Chapter_279
Tyler’s tone shifted, the warmth that had been there earlier replaced by something more serious. He leaned in slightly, his gaze focused on her. “What do you mean by that? You think I’m fussing over you?”
Olivia hesitated, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on her. She didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but at the same time, she was trying to assert herself, trying to maintain some sense of independence. She didn’t want to rely too much on anyone, especially with all the complicated feelings swirling around her.
“I just mean… I don’t want to be a burden,” she said quietly, avoiding his gaze as she stirred the soup in her bowl.
Tyler sighed, clearly frustrated, but he didn’t raise his voice. Instead, he set the soup aside and reached for her hand, his grip firm but gentle. “Olivia, you’re not a burden. You’re carrying our child. You’re the most important person in this room, and I don’t want you thinking you’re causing any trouble by letting me take care of you.”
Olivia’s heart fluttered at his words, but she couldn’t fully embrace the comfort he was offering. A part of her wanted to believe him, but the other part—the part that had been trying to handle everything on her own—was still holding back.
She pulled her hand away slightly, her fingers curling into the blanket as she spoke, her voice soft but steady. “I just don’t want to be… another one of those things you feel responsible for, Tyler. I don’t want to be an obligation.”
Tyler’s expression softened, though there was still a trace of frustration in his eyes. He seemed torn between wanting to ease her fears and needing her to understand something more important. “Olivia, I’m not doing this because I feel responsible. I’m doing this because I care about you. You and the baby mean more to me than anything else. Don’t push me away because you’re scared of needing someone. It’s okay to let people care for you.”
She blinked at him, unsure of how to respond. His words, his sincerity, left her feeling exposed, vulnerable in a way she wasn’t ready to be. She lowered her head, trying to hide the conflicted emotions swirling inside her.
“I don’t know how to do that,” she admitted quietly, the vulnerability in her voice barely audible. “I don’t know how to let someone care for me without feeling like I’m taking something away from them.”
Tyler’s thumb brushed over her hand, a tender gesture that seemed to ground her for a moment. “You’re not taking anything away from me, Olivia. You’re giving me the chance to be there for you. To be a part of this—of your life, of the baby’s life. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Olivia took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words sink in. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to imagine a future where she didn’t have to carry everything on her own. A future where she could lean on Tyler without feeling guilty, without feeling like she was asking for too much.
But the lingering doubts remained, and she couldn’t fully let go of the walls she had built around herself.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice wavering slightly. “But I still need time.”
Tyler nodded, understanding her need for space. “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
The room was quiet again, but this time, it felt different. Less tense. There was a sense of quiet understanding between them, even if Olivia wasn’t ready to fully accept what Tyler was offering. She knew, in that moment, that she wasn’t alone, and that thought brought her more comfort than she had expected.