Chapter_241
Olivia stood frozen in place, her body trembling as she fought to stay upright. The pain in her lower abdomen had started as a dull ache, but it was growing sharper, more insistent. She pressed a hand against her belly, trying desperately to ignore it, to will it away.
But her breath came in short, shallow gasps, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t calm herself.
Tyler returned to the hotel at 10 p.m. The soft hum of the television was the only sound in the room. He set his coat down, glancing around, sensing something was off.
“Olivia?” he called out.
Just then, she stepped out from the bedroom. Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Tyler.”
His brows furrowed. “Were you here all day?”
Before she could answer, Linda entered the room, holding a stack of documents. Tyler looked back at Olivia and immediately noticed the pallor in her face, the way she was barely holding herself together. His tone softened. “What’s wrong?”
Olivia shook her head. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
But she didn’t look fine at all.
Sensing something was wrong, Linda paused in the doorway. Tyler didn’t take his eyes off Olivia. “Go ask the guards who came by today.”
Linda nodded quickly and left without a word.
Moments later, she returned. “Gina came by. She said her family sent her to deliver some food to Mrs. Harris, so the guards let her in.”
Tyler’s jaw tightened. His voice was cold and clipped. “Call Caleb.”
Olivia didn’t understand why, but the air in the room turned colder. Linda picked up on the tension and quietly exited, leaving them alone.
“I’ll make her apologize to you,” Tyler said firmly, turning back to Olivia.
“No, it’s okay,” Olivia murmured. Her voice was faint, and her expression distant. But before she could say more, her knees buckled.
“Olivia!” Tyler caught her just in time.
She leaned heavily against him, looking up with eyes clouded by pain. “It hurts…” Her voice cracked as she reached for her belly, her hands trembling. “It’s hurting a lot…”
Tyler’s heart dropped. He crouched to support her, gently placing a hand on her abdomen. “Here? Is this where it hurts?”
Olivia nodded, unable to speak through the waves of pain.
Without hesitation, Tyler scooped her up in his arms and headed for the door. “Hold on. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“Is there anywhere else hurting?” he asked as he walked swiftly toward the elevator.
Olivia clung to him tightly, curled up in his arms, her body wracked with pain. She felt like she was slipping into darkness, her strength draining fast.
“Call an ambulance, now!” Tyler barked at the guards as they rushed to open the elevator.
Then Olivia’s eyes widened in alarm. She grabbed at his shirt, her voice trembling with fear. “Tyler… I–I think I’m bleeding…”
Tyler’s face went pale. He held her even tighter, his voice low but urgent. “Don’t be scared. We’re almost there. You’ll be okay.”
Tears spilled down Olivia’s cheeks as they descended in the elevator. She’d never felt pain like this—physically or emotionally. The fear of losing the baby, the humiliation from earlier, and now this helplessness were too much to bear.
All she could do was hold on—and hope.