She loved Tobias Perkins and was in love with Tobias Perkins.
This was a deep-rooted feeling, and when Luke Perkins agreed to let them marry, Olivia Taylor could hardly believe it.
Marrying the person you love most is the most wonderful thing in the world. She had dreamt of a beautiful future and yearned for the many things they would do together.
At first, it was indeed beautiful, but for some reason, Tobias Perkins grew more and more distant from her.
From body to soul, Tobias Perkins seemed to be pushing himself away.
However, there were also strange aspects. On one hand, Tobias Perkins was resistant to contact, even stimulating his own emotions, while on the other hand, he did not refuse completely…
That night, he was clearly passionate, and they spent a wonderful time together. Tobias Perkins was even a bit eager, just like when they first got together.
Judging from this behavior, it seemed that Tobias Perkins loved her.
"Olivia, when do you and Tobias plan to have a child?" Her mother's question interrupted Olivia Taylor's thoughts, but she couldn't answer this question.
Yes, having a child.
His indifference was also reflected in his attitude towards new life.
Having a child was something Luke Perkins wanted, her mother wanted, and she wanted, but Tobias Perkins just didn't want it.
Olivia Taylor felt bitterness churning in her stomach, like the taste of the pill Tobias Perkins had given her, reaching her throat. She cleared her throat and answered naturally, "Mum, Tobias and I don't want a child yet... he's busy with work, and my experiments sometimes take a lot of effort."
"When two people are in love, they don't make excuses. Olivia, did you have a quarrel with Tobias?"
Her mother's keenness was unexpected, and Olivia was at a loss for words.
It was more than a quarrel, their relationship was on the brink of collapse. How could she tell her mother that her husband not only had someone outside, but also shamelessly brought her home, allowing his mistress to flaunt her authority?.
Allowing her mother to stay here was already unfilial, how could she let her worry? Olivia quickly replied, "Mum, don't worry... we just don't want children for now, the two of us are fine on our own."
Her mother didn't seem to think much of it. She chuckled, "Ah, young people will be young. You two are so loving, it will happen sooner or later. I'm not rushing you; as long as both of you are fine, I'm relieved."
"You're young too, Mum knows. You still want to enjoy yourselves for a few more years. But, have you ever thought that maybe Tobias wants a child as soon as possible? He spoils you, afraid of upsetting you and doesn't say anything, but you should be considerate of him…"
Was it that he cherished her?
Or was it a kind of emotional abandonment?
Olivia Taylor would rather believe it was the former.
Olivia didn't dare say more, luckily she had been pushing the wheelchair all the time, or else the tears in her eyes, how could they hide from her mother's keenness? She held back the lump in her throat, forcing the tears back. Funnily enough, she also learned this from practice.
A girl's tears aren't weapons, they're her own weakness.
It was the bell of the church that separated her from her mother.
Her mother was excited to go hear the priest's sermon, so Olivia entrusted her to the nurses working in the church. Olivia herself went to see a doctor, partly to ask about her mother's condition and partly because she wasn't really interested in these things.
"Your mother's condition has really improved a lot recently." The doctor showed Olivia Taylor the CT film of her mother's brain. Although Olivia was proficient in concocting potions, she was clueless when it came to interpreting these images.
The doctor put the film on the lightbox, pointing with the pen in his hand, "See here, the activity has clearly decreased a lot, which means your mother can now control her emotions quite well." Then, he changed the film and continued, "The activity here is gradually increasing, and as you know, your mother can remember many things now."
"These are all signs of improvement. Although we can't guarantee a complete recovery, if this continues, she can definitely live independently."
Independent living meant that she could soon take her mother home, and not leave her all alone!
Olivia couldn't suppress the smile on her face. After discussing with the doctor how to cooperate with her mother's treatment, she mentioned her mother's recent visits to the church. The doctor didn't object either: "Having normal social interaction with people is also a way to help recovery. Our staff there are also helping the patients, so you don't have to worry about her safety."
After addressing her mother's concerns, Olivia reluctantly left the sanatorium. She left behind her childhood memories for the doctor to use in hopes of better treating her mother.
However, according to the doctor's expected progress, she might be able to bring her mother home within the year. Olivia's condition, even if she leaves the hospital, should be able to maintain for some time, but she would need to find a few trustworthy caregivers to take good care of her mother.
Her mobile phone vibrated with a buzzing sound. Olivia saw the incoming call display, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Tobias Perkins."
She had his full name saved in her phone, with no nickname, no abbreviation, and none of the usual titles of a married couple.
This lack of specificity was a kind of specialty in itself.
She quickly answered the phone, and as expected, the voice on the other end was as indifferent as ever: "Has she been discharged?"
A question.
It seemed that Tobias Perkins didn't know the exact situation of his little lover. Olivia hummed and said to Tobias on the other end of the phone: "It looks like she's been discharged."
"Seems... Olivia, your evasiveness is getting worse." Tobias's tone was indistinguishable on the other end, but Olivia just couldn't hear any blame in it. She neither agreed nor disagreed, waiting for Tobias to go on.
"I'm at the NEO Headquarters right now, in your laboratory. Come over."
Tobias Perkins was giving orders as if he were talking to a subordinate, but his voice was gentle and soothing. Olivia Taylor agreed and prepared to drive to her laboratory.
Olivia Taylor had always had her place at NEO Headquarters. As the youngest and most outstanding pharmacist in the organization, she had a laboratory dedicated to herself. That place could be considered a haven for her. Sometimes, she would be so immersed in concocting potions that she would lose track of time.
After marrying Tobias Perkins, the matter of protecting him gradually faded for both of them.