Chapter_44
As Olivia hurried back to the kitchen, her mind raced. She could still feel the warmth of Tyler’s touch on her chin, and her heart thudded painfully in her chest. She quickly set to work, washing the dishes, trying to focus on the task at hand to distract herself from the flurry of emotions that Tyler had stirred in her.
The soft clinking of dishes was the only sound in the kitchen as Olivia rinsed each one, trying to keep her thoughts from spiraling. She couldn’t deny the strange tension that had been between them since her arrival. Tyler was aloof, but at moments like this, when he showed kindness—however subtle—it left her feeling vulnerable and unsure.
She tried to focus on the rhythm of the water running over the plates, but all she could think about was how her heart raced whenever Tyler was near. It was foolish, she knew. He was just being polite. But still, something in the way he looked at her, in the way his touch lingered for just a fraction of a second longer than necessary, made her wonder if there was more to it.
Just as she was finishing up, the sound of footsteps approached the kitchen. Olivia stiffened, glancing up to see Tyler standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable earlier,” he said, his voice soft yet firm. He looked at her, and there was a hint of something in his gaze—something she couldn’t place.
Olivia shook her head quickly, trying to dismiss the tension. “It’s fine,” she said, perhaps too quickly. “Really. I’m just… not used to being around here, that’s all.”
Tyler didn’t respond immediately, just stood there for a moment, watching her. Finally, he stepped aside, gesturing toward the living room. “I’ll be in my study if you need anything.”
Without waiting for her reply, he turned and walked away, leaving Olivia standing in the kitchen with her thoughts swirling once again. She couldn’t help but feel like she had just witnessed a crack in his typically cold exterior—something real, something more than just politeness.
She sighed and wiped her hands on a towel before heading into the living room, unsure of what to make of the evening’s events. Tyler had been kind, but distant, and it left her feeling… unsettled. She needed time to figure out what was really going on between them, but for now, she would have to settle for uncertainty.
As she sat down on the sofa, she noticed the way the house seemed to loom around her, so grand and imposing. But for the first time since arriving, it didn’t feel quite so empty.