Chapter_257
Naomi clung to his words, but her heart was heavy with doubt. She could feel the faintest hesitation in his voice, something that lingered in the air like a shadow. Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of everything—the love, the jealousy, the fear that had built up inside her. She wanted to believe him, but a part of her couldn’t ignore the possibility that Tyler might be slipping away from her.
“I don’t know, Tyler,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I want to believe you, but I can’t stop feeling like I’m losing you. You’re so focused on her now, and I don’t know where I fit in anymore.”
Tyler’s eyes softened, and he reached for her, pulling her close. “Naomi, you haven’t lost me. I care about you, and I always will. But Olivia… she’s been through so much. I’m just trying to do what’s best for her. For the baby.”
Naomi closed her eyes, tears continuing to flow freely as she pressed her face into his chest. “But I’m scared, Tyler. I don’t want to be just the second choice. I’ve always been the one you turn to.”
Tyler sighed deeply, his fingers gently running through her hair. “You’ll always be my first choice, Naomi. But right now, Olivia needs someone. I’m just trying to help her through this difficult time. That’s all.”
Naomi pulled back slightly to look at him, her face still streaked with tears. “But what if she needs more than just help? What if she starts needing you in ways that I can’t compete with?”
The words hung in the air between them, and Tyler looked at her, conflicted. He wanted to reassure her, to promise her that things wouldn’t change. But deep down, he knew that things already had.
He had promised Olivia’s mother that he would protect her, and now that Olivia was carrying his child, the promise felt even heavier. Naomi’s vulnerability weighed on him, but he couldn’t ignore the bond that was growing between him and Olivia, a bond that was forged in shared hardship.
“I don’t know what the future holds, Naomi,” Tyler admitted softly. “But I can’t turn my back on her. I won’t.”
Naomi nodded, the realization sinking in. She understood, even if it hurt. “I know. I just… I don’t know what to do with this fear inside me.”
Tyler gently cupped her face, wiping away the tears. “We’ll figure it out, Naomi. Together. I won’t let you feel alone in this.”
But as he said those words, the flicker of uncertainty lingered in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment that Naomi’s fear wasn’t completely unfounded.
Naomi’s heart ached as she met his gaze, feeling the distance growing between them. She nodded again, but in her heart, she knew that things would never be the same. The love she had once shared with Tyler was shifting, and no matter how hard she tried to hold on, she couldn’t ignore the fact that the space in his heart that used to be hers was now being filled with someone else—someone who, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t hate.
For the first time, Naomi felt truly afraid of losing Tyler, and this fear was more suffocating than anything else she had ever faced.