Chapter_112
Naomi’s eyes flickered with a tinge of something—perhaps sorrow, but not suspicion. She didn’t suspect anything between Tyler and Olivia, but the sting came from something else entirely.
She forced a smile, trying to mask her discomfort. “Ah, so they at least like Olivia quite a bit.”
Olivia’s heart sank. Guilt washed over her in waves. How had things gotten so complicated? What was supposed to be a gesture of support for her sister had somehow spiraled into something far more tangled. She found herself wearing the family bracelet, calling Maisy her grandmother, and now being approached by Ana as if she were Tyler’s future daughter-in-law. It felt wrong, as if she were stealing something from Naomi—something irreplaceable.
She couldn’t bear to meet Naomi’s gaze, but her sister’s soft fluttering eyelashes gave away the pain she was trying to hide, as if she were holding back tears.
Tyler, noticing the subtle shift in Naomi’s expression, tried to ease the tension with a smile. “I didn’t ask Olivia to return the bracelet because it’s hers now.”
Naomi gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. “Yeah, I understand.”
The air in the hallway felt heavy, thick with unspoken words. Naomi’s voice broke the silence. “The air out here isn’t good for you. Let’s go back inside.”
Seeming too weary to argue, Naomi followed Tyler back into the room, but then paused and glanced back at Olivia. “Aren’t you coming, Olivia?”
Tyler answered for her, his tone calm and matter-of-fact. “She still has classes later.”
Naomi’s face brightened, though it lacked her usual enthusiasm. “Ah, right. She should prepare for her classes instead of hanging around here. Let’s have the driver take her to school. Make sure he drives safely, okay?”
Tyler gave a short hum in agreement before escorting Naomi back into her room, leaving Olivia standing in the corridor, feeling like a ghost in her own life.
Once Naomi had settled onto her bed, she called out again, this time with a hint of concern. “Hey, Tyler? Maybe you should drive instead. I don’t want Olivia to get the wrong idea.”
There was a brief, pregnant pause before Tyler answered. “Okay. You rest up.”
Naomi nodded, her eyes fluttering closed as she lay back on the pillows. Tyler stepped outside, leaving Olivia to linger in the hallway. She was caught off guard to see him so soon after all that had transpired. Surprised, she instinctively took a step back.
Sunlight streamed through the window, catching the edges of her hair and illuminating her face, but Tyler’s gaze didn’t follow the light. Instead, his eyes traveled down her neck, landing on the marks he had left the night before.
“Let’s go,” he said quietly, his voice almost too soft. “Don’t dwell on this too much for now. We’ll talk about everything once we’re home.”
His hand brushed against her neck, a gentle touch that startled her. Olivia looked up at him, her heart skipping a beat. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a voice called from behind her.
“Olivia?”
It was Mrs. Jones. The moment was broken, and with it, Olivia’s already fragile composure.