Chapter_266
Olivia settled back into the pillows, her mind still racing, but her body too exhausted to keep fighting the sleep that was beckoning her. Tyler’s presence, though quiet and somewhat distant, offered her a strange sense of security. She could feel the weight of everything pressing down on her, but in that moment, it felt a little easier to breathe.
Tyler stood by the bed for a moment longer, watching her. His thoughts were heavy, tangled with everything that had happened that day—Naomi, the NT scan, the uncertainty of Olivia’s condition. But despite the storm brewing in his mind, he knew that Olivia needed peace, not more tension.
He pulled the blanket up slightly, adjusting it around her to make her more comfortable. His hand lingered for a moment, brushing her hair back from her forehead. It was a small gesture, but it was enough to reassure her that, no matter what, she wasn’t alone in this.
“Try to sleep, okay?” he said quietly, as if speaking to a child who needed comfort.
Olivia nodded once more, closing her eyes slowly. She wasn’t fully asleep, but she felt her body begin to relax. The nightmares were still there, lurking just behind her eyelids, but with Tyler nearby, the fear felt a little less overwhelming.
Tyler hesitated at the door, taking one last look at her before stepping out into the hallway. His thoughts were scattered, the weight of Naomi’s coldness still fresh in his mind. He didn’t know what had happened between them, but he could feel the distance growing. The woman he once knew, the one he could always count on, felt more like a stranger now. And that uncertainty—about Naomi, about everything—lingered heavily on him.
As he made his way down the hallway, he couldn’t help but glance at Olivia’s closed bedroom door. He was doing his best to keep her calm, to keep her mind at ease as they waited for the amniocentesis results. But inside, he was struggling just as much as she was.
He went to the living room, his footsteps echoing in the quiet house. The silence was oppressive. It was strange, too quiet, as if the house itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to break.
Sitting down on the couch, Tyler buried his face in his hands for a moment, the tension in his body finally giving way to exhaustion. He had tried to remain strong for Olivia, but the cracks were starting to show. The weight of everything—Olivia’s health, Naomi’s silence, and his own feelings—was too much for him to carry alone.
And in the back of his mind, a lingering thought circled: was he really doing enough? Would he be able to hold everything together when it seemed like everything was falling apart?
But for now, he had to focus on one thing—Olivia. He couldn’t afford to lose her in all of this.
He leaned back on the couch, his eyes heavy, and let the silence wash over him. It was a rare moment of stillness in the chaos, and he clung to it, even if just for a little while.