Chapter_233
Olivia picked up a piece of steak with her fork and took a careful bite. It was soft and perfectly cooked, with a rich flavor that surprised her. She had eaten steak before, but nothing that felt quite this tender, nothing that made her savor each bite like this.
Tyler’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Is it good?”
Olivia nodded, humming her approval as she chewed. “Mm-hmm,” she said softly, her attention momentarily drifting from the meal.
The long nap had left her feeling parched, and the dryness in her throat was undeniable. Since she was pregnant, there were no alcoholic beverages on the table. She glanced at Tyler, a thought suddenly popping into her mind. “Do you want some water, Tyler?”
She didn’t want to make him stand up, so without waiting for an answer, she quickly got up herself. “I’ll get it.”
She moved over to a nearby table, grabbed the jug of water, and walked back to the table. Not asking if he wanted some, she immediately began pouring him a glass. Tyler watched her quietly as she filled his glass, a soft look in his eyes.
In her slight nervousness, Olivia wasn’t paying full attention to what she was doing. The water almost spilled over the edge of the glass, startling her. She quickly snapped back to the task at hand, trying to stop pouring, but in her rush, some of the water splashed onto Tyler’s lap.
Her eyes widened in shock. Before she could apologize, Tyler’s hand shot out, and with surprising gentleness, he grabbed her waist, pulling her into his lap.
The sudden movement startled her. She dropped the jug, the water splashing across the floor. It didn’t touch her, but the tension in the air was palpable.
Olivia’s face brushed against the tip of Tyler’s nose, and she instinctively looked away, a wave of confusion washing over her. “Tyler…” she murmured, unsure of what was happening.
She tried to move away, to put some space between them, but Tyler’s hand on her waist kept her in place. His face moved close to hers, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity she couldn’t ignore. “What?” he asked softly, his voice dipping with a teasing quality. He tilted his head slightly, flirting in a way that made Olivia’s heart race. “Hmm?”
Her breath caught in her throat, and she didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t form the words, the emotions swirling inside her. She felt herself trembling slightly, and Tyler noticed. His gaze softened even more, and his hand moved up to gently touch her face, his fingers brushing her cheek with an almost reverent touch.
“Olivia,” he whispered, his voice low and tender, like he was saying her name for the first time.
Olivia felt a strange warmth spread through her at the sound of her name on his lips, as if there was something more to it than just a simple call. She couldn’t understand why it made her heart flutter, but it did. There was a faint allure to his tone, something she hadn’t expected.
Her mind spun. She didn’t know how to handle this. She didn’t know why it felt so… special, so intimate, when all he had done was speak her name.
Before she could say anything, his finger gently traced the outline of her lips after caressing her cheek. “You know I shouldn’t do this,” he murmured, his voice low, his eyes darkening slightly as he watched her.
Olivia’s confusion deepened. “What do you mean?” she whispered, barely able to form the question.
Tyler’s gaze remained fixed on her, a conflicted look crossing his features. “I shouldn’t feel sorry for you,” he said, his voice tinged with something Olivia couldn’t quite place.
His words made her look down, her heart sinking slightly, her thoughts racing. She didn’t understand why he would say such a thing.
But then his fingers moved gently to her chin, tilting her head back up to face him. “But I can’t help wanting to protect you every time,” he continued, his voice softer now, filled with something unspoken.
Olivia’s heart skipped a beat, a strange mixture of emotions swirling within her. She didn’t know how to respond to that. Why did he want to protect her? Was it out of pity? Or something else?
The question he asked next caught her off guard. “Do you still miss Jacob?”
The mention of Jacob hit her like a wave. For a moment, she felt a pang of sadness, the familiar ache in her chest as memories of him resurfaced. But as the question lingered in the air, Olivia realized something—she no longer missed him. She had forgotten about him, lost in the whirlwind of everything that had happened with Tyler.
But the mention of his name, the reminder of the past, made her feel… something. It wasn’t longing, but sadness, the kind that came from a part of her that she thought she’d buried long ago.
She lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.
Tyler watched her closely, noticing the shift in her expression. “Can you forget him?” he asked, his voice soft yet carrying an intensity that made Olivia’s chest tighten.
Her mind raced as she tried to find the words, but the truth was, she didn’t know. Could she forget Jacob? Was it possible to move on from someone she once loved?