Chapter_127
Olivia watched as Claude walked away, feeling a strange mix of confusion and unease. His visit had been an unexpected distraction from the heavy thoughts swirling in her mind. She couldn’t help but feel there was more to his presence than just a simple stroll around the university. As much as she was glad to see him, there was something in his eyes that seemed to suggest he was holding back. The mention of his assistant, though casual, lingered in her mind.
Feeling a bit embarrassed about the whole situation, Olivia decided to brush off the uncomfortable feeling. She wasn’t sure why, but something about the way Claude had spoken made her think there was something deeper going on. Still, she shook her head to clear the thoughts. It wasn’t the time to dwell on it.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her attention back to reality. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from Tyler.
Tyler: “Have you reached the university yet?”
She paused, her thoughts immediately returning to him, and Naomi’s health issues that had been weighing on her all morning. The guilt she had felt earlier about their struggle to conceive came back, only now it seemed to take on a larger meaning. How long could she keep up with the pressure from all sides? Between Naomi’s condition and Tyler’s unspoken concerns, Olivia felt like she was being pulled in so many directions that something was bound to give.
Olivia: “Yes, just got here. What about you?”
She waited for Tyler’s response, her mind wandering back to Claude and his sudden appearance. Something about the way he had mentioned his assistant made her think that his visit was more than just a simple photography trip. She had recommended the university’s lake area as a nice spot for photos, but had he really just come for that? Or was there more to his visit?
Her phone buzzed again, bringing her out of her thoughts.
Tyler: “Busy day. I’ll see you later. Take care of yourself, okay?”
Olivia’s heart softened at the simple message. Tyler always made an effort to check on her, even with everything else going on in his life. She smiled, wishing she could do more for him in return. He seemed so concerned about her well-being, but she felt like she could never do enough. She couldn’t help but wonder if she was truly living up to his expectations, especially considering all the challenges they were facing, including Naomi’s health.
Olivia tucked her phone away and walked into the lecture hall, trying to shake off her unease. She sat down, but her mind refused to settle. Thoughts of Claude, Tyler, and Naomi kept swirling in her head. She couldn’t understand why her encounter with Claude had felt so strange. Why had he come to the university, and what was the real reason behind his visit? Was it just about taking pictures, or was there something else he hadn’t shared?
Her thoughts were interrupted as the lecture began, but the questions still lingered in the back of her mind. She tried to focus on the class, but a growing sense of uncertainty gnawed at her. Was everything around her more connected than she realized?
As the class progressed, Olivia couldn’t shake the feeling that things were shifting beneath the surface. The Harris Group’s involvement in the university’s donation project was just the tip of the iceberg. And Claude, as seemingly innocuous as his visit had been, might be more entangled in the situation than he let on.
Olivia felt like she was barely scratching the surface of something far more complex than she could understand. There were so many layers to everything happening around her—too many for her to ignore. She could sense that change was in the air, and whether she liked it or not, things were going to shift. How far would this ripple effect go? Would she be able to keep up with the changes, or would she be swept away in the current?
As the lecture ended, Olivia packed up her things, her thoughts once again returning to Naomi and Tyler. The guilt was still there, but she was starting to realize that there was more she needed to figure out. And time, she felt, was running out.