Chapter_77
Tyler remained composed, his calm demeanor a sharp contrast to the tension in the room. He quickly grabbed a piece of clothing to cover Olivia’s body, his voice steady as he instructed, “Go to the bathroom.”
But as Olivia moved, she noticed the blood, and her face drained of color. Tyler’s gaze snapped to her, his concern evident. He reached out instinctively to steady her, and she collapsed into his embrace, her breath shallow.
“What happened?” he asked, his voice edged with worry, afraid he might have inadvertently caused her harm.
It took Olivia a moment to process the situation, the weight of it sinking in. “I—I’m on my period,” she finally said, her words tinged with both embarrassment and relief as she realized it was simply the first day of her menstrual cycle.
Tyler’s expression softened, his hand gently cupping her face, a visible wave of relief washing over him. “It’s not serious,” he said quietly, brushing away the lingering tension.
Olivia, however, remained pale, her eyes shutting in frustration at the timing of it all. She couldn’t help feeling annoyed that something as ordinary as her period had interrupted their already complicated situation.
Outside the door, Ana’s voice drifted in. “Aren’t you two up yet, Olivia?”
Tyler quickly regained his composure, his tone firm as he said to Olivia, “Go wash up.”
She nodded, clutching the clothing to her chest as she hurried to the bathroom. Meanwhile, Tyler’s eyes lingered on the bed, where the bloodstain was now visible. He swiftly covered it with a blanket, his thoughts moving quickly. He dressed, opened the door, and found Ana waiting just outside, her expression a mix of curiosity and mild surprise.
Ana stammered, “Tyler, w—why are you here?”
Tyler’s response was clipped, a simple, “Anything?”
Ana glanced past him into the room, her gaze briefly falling on the messy sheets and Tyler’s unbuttoned shirt. “Nothing. I just wanted to get you and Olivia to eat.”
Without waiting for a reply, she turned to leave. “I’ll wait for you downstairs. There’s no rush.”
Tyler didn’t offer any further explanation. He closed the door quietly behind her, the silence of the room pressing in as he stood there for a moment, his thoughts still unsettled.
Olivia emerged from the bathroom a little while later, freshly showered, her scent still faint in the air. Tyler, sitting at the edge of the bed, was smoking a cigarette. He extinguished it when he saw her dressed, his gaze lingering on her.
Olivia hesitated, standing near the bathroom door, her expression preoccupied. A storm of thoughts swirled in her mind. Despite all the moments of intimacy they had shared, there was still no sign of pregnancy. The period today, along with Naomi’s phone call, had struck a harsh blow to her fragile hopes.
Tyler, sensing her turmoil, spoke gently, “Come here.”
Olivia walked to him, feeling the weight of guilt pressing down on her. She couldn’t shake the feeling of failure, the sting of self-blame. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She smelled fresh from her shower, but the scent of her regret lingered more strongly in the air.
Tyler stood, pulling her close. His arms enveloped her, strong and steady, as he caressed her backside gently, his voice calm and reassuring. “Pregnancy is a matter of fate. We can’t rush it.”
She lowered her gaze, a sense of defeat creeping in. “But can Naomi wait forever?” Olivia’s voice faltered as she thought of her sister’s potential disappointment. “How am I supposed to tell her…”
Tyler’s frown deepened, and he hugged her tighter, his words slow but firm. “Having a child is a lengthy process. It can’t happen overnight.”
Olivia rested her head on his chest, her thoughts heavy. She was still young, but the weight of her unspoken fears, her family’s expectations, and the ticking clock seemed unbearable. The disappointment she anticipated from Naomi, the pressure to conceive, all of it seemed like an insurmountable mountain.
Tyler stroked her back, his touch grounding her in the moment. Though he couldn’t offer any quick fixes, he was there, steady as always. He kissed the top of her head, his voice a gentle murmur in her ear. “We’ll figure it out, Olivia. Don’t worry.”
Olivia didn’t respond, but she felt the sting of her uncertainty and disappointment, her face reflecting the internal struggle she was enduring.