Chapter_176
Tyler observed her in the mirror, his gaze sharp but unreadable. The contrast between the present and the past couldn’t have been more stark. Back then, when he stood beside Naomi, there had been laughter and lightness—now, with Olivia, there was only an icy tension that seemed to cling to every interaction.
“Ready?” Tyler’s voice broke through the silence, though it lacked any warmth.
Olivia met his gaze in the mirror, but her reflection seemed foreign to her. The elegant dress, the carefully done makeup, and the jewelry—none of it felt like it belonged to her. She wasn’t supposed to be in this role. She wasn’t supposed to be here at all.
“I suppose,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Tyler didn’t say anything more. He simply turned and left the room, his presence a shadow that lingered even after he was gone. Olivia watched him go, her heart heavy. She couldn’t bring herself to feel any excitement for the banquet, or for the event that was supposed to mark a turning point in her life. Instead, she felt the weight of everything pressing down on her—Hillary’s threats, Naomi’s looming presence, and the life that had been thrust upon her without her consent.
The makeup artist, who had been quietly waiting for a cue, began adjusting a few loose strands of Olivia’s hair, but Olivia’s mind wasn’t in the room. Her thoughts drifted to the past, to the girl she had been before all this—before the pressure of being Naomi’s substitute had consumed her every waking moment. It felt like a lifetime ago.
When the artist finished, Olivia stood up slowly, her legs shaky as she stepped away from the mirror. Her eyes still looked distant, even though the woman before her was a stranger—a version of herself that seemed so distant and out of reach.
The banquet would go on. Tyler’s plans would unfold. But Olivia knew that none of it would be for her. She was just another piece in a game she hadn’t chosen to play.
“Is everything alright, Miss?” The makeup artist’s voice cut through the fog of Olivia’s thoughts.
Olivia blinked and nodded absently. “Yes. It’s fine.”
The artist hesitated, sensing something wasn’t right, but said nothing more. She simply handed Olivia a small clutch and stepped aside.
As Olivia walked to the door, she caught a glimpse of herself once more in the mirror. The woman looking back at her wasn’t someone she recognized. She was a stranger, playing a part in a life that wasn’t hers.
And then she remembered the invitation. The one that had come with Tyler’s words—the wedding banquet. Her role in it, her place by his side. For a moment, she wondered if she could simply disappear, leave this life behind, and reclaim whatever was left of herself. But the thought was fleeting, as she knew it wasn’t an option.
With a deep breath, she left the room, stepping into the waiting car that would take her to the event. The banquet awaited.