Chapter_43
Tyler sat down at the dining table, his eyes lingering on Olivia for a moment before he gave a subtle nod of approval. The sight of her, a bit flustered but trying so hard to contribute, softened something inside him. He picked up the spoon and took a sip of the soup she had made, nodding again. “It’s good,” he said simply, though the warmth in his voice conveyed more than just praise for the food.
Olivia, feeling a bit more at ease, sat down across from him, her hands nervously fidgeting in her lap. The silence between them was palpable, but not uncomfortable. Tyler’s stoic demeanor, as always, made it hard for her to gauge what he was truly thinking. She glanced at the soup, unsure if she should say anything more.
Tyler, sensing her unease, broke the silence. “You’ve been busy today, huh?” His tone was casual, though his eyes were sharp, assessing.
Olivia nodded. “I didn’t have much to do… I thought I’d help in the kitchen. I used to do it more back home, with my grandmother.” She looked down, embarrassed, as though she had said too much.
“No need to explain,” Tyler replied, his voice a little softer than usual. “I appreciate the gesture. You don’t have to feel like you need to take care of everything here.” His words weren’t dismissive but more of a reassurance, something she didn’t expect from him.
Olivia gave a small, appreciative smile. She didn’t know what to say next, so she simply watched him eat, the soft clinking of cutlery the only sound filling the air.
As they finished dinner, Tyler set his utensils down and leaned back slightly. “I’ll be in my study if you need anything. You’re free to roam around. It’s your home for now, after all.”
Olivia gave a quiet “Thank you” as he stood up. There was something about the way he said it, though, that made her feel as if his words carried a weight she couldn’t fully understand.
Once he was gone, she sat for a moment, staring at her empty plate. The house felt even larger now that Tyler was out of sight. Alone in the quiet space, she felt a mix of relief and unease. How long would she be here? How long would they all be trapped in this situation, each of them pretending everything was normal, when everything had changed?
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
“Yes?” Olivia called, standing up.
The housemaid entered, a faint smile on her face. “Ms. Olivia, I’ll be cleaning up soon. Is there anything else you need before I go?”
Olivia hesitated. “No, thank you. You’ve done enough. I’ll be fine.”
The maid nodded and left quietly, leaving Olivia alone once again.
She looked around at the grand, empty house and wondered if this was what she had been avoiding. What she had feared. Being caught in the middle of someone else’s world, unsure of her place in it.
Olivia sighed softly, walking over to the window. The night was still, the moonlight casting a soft glow over the sprawling garden outside. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was standing on the edge of something she didn’t understand, but that she was powerless to stop.
For now, she could only wait. Wait for answers. Wait for the storm to pass.