Chapter_65
The maid’s voice broke the silence, offering a semblance of comfort. “Alright, go upstairs and rest. This has nothing to do with you,” she said kindly. She then turned to head toward the kitchen, but before she left, she added, “Please make coffee for Mr. Tyler and bring it to the study.”
Olivia nodded, grateful for the distraction. She went to the bar to make the coffee, her mind still clouded with the recent tension. As she made her way toward the study, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of her uncertain place in Tyler’s world. The house felt quieter now, after Ana’s departure. But the silence seemed to press in on her, almost suffocating.
She found Tyler sitting at his desk, immersed in work, the dim light of the study casting a soft glow over his figure. He didn’t immediately acknowledge her presence, but she could feel his awareness of her the moment she entered. The space between them felt charged, like two magnets drawing each other closer despite the distance.
After standing there for a moment, Olivia finally gathered the courage to speak, her voice soft. “Your coffee, Tyler.”
She placed the mug on the desk, and as he reached out to take it, their fingers brushed. A simple touch, but it sent a ripple through Olivia, and she quickly withdrew her hand, heart racing at the unexpected spark of contact.
Tyler glanced at her, a small frown creasing his forehead. “You didn’t go to school today?”
Olivia nodded, trying to keep her voice steady. “I was a little… tired, so I decided to skip.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice unexpectedly gentle.
But Olivia didn’t respond, her mind still spinning from the events of the previous day. She stood there in the quiet study, unsure of what to say or do. Sensing her hesitation, Tyler reached out, his hand warm as he gently pulled her closer into his embrace. She froze at the sudden intimacy, her body stiff at first, but then slowly, cautiously, she rested her head against his chest.
“Does it still hurt?” Tyler’s voice was soft, as if the question were an intimate inquiry. His expression was gentle, and for a moment, Olivia allowed herself to relax, closing her eyes as she breathed in the scent of him. There was something oddly comforting about his presence—yet, at the same time, it felt wrong.
“I’m okay,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
He placed his hand on her head, and she shuddered slightly at the contact. She wasn’t sure if it was the unexpected tenderness or the overwhelming emotions flooding her senses.
Sensing her discomfort, Tyler’s voice lowered even further. “Don’t worry. I won’t touch you today.”
The softness of his words only deepened the tension. He continued to caress her head, and for reasons she couldn’t explain, Olivia didn’t pull away. There, in the quiet study, the world outside seemed to fade away. A lingering sense of tenderness hung in the air, like a fragile thread that could snap at any moment.
She finally spoke, her voice thick with emotion. “I know.”
But even as the words left her mouth, she couldn’t understand them. Why had she allowed herself to get so close to him? Why did the proximity feel both comforting and overwhelming? They both knew they shouldn’t be so close, but in that moment, it didn’t seem to matter. It wasn’t just the physical closeness—it was the emotional pull that was impossible to ignore.
Their embrace tightened, as if neither of them wanted to break the fragile connection they had forged in the silence. Olivia’s heart beat faster, a mix of longing and confusion swirling inside her. She couldn’t explain why she didn’t want to pull away, even though she knew it would complicate everything.
Tyler’s breath was warm against her ear as he whispered, “Olivia… Olivia…”
His voice was low, husky, and the sound of her name on his lips sent a shiver down her spine. Both of them were breathing heavily now, caught in the rising tension of the moment. A complex mix of emotions—desire, confusion, and fear—flashed across Tyler’s face. Olivia’s heart pounded in her chest, and she found herself drawn even closer, her hands instinctively reaching for his neck as if grounding herself in the moment.
They stood like that for a long while, lost in the silent exchange of feelings neither of them had fully understood.
The following day, the world seemed to return to normal, though Olivia still carried the weight of the previous night’s emotions. She returned to school, though her mind wasn’t entirely focused. As she exited the subway station, the hum of the city filled her senses, but before she could clear her head, a black car pulled up beside her. The window rolled down, and a man stepped out—a chauffeur.
“Ms. Olivia, you are wanted,” the man said, his tone polite but firm.
Olivia froze, her pulse quickening. She stepped closer to the car, and the familiar face of Ana appeared behind the tinted glass.
“I see you’re looking for me,” Olivia said quietly, unsure of what to expect from this unexpected encounter.