Chapter_174
Hillary’s smile didn’t falter, but Olivia could sense the calculating look in her eyes. “Good. It’s important to maintain boundaries, especially with what’s coming up.”
Olivia nodded, trying to remain neutral. She didn’t have the energy to engage with Hillary’s subtle questioning, nor the will to entertain her underlying motives. But it was hard to ignore the weight of her words.
They reached the guest room, and Hillary motioned for Olivia to sit down. Once they were both seated, Hillary placed the treats on the table and looked at Olivia carefully. “You’ve been through a lot recently, haven’t you?”
Olivia felt a pang of discomfort, but she couldn’t ignore the reality of it. A lot was an understatement. The IVF, the wedding, the constant pressure—everything was swirling in her mind like a storm she couldn’t control.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Olivia replied, her voice softer than she intended. She hadn’t expected to open up, but there was something about Hillary’s approach that made her feel like she could.
Hillary nodded sympathetically. “Tyler is a good man, but sometimes he forgets how much pressure situations like these can put on someone. He can be… focused on the big picture.”
Olivia raised an eyebrow at Hillary’s words. Focused on the big picture? It sounded like a gentle way of saying he was oblivious to how his actions affected her.
“Do you think he’s forgetting about me?” Olivia asked, the words slipping out before she could stop them.
Hillary studied her for a moment, then shrugged. “Not forgetting, but maybe he hasn’t fully realized the impact of everything. But that’s something only you can communicate to him. He won’t change unless you make it clear.”
Olivia hesitated. She didn’t know how to express the feelings she was struggling with, especially when it came to Tyler. How could she even begin to explain how trapped she felt, how the constant tension between them was starting to wear her down?
Before she could answer, Hillary reached across the table and handed her one of the treats. “I know this isn’t easy, Olivia. But I’m here to help. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
Olivia took the treat, unsure of what to say. Hillary’s kindness felt genuine, but she also couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to her presence here than just concern for Olivia’s well-being.
“Thank you,” Olivia said, finally deciding to take a step back from her tangled thoughts. “I appreciate it.”
Hillary smiled warmly. “Of course. Just remember, I’m always here for you. If you ever need someone to talk to, don’t hesitate.”
Olivia nodded, still unsure about the unspoken layers beneath Hillary’s words. But for now, she didn’t want to dwell on it. She had enough on her plate to think about.
After a brief silence, Hillary stood up, smoothing her dress. “Well, I’ll leave you to it. You’ve got a big event coming up, after all.” She gave Olivia a knowing look. “I’m sure you’ll do just fine.”
As Hillary left the room, Olivia sat there, her mind whirling. What did she mean by that?
She glanced at the untouched breakfast sitting downstairs, wondering how she would ever navigate the complexities of her life now that everything seemed to be shifting so rapidly. The banquet, the IVF, the looming decisions—she had to find a way to make sense of it all before it consumed her completely.
But for now, she was alone with her thoughts, and even that felt like too much.