Chapter_63
Olivia had been smiling absentmindedly as she carried the grocery bags into the house, but her expression quickly faltered when she heard the maid’s unexpected question.
Noticing the abrupt change in Olivia’s demeanor, the maid’s curiosity piqued. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Olivia quickly composed herself, forcing a smile back onto her face. “Nothing,” she replied, though her voice lacked conviction. The words barely left her mouth before she felt a sinking feeling in her chest.
With Tyler having granted her a day off from school, Olivia found herself aimlessly wandering the house, unsure of what to do with the free time. She had accompanied the maid to the supermarket earlier, but now, she was left alone, only to be faced with a new sense of discomfort that she couldn’t quite explain.
As she stood by the door, her mind wandered back to the maid’s question. Why did it bother her so much? Was it because she knew it might be tied to something far more complicated—something involving Tyler? She shook the thoughts away, refocusing her attention on the present.
Just then, the maid called out to her, her voice tinged with alarm. “Olivia, I think I’ve forgotten something. Go ahead inside, I’ll go check for it.”
Olivia nodded, feeling a strange sense of hesitation but saying nothing. She entered the house, carrying the bags into the lobby.
To her surprise, she found a woman sitting on the couch, reading a newspaper. The woman was impeccably dressed, her attire exuding elegance, and yet, there was a sense of mystery about her. Olivia didn’t recognize her, but she also knew better than to make assumptions. The atmosphere in the room was quiet, almost too quiet, and the woman’s presence made the air seem a little heavier.
Her instinct told her to approach and offer a warm greeting, so Olivia walked over and said softly, “Hello.”
The woman glanced up, her gaze lingering on Olivia for a moment before she lowered the newspaper. Olivia’s heart skipped as she realized she had no idea who this woman was.
The woman studied her, seeming to assess her every movement, before speaking. “I don’t think I’ve met you before. What’s your name?”
Olivia hesitated for a brief second, unsure of how to answer. She settled on a simple response, not wanting to reveal too much. “I’m Olivia,” she said, leaving out her last name intentionally.
The woman gave her a smile, though it was hard to tell if it was genuine or just polite. “What a good girl. And what’s your relationship with Tyler?” she asked, her voice casual, but Olivia felt a sharp chill run down her spine at the mention of Tyler’s name.
That question caught Olivia off guard. The unease that had been simmering within her now bubbled to the surface. She tried to maintain composure, her voice faltering slightly as she replied, “I’m staying here for the time being.”
The woman studied her for a moment longer before nodding, as if satisfied with the answer. “I see,” she said, her tone soft. “Don’t worry, I’m just visiting. You go ahead and do your thing.”
Still unsure who this woman was or why she was there, Olivia opted to retreat to her room, eager to put some distance between herself and the uncomfortable conversation. But as she turned toward the stairs, she heard the maid’s footsteps approaching.
Before Olivia could even get a few steps up, the maid entered the lobby and froze when she saw the woman on the couch. The bag she was holding slipped from her hands, falling to the floor with a soft thud. Her face went pale, and her voice trembled as she stuttered, “M-Mrs. Harris?”
Olivia felt the air leave her lungs as she froze in place. Mrs. Harris. The name echoed in her mind. Tyler’s mother.
Her heart raced, her pulse quickening as she stood there, utterly shocked. The woman sitting on the couch, so poised and composed, was none other than Tyler’s mother.
Ana Morin—Tyler’s mother—smiled gently, seemingly unaffected by the maid’s reaction. She glanced at the maid, who was still standing at the door, and calmly remarked, “I came to visit Tyler. I didn’t find him, but I did meet his lady friend.” She said it as if it were the most casual thing in the world, and yet, Olivia felt the words pierce her heart.
The maid, still too rattled to process the situation, remained silent, not daring to speak further.
Olivia’s throat felt tight. She wanted to say something, to explain, but the words wouldn’t come. She could feel the weight of the moment—Tyler’s mother had arrived unannounced, and now Olivia had to contend with the reality of who she was and what it meant.
The tension in the air grew thicker, and Olivia, unable to endure the uncomfortable silence, quietly turned and began walking up the stairs. Her mind was racing, thoughts colliding. She couldn’t shake the image of Ana Morin—so confident, so composed, while Olivia felt like a lost, insignificant presence in her world.
It wasn’t long before Tyler returned home, and the moment he stepped inside, Ana wasted no time in addressing him. “Who’s that young lady?” she asked, her voice smooth, but with an unmistakable edge. “Your new girlfriend?”
Tyler paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. The question hung in the air, and Olivia could almost feel the tension between them intensify.
Ana’s gaze was sharp, but her words were soft, probing. Olivia, still upstairs, could only wonder what Tyler would say.