Chapter_196
Hillary smiled warmly as she watched Olivia sip the soup. “That’s it, good job. Your stomach will settle down if you keep drinking,” she encouraged, her tone almost maternal.
Olivia continued to drink slowly, her movements sluggish but obedient.
Darren, his concern still evident, leaned forward. “Do you feel better now?”
Olivia managed a weak smile, nodding. “Yes, much better.”
Darren sighed in relief. “That’s good to hear.” He looked at Hillary, who still stood beside Olivia, looking pleased with herself.
“I’ll bring you more soup tomorrow,” Hillary offered, her voice filled with determination.
Olivia, too weak to argue, simply agreed. “Okay.”
Without hesitation, Hillary offered another spoonful of soup, gently coaxing Olivia to eat more.
The moment was interrupted when Tyler entered the room. His presence was quiet but commanding. Hillary paused, turning toward him with a soft, insistent smile. “Tyler, let me take care of her. I’m worried the maid won’t do a good job,” she said, her words carrying a veiled reproach.
Olivia immediately tensed at Hillary’s suggestion, an uncomfortable knot forming in her stomach.
Tyler, however, swiftly dismissed her. “We have professionals here taking care of her. Don’t worry,” he replied coolly, his tone flat and businesslike.
But Hillary wasn’t ready to let it go. To her, this pregnancy was more than just about Olivia—it was about securing Naomi’s future. “It’s okay. I’ll take better care of her than the professionals,” she persisted, her voice firm.
Tyler’s patience began to fray, irritation simmering just below the surface. Before he could respond, Darren, sensing the rising tension, intervened. “Well, they’re not called professionals for nothing. They’re trained to care for pregnant women. They’re definitely better than you, so stop meddling,” Darren said, his words sharp but calm.
The harshness of Darren’s remark caught Hillary off guard. Tyler’s stern gaze added weight to the moment, and she fell silent, her expression faltering. After a long, uncomfortable pause, she sighed in resignation. “Alright, I’ll visit her often then.”
Tyler, wanting to avoid any further conflict, nodded. “Visit her when she’s feeling better. Right now, she needs rest.”
Hillary hesitated, but ultimately gave in. “Of course, I understand.”
The silence that followed felt heavy. “It’s getting late. You should head home,” Tyler suggested, his voice more neutral now.
Darren guided Hillary out, sensing her reluctance but not wanting to prolong the encounter. “Let’s go. We’ll come back to see Olivia when she’s feeling stronger.”
As they reached the door, Hillary turned back to Tyler. “We’ll leave then.”
Tyler gave a curt nod. “Mm-hmm.”
He gestured for the maid to see them off, and once they were gone, the room settled into an uneasy silence. Olivia, feeling a slight weight lifted from her shoulders, let out a quiet breath of relief.
Tyler’s gaze flicked to the thermos of soup by the bedside. Without saying a word, he addressed the maid. “Throw the soup away.”
The maid hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. “But it was brought by Mrs. Jones…” she ventured.
Tyler’s silence spoke volumes. His eyes were fixed on the soup, and the maid, understanding his unspoken command, reluctantly took the thermos and left the room.
As the smell of the soup began to dissipate, Olivia felt a sense of relief wash over her. She straightened slightly, the tension in her body easing.
Tyler turned to her, a gentleness in his voice. “Let’s skip eating for now. How about I take you out tonight?” he suggested, his tone softening.
But Olivia remained silent, her eyes staring vacantly ahead.
Tyler, sensing something was still off, gently lifted her face, tilting it so he could meet her gaze. His expression softened as he stared at her for a long moment, but just as he was about to speak again, Olivia’s body trembled. Without warning, she began to vomit once more, her frail form slumping against him as she retched.
Tyler’s expression darkened with concern, his hands instinctively moving to steady her. It was clear that no matter how much he wanted to take her out, she wasn’t ready. She still needed time—time he wasn’t sure he had, not with the complications of her condition and the emotional strain of the pregnancy hanging over them.