Chapter_168
The tension in the room was palpable as Olivia’s words hung heavily in the air. Tyler stood frozen, staring at her, his face unreadable. The silence stretched on, both of them waiting for the other to speak.
Olivia’s heart raced, her chest rising and falling with each shaky breath. She couldn’t believe the words that had just come out of her mouth. It wasn’t like her to shout, especially not at him, but the weight of the accusations, the way he was treating her like a stranger, had pushed her to the edge.
Tyler, still unmoving, finally spoke, his voice low and guarded. “You don’t know what you’re saying, Olivia. You don’t understand what’s at stake here.” He looked at her, his eyes hardening. “You’re my wife. That means something. People will talk. We can’t afford for them to think anything is… out of place.”
Olivia shook her head in disbelief, her grip tightening on the edge of the bed. “Out of place? I’m your wife, Tyler. I’m not some object to be controlled or monitored. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask to be thrown into your world of expectations and rules. I’m just trying to make sense of everything, and you’re making it so much harder!”
Tyler’s jaw clenched as he turned away, walking toward the window. He didn’t meet her gaze. “This isn’t about what you want, Olivia. This is about what’s necessary. What’s expected of you. You signed up for this when you married me.”
“I didn’t sign up for anything, Tyler! You made all the decisions for me!” Olivia’s voice cracked as she took a step forward, her emotions swirling. “You didn’t ask me what I wanted. You didn’t care about my feelings, and now you want me to be a good little wife who does whatever you say? What happened to the person I used to be?”
Tyler turned sharply, his expression hardening once more. “The person you used to be? What does that even mean? You’re not the same anymore, Olivia. You’ve changed. And it’s not just because of me. Look at you. You’re running from everything—your own life, your responsibilities, your role in this family.”
“I’m running?” Olivia’s eyes welled with tears, her hands trembling at her sides. “I’m trying to hold everything together, Tyler! I’m trying to find my way, but you keep shutting me down! Every time I try to be myself, you remind me of what I’m supposed to be. I’m not asking for your approval—I just want to be heard.”
Tyler didn’t speak for a long moment. When he did, his voice was quieter, colder. “You’ve already made your bed, Olivia. You’ve chosen this path. Don’t expect sympathy now.”
Olivia’s breath hitched, her chest aching with the weight of his words. “I never chose this path,” she whispered, more to herself than to him. “But now… I don’t know what’s left.”
The silence between them was suffocating. Tyler’s gaze softened just a fraction, but he didn’t approach her. His voice was distant as he spoke. “Do what you want, Olivia. I don’t have the energy to argue anymore.”
With that, he turned away, leaving Olivia standing in the middle of the room, feeling more alone than ever. Her heart felt heavy, her mind clouded with confusion. She wanted to scream, to break free from the suffocating expectations, but she wasn’t sure where to go or what to do anymore. The weight of her marriage, her role in his life, felt like a prison—and the more she tried to escape, the tighter the walls seemed to close in.
As Tyler walked out, the door clicking shut behind him, Olivia sank down onto the bed. Tears spilled down her cheeks, but she didn’t try to stop them. The anger, the hurt, the frustration—everything had finally caught up with her. She was trapped in a life that she hadn’t chosen, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break free.