Chapter_170
Tyler’s expression faltered for a moment, and for the first time, Olivia saw a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. The silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable.
“I—I was angry,” he finally said, his voice low. “I let my emotions get the better of me. I wasn’t thinking clearly. But that doesn’t excuse what I said. I’m sorry.” His words seemed genuine, but they only left Olivia more confused.
“You were angry?” Olivia echoed, her voice trembling slightly. “Why? Why would you think I would do something like that? You know me better than that, don’t you?”
Tyler rubbed his forehead, his hand resting for a moment as if trying to collect his thoughts. “I don’t know,” he admitted, the frustration clear in his tone. “I was upset about everything—the tea, the situation with Claude, and how close you two seemed. I know I shouldn’t have acted the way I did, but when I saw you with him, I… I don’t know. Something about it just set me off.”
Olivia’s heart ached as she listened to him. There was truth in his words, but also something more. She understood the jealousy—after all, it wasn’t like her relationship with Tyler was built on trust and love. It was a union of convenience, and Claude… he was something different. She couldn’t deny that the way he’d cared for her today had made her feel vulnerable, and a small part of her had enjoyed it.
“You thought I was… what?” Olivia asked, her voice quiet now, as she struggled to understand what had triggered his anger. “That I was being unfaithful?”
Tyler’s gaze softened, and he stepped closer. “No,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “Not unfaithful. But…” He hesitated, clearly choosing his words carefully. “You deserve more than what I’ve been giving you. And seeing you get attention from someone else… it made me feel like I was losing you. Like you might prefer someone else over me.”
His vulnerability was disarming, but Olivia’s chest tightened with a mix of emotions. Losing me? They were in this together by necessity, not by choice. He wasn’t losing anything, because they’d never truly been more than two people in a contract. Still, hearing his confession made her heart ache for something she wasn’t sure she even wanted.
She looked away, feeling an overwhelming rush of emotions she couldn’t quite name. “But you don’t get it, Tyler. You treat me like I’m… like I’m just a piece of property. Like you own me. You don’t see me for who I am. And when you said those things to me earlier… I felt like I didn’t even matter to you. That’s why I reacted like I did.”
Tyler was silent, and the weight of her words hung in the air. Slowly, he reached for her hand, his touch hesitant, unsure. “Olivia, I don’t want to lose you,” he said quietly. “I don’t want to keep making you feel like you’re nothing but a duty. I know I’ve made mistakes, and I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you. But I—” He paused, swallowing hard. “I want to try. I want to try to fix this.”
Olivia’s heart raced as she met his gaze. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust that his words weren’t just empty promises, but there was a part of her that couldn’t help but wonder if this was all just another fleeting moment of regret, something that would fade once the moment passed.
“Tyler,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what I want anymore. I don’t know if I can believe you, and I don’t know if I can keep pretending that this… this marriage is anything more than just an arrangement.”
He seemed to understand, his shoulders sagging slightly as if a weight had been lifted, yet he still held onto her hand, not letting go. “I understand, Olivia. But whatever you need, I’m here. I’ll be patient. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
For the first time in a long time, Olivia felt the faintest flicker of hope—a hope she wasn’t sure she could trust, but one that seemed to beckon her forward. She looked up at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes, even if the uncertainty remained.
“I just need time,” she said quietly, her voice soft yet firm.
Tyler nodded, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “Take all the time you need.”
As the silence settled between them, Olivia couldn’t shake the feeling that the road ahead would be difficult, but perhaps there was a way forward—if they were both willing to take it.