Chapter_150
Olivia froze, the question hanging in the air like a heavy weight. She hadn’t expected Sophie to ask that, especially not in the middle of the cafeteria. Her mind scrambled for an answer, but nothing felt right.
Sophie’s eyes were searching, a mix of curiosity and concern. Olivia could feel the pressure mounting, the entire cafeteria around her fading into a blur as her focus remained on Sophie’s expectant gaze.
“I… I don’t know,” Olivia said softly, her voice barely audible. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. Things are just… complicated.”
Sophie raised an eyebrow, sensing there was much more to the story. “Complicated? Is that why you’ve been avoiding everyone? You don’t talk about anything, Olivia. You used to be open with me. What’s going on? Are you and Claude… are you two involved?”
The mention of Claude’s name sent a jolt of panic through Olivia’s chest. She wasn’t sure how to explain the tangled mess her life had become. How could she tell Sophie the truth about everything that had happened—Tyler, the marriage, Naomi, the IVF? The weight of it all felt like too much to bear, especially when she wasn’t even sure where she stood herself.
“I—” Olivia started, but the words got stuck in her throat. She took a deep breath. “I don’t know how to explain. It’s not what you think.”
Sophie leaned in closer, her voice lowering to a more private tone. “Olivia, you’re my best friend. I can tell something’s wrong. And I know Claude… he’s not like other guys. He wouldn’t just do something without meaning it.”
Olivia shook her head, the confusion in her mind only growing stronger. “Claude’s not the problem,” she murmured, her eyes flicking down to the table. “It’s everything else. I never asked for any of this.”
Sophie’s expression softened slightly. “You don’t have to explain everything right now. Just… tell me what’s going on. You know I’m here for you, right?”
Before Olivia could answer, the sound of footsteps approached, and she looked up to see Claude walking toward their table. His eyes immediately found hers, and he gave her a small, almost tentative smile.
“Hey, Olivia,” he greeted, his voice warm but with a trace of uncertainty.
Olivia swallowed hard, her anxiety bubbling up again. Sophie noticed the tension between them and, in that moment, her playful demeanor shifted. She shot a curious look at Claude, then back to Olivia, her suspicion growing.
“What’s going on between you two?” Sophie asked again, her tone more insistent now.
Olivia bit her lip, feeling the walls closing in on her. She had no idea how to navigate this conversation, especially with Claude right there. But the truth felt like it was spilling over, ready to be revealed whether she was ready or not.