Chapter_231
Linda and Tyler sat across from each other in the study, the room filled with the quiet rustle of papers.
“We’ve gone through all the accounts for our branch in Seta City. Everything seems to be in order,” Linda reported, her voice calm but with a note of uncertainty lingering underneath.
Tyler had shown up at the party mostly to oversee matters concerning the Harris Group’s branch, the Pinnacle Group. But despite the seemingly perfect appearance of the accounts, they hadn’t yet figured out why money had been disappearing for years.
“When it all looks too good, something’s usually off,” Tyler said, his voice sharp with focus. He scanned the papers before him, his brow furrowing as he studied the numbers. “Did you look into the management team?”
Linda nodded, her expression mirroring his seriousness. “Yes, but we didn’t find anything. We even added a finance expert to the branch on the sly, just to keep an eye on things.”
Tyler fell silent, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information, his mind racing through potential scenarios. His instincts told him something was being missed, but he couldn’t put his finger on it yet.
Then Linda spoke again, breaking the silence. “Oh, Mr. Tyler, I need to tell you something. Claude’s grandfather passed away.”
Tyler snapped his attention toward her, his usually calm demeanor giving way to something sharper. “When did it happen?”
“About an hour ago. I found out while we were in the car,” Linda explained quietly, careful not to intrude too much on his space.
Tyler closed the folder in front of him with a quiet snap, his expression shifting. He sat still for a moment, the news clearly taking him by surprise.
“Should we go and show our respects?” Linda asked cautiously, aware of the history between the Harrises and the Pearces. She wasn’t sure what Tyler’s reaction would be.
Tyler’s gaze turned distant, his fingers lightly tracing the edges of the folder. His voice, when it came, was flat and almost indifferent. “When is the funeral?”
“In three days,” Linda replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Tyler nodded slowly, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. “Okay. We were family once, so it’s only right we show our respects now that my grandfather-in-law has passed.”
Linda’s heart skipped a beat at the casual nature of his remark. It wasn’t what she expected from someone who had, at one time, been deeply connected to the Pearce family. She hesitated for a moment, then cleared her throat. “Since we’re done with the inspection, we can head back to Tide City.”
Tyler didn’t respond immediately. He just nodded absently, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. “Okay.”
As Linda left the study, she passed Olivia, who was peacefully asleep on the bed in their hotel room. The sight of her, so calm and unaware of the weight of the world around her, softened Linda’s expression.
Tyler stepped into the room after Linda had gone. He looked at Olivia for a moment, her breathing steady and her features relaxed in sleep.
He walked quietly over to the bed, pausing just at her side. His fingers brushed through her hair gently, then he carefully tucked the covers around her, smoothing them down as if wanting to protect her from everything outside this moment. His gaze lingered on her face for a brief second before he pulled his hand away and stood by the bed, lost in thought. After a long moment, he turned and left, his footsteps echoing faintly as he returned to the study.
Olivia awoke abruptly at 10 PM, disoriented. The unfamiliar surroundings confused her for a moment, and she blinked, trying to gather her bearings. As her eyes settled on the large TV in the room, the pieces fell into place. She was on a work trip with Tyler.
She let out a small sigh, her exhaustion weighing on her. Her body felt heavier than usual now that she was past the morning sickness but still battling the constant fatigue that came with being pregnant. She glanced over at the empty space next to her in the bed, feeling a pang of loneliness. She hadn’t realized how much she missed Tyler’s presence until now, even though he had been just in the other room.
Olivia stretched out, rubbing her tired eyes. The quiet of the hotel room seemed to amplify her thoughts. Tyler was so distant, so absorbed in his work, and she couldn’t help but wonder where she fit into this world. Was she just an accessory to his life, a wife by title but distant by reality?
She rolled over onto her side, trying to push the thoughts away. For now, she needed rest. Tomorrow would be another day filled with more uncertainties, but for tonight, she’d allow herself the small comfort of sleep.