Chapter_89
“No matter what, you’re guilty of what happened to Naomi!” Julia’s voice was filled with venom, her anger surging once more.
Darren rushed to grab Julia, his face pale with frustration. “Forget it, Julia. She didn’t do it on purpose!” he urged, trying to calm her down.
Julia’s eyes burned with fury. “I’d kill her if she did!” she spat, her voice a mixture of grief and rage.
Darren opened his mouth to say more, but he closed it, realizing that this was not his fight to get involved in. He understood Julia’s pain and anger all too well—Naomi’s condition had shaken her deeply, and her emotions were spiraling out of control.
Tyler, who had been silently observing the situation from a distance, chose that moment to approach. His presence seemed to shift the atmosphere, and Darren, desperate for some clarity, breathed a sigh of relief. “Tyler is here,” he said, hopeful that his presence might bring some order to the chaos.
Julia’s anger subsided slightly at the sight of Tyler, and she hurried toward him, her voice trembling with worry. “Tyler, is Naomi awake? When will she wake up?” All the fury she had just unleashed seemed to dissipate in an instant, replaced by a deep and tangible concern.
Tyler’s face was solemn, his expression unreadable. “We don’t know yet,” he replied, his tone calm but heavy with uncertainty.
Julia’s worry deepened. “Will she stay in a coma?” she asked, her hands shaking as she reached out toward him.
“Not sure,” Tyler answered simply, his voice neutral and measured.
Panicking, Julia pressed further, her voice a mix of fear and frustration. “Oh no! What do we do now?”
Amid her distress, Tyler’s gaze shifted toward Olivia, who stood in the background, still processing everything that had unfolded. Julia noticed the subtle shift in his attention and followed his gaze. Realizing that Tyler had noticed her, she shifted uncomfortably. She didn’t like the idea of family matters being aired in front of him, but in her mind, it was none of his business. Besides, she hadn’t exactly accused Olivia.
Breaking the tense silence, Tyler spoke again, his voice still calm and detached. “Naomi’s allergy might not be triggered by animal hair. They’re still investigating.”
Julia was taken aback by his unexpected response. She had expected him to side with her, to support her suspicions, but instead, he had remained neutral, simply relaying the facts of the situation.
Her discomfort was palpable, and she felt a little out of place after the scene she had caused. She cleared her throat awkwardly and spoke, trying to regain some control. “I know I was too impulsive. Is the doctor looking for the cause?” she asked, her tone now softer, tinged with remorse.
Tyler’s gaze flickered briefly toward Olivia before he turned away. “We’ll see when Naomi wakes up,” he said, offering no further explanation. With that, he glanced at Olivia once more, his expression unreadable, and then turned to leave the area as his secretary arrived, likely to discuss Naomi’s treatment plan.
Once Tyler was gone, the tension in the air seemed to loosen slightly, but Julia’s focus immediately shifted back to Olivia. Concerned that Julia might lash out once more, Darren quickly stepped in. “Okay, Naomi’s life is our top priority now. Stop it. It was terrible that Tyler witnessed all of this,” he said firmly, trying to bring the situation back under control.
Julia, realizing the truth of Darren’s words, quieted. Despite her earlier outburst, her protective instincts toward Naomi were stronger than her anger. The Jones family’s reputation was of the utmost importance, and they didn’t want to make a spectacle of themselves, especially in front of someone like Tyler. So, after a few moments of silence, she composed herself and walked swiftly to the doctor’s office, determined to focus on Naomi’s recovery.
Darren remained behind, looking troubled. He approached Olivia, his eyes softening when he noticed the mark on her cheek from the earlier slap. “Olivia, although Julia was impulsive, she was just worried. Forgive her,” he said, his tone lacking its usual sharpness, but still somewhat distant. It was rare for Darren to show any concern for Olivia, and even now, his words felt somewhat hollow.
Olivia, though her cheek burned, remained composed, showing no outward signs of pain or distress. “I know,” she replied quietly, her voice steady and calm.
Darren sighed deeply, a sound of resignation, before turning and walking away. It was clear that his words, though meant to soothe, held little weight, and there was nothing more he could offer her in this moment.