Chapter 405
The nurses moved quietly around the hospital room, their footsteps muffled by the soft flooring as they adjusted Naomi’s bedding and checked her vitals with the calm precision of long experience.
Across the room, Tyler struck a match. A softly scented candle flickered to life, releasing a blend of lavender and sandalwood into the dim space. The warm fragrance floated through the air, casting a gentle calm over the room as its golden light danced on the walls.
From her bed, Naomi watched him in silence. She hadn’t taken her eyes off him since she was tucked beneath the covers.
Her voice, when it came, was soft and careful. “Don’t be upset with Olivia, Tyler. I’ll talk to her about Claude.”
She was referring to the uncomfortable hallway encounter earlier that day. It had lingered with her, the tension, the implications—everything left unsaid.
Tyler didn’t respond right away. With his back still turned, he focused on adjusting the candle’s flame, as though it required his full attention. When he finally spoke, his tone was quiet—but distant.
“Whatever.”
The word felt weightless, as if none of it mattered to him.
Then he turned and met her gaze. “I lit this for you. Try to sleep early tonight.”
His words were neutral, polite even, but lacking the warmth she used to know. Naomi hesitated, then nodded with a gentle smile. “Mm-hmm. I will.”
But the look in his eyes told a different story. They were cold—colder than she remembered.
“Alright,” he said after a beat. “You don’t need me to stay until you fall asleep, do you?”
The question settled heavily in her chest.
Once, he wouldn’t have asked. He would have simply stayed, quietly, until her breathing slowed and sleep took over. But tonight, there was no such instinct—only the suggestion of obligation.
Naomi didn’t answer right away. Her lips pressed together in a thin line.
Sensing her silence, Tyler added in a flat tone, “If you want, I’ll stay.”
It sounded more like a courtesy than a desire.
Naomi shook her head gently. “It’s okay. It’s late—you should go home.”
He gave a small nod. “Alright.”
With that, he turned and left. The door closed softly behind him, and Naomi was left alone with the faint flicker of candlelight casting long shadows across the floor.
The quiet suddenly felt louder. The kind that seeped into the bones.
Back at the Harris estate, Tyler stood for a long moment by the window, gazing into the night. The city lights blinked faintly in the distance, but his mind was elsewhere.
It was nearing midnight when his phone rang.
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at the caller ID, stared at it for a moment, then finally picked up.
Claude’s voice came through, smooth and deliberate. “Sorry to call so late, Tyler. Hope I’m not disturbing anything.”
Tyler leaned back against the windowsill, one hand tucked into his pocket. “You’re not.”
“I just wanted to clear the air about earlier—what happened with Olivia and me.”
Tyler smiled faintly, though the gesture didn’t reach his eyes. “There’s no need.”
Claude let out a quiet laugh. “So, you trust her.”
“Mm-hmm. Of course I do.”
“Well, good. That’s good. We didn’t want to give the wrong impression. Let’s grab lunch sometime—my treat.”
“Sure,” Tyler replied smoothly.
The conversation remained cordial, even pleasant. And yet, there was an edge beneath it, a layer neither man acknowledged.
“Alright,” Claude said at last. “I won’t keep you up.”
“Okay.”
The call ended. Tyler lowered the phone from his ear. The faint smile vanished from his lips.
He walked into the house, now dark and still. The staff assumed he might go to his study, or perhaps check in on Olivia—he often did.
But instead, he went straight to their shared bedroom.
Inside, Olivia stirred slightly, half-asleep. The faint sound of the door opening roused her. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light.
She blinked, dazed, unsure if she was dreaming—or if he was really there.