Chapter13: The Dark Secret

Myra could not wait to see Ryan but was scared how he would react. Should she prepare herself for a heartbreak, or will he understand her reason for keeping Emma a secret for the safety of her child? She hoped that he would understand and wished he wouldn't leave her. It was Saturday already, and Myra was very nervous. She tried to calm herself down by playing with Emma, but she was too worried to concentrate on the game with Emma. Myra's mother noticed that and called Myra to her. Her mother knew that today was the day she tells Ryan about Emma and understood why her daughter might be nervous. In order to calm her down, her mother offered to brush her hair, and Myra agreed. She loved when her mother offered to do that and felt like when her mother brushes her hair, all her problems, doubts, and sadness disappear with it.

Myra's mother then gently kissed her head and said, "Don't worry, my child. Everything will be okay. If you two are meant to be, he will understand. But in case he does not, it would be unfortunate. However, telling him the truth will help you lift that burden from your heart, and you will know you gave it your best because you had a good reason to hide the truth. The things a mother can do to protect her child." Myra felt better and thanked her mother. She was ready now because she knew it was the right decision at the time. She got ready to meet Ryan, kissed Emma and her parents, and said, "Wish me luck, guys. Either way, we are going to have a big bowl of ice cream tonight." They had a laugh, and Myra went on her way to see Ryan.

After half an hour, Myra was at Ryan's door. She was hesitant to ring the bell because she was really nervous, but she gathered the courage and pressed the bell. Ryan froze for a few moments on hearing the bell, and his heart sank at the thought of causing pain to the woman he loved so dearly. He also gathered the courage, got up from the sofa, walked up to the door, and opened it. They looked at each other for a few moments. Myra then said an awkward 'hi,' and Ryan replied, 'Hey, come in.' He took her to the living room, offered her a seat, and they both sat down. Ryan asked if she would like something to drink, but Myra declined. Myra noticed Ryan was nervous, being formal and awkward, and asked if everything was okay, and why he wanted to meet at his home before the date. Ryan responded, 'Because I want to tell you something, and I did not want to do that at a restaurant as they are crowded and noisy. I wanted your full attention when I do that.'

Myra stated she had to tell him something too, but that's why she had planned at a restaurant. She felt he is right. I don't know how he would react, so I guess this is better.

Ryan then got up and walked away from Myra. He entered his study room and returned with a file in his hands. Myra found it strange and asked him, 'What is up? Is everything okay?' Ryan, with a heavy heart, said, 'Myra, I want you to stay calm and let me explain first before you panic. Please promise me.' Myra, at this stage, was worried and puzzled, did not say anything but snatched the file from Ryan's hand and opened it.

Myra: 'What is all this, Ryan? You have my personal details in here, my work details, my work and home addresses, and I never told you where I lived. What is all this?' She scrolled through the pages and found information about her friends' workplaces, her mobile bills and call data, and her daily routine. She then turned the pages further and found her signed divorce papers, the court judgment documents, and her jaw dropped. Her heart sank, and she was speechless. A tear dropped on the paper when she noticed a detail she had missed in the past.On the divorce papers and judgment from court, she saw Ryan's name as Jack's lawyer and she broke down and started crying. Ryan, who was quiet till this moment, approached Myra and said, 'My dear, please give me a chance. I want to explain everything to you.'

Myra panicked and pushed Ryan and screamed, "Get away from me, you liar! So everything between us was part of this lie? I opened my heart for you and you betrayed me like this. You were hired to hurt me? You feel good now? Well, congratulations, you succeeded. You can go back to Jack and tell him that now." Myra was really upset and crying. She had never dreamed that a good guy like Ryan could hurt her so much. She collected her things and rushed towards the main door. When Ryan tried to stop her and begged for an opportunity to explain, Myra was too heartbroken to listen to anything else. She was hurt and she shouted, "Get away from me, Ryan! There can be no logical explanation for what you did," and rushed out the door, seeing Ryan was still following her, she left her car and started running towards a taxi standing across the road. There was a loud screeching sound. Myra, while running towards the taxi, did not see the car on the street approaching in full speed, and even though the driver tried his best to stop the car and save Myra, he couldn't. She was hit by the car and fell in the street. Ryan rushed towards her in panic, couldn't believe what he had done, and shouted at the taxi driver and the car driver to call for an ambulance. Myra, who was hardly in her senses but saw Ryan next to her, asked him to get away from her. She was still pushing him away until she became unconscious. The car driver had already called for an ambulance, but when they arrived, the taxi driver and car driver told the ambulance staff she was running away from this man. That's when she was hit - she was trying to get away from him even after she was hit. Hearing this, they carefully got Myra on a stretcher, took her, and asked Ryan to stay away and wait for the police to arrive.

Ryan helplessly watched Myra being taken away and stood on the street watching the ambulance leave with the woman he loved so dearly but had hurt so badly. With a helpless feeling, he walked towards the stairs of his house. He broke down, sat down, and started crying, asking himself, 'What have I done?'


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