Chapter_293
Tyler’s tone remained emotionless as he replied, “I’ll let Olivia know.” There was a pause before he added, “Make sure your family understands the situation clearly.”
Naomi’s voice softened, “I understand. I’ll talk to them. Thanks for being patient with us, Tyler.”
As Tyler ended the call, a quiet tension seemed to fill the air. He had been preoccupied with everything happening around him—the anniversary, the pressure from his family, and now the complications surrounding Olivia and her connections to Claude.
Meanwhile, Olivia, still upstairs, was trying to push away the haunting image of Morgan’s death that Tyler had so casually described. She had never imagined such a tragic end, and the coldness in Tyler’s voice when recounting it only made her feel more isolated. The thought of her own connection to the Harris family felt suffocating now.
She sat on the edge of the bed, trying to steady her breathing, but the weight of the conversation with Tyler lingered, leaving her with more questions than answers. Why had Morgan chosen such an extreme path? And why had she done it in front of Claude? Olivia couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the story, something she wasn’t being told.
After a while, Olivia managed to steady herself enough to look at her phone. Claude’s message was still there, a reminder of the choice that lay before her. The maple trees. She felt conflicted, torn between the life she had with Tyler and the mystery Claude represented.
Downstairs, Tyler was finishing his conversation with Naomi when he heard a soft knock on the door. It was one of the maids, carrying a small package for Olivia. Tyler’s gaze softened for just a moment before he took the package from her and handed it to the maid.
“Tell Olivia I’ll be in the study,” he said, before turning and walking toward his office.
Back upstairs, Olivia heard a knock at her door. She opened it to find the maid, who handed her the package. “Mr. Tyler asked me to give this to you, ma’am.”
Olivia took the package, feeling a bit unsettled. “Thank you,” she said, her voice betraying a hint of the anxiety she was feeling.
She closed the door behind the maid and sat down, staring at the package. Her mind was racing, but she forced herself to open it slowly. Inside was a small, delicate box. She lifted the lid and found a single, beautiful silver necklace, its pendant shaped like a maple leaf.
A note was tucked inside, and Olivia unfolded it carefully. It read:
For when you need a reminder of where you truly belong.
Her heart skipped a beat as she read the words, unsure of what to make of them. Was this a sign of affection from Tyler? Or was it his way of keeping her tethered to the Harris family? Either way, the gesture felt too much, too soon.
Olivia set the necklace down, her mind still spinning. What was Tyler trying to tell her? And what about Claude’s invitation?
The phone buzzed again. It was Claude. Are you coming today?
Olivia stared at the screen, her heart racing once more.