Chapter_97
Claude tried once more to gently ease Olivia off of him, but her grip was surprisingly strong for someone in her condition. His patience was wearing thin, but he knew he couldn’t let her remain clinging to him like this. He needed to find a way to make her more comfortable without further embarrassment.
Sophie and her cousin stood helplessly by, unsure of what to do next. Olivia’s faint breathing against Claude’s shoulder was the only sound in the room. The situation had become awkward, and Sophie, noticing the tension, quickly suggested, “Let me help you with that.”
Sophie reached over, gently trying to separate Olivia’s hands from around Claude’s collar. With some effort, they managed to loosen her grip, but Olivia was still partially leaning on him, her body slack in a way that made it difficult to set her down carefully.
Claude, with a resigned sigh, helped Sophie lower Olivia onto the bed. “She really drank too much,” he muttered under his breath, trying not to appear too frustrated. He hadn’t expected the night to take such an unexpected turn.
Sophie immediately left to fetch the medicine, and her cousin followed to grab a glass of water. Claude stood there for a moment, looking down at Olivia. Despite her drunken state, there was an undeniable vulnerability about her that made him pause.
He adjusted the blanket around her, making sure she was comfortable before stepping back slightly. His thoughts were interrupted when Sophie returned with the medicine. She handed it to Claude, who hesitated for a moment, unsure how much assistance Olivia needed at this point. He could tell she wasn’t fully coherent, but he wasn’t sure if she would even be able to take the medicine.
Sophie stood by, watching with concern. “She’ll be alright, won’t she?”
Claude, carefully assessing the situation, nodded. “She’ll be fine. She just needs to sleep it off.”
He hesitated again before speaking, his voice softer this time. “I didn’t expect this. I hope this doesn’t cause any problems between us. She’s not usually like this, is she?”
Sophie, sensing Claude’s discomfort, gave him a reassuring smile. “Olivia’s a good person. She’s just going through some stuff. It’s not like her to act out, especially not in front of others.”
Claude glanced at Olivia, still unconscious on the bed. He hoped that was the case, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Olivia’s behavior than met the eye.
“Let’s just get her some rest,” Sophie said, breaking the silence. “She’ll be fine in the morning.”
Claude agreed, silently watching over Olivia. It was strange, he thought. She wasn’t someone he knew well, but there was something about her that stirred a protective instinct in him. As Sophie left to give them some space, Claude stayed by the bed, making sure Olivia was comfortable and hoping she’d wake up soon, sober and unharmed.
Meanwhile, far away, Tyler’s mind was still filled with worry.