Chapter_64
Olivia remained still throughout the uncomfortable encounter, her hands clasped tightly at her sides as she observed the exchange between Tyler and his mother. She didn’t speak a word, her presence almost invisible in the face of their tense conversation.
Tyler didn’t make any effort to introduce her to Ana. Instead, he tried to steer the conversation in another direction. “Let’s have dinner together, if you’re free,” he suggested, his voice smooth, but Olivia could hear the edge in it—he wanted this to end quickly.
However, Ana didn’t seem interested in his offer. Her gaze remained focused on Olivia for a moment longer before she turned her attention back to Tyler. “I quite like her,” Ana said, her voice almost too sweet. “She’s more docile than Naomi.”
Tyler didn’t respond, his eyes growing colder. He had learned to ignore his mother’s manipulative words long ago, but Ana didn’t let up. The smile on her face faltered, replaced by a growing frustration. She leaned in, her voice laced with bitterness. “Tyler, I’ll never accept Naomi, and our family will never accept a daughter-in-law who’s so… terribly sick.”
Her words hung in the air, sharp and cruel. Olivia felt the sting of them even though they weren’t directed at her, the weight of the family dynamics suddenly pressing down on her shoulders.
Tyler’s stoic expression never wavered. His tone was ice cold when he finally spoke. “Are you done?”
Ana’s eyes narrowed, but she maintained her composure, forcing a smile. “I’m fine with anyone, Tyler, as long as it’s not Naomi.” Her gaze flickered toward Olivia again, her smile never quite reaching her eyes. “It’s rare to see you rush home. Seems like this lady is quite important to you, hmm?”
The tension in the room thickened, and for a long moment, neither Tyler nor Ana moved. Their eyes locked in a standoff—both unwilling to back down. The maid, standing in the background, remained silent, afraid to make a sound.
Olivia, who had been silently observing, felt the crushing weight of the situation. She hadn’t expected things to unfold like this. She hadn’t anticipated hearing the revelations about Tyler’s engagement to Naomi. The whispered conversations she’d overheard long ago—about Naomi and Tyler’s relationship being plagued with issues—suddenly made so much sense.
She hadn’t realized just how deep the rift ran.
Overwhelmed, Olivia began to retreat into the shadows of the hallway, trying to remove herself from the ongoing drama.
Ana’s sharp gaze followed her movement, but she didn’t say anything.
Just then, Tyler broke the silence. His words were clipped, almost detached. “I won’t ask you to stay, since you’re busy,” he said to his mother, his tone making it clear he wasn’t interested in her opinion any longer.
Ana chuckled, though it was devoid of warmth. She turned away, her lips curling in a half-smile as she got up to leave. “Sure, I won’t bother you,” she said, and with that, she was gone. Her departure was swift and smooth, as if she were used to getting her way.
The sound of the door closing echoed in the otherwise silent house. Olivia stood by the window, watching as the car carrying Ana drove off, the sleek black vehicle disappearing into the distance.
Sandalwood Palace felt quiet now, too quiet. The weight of what had just transpired hung heavily in the air.
The maid, still visibly shaken, stood behind Olivia. It took her a moment to collect herself before she spoke. “When did she come?” Tyler asked, his voice gruff as he approached the maid, his eyes still scanning the doorway as if expecting someone else to enter.
“I called you as soon as I saw her here,” the maid replied, her voice betraying her unease.
Tyler turned toward Olivia then. She stood still, her expression unreadable, but he could see the tension in her posture. “Don’t worry,” he said, his voice softening. “It has nothing to do with you.”
Olivia wanted to believe him. It has nothing to do with you, she repeated in her mind, but his words didn’t have the comforting weight they should have. She nodded, the knot in her stomach tightening. “Okay, Tyler,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Tyler didn’t offer any further comfort. He simply walked past her, heading upstairs. Olivia remained frozen in place, unable to move. Her thoughts spun in a chaotic whirl, anxiety clawing at her chest. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Ana’s visit hadn’t been a simple social call. It felt far too deliberate, and Olivia couldn’t help but wonder if Ana had figured out the truth about why she was staying in the house.
The uncertainty gnawed at her. What would happen if Ana knew? What would Tyler do? What would his mother say?
As she stood there, lost in thought, the maid approached her quietly. “Ms. Ana doesn’t really like Ms. Naomi,” she whispered, her voice low. “Mr. Tyler and her have had fights because of that… It seems their relationship still has some unresolved issues.”
Olivia’s lip trembled as she absorbed this new information. So much was hidden beneath the surface, so much she didn’t understand. Unresolved issues. The words echoed in her mind, and she found herself even more tangled in the web of Tyler’s complicated family dynamics.
Her heart raced with the realization that she was caught in the middle of something much larger than herself, something she might not fully be able to control or escape.