Chapter_192
“I’m at the hospital. The doctor said I need rest,” Olivia said quietly.
“I’m coming over! Stay in bed!” Hillary exclaimed. Then, as if something urgent struck her, she added, “No—wait. I have to tell Naomi first. She must hear this from me.”
Olivia could sense the rising tide of emotion in Hillary’s voice and replied faintly, “Okay.”
The moment the call ended, Hillary dialed Darren and then rushed to Naomi’s hospital room.
Naomi had been stable over the past few days, though she was still confined to her ward for observation. As Hillary burst through the door, her excitement was impossible to hide.
“Naomi! Olivia is pregnant!” she announced, breathless. “She’s pregnant!”
Naomi had just placed a few pills in her mouth, still unswallowed. Her hand froze mid-air.
“It was natural—over a month along!” Hillary beamed, nearly glowing with joy.
Naomi stared at her blankly, the words slow to register. After a long moment, she finally swallowed the pills and asked, “Olivia is… pregnant?”
“Yes! Isn’t that amazing?” Hillary clasped her hands together, eyes shining. “No more worries about IVF!”
But Naomi didn’t share the excitement. Her mind got caught on one detail.
“A natural pregnancy…” she repeated softly, her tone distant. “I read somewhere that women conceive more easily when they’re in love.”
Hillary’s joy faltered. Her smile dimmed into a cautious frown. “What are you talking about?”
Naomi didn’t answer directly. Her mind spiraled into painful thoughts. “So… Olivia got pregnant when she and Tyler were in love?”
Hillary’s face stiffened, but she tried to redirect. “Naomi, this is a blessing—for all of us. Especially for you. Don’t overthink things.”
Naomi’s eyes filled with a dull ache. “How can I not, Mom? I can’t be happy about this. All I can see is them together. The man I love is having a baby with someone else.”
Hillary sighed and gently sat on the edge of her bed, her tone softening. “Naomi, Olivia’s pregnancy doesn’t change what you and Tyler have. He’s been by your side constantly. If he really loved Olivia, would he be spending all that time with you?”
Naomi looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. “Is he happy about becoming a father?”
“I haven’t spoken to him yet. Olivia was the one who told me,” Hillary admitted.
Naomi nodded faintly. “Hmm… then I guess he’ll call me.”
“He will,” Hillary said with forced optimism. “I’m sure he will come.”
Naomi pressed her lips together. “But Olivia needs more care now. Will he really have time for me?”
“He’ll make time,” Hillary insisted. “Trust me.”
After ending the call with Hillary, Tyler remained standing by Olivia’s bedside.
“I’m heading out for a while,” he said. “The maid will stay with you. Call me if you need anything.”
Olivia understood where he was going. Now that Hillary knew, Naomi surely would too. Of course, he’d have to speak to her.
She nodded gently. “Hmm. Got it. Go ahead, Tyler.”
But Tyler didn’t move.
After a few seconds of silence, Olivia turned to him, puzzled. “Why aren’t you leaving?”
“I can go tomorrow,” he said calmly.
His words surprised her. Her fingers tightened around the edge of the blanket, her heart stuttering.
He had every reason to leave—but he didn’t.