Chapter_172
Olivia’s mind spun in a whirlwind of confusion and frustration. The wedding banquet, Claude’s invitation, Tyler’s strange behavior—it was all too much to process. She couldn’t escape the feeling that her life was being pulled in directions she never intended to go, each decision leading her farther from the person she thought she was.
The maids had brought her breakfast, but she couldn’t bring herself to eat. She wasn’t hungry. The taste of the food seemed insignificant compared to the storm swirling inside her head. What am I doing here? she asked herself for the hundredth time, her hands gripping the sheets beneath her as if they could anchor her in some way.
The invitation to the banquet was a reminder of the tension between her and Tyler. It felt wrong, like a performance, a façade that they were expected to put on for the sake of appearances. What was the point of it all? And then there was Claude. The thought of him lingered, uninvited but persistent. The fact that he’d been included in the guest list—it unsettled her.
She sighed deeply, her fingers brushing her wedding ring. A symbol that had once held meaning but now only reminded her of the expectations, the restrictions, and the roles she was expected to play.
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the door to her room opened without warning. Olivia tensed but didn’t turn around. She already knew who it was.
“Olivia,” Tyler’s voice broke through the silence, low and calm, though there was an edge to it that she couldn’t ignore. “Can we talk?”
She didn’t answer immediately, her eyes still trained on the window, as if the view outside could offer her some clarity. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft, almost distant. “What is there to talk about?”
Tyler took a step closer, his shadow falling across her. “I know you’re upset about the banquet,” he began, his tone gentler than she had expected. “But we need to make the best of this. It’s important for both our families.”
Olivia turned her head slightly, her gaze landing on him. She didn’t want to argue, but her frustration bubbled up. “You keep talking about families and appearances, Tyler. But what about what I want? What about what I need?”
He paused, his expression unreadable. “Olivia, I’m doing what I think is best for us, for both of us. I know this isn’t ideal, but we have to work together. The banquet, the IVF—everything we’re doing, it’s to secure our future.”
“Our future?” Olivia echoed, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “You mean your future. I’m just a piece in your plan.”
Tyler’s eyes flickered, the tension in his jaw tightening. “That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?” Olivia shot back, her voice gaining strength. “Everything is about securing something. But what about me? What about my choices? Don’t I get a say in any of this?”
Her words hung in the air between them, heavy with emotion. Tyler opened his mouth to respond, but she quickly cut him off. “I need some time, Tyler. I need to think.”
Without waiting for a reply, Olivia stood up abruptly and walked toward the door. She didn’t want to hear his words right now—didn’t want to hear any more of his well-meaning but hollow reassurances. She needed distance, clarity, something to anchor herself to in this sea of uncertainty.
As she stepped into the hallway, she heard Tyler’s voice faintly behind her, “Olivia, please…”
But she didn’t look back.
She made her way down the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest. The house felt suffocating, the walls closing in around her. It was all too much—the banquet, the IVF, the expectations. And somewhere, deep down, the question of what was truly real in her life echoed louder than ever before. What did she really want? What was she willing to fight for?
Her footsteps faltered as she reached the bottom of the stairs. A figure was waiting in the hallway—a figure she hadn’t expected to see today.
Claude.
Their eyes met for a brief moment, and in that instant, Olivia felt a thousand unspoken questions between them. The invitation. The unspoken tension. But neither of them said anything.
Instead, Claude simply nodded toward her. “Olivia.”
Her throat tightened, but she managed a small, tight smile in return. “Claude.”
It was a simple exchange, but the weight of it felt like the beginning of something neither of them was ready to face.
Olivia swallowed hard and turned away. What am I supposed to do now?