Chapter_269
Hillary followed the maid upstairs, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her. She hadn’t expected the conversation with Ana to be so confrontational, but it only reinforced how deep the divide between their families really was. Ana’s words had hit harder than she’d anticipated—especially the insinuation about taking the baby. As if Hillary would ever consider that. But she knew Ana’s words weren’t just about the baby—they were about control, about reminding Hillary of where she stood in this family.
When Hillary entered Olivia’s room, she found her sitting on the bed, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern. Olivia was trying to hide her worry, but Hillary could see right through it.
“Olivia,” Hillary said gently, her voice softening. “I came to see how you’re doing, to check on you and the baby.”
Olivia smiled weakly, her eyes flickering with gratitude. “I’m okay… Just tired, you know?”
Hillary sat beside her, carefully choosing her words. She didn’t want to add to Olivia’s stress, but she needed to be honest about the tension downstairs.
“I saw Ana,” Hillary said, watching Olivia closely. “She… she didn’t make me feel very welcome. But I want you to know, I’m not here to cause any trouble. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
Olivia’s smile faltered as she looked down, her fingers nervously picking at the edge of the blanket. “I know,” she said quietly. “I just… I don’t understand why things have to be so complicated. I didn’t ask for any of this.”
Hillary’s heart ached for her. Olivia had always been so strong, so capable, but now she was facing a reality that seemed to be closing in on her from every side. She was caught between her family, Tyler’s family, and the weight of expectations that were beyond her control.
“Listen, darling,” Hillary said, reaching out to touch Olivia’s hand. “This is all hard, I know. But you’re not alone in this. Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together. I’m here for you, and I always will be.”
Olivia’s eyes filled with tears, and she blinked them away quickly. “I don’t want to cause any problems. I just want things to be normal again.”
“I know,” Hillary murmured. “But sometimes, things don’t go the way we want. All we can do is keep going, step by step.”
For a moment, the room was filled with silence as the weight of their conversation settled between them. Olivia seemed to relax a little, the tension leaving her shoulders as she leaned back against the headboard.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Olivia said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I don’t know what I would do without you.”
Hillary squeezed her hand. “You don’t ever have to worry about that. I’m here, always.”
As they sat together, the sound of footsteps approached the door. Tyler peeked his head in, his expression serious but not unfriendly.
“I’ll leave you two to talk,” he said, his voice calm. “Just don’t overdo it, Olivia. You need to rest.”
Olivia nodded, managing a small smile. “I will. Thanks, Tyler.”
Hillary stood as Tyler stepped into the room. She could see the weight on his face, the worry he tried so hard to hide. There was a flicker of understanding between them, a silent acknowledgment of the complex dynamics they were all caught in.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Hillary said quietly, giving Olivia one last look before heading toward the door. “Take care of yourself, Olivia. And if you need anything, just let me know.”
Tyler followed her to the door, watching as she left. When she was gone, he turned back to Olivia, his face softening.
“You okay?” he asked, sitting beside her.
Olivia nodded, though her eyes were distant. “I think so.”
Tyler reached out to take her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. “I’m here. Whatever you need, we’ll figure it out together.”
Olivia managed a small smile, her heart aching but finding a tiny bit of peace in his words. Maybe things were messy, and maybe the future was uncertain, but for now, she had people who cared about her. And that, at least, was enough to hold on to.