Chapter 197 Balancing Work and Life

Chapter 197 Balancing Work and Life

Olivia had always been underweight, and the doctor insisted she needed to boost her nutrition and track her weight regularly. 

Autumn took the advice to heart. Every day she planned meals down to the smallest detail. Olivia refused to eat meat, so Autumn stocked up on expensive supplements and made sure she had a steaming bowl of tonic soup every single day.

"Mom, if someone walked in right now, they'd think you were a livestock keeper... and I'm the pig in a sty!"

Autumn shot her a look. "A pig? Show me one that's as scrawny as you. Enough of that. I know you want to get out for a bit, so fine—you can move around at the precinct. But no training, and absolutely no field work."

Olivia nodded quickly. She'd been cooped up at home for half a month and was about ready to lose her mind.

When she finally stepped into the office, her colleagues swarmed her.

"Olivia, half a month and you've actually put on weight! We heard you're pregnant—congratulations!"

Olivia smirked, pulling out a box of chocolates to share around. "I've got work to do. Stop crowding me. A pregnant woman isn't exactly headline news."

Once the crowd dispersed, Olivia dove into the training reports from the past weeks. The regimen looked intense. She suggested a health check for the team, but Alton scratched his head, looking uneasy.

"A check-up would be good, but the infirmary's short-staffed. We're swamped."

Olivia's smile was sharp. "You've got me, and Calla Griffin too. We can handle it in three days without disrupting training."

Alton thought it over and nodded. Olivia called Calla right away. They'd worked together before and fell into an easy rhythm, drafting the check-up plan in no time.

The next morning, they began—logging each officer's blood pressure, heart rate, and fitness stats. Olivia spent several days compiling the data.

The results showed most officers were in good shape, but a few had mild arrhythmia. She recommended scaling back their training to avoid pushing them too far. When she handed the report to Alton, she'd marked the names needing closer observation, along with advice for recovery.

"I've reviewed their records. The workload's been crushing, their nerves wound tight, and their schedules are a mess—that's why their hearts are skipping beats. The body's like a bow: you can't keep the string drawn forever. Keep ease and tension in balance, and the arrow will fly farther. Leading a team isn't just about building muscle—it's about knowing where the limits are. Push too hard, and you're sowing the seeds of trouble."

Alton was silent for a long moment before nodding. "You're right. I wasn't paying attention to their condition."

He took the report with a firm tone. "Starting tomorrow, we'll adjust the training plan—less load for those officers, and more recovery work."

Olivia smiled. "Not bad, Alton. You're already more sensible than Kieran."

Kieran walked in just in time to hear that, laughing in disbelief. "Olivia, talking behind my back isn't very polite."

Olivia arched a brow. "I'm saying it to your face. So... your injuries are healed?"

Everyone at the precinct knew Kieran had ended up in the hospital after Gwyneth put him there. But Olivia hadn't heard a peep from the Schmidt family about it.

Seeing Kieran enter, Alton took the report and left.

"Alright, tell me—how exactly do you plan to marry Gwyneth?"

Kieran dropped into a chair, pulling a file envelope from his jacket and sliding it across the desk. "This is everything I own, already transferred to Gwyneth's name. It's not much, but it's what I've saved over the years. I just don't know if her parents will think it's enough."

Olivia raised a brow and flipped it open—two apartments in Silverlight City, a car, and a little over a million dollars in savings. Not a fortune, but solid.

Truth was, Gwyneth didn't need the money. Violette's assets topped a hundred million. But some things mattered more than wealth—like sincerity.

Olivia shut the envelope, tapping her fingers against the desk. "You should be handing this to Gwyneth, not me."

Kieran gave her a hopeful grin. "She's blocked me. I can't reach her. So I'm asking you to pass it along—and maybe... ask Mrs. Martinez if she has any conditions."

Olivia's brow lifted higher. "You're calculating. You know I can't easily refuse you. But you should also know—even Henry wouldn't outrank my bond with Gwyneth."

Kieran knew that. He'd tried visiting the Martinez House, but the door was always shut in his face. This was his last shot.

"Olivia... should I just drop to my knees?"

She rolled her eyes and kept the envelope. "I'll pass it on. But if you want to marry Gwyneth, you'd better show some real effort. After the way you've behaved, you deserve the pushback. Go make yourself useful—Mr. Martinez is actually reasonable."

With Olivia's advice, Kieran felt calmer. Shameless visits? He was fine with that. For Gwyneth, dignity wasn't even on the table.

After work, Olivia went to Gwyneth's house and handed the envelope to Violette. "Mrs. Martinez, this is Kieran's engagement gift."

Violette opened it, scanning the documents with open disdain. "This? He thinks he can buy my daughter with this? Dream on."

Gwyneth's father took the envelope, smirking. "He's cut ties with the Schmidt family and given Gwyneth everything he's earned. That does show loyalty. But loyalty can't beat blood. My terms are simple—have his parents come talk to me."

Olivia nodded. That would be a tall order.

When she told Kieran, his face darkened. "I'll find a way."

Watching him leave, Olivia called Gwyneth. "Guess what—think Kieran can convince your parents?"

Gwyneth was at the precinct, stuck in meetings before heading out on a mission. She hadn't told her parents or Kieran about it. "Oh, he'll manage. In shamelessness, he's got Henry beat. But I'm curious—will the Schmidt patriarch really stay out of this?"

Olivia's lips curved. "He'd like to, but I doubt he can. Kieran's father had a stroke and is bedridden. His mother's been taking care of him—and she's a force of nature. For years she's hated her husband's plan to marry his friend's daughter to their son. After that fiancée's accident, she took control of the Schmidt family. Now Kieran's father is stuck in a care home, with zero say."

Never underestimated a mother's love—it could turn the world upside down.

Gwyneth snorted. "A whole family of lunatics. Kieran's the only normal one."

"Exactly. Now focus on your mission, and forget the rest, alright?"

Gwyneth hung up happy, then thought better of it and called Kieran.

"Gwyneth... you finally called me?"

She huffed. "I'm heading out on a mission. No idea when I'll be back. Kieran, don't say I never gave you a chance—if you can win over my parents before I return, I won't withdraw the marriage application."