Chapter_177
Tyler’s expression remained impassive as he processed the information. “Anyone else from the Pearce family?” he asked, his voice flat, though there was a subtle tension in the way he spoke.
Linda hesitated for a moment before answering, “I believe Mrs. Pearce will be attending as well. I’ll confirm the others shortly.”
Tyler gave a curt nod, his mind already shifting to the banquet. The mention of Claude stirred something in him, but he masked it quickly, returning to his usual composure.
Meanwhile, Olivia sat in the makeup chair, still lost in her own thoughts. The weight of everything—the banquet, the expectations, the looming IVF procedure—seemed to settle heavily on her chest. She absentmindedly ran her fingers over the delicate pearl headpiece, its subtle elegance reminding her of Maisy’s meticulous taste. It felt like she was being draped in a life that wasn’t entirely her own, a life of status and responsibility that she hadn’t chosen.
When the makeup artist finished with her hair and stood back, Olivia caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror again. She looked different—refined, polished, yet distant. Her reflection seemed like a stranger’s, a woman who had no connection to the girl who once wandered through her university’s campus, carefree and unburdened.
Her mind wandered to Naomi. She hadn’t seen her sister for days, and the silence between them had grown deafening. Olivia wondered how much of Naomi’s condition had truly been a result of her illness, and how much of it had been influenced by everything that had transpired between them. Was Naomi aware of what had been happening? Did she even care?
Her thoughts were interrupted as Tyler returned to the room, his presence filling the space once more. His gaze flickered over her, and for a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes—a flicker of what, she couldn’t tell. But it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared.
“We’re leaving soon,” he said, his voice cold, businesslike.
Olivia nodded silently, her stomach tightening. She stood up, her legs feeling heavy as she moved toward the door. She didn’t know what to expect from the banquet, but she knew it would be another chapter in this strange, unchosen life she had found herself in.
The maid quickly handed her the clutch Maisy had sent, and Olivia took it with a soft thanks. She had no idea what Maisy’s intentions were, but the jewelry felt like another token, another reminder of how much she was entwined in a world she hadn’t asked for.
As Tyler led the way down the grand hall of Sandalwood Palace, Olivia followed quietly, her thoughts distant, and her heart weighed down with the uncertainty of what the evening would bring.