Chapter_213
“Why did you call, Naomi? I’m okay…” Olivia’s voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. She tried to sound strong, but the fragility in her tone was impossible to ignore.
Naomi instantly picked up on it. “I talked to Tyler,” she began, her voice filled with concern. “He told me about Jacob.”
“Oh…” Olivia’s heart clenched at the mention of his name. “Yeah, I’m alright, Naomi.” She tried to mask the ache with casual indifference, but Naomi wasn’t fooled.
Naomi had been under the impression that something was going on between Olivia and Claude, but hearing about Jacob’s departure shifted her understanding. It was clear now—Olivia still hadn’t let go of him. The realization stung.
“You should try to forget about the past, Olivia,” Naomi said softly, her voice filled with regret. “I’m the one who caused all this trouble.”
Olivia was caught off guard. She had always been the one to comfort Naomi, not the other way around. “Don’t say that, Naomi,” she replied quickly, trying to keep her emotions in check. “It has nothing to do with you.”
“How can you say that?” Naomi’s voice cracked slightly. “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have… split up with Jacob.” She sighed, her guilt spilling out. “Olivia, if it’s meant to be, you wouldn’t lose it. Don’t waste your tears on him. He’s not worth it.”
Olivia listened in silence as Naomi continued to try and console her, the words washing over her, but they felt distant. She nodded slowly. “Yeah, Naomi. I know.”
“Oh, my silly sister,” Naomi said with a soft laugh, though it was laced with a hint of helplessness.
Despite herself, Olivia felt a little lighter after the call. The weight in her chest seemed to ease just slightly, even if it wasn’t gone entirely. The silence stretched between them before Olivia spoke again, breaking it.
“If there’s nothing else, Naomi, I’m going to hang up.”
“Yeah, go get some rest,” Naomi replied, her voice kind but tired.
As Olivia ended the call, she stood still for a moment, the phone still in her hand. She felt the lingering ache of Naomi’s words, but something about the call had made her feel less alone. She glanced up, and there, at the door, stood Tyler.
His gaze met hers, and instinctively, she looked away, feeling the familiar tightness in her chest. Her grip on the phone tightened, a subtle but telling sign of her inner turmoil.
Tyler didn’t say anything at first. He just stood there, observing her, waiting for some sign that she was alright. He didn’t push her, but after a long moment of silence, he spoke softly. “Are you okay?”
Olivia nodded, forcing a small, tired smile. “I’m fine.”
He didn’t seem fully convinced, but he let it go, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer before he nodded and stepped away.
Meanwhile, Hillary had been waiting for Naomi’s update. As soon as Naomi hung up, Hillary’s phone rang. She didn’t need to look at the caller ID to know it was her mother.
“How did it go, Naomi?” Hillary asked, her voice clipped and impatient.
Naomi sighed, feeling the weight of everything that had happened. “Let’s just take it easy, Mom,” she replied, her voice lacking the usual energy.
Hillary was puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“Olivia’s been through a lot lately,” Naomi explained, her tone softening. “She’s been really sick in the mornings, and she needs a break.”
“What happened?” Hillary’s voice turned more urgent, her concern growing.
“It’s about her and Jacob. He’s with Sophie now. I just talked to Olivia… and yeah, she’s upset,” Naomi admitted, her voice tinged with guilt.
Hillary turned pale at the news. “She did the right thing by breaking up with Jacob. Why be sad over someone who wasn’t right for her?” Her words were sharp, but she softened as she continued, “And what does this have to do with her moving out of Sandalwood Palace?”
Naomi paused, unsure of how to explain. “Mom, the breakup… was because of Tyler and me. Just give me some time. I’ll talk to Tyler about it.”
Hillary’s expression darkened with frustration, but she remained quiet for a moment, weighing her thoughts. Finally, she spoke, her tone softer but still full of concern. “Okay, let’s just wait then.”
Naomi didn’t say much more. She hung up, her thoughts heavy. Her mother’s words lingered in her mind, but she was more focused on how to handle the situation with Olivia and Tyler.
The next morning, Olivia woke feeling a little better, though the weight of her emotions was still there, lurking just beneath the surface. She went downstairs and called out, “Aunt–” but stopped herself, her hand frozen in the air. “Mom,” she corrected herself softly.
It was still hard for her to call Ana that. The word felt strange on her tongue, unfamiliar. She was still adjusting to the shift in their relationship, but she hoped that, with time, it would feel more natural.