Chapter_224
Linda stood by Olivia’s side, her tone professional yet warm. “Ms. Olivia, there are only three of these bags in the world, and you got the last one.”
Olivia gave a short response, her mind still processing the weight of the gift. She said nothing else, and Linda, sensing the moment, quietly left the house.
Olivia took the bag upstairs, her hands still lingering on its smooth surface. Tyler had just emerged from the dressing room, his attire more relaxed. He noticed her entering with the bag and raised an eyebrow. “Have you tried it on?” he asked casually.
“Not yet,” Olivia replied, feeling a knot tighten in her stomach.
“Give it a try,” he suggested, his voice encouraging yet distant.
Olivia carefully opened the package, revealing the pristine white bag. The golden chain shimmered, and the leather felt soft against her fingers. The bag was everything a young woman could want—elegant, luxurious, and undeniably stunning.
“Thanks, Tyler,” she said quietly, her voice laced with gratitude. She had thanked him countless times before, but somehow, each “thank you” felt like a subtle reminder of the distance between them.
Tyler didn’t show much reaction. He sank into the couch, his eyes flicking to her briefly. “Thanks? Why are you thanking me? Don’t you like it?”
How could she not like it? The bag was irresistible, a symbol of wealth and thoughtfulness. But there was more beneath the surface, an unspoken tension that she didn’t know how to express.
“I like it very much,” she replied, a hint of hesitation in her voice.
“That’s great,” Tyler said flatly, as if the sentiment didn’t hold much weight for him. He seemed detached, his focus drifting elsewhere.
Olivia sat with the bag for a moment, the cool metal of the chain in her hand. She wondered why such a small thing could make her feel so… unsettled.
Tyler’s voice broke through her thoughts. “How’s your day?”
His question was routine, as if he asked it out of habit. Or maybe, Olivia thought, it was because he was worried—worried she wasn’t adjusting well to the new place.
“It was good. Aunt Ana… and Grandma are kind to me,” she said, her voice soft.
“That’s good,” Tyler said, but there was a pause. He looked at her more intently. “Do you still feel nauseous?”
She hesitated before answering, feeling the weight of his concern. “Not anymore,” she replied, her tone steady.
Tyler seemed to relax, but then he asked, “You’re not sad anymore?”
He was referring to Jacob. Olivia could feel the heaviness of the past creeping back, but she quickly pushed it down.
She shook her head. “Not anymore.”
“Good.” Tyler stood and walked over to her. Olivia felt the space between them shift, the air thick with something unspoken. His presence was always intense, and she found herself fidgeting as he neared, though she stopped herself just as quickly.
“I’ll take you out when I have time,” he said, his voice gentle. “I might be going on a business trip soon.”
Olivia wasn’t expecting that, and her heart skipped a beat. She quickly responded, her voice betraying a hint of anxiety, “I’m fine here, Tyler.”
Tyler’s hand brushed her cheek, his touch sending a wave of warmth through her skin. She remained still, not moving away from him, though a rush of emotions swirled inside her.
He seemed relieved to see that she was feeling better. “Mm-hmm, we’ll talk about it when the time comes.” He didn’t push any further but added, “You should eat more.”
Olivia didn’t feel sick anymore, but the nausea lingered in the back of her mind, just as her lack of appetite did. It was clear to him that she had lost weight, though today, she seemed a little better.
She shifted slightly, pulling away from his touch. “I will, Tyler,” she said, but her face paled again as she moved away. She closed her eyes for a moment, unwilling to meet his gaze.
The next morning, Ana casually mentioned, “Olivia doesn’t have much to do, so I thought we could go see a musical.”
Tyler glanced at Olivia as he heard her suggestion. “Would you like to go?” he asked, his voice calm but probing.
Olivia’s heart sank a little. She knew why Ana wanted to take her—to immerse her in culture, to mold her into the kind of sophisticated woman she believed would fit perfectly into the Harris family. Olivia didn’t want to disappoint anyone, but she also wasn’t sure she was ready for that role.