13. Lillian #3
Olivia’s brow furrowed, her expression softening even more. She nodded slowly, taking in everything Lillian had said. "I see."
Lillian wiped at her eyes again, her fingers trembling. "I don’t know why I let it get to me. I should’ve known better. She’s always been distant and closed off. I just thought that maybe..." Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head, feeling foolish for believing in something more.
Olivia let out a soft sigh and guided Lillian to the bench near the wall, sitting down beside her. "Lillian, I don’t know who this person is, but I think I can guess the type."
Lillian glanced over at her sister, a questioning look on her face.
"Cold, distant, emotionally unavailable?" Olivia said, raising an eyebrow. "Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?"
Lillian blinked, her heart sinking as the realization hit her.
It did sound familiar. It sounded a lot like their mother—Evelyn Harrington, the woman who had always been more interested in her career than in offering warmth or emotional support to her daughters.
Lillian had grown up craving affection and attention, but instead, she had been given cold professionalism, high expectations, and little else.
"I know it’s hard," Olivia continued, her voice soft but firm. "Growing up with Mom was...well, it was a lesson in how to love someone who doesn’t know how to love you back in the way you need. And I get why you’d be drawn to someone like that—someone who’s emotionally closed off, someone who reminds you of the only kind of affection you’ve ever known. "
Lillian swallowed hard, her chest tightening as Olivia’s words hit home.
She had been drawn to Rebecca for that reason.
There was something familiar in the way Rebecca kept her distance, in the way she hid her emotions behind a wall of professionalism and control.
It was the same kind of emotional distance she had experienced with their mother.
"But, Lils," Olivia said, turning to face her fully. "You deserve more than that. You deserve someone who can give you more. Who isn’t afraid to be open with you. Who doesn’t make you feel like you have to keep chasing them just to get a glimpse of their real self."
Lillian let out a shaky breath, her hands twisting in her lap. "I just... I don’t know how to stop feeling this way. I care about her. I want her to let me in, but every time I think we’re getting somewhere, she pulls back. I’m tired of feeling like I’m not enough."
Olivia squeezed her hand gently, her voice filled with quiet understanding. "It’s not that you’re not enough, Lil. It’s that she’s not ready—or maybe she’s not capable of giving you what you need. And that’s not your fault. It’s on her."
Lillian looked down, feeling the weight of Olivia’s words sink in.
She had been so focused on what she could do to break through Rebecca’s walls and what she could change about herself to make Rebecca want to let her in that she hadn’t considered the possibility that it wasn’t something she could fix.
"It’s hard," Olivia continued, her voice soft but steady. "I know. You want to believe that they’ll change, that they’ll finally see you the way you need them to. But the truth is, sometimes they don’t. And you deserve someone who sees you—really sees you—without you having to fight for it."
Lillian felt tears prick at her eyes again, but this time they weren’t from pain.
They were from the realization that Olivia was right.
She had been fighting so hard to be seen by Rebecca, to prove that she was worth more than just the occasional moment of vulnerability.
But maybe Rebecca wasn’t ready to give that to her. Maybe she never would be.
"You’re allowed to want more, Lillian," Olivia said gently. "You’re allowed to demand more. And if this person can’t give it to you, then maybe it’s time to think about what you really want—what you really need."
Lillian wiped at her eyes, nodding slowly. "I don’t know if I’m ready to let go. But I also don’t know if I can keep doing this."
Olivia nodded, her hand still resting on Lillian’s. "That’s okay. It’s not about making a decision right this second. It’s about recognizing that you deserve better. And when you’re ready, you’ll know what to do."
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation settling between them.
Olivia’s presence was steady, grounding, and for the first time in a long time, Lillian felt like she wasn’t alone in this.
She had her sister, her family, and maybe, just maybe, she didn’t have to carry the burden of Rebecca’s emotional distance all on her own.
"Thank you, Liv," Lillian whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that."
Olivia smiled softly, her eyes filled with warmth. "That’s what sisters are for."
Lillian leaned her head against Olivia’s shoulder, the tears drying on her cheeks as she let out a deep, calming breath. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do about Rebecca or how things would unfold between them, but for the first time, she felt like she had the strength to face it.
And that, thanks to Olivia, was enough for now.