Chapter 348
“Ms. Olivia went out today and accidentally sprained her ankle again,” Alisa explained.
Olivia nearly tore at the blanket in her lap. Tyler noticed her tense fingers gripping the fabric, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Who were you meeting?” he asked, his voice low. “Who was it?”
Alisa hesitated, unsure of the details. “Um… someone named Sophie. A friend of Ms. Olivia’s,” she answered honestly.
A small wave of relief washed over Olivia. At least Alisa hadn’t mentioned Claude.
Tyler studied Alisa for a brief moment, as if weighing her words, then shifted his attention. “Is it serious?” he asked the doctor.
Olivia exhaled quietly.
Maisy watched him with faint satisfaction. At least he still remembered to show some concern for his wife, instead of spending all his time worrying about that sick woman in the hospital.
“She should avoid walking for now and keep her foot elevated,” the doctor advised. “Bed rest is important for the next few days.”
“Understood,” Tyler replied.
Sensing an opportunity, Maisy decided to give them space. “Well, if that’s all, we should leave now, right?”
She glanced at Alisa meaningfully. The maid caught on and helped Maisy out of the room.
Maisy still believed that Olivia—young, beautiful, and carrying the Harris heir—would eventually eclipse any lingering attachment Tyler had to Naomi.
Before leaving, the doctor gave Olivia a few more instructions and suggested using warm compresses for her foot. Tyler remained silent but listened carefully. Olivia kept her gaze fixed on the floor.
Soon, the room emptied, leaving only Tyler and Olivia behind. An awkward stillness hung in the air.
Breaking the silence, Tyler finally spoke. “Follow the doctor’s advice.”
“I will,” Olivia replied softly.
He held her gaze for a moment longer, then turned and left the room without another word.
Olivia gripped her wrist tightly, her heart heavy. The faint scent of antiseptic lingered in the room—her sharpened sense of smell, a side effect of the pregnancy, made it impossible to ignore.
So many changes. Her body no longer felt like her own.
Meanwhile, Tyler, exhausted from his constant hospital visits, stood in the bathroom, watching the faucet run, the water spiraling down the drain.
Olivia lay in bed, listening to the sound of flowing water. They had barely crossed paths these past few days, their conversations reduced to a few strained words.
As the water shut off and Tyler prepared to return, Olivia gathered her courage. “I could sleep in the guest room,” she suggested quietly. “I can tell Grandma Maisy that I haven’t been sleeping well because of the pregnancy.”
She remembered how Tyler had slept on the couch in his study last time, resting his feet on a chair, avoiding their shared bedroom entirely.