Chapter_175
Olivia didn’t look up. The sting of Hillary’s words still lingered, settling deep inside her chest. It wasn’t the first time she had been treated like an object for the greater good, but something about Hillary’s venomous tone felt different. More personal. She could feel the weight of the threat behind her words, heavy and suffocating.
Tyler, however, seemed to have arrived just in time to diffuse the tension. His icy tone was enough to make Hillary pause and reconsider her behavior. But Olivia could sense that Tyler’s presence didn’t offer much comfort. His gaze was distant, impassive—a far cry from the gentle concern she sometimes caught glimpses of.
She could feel his eyes on her, but she didn’t dare lift her head. What did he really think of her?
Hillary, trying to salvage the situation, gave a tight smile and backed away. “I’ll leave you two to it,” she said, though her voice lacked the warmth she had once projected. “I’m sure you need your privacy.”
Tyler didn’t acknowledge her. His attention remained on Olivia, his expression unreadable. As Hillary left the room, the silence between them grew, thick and uncomfortable.
Olivia couldn’t bring herself to meet Tyler’s eyes. She was still haunted by Hillary’s words. The cruel reminder that she wasn’t truly part of this world—that everything she had, everything she was, had always been for Naomi’s benefit. A pawn in a game she never agreed to play.
“I’ve had the maids prepare fruit tea for you,” Tyler repeated, his tone flat, as if he were reading from a script.
“Thank you,” Olivia murmured, though the words felt hollow. She didn’t reach for the tea. She didn’t feel like drinking anything. What was the point?
Tyler stood there for a moment, still holding her gaze. He seemed to be waiting for her to say something, but she couldn’t find the words. What could she say? That she was exhausted? That she didn’t want to be a part of whatever twisted game her life had become?
“You look pale,” Tyler said quietly, his voice softening slightly. “You should rest.”
Olivia nodded, her fingers gripping the edge of the bed tightly. Her heart was a mess of emotions, and she didn’t know how to unravel it all. She wasn’t sure if she was more scared of what would happen if she let herself feel it, or if she let herself stay numb.
After a long pause, Tyler finally spoke again, this time in a gentler tone. “I know this isn’t easy for you, Olivia. But we have to stick to the plan.”
The words stung. They always did, though she knew he was right. But sometimes, she wished for a chance—just a chance—to make her own choices. To have her own life, her own path.
“I understand,” Olivia whispered, even though she wasn’t sure she did. She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
Tyler looked at her for a long moment, and she could sense his hesitation. But he didn’t push it further. Instead, he placed the fruit tea on the table beside her and gave a curt nod before turning to leave.
As the door closed behind him, Olivia exhaled, the weight of everything pressing down on her. She closed her eyes, trying to find some kind of peace in the silence. But it was impossible.
She had no control over her life, over her future. No matter how much she tried to escape the expectations of others, it always circled back to her sister. And the thought of what Hillary had threatened still made her blood run cold.
But maybe… maybe if she just kept going, kept pretending, she could make it through. Or maybe she would break first. Either way, the future felt like an endless road, and she wasn’t sure where it would lead.
The tea remained untouched.