes of the man next to her that she seemed to realize that the little girl in front of her seemed to have misunderstood her. Feeling both amused and saddened, she pulled out a piece of tissue and handed it to Olivia. “I don’t mean anything else as well. Since Cameron has given this document to you two as a present, you guys should keep it. Your mother is ill, isn’t she? Besides, you two need to live your lives in the future. The Stark Group is now in a predicament, but it will slowly get better very soon, so your lives could be better.”
“We don’t need this… Really!” Olivia didn’t blame Myra upon hearing the woman’s words. Her face cleared instantly, and she took the tissue and wiped her face carelessly. However, she insisted on giving Myra the document. “My mom and I are doing well, so we don’t need to make any changes in our lives using this document. Myra…” After calling Myra by her first name, she looked up nervously. Then, she asked timidly, “Can I call you ‘Myra’…”
Myra found it hard to describe the twinge in her heart; she felt as if someone had grabbed her heart and clenched it. She took a deep breath. Sensing that the man suddenly held her hand in a tight grip, she looked at Olivia and nodded her head slowly. “Yeah.”
Upon hearing Myra’s reply, Olivia looked much happier. Even her speech sounded breezier as she looked into Myra’s eyes and said sincerely, “My mom and I aren’t as well-off as before during the year we spent living outside, but we’re very happy, Myra. We aren’t from a wealthy and influential family in the first place, so we don’t have to take these things and live the kind of life that we are unaccustomed to. You and Tony have helped us greatly, so we can’t keep this document to ourselves, Myra.” After that, she looked to Tony for help.
Tony hummed and wrapped his arm around Myra’s shoulders. Then, he whispered in her ear, “Actually, you don’t have to accept this document, Myra.”
Upon hearing this, Olivia got a little anxious. She wanted to say something, but Tony immediately stopped her from saying what she wanted to say. “Putting this document at your sister’s disposal will produce the same effect. She won’t be at ease if you give this to her, so why don’t you two meet each other halfway?”
Olivia bit her lip. “We don’t need this document, though…”
“Your sister doesn’t need it either.” Tony smiled kindly. “Your sister has me on her side. Can’t I make up for that document?”
When he heard this, Sebastian—who had been watching the drama from the side with great interest—looked at that shameless grandson of his. He was speechless.
Olivia hesitated for a moment, but Tony comforted her and said, “Your mother has to spend money, Olivia. She has been hospitalized right now, and she might develop complications or other symptoms in the future. Even if she makes a full recovery, she will need to recuperate—that’ll cost a lot of money. With this document, your mother will have some relief every time she spends money.” Seeing that she still wanted to say something, he shook his head and continued, “Trust me. She doesn’t want to be your burden, and the money you make by doing odd jobs can’t even cover her medical expenses.”
Olivia’s face reddened slightly. Not knowing what to do for a moment, she could only look at Myra again.
Myra took the document in Olivia’s hand. “Let’s do just that; I’ll manage the shares on your behalf. This way, I’ll gain more advantage over Cameron. You don’t have to worry since he has lost the Stark Group.”
“I’ll go along with whatever you say, Myra.” Olivia looked as though she would obey whatever Myra said, which nonplussed Myra somewhat. However, Myra didn’t show much of it; after all, she was an adult and had someone comforting her by her side. She merely asked, “Have you had breakfast?”
“As it happens, Lisa just made an extra serving of breakfast. Just stay around and have breakfast with us, little girl,” Sebastian said at the right moment; Olivia looked like she wanted to stay around and have breakfast with them, but was afraid she might disturb everyone. This made Sebastian take pity on her, so he patted her on the shoulder and said, “Just go and have a seat.”
Olivia looked at Myra; despite not looking friendly, Myra softened her expression somewhat. Hence, she followed Myra toward the dining table.
Olivia was rather nervous at the beginning of breakfast, but she slowly discovered that there was nothing to be self-conscious about. Therefore, she opened up a little and occasionally answered some questions Sebastian asked her.
When Olivia mentioned that she had dropped out of school to take care of her mother, Myra knitted her brows slightly. However, she said nothing, for Olivia looked as if she didn’t find this very regrettable.
Later on, Tony had the chauffeur of his family send Olivia back to the hospital after breakfast. After Olivia’s departure, Myra took her cell phone and called Estelle. “Find me a junior high school. Don’t find a school that’s too unorthodox; a public junior high school will do,” she said with a vague feeling of awkwardness, but Estelle didn’t sense it. She asked in surprise, “For what? Who will be attending the school?”
Myra let out a dry cough. “It’s for the child of a friend of mine.”
“Oh, this is easy. Just give me one day.”
After hanging up the phone, Myra looked up and saw Tony looking at her with a faint smile. As she blushed slightly, she said as if trying to hide something, “It’s improper for a little girl who’s no more than 13 years old to be out of school.”
“Yeah. Indeed, Olivia finished top in every exam and was selected as a merit student back in school. Her teachers found it hard to part with her when she said she wanted to drop out of school,” Tony replied as if agreeing with her words without blowing her cover.
Myra curled her lips while shooting him a sidelong glance. “I don’t mean to care for her. I just think that this is inappropriate.”
“Did I say that you care for her, Myra?” Tony asked in reply with his eyes full of profound amusement.
Myra’s shoulders drooped in frustration. “All right, I did feel a little sorry for her just now…” She paused for a moment. Then, she continued in a whisper, “Who doesn’t yearn for a father’s love? This is especially the case for someone of her age, yet she tore herself away from Cameron’s paternal love for her because of me. I can’t turn down such feelings…” She looked up at the man in front of him while biting her lip. “Tony, I felt a vague sense of satisfaction when she called me ‘Myra’ just now…”
Myra had been Olivia’s age. She learned of Rachel and Kris’s existence at that time, so her feelings toward Cameron were extremely conflicted. She wanted to get him to stay with her family, but she knew she couldn’t do so, so she was unbearably anguished and heartbroken. In the end, she forced herself to hate Cameron, for she couldn’t get him to return to her family. On the other hand, Olivia was different. Cameron must have been nice to Olivia; he was willing to give her and her mother shares of the Stark Group, which he was unwilling to give to Rachel and Kris. It must’ve been agonizing for Olivia to force herself to reject her father’s love under such circumstances.
