Chapter_69
Ana glanced at Olivia and said, “She’s such a likable lady. Grandma likes her very much.”
The old lady, sitting nearby, giggled softly. “You’re so naughty, Tyler. Why didn’t you bring Olivia here sooner?”
The living room, once tense, now seemed unexpectedly harmonious. Tyler, however, wasn’t fooled by the ease of the atmosphere. He turned his gaze to Olivia, who had arrived before him. Her face was still pale, and she was quieter than usual.
Only after reassuring himself that she was alright did Tyler address the old lady. “Olivia is a bit shy,” he explained, his voice steady. “Naomi and I hadn’t found the right time to bring her here. But it’s never too late for you to meet her now.”
The old lady, though visibly annoyed at the mention of Naomi, finally relented. “You’re right about that.”
Tyler stayed for another half hour, but it was clear his thoughts were elsewhere. As soon as the visit concluded, he decided it was time to take Olivia back home. Ana, having already achieved what she intended, made no effort to keep them.
Olivia was still in a state of shock as they got into the car.
Since Tyler had rushed to his family home to find her, he hadn’t brought the driver along—he was driving himself. He glanced over at Olivia, his concern growing when he saw how tense she was. “I hope they didn’t do anything to you?” His brow furrowed, and his gaze softened with worry.
Olivia placed her hands on her knees, her body trembling as she recalled Ana’s words. After a long pause, she answered, “No.” Her voice was quiet but calm. “Ms. Ana and the old lady were nice.”
Tyler noticed that she seemed composed, although he had sensed her fear when he first arrived. Despite her outward calmness, he could tell something weighed on her.
“Call me if anything like this happens again,” he said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. He wasn’t going to let her go through something like this alone again.
Olivia nodded softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Got it. I’ll do that next time.”
He nodded in return and focused on the road ahead, his grip on the wheel tight as he concentrated on the drive. The silence between them stretched out, but it was a quiet understanding that lingered in the air.
Back at home, the maid had been anxiously pacing the living room. As soon as the car pulled up, she hurried outside. “Sir, Ms. Olivia,” she called, concern written all over her face.
It was already late—almost 11 p.m.—and the soft hum of cicadas could be heard in the still night air.
When Tyler and Olivia entered the living room, the maid’s worry was palpable. “Are you alright?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Olivia, still trying to make sense of the strange turn of events, offered a reassuring smile. “Ms. Ana took me to their family home. She didn’t do anything to me.”
The maid, well aware of Ana’s complicated relationship with Naomi, bit back the questions she was about to ask. “That’s a relief. We were so worried when you went missing.”
Tyler, having noticed Olivia’s quiet demeanor, could tell she hadn’t been herself since they left. He turned to her, his voice softening. “Go rest. Let me know if you need anything, alright?”
Olivia nodded, grateful for his concern, but still too overwhelmed to speak much. “Alright, Tyler.”
She began to walk away, but then hesitated. Slowly, she turned back to face him. “Tyler… can I ask if something happened between Naomi and Ms. Ana?”
Her voice was tentative, almost afraid of the answer. But the question had been lingering in her mind since the moment Ana had spoken about Naomi with such disdain. The tension between the two women had been palpable, and Olivia needed to know more.