Chapter_282
Sophie smiled shyly, a soft pink tint coloring her cheeks. Olivia’s words caught her off guard, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit flattered by the compliment. “Thanks,” Sophie said, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s… been a little crazy, but I’m happy.”
Olivia nodded, her thoughts briefly drifting back to the chaos surrounding her own life. She was grateful to see Sophie happy, especially considering the tension that had surrounded their friendship in the past. The uncertainty she had felt earlier seemed to melt away as she shared this moment of warmth with Sophie. There was something comforting about the familiarity of this connection, even after everything that had changed.
But that comfort didn’t last long, as Sophie seemed to hesitate, as if struggling with something she wanted to say.
“Olivia, I don’t mean to make things awkward, but… how are you doing? Really,” Sophie asked, her voice gentler now, the concern in her eyes clear. “I mean, I know things with you and Tyler must be… complicated. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
Olivia’s smile softened, and she looked down at the ground for a moment, unsure of how to answer. The truth was, she wasn’t entirely sure herself. Everything had been moving so fast—her relationship with Tyler, her pregnancy, the new family dynamics, the pressures of everything that came with being in the Harris world.
“I’m… okay, I think. It’s just a lot to take in,” Olivia admitted, her voice quieter now. “Everything’s changing so quickly, and sometimes I don’t even recognize my own life anymore.”
Sophie nodded, as though understanding exactly what Olivia meant. “It must be overwhelming,” she said softly. “But you’ve always been strong. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
Olivia appreciated Sophie’s kind words, though part of her wasn’t sure if she was as strong as people believed her to be. She felt like she was just barely holding everything together, trying to find balance in a life that seemed to keep shifting underneath her feet.
“Thanks, Soof. I just… I don’t want to lose myself in all of this,” Olivia replied with a sigh. “I want to be there for the baby and for Tyler, but sometimes I feel like I’m disappearing in the process.”
Sophie’s expression softened even more, her concern growing. She stepped a little closer, placing a gentle hand on Olivia’s arm. “You won’t lose yourself,” she reassured her. “You’re still Olivia. You don’t have to give up everything to be there for them.”
Olivia met Sophie’s gaze, a small flicker of hope lighting in her chest. Maybe Sophie was right. Maybe she didn’t have to lose herself after all. She just needed to find a way to navigate this new life without losing the person she had always been.
“Thanks, Sophie. I really needed to hear that,” Olivia said, her voice more sincere now.
Sophie smiled, and for a moment, it felt like nothing had changed. As if they were back to the old days when they would talk for hours, sharing their worries and dreams without any barriers between them. But this time, Olivia felt something different—a quiet sense of reassurance that maybe, just maybe, she could handle everything that was coming her way.
“Well,” Sophie said after a beat, “I should let you get back to your… husband, right?”
Olivia chuckled softly at the mention of Tyler. “Yeah, I suppose so.”
Sophie raised an eyebrow playfully. “I can’t believe you’re Mrs. Harris now. That’s crazy.”
Olivia smiled, shaking her head. “It feels pretty crazy to me, too.”
With that, they shared a brief, warm hug before Sophie turned to leave. Olivia watched her walk away, feeling a mix of emotions—gratitude, sadness, and a small sense of hope for what the future might hold. She wasn’t alone in this, and maybe that was enough to carry her through whatever came next.