Chapter_299
As they made their way to the lounge, Olivia felt the weight of Sophie’s gaze on her back. She could feel the curiosity in the air, and it made her uncomfortable. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly why, but the tension between her and Sophie seemed thicker than usual. Sophie’s eagerness to reconnect was palpable, but Olivia wasn’t sure if she was ready to return to the way things were before.
Ana noticed Olivia’s hesitation and slowed her pace, glancing at her with a knowing look. “Are you alright?” she asked softly.
Olivia forced a smile, nodding. “I’m fine, just… tired.” It wasn’t a complete lie. She was tired—emotionally, at least. The thought of her past with Sophie, the changes in her life, and the unfamiliar dynamics at this event were all weighing heavily on her.
Ana studied her for a moment but didn’t press. Instead, she guided Olivia to a cozy corner of the lounge where they could sit and relax away from the bustling crowd. The lounge was quieter, and the dim lighting made it feel more intimate, providing Olivia a sense of relief.
They settled into their seats, and Olivia let out a long breath. She could still hear snippets of conversation from the nearby tables, but it was softer here, the voices fading into the background.
Ana, ever the socialite, didn’t seem bothered by the quiet. She took a glass of water from a passing server and looked at Olivia thoughtfully. “You’re handling yourself well, but I can see something’s bothering you. Talk to me, dear.”
Olivia’s gaze drifted to the glass of water in Ana’s hand. She was grateful for the older woman’s concern but felt conflicted. She didn’t want to burden Ana with her inner turmoil, especially when she knew how much Ana had on her plate already. But the silence between them felt too heavy to ignore.
“I don’t know how to act here, Ana,” Olivia admitted quietly. “I feel like I don’t fit in. Everyone is so polished, so… sure of themselves. And then there’s me. I’m just—” She paused, trying to find the right words, but nothing seemed to fully express the tangled mess of emotions inside her.
Ana reached over, placing a hand on Olivia’s. “Olivia, you are part of this world now. It doesn’t matter if you don’t fit the mold. People will respect you for who you are, not for the persona you try to build. You’re Tyler’s wife, and you’re carrying his child. That’s enough.” Her voice was firm yet comforting.
Olivia looked up, her eyes meeting Ana’s. She had expected a different response, maybe something more practical, but Ana’s words gave her a sense of peace. “Thank you,” Olivia said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ana smiled warmly. “You don’t need to thank me. Just remember, you don’t have to be anyone other than yourself.”
The reassurance from Ana helped, but Olivia couldn’t shake the feeling that things were shifting around her—things she wasn’t sure she was ready for. The event, the Pearces, and the underlying tension with Claude all added up to a situation she wasn’t sure how to navigate.
Just as she was about to say something else, she noticed someone entering the lounge. It was Claude. He stood at the entrance, scanning the room, his gaze briefly landing on her before moving on. Olivia’s heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat.
For a moment, the world seemed to pause as she and Claude locked eyes. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in the way he looked at her—something that made her pulse quicken.
Before she could react, Tyler appeared behind him, his eyes catching sight of Olivia instantly. His face softened when he saw her, but the brief flicker of something darker passed through his gaze as he took in the scene.
Olivia’s mind raced, torn between the tension of the past and the reality of the present. She tried to ignore the surge of conflicting emotions, but it was difficult when Claude was so close—and when Tyler’s presence, once so comforting, now felt like a reminder of the things she wasn’t sure she wanted to confront.