Chapter_210
“You can’t just go around helping everyone.”
Claude’s words echoed in Sophie’s mind as he turned and walked away, not bothering to look back at her. The cold finality of his departure left her standing there, unsure of what to feel.
Back at home, Sophie couldn’t shake the tension in her chest. She kept sending messages to Olivia, each one more desperate than the last.
[I’m sorry, Olivia. I didn’t mean to keep it from you. Can we please meet and talk?]
[Olivia, please answer.]
[Let’s sort this out, Olivia.]
Olivia, sitting on the edge of her bed, stared at her phone. The messages from Sophie sat there, blinking in the silence. Each one tugged at her heart, but there was a strange calmness that had settled within her. It was hard to admit, but as much as she still cared for Jacob, being with him was no longer an option.
It didn’t matter who he was with now. The reality was clear: she couldn’t have his love. And perhaps, in a way, that was okay. Olivia’s fingers moved, typing a response.
[I’m happy for you, Soof.]
Sophie stared at the message for a long moment. Her finger hovered over the screen, trembling slightly. She wasn’t sure how to reply. After what felt like an eternity, she typed back.
[Does this mean we’re still friends?]
Olivia’s reply came swiftly.
[Yes.]
Sophie set her phone down, the weight of the words sinking in. She wasn’t sure whether she was relieved or heartbroken. But she knew, deep down, that this was the only way forward.
That night, Olivia sat in the dimly lit room, staring at the flames flickering in the brazier. She had gathered every single photo of her and Jacob—pictures from their trips, their late-night study sessions, their laughter on the beach. Each photo was a symbol of a dream she had once held dear: a future together, a home, children, a life.
Jacob had promised her everything. A house. A boy named Cody, a girl named Abby. A family of their own, filled with love and warmth. Olivia had clung to these dreams for so long. But now, as she watched the pictures curl and blacken in the fire, those dreams crumbled to ashes.
“Goodbye, Jacob,” she whispered, her voice barely a breath. “I wish you all the best.”
Her eyes remained fixed on the fire, even as her heart seemed to shatter with each flicker of the flames.
It was well past midnight when Tyler quietly entered Olivia’s room. He found her lying still in bed, staring at the small fire in the corner. Without a word, he sat beside her, his presence a quiet comfort in the stillness of the night.
“Did you burn everything?” he asked softly.
Olivia didn’t answer, her gaze locked on the dying flames. The silence between them was thick, but Tyler understood. He could feel the weight of her pain, the loss she was trying to let go of.
“People say first loves never last. Did you know that?” Tyler asked after a long moment.
“I didn’t need anyone to tell me,” Olivia replied quietly, her face expressionless, but there was a subtle flicker of resignation in her eyes.
Tyler nodded, his hand brushing her hair back gently. “You’re stronger than you think.”
He tucked her in, making sure she was comfortable before turning to the maid. “Take the brazier out,” he instructed.
The maid entered and quietly removed the brazier. As she did, she glanced down at the last picture that was slowly being devoured by the fire’s heat, and for a brief moment, she hesitated, sensing the weight of the loss in the room.
Tyler stood and walked toward the door, casting one last look at Olivia. “Rest,” he said softly. “We’ll deal with everything tomorrow.”
The following morning, Hillary went to the hospital to speak with Naomi. She was tense, her voice low as she posed the question that had been nagging at her for days.
“Naomi, since Olivia’s pregnant, do you think she should move back home?”
Naomi froze mid-action as she was freshening up. “Isn’t she staying at Sandalwood Palace?”
Hillary’s eyes darkened. “Do you know what they’re calling her there? They’re calling her Mrs. Harris.”
Naomi’s smile faltered. She had heard the rumors, but hearing it from her mother made it feel more real. “Mom, Olivia is my sister. She’s staying there so Tyler can take care of her and the baby.”
Hillary wasn’t satisfied. “Do you care that much about titles? Do you realize how much this baby means to the Harrises?”
Naomi’s face paled. She hadn’t thought much about the significance of the baby in Tyler’s family. But now, she couldn’t ignore the gravity of it. “I’ll talk to Tyler about it,” she said, though her voice lacked conviction.
“You better,” Hillary pressed. She didn’t elaborate, but her words were clear. The baby wasn’t just Olivia’s—it was part of something bigger now, something that would affect all their futures.
The complexities of family, love, and loyalty seemed to only deepen as the days went by, and Olivia was caught in the middle of it all—her heart still healing, her future uncertain, and the past burning away in the flames.