Chapter_151
Claude studied Olivia’s face, his eyes narrowing slightly as if searching for something more beneath her words. “Busy?” he repeated, his tone skeptical. “You don’t usually avoid my messages, especially not without a reason. What’s going on?”
Olivia hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She had never been good at hiding things from Claude, especially when it came to emotions. But this… this was different. She wasn’t ready to spill everything—especially not about her marriage to Tyler, the IVF, or the pressure she was under. She had enough to deal with without complicating things further.
“I just… needed some space,” Olivia finally said, her voice a little softer. “I’ve been thinking a lot, and I didn’t know how to explain it all.”
Claude’s expression softened, and he nodded slowly. “I get that. You know I’m here for you, right? No matter what it is.”
“I know,” Olivia replied, her heart heavy with the weight of his words. She wanted to reach out, to tell him everything, but something held her back. She couldn’t drag him into this mess—especially not when Naomi’s situation was still so fragile.
They continued walking in silence for a few moments, with Olivia lost in her thoughts. Finally, Claude spoke again, his voice more gentle than before.
“Olivia, whatever’s going on, you don’t have to go through it alone,” he said. “You’ve always been there for me, and I want to be there for you too. If something’s wrong, you can tell me.”
Olivia swallowed hard, the temptation to confide in him stronger than ever. But the fear of burdening him, of making things more complicated than they already were, kept her silent.
“I appreciate that, Claude,” she said softly, finally looking up at him. “But… I’m okay. Really.”
Claude gave her a long, searching look, clearly unconvinced, but he didn’t press her further. “Alright. But you know where to find me, right?”
Olivia nodded. “Thanks. I’m just trying to figure things out.”
“Just don’t shut me out, okay?” Claude said, his tone more serious now. “You don’t have to deal with everything by yourself.”
Olivia gave him a faint smile, grateful for his support, but deep down, she knew she was walking a fine line. The truth about what was happening in her life—about her marriage, the pressure, and everything else—felt like it was on the edge of breaking free. But for now, all she could do was keep it together, at least until she was ready to face it all.
“Thanks, Claude,” she said again, her voice quiet. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
They walked back toward the campus, and though the tension between them had eased slightly, Olivia knew that the real storm was still waiting for her at home—and at the heart of her tangled feelings for both Tyler and Claude.