Chapter_11
Olivia’s voice trembled as she asked, her words heavy with the weight of her emotions. “Why did you help him?” It was a question that had been gnawing at her all along, consuming her thoughts. “Was it because of us? Because of our relationship? Or was it pity? Did you feel like a benevolent savior when he bowed to you? I don’t need your help, Tyler. I would only see it as humiliating him.”
Her sudden outburst took him off guard. Just moments ago, she had been like a frightened rabbit, and now, she was a cat with her claws bared. The shift was so stark that it caught him by surprise. Tyler’s eyes flickered with something akin to admiration, but also curiosity, as he took in her flushed cheeks, the fire in her gaze.
Without answering her right away, he instructed the driver to pull over. “Let’s talk,” he said, his tone calm yet firm. The car rolled to a stop, and he activated the blinds, transforming the space into a secluded bubble just for the two of them. The outside world faded away as the privacy of the moment took over.
Olivia felt the air in the car change, realizing with sudden clarity that they were now alone. Her pulse quickened, but she couldn’t look away from him as he shifted closer, his expression unreadable.
Without warning, Tyler reached out, his fingers grazing her face. She recoiled instinctively, her body tensing, but before she could pull back completely, his hand caught her chin gently but firmly, pulling her attention back to him. He didn’t let her escape.
Her heart skipped a beat as she tried to pull away again, but he held her face in his hand, guiding her closer. She felt her breath catch, her defenses crumbling under the weight of his touch.
For a moment, all she could do was stare at him, her chest tightening as tears welled in her eyes. She wasn’t the cat with claws anymore. She wasn’t even the brave, fiery woman who had just confronted him. She was the gentle soul she always tried to hide beneath the surface. All her anger deflated like a balloon, leaving her vulnerable and exposed.
“Are you sad because of Jacob?” Tyler’s voice was softer now, a strange tenderness in his words.
She didn’t need to say anything. Her tears, already threatening to spill, were answer enough.
“Are you seeking justice for him?” His voice was quiet, but it carried a weight of sincerity. She remained silent, her eyes searching his face for answers, for some clarity.
Tyler paused for a moment, his hand never leaving her cheek. His gaze softened, and his voice lowered even further, almost a whisper. “What if I told you that I helped him because of us? Because of our relationship?”
Her heart skipped in her chest. She had expected him to say something else, something more aloof or indifferent. But this—this caught her off guard.
She wanted to pull away, to retreat from the intensity of the moment, but Tyler was too close. His presence overwhelmed her, his touch anchoring her in place. Before she could even consider escaping, his hand caught hers. Her face flushed instantly, her heart pounding in her chest as the warmth of his palm enveloped hers.
His voice was soft but purposeful. “Olivia, I didn’t feel right either. So, I wanted to make amends for him. I never intended to humiliate him.”
Her heart twisted painfully. The phrase “I didn’t feel right” struck her deeply, as if something inside her shifted at the weight of his words. Her tears fell freely now, unbidden. She hadn’t expected to feel so fragile, so open. But Tyler’s words, his sincerity, made it all come rushing to the surface.
She thought of the moment when Jacob had toasted to Tyler, his humility and deference. The memories of their past, their relationship, collided with the reality of what was happening now. She could see it clearly now—how Tyler’s presence, his actions, might torment Jacob. How it would haunt her too.
She couldn’t process it all at once. Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts, emotions she couldn’t control.
Tyler, seeing her tears, didn’t pull away. He gently wiped them from her cheek with the back of his hand, his touch surprisingly tender. His voice was low but unwavering. “I never wanted to cause you pain, Olivia. Not like this.”
She couldn’t speak. The silence between them felt as heavy as the weight of her emotions.
In the quiet space of the car, Tyler’s hand remained on hers, and Olivia realized, with a sinking feeling, that she wasn’t sure what she truly wanted anymore. Did she want to stay with Jacob? Did she want to follow Tyler’s lead? Her heart felt tangled, caught in a web of confusion.
And the only thing she knew for sure was that nothing was simple anymore.