Chapter_292
Olivia sat quietly for a moment, her mind still racing from the message Claude had sent her. The invitation to see the maple trees tugged at something inside her, but she quickly pushed it away, reminding herself of the boundaries she needed to maintain. Still, it was hard not to feel a flicker of excitement, something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Tyler, who had been standing by the door, eyed her closely, as if sensing her internal turmoil. He didn’t press her further about the phone, but the slight tension in the air was unmistakable. Olivia got out of bed and moved toward the door, eager to shift her focus.
“Tyler, I think I’ll just go down now,” she said, trying to act normal, though her mind was still preoccupied with Claude’s message.
He nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than usual. “Alright. But if you need anything, let me know,” he said, his tone gentle, almost too calm.
Olivia nodded quickly, grateful for the space, and made her way downstairs. The moment she stepped into the hallway, she felt the weight of her emotions press down on her. She was caught between two worlds: the quiet, familiar life she had with Tyler, and the allure of something new and unknown with Claude.
Down in the dining room, the maids were already setting the table for breakfast. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and for a brief moment, Olivia allowed herself to relax. She sat down, trying to shake off the unease that had been gnawing at her since the morning.
As she sipped her coffee, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a simple message from Claude: Are you coming?
Her fingers hovered over the screen, torn. She could already imagine Tyler’s reaction if he found out she was meeting Claude, especially today, of all days. But there was a part of her that just couldn’t ignore the invitation.
Before she could respond, Tyler walked in, looking calm and composed, as though he hadn’t noticed the tension that had settled over her. His eyes swept across the table, checking that everything was in order.
“Anything you need, Olivia?” he asked, taking a seat across from her. His gaze lingered on her face, as though waiting for something, but his expression remained neutral.
Olivia’s heart raced, and she struggled to act unaffected. She set her phone down and met his eyes, forcing a small smile. “No, Tyler, I’m fine. Just a little tired, I guess.”
He nodded, his eyes softening slightly, but there was an edge to his gaze, a quiet scrutiny that she couldn’t shake. For a moment, she felt like he could see right through her, that he knew something was amiss, but he didn’t press.
“Alright, then. I’ll be in the office for a while today,” he said, pushing his chair back. “If you need anything, just let me know.”
As he stood to leave, Olivia watched him go, the room suddenly feeling empty. She reached for her phone again, her fingers trembling as she debated whether or not to reply to Claude. But before she could make up her mind, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Olivia,” Tyler’s voice came from the doorway. He paused, turning back to look at her with an unreadable expression. “You know you can always talk to me, right?”
Her heart skipped a beat, and she nodded, unsure of what to say in response. He was waiting for her answer, but she could only offer a small smile, too overwhelmed by everything to form the right words.
“Of course, Tyler. I know,” she said softly.
He nodded and left, the door closing behind him with a soft click. Olivia let out a slow breath, feeling the weight of the decision that lay ahead. Should she go to the maple trees with Claude? Should she give in to the temptation of a world outside of her current reality?
Her phone buzzed again, and her eyes flicked to the screen. The message from Claude was simple but pointed: I’m waiting for you.