Chapter_280
Tyler studied her for a moment, sensing the subtle shift in her mood. She was becoming more distant, more insistent on keeping her distance. It wasn’t the first time she had tried to assert her independence, and he knew that pushing her too hard would only make things worse. But at the same time, a part of him couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
He nodded slowly, his voice softer than before. “Alright. We’ll visit your school, then. Whenever you’re ready.”
Olivia gave him a small, appreciative smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She could feel the tension between them, the unspoken distance that was growing. She didn’t want to depend on him too much, not when everything around them felt so uncertain. She had to focus on the baby, on her future, and the choices she needed to make on her own. She couldn’t let herself get too close, not when everything still felt so fragile.
The following days were filled with a quiet sort of routine. Tyler kept a steady presence by her side, taking care of her in ways that made her heart ache with gratitude but also with confusion. He was gentle, attentive, but always distant in a way that made it hard for Olivia to understand where they stood.
Finally, the day came when they were able to visit her school. Tyler arranged everything with his usual efficiency, and they made the trip in the afternoon. Olivia hadn’t realized how much she missed it until she walked through the gates. The familiar sights—the old brick buildings, the quiet campus—felt like a comfort to her.
“This place hasn’t changed at all,” Olivia remarked, looking around with a hint of nostalgia. She had spent so many years here, growing and learning. It felt strange to be back now, especially under the circumstances.
Tyler watched her carefully, his hands in his pockets as they walked together. “Do you miss it?” he asked, his voice neutral, though his gaze held a hint of something deeper.
Olivia hesitated, looking around at the school that had once been her world. “I think… I think I miss having control over my own life,” she admitted quietly. “Before everything happened with the baby, before I was here with you… I had a plan. I knew what I wanted.”
Tyler didn’t respond immediately, letting her words hang in the air. He had an idea of what she meant, but he didn’t want to push her. She needed time to process everything, and pushing her toward answers she wasn’t ready to give wasn’t the way forward.
They spent a little more time walking around the campus, Olivia showing Tyler her favorite spots—the old oak tree where she used to sit and study, the quiet garden at the back of the school, the place where she had always dreamed of her future. It was all so far away now, yet still so close in her mind.
As they made their way back to the car, Olivia spoke up again, her voice softer this time. “Thank you for bringing me here, Tyler. It means a lot.”
Tyler gave her a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Anything for you, Olivia. You know that.”
But even as he said it, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of the situation. There was so much more between them that remained unsaid, unresolved. And he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep pretending that everything was fine.
Olivia didn’t say anything else as they drove back, her mind still heavy with the thoughts she hadn’t been able to express. She was caught between two worlds—one where she was trying to hold on to her independence, and one where she was beginning to rely on Tyler more than she was comfortable with.
As they returned to the Harris estate, Tyler didn’t push her to talk more. He simply helped her out of the car and back inside, his presence like a steady anchor. But in the back of his mind, he knew that things couldn’t stay this way forever.