Chapter_204
Tyler made sure Olivia ate a full breakfast that morning. “Try to have more eggs and artichokes,” he advised gently.
The eggs tasted fine, and Olivia managed to finish everything on her plate while Tyler was still at the table. He watched her closely as he sipped his coffee, quietly relieved to see a slight improvement in her condition.
After breakfast, Olivia left the house with the maid accompanying her. She knew she couldn’t go out alone anymore—not when she had to prioritize the baby’s safety. Still, it felt good to get some fresh air. The walls of the house had started to close in on her.
Perhaps noticing her better mood, the maid chatted casually as they strolled, hoping to keep the atmosphere light. Olivia, however, didn’t speak much—just short replies here and there. It was enough that she could breathe freely again.
They walked by the river for a while, the maid never far behind. Eventually, Olivia grew tired of the slow walk and turned to her companion. “Let’s go to the mall,” she suggested.
The maid brightened. “Sure, ma’am.”
They got into the car and drove to the nearest mall. After walking around aimlessly for a bit, Olivia began to feel drained. She pointed to a dessert shop nearby. “Let’s rest for a while.”
They entered the shop and found a quiet corner. Olivia sat down and turned her gaze out the window, lost in thought.
A waiter approached and offered her the menu. She accepted it absentmindedly, ordered something sweet without thinking much, and went right back to staring blankly into the distance.
She thought about calling Sophie, hoping for a distraction. But the call went unanswered.
Her heart sank a little. She stared at the screen, her fingers hesitating over the phone before she finally put it down.
Just then, a familiar voice broke through the stillness.
“What do you want to eat, Jacob? They have great black forest cake here.”
Olivia froze.
That name. Jacob?
She turned instinctively—and her heart dropped.
Sophie and Jacob had just walked in.
All three of them stood frozen in the moment, none of them prepared for this encounter. Sophie, holding Jacob’s hand, immediately let go as she spotted Olivia.
“Olivia…” Sophie called out softly, guilt etched across her face.
Olivia stared, stunned. Her mind struggled to make sense of what she was seeing. Jacob met her gaze for a brief moment before looking away, avoiding the weight of her stare.
A tense silence fell between them.
Sophie shifted uneasily, clearly rattled. “Olivia, I can explain. J–Jacob and I—”
But Olivia cut her off, her voice trembling. “Why didn’t you answer my call?”
Her eyes turned to Jacob. “Is this why?”
She took a step back, as if trying to escape the scene before her, but bumped into a nearby table instead. The teapot and cups toppled with a loud crash, breaking the stunned silence and drawing every pair of eyes in the shop toward them.
Olivia stood frozen, pain and betrayal washing over her in waves.