Chapter_113
Olivia and Tyler turned in unison, their eyes catching the sudden presence of Mrs. Jones.
Mrs. Jones, momentarily startled, had clearly noticed Tyler’s hand resting on Olivia’s neck. Her mind raced, but she kept her composure. What was that?
Tyler quickly withdrew his hand, and Olivia instinctively stepped back. “Uh, hello, Mrs. Jones,” Olivia greeted, her voice slightly trembling.
The entire exchange lasted only a few seconds, but the brief moment felt charged. Mrs. Jones’ instincts told her something was off, but she almost second-guessed herself. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Her eyes narrowed as she studied Olivia.
“Here for Naomi too, Mrs. Jones?” Tyler asked, his voice smooth, though his eyes lingered on the older woman, wary of any questions she might ask.
Mrs. Jones held up a thermos. “I brought some broth for her.”
“She’s resting inside,” Tyler informed her, a hint of distraction in his tone.
“I see,” Mrs. Jones said, her voice softer. “She must be hungry. I’m a bit late today.”
Tyler, eager to redirect her focus, suggested, “Let’s go in together.”
Mrs. Jones smiled, pleased by his suggestion. “Good idea. It’s been a while since I saw you.”
As they walked toward the room, Mrs. Jones cast a fleeting glance at Olivia. It was quick, but deliberate. Olivia didn’t catch it, but Tyler, sensing the shift, felt his stomach tighten. He couldn’t help but notice how his mother’s gaze lingered for just a beat longer than necessary. His expression darkened, a quiet tension settling between them.
Lost in her thoughts, Olivia didn’t immediately notice Tyler’s driver approaching her.
“Miss Olivia? Let’s go.”
Snapping out of her daze, she blinked, still feeling disoriented. “Right!” she replied, her voice distant and mechanical.
The events had unfolded too quickly, and she couldn’t make sense of the emotions swirling inside her. Tyler’s hand on her neck, the moment Mrs. Jones had walked in—it was all too confusing. It felt as if her soul had been jolted out of her body, leaving her in a haze.
She followed the driver toward the car, her steps slow and disjointed.
Inside, Naomi greeted her with a bright smile. “Mom! So good to see you! And Tyler, I didn’t expect you here!”
Tyler placed the thermos on the bedside table with a soft click. “Mrs. Jones came by while I was talking to Olivia outside, so I decided to come in with her.”
Naomi chuckled, “I see! I thought maybe you two planned this.”
But Mrs. Jones didn’t respond with her usual warmth. Today, she seemed uncharacteristically quiet, her mind far away, preoccupied with the scene she had witnessed in the hallway. Olivia and Tyler were supposed to be there for Naomi, for her sake, but that fleeting moment—Tyler’s hand on Olivia’s neck—had stirred something within Mrs. Jones. The tenderness in his gesture, the way he seemed to care for Olivia, hinted at something deeper.
A wave of anxiety washed over Mrs. Jones. Was she reading too much into it? Her heart raced with the growing realization that there were things she couldn’t ignore any longer. She needed to be ready for whatever might come.
“Mom? Mom!” Naomi’s voice pulled Mrs. Jones out of her thoughts.
She blinked, caught off guard. “Are you okay? You seem distracted,” Naomi said, her tone laced with concern.
A chill ran down Mrs. Jones’ spine. She knew something was shifting, something she couldn’t quite put into words, but she had to be cautious. Precautions needed to be taken. She had to protect Naomi—no matter what.
Casting one last glance at Tyler, Mrs. Jones felt the weight of his gaze as he met hers, a silent understanding passing between them. Naomi, noticing the exchange, raised an eyebrow.
“Mom? What’s going on?” Naomi asked, her concern deepening.