Chapter 431
Olivia couldn’t fully grasp it, but she understood why the Harrises guarded their secrets so fiercely. With them, anything was possible—but beneath it all, she felt a deep, unshakable fear.
She couldn’t quite name its source.
Suddenly, noises from outside interrupted Alisa mid-sentence. The maid glanced toward the door, then stopped speaking altogether. When the sounds faded, she shook her head at Olivia—a silent warning to never mention those things again—and quietly left to fetch a blanket.
Just then, the door opened. Alisa froze, clutching the blanket tightly, her eyes wide with surprise and worry. Had someone overheard their conversation?
Olivia turned sharply and gasped—Tyler was standing there, his expression unreadable but stern.
Her heart pounded, and she quickly rose to her feet, face paling.
Tyler’s sharp gaze landed on Alisa, who stammered, “M-Mr. Tyler…”
“Get out.” His voice was cold and commanding.
Alisa didn’t hesitate; she set the blanket down and hurried from the room.
Olivia was still struggling to breathe steadily when Tyler’s eyes fixed on her. “What were you talking about?”
She tried to speak, but no words came. Her breath hitched, faster and faster.
Nearby, a metallic floor lamp cast a warm yellow glow over the room, illuminating their tall, slender forms. Their shadows merged on the wall—Olivia’s seeming to tremble under the weight of Tyler’s unyielding silhouette. Yet in reality, they stood apart, the distance thick with judgment.
“Have you seen the news?” Tyler asked, finally seating himself on the couch. He crossed his legs, revealing black socks beneath navy trousers, his sweater lending him an air of stern authority.
“Even the maid warned you not to get involved.”
His gaze sharpened. “Do you know why my sister loved him so much—why she was willing to forsake everything to follow him around the world?”
He paused, voice low but intense. “She was a lady of this house, but she chose to cook and clean for him. My family tolerated it reluctantly.”
Tyler’s eyes drifted downward, landing on a doll resting near his foot. He bent to pick it up and studied it carefully.
The doll had once been a prize Olivia had won from a claw machine at school, a small treasure she’d brought with her to the Harrises. Her friends often said it looked like her.
After a long moment, Tyler set the doll down gently and looked back at Olivia, his gaze piercing.
“Claude has to answer for Morgan’s death. Do you understand?”
The words struck Olivia like a cold wind. Her mind went blank as Tyler’s icy stare held her captive.