Chapter_85
Olivia felt a familiar pang of embarrassment deep within her. It wasn’t the first time she had found herself in such an uncomfortable situation. So, this time, she tried to appear more composed, attempting to hide her discomfort. “I feel much better now,” she said, her voice calm, even though the memories of the previous night still lingered. “The first day was more painful, that’s all.”
Tyler, seemingly unaffected, nodded as if it was nothing extraordinary. “That’s great then. Let’s eat.”
His indifferent tone made Olivia feel as though her previous behavior was more childish than she had realized. Maybe I’m overreacting, she thought, and slowly, she began to relax. She took her seat across from him, trying to shake off the unease.
At that moment, the maid came in with a bowl of soup that Olivia didn’t recognize. She carefully placed it in front of Olivia, saying, “This is a blood-replenishing soup that Mr. Tyler asked me to prepare for you.”
Olivia glanced at the bowl and then at Tyler. Her voice was soft as she spoke, “Thanks, Tyler.” Her appreciation was genuine, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still off between them.
Tyler set down his newspaper and nodded casually. “Don’t drink anything cold for a few days so that you won’t get cramps again.”
The simplicity of his advice surprised Olivia. It was thoughtful in its own way, and it made her feel unexpectedly warm inside. She wrapped her hands around the warm bowl, the comforting heat spreading through her fingers, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to let go of the negative emotions from the previous day. The soup wasn’t particularly tasty, but she drank it anyway, deciding that it wasn’t worth focusing on something so trivial.
After finishing her meal, Olivia heard the faint meowing of a cat outside. Curious, she stood up to investigate, and soon found a tiny kitten stumbling around in the garden. She picked it up gently, cradling the fragile creature in her arms.
The maid followed her, concern etched on her face. “Why is there a kitten here?”
Olivia smiled softly and replied, “I think it was just born. There’s still a dried umbilical cord on it.”
As she spoke, Tyler’s footsteps echoed from behind her. He had changed his clothes and was now walking toward her, having heard the kitten’s cries. When he saw Olivia squatting near the bushes, holding the small creature, he couldn’t help but pause.
Olivia looked up and smiled at him, her eyes shining. “Look, Tyler. It’s a cat.” She extended her arms, showing him the little thing nestled in her hands.
Tyler glanced at the kitten, observing its smallness. “I think it’s less than a month old,” he remarked, his tone surprisingly soft.
The kitten’s pitiful meows echoed in the air, and Olivia’s heart went out to the little creature. “I guess it can’t find its mother,” she said, her voice filled with sympathy.
Tyler, knowing that girls like Olivia couldn’t resist fluffy things, immediately understood her desire. “You want to keep it?” he asked, his gaze studying her carefully.
Olivia hesitated. She had noticed there were no pets around the house, and she wasn’t sure if Tyler was even interested in having a cat. There was also the matter of whether it would be allowed in his home. She looked at the kitten in her hands, feeling a bit unsure of herself.
“Can I?” she asked hesitantly, her voice quieter now.
Tyler’s expression was unreadable, and Olivia couldn’t tell what he was thinking. He didn’t seem to care much about cats, so she wasn’t sure how he would respond.
The maid, overhearing their conversation, voiced her concerns. “W-Will it have parasites? I’ve heard it’s not advisable to keep cats in households with pregnant women. Even though we don’t have any here, could cat hair cause allergies?”
Olivia felt a sudden pang at the mention of “pregnant women.” Her hand tightened slightly on the kitten, and she felt a rush of conflicting emotions. Though she wasn’t pregnant yet, she had been preparing herself for that possibility, and the thought of keeping a pet in the house made her uneasy. Could it affect her health or even complicate things with Naomi?
As the realization hit her, the anticipation in Olivia’s eyes vanished, replaced by uncertainty. She slowly began to withdraw from the situation.
Tyler fell silent for a moment, his gaze shifting from Olivia to the kitten. After a while, he spoke, his voice calm yet firm. “Let’s take it to a pet store nearby.”
Olivia shuddered as she held the kitten close to her chest. The decision was clear now—she couldn’t keep it. She had to put her health first, even if it meant letting go of the tiny creature that had captured her heart for a moment.
The maid nodded and reached for the kitten. “Please give it to me, Ms. Olivia.”
Olivia closed her eyes, feeling a lump form in her throat. She gently placed the kitten in the maid’s hands, her heart sinking as the little creature meowed loudly, struggling in the process. The sound was heartbreaking, and Olivia’s grip on her emotions weakened further.
She kept her eyes shut, unable to bear the sight of the kitten being taken away.