Chapter_129
“It’s alright…” Olivia said softly, her voice carrying a hint of reassurance, though she wasn’t entirely sure of the meaning herself.
Claude, sensing her discomfort, gave her a confused look. “What do you mean?”
Olivia glanced away for a moment before responding, her voice quieter this time, as though the words were difficult to form. “There’s a big age gap between my sister and me. We’re not very close, but… she’s nice to me.”
Claude processed her words, his curiosity piqued. “How big is the gap?” he asked.
“Um… Seven years,” Olivia replied, a faint shrug accompanying her words, as though it wasn’t a big deal.
Claude nodded thoughtfully. “That’s quite a gap, but I can tell you care for her.”
Olivia mumbled a soft, “Mm-hmm,” unsure how to elaborate further.
They fell into a comfortable silence after that, the steady hum of the car and the gentle tapping of the rain against the windows filling the space between them.
An hour later, the car finally pulled into the hospital parking lot. Olivia glanced out the window, grateful that the rain had slowed down but still unsure of what awaited her inside.
She got out of the car and, with a polite smile, turned to Claude. “Thanks, Claude.”
Claude stepped out of the car as well, his expression light. “For what, silly?” he teased, the tone playful, as if it was no big deal.
The word ‘silly’ made Olivia feel a bit embarrassed, but it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. She stood beside him, feeling oddly warm despite the chilly wind that had started to pick up.
Claude, noticing her discomfort, looked down at her with a small smile. “Let’s go.”
Olivia nodded and followed him, the familiar, yet comforting presence of Claude making her feel less alone in this moment. As they walked, they chatted about little things—the weather, Claude’s photography, Olivia’s studies—until they reached Naomi’s room.
Upon stepping inside the hospital, Olivia froze for a moment when she saw Hillary sitting beside Naomi’s bed. The sight of her mother surprised Olivia, causing her to pause, caught off guard by her presence.
Naomi, ever the warm and welcoming person, noticed them standing in the doorway and smiled brightly. “Olivia!” she called out.
Tyler, who had been in the middle of a conversation with a doctor, turned when he heard Naomi’s voice. His eyes narrowed when he saw Claude standing beside Olivia.
Naomi, however, was focused entirely on Olivia, not yet registering the man beside her. She began to invite Olivia into the room, but then her gaze landed on Claude, her expression shifting slightly. She appeared intrigued, if not a little surprised.
Olivia hesitated, unsure if she should speak or just walk in. After a moment, she explained, “He’s Claude, my friend’s brother.”
Naomi looked at Claude, her brow furrowing in thought as she tried to place him. When recognition finally clicked, she blinked in surprise. “Claude?” she asked, her voice reflecting a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Claude smiled warmly at her. “Long time no see, Naomi,” he said, his tone easygoing, though there was an underlying tension Olivia couldn’t quite place.
Naomi’s eyes shifted between Olivia and Claude, and for a moment, she seemed to be lost in thought. Her gaze lingered, and Olivia could feel the subtle change in Naomi’s demeanor—something was shifting in her expression. Naomi seemed to pick up on something in the air, but she quickly refocused and asked, “When did you come back?”
She turned her attention to the corner of the room. “Tyler, Claude is back.”
Tyler had been standing off to the side, talking with the doctor. At Naomi’s words, he closed the file he had been holding and handed it to the doctor. Then he walked toward the door, his footsteps deliberate.
“We’ve crossed paths before,” Tyler said, his voice flat, but the tension in his gaze was unmistakable as he looked at Claude.
Claude’s response was calm, but there was a slight shift in his expression. He met Tyler’s gaze without flinching, and though neither of them said anything more, the unspoken tension between them was palpable.
Naomi, sensing the change in the atmosphere, asked, “Where? Why didn’t I know about it? You didn’t mention anything.”
Olivia, too, found herself intrigued by Naomi’s question. She glanced at Tyler, who remained silent, his face unreadable. She couldn’t help but feel that something important was being left unsaid.
Tyler didn’t answer Naomi’s question, but Claude just smiled, a knowing look in his eyes. The tension in the room was thick, but Claude seemed unfazed by it all, choosing instead to let the silence hang in the air.