Chapter_22
“What’s wrong, Olivia?” Sophie asked, her voice filled with concern.
Olivia didn’t respond immediately. She sat there, her heart racing, a whirlwind of thoughts consuming her. Finally, she stammered, “I–I’m okay.” She forced a smile, though it was weak and unconvincing. “I’d like to rest. Go ahead with your thing.”
Sophie eyed her carefully, but knowing she had her own obligations, she relented. “Okay. I’ll go ahead. Call me if there’s anything at all.”
After Sophie left, Olivia was left alone with her thoughts. A heavy silence settled in the room, broken only by the distant sound of rain against the window. Am I pregnant? The thought echoed in her mind, making her chest tighten. She gripped her collar tighter, feeling as if her heart were pounding in her throat. For the first time in her life, she was terrified—of what was happening to her body and of what it meant for her future. The weight of it all was almost suffocating.
Tyler didn’t leave immediately after dropping her off at school. He sat in his car for nearly half an hour, his hands gripping the steering wheel, his thoughts just as unsettled as hers. But when he finally drove away, Olivia felt as if the moment had passed, leaving her to face the uncertainty alone.
The next day, Olivia walked through her classes in a daze, the weight of her thoughts pulling her under. Her mind couldn’t focus on the lectures, her thoughts constantly drifting back to the possibility of pregnancy. She didn’t even have the courage to go to the hospital, not yet. She couldn’t bear to face the reality of it.
During lunch, Sophie noticed something was off. Olivia’s face was pale, and she barely touched her food. Sophie raised an eyebrow, concern growing in her eyes. “Are you really okay, Olivia? You’re very pale.”
Olivia nodded, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m really alright.”
She tried to eat more, but the food felt like ash in her mouth. Sophie didn’t buy her act, her concerned gaze never leaving Olivia. When Olivia returned to the dormitory to rest, she found herself holding her phone, her thumb hovering over the screen as she debated whether or not to send Tyler a message. She wanted to tell him, wanted to say that she might be pregnant, but the fear and uncertainty held her back. After picking up the phone multiple times, she put it down, unable to take the plunge.
The third day was a blur. Olivia accompanied Sophie to the canteen, but the dizziness that had been bothering her since yesterday returned with a vengeance. Her vision blurred, and before she could even process what was happening, the world tilted and she lost consciousness.
The last thing she heard before everything went black was Sophie’s frantic voice calling her name. “Olivia—!”
Tyler was in the middle of a meeting when his phone rang. He listened intently for a moment before replying, “Hmm, okay. I’ll be there right away.” Without hesitation, he stood up, leaving the baffled managers behind. He turned to his secretary. “This meeting is adjourned.”
He didn’t waste another moment, rushing to Olivia’s school. His mind was a swirl of thoughts, and all he could focus on was getting to her. When he arrived at the clinic, Sophie was already there, sitting beside Olivia’s bed, speaking quietly to her. Sophie’s head snapped up when she heard the commotion at the door, and her eyes widened in surprise. “Mr. Tyler!”
Olivia stirred, just beginning to regain consciousness. She wasn’t sure who Sophie had called when she passed out, but when she heard Sophie say Tyler’s name, she looked up—and froze. Tyler stood in the doorway, his suit impeccable, his expression unreadable as his gaze immediately found her pale face.
He didn’t say a word at first. He simply stood there, his eyes lingering on her, taking in her weakened state. Then, without breaking his gaze, he walked into the room.
Sophie quickly got to her feet. “Mr. Tyler.” She greeted him nervously, her hands clasped in front of her.
Tyler nodded in acknowledgment, his attention never leaving Olivia. He turned to Sophie, his voice colder than usual. “Thank you for staying with her.”
Sophie waved it off, but there was a hint of tension in her posture. “It’s okay, Mr. Tyler. She vomited, and the doctor gave her a drip.”
The mention of vomiting made Tyler’s expression darken. His eyes flicked to Olivia, and for a split second, she couldn’t look him in the eye. She gripped the edge of the bed, trying to keep her composure, but the tension in the room was unbearable.
“Alright,” Tyler said after a moment, his voice firm. “Thank you. I’ll take her to the hospital. You should go to class.” His words were direct, dismissing Sophie with a cold finality.
Sophie, unsure of what to say, nodded and quickly left the room, leaving Olivia and Tyler alone. As soon as the door closed behind her, the atmosphere shifted. Tyler walked closer to the bed, his gaze softening just a fraction as he looked down at Olivia.
She was still disoriented from the dizziness, her eyes unfocused as she tried to process what was happening.
“Olivia,” Tyler said, his voice low. “Are you feeling alright?”
She didn’t answer immediately. She couldn’t. The question hung in the air, and for a moment, she could only feel the weight of his presence, the undeniable intensity of his gaze. He was so close, and yet, there was a distance between them she couldn’t bridge.
“I… I’m not sure,” she finally whispered, her voice trembling. The truth hung heavy in her chest, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it—I might be pregnant.
Tyler looked at her, his eyes narrowing slightly as if searching for something in her expression. Then, without a word, he reached for her hand. His grip was gentle, almost tender, as if he were trying to offer her reassurance. But even as he held her hand, Olivia couldn’t shake the feeling that nothing between them was simple anymore.