Chapter_169
Olivia remained silent, her body tense, still trembling from both the pain and the overwhelming intensity of the situation. She couldn’t bring herself to speak, especially not when Tyler’s tone was so commanding. His hand, though gentle now, still held an underlying urgency. She could feel the weight of his anger, but also the worry in his eyes, though she didn’t understand why it was so strong.
Tyler’s frustration grew as he watched her withdraw further into herself. “Olivia, tell me what happened.” His voice was sharper this time, more insistent, but still laced with concern.
She looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “It was an accident… I just spilled tea.” Her voice trembled as she spoke, her earlier words ringing hollow now. The excuse felt weak, even to her. She couldn’t keep pretending that the burns on her skin were just from a simple mistake. The events with Maddie, with Claude, and now this… everything was spiraling out of control.
Tyler’s gaze hardened, disbelief evident on his face. “Tea? Is that really what happened?” His grip tightened for a moment, though not in anger, just a desperate need for the truth.
Olivia swallowed hard, feeling the sting of his skepticism. She couldn’t tell him about the confrontation, about Maddie’s jealousy, or about the way Claude had shown concern for her. There was no way Tyler would understand that without seeing it as something more than it was. And right now, it wasn’t the right time for that explanation.
“I’m fine, Tyler,” she muttered, but the words felt empty. Her injury throbbed, and her mind swirled with too many conflicting emotions. She wished she could just disappear, escape from the suffocating pressure of his gaze and the chaos that had followed her.
Tyler, however, didn’t seem convinced. “We’re going to the hospital. You’re not just ‘fine.’ Not when you’re injured like this.”
Olivia’s heart pounded. She couldn’t explain why, but something about Tyler’s persistence made her feel cornered. His need for answers felt more like an accusation, and she didn’t know how to make him understand that it wasn’t about him—or even about the injury—but about her own disillusionment with everything that had happened.
As they reached the hospital, Tyler helped her into the building, his hands still gentle but firm. His movements were deliberate, as though every step was calculated, as though every moment mattered. Olivia felt like a piece of glass being handled too carefully, yet she knew he was only trying to protect her.
Once inside, the doctor quickly examined her injury. “It’s a second-degree burn,” the doctor explained, while Tyler stood close by, his eyes never leaving Olivia’s face. “It’s important to treat it immediately to avoid further scarring.”
Tyler nodded but didn’t speak, his jaw set tight. Olivia felt the weight of his silence pressing down on her.
As the doctor prepared the treatment, Olivia couldn’t help but glance at Tyler. His eyes were cold, distant, but there was something beneath it—something that she couldn’t decipher. Was it guilt? Was he angry at her for not telling him the truth? Or was it something deeper?
After the treatment was done, Tyler remained silent as they made their way back to the car. Olivia, exhausted both physically and emotionally, leaned back against the seat, her eyes closing for a moment of respite. But the tension in the car was thick, and it suffocated her.
As they drove back, Tyler’s voice broke the silence. “You’re not going to avoid me forever, Olivia.”
Olivia opened her eyes, the weight of his words sinking deep. “I’m not avoiding you,” she whispered, though she wasn’t sure if it was true.
Tyler didn’t reply. The car’s engine hummed steadily in the background, but the distance between them felt greater than ever. Neither of them spoke again until they reached Sandalwood Palace.
When they arrived, Tyler helped Olivia out of the car, but this time, his touch felt colder. He didn’t say anything as they walked inside, his face unreadable. The silence that followed was a cruel reminder of everything they couldn’t say to each other.
Olivia felt like an outsider in her own life. The world she had tried to build with Tyler was slowly falling apart, and no matter how hard she tried to fix it, the pieces just wouldn’t fit together anymore.