Chapter_217
In this luxurious store, the Harrises were the only ones with the power to request such favors from the Pearces. Sophie stood still, caught off guard by the store worker’s words, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion.
Olivia, sensing the tension, gently squeezed Tyler’s hand. “Never mind. I don’t like it anyway,” she said quietly, her voice calm but resolute.
Tyler’s gaze lingered on Olivia for a moment, then, with a hint of coldness, he handed the bag back to the store worker. “Hmm, let’s go home since you don’t like it,” he said, his tone final.
Linda, who had been quietly holding shopping bags, made her way toward the door, and Tyler followed, his stride steady. Olivia, walking beside him, felt a strange weight lift off her shoulders as they moved toward the exit.
Colleen, also laden with shopping bags, couldn’t help but murmur, “Tyler, you have to bring me back here when they have new arrivals.” Her voice was muffled, her playful tone a stark contrast to the underlying tension in the air.
As Tyler and Olivia reached the door, Tyler turned back to Sophie. His voice was polite, even apologetic, yet the coldness lingered. “I’m sorry, Sophie. I didn’t realize it was yours. I should’ve asked. It’s not right to take what someone else loves. I owe you one.”
His manners were impeccable, his tone smooth, yet there was a distinct edge to it, one that Sophie couldn’t ignore.
Sophie, clearly intimidated, stammered in response, “I—I’m fine, Mr. Tyler. If Olivia wants it, she can have it.”
“There’s no need,” Tyler replied. “I’ll find her something else.” His words, while calm, left no room for argument.
Sophie, her discomfort palpable, simply nodded. “O—Okay, Mr. Tyler.”
Without another word, Tyler continued his way out, Olivia following closely behind. Sophie, still reeling from the exchange, stood frozen for a moment, before she turned to Jacob, her mind racing.
“D—Did the employee just say Olivia is Tyler’s wife?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jacob, who had been silent throughout the encounter, clenched his fists, his jaw tightening in visible frustration. His face was grim, the anger simmering beneath the surface.
Sophie, noticing the change in his demeanor, looked up at him. “What’s wrong, Jacob?”
“Nothing,” he replied sharply, his voice low, but the storm in his eyes spoke volumes. “Let’s go.”
But Sophie wasn’t done. She grabbed his arm, stopping him before he could walk away. “What happened with Olivia? How did she become Tyler’s wife? Wasn’t his fiancée supposed to be her sister, Naomi?”
Her voice was filled with a mix of confusion and hurt. She sensed Jacob knew something, and it made her nervous.
Jacob’s eyes darkened as he glanced at Sophie. “Didn’t you know?” he scoffed bitterly. “She fell for him. Got what she wanted and is now his wife. Why else would she leave me?”
His words dripped with disdain as he sneered. “What a b*tch… Just like something an illegitimate child would do. After all, wasn’t her mom a mistress too?”
Sophie’s eyes widened in shock, the words cutting deep. She had never imagined Jacob would speak about Olivia this way—her best friend, someone she had once looked up to. But the venom in Jacob’s voice was undeniable, and Sophie struggled to come to terms with it.
“Jacob… How can you talk about Olivia like that?” she asked softly, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and sadness.
“Are you defending her?” Jacob’s eyes flicked to her sharply, his expression darkening further.
Sophie took a deep breath, holding his hand gently. “No,” she said, though the doubt in her voice was evident.
Jacob’s features softened, and he caressed her cheek tenderly. “Soof, you’ve shown me how beautiful a person can be, unlike her.” His words were soothing, yet laced with bitterness toward Olivia.
Sophie’s heart twisted as she felt herself drawn to Jacob even more, despite the hurtful things he said about her best friend. She had always admired Jacob’s strength, his confidence—but in that moment, she saw another side of him. His love for her, his devotion, even in the midst of such ugliness, made her feel cherished—but it also left her conflicted.
Back at the Harris estate, Tyler and Olivia returned home, the weight of the shopping trip lifting off their shoulders. Tyler directed a maid to take their purchases upstairs, and Olivia, feeling a mix of exhaustion and gratitude, looked up at him.
“Thank you, Tyler,” she said quietly, her voice soft but sincere.
Tyler glanced down at her, his face impassive, but there was a flicker of warmth in his eyes. “You’re welcome,” he said simply.