Chapter 403
Dylan leaned closer to Tyler and said quickly, “Alright, they’ve been waiting. I’ll tell them to keep things low-key—no shouting, no drinking, and definitely no smoking.”
Naomi, seated in her wheelchair, appeared more at ease now, though her frailty was unmistakable. Despite the mild weather, a thick blanket was draped over her legs. A nurse and a maid flanked her attentively, ready to assist her at the slightest sign.
As Emma began to wheel Naomi toward the private room, Tyler cast a final glance behind him—toward Olivia, who stood silently in the hallway, just behind Claude. Her expression was unreadable.
Then he turned and followed the others inside, his figure disappearing into the glowing doorway.
Olivia watched him go. One by one, the group vanished from view, until only she and Sophie remained in the quiet corridor.
Sophie turned to Claude. “You go on ahead. Olivia and I just need a moment to talk.”
Claude’s eyes lingered on Olivia a moment longer before he gave a small nod. “Alright. Take care of her.”
Just then, his secretary, Lilah Nicholson, appeared at the far end of the hall. She strode over quickly.
“They’re waiting,” she informed him quietly once she reached his side.
Claude gave a smooth nod, his expression cool and unreadable. Without another word, he turned and walked away beside her.
A pair of waiters passed by, carrying trays of drinks toward the party room. As they passed Claude, one of them whispered excitedly to the other, “He’s so handsome…”
The comment wasn’t meant to be heard, but both Olivia and Sophie caught it.
Sophie cast a quick glance toward Claude’s retreating figure, then turned to Olivia with a thoughtful look in her eye. If Olivia weren’t already tangled in something else, she might’ve said Claude was a perfect match—refined, confident, and effortlessly magnetic.
She gave Olivia’s sleeve a small tug. “Come on, Olivia. Let’s go in.”
But Olivia shook her head gently, taking a step back. Her voice was quiet but firm. “I think I’ll head home.”
She had already stayed longer than planned, and after everything that had happened, she just wanted the quiet comfort of her own space.
Sophie hesitated, clearly on the verge of saying something more. But Olivia gave her a soft, reassuring look, the kind that ended a conversation before it began.
“We’ll catch up another time,” she said, slipping her hand from Sophie’s.
Moments later, Olivia settled into the back seat of the waiting car.
“Home, miss?” the driver asked.
She nodded wordlessly.
The evening was meant to be light—a casual birthday gathering, just some drinks and quiet conversation. Nothing more.
But the day before, Naomi had confided in Tyler in a rare moment of honesty. She admitted that the long, lonely days in a hospital room had worn her down. The sterile silence, the smell of medicine—it had left her restless, even desperate. Her recent choices, reckless as they seemed, had come from that aching sense of isolation. What she wanted now was simple: to feel normal again. To be surrounded by people. To feel seen.
Tyler hadn’t said much in response. He had simply agreed to take her to the party.
The private room buzzed gently with conversation and clinking glasses. It wasn’t rowdy, just comfortably lively. But the moment Naomi appeared, all attention turned to her.
Gasps, then whispers rippled through the room. No one had expected to see her again, especially not in public.
And when they saw she was accompanied by Tyler, the stir grew even greater.
People leaned toward one another, exchanging hushed comments. There was admiration in their glances—partly for Naomi’s resilience, partly for the unexpected reunion. Considering Tyler’s marriage, her presence beside him sent an unmistakable message:
Naomi wasn’t gone.
She was still here—and she hadn’t given up her place.