Chapter_71
The doctor’s voice broke through the stillness of the room, his calm tone easing some of the tension. “She doesn’t need an IV drip. I’ll just give her some medicine.”
Olivia’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of medicine. She had heard that it was dangerous for women trying to conceive, worried that it might harm any potential future child. Though she wasn’t pregnant, the thought of the consequences haunted her, and a nagging fear settled in her chest.
Before she could voice her concerns, Tyler gave a firm nod. “Let’s get her the medicine, then,” he said decisively, turning to the doctor.
His words were final, and he didn’t spare a glance toward Olivia, unaware—or perhaps indifferent—to her worries. His focus was on the practicalities, not on what she might be feeling.
Olivia remained silent, her anxiety growing, but the words stuck in her throat. She didn’t want to argue, didn’t want to seem ungrateful for the care. She simply watched as the doctor prepared the medication, feeling increasingly powerless to voice her own concerns.
When the maid entered later to administer the medicine, Olivia’s body grew heavy with drowsiness almost immediately. Her thoughts grew foggy as the medication took effect, and soon, she slipped back into a light, restless sleep.
Tyler stayed by her side, his presence a constant. The maid, seeing how tense he seemed, offered a gentle smile and reassured him. “Mr. Tyler, don’t worry. Ms. Olivia will be fine. I’ll take good care of her.”
Tyler glanced at Olivia’s still form for a long moment before standing up. “Alright. Make sure she’s well taken care of,” he said, his voice calm but carrying an undertone of concern.
He left the room, but his eyes lingered on her for a brief moment, as if reluctant to leave her side.
As the afternoon passed, Olivia’s fever began to subside. She woke to find the room dimly lit, a soft quiet filling the space. But a voice nearby startled her.
“You’re up?” Tyler asked, his voice low, as if unsure of how to approach her.
She froze for a moment before turning her head, her gaze meeting his. The lights flickered on, revealing Tyler sitting beside her bed, a book on his lap, now abandoned on the nightstand.
“T—Tyler, why are you here?” Olivia asked, still drowsy but surprised by his presence.
Tyler stretched his arms, having clearly been sitting for a while. “I was worried your fever might come back. I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”
Olivia’s voice was soft, and her discomfort faded as she noticed her fever had clearly broken. “It’s okay. I’m really fine now.” Her voice was clear again, no longer hoarse from the fever’s grip.
Tyler leaned in slightly, lifting her face gently to check her temperature. “Let me see if your cheeks are still burning.”
Olivia felt a flush rise in her cheeks as his fingers brushed her skin. Her gaze dropped briefly, but when he lifted her chin, she couldn’t help but notice how much more color had returned to her face. The pallor that had been there before was gone, replaced by a faint warmth.
Tyler’s touch was tender, and his voice softened. “Your fever’s really gone now. Don’t worry.”
His hand lingered on her chin for a moment longer before he finally let it fall away. “It’s good to see you’re feeling better.”
But instead of pulling away, they remained locked in a quiet exchange. Olivia, feeling the intensity of his gaze, quickly looked away, her heart racing slightly under the weight of the moment. Tyler, however, had already closed the distance between them, pulling her into an unexpected hug.
The embrace was gentle, but there was a strange sense of security in it, even though Olivia felt weak and fragile in his arms. Her face rested against his chest, her lips still pale from the illness, but she felt an odd comfort in the closeness.
Tyler buried his face in her hair, the soft scent of it filling his senses. He placed a soft kiss on the top of her head, his voice low and caring. “Make sure you take the medicine again later. We don’t want the fever coming back.”
Olivia nodded silently, the words barely registering in her foggy mind. “Okay.”
For a brief, fleeting moment, the atmosphere felt almost domestic, as if they were a couple concerned for one another—two people bound by more than just circumstance. Their shadows mingled beneath the soft glow of the room, a picture of tenderness, yet their reality was far more complicated.
Olivia’s heart beat faster in her chest, a mixture of warmth and confusion swirling inside her. She had never felt so cared for by someone who wasn’t family, someone who was still a stranger in many ways. Tyler’s actions were kind, but there was something about them that felt almost like pity, a sympathy that didn’t quite fit.
As she lay there in his arms, memories flooded her mind. The last time someone had held her while she was sick was long ago, before her mother’s death, before the world had changed for her. She felt a pang of longing for the past, for the comfort of a mother’s embrace.
Without thinking, Olivia buried her face deeper into Tyler’s chest, seeking solace in his warmth, even if it wasn’t hers to keep.