Chapter_123
The tension between them lingered in the air, thick and palpable. The car’s soft hum and the rustling of the wind outside seemed distant, as if the space between Olivia and Tyler had isolated them from the world. Their proximity felt like a fragile thing, the kind that could shatter with the wrong word, the wrong move.
They were so close that Olivia could feel the heat of Tyler’s breath against her skin, the scent of wine still lingering on his lips. Their noses brushed lightly, a fleeting touch that only added to the tension. His hand, still gently resting on her face, slowly traveled downward, and Olivia couldn’t help but lean into it, her body reacting instinctively to his presence.
For a moment, the world outside the car seemed to cease to exist. Silence enveloped them, and it was as though the car had become their own private bubble. But Tyler didn’t press any further. He remained still, his eyes never leaving her face.
“Remember what I said today?” Tyler’s voice was low, almost a whisper, and it sent a shiver down Olivia’s spine.
She didn’t respond immediately, keeping her face against his hand. There was a strange comfort in the stillness, but also a deep sense of unease. What was left unsaid seemed to hang between them like an invisible thread.
Eventually, Tyler’s hand moved away, the warmth leaving her skin as the car’s driver entered the vehicle. The moment of intimacy faded as if it had never been there, replaced by the quiet buzz of normalcy.
The driver’s voice broke the silence. “Mr. Tyler, are we heading to Sandalwood Palace?”
Tyler nodded without a word, and the car began its journey, leaving the restaurant and the brief tension behind them. The hum of the engine filled the air, and Olivia stared out the window, lost in her thoughts.
It wasn’t until the car was well on its way that Olivia spoke up, her voice small and hesitant. “Tyler, are the rumors at school true?”
Tyler shifted in his seat, his eyes opening slightly, a flicker of curiosity crossing his face. “What rumors?”
“They said they were raising funds for my sister,” Olivia explained softly, her mind turning back to Naomi and the medical treatments she might need. It was a difficult thought, but one she couldn’t ignore.
Tyler didn’t immediately deny it. Instead, he seemed to wear an air of weariness, nodding in acknowledgment.
Olivia’s chest tightened, a pang of guilt and helplessness settling deep within her. She didn’t know how to fix things, how to ease the pressure that everyone seemed to feel. “What about IVF?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can try it if we have to…”
Tyler’s gaze met hers, steady and unwavering. “We need a marriage certificate to start the IVF process,” he explained, the words calm but heavy.
Olivia’s lips pressed together in a thin line, her mind racing. “Well… do we have any other options?” Her voice faltered at the end, the sadness seeping through despite her efforts to remain composed.
Tyler closed his eyes once more, his face a mask of exhaustion. “We’ve checked the bone marrow donation database for potential matches in the first half of this year.”
The weight of the information settled over Olivia like a thick blanket, suffocating and cold. She didn’t speak, her mind too overwhelmed by the reality of their situation. No medical procedures were immediately available to them, no guarantees. It was all just a waiting game now, hoping for a miracle that seemed more and more distant with each passing day.