Chapter_74
Olivia tried to inch closer to Tyler, her knees buckling under her as her balance faltered. Before she could completely lose her footing, Tyler swiftly stepped in, his arms wrapping around her in a protective embrace. He held her tightly, ensuring she wouldn’t fall.
Ana, who had been observing the entire situation from a distance, couldn’t help but suppress a quiet chuckle. She had anticipated this, knowing full well that the evening would take this turn. The guests in the room, noticing Tyler’s intimate hold on Olivia, began to murmur teasingly.
Olivia, still disoriented and barely aware of her surroundings, mumbled against Tyler’s chest, “Tyler, I didn’t drink much… just one sip, a tiny sip…” Her voice was slurred, each word laced with the effects of the alcohol.
Tyler tightened his hold on her, steadying her in his arms. He didn’t care about the teasing or the whispers—his focus was entirely on Olivia, ensuring she wasn’t going to fall apart.
Just then, his aunt approached with a raised eyebrow, her voice dripping with playful reproach. “Tyler, so she’s really your new girlfriend? Don’t you think it’s a bit inappropriate to be so touchy in public?”
Tyler barely spared her a glance. His attention was entirely on Olivia, who was starting to sway in his arms. “She’s had too much to drink,” he replied, his voice calm but firm. “I’ll take her home now.”
He was about to instruct the driver to come around when Ana stepped forward, her expression feigning concern. “She shouldn’t move around in this state. What if she’s sick in the car? It would be terrible. Why don’t you let her stay here tonight?”
Ana’s suggestion hung in the air like a well-placed trap. Her gaze flicked to Olivia, who was struggling weakly in Tyler’s arms, her movements uncoordinated and erratic. Tyler sighed, his frustration evident but mingled with reluctance. He knew Ana had a point—there was no way he could let Olivia travel in her current state.
“Fine,” he finally agreed, though it was clear he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea. “We’ll stay the night.”
Completely oblivious to the conversation happening around her, Olivia mumbled softly from within Tyler’s embrace, her words thick and disjointed. “I’ve been waiting for you… for so long. Why did you come now?” She blinked slowly, her gaze unfocused as she looked up at him.
Tyler, his voice softening at her vulnerability, steadied her with one hand. “I was busy,” he replied, his tone gentle but firm. “Let’s go upstairs.”
Ana watched the exchange with a knowing smile, her eyes glinting with something unreadable. It was clear that Tyler’s patience and care for Olivia were not lost on her. But she remained silent, watching as Tyler guided Olivia toward the stairs.
However, as they reached the foot of the staircase, Tyler turned to the maid, giving her precise instructions. “Take her to my room,” he said, his tone businesslike. “I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight.”
The statement caused a ripple of confusion in the room. One of the family members, clearly puzzled, asked, “Isn’t she your girlfriend, Tyler?”
Tyler’s expression tightened, his voice cool as he responded, “She’s Naomi’s sister.”
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, the air suddenly thick with unspoken tension. The revelation of Olivia’s true identity caught everyone off guard. Ana had introduced her as Tyler’s new girlfriend, but Tyler had just explicitly denied that connection. His words, though calm, seemed like a clear statement—an indirect reminder to Ana of the boundaries that still existed between them.
Ana’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly masked her dissatisfaction. Internally, she scoffed at his blunt dismissal of Olivia, but she chose not to press further. She could sense the tension in the room, the realization that, despite the history between Tyler and Naomi, he would never cross that line with Naomi’s sister.
Drunk and still disoriented, Olivia didn’t register any of the conversation around her. She remained nestled in Tyler’s arms, her body heavy and swaying slightly, her mind too foggy to grasp the implications of anything happening.
Tyler handed her over to the maids, making sure they were gentle as they assisted her. “Take care of her,” he instructed them, his voice low with concern.
The maids adjusted their grip, supporting Olivia carefully as they guided her toward the stairs. Olivia’s head swam as they led her up, her legs unsteady, and her senses disoriented. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this lost, this helpless.
Tyler watched for a moment, his concern evident. “Hold her carefully,” he reminded them, his voice carrying a note of quiet command. The maids nodded, their movements becoming more delicate in response to his instructions.
He then turned to Maisy, who had been quietly observing the scene. “I’m going upstairs, Grandma,” Tyler said, his tone respectful but distant. Maisy merely nodded, her eyes still soft with the affection she had shown Olivia earlier.
Tyler’s gaze lingered for a moment before he turned and followed the maids up the stairs, still holding on to the weight of the evening’s complications.