Chapter_271
Tyler’s eyes narrowed, his calm demeanor beginning to shift as he processed Maisy’s words. The implication in her statement was sharp, and he could feel the heat of the situation rising. Maisy had always been vocal about her opinions, but this felt different—personal, cruel even.
He glanced toward Hillary, who had remained silent, watching the scene unfold with a smirk of her own. It was clear to him now that she wasn’t as calm as she appeared. The tension in the room was palpable, and he wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take without it all spiraling out of control.
Maisy stepped forward, raising her voice, “Tyler, I’ve put up with a lot for years. But this? This is beyond disrespectful.” She looked pointedly at Hillary, as though daring her to challenge her authority.
Hillary stood her ground, her lips tight but resolute. “You don’t control this household, Maisy. Not everything that happens here is under your command, and I’m not going anywhere just because you’ve decided to throw a tantrum.”
Tyler’s eyes flicked to Olivia, who was standing silently near the door, her face pale, her anxiety evident. She was stuck in the middle of this power struggle, her eyes darting between him and the women who were creating such chaos.
“Enough,” Tyler finally said, his voice cutting through the heated exchange. He stepped forward, placing himself between Maisy and Hillary. His gaze was fixed on his grandmother, whose eyes were full of disdain. “Grandma, you’ve had your say, and I’m going to ask you to take a step back. We’ll sort this out like adults.”
Maisy opened her mouth to protest, but Tyler held up his hand, silencing her. His gaze then shifted to Ana, who had been watching the exchange with a smug smile that did nothing to soothe the growing tension.
“Ana, this isn’t the time,” Tyler said, his voice calm but firm. “We’re not going to resolve anything by creating more drama. I don’t care what your issues are with Hillary or anyone else—right now, the priority is Olivia’s well-being. That’s all that matters.”
Olivia’s heart pounded in her chest as she watched the scene unfold. She had hoped for a peaceful visit, but it seemed like the rift between Tyler’s family and Hillary was only widening. The last thing she wanted was to be a pawn in their family drama.
Maisy let out a frustrated sigh, but she stepped back, her eyes still burning with anger. “You’re defending her, Tyler? After everything she’s done?”
Hillary’s lip curled into a small smile, but her eyes were wary. “Tyler, I’m not here to argue. I just came to check on Olivia, but it seems like that’s more than your family can handle.”
Tyler’s gaze softened for a moment as he looked at Hillary. “I know, and I’m sorry. I’ll make sure this doesn’t escalate further.” He turned to Ben, who had been standing by, waiting for instructions. “Ben, I’ll handle this. No more security. We’re done here.”
Ben gave a small nod, his face impassive, but he could see the tension was beginning to ebb. The security guards reluctantly stepped back, and the room’s atmosphere shifted slightly as people began to take a step back from the confrontation.
Olivia watched it all, her stomach tight. She wanted to speak, to say something to defuse the situation, but her voice was caught in her throat. The way Tyler had stepped in, the calmness in his tone—it was clear to her that he was trying to protect everyone from themselves, but the damage had already been done.
Hillary was the first to break the silence, her voice softer now, but still with an edge. “Thank you for stepping in, Tyler. But we both know this isn’t over.”
Tyler nodded, his eyes flickering toward Maisy and Ana before returning to Hillary. “No, it’s not. But we’ll handle it in a way that doesn’t cause any more harm.”
With a final glance at everyone in the room, Tyler turned to Olivia. His face softened as he stepped closer to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Olivia, you okay?”
Olivia nodded, forcing a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine. Thanks for… for stepping in.”
Tyler studied her for a moment, then sighed. “I’ll talk to them. This family drama needs to stop before it gets worse. You shouldn’t have to deal with this on top of everything else.”
Olivia bit her lip, the weight of her own worries pressing down on her. She had no idea what the future held, but she could already feel the strain in the air, and it wasn’t just from her pregnancy. It was the tension, the unspoken conflict that had simmered between the Harris family members for years, and she had somehow found herself caught in the middle of it all.
“Thank you, Tyler,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.
Tyler squeezed her shoulder before turning toward the door. “I’ll make sure you’re taken care of,” he said, his tone reassuring yet determined.
As he walked away, Olivia stood alone, the silence in the room now heavy with the aftermath of the confrontation. She had no answers, only the unsettling feeling that the storm wasn’t over yet.