ã€ŠUnwrap Your Desireã€‹


 CHAPTER ONE

    OLIVIA

    ¡°Zip it up for me, please . . .¡± I turned my back to Lara and held my hair up so she could zip this sexy ck costume I chose to wear for what I could consider the highest-paid performance I would ever do in my entire life.

    I heard her sigh and the look of worry was visible on her face. But seconds passed, she then zipped my corset from the back. I wore a seductive spaghetti strap ck corset. It had see-through silk, which made my ck thong underwear visible. I paired it with the same-colored stockings and a stiletto.

    ¡°Are you sure about this, Liv? You can still back out . . . you know, I can substitute for you, I¡¯ll tell Mike.¡± I looked her in the eye and saw how uneasy she was with this situation. She really cared for me. ¡°A man doesn¡¯t know the difference once they see a woman¡¯s naked body, especially in dim lights,¡± she said.

    I chuckled and shrugged it off.

    Lara knows me well. She knew my traumatic past, my pathetic life. She knew that it would forever haunt me in my dreams if I go along with this. There¡¯s a little voice in my head saying that I should be worried about having sleepless nights as my mind will forever show me scenes of a man who tried to rape and assault me when I was fifteen.

    Looking back, his actions were like an angel from heaven in front of the other orphans, every parent who visited us, including me. It was all a tant untruth. Yet, what was happening inside the orphanage was him grooming small little girls; him looking at us like his sex toys. That ce for me was hell, and I¡¯m happy that I was no longer with them.

    While here, I would say that this was my safe ce; I can perform, do my job, and get paid. Though tonight would be different- I will strip in front of an old guy, and I must admit that it will trigger my traumatic incident from the past, but it looks like I have pleasures in seeing and battling my own nightmare.

    I ran my fingers through my long wavy hair and leaned in front of the mirror. I put red lipstick on my pale lips, and in an instant, it became livelier. My face was colored with branded makeup that lightened up my physical appearance. It made me fiercer and beautiful, the kind of face I wanted every man to see, imprinting into their minds that Liv, the most requested ¡°stripper,¡± is a goddess-like woman that would fulfil all their fantasies. Knowing that fact made me feel special about my work.

    ¡°How can I refuse that three hundred thousand dors, Lara? Even if I worked tirelessly for a year, I would never earn such a big amount of money. I only need to dance dirty and undress on stage while ying sexy, and I¡¯ll be damn free afterward.  This is me winning a jackpot,¡± I told her with excitement on my lips.

    Mike, the owner of this club, approached me with an offer. I epted the request of a filthy rich VIP customer to perform on stage. To strip in front of him but not to the extent that he will bed me. I know Mike¡¯s reputation in his nightclubs, so I believe that I¡¯ll be safe with this client. I haven¡¯t paid my rent yet, and I also need to pay my phone bills, water, electricity, and creditors that keep calling me because of unpaid loans. This will definitely help me to pay them.

    In all my life, I have lived paycheck to paycheck, and at first, I was in denial that I didn¡¯t need a lot of money. Butter on, I became a ve of it. As much as I wanted to escape the rat race, I didn¡¯t have any education. But once I get the payment, I n to leave this ce, probably, change my name to Lily, have a butterfly tattoo on my arm, get a nose piercing, get a huge apartment, go to school, get my degree and hopefully work in a multi-billionpany.

    To be honest, I don¡¯t know If those things will make me happy. Looking at my life, if only a family cared to adopt me or my biological parents dared to raise me, I know for sure that my life would have been a bit different, maybe meaningful, perhaps I could create my own beautiful dream, and I can perhaps understand my purpose.

    ¡°What if that VIP was nning to do something bad to you?¡± She breathed heavily and crossed her arms against her chest.

    I giggled and shook my head. ¡°That old hag signed a contract indicating that he¡¯s not allowed to bed me, so I am safe, and if all went downhill, we do have securities here. You know Mike  doesn¡¯t want to ruin his bar¡¯s reputation, right?¡±

    ¡°What if this triggers your¨C?¡±

    I smirked, then showed that I regrly took my medications.

    ¡°It has been long forgotten, queen. My pride also won¡¯t make me rich, you know. Besides, I¡¯ve been doing this job for a year now.¡±

    I then tapped her shoulder to assure her that I was okay with this, grabbed the ck-colored masquerade mask, and put it on my face.

    ¡°It¡¯s showtime!¡± I said and then went out of the dressing room.

    ***

    While standing in the middle of the stage while inside the cold and dark VIP room, all I could feel was numbness from my feet also; deep within me was jumping for excitement once it was all finished. I remembered the first night I started working in this bar. I was horrified at first by how women strip in front of the customers as if it was the easiest thing to do.

    But eventually, when I learned to build a facade and be a go-getter, my principles and dignity were thrown away, and I finally understood why my co-workers were dragging themselves in a shithole like this- it¡¯s because they had no other options. But despite this, this is the only ce where I felt safer than before. I know that there¡¯s no hope in this ce for some, but if you y your cards right, then you¡¯ll secure the bag.

    My VIP customer finally entered the room. Even if the light was dim red, I could see the grin forming on his lips as he sat in the golden chair in front of the stage.

    ¡°My Liv, darling . . . you look so hot tonight,¡± he praised me and sat like a king while paying attention to me. ¡°You gotta entertain me. You¡¯re mine for the rest of the night.¡±

    I leaned forward enough for him to see my cleavage to spice him up a bit. After all, that¡¯s my job tonight. I¡¯ll ensure that this will be worth it for his money.

    ¡°Oh, I won¡¯t fail my most charismatic customer,¡± I sexily said and chuckled.

    I saw him licking his lips while watching me intently. I snapped my fingers in the air, and the music started to y afterwards. A popr French song sted from the speakers that made me start swaying my hips seductively.

    I danced sensually and touched my body slowly to entice the old hag in front of me. By the looks of his face, he enjoyed looking at my body as I slowly touched my breast all the way up to my neck, then caressed my hair, giving him an alluring look that would blow him up.

    I gradually went to him and touched his shoulders while swaying from the music. My hands were gently stroking his neck. I caught him looking at my breast, he bit his lips and licked. I chuckled and purposely shoved his face to my bust for him to feel it. I felt that he was already hard. It was time for me to tease him more. After that, I went to the stage¡¯s pole center and danced with it.

    The best thing is that Lara taught me how to perform with a pole, which makes me stand out to other girls right here. I was able to master how to move naturally while my legs were snaked with it as if it was part of my body. From afar, I saw how he gulped down and drank another shot of whiskey.

    Minutes passed, and his most awaited part began. Some memories were shing right back in front of me, but I had to shake my head as I needed to focus.

    I started untying the red cape I wore. I saw how his mouth formed a letter ¡°o¡± when my hands reached the thin strap of my corset and slid it down my arm as I continued to dance sensually. I removed the other one and walked towards him.

    I swayed and continued to perform while my right hand reached the zipper of my corset from the back. I didn¡¯t hesitate and undo it until the corset loosened and slid down the floor. Now I am only wearing my ckcy bra and thong underwear.

    His hand moved and travelled on my waistline. It sent waves of horror and disgust in me, but I continued to ignore it. In just a little bit of time, I¡¯ll be closer to my biggest paycheck, so I need to endure it.

    However, my hands started shaking, my eyes got blurry, and my heart started beating faster. I felt a sense of danger in my whole system.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    For my final act, I sat on hisp and saw his face get blurry, but I kept going.

    I leaned down and was about to kiss his cheek as part of my service, but tears fell from my eyes as I saw the headmaster¡¯s face from the orphanage smiling at me.

    ¡°Liv, you have grown up beautifully . . .¡±

    My body felt heavy, his faceing closer to mine, and I was about to scream my heart out, but I came back to my senses when someone banged the door.

 CHAPTER TWO

    OLIVIA

    A tall man appeared all of a sudden. My jaw dropped when he marched towards me and tightly held my arm. His oceanic eyes screamed of danger and cruelty as he looked at me intently. Though it looked like I was saved from a brief episode of intense anxiety and fits of terror, I got confused about how he darted his eyes on me. Perhaps he had mistaken me for someone else? But as I looked at him longer, I couldn¡¯t help but look at his physique that was built like a Greek God.

    Who is he?

    ¡°Reese, what the fuck? You ruined our wedding,¡± he retorted, which confused me.

    ¡°W-Wait. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking-¡±

    ¡°Shut the fuck up, and I¡¯ll take you home! You better stop this bullshit,¡± he announced and removed his coat and covered my body with it. ¡°Let¡¯s talk once we¡¯re at home. You have some exining to do.¡± I saw his jaw clenched while he whispered it to my ear.

    ¡°Liv, what¡¯s going on here?¡± my VIP customer butted in, but before he could stand up, this Greek-God-like man in front of me punched him in a sh.

    ¡°Hey! stop it. ¡± I yelled and was about to attend to the old hag, but I was dragged out of the room by this man whom I don¡¯t know who he was.

    ¡°G-Get off me! H-How dare you ruin my n!¡± I groaned as I kept withdrawing from his grip, but hell, his hands are so big and hard that I can¡¯t remove them by swinging away.

    ¡°So this is your n all along?¡± He turned to me, and I could see the rage in his eyes. I was choking back my tears as this stupid guy destroyed my n. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what had gotten in your mind for the past months, Reese. But I won¡¯t tolerate this behavior of yours as your fiance.¡±

    Who the hell is Reese?

    ¡°W-What a minute! W-Why do you keep calling me Reese? My name is Olivia, not Reese! And the VIP you just punched? He¡¯s supposed to pay me three hundred thousand dors and now it¡¯s gone, thanks to you-Hey!¡±

    The next thing I knew, he carried me like a sack of rice on his shoulder. I screamed and punched his back multiple times, but he didn¡¯t say a word.

    ¡°This is seriously a kidnapping! I¡¯m going to report you to the police! Put me down! Lara, help!¡± I screamed.

    I saw the securities made way for us in the exit, and we reached the parking lot and I was stunned when I saw the luxurious car. He had just opened the door. He then put me down, and his ragged breathing was so evident that I could only swallow hard, afraid that he would do something terrible to me.

    ¡°Get in!¡± He dangerously yelled, which made my knees jelly.

    ¡°Again, I¡¯m Olivia, not Reese! And by the way, I need to go back to the bar. I don¡¯t know you, and you¡¯re being mistaken!¡± I tried not to stutter, but my heart kept beating faster. I feel like anytime I¡¯d copse.

    ¡°Did you hit your head on a wall? Let me remind you in case you forgot, you¡¯re my fiancee, and we¡¯re still going to marry! So stop this crap and get in!¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± My eyes widened as if that was the craziest thing I heard.

    This man is truly insane. I brought up my phone and contacted Lara, but my vision got blurry, and I felt dizzy as I tried to do so. The next thing I know, someone grabbed me and felt a warm embrace.

    ***

    I looked at the cold-blooded face of this man sitting in the driver¡¯s seat. His piercing eyes were fixated on the road, but the unknown rage was visible on his face. His jaw kept clenching, though I couldn¡¯t help but scan his beautiful face for some reason.

    Despite his grumpy aura, I had to admit that he looked ravishing. I hadn¡¯t seen such a perfect face in my entire life. His lips looked so soft, pointed nose, thick eyebrows, and those ocean eyes that would definitely make all women drawn. His blonde hair has an impable cut, too, just like the men in Hollywood movies. But with all of these looks, he is still dumb and stupid. I can¡¯t believe that my biggest paycheck vanished in thin air because of this idiot.

    In addition, what he did was still kidnapping! I massaged the bridge of my nose and nced at the window beside me. This guy . . . I bet he¡¯s gone crazy. He insisted that I am Reese Jones even though I had already exined that my name is Olivia Miller.

    Wait, is this a new scheme that I saw on TVst week? Fuck, I¡¯m in big trouble.

    ¡°Where the hell are you taking me, Sir? I¡¯m warning you, if ever you want to involve me in your monkey business! My father is a police officer! He wille after you and put you into jail. Do you understand?¡± I said with a bit of annoyance. I would be going crazy with all these scenarios whirling through my head. My phone is also useless as my phone provider cut my service. Everything adds up in my aggravation.

    He didn¡¯t answer, but I know he didn¡¯t like the tone of my voice based on how he gripped the steering wheel tightly. He then suddenly touched my neck using the back of his hand.

    Does he think that I¡¯m sick? I¡¯m speechless.

    ¡°For the nth time, I¡¯m going to tell you this . . . I am not Reese Jones, alright? My name is Olivia Miller, and clearly, you are mistaken and kidnapping me for no reason!¡± I gritted my teeth and shifted my position so I could talk to him seriously. ¡°And what you did back there in the bar ruined my reputation as the best entertainer in town. Do you know how much you owe me? That¡¯s three hundred fucking thousand dors!¡±

    He still didn¡¯t speak as if he didn¡¯t hear all my whines. I can see that he slowly shakes his head. I could have sworn this guy made my veins want to explode out of anger numerous times in just an hour.

    ¡°Sir, please take me back. I don¡¯t know you. I¡¯m not Reese . . . okay, I lied. I don¡¯t have a Dad. My father is not a police officer. I don¡¯t have a family. My only hope is my work. Please, I¡¯m begging you. Take me back to that ce.¡± I was breathing heavily, and my chest went up and down as my tears burst out. My anger, fear, and worries merged as if I thought a second I would die of catching my breath.

    ¡°Your only hope, are you seriously ill?¡± His voice was menacing. ¡°Is that the reason why you escaped without any word two months ago? To work in that filthy ce?¡±

    My forehead creased as I looked at him. My fist clenched, and I could feel the raging emotions from my chest. This is probably my fate. Who am I kidding? This is what I only deserve . . . an orphan who does not deserve to escape this shithole, does not deserve to aplish her dreams and doesn¡¯t deserve to be loved. From this moment, waves of agony washed out my hopes and aspirations. I gave up.

    I returned to my senses as he drove faster and then turned right and immediately

    stopped the car.

    ¡°What the hell! Do you want us to die?!¡± I yelled as I held my chest nervously.

    He turned to me and eyed me angrily. ¡°We¡¯re supposed to get married two months ago, Reese! You told me you love me, but you left me like a joke, and I don¡¯t know why you did that! I was losing my mind trying to find you in every ce in the world only to find you working as a sex worker in that cheap bar?! Why did you even do that?¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

    ¡°Your mom is so worried about you! We thought someone kidnapped you, or you ran away with another guy, but it was even more surprising seeing you strip naked in front of that old man! Jesus, Reese! What on earth were you thinking? ¡± He then scratched the back of his neck and said, ¡°I knew it. You know what? I fucking knew it. I should not let you hang out with Paris. That motherfucker gave you drugs.¡±

    His worried face then turned to me and then he released a big sigh as his eyes went back on the road.

    ¡°First of all, I don¡¯t have a mom, okay? Even if I wanted to, I¡¯m an orphan. I don¡¯t have a family. Second, I worked there as an entertainer, not a sex worker. It¡¯s part of my job. Lastly, whoever that Paris is, we are not pals, and she did not give me any shit, and as far as I¡¯m concerned, it looks like you¡¯re the doper here, not me. ¡± I then put both my hands over my face out of frustration.

    ¡°That bitch, she ruins everything. I¡¯ll call her to stop inviting you on her trips to L. A. Don¡¯t worry, Reese, everything will be alright. But I need to tell this to your mom as she is worried sick.¡±

    Looks can be deceiving indeed. At first nce, I would not expect that this gorgeous guy could be stupid as fuck. Out of frustration, I ran my fingers through my hair.

    This guy is seriously stressing me out.

    ¡°We will go to your ce . . .¡± He looked away and started the engine of the car. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home, and we will tell this to your mom.¡±

    For some reason, instead of countering his arguments, I can¡¯t help butugh in this situation. Like, even how many times I tried to convince him, he was dead serious telling me that I¡¯m Reese and he will be supposed to be married to her. Whoever Reese is, she is supposed to be thankful that she has a handsome but pesky fiancee.

    I burst out inughter. His face looked confused. Just by looking at him, he no longer knew how to react. Probably, he¡¯s thinking that I need to go to rehab. Guessing the look from this idiot, he probably is.

    ¡°Give me $300, 000, and I¡¯ll y your little game,¡± I said in defeat and crossed my arms against my chest.

    He shook his head,  ¡°Even the riches of Solomon, I ¡®ll give it to you,¡± he said and started the engine and maneuvered his car.

    I scoffed and heaved a huge breath. The waves of my agony shifted to waves of hope and uncertainty. My heart pounded faster, and I can¡¯t help to remove the wide grin from my face.

 CHAPTER THREE

    OLIVIA

    I could feel the cold breeze kissing every bit of my skin as we got out of his car. My eyesnded on the huge manor in front of us. It was like a Georgian manor, too old-fashioned but speaks of elegance and nobleness.

    ¡°Where are we?¡± I asked curiously to the handsome-yet-grumpy man standing next to me.

    ¡°At your home,¡± he said coldly. He held my hand and dragged me without any hesitation.

    ¡°Seriously, you need to go easy on me while I¡¯m still in control!¡± I hissed as we walked through the stairs.

    ¡°Your mother is waiting for us,¡± he said when we reached the front of the double doors.

    I just shrugged and rolled my eyes. Those were good words to hear only if I had a mother. I bet Reese¡¯ mother will think he¡¯s gone insane once she sees her supposed son-inw bringing another woman into their house.

    He knocked on the door and minutes passed, it was opened by a housemaid. He was still holding my hand tightly when we entered inside.

    My eyes roamed around and all I could see were luxurious furniture and interiors that made the whole living room livelier,forting and warm. The house was undeniably spacious and truly stunning. Across the living room is a grand staircase which leads to the second floor. I gazed up there and saw a woman who seemed to be in her mid 40¡¯s and was standing in the first rung of the stairs. Her hand was caressing her chest as her eyes started to get teary.

    She must be Reese¡¯ mom . . . she then ran downstairs and it somehow made me nervous thinking that she might fall. I thought she would try to hit this insane man beside me but I was stunned when she ran towards me and embraced me tight.

    I blinked several times, and swallowed hard when I heard her cry on my shoulder while hugging me as if she didn¡¯t want to lose me . .  again.

    ¡°Oh, God! Sweetheart, where have you been all this time . . . I was so worried to death,¡± she said in between her sobs. She then faced me and the next thing I knew was she¡¯s caressing both of my cheeks that somehow sent warmth to my spine. ¡°I am so happy you¡¯re safe and back, Reese. Mommy missed you so much . . .¡± She hugged me again.

    I didn¡¯t know how to react. God knows how I wanted to burst her bubble and tell her that I am not her daughter . . . that I am not Reese Jones, but something inside me slightly pity her. I don¡¯t know why.

    I still don¡¯t understand why both of them are calling me Reese. Who really is she?

    I didn¡¯t manage to utter a single word in front of Reese¡¯ mom. I am still confused and definitely convinced that this wasn¡¯t a prank anymore. After the emotional breakdown Reese¡¯ mom had upon seeing me, she was sent to her room with a house nurse who¡¯s in-charge with her because apparently, she¡¯s suffering from depression.

    When the grumpy guy confirmed that she¡¯s already having a good rest, he then walked me to Reese¡¯ bedroom.

    As soon as I entered the room, my eyes widened in disbelief. I nced at the portraits hanging on the wall and saw a familiar face of a woman . . . my face . . .

    I shook my head, trying to get a grasp of everything but I couldn¡¯t seem to understand what was happening.

    Like what the hell is going on?

    Reese Jones and I have the same face? How could it be possible?

    I stiffened when I felt him embracing me from the back. I was about to protest but his arms were snaking my waist tightly. He buried his face on my neck, and when I felt his mint breath on my skin. A sudden wave of electrifying sting sent shivers up to my spine.

    ¡°I forgive you for everything you¡¯ve done . . . whatever you¡¯ve been doing, I will forget about it. Just promise me you won¡¯t leave me anymore,¡± he whispered, almost pleading.

    My forehead creased. I know I was whining to him a while ago but after seeing all Reese¡¯ pictures, it was as if my strength faded away because unanswered questions started to haunt me.

    ¡°Don¡¯t fucking run away from me, Reese.¡± His hands traveled on my shoulders and he made me turn around so I could face him.

    My brows furrowed. The rage on his face has gone. The only things I see in his eyes are sadness and desperation.

    ¡°We¡¯ll get married tomorrow. You can¡¯t escape from me. I won¡¯t allow you to leave me ever again,¡± he uttered with finality.

    To my surprise, he leaned forward and gave me a rough kiss.

    ***

    The next day . . .

    I was pacing back and forth, biting my nails as I tried to think of a good escape n. After what happened between me and that grumpy manst night, after how he stole kisses from me and swore that he won¡¯t let me go, it became clearer to me that I was in a big mess.

    My eyes darted on the telephone on the table beside Reese¡¯ bed. I immediately walked towards it and dialed Lara¡¯s cell number. If there was one only thing I am good at, that¡¯s memorizing phone numbers of the people I care about. I heard three rings on the line and then she answered the phone call.

    ¡°Lara!¡± I called her name as I sat on the side of the bed.

    ¡°Olive? Geez!¡± She eximed. ¡°What happened to youst night? Mike checked the CCTV footage and told me someone has kidnapped you. I took a closer look at that man¡¯s face and figured out it was no other than Chase Maxwell!¡±

    My forehead immediately creased. ¡°Chase who?¡±

    ¡°Chase Maxwell, Olive! He¡¯s one of the most famous billionaire bachelors in the country! How did you know him? Care to tell everything because I¡¯m freaking out here!¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m freaking out too, Lara. He ruined my performancest night because he thought I¡¯m his missing fiancee.¡± I lowered down my voice, afraid that someone might hear me from the outside.

    ¡°W-What? Fiancee? Howe?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know but I¡¯m here in the house of that woman. Listen, you won¡¯t believe what I found out.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m all ears, Liv!¡±

    ¡°His fiancee, Reese Jones? We have the same face! I mean . . . we¡¯re too identical and that¡¯s the reason why that man, Chase, has dragged me into this ce! He thinks I¡¯m the woman he¡¯s been looking for, Lara!¡± I told her as if I am bing more hysterical right now.

    I heard her gasp. ¡°What the- are you serious?¡±

    ¡°I really want to think this is just a nightmare but hell, this is real. I don¡¯t understand what¡¯s going on. I haven¡¯t been able to sleep in Reese¡¯ room. Her pictures are giving me creeps.¡± I then turned to the wall and gazed on Reese¡¯ portrait, and instantly I felt the goosebumps all over my body. ¡°But, I have another problem.¡±

    ¡°Another one? What is it?¡± Her voice sounded so concerned.

    ¡°That Chase? He said we¡¯re going to get married today!¡± I said and palmed my face. ¡°He¡¯s so convinced that I am Reese, that I left him for unknown reason and now he¡¯s not going to allow me to escape anymore and will force me to a shotgun marriage. This is insane!¡±

    ¡°Oh my goodness, am I hearing it all right? That famous bachelor wants to marry you? You¡¯ll be an instant billionaire¡¯s wife if that¡¯s the case then!¡± she said in glee.

    ¡°Let me remind you that I¡¯m not Reese Jones, for the love of God, Lara!¡± I rolled my eyes. How could she get so giddy with the thought of me marrying that grumpy billionaire?

    She sighed. ¡°But isn¡¯t it an opportunity you should consider, Liv? It only takes one vow and you will get your chance to escape from the rat race. Come to think of it, you will no longer need to work as a stripper. You¡¯ll have a wealthy life, and the most good-looking husband. You¡¯ll never have to worry about money, you will get anything you want-¡±

    ¡°Again, I¡¯m not Reese-¡±

    ¡°But this might be the chance you¡¯ve been waiting for, Olive. If that girl, Reese, really wanted to  marry Chase Maxwell, she should¡¯ve been there to begin with. However, she¡¯s missing in action, and the only woman who gets the chance right now is no other than you.¡±

    I inhaled heavily as my chest started tightening . . . somehow, at the back of my mind, I knew Lara was right. I felt like my mind and conscience were battling against each other. My mind strongly agreed to Lara but my conscience was telling me otherwise.

    ¡°You know how impossible it is to reach a dream when you don¡¯t have the means to depend on. Liv, you only live once. Chance like this can only stumble in front of your feet once.¡±

    The memory of my younger self stealing bread in a bakery store when I was wandering on the streets shed in my mind. It was followed by my teenager self who stood in front of the bar, and how my life changed afterwards . . . my life has changed, yes. But I had to admit that I am still at my lowest.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    Silence engulfed me for a moment. If only I could see a sign that would make me decide what to do . . . something that would encourage me to go on with Lara¡¯s suggestion.

    If only someone would knock on the door and tell me it¡¯s okay for me to do it . . . I was holding the telephone to my ear so tightly, and my eyes couldn¡¯t help but be teary.

    ¡°Fuck . . .¡± I gasped and ended the call without saying a word to my friend.

    I heard two knocks on the door that made me hold back to crying. I cleared my throat and stood up. The door opened and the familiar God-like Chase Maxwell entered. Compared tost night, he looked more calm today. He was wearing a ck suit that fit his body perfectly.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± he said huskily.

    I swallowed hard and just nodded at him. My eyes gazed down at the white huge box he was holding and then nced at him curiously.

    ¡°We have to keep going, Reese. We will marry today,¡± he said genuinely and handed me the box.

    I didn¡¯t know why but I found his voice soothing . . . as if it was the sign I just asked earlier, and like he was pushing me to do it, to grab this one in a million chance.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re still going to marry me,¡± I said with my voice on the verge of cracking.

    ¡°Yes, I will still marry you. Whatever it is that happenedst night, it doesn¡¯t change what I feel for you, Reese.¡±

    Our eyes were still locked with each other. I could see the sincerity in him. I hate to admit it but it felt like Reese had missed this gem in front of me.

    I inhaled and walked towards him, then tiptoed to give him a peck on his lips.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get married then . . .¡±

 CHAPTER FOUR

    OLIVIA

    When I was in the orphanage, I never imagined that there would be a family willing to adopt me. Every Christmas, I recall some people who visited and gave us gifts. I was super excited especially in November, the month when we normally prepare some presentations that we would perform at the Christmas party.

    Then one time, someone gave me a gift. It was a Christmas card that was given by a lovely couple,  and I kept it in a shoe box. Whenever I feel sad, I would see myself bringing it out from the box and read it. Even though it had only a generic happy Holiday message with my name written in front of it, it didn¡¯t fail to give a smile on my face. It was the only Christmas present I got when I was a kid that somehow made me feel special. The truth was, I imagined that it came from my real family.

    Now in a turn of events, I was sitting with my ¡®parents¡¯, with my ¡®fiance¡¯ sitting next to me and of course his family on the other side of the table.

    And  guess what? We were discussing the ns for our marriage- Chase and mine.

    We were all here in the dining area of Chase Maxwell¡¯s house.  I never imagined that I would find myself in this situation, at least not until today. Reese Jones, for God¡¯s sake, why do we have the same face? Well, let me y your role for a while then once I get what I want, they will no longer see me anymore.

    I can¡¯t wait to get my three hundred thousand dors from Chase. That money is enough for me to change my face entirely so that this idiot would no longer run after me.

    ¡°Reese, I am d that you¡¯re able to join us today. How are you?¡±

    I came back to my senses when Chase¡¯s father spoke.  At this moment, I wasn¡¯t sure what they thought of Reese. Due to the fact that I was unfamiliar with her, I¡¯ve decided to provide just in responses to his family, just to be on the safe side. The less I say, the less likely it is that I will make a mistake, and if I can perfect the art of pretense, I will be able to avoid any suspicion on their part.

    Earlier when we arrived, his father, whose name is Ernest, looked at me as if he saw a dead person, which I thought was strange. He even dropped his newspaper and then proceeded to hug me. My mind couldn¡¯t help but wonder how close he was to Reese.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, thanks!¡± I faked my smile just like how I pretend to be someone that I¡¯m really not.

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear, sweetheart. All of us were worried about you,¡± Chase¡¯s father replied, still gazing at me with an odd look.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°She kinda has amnesia and forgot our wedding,¡± Chase said to my family.

    Everyone at the dining table burst outughing. They looked at me and kept shaking their heads. Then they proceed to bombard me with a lot of questions. I was trying to be as polite as possible with them but they started to get on my nerves.

    To avoid their questions, I always end up looking at Chase, giving him a look, signaling him  that I can no longer amodate and answer all their queries, especially those interrogation of his parents.

    His mother had a lot to say about this swimmingpetition, like I didn¡¯t have even the slightest idea what she meant by that. ¡°I¡¯m rooting for you Reese. You¡¯re the pride of the Jones¡¯s family!¡±

    What did she say? I don¡¯t even know how to swim!

    Then,  I recall those medals from Reese¡¯s room and some portraits of her wearing a one piece swimsuit holding a trophy. So the missing bride-to-be is a swimmer?

    ¡°Perhaps, you¡¯re getting overwhelmed because of your wedding, then herees this uing swimmingpetition you must attend and you¡¯re still trying to recover.¡± Mrs. Maxwell nced at her son. ¡°Chase, I guess you should postpone the wedding for this year so that Reese will have more time to prepare.¡±

    Chase¡¯s mom then reached for my hand that was resting on the table.  Chase, who was seated next to me, caught my attention. I saw that he had a gloomy expression on his face. His oceanic eyes were filled with disappointment as he listened to what his mother had to say.

    ¡°Chase, I guess your mother is right. We can¡¯t force this wedding since Reese is still recovering. We don¡¯t even know what happened to her. We need a specialist to check on her.¡±

    I¡¯m not sure whether I would be happy or not that I am hearing all these damn excuses from his family. One thing is for sure, both of his parents don¡¯t want me to marry their son. If the marriage would not push through, I wonder if I would still be able to get my money back . . .

    But of course, I am already here in this madness and I already made a decision to y along with it, so in order for me to ensure that I would be getting money, I have to marry this billionaire, by hook or crook.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Uncle Ernest and Aunt udia, but me and Chase would like to be married as soon as possible,¡± I uttered.

    His parents were both staring at me with a nk expression on their faces before they threw meaningful looks at each other.  I¡¯m not sure whether they¡¯re enraged or just confused.

    Chase, on the other hand, smiled at me. ¡°Mom, dad, you heard Reese. We want this wedding to happen as soon as possible. In fact, I wanted our wedding to be done today but you intervened with our initial n. If it weren¡¯t for yourints, Reese would have been my wife by now.¡± He then nced at me and winked.

    I rolled my eyes, but I stopped midway as her sister seemed to notice it.

    ¡°I wish you never came back,¡± she said with her lips pouting in annoyance.

    I narrowed my eyes as I threw a dagger at her. I want to give thisdy a smack on the face but since she will be my sister-inw, then I¡¯ll let it slide.

    ¡°Hey Chandria, quit it.¡± Chase told her warily.

    Reese¡¯s parents then started to persuade them with the wedding n but for some reason, Chase¡¯s parents would always bring up my condition.

    I guess the real problem here was how I would convince these people that I¡¯m fine. Even if I¡¯m in their position, I would also be terrified that someone who has gone missing for two months, ruined her  supposed wedding with their son, would show up and have no details whatsoever about what really happened.

    It is reasonable for them to think about it first. I got that I needed to be checked by a specialist, probably they are referring to a therapist or some sort. Observing how our conversations went, I already knew that  it would not be easy for me to wear Reese¡¯ shoes at all.

    However, even though the shoes don¡¯t fit right now on my feet, I would still work my ass off to be the modern Cindere of this fairytale.

    We exchanged our goodbyes as soon as our lunch was finished. I walked in their hallway, then went downstairs and saw Maxwell¡¯s family portrait. My eyes wandered on their walls which appeared to be magical. They had these dream-like paintings, sculptures that I only saw from the magazines and when I reached the end of the stairs, there¡¯s this old typewriter that caught my attention. I squinted my eyes as it felt like I had seen it before.

    ¡°Do you still remember that thing?¡± A familiar voice of Chase was heard behind me. He then tapped my shoulders and stood up right beside me.

    ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen it,¡± I replied.

    ¡°You gave that to me as a gift,¡± he said.

    Oh, alright. I bit my tongue and acted as if my head started to feel a throbbing pain. I guess this is the best thing to do, to disguise that I¡¯m suffering from amnesia so they would stop throwing questions at me.

    I know Chase wanted me to share what exactly had happened to me but since I¡¯m a different person, I don¡¯t have any exnation for it. I just need to stick with this act until they get tired of asking me a lot of things.

    However, I know I couldn¡¯t pretend to have amnesia forever. If this continues, Chase¡¯ parents will not likely agree for us to get married.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t remember that¡¯s fine,¡± he said.

    His face saddened as he tried to tell me some good stories about him and Reese, hoping that any of it would somehow ring a bell to me.

    As I listened carefully to him, I started to think that having a rtionship with someone is truly difficult. When I was working in the bar, my goal was to earn a lot of money and that¡¯s it.

    When I was still  at the orphanage, every time I saw other kids being adopted, I felt so jealous. Every night, I prayed that hopefully one day, a family woulde and adopt me. Now, I realized that family can beplicated too.

    ¡°Reese, please don¡¯t give up,¡± he pleaded.

    He snaked his arms around my waist and pulled me for a embrace. Surprisingly, it¡¯s aforting,  warm, tender  . . . long embrace, which made my mind calm a bit.

    My hands wanted to move on their own and to embrace him too, but my mind reminded me not to do it. I don¡¯t want to be too attached to him. My emotions should not have any control of me. If I ended up liking this person, then I¡¯d be in huge trouble, especially when the real Reese Jones finally showed up.

    But I had to admit that this guy is truly appealing. The way he embraces me gives me an indication that he doesn¡¯t want to let me go. I know I was mad as hell at himst night but at the back of my mind, there¡¯s a little demonic voice telling me to enjoy this moment with him.

    Perhaps because I don¡¯t have any lover? I never had a boyfriend before. Even if I wanted to enter a rtionship and entertain some men who showed good motives to me, I didn¡¯t have the courage to grab the chance and ended up getting away.

    That¡¯s how my trauma ruined my life.

    I came back to my senses when he kissed my lips. It was so passionate and enticing that even though my mind was telling me to push him, I did the opposite. I kissed him back, parting my lips and felt his tongue inside my mouth which made me moan softly.

    Then I realized we were still in his house and his parents might have caught us kissing!

    ¡°Ch-Chase, not here . . .¡± I muttered and slightly pushed him away.

    And I was correct . . . someone has caught us in the act.

    I saw his sister, standing up a few steps away from our direction, watching us intently.

    ¡°Can you guys get a room?¡± she scoffed and rolled her eyes at me.

    A sudden wave of embarrassment filled my entire system. She then walked past us and  even bumped my shoulder intentionally. As I turned around, she only gave me an annoyed face.

    My eyebrows furrowed with how that brat Chandria acted in front of me. I licked my lower lip and grinned bitterly. What a childish devil . . .

 CHAPTER FIVE

    OLIVIA

    Chase offered to send me home after that suffocating gathering we had in his house. I was sittingfortably on the shotgun seat, gaze wandering on the streets we passed by. I made several sighs. I didn¡¯t know why but I felt so tired on the first day of my pretense.

    This thing was harder than I thought, not to add that Chase¡¯s family acted so strange in front of me which gave me an idea that they didn¡¯t like Reese Jones for Chase at all. They thought I was going crazy, that was for sure. Because if not, they wouldn¡¯t try to push the idea of me going to a psychiatrist and would reason out a lot just to move the wedding that was supposed to happen this week. Even his sister. That Chandria obviously didn¡¯t like meing back, or should I say Reese.

    I nced at him. His eyes were fixated on the road as he maneuvered the car. My eyes couldn¡¯t help but memorize his face. He was truly good looking, a god-like man who was made perfectly by someone above. I didn¡¯t really get why Reese left this guy  . . . Chase Maxwell was truly a jackpot and she only left him without a single word. I would say it was hical and an absurd decision. Was it really how rich women act?

    ¡°Staring is rude, Reese.¡± His mouth twitched for a quick smile.

    I chuckled awkwardly and cleared my throat after. Was I so fascinated in his face that I didn¡¯t realize I was staring at him for too long? That was embarrassing!

    ¡°Now that I think about it, we¡¯ve been together for how many years but it was the first time I felt that kind of kiss from you,¡± he said and then looked at me for a second then turned his eyes back on the road. ¡°I can¡¯t describe it but it felt so different and I really like it.¡±

    His statement made me feel ufortable. Why did he have to open up such a topic? It was just a damn kiss!Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°And maybe you only missed me, that¡¯s why you thought it¡¯s different. Nothing has changed, Chase. Don¡¯t be confused,¡± I replied, hands sweating with the thought that I might have kissed him differentlypared to how Reese gives him kisses.

    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± He chuckled, His one hand reached for my hand and kissed the back of it. ¡°I miss you so much, Reese . . . and I can¡¯t wait for us to get married,¡± he uttered and smiled genuinely.

    I felt bad that I had to deceive this guy who only hoped to love and be loved by that girl, Reese Jones. If only I had another choice . . .

    Money is the root of all evil, as people say. I could confirm it was true because here I was, stuck in a life that¡¯s full of deception in order to get some money out of Chase¡¯s pocket and to survive this cruel world.

    I pity him but I pity myself more than anyone. That¡¯s why I had to do this, no matter what or who would be the casualty of my own actions. Even if it was Chase. I inhaled heavily and nced back at the window.

    I guess it would be easier if I would treat this mess as a part of my job, that this guy was my customer and I had to y the role of Reese Jones, the soon-to-be wife of this billionaire. And in order for my acting to be believable, I should contact Lara to help me do some research about Reese.

    I needed some information about her, how she dresses . . . what are her likes and dislikes, even how she normally moves and speaks . . . I need to copy her overall demeanor!

    I also needed to know every bit of her body, even if it was just a mole or scars. What if she had a tattoo? It would be awkward if I slept with Chase and then he would figure out that some random tattoo was missing from his girl¡¯s body. In short, I really had to copy her up to the point that someone wouldn¡¯t be able to tell who is who.

    I recalled one certain topic Mrs. Maxwell had opened up during our lunch. She did mention a swimmingpetition that Reese had to attend. Now, how do I escape from that? Never in my entire life had I learned how to swim. If someone pushed me to the swimming pool, I¡¯d be dead in an instant.

    I felt a throbbing pain in my head as I realized that Reese and I werepletely different. She excelled in sports, something that was totally opposite of me. I hated sports, to be honest. The only thing I knew was how to work for money.

    But I guess I should try new things this time. Learning how to swim should be the first one on the list. Little by little, I would be able to replicate that woman. I took my phone from my bag and started taking notes . . .

    I waspletely consumed by my ns on how I would be able to copy Reese. My thoughts were only ripped out when Chase spoke beside me.

    ¡°We¡¯re already here, babe,¡± he said. The car entered the main gate and stopped in front of the Jones¡¯ manor.

    ¡°Thank you for bringing me home,¡± I said and smiled at him. Calling this home was still foreign to me but hopefully, I¡¯d get used to this kind of set up.

    I got out of the car and so did he. ¡°Let me walk you inside.¡±

    I stared at him and rolled my eyes after a few seconds. ¡°Are you always this clingy?¡±

    Heughed and shook his head. He walked towards me and snaked his arm around my waist.

    ¡°Like I said earlier, I missed you so much.¡±

    ¡°Fine!¡± I hissed, then chuckled.

    When we reached the front door, he opened it for me. I couldn¡¯t suppress the smile on my lips as he acted like a gentleman, very sweet and thoughtful. But even though he had this kindness in him, I shouldn¡¯t get too attached to him. After all, I was just pretending to be his girl.

    ¡°You know what? I¡¯m not a baby anymore. I can walk on my own,¡± I said as I noticed how he held my hand and shoulder gently as we entered inside the manor.

    He only smiled and kissed my forehead.

    ¡°Now, what was that for?¡± I raised a brow.

    ¡°Because you¡¯re acting so cute and I like it, Reese.¡± He chuckled.

    My eyes then squinted. ¡°No need to impress me with your moves,  young boy.¡± I smirked.

    He pouted his lips and I couldn¡¯t stop myself from teasing him more. We then walked our way to the living room. We sat on the couch. Mr. Smith, the butler, appeared out of nowhere to wee us.

    ¡°Hello there, Ms. Reese, Sir Chase. Would you like anything, perhaps some drinks?¡± he offered as he nced at the both of us.

    ¡°No, we¡¯re fine.¡± Chase smiled and nodded.

    When the butler left, he then moved closer to me.

    ¡°Now that we¡¯re alone, I guess we can continue where we left off . . .¡± he whispered  in my ear.

    To my surprise, his warm and seductive voice tickled my ear. I tilted my head away from him and was about to hit him in the arm when Mrs. Jones, who went home earlier than me, walked downstairs that made Chase move a little bit far from me.

    Sneaky!

    ¡°Ooh, Chase! You¡¯re here! Thanks for sending my daughter home. I am sorry we had to leave earlier. Reese¡¯ father needed to finish some work in thepany,¡± Mrs. Jones eximed.

    Chase cleared his throat and stood up. ¡°Not a problem, Mrs. Jones. I¡¯m d you left your daughter with me.¡± He nced back at me. ¡°You know that I missed her a lot and I¡¯m trying to make up for the time we lost.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s so sweet of you, Chase.¡± Mrs. Jones held her chest as if she was truly impressed with this guy. It was so dramatic that I could only shake my head. ¡°How about you stay and join us for dinner? I bet Reese would also love that! Am I right, sweetheart?¡±

    ¡°Uhm, sure, Mom!¡± I said and called Mrs. Jones for the very first time.

    It felt so strange and my heart couldn¡¯t help but pound loudly. I wasn¡¯t even sure if this was because I was nervous whenever Reese¡¯ mom was around or I was just engulfed by an unfamiliar excitement to treat someone as my mother. Nevertheless, I needed to sound confident and real.

    Chase caressed the back of his neck. ¡°I am afraid I have to decline for now, Mrs. Jones. I will have to attend apany meeting and sign a few reports.¡± He then looked back at me. ¡°I hope that¡¯s alright, Reese.¡±

    ¡°Do your thing, Chase. It¡¯s okay. We have all the time in the world,¡± I replied and faked a sweet smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re really a hardworking man, Chase. Your parents should be very proud of you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Mrs. Jones. I¡¯m only doing this for Reese. I want to give her the best life she deserves . . .¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a promise!¡± Mrs. Jones hugged Chase tightly and released him after a few seconds. ¡°I was already eager for you and Reese to get married. But I have to respect and understand your parents¡¯ opinion of it. Perhaps I just really want my daughter to settle down and live with a man who truly loves her.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Jones. I¡¯ll do everything so we can get married as soon as possible,¡± Chase assured her.

    I didn¡¯t know why but I feel that Reese¡¯ parents were too eager for this marriage to happen too. But I wasn¡¯t in the right position to doubt their motives at all. After all, they weren¡¯t my biological parents . . . I only had to mind my own motives here.

    When Chase left, Mrs. Jones went back to the living room. Her eyes were teary as if she was already on the verge of breaking down. She sat next to me and held my hands that rested on myp.

    She inhaled heavily. ¡°I am sorry, Reese, if you feel that the Maxwells¡¯ are doubting to continue the wedding at this point . . . I wished I could do something more useful for them to be convinced that you¡¯re just doing alright, that you don¡¯t need to be checked by some psychiatrists.¡±

    I patted her back as her tears started to fall.

    It was funny because in real life, I was indeed taking medications but of course for different reasons. Mrs. Jones wiped her tears away and caressed my hands gently.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Mom. I¡¯ll get better soon and ensure to gain their approval and trust,¡± I assured her.

    She nodded her head and smiled at me. I didn¡¯t know how tofort someone, but my mind told me to hug her . . . and so I did. She cried more and embraced me tightly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be better, I promise, Mom. Hush now, please . . .¡± I said and closed my eyes as  memories started to sh back in my mind.

    It was the young version of me from the orphanage, saying those exact words as one of the teachers scolding me when I forgot my lines during our presentation. I was crying and telling them that I would be better after being scolded and taught that apology wasn¡¯t enough, that I should be better.

    So every time I was humiliated, or whenever I failed and treated as worthless by my peers, I would stand up and promise myself that I¡¯d fight back and do everything to get better.

    For some reason, tears started pooling in my eyes as I felt that this kind of embrace was the only thing I¡¯ve been waiting for ever since I was a child.

    ¡°Reese, I¡¯m d that you came to my life . . .¡± Mrs. Jones mumbled which stung my chest.

    I was pped back into reality and remembered that I was only living someone else¡¯s life, not mine.

 CHAPTER SIX

    OLIVIA

    Mrs. Jones escorted me in my room after that emotional moment we had in the living room. She said that I must rx a bit and dip in the bathtub before we eat dinner. She also mentioned that she would cook all my favorite food. I couldn¡¯t deny that she was kind and a wonderful mother. I realized that Reese was so blessed to have a mother like her who would support and love her so unconditionally.

    Every day of my life, I¡¯ve yearned for that kind of love, and I never imagined that I¡¯d get the opportunity to experience it myself, even though I knew it wasn¡¯t actually meant for me, but rather for someone else.

    That¡¯s why I had to make sure that I would be able to act more convincingly from now on. My goal was to avoid  making Mrs. Jones  suspicious of me as I knew that it would break her heart if she found out that I¡¯m a different soul. While her daughter was nowhere to be found, I wanted to make sure that I would be able to portray Reese Jones¡¯s identity perfectly and to fill in some gaps she had left here.

    When Mrs. Jones left me in my room, I peeped outside and locked the door. Now that I was free from their sights, it¡¯s time for me to take action.

    I grabbed my phone and dialed Lara¡¯s phone number.

    ¡°Hey, red baby doll . . .¡± I said a few seconds after she answered a call.

    We decided toe up with a code whenever we talk on the phone and this ¡®red baby doll¡¯ was something I chose. I would say the code whenever I call her so that Lara would be aware that it was me who¡¯s calling her.

    ¡°Olivia, how are you?¡±

    I could hear the st of the music in the background. It was difficult for me to hear her voice as she seemed to be in the bar right now.

    ¡°Hey, can you go to the dressing room for a second? I can barely hear you!¡± I said and crossed my arms on my chest as I waited for the background noise from the other line to stop.

    Minute passed and then the silence filled the other line.

    ¡°Alright, can you hear me now?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s better!¡± I sighed with relief. ¡°Hey, Lara. I badly need your help.¡±

    ¡°Sure, Mrs. Maxwell, the wife of the billionaire. How can I be of help?¡± she said as she tried to tease me.

    I rolled my eyes and smirked. ¡°Reese Jones is someone I¡¯d like to learn more about and I need your help to investigate and obtain more information regarding that woman. I require a lot of great deal of information about her that can help me impersonate her, Lara. I badly need your help and I need this task to be done as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Ooh, sounds fun! Of course, I will help you! Looks like you¡¯re determined to ace your n now!¡± she giggled.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m already here. Might as well give my best for me to hit a jackpot,¡± I hissed.

    ¡°I¡¯m d you grabbed the chance, Liv.¡± Then I heard her long sigh. ¡°I hope something like that will happen to me too. The loan sharks came to my house yesterday and they really stressed me out. I don¡¯t know what to do anymore,¡± she added.

    ¡°How much do you need, Lara?¡± I asked her worriedly.

    We¡¯ve been friends for a long time. I knew that she¡¯d been borrowing money from loan sharks and despite how horrible these people are. Lara had no other choice but toe back with them whenever she needed money because she had no one to run to and I had no money to offer as well.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    But now . . . I think I could do something to help her.

    ¡°O-Olivia,¡± she stuttered as her voice suddenly cracked. ¡°N-No, you don¡¯t have-¡±

    ¡°Just tell me, Lara. How much do you need? I want to help, alright?¡±

    I heard her sob but then a few seconds passed and she screamed in glee. What a nice actress!

    ¡°Oh, my goodness, Liv! You¡¯re such an angel!¡± she eximed dramatically.

    I shook my head. ¡°Stop it. You know I am not close to bing one. We¡¯re such daredevils!¡±

    We both chuckled. I had to admit that it felt good to talk to my best friend. My day had been so suffocating and Lara was the only person with whom I could talk to with all my guard down and without feeling judged.

    ¡°So, how¡¯s your life now that you became a wife of a billionaire?¡± she asked, her voice was giddy.

    ¡°Well, let me tell you the bad news. Chase¡¯s parents stopped us from getting married today.¡±

    ¡°What the heck? Is that for real?¡± she sounded shocked.

    ¡°Yeah, I was kind of pissed about it but I don¡¯t want to worry about that right now.  I still have to work on my disguise so they won¡¯t be suspicious of me.¡± I sighed. ¡°But Chase told me he will do everything so we can get married soon though,¡± I told her as Iyed down on the bed.

    ¡°Hmm, inws issues  . . .¡± sheughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, babe. I got your back. I¡¯ll investigate that woman, Reese Jones, and will send all the information to your email. Just go along with your disguise. No one¡¯s going to be suspicious of you since you¡¯re too identical with Reese.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Lara. You know I can¡¯t do this without you. I promise to make a shit ton of money and your help won¡¯t be put into waste as I will include you with my sess!¡± I said happily.

    ¡°Sounds great, Liv! I¡¯m thinking about my dream vacation with my boyfriend in Hawaii. I think you can treat us to an all-expense paid trip!¡±

    ¡°What? You should travel with me first. No boyfriends allowed!¡± I hissed. ¡°Anyway, how much money do you need?¡±

    ¡°Uhm, about fifty thousand dors, Liv . . .¡± she replied.

    What? She needed that much money?!

    ¡°I promise to pay you, Liv. My kid also needed the money for his tuition fees. His father no longer gives his child support and I am already tired of chasing that poor ass guy. I really can¡¯t depend on him so I must face this hardship alone for my child.¡±

    I sighed in disbelief. ¡°Alright then. I got your back, Lara. You have nothing to worry about,¡± I assured her.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re already the soon-to-be wife or should I say the fiance of the super famous Chase Maxwell, I presume you can ask him for money, right? Or perhaps that woman, Reese Jones, has some bank ounts or credit cards that you can use!¡± she suggested.

    I rolled my eyes. Now, I wanted to question myself about who¡¯s the real devil between me or Lara.

    Two birds of the same feather really flock together . . .

    ¡°Are you hearing yourself, Lara? Damn it! You really are the devil!¡± I snorted.

    ¡°Yeah, I know! I¡¯m a great devil for money. Anyway, I need to do some work here at the bar. I¡¯ll call youter!¡± she said. ¡°Don¡¯t forget the money! Let me know once you have it so we can meet at our secret ce. Bye, Liv!¡±

    I threw my phone on the bed after that call. Now, I just need to create a n on how I can get some money to help Lara . . . I recalled the night I first met Chase. He told me that he could give me even the riches of Solomon when I asked him to pay me three hundred thousand dors. Would it appear embarrassing for me if I asked him about that money?

    I found myself contemting whether to do it or not as I stared at the ceiling but I guess I had no other choice since I already promised Lara that I¡¯d help her.  That¡¯s what best friends are for. She didn¡¯t leave me at my lowest so I will do my best to be someone she could depend on this time.

    I went downstairs and asked for a family driver to drive me at Chase¡¯s office as I didn¡¯t know where he actually works. It was a good thing that our butler assisted me and called one of the drivers to help me.

    After almost an hour, we arrived at a very huge building. My mouth was opened as I looked up to thepany where Chase is working. His family is damn rich!

    The driver opened the car door for me and I went out to look around. I saw a group of men in ck suits and ties marching toward me. My heart raced as I didn¡¯t know any of them. I clutched my chest when they stopped in front of me.

    ¡°Wee back, Ms. Jones. We heard from your butler that you¡¯reing over to meet Mr. Maxwell,¡± their leader told me, which made my jaw drop on the floor.

    Was itmon for the rich people to be weed this way whenever they visit someone else¡¯s office? I almost had a heart attack!

    I was about to thank them but a bunch of photographers suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I heard their cameras clicking and shing that almost blinded my eyes.

    Why are they doing this, anyway? Is Reese a celebrity too? My goodness!

    ¡°Ms. Reese, can you please give us your statement? Why didn¡¯t you show up at your wedding?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Reese, is it true that your parents only want you to marry Mr. Chase Maxwell because your family business is already on the verge of bankruptcy?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Reese, do you still n to join this year¡¯s national swimmingpetition?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Reese, is it true that you¡¯re only an adopted child?¡±

    I saw TV reporters, media men and possibly paparazzi blocking my way and asking me a lot of questions. I waspletely shocked as this was the first time I encountered such a mishap . . . I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to cover my face using my arm.

    Then I recalled a moment when an unknown guy from the bar told me that I looked like one of known athletes that was engaged to a famous billionaire. In fact, I¡¯d always hear it whenever I had customers whose ages were in their mid 20¡¯s. I just chose to ignore it as I found it nonsense . . . now it all made sense to me.  I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Mike knew this all along knowing he was a well-known bachelor who owned one of the big night clubs in town.

    I only came back to my senses when the bodyguards started to push these media men away and covered me so I could walk forward. I had a hard time walking as the crowd was all over the entrance of the building.

    After all the push and pulls, I was finally able to enter the building. I was about to walk with my head up but I stumbled into something that caused me to fall on the floor.

    My lips formed a thin line as I heard some giggles from the employees. What is so funny? They are supposed to help me stand up!

    I clenched my hand and tried to stand up but the moment I looked up, I felt as if my heart was hammered when I saw Chase¡¯s father staring at me.

    Judging the way he looked at me, I saw the intense disgust through his eyes.

 CHAPTER SEVEN

    OLIVIA

    The intense disgust visible through Chase¡¯s father¡¯s eyes went away in an instance, it was as if it wasn¡¯t meant to be seen at all . . . and it only made me feel more confused and intrigued about Ernest Maxwell.

    My instinct kept telling me that there was something I needed to find out about him, but the devil side of me only cared about money and Chase . . .

    I stood up to my feet as I didn¡¯t want to appear as a stupid future daughter-inw who looked like a dead meat on the floor. I gave him a fake smile as that was all I could do after I stumbled in front of him.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Hello, Uncle Ernest. I am here to talk to your son about something,¡± I said confidently as if nothing ever happened prior to seeing him.

    Ernest Maxwell only gave me a warm smile and nodded. His phone rang and he didn¡¯t hesitate to answer it. He looked very busy so I didn¡¯t bother him anymore when he walked away with his secretary. I looked around and figured out everyone was too busy in thispany.

    I was then greeted by the receptionist and asked me if I needed help or something.

    One of the bodyguards spoke behind me, ¡°Can you please ask someone to walk her to Mr. Chase Maxwell¡¯s office? She¡¯s Ms. Reese Jones, his fiancee.¡±

    Everyone seemed to have heard that as they started looking at me as if they had seen a ghost . . . Now, what the hell was going on?

    I only gave them a confused look as my gaze wandered around.

    ¡°Oh, Ms. Reese Jones! I am very sorry!¡± said the receptionist.

    I didn¡¯t understand why but it looked like all of the employees here were starting to panic when they found out that Reese Jones was inside theirpany. I mean . . . why are they panicking? I looked at the bodyguards behind me and gave them a questioning look but they didn¡¯t bother to answer.

    ¡°U-Uh, M-Ms. Jones . . .¡± A guy then showed up in front of me.

    He looked pretty tense. I checked on the name tag on the left side of his uniform and read his name, ¡°Ivan Paul . . . Hi there, Ivan!¡± I greeted him, which made him more nervous as I saw how his lips quivered.

    ¡°L-Let me escort you to Mr. Maxwell¡¯s o-office,¡± he said as stuttered.

    I narrowed my eyes as I stared at him. What the heck is wrong with this guy?

    ¡°Alright, thank you!¡±

    His face lightened up a bit with a great shock visible in it. My brows furrowed but then I still managed to smile at him as a courtesy.

    ¡°This way, Ms. Jones . . .¡± he said as he led us the way to Chase¡¯s office.

    Me and the bodyguards behind me followed Ivan as he walked towards what looked like a special elevator. We went inside and I noticed that he opened a ck small box below the regr elevator buttons. He tapped a key card on it and then another button appeared on the inside. He pushed it and it turned gold.

    ¡°It will take us to Mr. Maxwell¡¯s office directly,¡± Ivan said.

    ¡°Wow!¡± I eximed.

    Rich people, indeed, love to get customized things for their benefits . . .

    I looked at the picturesque view while the elevator was going up. Chase¡¯s special elevator was made of transparent ss, so I could see the city further as it went all the up. The scene was definitely breathtaking and it gave me a thrilling emotion.

    I couldn¡¯t wait to be rich too . . .

    In an instance, we finally arrived at the floor where he works. I was greeted by a huge and elegant receiving area when the elevator door opened. It was like a five-star hotel lobby area with modem luxurious furniture that I only saw on Television and magazines.

    ¡°Damn it . . . Is this really his office?¡±

    Ivan seemed shocked when he heard me cursing.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry!¡± I awkwardlyughed. ¡°It¡¯s just that I didn¡¯t expect his office to be this extravagant . . .¡±

    Then I saw the confusion in his eyes. I realized that I forgot that I was portraying Reese Jones. I palmed my face and scolded myself that I should keep myposure! Reese might have visited here a couple of times so I should act normally! Damn, Olivia . . .

    Twodies approached us.

    ¡°Good day, Ms. Reese Jones! It¡¯s been a long time,¡± thedy with brte hair greeted me with a smile.

    I smiled at her and checked the left side of her chest. She didn¡¯t have a name tag but I assumed that she already knew who Reese was. They were both smiling at me and all I could do was to smile back at them as I didn¡¯t know how to initiate a conversation at this point.

    But it felt as if they were waiting for me to say something so I just voiced out what was in my mind.  ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a long time. Thank you everyone for your hard work! Currently, I am not really well. I am suffering from amnesia but I am trying to recover my lost memories  . . . so I hope you could bear with me if I can¡¯t recognize all of you,¡± I said and faked a smile.

    They looked at me with visible shock on their faces. My jaw was starting to feel a bit hurt due to the endless faking smile I give them. I then lowered my head and rolled my eyes then fixed the invisible strand of my hair as a form of elegance.

    ¡°Oh, we¡¯re very sorry to hear what happened, Ms. Jones. We hope for your fast recovery but we are d that you¡¯re already back!¡± the brte woman said.

    ¡°Thanks!¡± I simply said. My temper was already cut short. I didn¡¯te here to have a chit chat with them so I looked around, trying to find the only person I wanted to see right now. ¡°Where¡¯s Chase?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s currently in a meeting with an important client. Didn¡¯t he tell you, Ms. Jones?¡± The otherdy who has this red curly hair asked.

    I narrowed my eyes. ¡°Do you think I care?¡±

    I saw how the two of them frowned. It made me realize that my statement was very rude. ¡°Oh, what I mean is . . . do you think my visit is untimely? I just really miss him, knowing that we hadn¡¯t seen each other for two months. I want to make up for the time we lost,¡± I said in a very dramatic voice and lowered my head and faked a sob.

    I took my hanky from my sling bag and slowly wiped my invisible tears to appear more convincing in front of Chase¡¯s employees. From this moment, I really think that I had the talent for acting and if I¡¯d be given a chance to be an actress, it would give me a lot of ques hanging on my wall. My acting was superb and I should have an oscar for this.

    ¡°We understand what you¡¯ve been through, Ms. Jones. No worries, Mr. Maxwell should be out in the conference room in less than fifteen minutes. Their meeting will end soon . . .¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± I said happily and smiled like nothing happened. ¡°By the way, what are your names?¡±

    The brte girl smiled. ¡°My name is Debby and she¡¯s Martha. We¡¯re Mr. Maxwell¡¯s secretaries here.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s cool!¡± I said and was about to do a hand shake with them but then a double door swung open.

    I figured out that it was the conference room that Debby had mentioned earlier as I saw Chase Maxwell going out of it. He was sweating and was obviously uneasy. There were other men who also went out of the room and judging by their looks, it seemed to me that they were in their 40¡¯s.

    I figured out that Chase¡¯s meeting didn¡¯t go well. As I observed his bodynguage, his confidence wasn¡¯t evident at all. Compared to his looks earlier when we had lunch at his residence, his overall physiques screamed of stress and frustration. His tie was loose and uneven as if he tried to pull it a couple of times, the cor of his polo was untidy and his long sleeve shirt inside his suit was really a mess.

    I bit my lower lip, still watching his every move. What the hell happened to this guy?

    ¡°I appreciate your time, Mr. Takashi. I look forward to seeing and talking to you again,¡± he said to the person he called Mr. Takashi.

    Chase walked with them until they entered the elevator and left. He then sighed and massaged the side of his forehead. I crossed my arms on my chest then cleared my throat. It was only then that he noticed me.

    With eyes widening out of confusion, he walked towards me.

    ¡°Reese, I didn¡¯t know you¡¯re here,¡± he said and then kissed my cheek.

    ¡°Uhm, yeah, I needed to say something important that¡¯s why I came here to visit . . .¡± I said.

    ¡°What is it? Let¡¯s talk in my office.¡± He snaked his arm around my waist.

    He instructed the bodyguards to wait for me outside. I smiled inwardly as we entered his office. He locked the door and let out a long sigh. We walked near his desk and then he leaned on it.

    Even if his eyes were staring at the floor, I could see the evident dismay painted  on his face. My hand moved on its own and caressed his cheek. I slightly tilted my head to meet his gaze.

    ¡°Hey, is everything alright?¡± I asked.

    I saw how his Adam¡¯s apple moved as he licked his lips. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Reese. Perhaps, I am afraid to lose that client. I didn¡¯t prepare enough and it¡¯s obvious that my business proposal did not impress him.¡±

    I felt how discouraged he was because his meeting with his client didn¡¯t go well. I guess this is not the right time for me to ask for money.

    I moved closer to him up to the point that our bodies were almost glued to each other. Still caressing his cheek, my other hand traveled from his shoulders all the way to the back of his neck.  I gently moved my fingertips, tracing small circles at his nape, then I fixed the cor of the long sleeves he was wearing.

    ¡°I believe you¡¯ve done your best, Chase. Don¡¯t stress yourself too much . . . I know your capabilities. You can always turn things around, right?¡± I said to make him a bit motivated then looked at his beautiful eyes.

    Our gazes were locked to each other. I bit then licked my lower lip.

    ¡°Yes, I guess you¡¯re right . . .¡± he said, then chuckled a bit.

    It was as if a light bulb suddenly showed up on top of my head . . . then I felt that my billionaire ¡®customer¡¯ needed to rx and have some fun.

    It¡¯s showtime Olivia . . . Give this man a little bit of pleasure.

    I leaned forward enough for my lips to meet his ear. ¡°How about I ease your worry for a bit since you work so hard for us? I¡¯ll give you a reward . . ¡±

    Then I looked into his eyes and saw the mix of confusion and excitement through it. I smiled yfully and held both of his shoulders, then pushed him a bit which made him sit down on this swivel chair.

    I took my phone out, opened my music app and yed slow sexy jazz music.

    Without breaking our eye contact, I started swaying my hips while biting my lower lip.  I saw how Chase exhaled as I began to unbutton my blouse.

    I walked in front of him so he could have a better look at me.

    ¡°Reese, what are you doing?¡± he asked, then swallowed very hard.

    He looked at me in the eyes while his hands were quivering on his swivel chair¡¯s arm rests. I leaned down and held both of his broad shoulders while swaying my hips slowly as I tried to follow the rhythm of my favorite sexy jazz music.

    I removed my blouse and it slid down the ceramic floor. I caught him looking at my breast, with his breathings bing more heavy. I smirked.

    My hand traveled at the back of his head and gently pulled his hair so he could look at me in the eyes.

    ¡°Oops, eyes on me, baby . . .¡± I uttered softly. ¡°Don¡¯t move. I will give you pleasure,¡± I added.

 CHAPTER EIGHT

    OLIVIA

    I could feel that he was already turned on as slowly sat on hisp. In fact, I could really feel that his body was already hot.

    He mumbled a curse and tried to kiss me but I avoided his lips, teasing him with a yful smile.

    ¡°No kissing yet,¡± I whispered while he looked at my lips.

    I then started to move my hips. I swayed and grinded on hisps which made his mouth form a little ¡®o¡¯.

    ¡°Fuck, Reese . . . You¡¯ll be the death of me. Grind your hips more,¡± he said.

    As I grinded against him, I could feel the unfamiliar sensation building up within me. Biting my lips, the devil in me wanted to tease him more. I stopped and stood up, which shocked him.

    I winked at him and then I turned around. My hands went to the upper hem of my skirt and removed it slowly. I couldn¡¯t even suppress the smile of satisfaction on my lips when I heard how he gasped and swallowed so hard.

    Now, I was only left with my undies . . . I bent over for him to see my behind.

    My eyes nced back at him and saw that he was sweating more than earlier.

    I stood up and danced to the rhythm of the music. I turned around and made a few steps backward towards him, turned to him and met his gaze before I sat on hisp. I then bent over once again, moved my hips slowly until I felt his stomach pressed on my rear. His hands traveled all the way to my waist and in an instant, he made me sit on hisp as if I was riding a bicycle.

    My crotch reached a hard spot in between his legs. I slowly grinded while our bodies pressed to each other. I wrapped my arms around his neck. This was supposed not to be part of my performance but I couldn¡¯t help but be carried away.

    I began moaning softly as I felt the intensity of this sensation that seemed to have overpowered me.

    ¡°Oh, Fuck!¡±  He groaned. I felt his hands snaking through my waist.

    My body began to quiver as he kissed my neck and as his warm breath lingered through my ears.  He then nced at my eyes and then his lips slowly reached mine.

    Chase Maxwell could kiss me all day. His lips were soft like cotton candy, sweet like honey caused by a tea he drank earlier.

    Our bodies collided with each other. His touch made my body burn as if there was a wildfire. I moaned once again, trying to catch my breath from his rough kisses. I pulled his hair to deepen our kiss. He bit my lower lip and used it as a chance to part my lips and slipped his tongue inside. His tongue as well as his mouth were both warm, and were sending butterflies from my stomach all the down to my sex.

    He then forcibly stopped and looked at me in the eyes. I softly groaned and  tried to kiss him again but he held and caressed my face.

    ¡°Reese, is this really you?¡± he asked with his ragged breathing.

    His question made me a bit nervous. I breathed sharply and swallowed the lump in my throat.

    I gasped when he carried me. His hands held both of my legs and wrapped them around his waist. My heart started to race faster when he put me on top of his office table.

    He then put me on top of his office  table and made me sit on the edge of it.  I got more nervous when he removed his belt without even looking away .  . . then removed his pants.

    My eyes widened as I saw how hard he was. I gulped . . .

    Uh-oh . . .

    He held my chin and made me look at him.

    ¡°Eyes here, baby . . .¡± he whispered warily.

    He then kissed me torridly. I knew I was nervous but my body seemed to have a mind of its own. Before I even realized it, I already embraced him as he started iming my lips. I moaned and gasped when he started kissing my neck, licked my earlobes a bit, and my body started quivering when he slowly kissed my shoulders.

    I felt my bra fall down to myp. I didn¡¯t even notice that he removed it already! His hand was quick enough to undress me.  He picked it up and threw it on the floor.

    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful, Reese . . .¡± he murmured as he leaned down to kiss the peak of my breast.

    ¡°C-Chase- Urgh . . .¡±

    His tongue swirled around, sucking, biting and licking my peak like a lollipop. My voice became so foreign as I moaned several times until his lips slowly drifted down on my stomach.

    I felt him brushing his knee in between my legs intentionally which added up to the intense emotion I¡¯d been trying to control.  I growled when it hit my slit.

    My hand traveled to his head and caressed his hair. As my fingers ran deep to his scalp, a musky, earthy, and fresh leaves fragrance dominated my nostrils.

    He began kissing my upper thighs. I was gently holding his neck while he was doing it. His hands started removing my red underwear.

    I swallowed and looked at the main door, hoping that no one would dare to knock and interrupt us.

    I nced back at him, and watched how he removed his boxer shorts.

    I froze, and gulped down as I stared on his shaft.

    ¡°Feel it,¡± he said and then he began brushing it to my thighs.

    Every move it made, my breath was like being taken away. As it nearly reached my slit, he immediately stopped, looked at me and smirked.

    My lips formed a thin line. This guy was making me crazy.

    ¡°Are you going to put it inside me or what?¡± I asked, which made him grin more. My eyes widened as I realized how blunt I was. Humiliation struck me that I had to cover my mouth. ¡°Oops . . .¡±

    He chuckled, leaned down and removed my hand on my mouth.

    ¡°Sinfully taste good . . .¡± he murmured and imed my lips once again.

    I was trying to hold back as I realized how bold my behavior was but he made me feel that he really owned every part of me.

    What happened to your top notch performance, Olivia? I initiated this game of teasing and pleasuring him but it appeared that the tables have turned. He was the one pleasuring me the most!

    I was out of breath when he stopped kissing me. I had to admit that I was a bit pissed off as I watched him smirking at me . . .

    This billionaire was getting on my nerves!

    ***

    I didn¡¯t know that making out inside the office of a certain billionaire would bring a lot of tingling excitement within my entire system. I knew to myself that I should be the one controlling the whole situation but Chase, who appeared to be a pro when ites with making out, overpowered me.

    My mind was too haywire. I couldn¡¯t even remember why I went here. All I cared about was his kisses, warm touch and the desire to do something beyond making out. My mind was clouded with this temptation I could no longer resist, as the man who was pleasuring me seemed to have bewitched me.

    Heid me down on his office table, not minding all those folders that instantly fell on the floor. Another wave of excitement engulfed my senses as I felt his tongue licking the space between my breasts. It went down to my stomach . . . to my navel and down there.

    I gasped when I felt his warm breath brushing against my skin. My back arched when he began nting soft kisses on my sex.

    My eyes were shut, mouth was half opened and my breathings were too heavy. I bit my lower lip when his tongue tasted my slit.

    ¡°Ch-Chase . . .¡± I moaned his name and arched my back once again when his finger slowly massaged me down there, following the same movement his tongue was doing.

    ¡°We¡¯ll take it nice and slow,¡± he murmured and continued what he was doing.

    I lost count on how many times I moaned his name. I even tried to cover my mouth, afraid that his employees outside would hear my sultry whimpers. I was about to reach my climax but then a fuckin¡¯ loud call from his cellphone interrupted us.

    We both stared at each other. He seemed contemting whether he would answer that call or continue where we left off but I thought it might be an important call so I nodded my head at him, indicating that he could answer it.

    He grabbed his phone that was resting on the other side of his office table, put it in between his ears and shoulders as he started putting his clothes on. That made me want to stomp my feet on the ground.

    For heaven¡¯s sake, I allowed him to answer the call but that didn¡¯t mean that we¡¯re done making out!

    I didn¡¯t know why but I started to feel a bit irritated. I got up to my feet and grabbed my clothes and wore them too while he was busy talking to someone on the phone.

    ¡°Dad, you know that Reese doesn¡¯t remember anything. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s ready to speak in front of these reporters just to release a statement about what happened!¡±

    I looked at Chase upon hearing him mentioning Reese¡¯ name. He was pacing back and forth, massaging his head while talking to Ernest Maxwell, his father. Out of curiosity, I decided to walk towards him. I stood just a few steps from him so I could listen to what they were talking about.

    ¡°Damn it, Chase! It is already affecting our stock price. Our shareholders are already concerned about this issue and you will do what I say. Talk to Reese and force her to release a statement! Otherwise, ourpany will be doomed all because of these nonsense rumors about the both of you!¡±

    I swallowed hard. His father was so furious that even though I was a few steps away from Chase, I could still hear Uncle Ernest¡¯s loud scream from the other line. I bit my lower lip as I looked at Chase.

    I didn¡¯t know that Reese¡¯eback would cause him a lot of headache.

    ¡°Then you should¡¯ve let us get married then, Dad! That¡¯s the only resolution that will end your nightmares!¡± Chase was almost shouting too.

    Without further hesitation, I walked closer to him, snaking one arm on his waist while my other hand caressed his arm. His ragged breathing was so evident. He let out a huge sigh, controlling his emotion as he looked at me.

    ¡°This will be fixed by a simple statement she can release to the crowd, Chase. Just do what I say and I need it done as soon as possible!¡±

    After that call, Chase wasn¡¯t in the mood all over again. We sat on the couch and all I could do was tofort him.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, Reese,¡± he said in a weak tone and gazed at me. ¡°I didn¡¯t want you to hear any of that.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s alright.¡± I caressed his cheek and gave him a genuine smile. ¡°I should be the one apologizing to you. If only I could remember everything . . .¡±

    ¡°Hush, baby, it¡¯s not your fault.¡± He held my hand and squeezed it. ¡°And whatever you¡¯ve done in the past, it will all remain in the past. I don¡¯t care about it anymore for as long as you¡¯re here with me. Got that?¡±

    I nodded and leaned my head on his shoulders. ¡°But, I can release a statement if you want. If that was the only thing I can do to help and for your father to have a peace of mind.¡±

    He sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it first, Reese. I don¡¯t want to get you in trouble.¡±

    ¡°You love me that much?¡± I asked and looked up at him.

    His eyes met mine. ¡°I love you more than you can imagine, baby . . .¡±

    I smiled sweetly as I heard him say it. Reese fuckin¡¯ Jones was so lucky to have this guy.

    ¡°Hmm, you mentioned that you came here before you have an important thing to tell me. What is it, Reese?¡± he asked curiously.

    ¡°Oh, that?¡± I blinked twice and smiled widely at him.

    I recalled the reason why I came here. I needed money so I could help Lara . . . but damn it! I didn¡¯t know how to even open it up to him!

    ¡°Actually, I was just bored at home so I wanted to visit you here,¡± I reasoned out.

    He shifted his position, paying attention to every nonsense thing I had to say.

    ¡°I actually met Debby and Martha. I thought they were your clients because they are wearing fancy clothes. I kinda like their outfit.¡± I chuckled awkwardly. ¡°How I wish I had the money to buy such fancy clothes for myself.¡±

    I pouted my lips, acted as if I was sad about the idea of not having fancy clothes like his secretaries . . . I hoped he¡¯d buy it and give me money . . . I hid one hand and crossed my fingers. I even let out a huge sigh and lowered my head to make my acting more convincing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t feel sad about it, Reese.¡± He held my chin and made me look at me. ¡°I¡¯d give anything you want. I¡¯m sorry I forgot that you lost your memories. Now that you mentioned it, I realized you didn¡¯t have something to use for your expenses.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± I shyly said. ¡°You know what? T-That¡¯s okay. I-I think I just need to try harder and find my credit cards at home or ask mom-¡±

    ¡°No, I can help, Reese. I know your mom has a lot on her te so let me take care of what you need, alright?¡±

    I smiled and nodded at him. He then stood up and went to his office table. He opened a drawer underneath. My eyes widened when he took his checkbook and wrote something on it.

    I hid my smirk, wanted to jump and scream out loud inside because Chase would be giving me some money!

    ¡°I remember about that three hundred thousand dors I owed you,¡±  he said as he signed the check. ¡°Here it is.¡±

    I stood up and walked towards him, hands were sped together at my back as I hid my excitement for money.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    ¡°Yeah, right before you came I was struggling for money. I wanted to use my supposed payment to pay a lot of people. I didn¡¯t know what happened exactly but those two months were like a rat race for me . . .¡±

    He stood up and went to me. I didn¡¯t flinch when he kissed me on my lips. It was a soft and quick kiss . . . He was definitely a good kisser!

    ¡°But now that you¡¯re back and while I am with you, I won¡¯t let it happen again, Reese . . .¡± he uttered like a promise.

    ¡°Thank you, Chase,¡± I said and hugged him. ¡°I really appreciate you helping me.¡±

    He chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ll be my wife soon. My riches are yours too.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need those . . .¡± You¡¯re such a liar, Olivia. ¡°Just stay by my side and I¡¯ll be good.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay by your side as always, Reese.¡± I felt him kissing the side of my head. ¡°Anyway, you can also take my card. In case you need to buy something, just use it in the meantime. I¡¯ll ask my secretary to work on your credit cards as soon as possible, alright?¡±

    I smiled widely as I hugged him. My goodness! This was the life I¡¯ve been dreaming for!

    ¡°Alright, baby . . .¡± I gazed up at him and kissed him on his lips.

    ***

    The next day . . .

    I went to the bank right after having my lunch to encash the check Chase had given me yesterday. I couldn¡¯t suppress my smile as I watched how the bank teller counted the cash in front of me. Dang! Never in my entire life was I able to hold such a huge amount of money. This was the very first time and the thought that I¡¯d be able to buy anything I wanted made me feel so ecstatic.

    I didn¡¯t waste much time anymore as I was excited to see Lara and give her the money she needed. As soon as I left the bank, I immediately advised my driver to send me to Lara¡¯s apartment.

    While we were on our way, I was busy typing some text messages for Chase. As his soon-to-be wife, it was part of my job to be sweet with him. Of course, that includes sending him some sweet messages!

    But what should I tell him? I raised an eyebrow as I looked at my phone.

    Hmm . . . I type whateveres across my mind.

    To: Chase Maxwell

    I¡¯m on my way to my friend¡¯s home, baby.

    I hope you¡¯ll have a great day ahead, Chase! I missed you! :*

    I smirked. I bet Chase¡¯s mood would lighten up as soon as he reads my text messages. I just hope nothing bad or awful happens to him today. He had enough of shits yesterday and I felt that he needed to take a break from all those headaches for the time being.

    I wonder if Reese was taking good care of him when she was still here . . . well regardless if she was or not, I was the one taking her role now. I would do everything so that Chase would be happy and won¡¯t be suspicious of me.

    If Chase was happy, then I could get more money from him. Simple as that!

 CHAPTER NINE

    OLIVIA

    Lara screamed and hugged me as soon as I handed her the bag full of cash. I even added some extra thousand of dors in it so that she could have something to use. Looking back when I was still new with my work at the bar, Lara was the only person who helped me adjust and even gave me tips and tricks on how I could survive the filthy job I was hired to do.

    From simple advice, Lara helped me up to the extent that she let me live with her in her apartment because I had nowhere to go. Even though she had a son to feed, she neverined about helping me survive day-by-day. Even if life was truly difficult for her, she never made me feel that I was a burden, rather helped me to be the best version of myself. I would be forever grateful for our friendship, and so, no amount of money would stop me from giving back to her.

    ¡°Oh my gosh! Thank you so much, Liv. You¡¯re my life savior!¡± she said as she hugged me tightly.

    I chuckled and patted her shoulder. ¡°Come on, I have no time for this drama, Lara!¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°It¡¯s just that I thought I¡¯d end up being chased by the loan sharks again because I won¡¯t be able to pay them in time. You know how it goes, right? The chase and threats are terrifying,¡± she said as she released me to wipe some tears from the side of her eyes.

    ¡°Well, you no longer need to borrow money from them anymore. If you need anything, just let me know because I already have this . . .¡± I took the ck credit card out of my sling bag and showed it to her.

    Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth because of shock. I wiggled my eyebrows and kissed the credit card I was holding.

    ¡°What the heck? There¡¯s no doubt that Chase Maxwell is ultra wealthy!¡± she eximed.

    ¡°I agree. With just a few sweet talks, he gave me a check and a credit card to use for my expenses. So, you no longer have to go after the loan sharks whenever you need money. Just name your price, I¡¯m just one call away, Lara.¡±

    She sped her hands together. ¡°Well deserved, Liv!¡±

    We both screamed in glee. I didn¡¯t know that it would bring such happiness if you shared your wealth with your friend. Gone are the days when me and Lara had to perform non-stop on stage just to earn a few cash. This time, abundancy woulde upon us!

    I helped Mikael, Lara¡¯s son, answer his homework that afternoon. He was already six years old and was already in grade school. Lara raised her alone with a small amount of cash support she gets from Mikael¡¯s father which goes to the nanny who takes care of her son while she¡¯s away. Lara and Carl, Mikael¡¯s father, didn¡¯t end up together as apparently, that man was married to a wealthy businesswoman. His wife didn¡¯t like Lara and Mikael so I figured out she¡¯d do everything for the cash support to stop, which happened already. I promised myself that I would help them at all costs. Mikael would grow as a fine man who doesn¡¯t need a cowardly father. He¡¯s like a son to me too as he always calls me Mommy Liv.

    ¡°Hey, Liv. There¡¯s a newly opened high end bar around the area. Would you like to go and checkter?¡± Lara asked when I went out of Mikael¡¯s room.

    The moment she said the word ¡®bar¡¯, I instantly felt the dryness of my mouth. I nodded in excitement as I joined her in the kitchen to prepare food for dinner.

    ¡°Since we got some tons of money from my soon-to-be husband, I guess some hardcore drinks!¡± I eximed.

    ¡°Yeah, right! We¡¯re going to get wasted tonight!¡± Sheughed. ¡°Oh, you should call Reese¡¯ mom and Chase. You know, you¡¯re living a new life now. It might be good if they know your whereabouts and who you are with.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± I said and picked up my phone on the countertop table.

    I checked my inbox and saw that there was one unread text message from Chase. I opened it and read his reply from my previous message.

    From: Chase Maxwell

    Who¡¯s that friend you¡¯re referring to?

    I pouted my lips. I realized that he doesn¡¯t know a thing about Lara. I sent him a new text message, telling him that I am with Lara- a trusted friend of mine, and that we will go to a bar. I also sent Reese¡¯ mom a text. After that, I tossed my phone to the couch.

    Just right after Mikael fell asleep, Lara and I prepared to go to the bar. She let me borrow a fitted red silky spaghetti strap dress and a pair of stiletto while she wore a ck tube above-the-knee dress. She curled my hair and then I put some makeup on my face. After preparing, Lara gave a few instructions to Mikael¡¯s nanny and then my driver sent us to the bar.

    The loud music and neon lights weed us as we entered the bar. Compared to the bar where I used to work, this ce was a bit wholesome. People were dancing on the dancefloor, there was a DJ and some performers who danced on stage. The bar was spacious and was screaming of elegance. It has a second floor which  was designed like a balcony and it seemed that all their VIPs were there.

    Lara dragged me to the bar counter. She ordered some hard drinks as we sat on the high-steeled chairs.

    ¡°Whoo-hoo!¡± she screamed, banging her head along with the loud music.

    I chuckled. ¡°This bar seems nice. It¡¯s the first time I went to another bar and hadn¡¯t seen strippers!¡±

    She nodded her head. ¡°If anything goes wrong with Mike¡¯s bar, I¡¯ll apply here! I¡¯ll be their most beautiful stripper!¡±

    Weughed together and talked about a lot of things.  I came to realize that it was the first time we hung out without any worries. Looking back, we only drink liquors whenever we¡¯re stressed out about earning money and other life issues.

    Insisting that this willst a long time as Lara stated to me,  I was still reminded of the fact that nothing would everst indefinitely. For the time being, we savored the moment as we both approached the end of the night.

    There was only one thing on my mind the whole time: to let go of the past and ept the new version of myself. Being Reese¡¯s substitute was my only hope to have a new life, and so I would do everything I could to make it work.

    ¡°Lara, pay attention to something I have to say. You can now call me Reese Jones instead of Olivia,¡± I couldn¡¯t help but yell it at her as the music became so loud.

    Lara, on the other hand, seemed to not pay attention to me. Her eyes were almost shut due to tipsiness, and with a shot of Bacardi on her side, I thought she already built her own world.

    I snapped my fingers in front of her to get her attention. I knew that for a long time, Lara hadn¡¯t been able to seize the chance to go into the bar, drink and get wasted as she had been to busy working as a stripper to make a living for her son, reasoned why she had taken advantage of this opportunity, especially since I¡¯d be the one to pay everything and she¡¯d no longer need to worry about money.

    She just stared at me and smiled. She, truly, was drunk already.  I couldn¡¯t stop but thought about the new life waiting for me as Reese Jones. I¡¯d be able to forget my tragic past, those torturing memories when I was kid, and would be able to enjoy this wealth with Lara and her son, Mikael.

    ¡°You have to promise me one thing, Lara.¡± I held her shoulders and directly pinned my eyes on her. ¡°Promise me that you will work with me and that you will stick by my side no matter what happens. No matter what the oue is, we¡¯ll stick with each other, alright?¡± I let out a yell.

    She gave a nod, kissed my cheek, and then sipped on her shot ss again. I cracked a grin at her amusing expression.

    I drank a few more shots of Bacardi when I noticed that my phone kept ringing from my sling bag. I took it out to see who was the person calling me.

    My eyes instantly widened when I checked on my phone screen. Chase had eight missed calls and five text messages to read through! I was in a state of panic, and as soon as I opened one of the messages, someone grabbed my arm.

    ¡°So, I think I have already found my type of woman, after all. How about a drink?¡± An old guy in his mid 40¡¯s appeared out of nowhere. He licked his lower lips and looked at me like a disgusting pervert.

    I pulled my arm away and scowled at him. ¡°Ohh, and guess what? You¡¯re not my cup of tea. And no need to buy me a drink because if I wanted to, I could buy this entire ce,¡± I said.

    That guy had already sickened me so I stood up,  paid for our drinks, and escorted Lara out of the bar. I couldn¡¯t risk triggering my anxiety on that bar, especially since I haven¡¯t taken my meds yet.

    I rushed out with Lara and my jaw dropped as soon as I  noticed Chase¡¯s car in front of the bar. He went out of it and I saw his pair of eyes ring at me. His jaw clenched and I could sense how mad he was by closing the door of his car.

    My mind started to think of some possible reasons why I was not able to pick up the phone.

    ¡°Hey, Lara. Wake up!¡± I tried to wake up my drunk bestfriend then I realized that she might say something stupid that could only reveal my identity.

    I wanted to pull my hair out of frustration. This kind of situation could really trigger my anxiety so much that my stomach started to hurt.

    ¡°H-Hi, Chase! I¡¯m sorry I wasn¡¯t able to answer your call-¡±

    ¡°I was damn worried because you didn¡¯t pick up your damn phone! I thought you left me again!¡± Chase almost yelled out of frustration. He marched toward us, face grim, indicating that I¡¯d be facing real trouble.

    My eyes widened. What did he say? My chest pounded so fast. I started feeling something like whirling different motions from my tummy. Was this what they called butterflies in the stomach?

    ¡°Aw, he¡¯s so sweet, Olivia!¡± Lara whispered while I was holding her right arm resting around my shoulders.

    ¡°Hey! He might hear you!¡± I uttered and hushed her.

    When Chase was already in front of us, the irritation on his face had be clearer to my sight. He looked at Lara, who was already wasted.  He then called someone from his phone and I was shocked when another car parked in front of us and some men wearing ck suits and ties came out from it.

    ¡°Where does she live?¡± Chase asked.

    I contemted where I¡¯d give him Lara¡¯s address or not. What if some people in Lara¡¯s neighborhood gossip about her being driven home by unknown men? I didn¡¯t want them to have an impression that Lara¡¯s going out with different men as it would only bring trouble not just to her but to Mikael.

    ¡°No, you¡¯re not going to send her home,¡± I said and took out my phone, then sent a text message to Mikael¡¯s nanny, telling her that Lara would be home by tomorrow. ¡°Please take her to my house, Chase. She can¡¯t go home right now. She just had a fight with her husband. She will be staying with me for this night,¡± I said, purely telling lies once again. I nervously waited for his reply.

    His brows were furrowed, lips were pressed together which formed a grim line, but then he sighed and nodded in the end. He motioned his men to take Lara to the other car. His men were about to take my friend but just right I was about to hand her to them, Lara started giggling and whispered something to me.

    ¡°Liv, he¡¯s a damn hottie! You hit a big one!¡± She then chuckled.

    I palmed my face and let Chase¡¯ men take her. She was escorted to enter the other car and then they drove to my new home.

    Now that Lara was gone, I¡¯d have to face Chase¡¯s irritation.  I felt damn nervous right now. In my peripheral vision, I noticed that he was ring at me like how he did back in Mike¡¯s bar when I first met him. It was funny that it seemed that the exact same scene just happened.  Him, marching toward me and yelling out his frustration about losing me. I cleared my throat and turned to him. His eyes narrowed as he looked at me.

    How can you be mad and look handsome at the same time?¡± I uttered and his eyes smoldered more. I then covered my mouth as it was supposed to be just a mere thought that shouldn¡¯t be voiced out at all. I guess the effect of the alcohol really kicked in big time.

    ¡°You¡¯re a bit drunk,¡± he said but I protested and pointed my fingers at him.

    ¡°Nope, I¡¯m not!¡± I hissed as I walked closer to him.

    I stumbled on my feet and he caught me. My heart started to pound faster again as I looked into his eyes. Waves of emotion swayed in my mind. My legs were shaking, as if I was a baby trying to walk for the first time.

    ¡°I¡¯m no longer mad since you said that I¡¯m handsome.¡± He winked then carried me to escort into his car.

    Why did he get so alluring all of the sudden? Where does ite from? I could smell his perfume which lingered in my nostrils. He opened the door for the shotgun seat and carefully settled me there. He then began putting the seat belt on me. After that, he looked at my face, gaze traveled from my eyes, to my nose, then to my lips.

    He leaned forward, and was about to kiss me on my lips but I immediately stopped him.

    ¡°Chase, I¡¯m about to puke!¡± I eximed.

    He was fast enough to remove the seat belt on me and helped me get out of the car.  I vomited on the ground, his hands were rubbing my back. After a couple of minutes, I found him wiping my mouth using his hanky. He then removed his coat and wrapped it around my shoulders.

    We went back inside the car. I was a bit more rxed during the drive as the window next to me was opened, making me breathe the fresh night air. However, after a couple of  minutes, I felt my stomach rumble and that was my cue to poop.

    ¡°Oh my God, Chase! We need to stop. I need to go to the toilet!¡± I panicked as I held my tummy.

    Chase looked my way. ¡°What? Seriously, Reese? Can you hold it until we arrive at your house?¡± he asked.

    I shook my head and groaned. Damn this stomach!

    ¡°Please, I¡¯m about to poop in my pants!¡± I shouted at him.

    He then started to panic. Bullet of sweats started forming on my forehead, and my breathing became ragged.

    ¡°Fuck,  where should we go?¡± he asked.

    Suddenly, I remember there¡¯s a motel around the area. I began telling him the location and he drove fast so we could arrive there sooner.

    ¡°Reese, this ce is like an old building, like the ones in some horror movies. Are you sure this is a motel?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yes! Of course, now let¡¯s go and check in please! My tummy will be the death of me,¡± I begged, still holding my stomach and slightly bent my body due to the pain I felt.

    He sighed and escorted me inside. An olddy appeared out of nowhere which startled both of us.  Chase then asked if there was any avable room. It was a good thing that there was still one avable. He paid for the room and the olddy handed him the door key.

    The overall ce was really old. It was like an old building in the 90¡¯s. As we arrived in our room, I went straight to the toilet and did what I had to do. It took me a couple of minutes to get out of it.

    I sighed with relief and caressed my stomach which had been calmed now. I looked around and saw Chase at the corner of the room.

    ¡°Hey, what are you doing there?¡± I looked at him withplete confusion.

    He looked scared. His finger pointed to something on the floor. I followed where he was pointing and saw a cockroach.

    ¡°Chase Maxwell, my billionaire fiance, is scared of a cockroach!?¡± I sighed.

    I removed my stiletto and killed the cockroach right away. I had to admit that this ce was a bit old and needed some maintenance.  The entire room was in and not a good sight to see every morning, though the pillows,  bedsheets were fine and clean.

    Since I got used to this kind of ce, I didn¡¯t really care much about its appearance but Chase, who had a golden spoon in his mouth since he was a kid, really looked disgusted in this room.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the car,¡± he said.

    I massaged the side of my head out of annoyance. He really looked like panicking at this moment.

    ¡°Hey, we paid for this room!¡± I eximed as I stopped him from leaving.

    Even if he was  rich enough to book this room just for me to be able to use the toilet, I found it sucks that we won¡¯t be able to sleep in it. He paid five hundred bucks for it. I¡¯d consider it as wasting money. Besides, I felt so sleepy and could no longer walk outside and join him for another hour of driving on the long road. My body was tired and I craved afy bed.

    ¡°Come on, Reese. Let¡¯s go!¡± hemanded.

    I started whining like a child and went to bed.

    Now, I got his full attention. Even though I was a bit sleepy, the yful side of me just had a n in mind. I thought that it was time for a payback.

    I began undressing my dress and acted like I was feeling a sudden heat. Now, I was left with my ckce bra and my thong underwear.  I saw how his eyes pinned on my body, scanning through my legs and traveled up to my chest.

    ¡°Reese,e on. It¡¯s not time to¨C¡±

    I let out a soft moan and bit my lower lip as I stared at him. He wasn¡¯t able to continue the words he was about to say. I noticed his breathings became ragged, and how he swallowed hard.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not Reese for tonight. Think of me like a dirty slut you booked in this dirty hotel,¡± I uttered seductively then I smiled.

    I opened my legs slowly to tease him a little bit. And the next thing he did was remove his shirt and jumped on the bed.

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to fuck my slut this evening then,¡± he said warily.

    The next thing I knew, heat engulfed throughout my body as he began kissing me torridly.

 CHAPTER TEN

    OLIVIA

    I recalled when I was still working at the bar, I lost count on how many rich men¨C may it be politicians, business owners and  models- had tried their luck to take me out and book me in a hotel just to get into my pants. They told me a lot of flowery words and empty promises so they could tame me, but my smart mind always ruled me out of holding on to such offers.

    I was raised in an orphanage whose head master loved to groom orphaned children for his own satisfaction. I was nearly raped by him when I was young and that, out of any, scarred my heart and brought a trauma to my well being. Even though I have grown into a brave woman who decided to work in a bar for money to thrive, whenever a man tried to touch me, my body would instantly flinch, and I would feel shivers creeping me out. Despite the fact that I had lived with my medications, the traumatic past I had still haunted me whenever it felt like wanting me to copse in front of a perverted man.

    But it was not the same case with Chase. For some unknown reason, my smart mind didn¡¯t say anything even though Chase was devouring me like his favorite sweet candy right here in the motel room. In fact, it wanted the other way around- to go along with this madness I had initiated myself, and see where it would lead me.

    Heat radiated through my body and soul. Chase¡¯s warm touches were burning my skin, as if I was in a wildfire. It was triggering something inside of me that wanted toe out. I kissed him back with the same intensity as my hand started to caress his soft hair while he pinned his body on me. I could not help but let out a moan when he bit my lower lip. My eyes were shut closed, surrendering to this familiar sensation he made me feel.

    ¡°You definitely knew how to turn me on,¡± he murmured in between our kisses.

    He looked at me, eyes painting such lust and love that supposed to be seen by Reese Jones, but she was stupid enough to run away and had missed such an opportunity.

    ¡°Oh, are you?¡± I licked my lower lip and leered at him.

    His lips curled up for a boyish grin, then looked at my breasts and massaged one of them, while his lips went to the other and nted soft kisses on it. My body red with how his hand squeezed my breast in a way that I would be pleased with perfectly. I had to mutter a curse, thinking how myce bra became such a killjoy at this point.

    Then I heard him chuckle. It was as if he knew what I had been thinking about, his hand traveled at my back, and he unsped the hook of my bra without a sweat. My cheeks flushed instantly when he tossed my bra on the ground. I was well aware that I had gone naked in front of him yesterday in his office, but I could never escape the shame whenever he looked at me with such admiration as if I was the most beautiful woman in the world.

    He imed the peak of breast, while his other hand yed with the other. My mouth formed an ¡®o¡¯, then bit my lower lip when I felt the roughness with how he sucked my peak like a child.  He continued doing it for a couple of minutes and then his lips went up to kiss me again.

    Chase¡¯s kiss was definitely passionate and it drove me crazy. I felt that my whole body was aching for more. I let out a moan when I felt his tongue parting my lips, swirling through the inside of my mouth which ignited the sensation engulfing my entire system. I clung my arms on his neck, one hand traveled all the way to his robust back, and caressed his every enhanced muscle flexing whenever he grinded on top of me. His body was something to drool for, I had to say. It was as if he had spent a lot of time working out in the gym to reach this kind of perfect masculinity. I couldn¡¯t help but smile, as my hand traveled down to his ass and squeezed one of its cheeks.

    He chuckled. He rose and started removing his clothes without breaking our  eye contact. I smirked as if it seemed like I was watching a strip show but then my cheeks flushed when I looked between his thighs. He was totally turned on, huge and my gut just screamed that I would be in big trouble . . . at the same time, my inner self felt so excited, nervous and curious as this would be the first time I would be having sexual intercourse with someone who was very appealing, and undeniably irresistible.

    He climbed on top of me, one hand traveled down my sex and gently caressed it that made me suck in a breath. He continued with the same motion, while his lips started to nt soft kisses on my neck in a rough manner. Minutes passed and I felt that something was building up inside of me. It was powerful, desirable and as Chase continued to y with my sex down there, the more I wanted to reach something. My moan became louder, hips grinding in the same rhythm to wee every assault his fingers made. My back arched as I reached an intense climax, mouth half opened and my body convulsed beneath him.

    ¡°We are not done yet, baby . . .¡± he murmured, kissed me on the lips and then parted my legs apart.

    Biting my lips as he removed his underwear, I already knew where this was going . . . and hell, I would not even try to back out.

    ¡°You are mine tonight,¡± I said as I rose to im his lips. He wrapped his arms around my waist and in one swift move, he made me sit on hisp.

    ¡°I am always yours, Reese . . .¡± he whispered to my ear, before he tried to make an attempt to enter me.

    ***

    The blinding sunlight reflecting from the window has awakened me. I slowly opened my eyes, scratched one of them and yawned. My body felt so heavy and exhausted, soreness could be felt in between my thighs, which was proof that whatever it was that happenedst night, it was far from a dream but a reality.

    A morning smile escaped my lips, hand traveled to the arm snaked around my waist, and felt Chase¡¯s calm breathing on my neck. I looked over my shoulders and saw his angelic sleeping face. Even though he was asleep, he still had this God-like features that would make every woman drool over him.

    I noticed his long jet ck eyeshes. I had to say that it was longer than mine. Nose was pointed and seemed to be perfectly sculptured, defined cheeks and jaw, and protruded soft lips that had kissed every bit of mest night. I could feel my cheeks flushing simply by staring at his sinful lips, waves of vivid memory as to how he took me numerous times in this filthy room made my stomach giddy.

    I used to picture sexual intercouse as rough, painful and traumatic, provided that I grew up in an environment where grown up men loved to go after innocent children who were weak enough to protect themselves. I had pictured it as disgusting and inhumane . . . but I guess I was all wrong this time . . . that it could not be painful and traumatic so long as there were mutual consents, trust and connection between the two parties.

    Perhaps I was stupid to even think that every man could act like a devil whenever their libido kicked in. But no, Chase made me realize that I was wrong to even judge all men that way becausest night, he made me feel like I deserved to be touched and worshiped in a manner that my body would not feel any fear . . . and I must admit that I really liked that feeling.

    His brow furrowed when my fingertips started tracing circles onto his cheek down his chin. Slowly, he opened his eyes and I was greeted by his gorgeous oceanic eyes.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± he uttered huskily, kissed my forehead and hugged me tightly underneath the duvet; our naked bodies brushed against each other. ¡°You are up too early . . . aren t you tired?¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± I replied and shut my eyes, smelling his manly scented perfume that lingered to his neck and shoulder.

    ¡°Get more sleep then. We stayed up veryte,¡± he said as he began caressing my bare back. ¡°We will go home before the afternoon.¡±

    Surely, he was right. I didn¡¯t know where I got the strength to have sex with him for almost three hours. I thought I would have been fine with one to two rounds but dang, the more our bodies touched, the more I would crave for more.  I was all too aware that a human body would not be able to handle such consecutive sexual intercouse, but I felt proud that I would able to stil manage to cuddle with him after having five of it.

    ¡°I am so sorry if I was rough on youst night . . .¡± he uttered.

    My cheeks flushed. I hid my face on his chest, trying to cool myself down as I recalled everything we didst night. Well, I had to admit that he was, indeed, rough. He surely felt the awkwardness, but then shoved it by chuckling and hugging me even more.

    I became more rxed by then. I did not know why but I started to like this feeling. This time with him kind of brought me a peace of mind, even though I knew to myself that everything was not supposed to be enjoyed by me, as I was not the real Reese Jones. But to hell with the truth, right? Reese was not even here to pick up a fight with me for stealing her life.

    ¡°I love you, Reese . . .¡± he whispered. That made my heart panic inside.

    I sucked in a breath when he leaned down and gave me soft kisses on my lips. It was warm, passionate and alluring that it triggered something within me, the same sensation I felt fromst night. I kissed him back and only stopped after what seemed to be a minute. I  met his gaze, and I instantly saw the lust in his eyes. I swallowed so hard, rose up and positioned myself on top of him.

    We kissed . . . and kissed, and as the heat started to build up through my body, a demanding and loud knock on the door interrupted us.

    ¡°Hey! Open the door right now. We are police officers and we need to talk to you!¡± said the man from the outside and continued knocking on the door as if he had something urgent to say.

    But, wait . . . police officers?

    Chase and I both looked at the door, then nced at each other with confusion. My forehead creased as I didn¡¯t understand why there would be a police officering here and would want to talk to us . . .

    ¡°They said they are police officers, Chase. What did we do?¡± I asked him, fear started to engulf my entire body.

    ¡°Do not worry. I will talk to them,¡± he assured me even though he looked very confused as well.

    We both got off the bed and started getting dressed. I could have sworn that my heart was thumping so loud that I felt my rib cage would be broken in an instance. Chase had already worn his pants when he walked directly to the door. He looked over at me, biting my nails as I watched him.

    ¡°Do not worry,¡± he mouthed and gave me a smile before he opened up the door.

    Two big police officers were outside of the room, and their faces looked very unfriendly. I gulped, walked toward Chase, and hid behind him as I listened to their conversation.

    ¡°Sir, do you own the ck car with a te number NSP 09678?¡± one of the police officer¡¯s questioned Chase.

    ¡°Yes, I do, Sir. Is there a problem?¡±

    ¡°We got a tip that the car was loaded with illegal substances. Maybe you can spare a little time and help us inspect the car?¡±

    My eyes widened, bewildered, with what I had heard. Illegal substances? Were they for real?

    Was Chase some sort of a drug lord? Drug dealer? Or could it be a Mafia boss?

    ¡°Chase . . .¡± I called him,pletely terrified. My body started to feel the chills as I looked at the police officers, and the statement they had given us made me want to just disappear in the air.

    There was no way Chase would load illegal substances into his car . . . he looked like a righteous billionaire after all!

    ¡°I assure you that you were mistaken, Sir.¡± Chase¡¯s voice was very confident in contrast to what I felt right now. ¡°And yes, I can help you inspect my car if needed just to prove that there is no single illegal substance sitting there.¡± Then he looked over at me and held my hand. ¡°Can you stay here for a moment?¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.

    I immediately shook my head. I didn¡¯t want to be alone in this ce knowing that he would have to face a mess outside. ¡°N-No, I wille with you, Chase.¡±

    ¡°Reese, this won¡¯t take long. You can stay here and I assure you I will be fine,¡± he rest assured.

    Still shaking my head, I held his hand tightly. ¡°No, I want toe with you.¡± I then nced at the police officers who were just watching us. ¡°Whoever that person who gave you a tip, he or she was lying, Sir.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps we can just see it for ourselves, Miss,¡± the other police officer said.

    I gave them a re, lips formed a thin line as I couldn¡¯t take the suspicious looks they threw at us.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go then,¡± Chase uttered.

    We went out of the room and made our way to the parking lot. Fear started to creep me out when I noticed that there were many people waiting outside. It was as if they were watching a most awaited crime investigation. Even though I did not understand what was going on, I managed to give these people a death re as they made me feel like we were criminals.

    We headed to the car. Chase was so calm, and cooperative despite the fact that his car seemed like a mess, as if someone had tried to break in and was unable to do so¨C the side mirrors were damaged, the entire windows were cracked and its body was filled with smash aftermath.  I did not know how he managed to keep his cool while I struggled to do so because my intuition kept telling me that we were going to face serious trouble.

    ¡°My car was not like this when we checked inst night,¡± Chase stated to the police but based on how they eyed them, they seemed pretty much unconvinced.

    ¡°We want to check thepartment if that will be okay?¡±

    ¡°Sure, but I am telling you the truth. This is a private car I mainly used for work.¡± Chase walked his way to thepartment and unlocked it open.

    I embarrassed myself. My pulse was pounding wildly as the police officers inspected thepartment. A few secondster, they took out a huge ck bag from it. My forehead creased, gaze was pinned on the bag they took. I zed at Chase and he looked very shocked and confused. A pang of anxiety went through me.

    ¡°Chase,¡± I called him but he could not pay attention to me anymore.

    His eyes were fixated on the bag which the officers had opened. I gasped when I saw illegal substances from the inside.

    ¡°What the hell. It was not mine!¡± Chase almost yelled as he shook his head.

    I walked toward him and immediately held his arm. ¡°Chase, what do we do?¡±

    ¡°I believe you have toe with us for the questioning.¡±

    ¡°You are under arrest for illegal substance dealing, Sir.¡±

    ¡°W-Wait, no!¡± I tried to stop them as they wanted to handcuff Chase but one of them was strong enough that he easily shoved me away. ¡°Chase!¡±

    ¡°You will be arrested as well.¡±

    I struggled breathing when the other police handcuffed me and before I even realized it, we were assisted to hop inside the police mobile and we went to the jail.

 CHAPTER ELEVEN

    OLIVIA

    I couldn¡¯t stop praying in my mind while we were in the passenger¡¯s seat of this police mobile as it drove its way to the cops station, with one police officer sitting on my left side and Chase on the other side.  I could feel the panic eating me up wholly, pulses could not stop from pounding aggressively. No matter how much I tried to think of a better n in order to escape this unwanted mishap, my smart mind could not seem to make one.

    I had to admit that I was being suspicious of Chase right at this point. What if he really owned that bag of illegal substances and would trade in the ck market? Was it part of his business to make himself so damn rich?  If it was, then all those things I have thought about him- being the kind, responsible and reliable billionaire- were all wrong. If he was doing illegal dealings to earn a huge amount of money, then that made him a walking red g, someone that I should have not associated with from the very start.

    Now, what would happen with my n? It would be all ruined! Thinking that I would have to say goodbye from a rich life I ever dreamed of made me want to cry.

    Why the hell did I end up with this mess? I thought I could escape from the rat race life. I thought I could finally help Lara and Mikael but dang, I was all wrong!

    I pulled my hair and huffed out of frustration. I could not keep my emotions at bay seeing these handcuffs on my wrists. I did not do my best to ovee a lot of suffering just to end up being imprisoned because Chase decided to be a bad guy here, and worse was that the police officers thought I was his aplice!

    ¡°Reese, I assure you, we will get this sorted out,¡± Chase said to me. His words were trulyforting and convincing but I couldn¡¯t help but doubt him now that we were already tangled with this trouble. ¡°That bag loaded with drugs is not mine. I never do drugs, may it be for personal use or for business. God knows that I do not patronize such illegal acts.¡±

    ¡°But why is it in your fucking car to begin with, Chase?¡± I did not want to sound like I was suspicious of him but my voice came off that way.

    I instantly regretted telling those words when I saw the evident dismay in his oceanic eyes. I gasped, wanting to take those words back but I knew it was toote. He looked hurt and invalidated.

    I palmed my face using my handcuffed hands, then ran my fingers through my hair. I shifted my position so I could look at him better.

    ¡°Chase, I am so sorry . . .¡± I said, almost tearing up as the panic continued to hammer my chest. ¡°I am just terrified right now. I hope you understand . . .¡±

    ¡°I do understand.¡± He swallowed hard and looked down at his hands. ¡°But at the very least, I did expect you to believe me when I say that I did not own those things. We can undergo a drug test if you want to, and I can assure you that I am clean. Someone just framed me up,¡± he said and looked at the police officer sitting next to me.

    ¡°If that is the case, then what should we do now, Chase?¡± I asked him worriedly.

    He took a deep breath and licked his lower lip. ¡°Once we get there, I will call mywyer. I promise this thing will end within the day.¡±

    I only nodded and decided to give him a benefit of the doubt. Looking at him, he seemed to be telling the truth and even though I only knew him for a short period of time, my gut kept telling me that I should trust him no matter what. I sighed, still afraid of what was bound to happen to us. I guess I had to put my faith in Chase. After all, I was pretending to be Reese Jones, the woman he loved the most and I bet he would not want me to live inside the jail.

    ¡°I am sorry if I doubted you,¡± I uttered and rested my head on his shoulders.

    ¡°There is no reason for you to doubt me at all, Reese. I abide by thew. I won¡¯t do something that will tarnish my family name, even your name.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± I uttered and held his hands that were handcuffed too.

    After almost thirty minutes, we arrived at the cops station. We were fully guarded as we went out of the police mobile. I was shocked when I saw some reporters surrounding the whole area, waiting for our arrival. Security guards as well as other policemen blocked them from getting any closer to us.

    Camera shes could be heard anywhere that made me feel so terrified. I never dreamed of seeing my face in the headlines as some sort of a criminal so I lowered my head and covered my face with my own hands. I sighed with relief when we were able to enter the station.

    Chase requested to use his phone so he could call awyer. It was a good thing that the police officer who brought us here was kind enough to let him make a call. As for me, I was forced to enter an empty jail. They said it would only be for a brief moment as Chase would have to undergo some questioning privately.

    I looked around the four corners of this jail I was in and I could not stop my tears from falling. I recalled how I managed to escape from the orphanage and lived in the streets for months, begging people for some cash and food. There were numerous times that the devil in me wanted to steal¨C to be a pickpocket¨C in order to support myself but I was too afraid to be caught by the police and be put in jail.

    Now, I was here . . . standing behind the metal bars, seeing eyes throwing disgust looks on me as if I really did something wrong. I cried in silence, embraced myself and sat on the cold floor.

    It took almost an hour before Chase showed up. His face was red, anger visible in his eyes, and with a ragged breath he entered the jail. The cops who guided him locked the gate, threw a dagger look on Chase and shook his head before he left.

    ¡°What happened?¡± I asked as I stood up and went over him.

    ¡°There is no CCTV footage of us checking in the motelst night.  I exined myself to them but they seemed not interested to even believe me,¡± he replied, a bit annoyed and held the metal bars firmly.

    ¡°We cannot stay here, Chase. I did not do anything to end up here,¡± I uttered as I shook my head. I palmed my face, my mind was too haywired to even think of a solution right now. ¡°Is there someone who hates you? Perhaps that person did all these things just to frame you up!¡±

    ¡°If there was anyone, I would know immediately, Reese . . .¡± he said through his gritted teeth. ¡°We should have not gone to that motel in the first ce. Damn it . . .¡±

    I gasped. I was not sure why it felt like something just pierced my heart.

    ¡°Are you telling me that it was my fault?¡± I asked him, raising my voice because of a sudden anger building up inside my chest. ¡°First off, I did not expect that would happen to us, alright? If only I knew this would happen to us, I would have chosen to poop inside your car instead of going to a motel!¡±

    He looked at me, shocked was written on his face but then his eyes softened. He walked closer to me and held my hand, but I pulled it away from him.

    ¡°Hey, look. That is not what I meant-¡±

    ¡°Of course, you do! You are lowkey ming me for this, Chase!¡± I talked back even though my eyes were already teary. ¡°If not for me, you would not have experienced this shameful situation. But heaven knows I did not want this to happen!¡±

    ¡°Hush now, baby . . . I am so sorry,¡± he whispered as he tried to lock me in his arms. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to sound like I was ming you. I was just frustrated, alright? I am sorry, really. Mywyer is on his way. He will help us get out of here. I promised you that. You have nothing to worry about. I will never let you stay here for too long.¡±

    I bit my lower lip and surrendered to his embrace. It was as if that was the only thing that couldfort me right now. I closed my eyes and prayed that this mess would be resolved as soon as possible as I would not want another trauma to haunt me every night.

    It did not take a while before Chase¡¯swyer and father came to rescue us. After dealing with the nonsense charge about illegal drugs, the cops have finally let us out. I thought it would turn out good however Chase was weed by Uncle Ernest¡¯s punch the moment he stepped out of the jail. I screamed out of fear and immediately stepped in between of them, afraid that Chase would be beaten up severely by his own father.

    ¡°How dare you tarnish our names with such an illegal activity!¡± Uncle Ernest was fuming mad as he pointed his finger to his son.

    Chase, on the other hand, licked the blood on the side of his wounded lips.

    ¡°Dad, you sure know that I would not do illegal things like that. I believe I am still in my right mind to avoid tarnishing your family name!¡±

    ¡°How dare you talk back to me that way!¡± Uncle Ernest was about to grab his cor but I stopped him with all my might.

    ¡°Uncle, please. I am begging you. Chase is telling the truth! He cannot do such things!¡± I said, as I defended Chase.

    Uncle Ernest was breathing heavily, jaw clenched as he gazed down on me. I could see the disappointment and anger in his eyes. I was not sure if it was meant for Chase or for me but the only thing I wanted right now was for Chase to be aided and go home to rx.

    ¡°We will talk at home, Chase.¡± Uncle Ernest gave me a warning look before he headed outside of the police station. Thewyer followed him, and Chase and I were left alone in front of the jail.

    ¡°Chase, are you alright?¡± I asked and immediately inspected his face. He had a wound on his lips, and there were bruises on the side of it. For some reason, my chest tightened as I looked at him. He had gone through enough. Uncle Ernest should have been kinder to his son. Chase did not ever want this mess to ur in the first ce.

    ¡°No worries, it is just a small cut,¡± he assured me. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Reese. I will take you home.¡±

    ¡°What if Uncle Ernest does something to you?¡± I asked worriedly.

    ¡°I can take care of myself. I will exin myself and I am confident that he will believe meter on. Do not get so worked up on this. Let¡¯s go so you can take a rest, alright?¡±

    I was still reluctant that his father would ever listen to him. He did not even hesitate to throw a punch to Chase when he should have asked what really happened first. My gut was telling me that he won¡¯t go easy on his son once they get home. That was why I could not stop myself from worrying about Chase.

    ***

    ¡°Oh my goodness, Reese! What happened, sweetheart? I have seen the news on the television!¡± Mrs. Jones weed me with a hug. I hugged her back as I thought I would not ever see her again.

    But, wait . . . did she just mention that she had seen me on the news? Did it mean that the mess we had gotten ourselves to were already reported that fast in the media? I frowned. Here I was thinking how popr the couple¨C Chase and Reese- were before I entered their life. A part of me was hoping that the media would have blurred our faces as it was shameful if they didn¡¯t.

    ¡°Mom, Chase was framed up. Whatever you witnessed on the news, those were not true.¡±

    She released me, nodded and caressed my face. ¡°Of course. I was too aware of Chase¡¯s personality. I am well convinced that he is not someone who would put himself in serious trouble. I am d that you are safe, Reese.¡± Her face softened as she hugged me again.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Thank you for trusting Chase, Mom . . .¡± I said as I sighed with relief. At least, I knew that Mrs. Jones trusts Chase so muchpared to his father.

    I was still worrying about what would happen once Chase went home. What if his father beat him to death? I shook my head and tried to keep my cool, hoping that this time Uncle Ernest would have an open mind and listen to his son once and for all.

    I came back to my senses when Lara appeared out of nowhere. She hugged me too, and told me how nervous she was when she heard the news. I tried to lighten up the mood, as I did not want them to further worry about me. I was also d that Mrs. Jones seemed to have like Lara even if they only knew each other for a short period of time.

    ¡°What the fuck! You and Reese are really too identical!¡± Laramented when we went to my room. Her eyes roamed around the portraits of Reese hanging on the wall and those that were disyed on the cabs. She embraced herself as if what she witnessed gave her such creeps.

    ¡°That is exactly how I felt when I first entered this room,¡± I responded and headed to the bed. I threw myself on it and let out a huge sigh.

    Goodness, I could not believe that I was already home!

    I felt Laraying down beside me. ¡°Care to tell what really happened? Why the hell did you end up in that creepy motel?¡±

    ¡°Because I wanted to poop so badly. I could not hold it any longer so I asked Chase to check in!¡±

    ¡°And then?¡± I nced at her and saw that she raised one brow while staring at me.

    My cheeks flushed as I recalled how many times we had a sexual intercousest night. I looked away and cleared my throat.

    ¡°Hmm . . .¡± Lara clicked her tongue. ¡°I think I know what happened next, based on how your face turned red.¡±

    ¡°Alright, we . . .¡± I rose and leaned my back on the headboard. ¡°It just happened. We did it.¡± There was no way I would tell her that I seduced Chase!

    ¡°Oh my gosh!¡± she screamed out of giddiness. ¡°You had sex with him!¡±

    ¡°Tone down your voice, Lara! Mrs. Jones might hear you!¡± I said through my gritted teeth.

    She stomped her feet as if she was being tickled everywhere. I narrowed my eyes as I looked at her.

    ¡°So how was it?¡± She wiggled her eyebrows, trying to fish some details from me.

    ¡°Alright, so you really want me to tell how great Chase is on bed knowing that we just got ourselves out of the fucking jail. Are you seriously irritating me, Lara?¡± I said and crossed my arms on my chest, acting that I was pissed off but truthfully, I was only trying to avoid her questions because there was no way I could tell her every detail of what happened between me and Chasest night. It was like a deepest secret I would keep no matter what happens.

    She rolled her eyes and huffed. ¡°You¡¯re such a killjoy!¡±

    ¡°No you are just being nosy!¡± I snorted. ¡°Anyway, I hope Chase will be able to defend himself from his father¡¯s wrath . . .¡±

    ¡°Looks like someone is concerned about her fiance!¡±

    Now, it was my turn to roll my eyes. ¡°Of course, I should be concerned, Lara. That man is the only key for us to get rich.¡±

    ¡°Well, you have a point.¡± Lara got off the bed and went to the side table where there was a portrait of Reese. She took and looked at it closely. ¡°Damn, girl. She is really like your twin sister. You do not need to act so hard to pretend to be her. That face alone will help you survive.¡±

    ¡°Regardless, Lara. I must copy everything about her so that Chase¡¯s parents will let me marry him.¡±

    ¡°I will start researching a great deal of information about her then,¡± she said and then she jumped on the bed and hugged me. ¡°I got your back. You have nothing to worry about, Liv-¡±

    ¡°Reese. Call me Reese, you dimwit.¡±

    She chuckled. ¡°Yeah, Reese. Whatever you say. So as I was saying, you have nothing to worry about. All you have to do is to make Chase head over heels on you. Do everything you have to do so you no longer need to face a lot of hardships in life. Do not ever be swayed or regret everything.¡±

    ¡°Trust me, Lara. I would never regret this thing. I will do everything to make this pretense worthy of our time. We will be rich and both of us will no longer need to go back to Mike¡¯s bar.¡±

    ¡°We are really daredevils, don¡¯t you agree?¡±

    ¡°We are,¡± I said and smirked. ¡°And I am convinced that I am the worst.¡±

 CHAPTER TWELVE

    OLIVIA

    It had been two days since the mishap we had with some cops from the motel we had checked in from, and since then I had not seen Chase personally. He could not find a way to visit me at home because as he said, there were a lot of things on his te right now. Though he kept sending me text messages, informing me about his whereabouts, what made him busy all throughout the day and some things he had been doing in theirpany, I could not help but feel that there was something wrong after the incident that happened.

    I did not know whether I was only being paranoid or whatnot, but I kind of got so reluctant about our situation. My mind wondered what Reese would do if ever she was in this position? Would she go after Chase and be clingy enough to get his attention or would she y like nothing had been bothering her and let Chase think that she could go on a day without him sitting right next to her?

    I was trying to channel Reese¡¯s spirit to possess me so I would know how to take an action more appropriately while keeping my own ¨C Olivia¡¯s ¨C emotion at bay.

    ¡°Are you alright, Reese?¡± Lara asked me, brows furrowed as she ced the freshly brewed coffee on the countertop in front of me. I had to admit though, her calling me Reese was kind of ufortable and foreign but I really had to get used to that name and she better get used to it too so we could avoid any suspicion from anyone who knew the missing ¨C in ¨C action Reese Jones. ¡°You seem a little down and I have been noticing that since yesterday. What is up with you, my dear evil friend?¡±

    I rested my elbows on the countertop, both hands cupping my face and a little bit uneasy about everything. I never expected that this pretense would actually made me feel so fucking problematic, in any way. Lara was not right when she mentioned that this whole thing was easy knowing I was too identical with Reese, because if it did, why did my emotions run high over such petty things?

    ¡°I have not seen Chase for two days in a row, Lara. He hasn¡¯t visited me at home. Not even phone calls. He only fed me text messages and nothing more. Do you think it is a good idea to visit him in the office and pretend to be concerned soon to be wife?¡± I asked.

    Lara sat down on the chair across mine and gave me a mischievous stare. ¡°Is that the reason why you visited me so early? You kind of miss the billionaire hottie?¡±

    I rolled my eyes at her. Lara never really had something good to say.

    ¡°Do not get high hopes over this thing, Lara. You know that Chase is our precious gem right now,¡± I said as I gave her a stern look. ¡°I am a little bit worried. Maybe something really happened after the jail thing?¡±

    ¡°Did he ever tell you how his conversation went with his father?¡±

    I shook my head. That thing bothered me the most. I kept asking him through text messages about how his conversation with Uncle Ernest went but he only gave me neutral responses about it, telling me not to worry about it and he got it settled. However, I had no slightest idea as to how it got settled.

    ¡°He only told me that he got it fixed, no further exnation . . .¡± I huffed out of frustration, grabbed my coffee and sipped on it. I could really tell that its bitterness was somehow radiating my exact emotion right now.

    ¡°You know that is what a man usually does.¡±

    My forehead creased. ¡°Care to borate, my dear evil friend?¡± I asked, mimicking her voice when she called me with the same term of endearment a while ago.

    ¡°What I meant is, men tend to provide minimal responses over some things that they don¡¯t want their women to get so worked up about. Perhaps Chase is only trying to  get you away from stress or something. After all, we have this saying, the less you know, the better . . .¡±

    ¡°And why is he not visiting me? Is it part of that saying you just mentioned? Because I could not see any connection at all.¡±

    Lara chuckled and crossed her arms on her chest. ¡°Really, Olivia Miller. Are you stressing yourself because Chase did not tell you how his conversation with his father went? Or are you more concerned about why he has not visited you? Enlighten me a bit.¡±

    I let out a huge sigh and rested my back on the chair. ¡°Perhaps I am just worried that our n would go down hill right before we get to suck some money out of their pockets.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, if you are that worried then you might want to step up your game a little bit.¡±

    ¡°How, Lara?¡± I took another sip on my coffee, paying attention to this devil in front of me.

    She smirked. ¡°Seduce the guy and make him want to marry you so bad up to the point that he couldn¡¯t care less about his own family.¡± Lara shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Did you enjoy having sex with him?¡±

    I coughed as her question seemed to have choked me. I could have sworn I wanted to strangle her hair for being so straightforward! And why would she even ask if I enjoyed doing it with Chase?

    ¡°Based on your reaction, I bet he is really that good in bed!¡± she eximed.

    Oh, good Lord! It was a good thing that Mikael left for school so early. I would not want him to hear such a vulgar thing from his mother!

    ¡°Lara! Stop it! You are not funny!¡±

    ¡°What I wanted to say is, you can use that opportunity to rush the wedding. Act as if you really want to be his wife as soon as possible. Seduce him, make him crave for sex. No man would ever refuse it,¡± she advised and then leaned forward. ¡°Or if you want to use your ace card . . .¡± she paused.

    ¡°What?¡± I asked curiously.

    ¡°Make him jealous . . .¡± She giggled. ¡°A rich man would make an impulse decision whenever someone tries to steal his woman.¡±

    I giggled upon realizing that Lara waspletely right. I looked at her yfully. She then gave me a grin. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°You alwayse up with such a brilliant idea, Lara . . .¡± I said meaningfully as I finished my coffee.

    We will see if you could still be at ease, Chase . . .

    I may have to act soon and better find a man who I could use to carry out my n.

    ***

    It was around afternoon when Lara and I had decided to go to a high end mall to buy some luxurious dresses for my n. In order to be so convincing about making Chase jealous, of course I had to make sure that I would have the best wardrobe ever, so that he would think that I was dressing up for the man I would be using as my aplice.

    ¡°It is my first time entering a high ss mall, Reese . . .¡± Lara could not stop herself from jumping up and down and clinging into my arm. She was so giddy, as if a child who had been in a mall for the very first time.

    ¡°It is my first time too. I am so d Chase had given me his ck credit card. We can buy anything we want!¡± I said, grinning from ear to ear.

    Lara and I did a high five. After that, we did not wait much time and checked out some luxurious clothing boutiques. My mouth was half opened, in awe, as soon as my gazended on the expensive dresses, shoes and bags from what seemed to be the most expensive clothing line here at the mall.

    ¡°Oh my gosh, Reese! How could they sell bags that costs a fucking hundred thousand dors?¡± Lara was shocked when she checked the little sling bag and its price. ¡°This whole ce is no doubt to be for wealthy people! I bet my paycheck could only afford the hangers they are using!¡±

    We both chuckled.

    ¡°A few dresses will not make Chase mad. You can get some for yourself too. My treat!¡± I said and showed her the ck credit card.

    She wiggled her eyebrows and sped her hands together. ¡°I love you so much, Reese Jones!¡±

    Then, Lara disappeared in front of me and rushed toward the other corner of the boutique where she saw some dresses that fit her liking. I could not stop smiling as I watched her grab something that she liked. I shook my head and proceeded to check out some dresses on the other side of the boutique and asked for assistance from one of the staff.

    After paying for the clothes we grabbed, we went to the other boutique and chose some stilettos. Lara was freaking out when I grabbed the red pointed stilettos she had been eyeing for a moment. She shamelessly jumped in joy and hugged me in front of all the staff inside the boutique.

    ¡°Calm down, Lara. We do not want these people to think that we are first- timers here,¡± I patted her head.

    She giggled and nodded her head when she released me. ¡°Should I learn how to act like a damn rich woman, too?¡±

    Iughed and elbowed her, then we proceeded to pay for the shoes we wanted to buy. After the tiresome shopping of new things for our wardrobe upgrade, I invited Lara to go for a coffee date. We went to a cozy coffee shop inside the mall and ordered some frappes and slices of cakes.

    Lara was with me in front of the counter, waiting for the staff topute the amount we had to pay, still thanking me for tugging her into this and buying new stuff for her. Well, if I would be able to get a huge amount of money from this pretense, I would definitely spoil her every day.

    When the staff told me that I had to pay two hundred bucks, I took the ck credit card from my wallet. I was about to give it to the staff when a familiardy went to me, and snatched the card from my hand.

    I was stunned for a moment when I realized that it was none other than Chandria, Chase¡¯s younger sister, who appeared out of nowhere. She was grinning from ear to ear while looking at the ck credit card her brother gave for me to use.

    ¡°Chandria,¡± I called her name.

    I instantly felt the shivers down my spine. It was as if someone had caught me off guard . . . what was she doing here, anyway?

    ¡°Wow! So you are enjoying someone else¡¯s credit card and using it as if it is totally yours? Your audacity impresses me, Reese,¡± she said, and I could really feel the sarcasm dripping off her tone.

    ¡°Can you give it back, please?¡±

    I tried to get the card from her hand but she fastly moved it away from me.

    ¡°Reese, who is she?¡± Lara whispered as she hid at my back.

    ¡°Chase¡¯s evil sister,¡± I said in my hushed tone of voice.

    Chandriaughed and I could have sworn that I had never felt so shameful until this day. Out of all ces, why did our paths have to cross in a crowded ce like this? I could feel the tension building up and the gazes from the crowd only made it worse.

    ¡°You are not even his wife yet. Aren ¡®t you shameful to use my brother¡¯s hard earned money too early?¡± Chandria looked at me from head to toe. ¡°I still cannot believe he wants to marry someone like you.¡±

    ¡°Hey, we are not here to start a fight with you-¡±

    ¡°Lara, stop it,¡± I told Lara and red at Chandria. ¡°Are you done talking? Would you mind giving the card back now? You are making a fuss out of nothing. I wonder how your brother would react once he finds out that you initiated an argument here in the coffee shop.¡±

    ¡°Then go tell him, to hell I care!¡± She crossed her arms on her chest and raised one brow. ¡°You should have note back, Reese. I can¡¯t believe my brother is head over heels to a cheater like you!¡±

    I was shocked upon hearing herst statement but I managed to keep my rage and confusion at bay. What the hell did she just call me?

    Cheater?Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    It seemed to me that this girl, Chandria, knew something about Reese Jones that Chase himself did not know and I wondered what it was . . .

    ¡°That is quite an usation from my soon to be sister- in-w,¡± Imented through my gritted teeth.

    She smirked. ¡°I bet you do not remember it right now, or probably you are just putting on an act but let me tell you this . . .¡± She walked closer to me until she reached the side of my ears. ¡°Right after learning that you put my brother into serious trouble rted to illegal substances, my parents are trying to convince him not to marry you. You will never get our approval, Reese Jones. You will only tarnish our names because that is the only thing you are good at.¡±

    The words she said hit me to the core that I suddenly felt anxiety getting through me. I was so shocked that it felt like my feet were glued to the floor.

    Chandria stepped back and tossed the ck credit card to me. It hit my cheek and thennded on the floor, which made mee back to reality.

    She grinned. ¡°Well, you can use it all you want but I assure you that your gold digger career will end very soon. Be thankful that I am letting you enjoy my brother¡¯s money for thest time . . .¡±

    She gave me a death re before she walked her way out of the coffee shop. I sucked in a breath and swallowed so hard.

    What the hell had just happened?

 CHAPTER THIRTEEN

    OLIVIA

    ¡°Reese, are you alright?¡± I could sense the worry in Lara¡¯s tone of voice. She patted me on my shoulder, trying to soothe me as soon as we hopped into the cab.

    Right after that unwanted scene that Chandria Maxwell created in the coffee shop, I suddenly felt ashamed as the crowd gazed at me, as if I was such a loser to begin with. It was as if I was being judged by everyone and I could not do something to even protect myself. I could not take the way they looked at me so I stormed out of the shop with a little amount of courage that I managed to gather within me.

    Chandria Maxwell . . . that b*tch humiliated me in the public. I would never let it go, let alone forgive her from what she had done a while ago!

    And she even called me a cheater and gold digger! I was trying to control my emotions so hard but they were so high that I ended up screaming my heart out while inside the cab. Lara then apologized to the driver for my behavior.

    All I could do was mutter numerous curses about what happened. That Chandria Maxwell. . .  I swore I would sew her mouth closed in the event I got the chance to do so!

    ¡°I will never let it slide, Lara. No one dared to humiliate me, except her. The nerve of that woman!¡± I said angrily with my fisted hands.

    ¡°I was too annoyed when she called you a cheater. I mean, it feels like she knows something about Reese Jones . . . and it seems that she is just holding back, saving her ace card for the best. She definitely gave me creeps! What are you going to do now?¡±

    I massaged the temple of my nose and huffed out of frustration, teeth still gritting as I tried to calm myself down. I needed to think straight . . .

    I recalled everything Chandria said a while ago. Aside from her rude behavior, what made me feel so angry was the fact that their parents were trying to brainwash Chase about not pursuing the wedding anymore just because of the recent incident that happened.

    It became clearer to me that Chase¡¯s parents really dislike me. Did they really think that I would only tarnish their names? And was this the reason why Chase could not tell me about his conversation with his father? He lied to me when he told me he got it fixed, but the truth was, his family did not want him to marry me at all . . . and perhaps persuading him to break up with me!

    ¡°I need to do something for our n to seed, Lara . . .¡± I said firmly. ¡°I won ¡®t let them dictate Chase. I won ¡®t let them ruin my n.¡±

    I heard Lara sigh. ¡°I think it is bing moreplicated than I thought. Imagine if you married Chase, you would have to deal with his evil sister¡¯s wrath for you? And I heard she mentioned about their parents persuading Chase to not proceed with the wedding anymore.¡±

    ¡°You know I will do everything for money, right?¡± I nced her way and gave her a stern look. ¡°And for the love of money, I will never allow Chandria or their parents to ruin any of my ns. If I had to do something absurd to draw Chase¡¯s desire to marry me, I will not hesitate to do so. Mark my words, Lara.¡±

    ***

    I acted like nothing ever happened from the coffee shop when I got home. I was weed by Mrs. Jones who was all smiles at me. Even though my face was grim, I managed to return her smile as I thought that her emotion must be protected no matter what.

    ¡°How was your day with your friend?¡± she asked me curiously as we walked to the living room.

    ¡°I had so much fun, Mom . . .¡± I responded and faked a happy tone of voice.

    Her gaze directed to the couple of paper bags in my hand. ¡°You bought a lot of things, sweetheart. Where did you get the money to buy all that stuff?¡±

    I was stunned for a moment, and did not know how I would respond to her question. I cleared my throat a bit. I tried to gather the right words to say, but as soon as I opened my mouth, she spoke once again.

    ¡°Was it from Chase? I am sorry, Reese, if I did not give you any allowance to use. Ourpany is on the verge of bankruptcy and we have a few loans to pay from the bank . . .¡±

    My heart softened as I watched the expression on Mrs. Jones¡¯ face. It radiated shame and pity . . . I was taken aback. All this time I thought they were having a wealthy life but it looked like I was wrong.

    ¡°Mom, I understand and you don¡¯t have to give me money . . .¡±

    She was on the verge of tearing up and I felt the need tofort her. I hugged her and patted her back, making her feel that everything was fine with me.

    ¡°If only the Maxwells would find the will in their hearts to help us . . . I do not want you to suffer, sweetheart. Don¡¯t worry, your dad and I will do everything so that the wedding will be possible. You will never experience such a poor life. I promise, Reese.¡±

    Those words which came from a motherforted me so much. Mrs. Jones undeniably loves Reese that she would do everything for her to have afortable life¨C whereas she would never worry about money and debts.

    I wondered why I was never given a mother like Mrs. Jones? If only I had the mother I could run to every time I got into trouble, a mother that would lend her shoulders whenever I experienced heartbreaks and would always tell me that everything would be alright despite the numerous hardships in life, then I bet I would have grown into someone kinderpared to what I was right now . . .

    ¡°Mom, you have nothing to worry about. Chase and I will get married. Just give me some time and I will prove to his parents that I am the only woman who deserves to be their son ¡®s wife,¡± I said like a promise engraved to the stones.

    I caressed her hair and closed my eyes, making a promise to myself that I would do everything so I could marry Chase, not just for me and Lara but for Reese¡¯s mother . . . to save theirpany and free her from all her worries.

    ***

    For the first time after the recent incident that happened in the motel, Chase called my phone right before I went to bed to take a rest. Iy down on the bed, let out a huge sigh and answered his call.

    ¡°This is new. You finally called,¡± Imented. I did not want to sound off but my voice came off that way.

    Perhaps, at some point, I kind of felt bad that Chase lied to me when he mentioned that he took care of his dad but the truth was, it had gotten moreplicated since his parents might have thought that I would only bring nothing but problems to their family. What was worse was that I felt that it was the reason why he hadn¡¯t visited me for two days. Even if he did not say it verbally, his actions spoke more than his mouth.

    ¡°I miss you, baby . . .¡± he uttered in his soft tone of voice. ¡°I am sorry if I was not able to call you these past few days. I had hectic schedules at work but I kept thinking about you all the time. I hope you are not mad at me.¡±

    Oh, you better brace yourself, Chase. I am mad at you for lying to me . . . I wished I could tell him that.

    ¡°No, I am not mad at all . . .¡± But I had to keep my emotions in control because I did not want to ruin my n. ¡°I understand and as your girlfriend, I should get used to it. I know that your role in yourpany demands a lot of time.¡±

    ¡°Rest assured that I would make more time with you when we get married,¡± he said and his voice was so soothing that I would want to believe it.

    ¡°Chase . . .¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°I identally met Chandria at the coffee shop earlier. She told me things that you never tell me.¡± Now, it was time for n A. I cleared my throat and shifted my position and faced the side table where I could stare at Reese ¡®s portrait. ¡°She said that your parents did not like me, and they wanted you to not marry me.¡±

    ¡°Reese, I am so-¡±

    I faked a sob. ¡°It actually hurts because I never expected to hear it from your sister. And what hurts the most is I feel that it was the reason why you¡¯ve been avoiding me for thest two days. I hope you won¡¯t judge my feelings but that is exactly what I feel right now.¡±

    ¡°Damn it, Chandria . . .¡± I heard him mutter a curse. ¡°Reese, I am so sorry about Chandria¡¯s action. I assure you that I am not trying to avoid you. You know what, I will go there so we can talk personally.¡±

    ¡°You do not have to, Chase,¡± I said and faked another sob. I huffed and swallowed hard enough for him to hear it from the other line. ¡°I don¡¯t really want you to suffer because of me. I appreciate everything you have done¨C still loving me despite the fact that I left you in the past, and still want to marry me even if I lose most of my memories . . . You care a lot for me and even though my mind is haywired because I have amnesia, I know deep within me that I truly love you . . .¡± I sucked in my breath. ¡°I love you, Chase . . . but I do not want to be a burden anymore. I do not want to see you going through conflict with your family because of-¡±

    ¡°Hold on, baby. What is this all about? Are you trying to break up with me?¡± His voice sounded as if he was in deep terror and panic.

    ¡°Y-Yeah . . .¡± Another fake sob. ¡°I understand why your family dislikes me, Chase. I have nothing to offer. Ourpany is on the verge of bankruptcy and we have some debts to pay. I will just end up tarnishing your name. It is best if we end this right now.¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    ¡°Really, Reese? You¡¯re breaking up with me over a phone call? No way!¡±

    ¡°And I need to help ourpany too. I-I¡¯m thinking of convincing some of our shareholders to help us, and even if it takes marrying one of their sons, I would not hesitate to do so . . .¡±

    You were doing great, Olivia . . .

    I heard him groan out of frustration. ¡°No, baby. I will never let you do that. I should be the only one you will marry, not anyone else¡¯s son! We will proceed with the wedding no matter what. Even if my parents arepletely against it, we will push it through . . . this week. I promise you that. Just please, do not leave me again . . .¡±

    I bit my lower lip, trying to suppress my smile. Was it too evil for me to be happy while hearing Chase pleading with me not to leave him?

    ¡°I will think about it, Chase . . .¡± I said and then ended the call.

    I sucked in a breath. I guess I was really evil to put him in a position where he did have any option but to marry me. After all, he was madly in love with Reese Jones, so in love with her that he would defy his parents just to keep her in his life.

    I really hoped this n would work . . .

 CHAPTER FOURTEEN

    OLIVIA

    As expected, Chase rushed to our home that night so he could talk to me regarding the conversation we had on the phone call. I could not suppress my smile as my n seemed to have worked  . . .

    I tied thece of the silk robe I was wearing on my waist, and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I wanted Chase to have an impression that I was stressed for the past two days and even more frustrated about what urred between me and Chandria. Thanks to the makeup on Reese¡¯s vanity table, I was able to make myself look very pale up to the point that someone would think that I was truly problematic in life.

    Mrs. Jones was waiting outside of my room when I opened the door.

    ¡°Mom,¡± I called her attention.

    She looked me in the eyes, held my hands and gave me a concerned smile.

    ¡°Sweetheart, are you alright?¡± she asked, worry was visible in her tone of voice. ¡°It is almost midnight and Chase is not the type of man who will visit my daughter around this time for a casual couple talk. My gut feeling is telling me that you two have a problem. Is there something wrong?¡±

    I gave her a small smile and squeezed her hands. ¡°Mom, you have nothing to worry about. This is just a little misunderstanding, I guess . . . but I am alright. Please, do not stress yourself over this matter. Your daughter can handle everything.¡±

    She nodded and caressed my cheek, a smile of satisfaction escaped her lips. Whenever I looked at her, my heart could not help but yearn for a mother. I still do not understand why Reese had to leave her parents this way. Was she really desperate to get away from Chase Maxwell that she no longer cared about her own mother?

    ¡°Alright then, he is waiting for you in the living room. I hope you two can talk things out and fix that misunderstanding right away, whatever that is. I will take a rest for now.¡±

    ¡°Good night, mom,¡± I said and kissed her on the cheek.

    ¡°You too, sweetheart.¡± She gave me one more nce and then proceeded to their bedroom, which was a few steps away from my room.

    I sighed a relief when I heard Mrs. Jones enter their bedroom and shut the door.

    Now, I had to face Chase and y hard to get. In order for my n to seed, I had to make him feel that I was struggling with our situation. He needed to see that I was torn between continuing our rtionship even though his parents were clearly against us, and helping my parents to save ourpany by selling myself off and marrying any businessman avable.

    ¡°Bring it on, Olivia Miller . . .¡± I smirked and thenposed myself before heading downstairs.

    Chase was sitting down on the couch, legs were spread apart, elbows rested on each knee and head facing the floor.  He looked very charismatic in his dark blue long sleeves, denim jeans partnered with an expensive pair of shoes, and when his gazended on mine, I felt like he just swept my heart away.

    My breath caught. I forgot all the things I have to do for a brief moment. Seeing Chase¡¯s good looking face after two days made me feel that I, somehow, missed him. But then, I had to gather all my thoughts and remind myself that I should be able to take control of this situation, and not the other way around.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you that there is no need for you toe here?¡± I started as I walked toward the living room.

    To my surprise, he immediately stood up and closed the distance between us. Before I could even protest, Chase already leaned down to im my lips. My eyes widened from what he did, but when I felt the unknown desperation and frustration with the way he kissed me, regret struck my chest right away.

    ¡°Chase . . .¡± I gently pushed him away from me. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Our eyes met. I thought I could shove my conscience away but the moment I saw the evident pain in his oceanic eyes, it made me feel as if I wanted to back out from my n . . . he looked at me as if he was betrayed  . . . and unwanted.

    ¡°I cannot understand why you are pushing me away that easily, Reese. Why is it difficult for you to trust me on this?¡± he asked, every word was so heavy that it really made me ufortable.

    However, I would still do this n no matter what. I reminded myself that I was no angel, that I was a daredevil and regret was never part of my being.

    ¡°Chase, I do not have any choice. I have to do something to help my parents-¡±

    ¡°I am here to provide all the help that you need, Reese! I can save yourpany. I am trying to be enough for you. Why can¡¯t you see that?¡± He was, indeed, struggling based on the tone of his voice.

    Olivia, you can ¡®t be swayed . . .

    ¡°Your family doesn¡¯t like me at all, Chase. Chandria already told me everything! And you lied to me . . . you told me you got everything settled but it wasn¡¯t true. Your father wants me out of your life!¡±

    I walked past him and went to the balcony to inhale the midnight air. He followed me and I was shocked when he embraced me from my back.

    ¡°Reese, do not do this, please . . . I am begging you,¡± he said in hushed tones.

    My heart pounded wildly inside my chest. I was wrong when I thought that I could easily face him and act ording to my n but dang, I did not know that it was difficult . . . It was, indeed, difficult to hurt someone, especially Chase, and y with his feelings just because I was too crazy for money.

    ¡°I told you I will think about it. My parents and ourpany need me too. Know that I am not making this decision because I want to. I just feel like I  have no other option . . .¡±

    He buried his face on my neck. A bolt of electrifying emotion went through me. With Chase embracing me while he begged for me not to leave him, I suddenly struggled organizing my thoughts. I closed my eyes, cursing myself from my mind as I knew this was not the right time to be so weak.

    ¡°Please, Reese . . . let¡¯s not fight anymore-¡±

    ¡°We are not fighting, Chase. We are trying to make a mutual decision,¡± I corrected.

    ¡°It is not even mutual, baby. I do not want to break up with you,¡± he uttered softly, embracing me more tightly. ¡°Let¡¯s tie up the loose ends, shall we? Please, marry me, Reese . . . marry me and I promise that I will make things alright for you.¡± His breathing was ragged as he said those words. ¡°I love you so much that it will be a death for me once you leave me. Reese, please . . .¡±

    I wanted to smile as the situation seemed to have favored me once again but I did not understand why I felt so different.

    Weren¡¯t you happy now, Olivia? This billionaire wanted to marry you . . .

    ¡°W- What about your parents?¡± I asked weakly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about them. The only person that matters to me is you.¡± He released me and held both of my shoulders to turn me around so I could face him.

    Our gaze locked once again. My heart could not stop from pounding aggressively that it felt like its loud beating was the only thing I could hear.

    Looking into his oceanic eyes, I could see the love and agony that he felt for Reese Jones at this very moment. The devil in me was telling me that I was doing great, but my conscience was reminding me that hurting people would not bring any good in my life.

    But still, I had to finish what I started.

    ¡°Please, Reese . . . will you marry me?¡±

    He took something out of his pocket, a small ck box  . . . oh no.

    I was astounded when he knelt on the floor, eyes still staring up at me as he opened the small box. Shocked to see a diamond ring inside of it, all I could do was cover my mouth and gasped for thin air.

    ¡°Chase . . .¡±

    He licked his lower lip, eyes went teary as he looked at me.  ¡°I am sorry for all my failures, Reese. I know that I am stillcking in some areas but I want to promise you that I will try to be enough, to be the best person you can be proud of and be the man that will make things easier for you. I want to be the man who you can share everything with, Reese . . . and with that, I will try my shot right now and will ask you to take me. Be my wife, please . . .¡±

    Tears pooled in my eyes as I gazed down at his soulful eyes. For a brief moment, I envied Reese Jones for having this man in her life. At the same time, I wanted to yell at her, to hit her head for leaving this man and letting this chance slide for her to have a happy life. I guess I wanted to know why it was difficult for her to give Chase the chance he deserved knowing that he was trying his best to be a better man for her.

    I fucking envied her for having this life, aplete family and a man who loves her dearly . . .

    ¡°Stand up, Chase,¡± I told him and breathed heavily.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    He didn¡¯t move and so I crouched in front of him, held both of his shoulders and nodded. ¡°I will marry you . . . I want to marry you, Chase . . .¡±

    His face lightened up, a smile escaped his lips as he put the ring on my finger. I was all too aware that this was just an act yet I felt like I was on cloud nine. My heart seemed so happy as I checked my finger with a ring on it. Never in my private dreams have I dreamt to be engaged . . .

    ¡°I love you, Reese. Thank you . . .¡± he uttered and hugged me.

    ¡°I love you too, Chase . . .¡± I replied, I was not sure why those words made my heart skip a beat.

    I hugged him back and caressed his hair. Despite the fact that my emotions betrayed me for making me feel that I was truly a bad person for manipting Chase, something inside of me told me that I could seize this moment.

    Still, n A worked . . .

    ***

    The next day, Chase and I did not waste more time and told my parents- I mean Reese¡¯ parents¨C about our intent to get married. Mrs. Jones was truly happy upon learning that we nned to get married this weekend, while Mr. Jones was still reluctant with our decision knowing that Chase¡¯s parents did not approve it. However, Chase was able to exin why we had to decide this way and made Reese¡¯ parents feel that our decision would not harm me in any way.

    He also offered to help ourpany once we are married, and I could sense how it brought relief to Reese¡¯ parents. I felt happy, at some point, because I was able to contribute something to help their business.

    We already scheduled a meeting with our wedding coordinator and everything will be rushed so that the wedding would happen on our expected date.

    ¡°Are you sure that you are not going to tell your family about our wedding?¡± I asked Chase when we walked our way to the parking lot. He still had to go to work but he would pick me upter so we could meet the coordinator.

    ¡°I will only tell them once we are married. I do not want them to do something that will ruin our wedding,¡± he responded and gave me a reassuring smile.

    ¡°But they are still your family. They have the right to know.¡±

    We stopped in front of his car. Chase reached for my hand and squeezed it gently.

    ¡°This is our wedding, Reese. I just want it done perfectly, without us worrying about anything and the only way it could happen is by not telling them that we will get married.¡±

    ¡°I understand . . .¡± I sighed and nodded my head.

    He smiled. ¡°I can no longer wait to be your husband.¡±

    ¡°Well, we only have four days left before we can tie the knot,¡± I said mischievously.

    I wrapped my arms around his neck, tiptoed and was about to kiss him on his lips when my phone rang from my pocket.

    I rolled my eyes for that sudden disturbance while Chase just chuckled upon seeing my reaction. I took my phone out of my pocket and saw an unknown caller ID from the phone screen. Thinking that it was an important call, I still answered it.

    ¡°Hello . . .¡± I answered.

    ¡°You can stop acting now, Reese,¡± said the familiar voice of a man.

    My brows furrowed. ¡°Uncle Ernest?¡±

    I looked at Chase. He frowned and became so attentive.

    ¡°I do not know what you are up to but make some time for a press conferenceter. The negative news about you still doesn¡¯t stop and it¡¯s ruining not just my son¡¯s name but ourpany too. I will text you the details,¡± he said and before I could respond to him, he already ended the call.

    I was a bit shocked with the way he talked to me. I looked at my phone, still trying to understand what he meant when he mentioned that I can stop acting now . . .

    ¡°What did he say?¡± Chase asked in his serious tone of voice.

    ¡°Uncle Ernest seemed to have set up a press conference for me.¡±

    ¡°What? He didn¡¯t tell me about it!¡± Chase huffed out of frustration and massaged the temple of his nose. ¡°I will talk to him. I will not force you to do something you are notfortable with.¡±

    ¡°I will do it, Chase.¡±

    ¡°What? No!¡±

    ¡°I will do it for you, Chase. I want to clear your name, too.¡± I held his hand. ¡°Trust me on this, alright?¡±

    He gave me a stern look but nodded his head in the end. I smiled but deep inside, I was too worried that his father might have found out something about me . . . I would never let him ruin my n.

 CHAPTER FIFTEEN

    OLIVIA

    If there was one new thing I started to hate the most, I guess it would be this very moment, standing in front of the media in a four cornered conference hall, mind was haywired as I took a look at these reporters who were very eager to hear a statement from me who did not even know what to tell them.

    Looking back, I tend to admire celebrities who had so much to tell during interviews, actresses and actors intoning their speeches in a grand event hall and influencers who were making a stand in front of the media. I recalled myself wanting to be an actress before. I thought it was fun and exciting as all you had to do was unt your beauty and talent in acting on the national television, but right now, I would say that I would never dream of bing one ever again.

    The whole ce was cold, camera sh could be heard and seen in every corner of this room, blinding my eyes as those were directed at me. The bunch of reporters, that I would say around forty in number, were sitting in their seats across the stage where we were seated, with theirptops and recorders turned on, and waiting for me to start intoning my statement.

    I guess what really made me terrified was the thought that I would only cause a problem, instead of trying to fix everything. My eyes nced at Chase Maxwell, who was seated beside me.  His eyes were directed in our front, lips pressed together and had formed a thin line, and stillpletely dazzling despite his serious aura. He already taught me about what to tell these people and what should remain untold. I cheered myself inwardly, reminding myself that once we were done with this, we would meet our wedding coordinator and my n would still push through.

    You can do this, Olivia . . . You weren¡¯t born to be a weakling, I told myself.

    A few minutes passed and I felt Chase holding my hand under the table. I could feel the warmth of his hand and at some point, it made me feel at ease. We did not waste much time. The press conference had started and the reporters started to question me and Chase.  At first, I was able to answer some questions as they were just easy, however as the time passed by, the questions being thrown at me were getting too personal and were difficult to answer.

    ¡°Ms. Jones, is it true that there is a third party involved which is why you backed out from your supposed wedding with Mr. Maxwell?¡±

    I looked at Chase. I saw how his jaw clenched but then, when he gazed at me, he gave me a reassuring smile.

    ¡°We assure you that there is no third party involved. Reese went through difficult times which caused the wedding to be canceled. Once she¡¯s fully recovered, we n to push it through,¡± Chase answered for me.

    ¡°Ms. Jones, there are spections that the only reason why you want to marry Mr. Maxwell is because you want to use their power to save yourpany from its bankruptcy. What can you say about this?¡±

    ¡°That isn¡¯t true . . .¡± I answered, which I knew was a lie. ¡°There¡¯s no other reason why I want to marry Chase aside from the fact that I love him so much. Ourpany has nothing to do with our rtionship, right Chase?¡±

    Chase nodded at me then he faced the crowd. ¡°Reese is right. Our rtionship was not built out of business and despite the situation theirpany is facing right now, I will still not hesitate to marry her in the future.¡±

    ¡°And to those people who want to ruin our rtionship, I advise you to give up that stupid move because Chase and I will never break up!¡± I said. I did not mean to say it out loud but it came off that way due to the anxiety which engulfed me.

    I heard Chase chuckling softly. I gave him a wide- eyed look. It seemed that the reporters caught me making a face at him as the next thing I knew was everyoneughed as if I uttered a great joke in front of them.

    Chase intoned a few more speeches regarding the rumors spreading about me and rified that none of it were true. After that, he formally bid goodbye to the reporters. He held my hand and gestured to me to stand up. I nced at the reporters onest time, who seemed still had a lot of questions to ask. Camera shes became loud and severely blinding. Chase snake his arm around my waist and I felt his lips on my ear.

    ¡°You did well, baby,¡± he whispered and kissed my cheek.

    I could feel my face burning as I did not expect him to kiss me in front of everyone. I bet those reporters were able to capture it as they started cheering for us. I only smiled at them and then we proceeded  to exit the ce.

    I huffed with relief, one hand clutching my chest. It felt as if I just went through a circle of fire and I was at ease now that it ended.

    ¡°Do you think those rumors spreading about me will end now?¡± I asked Chase curiously.

    ¡°I suppose, Reese. But regardless of the oue of this press conference, this will be thest time you will make a statement. I know it has been quite a pressure on you and I apologize if my father forced you to do this stuff,¡± Chase remarked.

    ¡°I wanted to help you. Chase. I am just d we are done with it . . .¡± I gave him a reassuring smile.

    His bodyguards were walking with us, making sure that no one would be able toe near us, especially reporters. We headed to the parking lot and hopped into Chase¡¯s ck luxurious car.

    He put my seat belt on and gave me one sweet gaze. ¡°Now, for the exciting part . . . we will meet our wedding coordinator.¡±

    I smiled widely and hugged him. I could not contain my happiness now that everything was happening ording to my n.

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to get married to you,¡± I uttered, excitement evident on my tone.

    ¡°Should I get married today then?¡±

    We both chuckled.

    ¡°Hmm, are you that excited to be my husband?¡± I raised one brow after releasing him.

    ¡°You have no idea, Reese . . .¡± He winked at me which made me grin even more.

    ***

    The meeting with our wedding coordinator went well. I was beyond excited as we were able to choose a ce where the wedding would take ce, and Chase already hired someone who would rush my wedding gown. The wedding coordinator, whose name was Eli, pretty much covered everything and there was nothing else for me to do rather than preparing my cringe wedding vow, which I would end up searching the inte for.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    Chase sent me home and I kissed him before letting him go. I could not stop grinning and humming a melody as I walked upstairs. It was as if Heaven blessed and favored me a lot despite the fact that I was a daredevil. My imagination shed a scene where I saw myselfying down on a bed filled with money, giving me the glimpse of life I had been dreaming for.

    My phone rang just when I entered my room. When I saw that it was Lara who just called, I immediately answered her call.

    ¡°Hey!¡± I started, voice still high due to my happiness. ¡°Guess what? We met with the wedding coordinator and everything is settled! I¡¯ll be getting married this weekend! I am so excited, Lara!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s cool. I am happy for you, my dear evil friend,¡± Lara remarked but her tone sounded different.

    ¡°Hmm, you do not seem happy to me. What¡¯s up, Lara?¡± I asked curiously.

    I heard her inhaling sharply on the other line, as if she was frustrated or stressed over something, which added up to my curiosity.

    ¡°Well, I started doing some research about your favorite person, Reese Jones . . . and I found something disturbing just now.¡±

    My forehead creased after hearing what she said. I sat on the edge of my bed and paid attention to her. ¡°What do you mean disturbing, Lara?¡±

    ¡°Listen, I hired someone who used the deep web for advanced research about Reese Jones¡¯ past. Guess what? We found some copies of contents from inactive sites, and based on the contents I had gathered, it seemed that Reese had been getting death threats a few months before her supposed wedding with Chase. Another thing that caught my attention is, there is this specific blog from an unknown writer who posted things about Reese. It felt like this writer knew Reese personally. The posts were about the death threats, disturbing phone calls Reese had received from unknown callers and a lot of terrifying things. Everything is actually on the deep web . . .¡±

    My eyes widened and a gasp escaped my lips. ¡°What the hell, Lara. Do you think those you found out are true?¡±

    I heard her exhaling from the other line. ¡°I am not really sure. But my gut feeling is telling me that it had something to do with why Reese went missing.¡±

    ¡°And if it was true, who would send her death threats? That¡¯s creepy!¡± I said, feeling the goosebumps all over my skin.

    ¡°That is exactly what I felt. That¡¯s something we have to figure out ourselves.¡± She huffed out of frustration. ¡°I cannot believe I would stumble upon such hidden information though. I kind of have a feeling that Reese¡¯s situation is a lot more difficult than what we thought, Olivia. You have to be extra careful out there because if these things about death threats were true, then you might be in serious trouble. Someone out there, unscathed, was trying to go after her.¡±

    A pang of anxiety went through me. I knew to myself that I could face everything but hearing Lara¡¯s words about death threats and someone who was after Reese made my knees go jelly. I hoped that everything she found out from that deep web thing wasn¡¯t true . . . My mind started to imagine things which made me scared a little more.

    I really had to find out what happened to you, Reese Jones . . .

    ***

    Two days had passed very quickly. For a moment, I tried to focus on the wedding which would be held by tomorrow. Chase, Lara and Reese¡¯ parents werepletely excited about this most awaited event and I felt over the moon as my efforts were slowly paying off.

    Chase and I went to the boutique of the fashion designer he hired to rush my wedding gown. I was stunned the moment I firstid my eyes on the gown that I would be wearing for tomorrow.

    The white wedding dress had a plunging neckline,ce bodice and sleeves, and a full flowy skirt.  Its style looked regal but bncing both tradition and modernity touches. I looked at it with awe visible in my face.

    I never dreamed of getting married in my entire life, but seeing this wedding dress made me want to tear up even though I was all too aware that I was only doing this for money.

    ¡°Would you like to fit it?¡± Lou, the fashion designer, asked me.

    ¡°Of course!¡± I eximed.

    I nced at Chase who was sittingfortably in the visitor¡¯s lobby, eyes pinned on me with all smiles on his face.

    ¡°Will you give me a sneak peak?¡± he asked in his hopeful tone of voice.

    I stuck my tongue out to tease him but I knew to myself that this was not the right time to y hard to get. For Pete¡¯s sake, he would marry me tomorrow so being a little submissive to him would not hurt! I winked at him and then proceeded to the fitting room to wear my wedding gown.

    I wondered how much it cost? I bet it was too expensive based on its design. However, Chase was too rich to even mind the price!

    I excitedly wore the wedding gown and stepped onto the tform where there was a huge mirror for me to check myself. My mouth was left half open as soon as Iid my eyes on my own reflection from the mirror. A wide smile then escaped my lips, and I could not help but feel so emotional now that I was close to my goal.

    Reese Jones, wherever you are right now . . . please do note back just yet. Allow me to enjoy your life for a bit . . . Let me live this life that I had never experienced before . . .

    I gasped as I tried to keep my emotions under control. My goodness, it was not even a wedding which was set out of mutual love but I was already over the moon . . . how else if I would get married to the man I love?

    I pictured Chase in my mind, and in an instance, my heart raced fast. I had to admit that he was a perfect package to be someone¡¯s husband . . . I still could not believe that Reese decided to leave him. What else was there to ask for, right? He already had everything!

    I spun around, gave myself another nce and smiled in front of the mirror. I was so excited for Chase to see me wearing this gown that I opened the red curtains so that he would see me.

    However, instead of Chase, I saw Chandria standing up across the tform where I stood, arms crossed against her chest and giving me a grim expression.

    ¡°I knew it!¡± she yelled through her gritted teeth.

    The next thing happened, she ran towards me and pulled my hair tightly. I felt her nails digging deeper into my scalp while her other hand was trying to rip my wedding gown apart.

    ¡°What the hell, Chandria!¡± I tried to stop her but she was so strong that even though I pulled her hair too, she did not even flinch and still continued attacking me.

    ¡°How dare you, Reese! You don¡¯t deserve my brother, in any way! I won¡¯t allow you to marry him!¡± She was able to rip the upper part of my gown. My hand immediately held thece from its upper part or else it would strip me naked. ¡°Chandria, fuck off!¡±

    ¡°I hate you! You should have note back in my brother¡¯s life! How dare you try to brainwash my brother to secretly marry you! Our parents won¡¯t ept you no matter how you try! I assure you that!¡± she screamed and pped me on the face.

    It was such a huge blow that I ended up falling to the ground.

    ¡°Chandria!¡± I heard Chase¡¯ angry voice as he entered the boutique with Lou.

    He immediately grabbed his sister and stopped her from attacking me. My breathings were ragged as I felt the pain on my cheek. I checked my arm and found some scratches from Chandria¡¯s nails. Lou came to me and helped me stand up.

    ¡°You have no right to marry my brother! You¡¯re a cheater, a gold digger b*tch!¡± she screamed while pointing her fingers to me.

    My jaw clenched. I was not able to control myself, rushed towards her and  pped her. It was as hard as what she did to me that her head tilted and for a brief moment, she did not make any move, shock was evident on her face . . . same went with Chase and Lou.

    I inhaled sharply and red at her.  ¡°Cut the childish act, Chandria. I will no longer tolerate your damn behavior. Just because I didn¡¯t try to fight back the first time youid your fingers on me does not mean I will allow you to keep doing it to me,¡± I said and pped her face once again. I could feel the pain on my palm. ¡°If you want to y brat on me then let me tell you that you are barking at the wrong tree. You better f*ck off now while I can still control myself, my dear future sister-inw . . .¡±

 CHAPTER SIXTEEN

    OLIVIA

    ¡°You have to keep it a secret . . .¡± Chase¡¯s voice was firm and authoritative as he spoke with his evil younger sister, giving Chandria a stern and wary look.

    After the incident that happened between me and Chandria a while ago, Chase stepped in between us, forcing us not to fight anymore. Chase soothed me for a brief moment and asked Lou to help me with my ruined wedding gown¨C many thanks to Chandria Maxwell, who exerted a lot of effort to rip it apart as if that would actually cancel our wedding.

    Lou then treated my wounds,forted me, and promised that he would fix the wedding gown before the wedding tomorrow. After that, I had no other choice but to sit down beside Chase while Chandria was seated across from us.

    ¡°Chase, you are well aware that our parents arepletely against this wedding! Why the hell would you want to defy them just to be with that worthless woman?!¡± Chandria rebutted, disgust dripping every word she said.

    I could feel the anger starting to build up inside my chest because of thest two words she uttered. How dare she call me a worthless woman?!

    ¡°Mind your words, Chandria. You are referring to my fiancee, and I won¡¯t tolerate you talking ill about her,¡± Chase responded, a controlled anger was evident in his tone of voice.

    Chandria nced my way. Her grimace expression was evident and I bet she was already cursing and killing me in her mind. I rolled my eyes at her.  If not for Chase, I probably would not stop pulling and strangling her hair until she went bald. She was getting into my nerves and a brat like her should not be tolerated, in any way.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you still have that will in you to take her back after all she had done to hurt you, Chase. I bet she is only trying to manipte and use you for her own benefit, perhaps to save their sinkingpany but I am sure she doesn¡¯t love you and you have to realize that!¡±

    ¡°You have no right to judge me, Chandria,¡± I said through my gritted teeth.

    ¡°Go on and defend yourself but my impression of you will never change!¡±

    ¡°Chandria!¡± Chase¡¯ voice was like thunder. ¡°Can you please stop ruining our rtionship? I am tired of you trying to interfere with all my decisions. For once, can you please spare me a peaceful life?¡±

    I grinned inwardly when I noticed how shocked Chandria was as she looked at her brother. She pressed her lips together to form a thin line, chin and lips quivering and eyes almost teary. I could feel the satisfaction inside of me, seeing her look like a loser who was just scolded by her own brother.

    That¡¯s what she gets from being so nosy. She should have minded her own business instead of sticking her nose to something she wasn¡¯t even part of.

    She gasped, stood up and gave me a deadly re.

    ¡°I swear you are going to pay for this, Reese . . .¡± she said, on the verge of tearing up but I didn¡¯t care much and only shook my head.

    ¡°Keep it a secret, Chandria. Or else I  will forget that I have a sister like you. It¡¯s your call,¡± Chase warned her.

    Chandria didn¡¯t say anything, but I saw how her tears fell before she stormed out of the boutique.

    I heard Chase huffing out of frustration. I felt bad that he had to put up with his sister¡¯s behavior. Chandria seemed to be the kind of sister who would cause a lot of trouble. That was my first impression of her and I could confirm I was right the moment sheid her fingers on me. I hoped not to see her anymore because I couldn¡¯t stand her wicked behavior, but I guess it was one wishful thinking because no matter how bad she could get towards me, she was still Chase¡¯s sister and there would be times that I had to see her¨C fuck family thing . . .

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry you have to go through such difficult situations because of me, Chase,¡± I uttered and faked a sad voice.

    Our eyes met and I instantly felt bad when I saw the glimpse of pain in his eyes. I let out a sigh and patted his back. ¡°Thank you for protecting me from your sister. That alone was enough for me to put my trust in you.¡±

    ¡°I will never let anyone hurt you, Reese. Not even my own family. I promise,¡± he said and kissed my forehead. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    He began checking my arms which had cuts. It was a good thing that Lou had a first aid kit here. He cleansed my wounds, put an ointment on it and covered it with band aids.

    ¡°They don¡¯t hurt anymore. It¡¯s fine, Chase,¡± I assured him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this will be thest time Chandria will be able toe near you. Once we are married, we¡¯ll move into our own house.¡±

    I eyed him with curiosity. ¡°Our own house?¡±

    He then caressed my hair and gave me a genuine smile. ¡°I can¡¯t let you stay with Chandria and my parents in one home so we¡¯ll have our own.¡±

    ¡°Sounds interesting,¡± I responded and hugged him tightly. ¡°For as long as you are with me, I¡¯m fine to live anywhere.¡± Again, it was a lie because I would never live under the same roof with Chandria, not even with his parents!

    ***

    And the most awaited day arrived . . . the day I would marry the famous billionaire, Chase Maxwell.

    Wearing my repaired wedding gown, a veil on my head and a bouquet of flowers on my hands, I walked on the aisle as a romantic piano piece was being yed.

    My heart was pounding aggressively in every step I made. We decided to go for a civil wedding, wherein Reese¡¯ parents and Lara were the only ones invited as sole witnesses to this event. But despite the simplicity, I felt as if I was floating in the air, and an unknown happiness went through me.

    A few steps away from me, there I saw Chase, wearing his white tux and smile that could sway every woman who would see him. I could see the tension rising in his every gesture but overall, he seemed happy, excited and satisfied all at the same time.  I smiled at him, and he did the same with his eyes almost getting teary.

    Mrs. Jones was crying beside me, while Mr. Jones was silent the whole time. They were with me as I walked on the aisle and when I finally stood up in front of Chase, I then kissed them both on their cheeks.

    ¡°Hi,¡± Chase greeted me, voice was husky and a bit shaking.

    I chuckled. ¡°Hi . . .¡±

    He reached for my hand, stood next to each other as we turned to the judge who would facilitate our civil wedding.

    A spike of fear and excitement engulfed my entire system. As I listened to the judge intoning his speeches for this ceremony, I couldn¡¯t help but imagine myself living the rich life I had dreamed of. That, out of any, was the most important thing to me. People could call me names, and gods could judge me all they wanted, but the devil in me won¡¯t flinch even for a bit.

    I realized that my poor life developed me into someone who had lost her conscience a long time ago and would do everything to survive, even if it takes deceiving people.

    No one could ever judge my actions as first off, they didn¡¯t know where I wasing from.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    ¡°Chase Maxwell, do you take Reese Jones, to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage?  Do you promise to love her,fort her, honor and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live?¡± the judge asked Chase.

    My heart was pounding aggressively as I stared at Chase¡¯ oceanic eyes that were pinned on me.

    ¡°I do . . .¡± he answered, which made me feel an unnamed emotion within me.

    I was asked the same question. For a moment, I had second thoughts as my conscience had awakened and was trying to ruin my n. But then, when I heard Lara¡¯s whispers, telling me toe back to my senses, I then recalled our goal which was the main reason why I decided to go through this.

    ¡°I do,¡± I answered softly. Chase smiled at me and held my hand and somehow I felt at ease.

    After exchanging I do¡¯s, the judge let us read our personal vows . . . I was teary-eyed when Chase read his, while mine was obviously something I got from the inte but despite it, he seemed very happy and satisfied.

    ¡°Chase, you may now kiss the bride . . .¡±

    When the judge announced it being thest part of the wedding, Chase stepped closer to me, held the hem of my veil and slowly removed it. We were both smiling at each other, eyes both could not look away as he leaned forward and gave me a soft kiss on my lips.  I heard Mrs. Jones and Lara both cheering for us two who appeared to be very happy at the moment.

    ¡°Mine . . .¡± I heard Chase murmur under his breath after kissing me.

    I smiled widely and clung my arms around his neck. ¡°All yours, Chase . . .¡±

    We took a couple of formal photos and all the time Chase had been so sweet and romantic to me. On the other hand, Lara found a way to tease me when my husband was busy with our marriage certificate.

    ¡°Congrattions, Mrs. Maxwell . . .¡± she said meaningfully and wiggled her eyebrows.

    I gave him a wide-eyed look and rolled it at her after. She chuckled and clung into my arm. ¡°If I didn¡¯t know anything, I would really think that you¡¯re madly in love with Chase. Your acting is superb,¡± she said in a hushed voice.

    ¡°I am in love with his money,¡± I rified. ¡°So my acting has to be real.¡±

    ¡°Guard your heart, my dear evil friend. You¡¯ll never know what will happen in the future,¡± she remarked yfully and kissed my cheek.

    I shook my head. Lara really loved to specte. I looked over at Chase. Even though the wedding was over, her whole physique was still fresh, alluring and super dazzling. As my gaze pinned longer on him, I could feel the heaviness inside my chest.

    I huffed out of frustration. Lara¡¯s words kept repeating in my mind. It wasn¡¯t possible to like this man as he had everything, and his behavior was likable but I didn¡¯t want to do something that would only ruin my n.

    After signing our marriage certificates, we bid our goodbye to the judge who helped us with the ceremony. Everyone of us were all smiles and radiating joy and hope, not until the double door opened and we saw Chase¡¯s parents who were wearing their grimace expression.

    Mrs. Jones, including Lara and I screamed and panicked when Uncle Ernest rushed towards Chase and punched him straight in his face. Anxiety went through me. Clutching my chest as I felt a pang inside of it, all I could do was watch how Chase¡¯ father started beating him. It was as if my feet were glued on the floor, chills running through my veins, knees went jelly and my vision slowly turned into pitch ck.

    Bodyguards as well as the securities entered and tried to stop Chase and his father from their fight.

    ¡°Ch-Chase . . .¡± I tried so hard to call his name but it seemed that my voice would not cooperate.

    I couldn¡¯t even breathe. I gasped numerous times, and I felt my lungs running out of air. I tripped, and the next thing I knew was I felt my whole body on the floor, slowly shutting my eyes to enter the darkness . . .

 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

    OLIVIA

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t be the person you want me to be . . .¡± I said those hurtful words to a man, resulting in him turning his back on me and slowly walking away.

    Then I was left alone. In the middle of the darkness, I was standing in my ce watching the familiar shape of a man fading away into the thin air.

    I gasped as I opened my eyes from what seemed to be the longest sleep I made. Mouth half opened, I looked at the bright light shining through the ceiling.

    ¡°Did you have a dream, Olivia?¡± I muttered under my breath and swallowed hard. It did not feel like a dream. It was more like a nightmare¨C a nightmare wherein Chase had finally discovered my identity and my response to the situation was those hurtful words I recalled before I woke up.  Beads of sweat dripped from my forehead. I got rid of that nightmare in my head, tried to move my body but all I felt was as if I was put on top of a big ice brick.

    The room was neat,  walls were painted white as well as the ceiling and it smelled like medicine. It was so cold that I really wanted to eat some noodles or some hot rice porridge to recover from such coldness.

    I rose from the bed. The door opened and I saw Mrs. Jones, Chase and the doctor entered the room and rushed towards me with the evident concerns on their faces.

    ¡°Why am I here in the hospital?¡± I asked upon realizing that I was in the hospital based on the medical equipment resting on the side of my bed. ¡°Do I have some serious illness? Am I going to die?¡±

    ¡°Reese!¡± Mrs. Jones¡¯ voice seemed terrified with my statement.

    ¡°M-Mom . . . why am I here? What happened?¡± I then nced at Chase. ¡°Chase, how are you? Uncle Ernest-¡±

    Before I could finish the things I wanted to say, Chase pulled me for an embrace.  I stiffened at that moment, my mind was clouded with unanswered questions as to why I woke up lying in a freaking hospital bed. Despite the confusion, I managed to hug him back. Mrs. Jones only watched us, who seemed very pleased to see me awakened and alive.

    ¡°I am d that you finally woke up. You made me worry,¡± Chase uttered, sighing with relief.  He then released me and caressed my hair. Our gaze locked and I could see the mild bruises at the corner of his lips. My hand instantly touched it as the memory of how his father beat him to death shed in my mind vividly.

    ¡°Uncle Ernest found out, Chase. He hurt you . . .¡±

    ¡°You do not need to think about it right now, baby. I am alright,¡± he assured me.

    ¡°I am sorry you had to go through such a situation because of me. I cannot remember what happened next after seeing you getting beaten up by your father. I would like to know what happened . . .¡± I inquired in a low tone of voice, as I was still unable to talk clearly at this point.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°You copsed, Reese. You were unconscious for almost half a day. All of us were worried about you. I am so relieved that you finally woke up,¡± Chase exined.

    ording to the doctor, I had suffered from an episode of panic attack after seeing Chase get hurt. He then took my vital signs, which revealed that my heart rate has returned to normal. My breathing appeared to be normal too, which was a good thing as I recalled running out of oxygen before I passed out after the incident that happened between Chase and his father.

    The doctor wrote a prescription for certain medicines I had to take for seven days¨C vitamins and a medication for normal blood cirction as I had low blood pressure.  Overall, my doctor informed me that I was already in good condition and that I should be allowed to go home with my family¨C I did not know why that word gave me chills all over.

    They paid the hospital bills, and after a while, Chase told me that we would stay in our new house. I was really taken aback that he had already bought a home for us that fast. When we were already out of the hospital, we stopped in a nearby restaurant for a quickte dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Jones before heading back home.

    ¡°Thank you for entrusting your daughter to me,¡± Chase said. I nced at him who was seated next to me. His eyes were radiating joy and sincerity. I could see that he was too emotional at the moment, based on the expression on his face. Even though this day did not end so well due to the fact that his parents made amotion at our wedding, he was still thankful that we were able to get married, atst.

    ¡°We are the ones who are supposed to thank you, Chase. I understand that this is difficult for you, especially in light of the situation at your wedding,¡± Mrs. Jones responded, her voice quivering as she continued, ¡°Just please take good care of our daughter, Chase.  I am so delighted that you two finally got married, and you are officially part of our family. I could not ask for more, honestly.¡±

    Chase rose from his seat, smiled, and embraced her, as well as Mr. Jones, who was sitting next to Mrs. Jone.

    ¡°Please ept this as our wedding gift,¡± Mr. Jones remarked as he handed some keys to Chase, who thanked him. ¡°These are keys for a family-owned yacht and several luxury automobiles we had.¡± Mr. Jones chuckled a bit. ¡°I know it is nothing inparison to what you have but for a minor fraction, it is for us to say thank you for marrying Reese,¡± he added.

    Chase gave me a sideways nce before returning his attention to the keys that were handed to him by Mr. Jones.

    ¡°I am sorry but I am afraid I won¡¯t be able to ept these gifts for free . . . I know the situation of yourpany and I n to do a lot of things so that everything will be back on track. That includes buying these assets for you to liquidate them,¡± Chase exined in detail.

    Mr. and Mrs. Jones looked at each other, shocked after hearing those words from my husband. After a few seconds, they smiled.

    ¡°Thank you so much, Chase!¡± they said in chorus, their voices heightened with a tone of delight.

    ¡°No need to thank me. I will do everything that I can to help you since you are already my family as well,¡± he exined.

    Mr. and Mrs. Jone could not contain their happiness so they embraced Chase. After a couple of seconds, Mrs. Jones went to me and kissed me on my forehead.  ¡°Reese, be a great wife to your husband!¡± she whispered to me.

    ¡°Reese, make us proud. From now on, you will be called Mrs. Maxwell!¡± Mr. Jones added.

    We had a moment in the restaurant and after that, we parted ways. Mr. and Mrs. Jones hopped into their car while Chase and I drove the way to our new home.

    ¡°So where is our new home located?¡± I asked curiously during the drive.

    ¡°Let me surprise you,¡± he responded and gave me a wink. I shook my head but still smiled at him.

    To be honest, I was not a huge fan of surprises especially if it ended up giving me a total shock rather than a moment of happiness. But seeing Chase who seemed to work hard to surprise his wife, who was I not to go along with his game?

    ¡°By the way, I haven¡¯t seen Lara in the hospital before. Was she alright?¡± I asked as I remembered my best friend.

    ¡°She left earlier while you were unconscious. Don¡¯t worry, I had someone drive her to her apartment.¡±

    I took a deep breath and I was  d that my best friend was fine. I did remember that she needed to check up on her son. I had already bothered her too much . . .

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Lara, I repay you for all of your sacrifices,¡± I mumbled to myself.

    ¡°Did you say something?¡± he questioned when he nced at me.

    I just gave him a sweet smile.

    ¡°Nothing Daddy!¡± I said in a seductive voice that made him grin widely.

    ¡°I see that you are getting excited, why? Is it because we are already married? Or is it because your dirty sl*t called you daddy?¡± I asked and chuckled.

    He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, still with a wide grin stered on his lips.

    It was a good thing that his mind had been switched into something. Now, to give an emphasis to my act, I gave him a peck on his cheek that made him blushed a bit.

    ¡°You are so cute, Chase. I cannot wait for us to get home,¡± I said in a soft tone.

    I then put my hands on hisp and gently rubbed his thighs.  I saw him licking his lips. I then stopped for him to want some more. It was only a teaser for Chase Maxwell. After that, I gave him a wink and I saw how he was trying to keep his cool which made me chuckle a bit. To my surprise, he drove so fast, and the excitement was evident in his eyes.

 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

    OLIVIA

    I was on the verge of dropping my jaw as I took in the breathtaking mansion in front of me. It was a massive, two-story mansion that exudes luxury. It was constructed with modern masonry in a rustic design, and almost all of the windows were made of expensive ss. From where I was standing, I could see the interior designs from the inside, which I thought were extremely expensive.

    As I scanned the area, I noticed that the mansion stood in the middle of a vast field of bermuda grass, with a pine tree on its right side and ake on its left side. The entire area was extremely calming and pleasant. The breeze was very soothing and invigorating. This location was, without a doubt, ideal for someone looking to unwind!

    I felt warm arms embrace me from behind. Chase buried his face in my neck. I tilted my head and held his arms that were around my wrapped waist. I could not help but be amazed at the things this good-looking billionaire could do. I bet he could even get the stars from the night sky just to please his beloved Reese Jones! A woman who is extremely fortunate

    ¡°Do you like it?¡± he whispered to my ear. His cool mint breath sent shivers down my spine, yet it was veryforting.

    ¡°No, I love it!¡± I eximed. ¡°Is this really ours?¡± I asked him and checked over my shoulder to meet his oceanic pair of eyes.

    ¡°We own it, baby,¡± he answered with a smile and kissed me on my cheek, which made me smile a bit. ¡°This will be our new home, the same ce where we will start making our own family. You and me, and our future children. I feel so excited just by thinking about it. This is the most satisfying phase of my life.¡±

    A pang of anxiety slowly went through me. Chase seemed to be hoping for a lot of things to happen in the future. I was not even sure if I would be able to stay with him for that long. After all, this was just a pure act for the sake of me having a life I dreamed of and of course, a huge amount of money.  I should not feel so guilty about this; however, hearing Chase¡¯ hopes and dreams did make me feel so bad. I hoped Reese would note back, yet . . . wherever she was hiding, I hoped she just stayed that way. I could pretend to be a great wife for Chase during the process. Reese did not need to go back just yet to ruin my n.

    ¡°How about your family, Chase?¡± I asked worriedly and turned around so I could face him better.

    He was still hugging me when he sighed. I saw a glimpse of dismay in his eyes, perhaps because of how his parents acted after our wedding. In fact, I would feel the same, if I did have real parents and would object to my marriage. I mean, why would parents ever hurt their children that way?

    ¡°They can no longer interfere with our rtionship, Reese. Not even Chandria, I promise you that . . . You no longer have to worry about them. I will make sure they won¡¯t be able toe near you.¡±

    ¡°But your rtionship with them will be ruined, Chase.¡±

    ¡°They are the ones who ruined it first. This is my life and I decide who I want to share it with. It is not something they can interfere with. No matter what they do, I will still protect you and our rtionship. Got that?¡± he said and caressed my cheek as he looked at me intently.

    I could have sworn that I felt the sincerity and determination from Chase¡¯s deep tone of voice. It spoke of promise that for a moment, I felt very secure, a woman who was truly loved by a man who would do everything and anything for her and by that, my heart could not stop from pounding aggressively.

    Even though my mind was yelling at me, telling me to look away and get rid of this madness inside my chest, it seemed to me that my entire body had its life on its own. I could not even break our goddamn eye contact.

    I nodded at him, lips curled for a smile as I looked at his bewitching eyes . . .

    You better stop drooling over this guy, Olivia!

    ¡°I love you so much, my wife . . .¡± he said those words, which made my heart skip its beat.

    He then leaned down on me and kissed me on the lips. My eyes instantly shut and kissed him back. We kissed for only a minute and then he hugged me right after. I was all too aware that he was bing so emotional and yes, clingy, but despite that, I did not feel ufortable whenever he was around. I guess I was getting used to Chase¡¯ presence.

    We went inside the mansion and I was astounded as my eyes wandered at every corner of the ce.  It was really beautiful from the outside but was even more stunning from the inside.  I could not believe I would get the chance to live in such a luxurious house. This was just a hopeless dream before!

    I screamed when I felt my body float in the air. I just realized that Chase carried me all of a sudden, typically a married couple thing during the first night after the wedding!

    ¡°Chase!¡± I warned him as he was wearing a devilish grin.

    ¡°I bet it is time for our honeymoon . . . shall we, wife?¡± He tilted his head as he asked me that question.

    I felt a familiar tension building up within my body, most especially at its most private part. My cheeks heated in shame upon the realization that I was also anticipating that part of this whole thing!

    But I did not want to be such a hypocrite? Who was I to even refuse this hottie carrying me?

    I raised my brow and smirked at him. ¡°Are you looking forward to it?¡±

    ¡°Damn yes . . .¡± he said huskily.

    He did not waste any time and walked me to the bedroom which was located on the second floor. My mouth was half opened when we entered the room. It was too cozy with its rustic design, and had a wide space. The master¡¯s bedroom was ced on the center part, while across it were the couches . . . then there was a firece next to it, a chandelier in the ceiling, arge television and ss windows . . .

    ¡°This is wonderful, Chase . . .¡± Those words were the only thing I could utter when he put me down. I walked around, truly amazed at how cool our bedroom was.

    ¡°Anything for my wonderful wife,¡± he replied as he walked towards me.

    He pulled me close to him and without any second thoughts, he leaned down to im my lips. We started with one passionate kiss, which gradually elevated to a rough kissing. Our bodies were pinned to each other, hands traveling around each other¡¯s backs while devouring each other¡¯s mouth as if we could not get enough of it.

    I tiptoed and wrapped my other hand around his nape to deepen the kiss. I willingly opened my mouth when I felt his tongue trying to part my lips. The way his tongue tasted every corner of my mouth felt so hot that I could feel the tension rising all over my body.

    I could really tell that my heart was thumping so loud inside my chest. It was as if my rib cage was about to get broken because of it. Whenever Chase¡¯s warm palms touched my back, caressing my hips and my behind, it felt like an electrifying bolt was running through my veins and I could do nothing aside to surrender as my body wanted it so badly.

    ¡°Chase . . .¡± I called him softly in between our kisses.

    He stopped kissing me for a moment, letting me catch my breath . . . our eyes were locked to each other, and his eyes were radiating a familiar desire, lust and affection, the same emotions I had seen back in the motel when I seduced him.

    ¡°You are so beautiful, Reese . . .¡± he whispered softly. ¡°I am afraid I will never get enough of you tonight.¡±

    ¡°I am all yours now, Chase,¡± I said under my breath. ¡°You can do anything to me. I will be submissive, if you like.¡±

    ¡°You better be, wife . . .¡± He smiled. ¡°Now, put your hands up.¡±

    I did what I was told. I felt a ticklish feeling down there when he held the hem of the fitted white dress I was wearing. He pulled it upwards to undress me and I was left with my underwear. I swallowed hard when his hand caressed my left breast, without even breaking our eye contact. He then squeezed it tightly that made me let out a soft moan.

    ¡°Damn it,¡± he uttered a curse and then pulled me closer to him.

    I felt his hard shaft poking my belly. Heat started to engulf my entire body, my mind was haywired with sultry thoughts and all I wanted was to be bedded by him.

    ¡°Make love to me, Chase . . . I want you, now . . .¡± I said, and could not even recognize my own voice.

    ¡°You do not need to ask, wife. I will make love to you until I am sated,¡± he responded and imed my lips once again.

    All I could feel was my body burning with desire. I pinned my body to him and let out moans when he started sucking my lower lip. I arched my back, shut my eyes and surrendered to the intense sensation.

    We walked to the bed and the next thing I knew was he was already on top of me, pounding on me like a rabid animal mating to his prey. I lost count on how many times my eyes rolled back because of the mixed in and pleasure while weing each thrust he made in my inside. I just found myself wanting more of him and screaming his name for the countless climaxes I had . . .

    Chase Maxwell was indeed great at everything . . . even in bed, there was no way I would deny that. He was a freaking sex master that made me reach pleasures in all level.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

 CHAPTER NINETEEN

    OLIVIA

    It has been two weeks since I married Chase Maxwell, and I would say that it was the best decision I ever made because I have had the opportunity to live a luxurious lifestyle that I never imagined would be possible for me. I had to admit that it was a little surreal. It was no longer necessary for me to perform endlessly on stage, seduce old hags in exchange for tips, or endure the daily battles that constantly reminded me of my traumatic past. I was finally able to say goodbye to the pitiful life I had previously led.

    Now, all I had to do was seduce one man, and that man happened to be none other than my husband, Chase Maxwell. It was such an easy job that paid very well. I would wake up in the morning and provide him with morning kisses, making him feel loved all the damn time, even though it was just an act, so he would not act suspicious of me, taking good care of him and, most importantly, performing my duties as a good wife who understood him better than anyone else in this world. I could easily get what I wanted from him¨C money ¨Cas long as I was good and treated him right.

    ¡°So, how is it to be the wife of the super famous Chase Maxwell?¡± Lara asked curiously with a mischievous smile stered on her face.

    Today was Friday, and I decided to pay Lara a visit in her apartment so that we could discuss her ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Reese Jones, the princess who went missing. So far, I would say that the past two weeks have provided me with a wealth of information about her. Lara had worked extremely hard to gather some important information about my favorite person, and this information proved to be extremely useful when I pretended to be her.

    I rolled my eyes at Lara, joined her on the couch and huffed out loud. We were the only ones in her apartment at the moment. Her son went to school and his nanny took a one week leave.

    ¡°Well, amazing, I guess?¡± I replied, which came off more like a question. ¡°Aside from the fact that he always gives me money, Chase is such a romantic guy that I am having a lot of fun pretending to be in love with him whenever he is around. You know, like a real wife who is deeply in love with her husband.¡±

    Lara grinned widely, throwing me a malicious look like what she usually did whenever we met and had serious conversations.

    ¡°Putting on an act, I see . . .¡± Her voice sounded like she was not convinced.

    ¡°Like what I have been telling you all the time!¡± I snorted but she only shook her head while grinning.

    ¡°I don¡¯t get why you are so into such an idea that there is something real going on between the two of us. I do not like nor love him, okay?¡± I rified.

    ¡°Are you not even attracted to him? He is such a hottie so if you would be honest, I will definitely understand. I, too, find Chase hot and desirable!¡±

    My eyes widened with what she said. ¡°What did you say? Did you just low-key admit that you are lusting after my husband?¡±

    She leaned forward and raised one brow. ¡°Why? Are you even bothered? You said you do not like him!¡±

    ¡°Fine! Then lust after him all you want. At the end of the day, the crown is still on me as I am his wife.¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    Laraughed out loud, and all I could do was scoff at her. She really loved teasing me when it came to my rtionship with Chase. I could not understand why she was so invested in questioning my feelings towards that man. Even though I already told her that Chase was not my type- well, alright, maybe he was my type, but just a little bit- she kept being so nosy, assuming things that were not true and would never happen.

    ¡°Anyway, my dear evil friend . . .¡± She stoppedughing and cleared her throat. ¡°If you are engaged in frequent sexual intercourse with your husband, you have to be extra careful. I will tell you that thest thing you want to happen is to get impregnated by your husband, knowing that you are only pretending to be the love of his life. Is he even using condoms? Or are you taking contraceptives?¡±

    I was stunned for a moment. I recalled those instances where Chase and I had sexual intercourse multiple timesst week. We did it twice this week too, and damn it! I could have sworn that Chase was all bare when we did it. Worst of all, I did not even take any contraceptives!

    Dang!

    I caught my breath. In one instance, I felt a surge of worry go through my nerves. I was not the kind of woman who was very mindful about my safest days . . . I bit my lower lip and muttered a curse.

    Lara gave me a wide-eyed look. I frowned, which made her palm her face out of frustration.

    ¡°Seriously, Olivia?!¡± she yelled at me, totally bewildered.

    I did not need to say it at all. I knew that the expression of my face answered her questions already.

    ¡°Do not be mad at me, alright? I will be more careful the next time-¡±

    ¡°Are you out of your freaking mind? You just had unprotected sex with your husband! What would you do if you got pregnant?! May I remind you that this is just an act, Olivia!¡± she said, cutting me off.

    She was right. I was a total idiot for engaging in such an activity. Now, I would have to pray to gods and even deities just to help me prevent the very worst case scenario. Getting pregnant was not part of my n!

    ¡°I-I will take contraceptives starting today. I promise!¡± I responded, raising my right hand as if I was reciting a goddamn oath.

    ¡°You better pray so hard, Olivia. I cannot believe you forgot about your safety. Is he really that great in bed?!¡± she said sarcastically.

    My cheeks flushed. ¡°Lara, stop it, will you! I am sorry, alright? I will use contraceptives from now on. Stop talking about pregnancy. That word alone is sending me chills all over!¡±

    ¡°You have to be really nervous!¡± She rolled her eyes while shaking her head. ¡°I swear you would not want to end up being a single mother.¡±

    ¡°I know, thanks for reminding me . . .¡± I pouted my lips.

    Lara may be harsh, but all the words she said were true, and even though she talked very harshly to me, I was all too aware that she was concerned about me. Since I was only pretending to be Reese Jones, getting pregnant was one of the things I should have prevented from happening, as I knew that once Chase found out that I was a different person, I would only end up raising the baby alone. I already knew where it would lead me.

    Who would ept a child whose mother was a con artist anyway? I sighed at that thought.

    Around afternoon, when Lara started discussing her ongoing investigation regarding Reese Jones. I was all ears while watching her, trying to digest every detail she had found out with the help of a geek he hired to assist her.

    ¡°Take a look at this.¡± She handed me a printed copy of the blog post she found weeks ago. Lara mentioned that the said blog site was already turned down, and they were just lucky to find copies of its content somewhere on the deep web.

    I looked at the paper and read the whole content. The writer did not literally mention Reese¡¯s name, but based on how she described the subject of the content- a swimmer athlete who was rumored to wed a top-notch billionaire- she was really referring to Reese Jones. ording to the content, Reese had been getting death threats, and a lot of times she saw her being extra conscious about her surroundings as if she thought that someone was following her. The writer also indicated such events where Reese made a fuss in front of the crowd, crying for no reason and silently seeking help through eye contact.

    I swallowed so hard. I could feel the anxiety building up inside my chest after reading the content. It was, indeed, disturbing. I could not help but feel concerned about Reese.

    ¡°It was posted a week before Reese had gone missing,¡± Lara added, crossing her arms on her chest, looking directly at me as she stood up across the couch where I was seated.

    ¡°Do you really think that the writer knew Reese personally?¡± I asked.

    She clicked her tongue. ¡°My gut feeling said so. Given that she wrote a lot of things about Reese, I did feel that she knew her or probably was close to her. A friend, maybe? But I am not really sure, Liv.¡±

    ¡°Will there be a chance for us to locate the writer? I think she could give us more details about what really happened to Reese.¡±

    ¡°I tried though, but even the deep web was not able to save some information about the writer. All we know is her pen name, Jeen Se Rose.¡±

    ¡°Jeen Se Rose . . . would you be able to hire someone who can help us find a lead about this writer?¡± I asked her curiously.

    Lara¡¯s brows furrowed. After a while, she shook her head, as if she was telling me that what I wanted was too impossible.

    ¡°It will cost a lot of time and money, Olivia,¡± she replied hesitantly.

    I let out a sigh and stood up. ¡°Lara, I do not care how much it costs. We just need to find this writer, as she may be able to give us the answers we need. I will wire the money to your bank ount. Please, try to find someone, a private investigator perhaps, to help you with this. Can you please help me?¡±

    ¡°The amount of money to get someone to work their ass off to find this person is huge as a mountain. Are you sure, Liv?¡±

    I smirked at her. ¡°Money is not a big deal anymore. I am Mrs. Maxwell now, remember?¡±

    ¡°Ooh, alright then!¡± She grinned widely. ¡°Why are you so invested in finding this writer anyway? Do you really want to find Reese? It will only cause more trouble if she gets back, just so you know.¡±

    ¡°I am not trying to locate her to beg for her toe back. I just want to know what really happened to her . . . if she was still alive or¨C¡± I paused as I could not say those words. ¡°You know, the worst-case scenario given that she had experienced receiving such death threats.¡±

    ¡°You have a point. What she experienced was truly terrifying,¡± Lara remarked and embraced herself as she seemed to have goose bumps while thinking about Reese.

    ¡°You are the only person I can depend on with this matter, Lara. Do everything you can and do not forget the one and only golden rule . . .¡± I said.

    She nodded. ¡°Yeah, do not get caught. I already knew that. You have nothing to worry about, Liv. I am very cautious about this. Anyway, I will work on this as soon as possible so I can send you a new report.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Lara. You are the best.¡±

    I huffed a breath. Honestly, I was not really sure why I was doing all these¨C trying to get information rted to Reese and investigate what really happened to her. I could not tell whether I was threatened that anytime she would show up and take everything back from me or I grew fond of her as the time passed by when I was pretending to be her. All the more, I would not be at ease until I found the real reason behind her disappearance.

    Dead or alive, I must find her . . .

 CHAPTER TWENTY

    OLIVIA

    After meeting Lara in her apartment, I went to the Jones¡¯ residence to visit Reese¡¯s mother. It had only been two weeks, yet I could not deny that I missed Mrs. Jones so much. I was well aware that I should not be attached to them, but no matter how I tried to control my emotions and reminded myself that they weren¡¯t my real family, my heart as well as my mind yearned for parents like them.

    Perhaps because I grew up in an orphanage and did not get a chance to meet my biological parents, nor was I adopted by some great family who would treat me like their own child, which was why I craved a parent¡¯s love and affection. But regardless of how I felt towards them, it was part of my obligation to stay connected with them since I was ying the role of their missing daughter.

    ¡°Oh, my goodness, sweetheart! I missed you so much!¡±

    Mrs. Jones embraced me tightly as soon as she saw me standing in the living room, waiting for her.

    ¡°I missed you too, Mom. How are you? Where¡¯s Dad?¡± I asked with a smile stered on my face.

    I could see the joy radiating to Mrs. Jones¡¯ eyes when she released me. Caressing my face, she smiled sweetly at me and said, ¡°I am a little bit sad that you are not living here with us anymore but I am happy whenever I think about how happy you are with your married life. Anyway, your dad is in the office. I want to thank your husband for helping him save ourpany.¡±

    ¡°Mom, Chase is a kind man. He promised me that he will help us and there is no reason for him not to fulfill it. I am d that he is already helping Dad.¡±

    ¡°I just wish that Ernest will spare the both of you a peaceful life. I am still worried that he might do something worse to his son, or to you, once he finds out that Chase is behind the progress of ourpany.¡±

    ¡°You have nothing to worry about, Mom. Chase and I will handle his father.¡±

    We then walked to the garden. Mrs. Jones kept asking a lot of questions about how I felt now that I was living with the man of my dreams. I bet she was too excited to hear some stories from her daughter. I wondered if Reese always told her a lot of things or got some girl¡¯s talk with her mother. I thought it was cool to be able to share things with your mother, who was deeply invested in hearing all your stories and thoughts about life, and so, even though I was not sure whether Reese was a person who shared things with her mother, I still followed my heart and shared my thoughts with Mrs. Jones. She looked very happy, and her smile didn¡¯t fade away as she listened to me.

    ¡°Let this be a reminder for you, sweetheart. Whatever happens, may it be an argument or if ever you find yourselves in a veryplicated situation, you should always follow what your heart tells you, as it knows what will make you happy. At the end of the day, we all crave for happiness, and that is the most important thing in the world. Even money could not buy that,¡± she exined.

    I smiled at Mrs. Jones. Her words of advice were simple, yet they hit me to the core in a hard way. Even money could not buy happiness . . . I believe we have different perspectives in life, and I had to admit that I thought the opposite, but something inside of me felt a little amount of pain, which was too unfamiliar.

    I used to hate that saying, as money was everything for someone like me who grew up in a very poor environment, but the way Mrs. Jones said those words, it felt as if there was a deeper meaning behind that simple phrase, that there was something more relevant that could give someone happiness apart from the money itself. I brushed that thought away from my head. Money was still my everything . . .

    ¡°Sweetheart? Are you alright?¡±

    I came back to my senses and blinked several times before I nced over at Mrs. Jones. Her eyes looked at me curiously. It was as if she was puzzled yet a bit intrigued about what was whirling through my head.

    ¡°N-Nothing. Mom. Thank you so much for the word of wisdom,¡± I said sweetly which made her chuckle. ¡°I assure you that I will be a great wife to Chase. I will follow all your advice and will live a happy life with him.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s  a relief, Reese, and I can¡¯t wait to have a grandchild. I am not getting younger anymore so if it isn¡¯t too much to ask, better hurry and get pregnant!¡± she eximed andughed.

    ¡°Mom, we just got married two days ago. You can¡¯t expect a child that quick!¡± I hissed but then Iughed with her.

    ¡°I am just kidding, hun. But you know what? I will be the happiest mom in the whole world once you tell me that you¡¯re carrying a baby in your womb. I am so excited . . .¡±

    I nodded with a smile. ¡°No worries, mom. When I find out that I am pregnant, you will be the first person to know!¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    ¡°I can go by the second. Chase should know it first once it happens!¡±

    We shared moreughter and continued our conversation like real mother and daughter do.

    ***

    It was almost five o¡¯clock in the afternoon when I decided to visit Chase in his office instead of going home. I would like us to have dinner at a fancy restaurant as ever since we got married, we hadn¡¯t had a chance to eat outside.  I bet my husband would feel so giddy once he saw me visiting him.

    As soon as I entered thepany building, I was greeted by the employees. Days after we got married, the news started circting all over the country like a dangerous wildfire. I thought it was necessary to hide it at first, but since his parents were already aware about our civil wedding, Chase did not bother to stop the news from being aired in the media anymore. He said that it was just a waste of time as we did not need to hide it from anyone. He was even taking advantage of that opportunity as he did not want any men toe near me. He was that possessive of me.

    As expected, a staff member assisted me and let me use the special elevator that would send me to the floor where Chase¡¯ office was. While waiting for the elevator to stop on the right floor, I leaned my back on the wall, took mypact mirror and red lipstick from my back and applied it on my lips.

    When we reached the right floor, the staff member led the way and I was weed by Debby, Chase¡¯s secretary.

    ¡°Good afternoon, Mrs. Maxwell,¡± she greeted me with all smiles.

    My heart skipped a beat upon hearing what she just called me.

    Mrs. Maxwell . . . That name sounded like a damn rich wife!

    ¡°Good afternoon, Debby. It is nice seeing you again. How are you?¡± I asked politely, since I was in a good mood after she called me Mrs. Maxwell.

    ¡°I am doing great, Mrs. Maxwell. Your expression is radiating with so much joy. I am happy that Mr. Maxwell and you are already married,¡± she responded sincerely.

    ¡°Thank you so much! Now that my husband was mentioned, may I know if he is in his office? I want to visit him.¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± Debby  looked at the double doors of Chase¡¯s office, which made me do the same before I nced back at her, waiting for her answer.

    ¡°He is actually in the middle of something right now, Mrs. Maxwell . . .¡± Debby informed me and all of  a sudden she could not stare at me in the eyes.

    My brows furrowed. Looking at Debby, it seemed like there was something going on in Chase¡¯s office that I should not know.

    ¡°In the middle of something, you meant a meeting?¡± I questioned her.

    ¡°Y- Yeah . . . It is a meeting, Mrs. Maxwell. If you want, I can assist you in the executive waiting room and I will let Mr. Maxwell know that you are here as soon as his meeting is done,¡± she suggested.

    ¡°Good idea.¡± I smiled at her then got rid of that second thought that Chase¡¯s secretary was hiding something from me.

    She led the way and I was about to follow her when I heard a woman¡¯s sl*tty scream which came from Chase¡¯s office.  I stopped for a moment and nced at the double doors, forehead creasing as to why there was a woman screaming inside my husband¡¯s office.

    I turned to Debby and I noticed that her mouth was half opened, body seemed to be a little uneasy and was avoiding my gaze. I raised my brow, pressed my lips together to form a thin line. Without any hesitation, I stormed into Chase¡¯s office. I heard Debby calling my name but I did not stop for a bit.

    I pushed the double doors open. My eyes widened, followed by the feeling of being stabbed in the chest when I witnessed a woman who was too close to Chase, holding him around his nape and almost trying to kiss him.

    I was frozen at my ce. In an instance, I felt the rage building up inside of me, especially when the woman gazed over at me and smirked.

 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

    OLIVIA

    It was at this exact moment that I felt the pulse of anger coursing through my veins. I waspletely breathless with rage, seeing Chase and the woman who was very near him, almost as if they were about to kiss each other.

    That woman even had the guts to smirk at me. I could not deny that her entire physique screamed elegance and exuded grace. She was so fierce in her v-neck ck fitted dress, whichplemented her curvy body shape, long straight blonde hair, amber-colored almond eyes, pointed nose, high cheekbones, and plump lips. She appeared to be taller than me as well. Nevertheless, I should not care about her physical appearance! So, what if she looked so damn beautiful? If she were to decide to throw herself at a married man, her beauty would be renderedpletely insignificant.

    ¡°Reese!¡± Chase called my name, shocked was visible in his tone of voice.

    I could not figure out why I was feeling so enraged at the moment. My heart was pounding wildly in my chest. For some reason, I had a strong desire to sprint towards the woman he was with and pull her hair because she was getting on my nerves. I wanted to teach her a lesson: never seduce a married man! However, even though I wanted to do such things, it appeared that my feet were frozen at my ce. I could not make a single move as I was too flustered, furious, and confused all at the same time.

    In the end, I sucked in a breath and gathered all my courage to turn away from them. Biting my lower lip so firmly, I walked away and went to the elevator. Following what I had witnessed, I could hear Chase calling my name repeatedly, but I didn¡¯t want to stop or talk to him.

    My chest felt heavy, and the sides of my eyes felt hot to the point where I had to blink several times to suppress whatever was forming on them. I entered the elevator and repeatedly pressed the close button to ensure that it would close immediately. Chase chased after me, sprinting towards the elevator I was in, but he arrived toote, as the doors to the elevator had already closed before he could get in.

    I palmed my face, ran my fingers through my hair, and let out a huge sigh. What was I so enraged about right now? I shook my head and groaned loudly to release my frustration.

    Who was that woman, anyway? And why did she seem to be so close to my husband?  What were they nning to do if I didn¡¯te into the office? Those unanswered questions whirled around my head and, to be honest, were causing me a lot of headaches. All I wanted was to have dinner with Chase and to be a great wife for him, but I ended up feeling ill, enraged and confused because of what I had witnessed up there.

    Damn you, Chase . . . were you cheating on your wife?  That thought made me want to punch his face and kick him in his groin area. After all I ever did to satisfy and make him happy, would he still try to cheat on me? What a bastard!

    I gritted my teeth, my jaw clenching as I impatiently waited for the elevator to reach the ground floor, and when it finally did, I stormed out of it and did not mind the employees who were greeting me. My only goal at this point was to go home and probably n out how I would throw Chase in theke behind our mansion, as there was no way he would be able toe near me after what happened.

    ¡°Reese! Let¡¯s talk!¡± I heard his familiar voice behind me.

    The next thing I knew, Chase had my arm in his grip, preventing me from walking out of the building. I took a deep breath and turned around to face him. I noticed his gaze on me. In between breaths, his chest moved up and down as he looked at me with a hopeful expression on his face. My brows furrowed, giving him a lethal re.

    ¡°What the hell were you doing up there, Chase Maxwell?¡± I asked suspiciously, anger could be felt in my firm and deep tone of voice.

    ¡°It is not what you think it is, Reese. Natalia was just trying to be yful but I did not entertain her, I swear nothing happened between us!¡± he exined and cleared his throat, eyes begging for me to believe him.

    ¡°So she was trying to be yful around my husband?¡± I asked sarcastically. ¡°Who the hell is that Natalia, anyway?¡±

    Chase massaged the temple of his nose. My lips formed a thin line. Seeing him behave in this manner only irritated me to no end.

    ¡°Who is that Natalia, Chase?¡± I asked him once again, my tone of voice was more demanding than what it seemed a while ago.

    ¡°I know you cannot remember her right now because you still have amnesia, but I will exin it to you when we get home. Please, do not be mad at me. I swear, I am not cheating on you,¡± he uttered, his hand traveled from my arm down to my palm and gently squeezed it. ¡°You know how much I love you, right? I am deeply smitten on you, my wife.¡±

    I rolled my eyes at him and shook my head, dismissing the warm feeling I had when he told me he loved me. It was not even meant for me, but for the real Reese Jones. I could not figure out why my body seemed to react differently whenever he said sweet and reassuring words like that.

    ¡°Fine, I believe you,¡± I said and sighed in defeat. I had no choice but to believe him anyway because if I didn¡¯t, it might only ruin our marriage. ¡°But you have to tell me everything, Chase, alright? I want to know who the hell that Natalia is and what I witnessed in your office!¡±

    ¡°Of course, baby. I will tell you everything so that you will be at ease. Please, do not be jealous of her. She is nothingpared to you. Always keep that in your mind,¡± he reassured me.

    Jealous? My cheeks blushed in shame. He thought I was jealous all this time?

    I have no reason to be jealous. No way, not even in a million years! What I felt was rage because my n would be sabotaged if a third party got in the way! I was not jealous at all!

    It is impossible for me to experience such a petty emotion! That was not my cup of tea at all.

    ***

    When we were on our way home, Chase attempted to converse with me, but I remained deafeningly silent the entire time. I kept my arms crossed across my chest and my gaze fixed on the side streets that we were passing through.

    Right after that dramatic situation in his office, we decided to go home already. For a brief moment, I was able to calm my chest from the rage I felt earlier, however, I could not deny that my mind was still clouded with questions that I wanted to be answered when we got home.

    ¡°I assure you that you have nothing to be worried about, Reese . . .¡± Chase uttered, still trying to soothe me.

    I was all too aware that he was worried that I was mad at him, and yes, a part of me was really mad because I saw him with another woman. Although I knew I should keep my emotions at bay as I needed to be rational in such situations, my emotions were still going the other way.

    I guess I was scared at that moment, too scared that the wealthy life I was enjoying would be taken away by that woman who appeared to be good at nothing except for seducing men she wanted to get. Even more, I wanted to find out who that b*tch was so I could prepare for how I would act in front of her; not that I was hoping to meet her again because Heaven knew I wanted her out of my sight forever, but just in case, I needed to be ready.

    When we finally got home, I went straight to our bedroom and sat in front of my vanity table. Chase followed me, and I was still silent while I removed my jewelry. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. In one instance, I felt a sting of irritation as my physique waspletely different from that woman. I was like an average girl, and she was very superior in all aspects.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± I could not help but cuss at that annoying thought which crossed my head.

    ¡°Reese,¡± Chase called me as he sat on the side of our bed, body facing my back.

    Our gaze met on the mirror but I was the first to break it as I started removing my makeup.

    ¡°You can talk now. I will listen,¡± I said in my cold tone of voice.

    I heard him sigh. Silence engulfed the whole bedroom. I waited impatiently for him to speak. I was removing the lipstick on my lips when he finally talked.

    ¡°Natalia Smith, she was your ex-best friend,¡± he said.

    My forehead creased. So aside from the woman he mentioned before when we first met, Reese Jones had another best friend? Oh, wait, ex-best friend?

    ¡°Ex-best friend, why is that?¡± I asked curiously.

    He was able to draw my attention. I looked at his reflection in the mirror, waiting for him to answer my question.

    ¡°She used to be your best friend back in college and we used to be in an arranged marriage situation. She had  feelings for me but I love you so much that I advised our families that I would not marry her. Natalia had gone mad at you. You fought so many times before until she fled to London. It all happened two years ago . . .¡±

    What? So Reese, Chase, and Natalia Smith used to be in a love triangle set up. I recalled how that woman smirked at me when we first met. She really did act like she knew me. I thought she was just some random hookup girl, but apparently, Chase and her had a business thing before!

    Not to add that used to be a best friend for Reese.

    ¡°And why did shee back?¡± I asked, this time I turned around so I could face him.

    He sighed and shook his head. ¡°I am not sure why, Reese. And to be honest, I do not give a f*ck. What I was trying to say to you is, you are the only woman in my life now.  You do not have to be jealous of anyone because I have my eyes, attention and heart only for you.¡±

    My breath hitched when he said those words. For some reason, I could have sworn I felt a bolt of electricity running through my veins, causing  the butterflies in my stomach to flutter wildly.

    ¡°What if she tried to seduce you, Chase?¡± I asked and pouted my lips.

    He reached for my hand resting on myp. He then started caressing my palm, tracing small circles on it which caused me to smile a bit.

    ¡°She can seduce me all she wants but I swear I will never entertain her. She did not get my attention before, and still, she will never stand a chance because I have you as my wife. There is nothing I could ask for, Reese. You are all I have and you are more than enough,¡± he replied and gave me a sincere smile. ¡°That is why you do not have to fret, and we do not need to fight about her. No one can ruin our marriage. I assure you that . . .¡±

    ¡°And if she tries to ruin it, I will pull her hair until she gets bald,¡± I added, which made him chuckle.

    ¡°So, are you still mad at me?¡±  he asked and did a puppy-eyed look at me.

    I rolled my eyes, finally stood up and sat on hisp. I then wrapped my hands around his neck.

    ¡°Not anymore, husband . . .¡± My voice became soft, almost seductive.

    The side of his lips curled up into a smile. His hand reached my cheek and gently touched it. He then slightly raised his head to kiss my lips. It was light, but enough for me to feel the familiar warmth and sensation coursing through my body.

    ¡°Are you sure, wife?¡± he asked, eyes focusing on my lips, which made me smile.

    This time, I leaned my head down slightly to kiss him on his lips. I brought my body even closer to him as I felt the gradual awakening of his manhood. The kiss that was supposed to be soft and teasing turned rough and intense. I could feel the tension building in my body, and I believed Chase was experiencing the same thing.

    I shifted my position, my legs snaking around his waist, and allowed his manhood to slowly poke my sex. I let out a soft moan when he began  kissing me from the top of my jaw down to the bottom of my neck. My mouth opened and formed an O, my eyes shut as I savored each kiss and touch he was giving me.

    ¡°I do not want you to be mad like that to me ever again, and do not be so cold to me . . .¡± he whispered while he sucked the skin off my neck. ¡°It was damn frustrating. I fucking hate it . . .¡±

    The way he cussed was so damn sexy!

    ¡°Alright,¡± I whispered, eyes rolling back while getting so crazy with the feeling whenever his manhood brushed against the sinful fabric I was wearing down there. It was huge and hard, and it was so shameful that I instantly craved having sexual intercourse with him the moment I pinned my body to him.

    ¡°Are you hungry?¡± he whispered to my ear, then bit my earlobe that made me whimper a bit.

    I grinded my hips slowly while on top of him, feeling more of his manhood and started moaning softly.

    ¡°For you, yes . . .¡± I bit my lower lip when he rubbed my sex using his fingers.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    ¡°You are so wet again, wife.¡± He chuckled and my goodness! That, too, was so sexy!

    ¡°Just make love to me, Chase,¡± I said, a bit impatient and pushed him toy down on bed.

    My libido was so high that I could not think straight anymore and let it overpower me. I took off my dress and piled on top of him, giving him more rough kisses as I started to grind my hips faster.

    ¡°Take me now. I want you inside of me, husband . . .¡± I begged.

    ¡°As you wish, baby . . .¡± He then unzipped his pants and entered me, which made me moan so loud.

 CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

    OLIVIA

    Days had passed quickly since the minor conflict Chase and I had regarding the sudden appearance of Natalia Smith in our lives. I would say that my life was still peaceful as expected even after knowing that a woman from Reese¡¯s past suddenly showed up. Chase also assured me that he would not fall for or even entertain any other woman out there as he was already content with his gorgeous and great wife, which was none other than me.

    It was Saturday. Chase went to work early in the morning as he was scheduled to meet Mr. Jones at theirpany to help him with a lot of things. The fact that my husband was too devoted andmitted to helping Reese¡¯s parents made me feel at ease. They were great people, and they deserved all the help they could get from Chase. Despite their fear that Uncle Ernest might do something to theirpany, Chase was still adamant about helping and bowed to protect them no matter what happened. He was the best son-inw, I had to admit.

    And here I was, taking care of Mikael at our mansion because Lara had to go somewhere, which she did not tell me where it was, as part of her ¡°hunt¡± to find the writer of the blog posts rted to Reese Jones. Her son would stay here for two days, and since I had nothing else to do, I happily took him in. I was so d that Mikael was here with me, as I swore that staying in the mansion without having Chase around was not really appealing.

    ¡°So how is it going, buddy?¡± I asked Mikael in a curious tone, crouching next to him as I took a peak to his sketch pad.

    We set up a pic table in front of theke behind the mansion. The weather was so fine and with the fresh breeze in this area, I thought Mikael would enjoy doing some drawing activities out here. He was too serious as he drew theke in front of us. Sitting on the wooden little chair with his sketch pad ced on a canvas board, his gaze going back and forth between theke and the pad, I could not help but admire Mikael. Despite his young age at six, I would say that this little kid truly acquired talent from Lara, who also loved to draw in the past.

    ¡°Almost done here, Momma Liv,¡± he replied with his softly spoken voice.

    ¡°Mikael,¡± I called him, almost like a whisper. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you that you should call me Momma Reese from now on? Did you forget about it?¡±

    He checked over his little shoulder to meet my gaze. ¡°But Momma Liv, Mommy told me that your name is Liv and not Reese.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± I checked the whole area to make sure that no one was around, then nced back at him. ¡°Liv is my true name but I want to be called Reese from now on as that is my new name. And you, since you are a good boy, you have to call me by my new name. Do you get it?¡±

    ¡°Alright, Momma Reese,¡± he responded, sounding a bit confused but he was so cute that I could not stop myself from slightly pinching his cheek. ¡°Ouch, Momma!¡±

    ¡°You are so cute, buddy!¡± I said, giggling at him.  I then ruffled his blonde short hair and gave him a kiss on his cheek. ¡°Finish your artwork. I will just go back inside to get more fruits for you. Do not go anywhere, alright?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Momma, and I want more tangerines, please . . .¡± He then sped his little hands together.

    ¡°Sure, more tangerines for my little buddy!¡± I said, which made him chuckle.

    I stood up and sighed in relief. Mikael went back to his drawing, and for a brief moment, I just remained in my ce and watched him as I crossed my arms over my chest.

    I wondered what Lara felt when she first saw her firstborn. Was she at her happiest? Did she tear up embracing him for the very first time? Did she feel a lot of emotions? These were the questions whirling around my head. Even before, I was already curious about what most mothers normally feel whenever they give birth to their babies. Did they promise them the world, by any chance? Simply by thinking about it, I could not contain my emotions. While I was happy to see kids with their parents, getting the love and care they deserved, there was a little part of me asking why I did not get a chance to experience such a thing.

    I let out a huge sigh, not allowing a single drop of sadness to get through my veins as this was supposed to be a happy day with Mikael. I shook my head and went inside the mansion to prepare another te of fruit for him.

    I hummed as I headed to the kitchen. I had been living here for weeks already, yet every time I went to this part of the mansion, my body still reacted the same way¨C too excited to check the fully loaded fridge and other hanging cabs. Perhaps it is because I lived in a normal apartment with Lara. Since we lived paycheck to paycheck, we were deprived of eating expensive food and snacks. But, that was not the case anymore. Chase stocked up a lot of food and snacks, and we even had a mini bar here with a cer filled with expensive wines and liquors.

    I didn¡¯t waste any more time and washed the new set of tangerines for Mikael. I even made him a bowl of sd, a smoothie, and then a coffee and chocte sandwich for myself. After preparing our snack, I went back to theke, still humming my favorite song.

    However, my happiness slowly faded away. I stopped walking. My mouth was half open when I saw a familiar woman who was conversing with Mikael. For a brief moment, I felt a strike of panic inside my chest. My hands began to quiver as I watched her every move, but I managed to keep a firm grip on the food tray because thest thing I wanted was for these foods to fall on the bermuda grass and make her feel that her presence made me tense.

    Her eyes saw me, which made me freeze in my ce. But then, the irritation started to get through my veins when she smiled wickedly at me and even waved her hand, gesturing me toe closer.

    What the hell was Chandria Maxwell doing here at our home?!

    ***

    I¡¯d lost count of how many times I¡¯d sighed here in my spot, standing near the sliding doors that led to the living room, watching Chandria walk around near the swimming pool.

    A couple of minutes earlier, I decided to drag Chandria here as I did not want Mikael to see us having an argument or pulling each other¡¯s hair because, apparently, we hated each other. I wanted to throw her out of the mansion so badly. She was not wee here. However, I was well aware that it would only cause a bigger fuss, and that was thest thing I wanted to happen.

    Why was she here anyway? I was living fine with her brother,pletely forgot her existence and her parents¡¯ until she invited herself in despite being unweed.

    ¡°So how does it feel to be my brother¡¯s wife?¡± she asked while walking towards one of the sun loungers and sat on it, her tone was truly irritating as it sounded so offensive to me.

    But even so, I won¡¯t give her the satisfaction of seeing me lose my temper because of her mere presence.

    ¡°Oh, I am so d you asked.  I am so delighted now that Chase and I are already married  . . . happily,¡± I said, then I gave her a fake sweet smile.

    Her insulting eyes wandered around the ce.

    ¡°Happily. It is such a nice feeling, isn¡¯t it?¡± She then nced over at me. ¡°To be able to get married with the man whose pockets and banks are fucking loaded with money that can secure your life until you get old. Of course, you have the right to feel happy. You even secured the life of the future generation of your filthy bloodline. Thanks to my brother,¡± she added, every word dripping off sarcasm.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    I swore anger went through my veins because of her statement. Well, I was not saying that those weren¡¯t true but this devilish girl really went too far just to ruin my day.

    ¡°Well, you can say anything you want, as if you, attacking me verbally would ever change everything.¡± I shrugged my shoulders and made it appear that I was not, in any way, affected by her rude behavior. ¡°And speaking of filth, can you tell me the reason why you are here? As far as I remember, Chase nor I did not invite you toe over.¡±

    Sheughed sarcastically. However, my eyes could see the irritation on her face based on how it reddened the moment I said she was filthy. I rolled my eyes and kept up with the pretense that I was not bothered.

    ¡°To pay my respect to the newly wed, I guess, even though my sister-inw, who happened to be a trash, is someone who cannot earn my respect,¡± she said and smiled at me. ¡°To see how well you are enjoying my brother¡¯s money. And to be honest, I was shocked to see you are with a kid who calls you mommy. Sounds interesting . . .¡± She nodded and then stood up to close the distance between us while her arms crossed against her chest. ¡°Who is that filthy kid, anyway? Is he your secret son whom you want Chase to father?¡±

    ¡°Mind yournguage, Chandria!¡± I almost yelled at her as I already lost my patience the moment she spoke ill about Mikael. ¡°Why are you including the kid in this mess? He is just an innocent little kid for Heaven¡¯s sake!¡±

    Sheughed and shook her head, obviously not buying what I just said.

    ¡°That did not answer who that filthy kid is in your life, Reese.¡± She walked even more closer to me, which made me grit my teeth. ¡°Is he your son? Why can¡¯t you answer me, you filthy bitch?¡±

    That was it. I could still take all those hurtful words she wanted to throw at me, but her calling Mikael in that manner was way out of line.

    Rage overpowered me up to the point that I could no longer control it, and with that, I found myself pping her so hard in her face. It was so damn hard that she got out of bnce and almost fell onto the cemented ground.

    ¡°Are you deaf? I told you not to include an innocent child in this conversation,¡± I said through my clenching teeth. ¡°And with your behavior, I want to tell you that you look filthier than me.¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡± She screamed on the top of her lungs and rushed towards me.

    Soon after her hands started to pull my hair, I felt an instant pain in my scalp. I tried to remove them from my head, but she was so strong, gripping my hair as if her life depended on it. I ended up pulling her hair too, and at the same time, scratching her arms using my nails while cursing her.

    ¡°You have no right to call me filth, you stupid cheater!¡± she yelled. ¡°You do not deserve my brother! You can¡¯t be part of our family! Let go of me, bitch!¡±

    ¡°Damn you! I swear you are going to face hell this time!¡± I said and pulled her hair until some of it literally clung to my fingers.

    The fact that Chandria was slowly losing her hair as I kept pulling it made her scream louder this time. She tried to scratch my face, but I was easily able to dodge her hands. However, when she tried to pull my entire body, I got out of bnce, and the next thing I knew, we fell into the cold water.

    I thought she was going to stop attacking me as we were both trying to catch our breath, but when I swam away from her, I felt her hands pulling my hair once again.

    ¡°What the hell, Chandria!¡± I screamed at her when she tried to drown me under the water. ¡°Fuck! Let . . .  Let me go! Chandria!¡±

    I kicked her leg under the water, which made her let go of me, and I used it as an opportunity to get away from her. I immediately rose from the swimming pool and coughed so hard on the ground.

    ¡°Are you . . . are you trying to kill me?!¡± I screamed out of anger.

    ¡°I swear I am going to tell this to our parents!¡± she said, trying to scare me when she rose from the water. She rushed towards me and pped me on the face. ¡°I hate you!¡± she then screamed.

    Her scream was followed by a child¡¯s cry. A pang of anxiety went through me when I saw Mikael hiding behind the sliding doors, watching us as he cried.

    ¡°Ha! Now herees your filthy kid!¡±

    ¡°He is my best friend¡¯s son, for Pete¡¯s sake, Chandria!¡± When I was able topose myself, I then gave her a deadly re.

    Mikael ran towards me and hugged me on my knee. ¡°Momma, I am scared!¡±

    ¡°See what you have done?!¡± I yelled at Chandria then pointed to the sliding doors. ¡°Leave before I call the police!¡±

    Her eyes widened. ¡°What the hell did you say? Who are you to report me to the police? I swear my father will know about this!¡±

    ¡°Then tell your father, I don¡¯t fucking care! Chase will know what happened here too. Now, get out of my house! You are not wee here!¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Her whole body quivered out of anger. She screamed like a lunatic asking for too much attention.

    ¡°I said get out of here! I don¡¯t want to see you here ever again, Chandria!¡± I gave her one wary look before I held Mikael¡¯s hand and dragged him inside.

    ***

    When Chase got home that night, I told him everything that happened in detail. He was so mad that he wanted to go to his family¡¯s house and teach Chandria a lesson, but I calmed him down as I was too tired to think about what had urred.

    Right after our dinner, we both soothed Mikael, who appeared to have experienced trauma because of Chandria¡¯s sudden visit here. He slept in the master¡¯s bedroom with us, soundly asleep between me and Chase.

    I watched how Chase tucked him in with afortable duvet, and I could not help but smile as he was like a father taking care of his child.

    ¡°I did not want Mikael to have such a traumatic experience while he is staying here with us. Rest assured that I will still talk to Chandria and make her know her ce,¡± he said in a serious tone.

    Hey down beside Mikael and slightly tapped his shoulder repeatedly.

    ¡°I do not want another trouble with her, Chase,¡± I said as I looked at him.

    ¡°She should have note here in the first ce. She asked for it.¡±

    All I could do was sigh. I was all too aware that Chase would never let it slide. I just hoped Chandria would learn her lesson soon. She was really getting on my nerves!

    ¡°Mikael is such a cute little kid,¡± Chase¡¯s voice was filled with admiration when he said those words.

    His gaze was fixated on Mikael. As I watched him intently, I could not understand why my heart was pounding so aggressively inside my chest. What I was seeing was like a clear vision of a father watching his own son sleeping.

    ¡°Now, I wonder how it feels to be a father,¡± he uttered softly, gazing back at me.

    ¡°I think it is fun and there is no doubt that you will be a great father, Chase . . .¡± I did not know where it came from, but those sincere words came off my mouth naturally.

    I blushed instantly when I realized what I said. A smile escaped his lips after.

    Still looking at me, it seemed that he was already giving me an idea that he already wanted us to have a child. I gave him a small smile, but at the back of my head, I was all too aware that I would not be able to fulfill it. Getting pregnant was not part of my n and never would be.

    The baby would just end up suffering once Chase found out that I was a different person and the real Reese Jones was nowhere to be found. I bet he would even loathe me if he found out the truth. And with that, I thought it was much easier to escape and leave him all by myself, not with a baby who would be a constant reminder that I once deceived a billionaire who only hoped to be loved by the woman he treasured the most.

    ¡°For a record, I know you would be a great mother, too, Reese . . .¡± he said after minutes of silence and me spacing out. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see you bearing our child inside your womb, giving birth and carrying the baby in your arms.¡± He smiled while imagining such impossible things and it made my chest feel a lot heavier. ¡°You and our future child will be my priceless possession, and I promise to love both of you until myst breath.¡±

 CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

    OLIVIA

    It was Sunday and since Mikael was still here at home with us, Chase decided for us to go on a family day.

    Yes, family day . . . Chase seemed to be so fond of Mikael that he treated him like his own son even though they just met a day ago. I could feel that he really was looking forward to bing a father and with Lara¡¯s son around, he could definitely  practice to be one while waiting . . . though I knew to myself that it was like giving him false hopes as I could never be pregnant with his baby, as in never in this lifetime.

    In fact, days ago when Lara and I had a serious conversation regarding the safe sexual intercourse, I already bought contraceptive pills and had taken them religiously every single day to make sure that I would be safe. Provided that Chase seemed to be so into making love to his wife, which was none other than me, Lara was right that I should be extra cautious about getting pregnant. I was just d that I did not get pregnant prior to taking any protection. Well, fate was still on my side, I guess.

    It was already nine in the morning and I was putting on some makeup on my face in front of the vanity mirror when I heard the door of our bedroom pushed open. When I looked over it in the mirror, I saw Chase taking a peek at me.

    ¡°Are you ready?¡± he asked, his tone was evidently excited and he was all smiles.

    ¡°Almost,¡± I replied and then quickened my pace. I did apply a pink lipstick on my lips and then vi, I was all set.

    I stood up and checked on my reflection in the mirror. I wore a simple white v-neck sleeveless top and a brown-colored trouser partnered with cream high heels. My hair was curled and I let it hang over my back instead of tying it so that it wouldplement my overall outfit.  I huffed as I was satisfied with my look.

    Chase walked towards me and embraced me from behind. A smile automatically escaped my lips. I tilted my head as he tried to bury his face on my neck and then I felt him nting soft kisses on there.

    ¡°Hmm, I thought we were going to go to church. What¡¯s with those kisses?¡± I asked as his kisses seemed very inviting, as if he wanted us to stay here in our room and do our thing.

    ¡°Yes we are, but I want to kiss you. You dressed so beautifully that it is tempting the beast in me. . .¡± he murmured and embraced me tightly.

    I chuckled and held his arms which were snaked around my waist. As I looked at our reflection in the mirror, I could not stop myself from checking him out. He was so stunning in his dark blue v-neck sweater¨C sleeves were rolled all the way up to his arms, denim jeans and a simple pair of shoes. His undercut hair was perfectly at ce, and his small stubbles from his jaw going down to his neck made his entire appearance more captivating. This man would no doubt catch every woman¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Enough with those sultry ideas, my dear husband. Mikael is already waiting for us downstairs. And just to remind you . . .¡± I turned around so I could look at him, wrapping my arms around his nape. ¡°You were the one who suggested that we should go to church and then treat him to an amusement park.¡±

    ¡°I did not say that those  ns would be postponed. I am justplimenting my gorgeous wife here,¡± he uttered softly, his hands reached for the strands of my hair and tucked them behind my ear.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    ¡°Alright, Mr. Romantic guy. Thank you for thepliment,¡± I replied with a sweet tone.  ¡°Your sultry ideas could wait until tomorrow, right?¡±

    ¡°You bet, wife . . .¡± Then he gave me a peck on my lips.

    We both chuckled. Since Mikael was here with us, we could not get a chance to make time to do some things. Given that Chase and I had done it mostly every day, I bet he was craving it already . . . Well, I had to say I did too.

    ***

    The church was exactly a thirty minute drive from our home. Compared to the churches near Lara¡¯s apartment¨C well . . . not that I was such a religious girl but yeah, I used to go to church frequently whenever I felt like my emotional being was in trouble- the one we went to was huge, rustic and very eye-catching. No wonder a lot of people were visiting it.

    Mikael was so excited when we entered the church. Compared to his mom who was allergic to Gods and bibles, he seemed to be very religious as he already knew how to pray properly.

    ¡°You pray sincerely, alright? Do not talk too loud and just to the priest. Later on, we will go to the amusement park and have some fun,¡± Chase whispered to Mikael, as if he was talking to his own child.

    ¡°I got it, Uncle! I will be a good boy!¡± Mikael whispered back.

    They both chuckled and then after that, Mikael sped both of his hands together and closed his eyes to pray. My eyes nced over at Chase, whose face was all smiles. He noticed me looking at him, which made him wink at me before he closed his eyes and prayed.

    I smiled. I looked to the front, my eyesnded on the huge cross in the center part of the tform.

    As I gazed at it, I could not help but swallow the lump in my throat. Heavy emotions started to build up inside my chest and for a brief moment, I thought about the evil things I had done in the past couple of weeks out of my selfishness.

    I won¡¯t deny that I was already a sinner prior to meeting Chase, but I became a lot more devilish now that I went along and deceived him, making him believe that I was the woman he loved the most, in order to live a wealthy life and suck some money out of his pocket.

    I looked down as I felt a pang of anxiety getting through my veins. I could not even mutter a single prayer as I was all too aware that I did not have any right to do it.  I let myself sin and did the worst things . . .

    While Chase and Mikael were both busy praying, I stood up in silence and rushed towards the restroom. I found myself weeping inside, clutching my chest as I let out all of the emotions that I had been keeping inside. The good side of me was crying so hard for doing the worst things which she knew she would regret the most, yet the devilish and most powerful side of me was shaking her head as she watched me inwardly.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry . . . I am truly sorry, Chase . . .¡± I murmured in between my sobs. ¡°If only I had other choices . . . if only life was not so cruel to me, I would have not done this . . . I am so sorry . . .¡±

    Minutes passed and my tears were no longer falling. My cheeks went dry but I still felt the heaviness in my chest. I huffed out and washed my face. I fixed myself up and ensured that there were no traces of my despair on my entire physique.

    That was it. I just had to let it all out  for me to continue living Reese¡¯ life all over again. I promised myself that it would be thest time I would allow that good side of me to interfere with my emotions. I had to keep going no matter what and I should not feel any regrets about it.

    I went back to my seat like nothing ever happened back in the restroom. Chase¡¯s eyes immediately looked at me.

    ¡°Where did you go?¡± he asked in his hushed tone of voice.

    ¡°Restroom.¡± I smiled sweetly and winked at him, then looked to the front to listen to the priest, letting the devilish side of me overpower my being.

    ***

    ¡°Look! It is a Ferris Wheel!¡± Mikael¡¯s little fingers pointed to the big Ferris Wheel. He was truly excited based on the expression of his face.

    ¡°Yes, little buddy. Do you want to ride the Ferris Wheel?¡± Chase asked him, then carried Mikael in his arms.

    ¡°Yes, I want to! Can we, Momma?¡± Mikael looked over at me, asking for my approval.

    ¡°Please, Momma?¡± Chase mimicked Mikael¡¯s little voice, which made me roll my eyes, but I had to admit that it was cute though.  I haven¡¯t seen this side of him and it was truly refreshing.

    ¡°I thought we were going to grab a quick lunch first?¡± I both gave them a stern look while I crossed my arms on my chest.

    They both pouted their lips and I swore I could die at their cuteness.  They really looked like father and son, and I felt like I wanted to interrogate Lara when she got back whether she somehow had a one night stand with Chase seven years ago. Damn it! What was I even thinking?

    ¡°Mikael.¡± I narrowed my eyes as I looked at our little buddy. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡±

    ¡°I am, Momma,¡± he answered and started biting his index finger.

    Then I looked over at Chase. ¡°How about you, Mr. Chase Maxwell?¡±

    ¡°I also feel hungry, Momma,¡± he replied, still mimicking Mikael.

    I shook my head as I chuckled. ¡°Alright, we will have a quick lunch first and then we will try all the rides afterwards, sounds like a n?¡±

    ¡°Yehey!¡± They said in chorus, which made meugh already.

    ¡°You two are so cute!¡± I rushed toward them and pinched their cheeks at the same time. ¡°Let¡¯s go, then!¡±

    Chase held my hand and I felt his fingers intertwined with mine. ¡°You surely would be an ideal mother, wife.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you think so?¡± I smiled sweetly at him.

    He then kissed the back of my palm. ¡°Of course, Mrs. Reese Maxwell.¡±

 CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

    OLIVIA

    We ate our lunch in an Italian restaurant that was situated within the vicinity of the amusement park. After that, we started trying out some friendly rides. Mikael was very excited and Chase had been there for him, holding his hands for each ride we rode on. I took a lot of pictures of them as I could not help but admire them while they were enjoying thepany of each other. They truly got along, that was for sure.

    It took eight rides before we decided to try the Ferris Wheel. This time, I held Mikael¡¯s left hand while Chase was holding his other hand. We lifted Mikael up and then swung him in the air. All of us three giggled and kept doing the same thing until we reached the entrance for the Ferris Wheel.

    ¡°Are you having fun, little buddy?¡± Chase asked Mikael curiously as we fell in line. He carried him once again just to make sure he won¡¯t be suffocated due to arge crowd.

    ¡°Very much so, Uncle Chase!¡± Mikael eximed happily then began talking about the rides we rode on earlier.

    I smiled as I listened to their conversation. Chase also listened very well to Mikael. He looked so interested in everything he said. I recalled the very first time Chase and I met, I was so sure that his eyes were screaming of danger by that time. Who would have thought that he likes kids?

    It did not take so much time before we could ride on one of the cable cars of the Ferris Wheel. I had to admit that it was my first time riding on this as to be honest,  I had never been in Amusement park before. The cable car was quite moving which caused me to be out of bnce, but Chase was able to catch me in my waist.

    ¡°Careful, baby,¡± he said and helped me stand up.

    ¡°Thank you, Chase,¡± I almost stuttered, then I awkwardly smiled at him.

    I sat on the right side, while Chase rested across the seat in front of me. Meanwhile, Mikael stood up next to the window, waiting for the cable car to move up so he could check out the picturesque view from the outside.

    ¡°Are you tired?¡± Chase asked concernedly at me.

    Our eyes met and even though I saw the tiredness in his eyes, I could say that he was enjoying this day.

    ¡°Just a little,¡± I replied, which made him chuckle a bit.

    As the cable car started to move up slowly, Chase leaned forward and reached for my hand.

    ¡°This is the first time we went to an Amusement park together,¡± he remarked, which piqued my attention. What he said surprised me a little because as far as I know, most of the couples do go to amusement parks for a date.

    ¡°Is it? You did not ask me for an amusement park date before?¡± I asked curiously. ¡°I am sorry, I cannot remember anything.¡±

    His fingers traced the spaces between my knuckles. ¡°I did ask you in the past, Reese. But you were busy practicing to be the most outstanding swimmer athlete back in college.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± I was kind of disappointed that Reese turned him down all because she needed to focus on building her career.

    I mean . . . it was her boyfriend asking her to go on a date. Why could not she spare a little time for him?

    He chuckled. ¡°I know you do not remember everything that happened in the past, but yeah, you were so goal-driven up to the point that we rarely went out for a date. There was this one time that I thought that you just did not love me, that¡¯s why you did not make any time for me.¡±

    ¡°Chase, do not say that,¡± I told him.

    I could not seem to understand why my heart felt a pang of sadness when he said those words. I wasn¡¯t sure whether Reese was really doing it on purpose because she did not love him or she was just truly busy bing a top notch swimmer athlete but there was a part of me that slowly hated her for making Chase feel that way. He cared a lot for her, in fact had been loving her for years and he didn¡¯t deserve that kind of treatment at all.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, baby. I am all good,¡± he uttered softly and guided my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. ¡°It was a phase I needed to ovee to get you to stay with me forever. See the result? You are my wife now.¡±

    ¡°Still.¡± I then held this hand. ¡°Don¡¯t ever think that I don¡¯t love you because it¡¯s not true.¡± I sighed as I looked him in the eyes. ¡°And I am sorry, if there were times in the past that I made you feel unloved. I promise you that I¡¯ll change, and I won¡¯t make you feel that kind of negative feeling anymore.¡±

    ¡°Damn . . .¡± He smiled as if he was really swayed by my words. ¡°I should be the one promising you a lot of things, Mrs. Reese Maxwell.¡±

    ¡°Oh, should I take it back then?¡± I remarked yfully.

    ¡°Silly, you already said it, and I felt your sincerity.¡± He pulled me, and I stood up and let him make me sit on hisp. ¡°I love you, Reese.¡±

    ¡°And I love you too,¡± I said and then embraced him.

    We had a moment. I couldn¡¯t understand why my heart was pounding so loudly inside my chest. I was all too aware that Chase might be feeling it too but for some reason, I didn¡¯t want to do anything to conceal such reactions of my heart, and all I wanted to do was embrace him as if that could erase all of the pain Chase had felt before from Reese shorings with their rtionship in the past.

    We only stopped the intimacy when Mikael jumped to his feet. He was still looking at the overlooking view from the outside. It was only then when we realized that we already reached the highest part of the Ferris Wheel. I couldn¡¯t help but smile as I could see the beauty of the city from here. Even Chase couldn¡¯t stop praising the city view while still hugging me sidewards.

    I felt the familiar warmth inside of me, and it wasforting enough for me to loosen up a bit, telling myself that a day without pure deception would be fine. I just had to let out my real personality . . . the real Olivia Miller.

    ***Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.

    After riding the Ferris Wheel, we watched some animal shows and then went for dinner in another restaurant within the Amusement Park. Mikael still had some energy while Chase obviously looked so tired. I could imagine him crawling into the bed after getting home.

    My phone rang and I saw Lara¡¯s caller ID on the screen.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just take this call,¡± I excused myself, stood up and went outside before I answered Lara¡¯s call.

    ¡°Hey!¡± she started.  ¡°Just checking how Mikael is doing now?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s doing good, Lara. We are here in the amusement park,¡± I replied, my eyes roamed around.

    ¡°Thanks for taking care of him, Olivia. You are the coolest,¡± she said in her sweet tone. I simply rolled my eyes. She knew that I¡¯d do everything for her son and she had nothing to worry about when Mikael was with me.

    ¡°So, how¡¯s the investigation  going?¡± I asked curiously, then my eyes roamed once again. I didn¡¯t know if I was just being paranoid or what but shivers went down my spine,  thinking that someone was stalking me.

    ¡°Well¡­¡± I heard her sigh from the other line. ¡°I cannot seem to trace the writer¡¯s location from here. The ce we went to is an abandoned apartment, with no single information about the owner. I was hoping that I could see her here but nah, she fled days ago¡­¡±

    ¡°Just days ago?¡± My brows furrowed. Why did it feel like that person knew that someone woulde and try to interrogate her?

    ¡°Yes, I talked to thendlord,¡± Lara replied.  ¡°Even thendlord doesn¡¯t know her real name. She went by her pseudonym to get the apartment and broke some protocols by giving thendlord some money, so she won¡¯t be asked for any personal information. Sounds creepy, right?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why she would do that¡­¡± I uttered.  ¡°I mean, do you think she knew that someone woulde and find her?¡±

    I bit my lower lip. Everything seemed a bit strange and somehow it made me feel so anxious at the moment. I wondered why this whole Reese¡¯ case was bing more of a misery now. I only wanted to know where she was hiding¡­

    Lara let out a huge sigh again. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too. All the more, we are still going to find her, even if she tries to hide.¡±

    ¡°We need to find her, Lara. With that writer¡¯s help, we will be able to locate Reese¡­¡± I said firmly and embraced myself. I nced at my left side.

    There I saw a mysterious figure of a man, hiding his face with a ck mask and a bo. Right after he saw me taking a glimpse of him, he disappeared immediately.

    My eyes widened. ¡°Lara, I¡¯ll call you back.¡±

    I quickly ended the call and tried to rush toward the alley he went on.

 CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

    OLIVIA

    I COULD feel the anxiety slowly creeping up my spine and into my veins when I went to the alley where I saw the man who appeared to be stalking me. I was not that hundred percent sure whether my gut instinct was correct or if I was only being paranoid at this moment but one thing was for sure, my heart raced as if I were in serious danger.

    As I approached that specific alley, my eyes were greeted by a throng of people falling in line at the entrance to arge horror house and roller coaster. I looked around each corner, trying to find that mysterious man I saw a minute ago, but because of the crowds blocking every pathway, it was difficult to see where the mysterious man had disappeared to. I craned my neck, hoping to spot him again, but to no avail.

    I clutched my chest so hard while feeling the loud beating of my heart. I stopped for a moment, letting my eyes wander.

    Was it a false feeling? Was I only being paranoid?

    ¡°I hope I am only being paranoid¡­¡± I mumbled to myself. The idea that someone might have been stalking sent shivers down my spine.

    Chase had no idea that I had been fooling him all this time. I was certain that he would not hire someone to stalk me because if he felt suspicious of me, I would feel it right away. Could it be Chandria then? His younger sister despised me and had every reason to pull stunts like this given what had happened between us the day before.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I hope not¡­¡± I said, shoving the idea that Chandria did try to hire someone to stalk me. ¡°Maybe I am only mistaken. What are you even thinking, Olivia?¡±

    I shook my head and decided to go back to the restaurant. Chase and Mikael were both done with their food when I went back to our table. They were having a conversation when Chase¡¯s attention went to me.

    ¡°Who did you talk to on the phone?¡±

    I smiled at him, my gazended on Mikael. ¡°It was Mikael¡¯s mom.¡±

    ¡°My mom?¡± Mikael¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement when he heard his mom¡¯s name.  ¡°Is she going home, Momma Reese?¡±

    I nodded at him happily. ¡°Of course, little buddy. Your mom misses you so much. She will pick you up tomorrow morning!¡±

    ¡°Yay!¡± Mikael threw a punch in the air, seemingly happy that he would see his mother after two days of not having her around.

    ¡°Can¡¯t he stay longer with us?¡± Chase asked all of a sudden, which made me stunned for a few seconds.

    ¡°Chase, he has to go to school,¡± I replied, giving him a sympathetic look. ¡°And you have to go to work.¡±

    He nodded as a response, then ruffled Mikael¡¯s hair. ¡°I am going to miss you then, buddy!¡±

    Mikael chuckled. ¡°I will ask mom to let me visit you next weekend, Uncle. Then we can y video games and Xbox!¡±

    ¡°You better practice then because I will defeat you in every game!¡±

    Then they fist bumped.  A wide smile escaped my lips as I watched the both of them. Chase looked even hotter when he got along with kids.

    We drove home after that dinner. Mikael was so exhausted that he immediately fell asleep a few minutes after getting settled in the passenger¡¯s seat. In fact, I was so tired as well. It felt like I was babysitting both Mikael and Chase the whole time in the amusement park, but to sum it up, I would say that I really enjoyed hanging out with these two. I let out a soft giggle, recalling how my husband became like a kid in an instant today.

    ¡°You seem happy. Penny for your thoughts?¡± Chase asked curiously while driving.

    I nced in his direction. His oceanic eyes were pinned on the road, his brows slightly furrowed out of curiosity, and his lower lip was moist after he licked it. He looked so damn hot whenever he drove a car. He definitely looked like the highest-paid model in the world, and the idea that he was my husband was like a bragging right.

    ¡°I cannot stop thinking about how we had fun today. Thank you for bringing us to the amusement park, Chase.¡± I turned to the passenger seat and looked at Mikael who was asleep. ¡°Our little buddy here totally enjoyed the day.¡±

    The side of his lips curled up for a smile. ¡°I wanted to make sure that Mikael¡¯s stay with us will be worthwhile. I also wanted us to unwind a bit. I¡¯ve been wanting to go on a date with you. It¡¯s been a while after all.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, and I hope you had fun going on a date with me and Mikael.¡±

    ¡°I did, my love. I¡¯m a bit sad that Mikael will leave us tomorrow. I n to teach him how to y video games. Maybe some other time?¡± He jerked his head a bit and gave me a sideway nce.

    ¡°You can hang out with him some other time, Chase. He¡¯ll have a summer break soon so I will ask Lara to borrow him for a while if you want,¡± I said and winked at him.

    ¡°Thanks, Reese¡­¡± He smiled widely, obviously liking the idea of hanging out with Mikael on a summer break. He reached for my left hand and guided it to his lips. He kissed my knuckles softly. ¡°I can¡¯t wait for us to have our own baby. Regardless of the gender, I will spend a lot of time ying with our child, teaching it a lot of things. I want to be a father who our child could be proud of.¡±

    Here we were back at this conversation again. He was hoping for a child, which I could never give him, a child that was not even part of the n to begin with. I swallowed hard as I felt a lump building up inside my throat. For some reason, I felt bad about the fact that I could not give him a child. I did not know why, but it surely hit a soft spot inside of me that wanted to spoil and give him everything he wanted, and I knew that it wasn¡¯t right to have that kind of feeling toward him.

    ¡°You will definitely be a good father, Chase. You seem good at handling kids, seeing how you handled Mikael all day.¡± I chuckled even though I didn¡¯t like this conversation anymore, I needed to act as if I was interested. ¡°Pretty interesting¡­¡±

    He chuckled too. ¡°We should n out having a baby soon, Reese.¡±

    His words made me more anxious.  ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°No, I think we¡¯re in the right time to have one. But of course, I will wait until you be ready for that next phase of our life. No pressure, baby.¡±

    I managed to give him a warm smile even though it felt like I was being torn inside.

    I could never give you a child, Chase. I could never bear something that would only be a constant reminder of how I deceived a billionaire to suck money out of his pocket. I could never mother a child who would always remind me of my sins.

    I could never do all that¡­

    ***

    When we arrived home, Chase immediately took care of Mikael. The kid was so exhausted that he didn¡¯t wake up even after Chase carried him out of the car. As we walked to the porch of the mansion, I noticed that there was a white box, something like a gift, beside the main double doors. Chase didn¡¯t notice it though, as he was busy with Mikael. My forehead creased as I looked at it, then my gaze followed my husband. Was he expecting someone to deliver him a present today?

    I let out a sigh, took the box and looked at the card attached to it.

    It was for Reese Jones, whose role was yed by me.

    Wait, what? My brows furrowed as I checked the card. I was not expecting anyone to send me a gift, nor any deliveries at all. The card did not indicate the sender¡¯s information, so I checked every side of the box to see if I could see anything helpful, but there was none.

    ¡°Who would send Reese a gift?¡± I mumbled under my breath.

    In the end, I shrugged and did not waste my time questioning myself. Perhaps this came from one of Reese¡¯s friends, if she had any, or probably from a fan since she was somehow a known swimmer and athlete. I carried the box all the way to the living room and left it on the center table.

    I ran upstairs and went to our bedroom. There I saw Chase tucking Mikael to bed. I smiled inwardly as I walked toward him, then hugged him from behind.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done a great job today,¡± I told him. My head rested on his back, and the manly scent of a perfume lingered on my nose. I sniffed him more. ¡°You smell so good that I could hug and smell you this way forever.¡±

    He chuckled and I felt him checking over his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯d prefer you saying that while grinding on myp, hugging and smelling me all at the same time.¡±

    His words made me so excited that I could feel my own musk. ¡°Are you trying to give me an idea?¡±

    ¡°Sort of, but you can always improvise¡­¡± He turned around to face me, then leaned down to kiss me on my neck.

    My eyes shut instantly, and I could not help but bite my lips whenever he sucked the skin of my neck. The thrill went through me. With Chase¡¯s lips tasting me down to my vicle, my body went aze. I tilted my head, giving him more ess while I pinned my body closer to his, looking for the warmth I¡¯ve been dying to feel for the past two nights. It appeared that Chase had felt it too- the strong lust and desire -given how turned on he became when I let out a soft moan.

    ¡°Damn it. Not here,¡± he murmured softly. He stopped kissing my neck and gazed over at Mikael, who was still asleep soundly on our bed.  ¡°Let¡¯s go to the guest room,¡±  he added and I nodded.

    The very moment I closed our bedroom door so we could go to the guest room, Chase kissed me so roughly that it made me suck my breath. In a swift move, he carried me, snaking both of my legs around his waist and caressing my bottom. With his every touch, my body seemingly burned in fire. I kissed him back torridly, my hands traveling from his back to his hair.

    ¡°Fuck, I miss you¡­¡± I murmured in between our kisses.

    He walked somewhere until I felt the wall brushing against my back. He kissed my neck once again, licking it as if it was his favorite spot. I grinded my hips downwards to feel the hardness of his member, and I let out a loud moan the moment it brushed against my wet private part.

    He chuckled and thrusted once which made me gasp. ¡°Slow down, wife. I miss you too, and I want to take it slow.¡±

    ¡°No, I want you right-¡±

    He kissed me on my lips, cutting my words off, which drove me insane. I still tried to grind despite our position¨Cme leaning my back on the wall while my legs were wrapped around his waist, and him pinning me carefully so that I would not fall.

    ¡°You¡¯re getting more impatient¡­¡± he uttered. I felt his fingers traveling all their way down to my wet spot. I gasped when he started rubbing me slowly down there, thenter on bit my lower lip as I felt the sensation within my inner soul.

    ¡°Damn it, this is so good¡­¡± I whispered, continuing to grind while his fingers kept pleasuring me down there.  ¡°Fuck, take me now, Chase¡­ please¡­¡±

 CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

    OLIVIA

    I DIDN¡¯T know how we were able to enter the guest room without breaking our rough kiss, but the moment he pushed me on the bed, I felt the intense fire engulfing my whole body. He started removing his clothes, and I could not help but gasp for every piece of clothing he had taken off. His body was truly stunning. His broad, chiseled chest was carved perfectly, just like his six-pack abs and muscles. Without second thoughts, he removed his boxers and waspletely naked in front of me.

    He stood on the side of the bed in all his naked glory, seemingly proud of it. I caught my breath. I knew to myself that I had seen him naked multiple times already, but every time we ended up doing it, it always felt like it was the first time. The excitement and arousal never seemed to slow down a bit. In fact, it was getting more intense with each passing night.

    ¡°Undress yourself,¡± he said, more like amand using his deep tone of voice.

    My knees turned to jelly under his intense gaze, but at the same time, I could feel my hormones raging within me, urging me to go deeper and harder with him tonight.

    ¡°As you wish¡­¡± I replied, my voice came off so sexy that he clenched his jaw as his reaction.

    I pushed myself to my feet and began unbuttoning my v-neck sleeveless top, all while maintaining eye contact with him. He looked at me with a serious expression on his face. Abination of lust and desire could be seen in his oceanic pair of eyes. Then I started unbuttoning my trousers and allowing them to fall down to my feet. With only my underwear and bra left, I felt I waspletely naked.

    The room was getting cold, and I felt shivers running down my spine. The thought of not being pulled closer to him had my body on the verge of quivering, but then he walked towards me, embraced and kissed me on the cheek. His hands brushed against my back and traveled all the way down to my feet. When his fingers slid inside my underwear and made their way to my soft spot, I exhaled with utmost pleasure. I could have sworn I had lost my sanity when I felt him rub me once again.

    My heart and pulse were both pounding aggressively. The way he wanted me to be pleased made me go insane. I wasn¡¯t sure if this was how he¡¯d tried to please Reese in the past, but goddammit, he was so good that I¡¯d be willing to live as Reese for the rest of my life just to experience this level of pleasure.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need this anymore,¡± he remarked and in one swift move, he was able to remove my underwear. It was only then when I realized that he knelt down in front of me, his face was in front of my sex. ¡°Sit on the bed and spread your legs widely¡­¡±

    When I was told to sit down on the bed, I did as I was told and spread my legs widely. Even though he was still on his bent knees, his hand reached out for my legs, spreading them even further. As I realized I had put myself in too much of a vulnerable position in front of him, my cheeks began to flush with embarrassment. As I anticipated his next move, my entire body trembled with excitement.

    He looked up to me. ¡°Stay still.¡±

    I only nodded as a response. When I felt him slowly positioning himself in between my thighs, I shut my eyes and bit my lower lip firmly. My arms leaned on the bed, slightly clutching the bedsheets when Chase started to lick me down there. His stunt made me see so many butterflies on the ceiling, as if I was brought to a world full of nothing but musk and pleasure.

    ¡°You are so wet, wife¡­¡± he whispered with a chuckle, then continued what he was doing. ¡°Your musk smells so good¡­¡±

    When I let out a moan, I arched my back and spread my legs wider so that he could go even deeper. I could feel the electrifying bolt passing through me, which caused me to take a deep breath and hold it. Chase didn¡¯t stop what he was doing, and he even used his tongue to attack the g-spot on my flesh. One groan was followed by another¡­ and another¡­ and I¡¯d already lost track of how many times I moan his name.

    I wasn¡¯t even aware of how my body was reacting to him at the time. Whatever it was, I just knew that my hips were beginning to push in response to each of his tongue¡¯s thrusts, and I was grinding in time with him until I moaned loudly and my body convulsed as I reached my climax. It was as if I had thrown myself on the bed. When I was lying there, I took a deep breath and exhaled.

    A few secondster, Chase crawled on top of me.

    ¡°How was it?¡± he asked with a mischievous smile on his lips.

    ¡°A pro is asking me that question, really?¡± We both chuckled.

    He buried his face in my neck as we snuggled for a moment, but after a few minutes, he started sucking my neck once again.

    ¡°I am not yet done with you, wife¡­¡± he said and then his leg went to my thighs parting them and with one swift move he entered me, making me feel another surge of fire running through my body again.

    ***

    WE SHOWERED together right after that one steamy moment, then cuddled on the bed for almost an hour before we went back to our own room to keep Mikael apanied to bed. Chase was able to fall asleep immediately, and I could not take my eyes off of his God-like face, not even for a bit.

    Many thoughts whirled around in my head as I looked at him, which kept me awake throughout the night. Whatever the reason, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart because, no matter how hard I tried to deny it, I was all too aware that I¡¯d grown close to Chase and that I harbored special kinds of feelings for him.

    It wasn¡¯t love¡­ at least not yet. But it scared me because I was convinced that it could go deeper and that it would eventually reach that depth. And even if I wanted to stop it from happening, I wouldn¡¯t be able to do so because of the way our rtionship was set up. In his eyes, I was his wife, and it was all part of my n to suck money from his pocket. In order to fulfill my role, I had to pretend that I was madly in love with him. But how could I avoid falling in love with him?

    As time went on, I realized that the thought of falling in love was terrifying, indeed, especially if you were in love with someone you shouldn¡¯t have fallen in love with in the first ce. It felt as if you were betraying yourself and turning your back on what you believed to be the correct path.

    When I looked at Chase, a part of me was telling myself that I couldn¡¯t continue to deceive him any longer. It was the small voice of an angel, pleading with me to stop deceiving an innocent man who only wanted to be loved and epted. My sadness came from the realization that no matter how much the small voice tried to direct my actions, therger part of me would neverply. simply because I had no desire to return to my former life.

    I hoped that Chase would never find out¡­

    I sighed, my frustration evident. I shifted my weight and raised my eyes to the ceiling.  Despite my best efforts to sleep, my mind couldn¡¯t seem to shake a slew of disturbing thoughts that were keeping me awake. In the end, I decided to get up and walk out of the room to get some fresh air and to clear my head.

    ¡°Is it because he¡¯s good in bed?¡± I asked myself, trying to figure out why my heart harbored a special emotion towards Chase. ¡°Or is it because he is handsomely kind?¡±

    I went to the kitchen with those questions in mind. I shook my head, knowing full well that I wouldn¡¯t be able to respond to myself right then and there.   I went to the refrigerator and got a bottle of water, which I then drank. After that, I made my way to the living room and sat on one of the couches.

    My gaze was fixed on the gift that I had ced in the center of the table. It was sent for Reese¡­ I was curious as to who had delivered it while we were away. My interest had been piqued. I got to my feet and began untying the red ribbon around it.

    When I opened the box, the first thing I saw was Reese¡¯s picture, whereas her face was crossed out using a ck pen. The entire picture had some fresh blood, and there was a note written out of blood too.

    YOU¡¯RE GOING TO DIE, REESE!!

    When I realized what was inside the box, I felt a rush of fear rush through my body. As I threw the box away, I gasped for air and then screamed aloud.

    ¡°Chase! Oh my goodness, Chase!¡±

    It was as if the anxiety had begun to creep into my body, and all I could feel was terror and panic at the same time. I ran upstairs, sobbing uncontrobly because of the fear of being threatened. I stumbled to my feet and, in an instant, I felt as if it was Doom¡¯s Day. I was so nervous at the time that my vision went blurry and my breathing went ragged.

    ¡°Chase! Chase, help me!¡± I cried as I began having trouble breathing.

    I tried to stand up on my own, but my entire body was quivering that all I stumbled right away. I heard a door open followed by some footsteps.

    ¡°Reese!¡± It was Chase, who ran quickly to help me.

    I was crying and catching my breath all at the same time.

    ¡°Ch-Chase¡­ Someone wants¡­ someone wants to kill me¡­¡± My voice was shaking and then I pointed to the living room where the box was. I screamed out of fear just when I saw the note once again.

    ¡°Reese, calm down. I am here.¡± Chase soothed me, caressing my back for me to calm down a bit but the fear wouldn¡¯t leave me.

    I felt him carrying me and rushing me to the room. He put me down on the bed and held both of my cheeks.

    ¡°Reese, look at me. Breathe with me¡­¡±

    I shook my head, tears falling from my eyes as I kept running out of breath.

    ¡°Reese, please. Calm down, breathe with me¡­¡± Then he started inhaling and exhaling in front of me.

    In spite of the fact that my entire body seemed to have gone numb, I tried to imitate what he was doing. I took deep breaths and exhaled slowly, still crying, as he assured me that everything was fine and that he would take care of it. Even though my breathing returned to normal a few minutester, the terror that someone out there wanted me dead lingered in the pit of my stomach.

    ¡°Chase, who is it? Who do you think it is? It is a fucking death threat!¡± I almost yelled out of frustration which woke up Mikael this time.

    Chase couldn¡¯t utter a word. I knew that he was shocked too, but rage was evident in his eyes. He was seemingly trying to think, and his lips formed a thin line after giving the situation some thought.

    ¡°Chandria¡­¡± he uttered in anger, then he stood up.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to my father¡¯s house. Chandria, fuck!¡± He screamed. ¡°She¡¯s the only one whom you had an argument with. I am sure she¡¯s the one who is messing with you! Fuck, I will not let this slide!¡± Rage fueled him and he immediately stormed out of the room.

    ¡°Chase!¡± I panicked. ¡°Chase,e back here!¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    I already knew what he was going to do. The fact that my knees were turning to jelly did not stop me from getting up and carrying Mikael with me to follow Chase.

    ¡°Chase!¡± I called him as I went downstairs with Mikael.

    ¡°Momma, what¡¯s going on?¡± Mikael was on the verge of crying.

    ¡°Ssssh, don¡¯t cry, please¡­¡± I sobbed and ran towards the door.

    Chase was walking quickly to the car, and I made every effort to run as fast as I could because there was no way I could stay at home knowing that someone out there was waiting to kill me at any moment.

    ¡°Reese! Stay home and lock all the doors!¡± hemanded.

    ¡°NO!¡± I screamed. ¡°We¡¯reing with you!¡±

 CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

    OLIVIA

    MY heart, as well as my pulse, were both pounding wildly as I hugged Mikael, soothing him and stopping him from crying. I could have sworn that my body was quivering so badly at the same time. I could not take Reese¡¯s picture filled with fresh blood out of my head. No matter how I tried to get rid of that thought, it haunted me severely, sending shivers up my spine. Who would send that kind of thing to Reese? Even swallowing seemed too hard to do at this point, thinking that someone out there, unscathed, was waiting for the right time to kill me.

    I checked the time next to the radio, and it disyed two o¡¯clock in the morning. Chase drove so fast, and was silent the whole time. I was well aware that he was fuming mad that he could even go to hell to protect me, and I was more shocked by his reaction than anything else. He was thinking that it was none other than Chandria, his little bitchy sister. I swore that I would never be able to forgive his sister if she was truly the one who tried to scare me.

    ¡°Chase, can you please slow down a bit? Mikael is so scared right now,¡± I said and I was d that I managed to utter those words clearly given how my entire body quiver so bad.

    From where we were seated, I could see how Chase¡¯s jaw clenched,  the veins on his arm were visible as he gripped firmly on the steering wheel, and the way he looked at the road screamed of mixed danger and cruelty. This was the first time I had ever witnessed him in such a crazed state, and I couldn¡¯t help but be concerned about what he might do while in this state.

    ¡°Chase, please!¡± I called his attention once more when he did not respond to my plea.

    ¡°We¡¯re near their house, Reese¡­¡± His voice sounded so intense.

    ¡°I-I know, just please slow down a bit. We have a kid here for Pete¡¯s sake¡­¡± I almost begged and hugged Mikael even more.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Chase, on the other hand, did not listen to me, and I was beginning to fear that he would not listen to anyone at this point. Mikael sobbed in my arms, and all I could do was pat his back repeatedly to keep him calm and quiet.

    It took nearly an hour before we arrived at the Maxwells¡¯ home. I almost forgot what the mansion really looked like as it had been a while since thest time we went here. Chase did not waste any more time and jumped out of the car as soon as the vehicle came to aplete stop. I couldn not keep up with him because he moved at such a breakneck pace.

    ¡°Chase!¡± I called him when I was trying to get out of the car with Mikael in my arms but he stopped midway and looked at me warily with his eyes aze.

    ¡°Stay inside the fucking car, Reese!¡± he yelled, which made my knees go jelly.

    ¡°What? No way! We areing with you inside!¡± I said firmly. ¡°And please calm down a bit! What if it¡¯s not your sister? We might be wrong! We have no evidence that will prove that she is the one who sent that threat, Chase!¡±

    ¡°I know that she is capable enough to screw someone, Reese. Believe me she could do those stuff,¡± he responded, voice was firm.

    He then turned his back and made his way to the porch of the mansion. My eyes widened as I realized that my level of anxiety had more than doubled now that we were in his family¡¯s residence. I pondered whether we should follow him or whether we should remain in the car. However, as soon as I visualized the threat in my mind, I was unable to muster the willpower to remain still in the car, despite the fact that I had a child with me who needed to be taken care of. The thought that someone might have followed us all the way here made me tremble. I looked around me, peering into every crevice, and all I could see was the darkness of the night.

    ¡°Momma, I am scared¡­¡± Mikael cried on my shoulder, and I had to pat his back again to hush him. ¡°Uncle is angry. He is scary.¡±

    ¡°Mikael, Uncle Chase only wants to protect us,¡± I replied and huffed out. ¡°We will follow him inside. I need to calm him so he won¡¯t be scarier, alright?¡±

    Mikael only nodded. I gathered all my strength and rushed toward the mansion. I hoped and prayed that nothing bad would ever happen to Chase, because that was thest thing I wanted to witness at this point in my life. However, my thoughts, as well as my prayers, were ripped out when I heard Chase¡¯s loud screams as soon as my feet stepped onto the porch. It felt like someone had smacked me in the chest with a hammer. Chase¡¯s life had devolved into aplete mess!

    As soon as we walked into the mansion, I witnessed Chase yelling and the maids attempting to prevent him from walking upstairs.

    ¡°Chandria! Where the fuck are you?! Come out!¡± Chase screamed on top of his lungs while he stood up in the living room. ¡°How dare you do this to us?! How could you do this to my wife?! Chandria, face me! Come on!¡±

    I did not think twice and put Mikael down. I crouched and guided his hands to cover his ears, then I looked him in the eyes. He was on the verge of crying, but he was trying to hold it back.

    ¡°Listen to me, little buddy. Turn around and count from one to one hundred. Whatever you hear, ignore it. I will try to stop Uncle and then we will go home, sounds good?¡± I told him, trying my best to sound convincing despite the fact that Chase was already making a scene not far from us.

    He nodded, lips quivering he answered, ¡°Alright, Momma. Mommy told me before that I should not listen to adults¡¯ conversation. I will just count then¡­¡±

    I ruffled his hair as I exhaled. ¡°You are such a good boy. Now, turn around.¡±

    He then turned around. His hands covered his ears as he started to count. I sighed out of frustration, stood up and turned to Chase¡¯s direction.

    I rushed toward him and tried to stop him from making a scene. ¡°Chase, stop it!¡±

    ¡°Chandria!¡± He screamed once more. His face was red out of rage. His chest was turning up and down because of his ragged breathing. ¡°Fuck, I won¡¯t let it slide. Come out now!¡±

    ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡± Uncle Ernest¡¯s voice was like thunder as he looked at us from the top of the long staircase. Beside him was Mrs. Maxwell and then Chandria appeared just behind them.

    ¡°Chandria, let¡¯s talk! Come here!¡± Chase was getting more enraged now that he finally saw his prime suspect for the death threat I received.

    Chandria looked confused and annoyed at the same time. As she crossed her arms against her chest, she slowly walked downstairs.

    ¡°What the fuck do you want from me, Chase? I¡¯ve been hearing you calling my name even in my private dreams!¡± She burst out.

    ¡°You!¡± Chase pointed his index finger at her, which made her eyes widen in shock. ¡°Are you trying to screw my wife? Why did you send her a death threat? How dare you!¡±

    ¡°What did you say?!¡± Chandria shouted at him. ¡°Why would I even do that to your low breed wife?!¡±

    ¡°You have no right to talk ill of her!¡±

    Chase was about to run toward his sister but then I was able to grab his waist, trying to stop him from attacking Chandria. ¡°Chase, please don¡¯t do that!¡±

    ¡°Did you hear Chase just now, Dad, Mom? He thinks that I am sending his wife a death threat!¡± Chandriaughed sarcastically. ¡°Guess what? Even if I wanted to scare the hell out of your wife, I have no time to do that. She doesn¡¯t deserve even an ounce of my attention so you better stop pointing your finger on me! You have no right to use me!¡±

    ¡°Screw you! I know how you behave, Chan! You are the only person who can do this stuff!¡± Chase yelled at her. ¡°You have done it before. You are that capable!¡±

    ¡°How dare you say that in my face, Chase?! Just because of that woman?¡± Chandria pointed her index finger at me, every word dripping off insults. ¡°You will throw a pit here and me me for something I didn¡¯t even do?! And how dare you bring my past to this conversation? I had my reasons why I did all that, Chase!¡±

    ¡°What kind of reason? Is insanity one of them?!¡±

    ¡°Fuck you, Chase!¡± Chandria screamed out loud and pped Chase on his cheek.

    My eyes widened as I did not expect such actions from her. It was only then that Chase stopped screaming, as if that p had made hime back to his senses.

    ¡°Chase, please¡­ let¡¯s go, I am begging you¡­¡± I told him while trying to pull him but he did not flinch at all.

    ¡°You are supposed to take my side, Chase! Not hers!  But here you are, almost wanting to hurt me for something you don¡¯t even have a proof with.¡± Chandria started crying out of frustration. ¡°And I will tell you again just in case it never sinks in your head, I did not send death threats to your low breed wife!¡±

    ¡°Enough, both of you!¡± Uncle Ernest did not hold back anymore.

    He rushed downstairs and I screamed when he punched Chase in the face, which made him fall on the ground. Even Chandria, as well as Mrs. Maxwell, frowned and instantly held Uncle Ernest in their arms.

    ¡°You have no single respect for us! How could you storm out here and use your sister for something she did not do? Aren¡¯t you thinking clearly anymore?!¡± Uncle Ernest¡¯s face reddened. It brought such terror within my chest as it was the first time I saw him screaming like that.

    ¡°Ernest, please! Do not hurt our son!¡±

    I held Chase in the arm and helped him stand up. He licked the side of his lips as he got a bruise after what his father had done. He looked at them angrily.

    ¡°I won¡¯t let you ruin my marriage,¡± Chase told them warily and then nced at his sister. ¡°And once I find out that it was you, Chan, I swear I won¡¯t let it slide. You can mark my words.¡±

    ¡°What a baseless usation you have, Chase. Go on! Prove it. Unless you have evidence that it was me who tried to scare your wife, you have no right to use and threaten me that way!¡± Chandria then red at me. ¡°I bet you are happy right now seeing our family get ruined because of you. I hate you so much, Jones. You may be Chase¡¯s wife now but you will never be part of this family. I won¡¯t ept you!¡±

    Right after screaming those words, Chandria ran upstairs. The next thing I heard was the sound of the door mming shut.

    ¡°I am so disappointed in you, son¡­¡± Mrs. Maxwell expressed. She was on the verge of crying, if not for Uncle Ernest who needed to be prevented from beating Chase. ¡°Both of you can leave. I can¡¯t believe you just made a scene at my house. For God¡¯s sake, Chase. This isn¡¯t your thing!¡±

    ¡°I am so sorry, Mrs. Maxwell-¡±

    ¡°I am not talking to you, Reese.¡± She cut my words off which made me feel embarrassed. ¡°I heard what you did with Chandria when she visited you home. I am disappointed in you too.¡±

    ¡°Chandria initiated that whole fiasco,¡± Chase uttered.

    ¡°You should stop ming your sister while I can still hold back,¡± Uncle Ernest warned him. ¡°You can leave.¡±

    ¡°Chase, let¡¯s go¡­ please, stop this now¡­¡± I begged.

    ¡°I will never let any of you hurt my wife,¡± Chase shook his head before he gripped on my hand and dragged me to the door.

    He then took Mikael and carried him in his arms. I took onest look at the mansion before I hopped into the car. There I saw Uncle Ernest, who was standing on the porch and was throwing me a deadly re.

    The way he looked at me sent chills down my spine and through my body.

 CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

    OLIVIA

    JUST when I thought that life would actually be easier for me, with a billionaire husband who loves me dearly and his money that would keep me rich for the rest of my life, fate had thrown the biggest bomb I would have trouble dodging with.

    With the recent unwanted circumstances that had urred between me, Chase and his family, I would say that this had been the most stressful event I ever handled.  Not only I had to deal with a great family feud of a lifetime, worst was I had to face a freaking death threat which was supposed to be targeting the real Reese Jones.

    Unfortunately, since the real Reese Jones went missing in action and given that we had an identical face that forced me to enter her life for money, the target of the death threat became none other than me, Olivia Miller, who was ignorant of Reese¡¯s life.

    It was at this moment that I could not stop questioning myself, whether I made the right decision to enter Reese and Chase¡¯s lives, or if this was the craziest thing I ever did, given that my life was already at stake, as apparently, someone out there, unscathed, was waiting for Reese to be alone so she could be killed.

    At the back of my mind, the angel in me kept telling me that I was probably facing my punishment because I chose to deceive Chase for money. I was not a saint nor a believer, but that thought made me want to go to church and repent formitting such mistakes.

    Lastly, my mind could not help but wonder if this was rted to Reese¡¯s disappearance. Could it be that she was hiding somewhere safe because she was afraid of those death threats she had been getting? Was this the reason why she had to ditch Chase at their wedding? Could it be that she was trying to protect Chase, the very reason she¡¯d gone missing? Was I wrong to think that she did not love him at all?

    I did not know how I could even answer these questions whirling around in my head. To be honest, they were making things worse. There were a lot of what-ifs and possibilities. and I wished I could somehow resolve them by having such answers, but no. I was left with no answers. With all these things happening, the only things I could feel were worry, confusion, and fear, knowing that every second I knew my life was in danger. I could not help but wonder if these are problems that rich people normally encounter.

    After that craziest night that happened, Chase heightened the security of our home. Every corner had bodyguards, even inside the mansion, ensuring that no intruders would show up in front of me and try to kill me.

    I was still having goosebumps at that thought.

    To be honest, I could really say that it triggered such trauma in me. Although I knew that the mansion was safe for me to rx in, I could not go to the bathroom or anywhere in the mansion without feeling the fear that someone was following me, that someone was behind me, and I knew it was crazy. I became so paranoid.

    Chase was aware of this trouble I was having, and it made him decide to take me every day to his office. Wherever he had to go, he would tag me. It was crazy that people thought we were just a romantic married couple who could not be separated, but little did they know, we were facing a lot of trouble.

    ¡°How do you feel right now?¡± Chase asked me, his voice filled with concern as he sat next to me here on the couch.

    It had been three days and here we were, in his office, him trying to work normally and me trying to rx on the couch.

    ¡°I do feel safe with you, of course,¡± I replied and looked him in the eyes. Unlike the day after that incident, Chase was much calmer and organized now.  ¡°I wish I could do something to help you with your work. I¡¯ve beening here with you for thest three days and all I did was sit here, watch you, watch some movies on theptop, and seduce you¡­¡± Myst statement was intended to raise a joke, as we¡¯ve been so freaking serious and paranoid recently, that I feel we needed an ice breaker for a bit.

    He chuckled and shook his head. I smiled when I saw the glimpse of happiness in his eyes. I had to admit that I had missed it for days.

    ¡°Perhaps you did not notice how well you contributed to my work for thest three days, Reese,¡± he said, pursing his lips to suppress his smile.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    My forehead creased as I leaned my back on the backrest of the couch. ¡°Hmm, care to expound? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You are my greatest motivator, wife.¡± He reached for my hand and guided it to his soft lips, then kissed my knuckles. ¡°There is really nothing much you have to do. You can sit back and rx, and the sight of you was more than enough for me to do my job right.¡±

    ¡°Sweet talker¡­¡± Imented, and we both chuckled.  ¡°But still, I want to be more helpful, you know. Even though I like the sight of you working at your desk, as you look so totally hot, I am afraid my body needs a bit of exercise.¡±

    ¡°An exercise?¡± He tilted his head, his lips curled up into a smirk this time.

    I nodded. ¡°Yes, Chase. I feel like my whole body needs to stretch or else I will end up getting a stroke or something!¡±

    He raised one brow, looking at me as if he had something kinky in mind. I narrowed my eyes as I looked at him. This man, really¡­

    ¡°Alright, we will have a little bit of exercise, as you requested.¡±

    He then stood up, still holding my hand, and slightly pulled me to stand up. I could have sworn that my heart pounded aggressively at the moment our bodies touched. In an instant, Chase¡¯s eyes disyed a strong desire and dominance, and it somehow indicated that he would not like any defiance from me.

    ¡°I wonder what¡¯s in your head right now,¡± I murmured under my breath.

    ¡°I can tell you¡­¡± He leaned down and kissed my lips softly. ¡°Come with me.¡±

    We exchanged meaningful gazes before we walked to his spacious restroom. I did not even have to guess what we were about to do right there, because the moment the door was shut, he pinned me on the wall and kissed me roughly. It felt as if I was prey and he was a predator trying to devour me. With each kiss, suck, and bite he made on my lips, the tension, as well as the heat, went through me.

    It was only at that moment that I forgot we were still dealing with an unknown person who dared scaring me. His kisses and touches were enough to make me go insane at the time, and when he spun me around to face the wall while rolling the hem of my fitted dress up to my underboobs, I thought I had already lost my sanity.

    One swift move and his fingers were able to slide into my sex, and the way they rubbed me was enough for me to feel the intense pleasure building up within me. All I heard was my soft moans, which gradually became louder as Chase became more rough with me.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to hear you moan my name really often, wife. It turns me on more,¡± he whispered under his breath.

    ¡°Chase, fuck¡­¡± I cried when I felt his fingers enter me.

    He buried his face in my neck as he continued what he was doing. After a while, I could feel that my knees were bing so jelly, quivering as my hips weed his fingers to meet the pleasing sensation. I bit my lips so hard that I could taste the blood on them.

    It did not take that long before Chase removed his pants. The next thing I knew, we were fucking each other inside his restroom. My face, breasts, the rest of my front part, as well as my hands, were pinned to the tinted door. This area of his office was usually cold whenever I used it, but at this very moment, I could feel the intense heat. Beads of sweat formed on my entire body as Chase continued to pound on me.

    My loud moans were followed by his sexy groans, and after minutes of pounding against each other, we both cummed. After that, my body instantly leaned back on him. It was like a quickie, but damn it, it felt as if I had worked for a week as I was so exhausted.

    While we were both catching our breath, Chase chuckled.

    ¡°So, how was our exercise?¡± he asked mischievously. ¡°Your body was stretched, right?¡±

    ¡°You know, this is not the exercise that I was referring to, but, fuck, I sweated a lot. I loved it¡­¡± I said as I looked up at him.

    ¡°And I love you,¡± he responded, hugging me from behind, then kissing me on the forehead.

    We both got ourselves dressed after that ¡®exercise¡¯ we just had in the restroom. After that, he went back to his work and I remained still on the couch and watched some movies on hisptop. While doing so, my eyes could not seem to concentrate. From my direction, I could see the restroom¡¯s tinted door. My body sweat had formed something like a shadow behind it, and anyone who would see it could already tell what had urred. My face heated in shame. Thest thing I ever wanted to happen was for Chase¡¯s employees to find out that we were having sex here.

    ¡°Chase,¡± I called to his attention shyly.

    He was busy typing something on hisptop, ncing between the screen and some reports he needed to read.

    ¡°Yes, baby?¡± he asked without even looking at me.

    I sighed and palmed my face. ¡°Nothing. Don¡¯t mind me.¡±

    I ended up praying in my mind that no one would enter Chase¡¯s office or else I would be really embarrassed.  I kept my gaze fixed on the door until I heard Chaseugh in his seat.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think of wiping it off, wife. It¡¯s a good sight from here,¡± he said.

    ¡°Chase!¡± I gave him a wide-eyed look. So all this time, he knew I was worried about the aftermath of what we did inside the restroom.

    Heughed. ¡°You¡¯re so cute¡­¡±

    ¡°What if someone sees it? Oh my goodness, I think I want to disappear right now¡­¡± I said as I ran my fingers through my hair.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it will fade on its own soon. Just let it do it automatically. I like seeing it,¡± he responded, and gave me a boyish grin.

    ¡°Damn it, Chase. Stop teasing me,¡± I snorted and crossed my arms against my chest.

    ¡°I¡¯m not. In fact, I am being so honest with you.¡±

    ¡°Whatever!¡±  I shook my head and looked away.

    I was about to continue watching the movie I¡¯d started when someone knocked on the door. I could have sworn that I felt the intense heat rushing over my face.  What made it worse was when Chase answered back, ¡°Come in!¡±

    ¡°Fuck!¡± I groaned through my gritted teeth and ran towards the restroom door.

    I blocked the tinted door, ensuring that I would not be embarrassed.

    Chase¡¯s secretary looked around and saw me standing in front of the door, my back leaning on it. I could only give her one fake sweet smile, as deep within, I was praying hard that she would not notice what I was trying to hide.

    ¡°Mr. Maxwell, here¡¯s the final proposal for the advertisement as you requested. Our operations team will start working on the process as soon as you approve it,¡± Martha informed Chase, then she handed him a blue folder. ¡°And if there are modifications you would like to add, please feel free to let me know and I will tell them personally.¡±

    Chase took the folder and even scanned a few pages inside of it. My lips were pressed together. He then nced in my direction and smirked a bit.

    After a few seconds of checking the pages of the report, he said, ¡°I will review it after lunch and get back to you once everything looks good.¡±

    ¡°Got you, Mr. Maxwell. I¡¯ll leave for now.¡± Martha then looked my way, slightly craned her neck to check the door and curiously gazed at me. ¡°Is there something wrong, Mrs. Maxwell? Do you need any help or something?¡±

    ¡°Oh no!¡± Iughed awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m good. I¡¯m just tired of sitting on the couch, and I feel like wanting to stand here for a bit. You can go, Martha.¡±

    Chase giggled in his seat. Damn it!

    ¡°Are you sure, Mrs. Maxwell?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! I appreciate it though,¡± I said and gave Chase a deadly re.

    When Martha left the ce, that was the only time I was able to sigh with relief. I then rushed toward Chase and pinched him for making fun of me. He justughed out loud, which was too infectious as I found myselfughing while trying to punish him with my pinches.

 CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

    OLIVIA

    THE next day, I asked Chase if I could skip going to the office with him. I wanted to see something other than the four corners of his spacious working ce, so I told him that I would be staying at Lara¡¯s apartment during the day and he could pick me up right there after work. I was all too aware of his second thoughts, and I felt that he did not really want me to stay somewhere that was out of his sight, but I assured him that I would be fine as Lara would be with me. In the end, he agreed, but with one condition: I would bring three bodyguards with me to ensure my safety while I spent some time with my best friend.

    It was actually better than not getting his permission at all. I was d he allowed me to visit Lara, as I could have sworn I already felt suffocated simply by staying at this office all day. In addition, there were things I could not tell him about. Yes, we talked, we mostly had ¡°fun¡±, and we understood each other, but there were things I could only tell Lara without the need to pretend as Reese, and that was the kind of conversation I had been meaning to have since what exactly happened that night.

    ¡°You know what? I¡¯ve been dying to see you for thest couple of days. I am so worried that someone will just show up to hurt you. Death threats are serious matters. I hope Chase will do something to find out who that sick person is!¡± Laramented, and I could feel her anger in every word she voiced out.

    We were currently in the kitchen. She was preparing lunch for us, while I was seated problematically at the countertop table. My chin rested on the table as I watched every move she made.

    ¡°He¡¯s too certain that it was his sister who did it, Lara,¡± I said and huffed out of frustration. ¡°I know it is a baseless usation, but Chase told me that his sister is more capable of doing such things. I am not sure what he meant by that, but I do recall him telling me that she had done it in the past.¡± I inhaled sharply and shook my head. ¡°But if it¡¯s Chandria who¡¯s behind all of this, I swear I¡¯ll do anything to make her pay for messing with me.¡±

    ¡°That bitch truly hates Reese Jones, huh?¡± Lara looked at me with her wrinkled eyebrows. ¡°You told me on the phone that she mistakenly thought that Mikael was your son by another man, which caused both of you to fight. If only I was in your house at that time, I swear I would have made her bald. I can¡¯t believe she tried to include my son over her hatred towards Reese.¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± I replied, and I raised my head. ¡°Not to add that she seemed to be a little imbnced. She did not want to listen to me, not even once. She never did. She really wanted to believe that Reese was a cheater and a gold digger. If not for this death threat thing, I would have really thought that Reese was that kind of a woman, but after receiving such a threat, I am really concerned as to what really happened to her.¡±

    Lara let out a long sigh and leaned her back against the sink. She looked at me as if she already knew what I had in mind all this time.

    ¡°You know, I feel you on this. With this thing that just urred to you, I feel that it is rted to why she¡¯d gone missing, Olivia. Perhaps she doesn¡¯t really have another man. What if she is only trying to hide to protect herself from any danger?¡± she remarked, and the concern and fear were evident in her tone of voice.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been thinking, Lara.¡± I swallowed hard and pursed my lips. ¡°And now that I am here pretending to be her, her enemies will be targeting none other than me this time¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re scaring me, for Pete¡¯s sake, Liv¡­¡± Lara looked at me worriedly then she embraced herself. ¡°I hope it is only a prank. You know, Reese is somehow popr and there might be anti-Reese out there trying to scare her, don¡¯t you think so?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s bullshit, Lara.¡± I stood up and transferred to the couch in the living room, which was right next to her kitchen. Out of being so anxious, I started biting my nails and I could not help but think of all the possibilities.  ¡°But if that thing was true, then that anti-fan did really go beyond his or her limit. Sending a picture filled with fresh animal blood with a letter telling you that Reese must die is really scary. In fact, it is beyond traumatic. It frightens me that I can¡¯t even go to the bathroom by myself. Can you imagine that?¡±

    ¡°I know. If I were in your position, I would have grown my eye bags as I would never be able to sleep at night after receiving a death threat. Only a lunatic could ever send something like that.¡± She then inhaled sharply and clicked her tongue afterward. ¡°That¡¯s why you have to be extra careful, Liv. If Chase wanted to deploy dozens of bodyguards to tail and protect you, just let him be. It is good that you have a reliable husband who can keep you safe and secure at all times. At the very least, Chase makes me feel at ease.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I am quite thankful he is protecting me¡­¡± I said, but my voice came off a bit sad. ¡°Anyway, I have another mission for you, since I figured out that finding the writer of the blog site rted to Reese had been so difficult¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, please don¡¯t mention how I failed to find that writer! That person knew how to hide well!¡± She thenughed, and I could not suppress mine either.

    Yes, Lara¡¯s mission to find the writer of certain blog posts rted to Reese was not sessful as that person could not be located at all. I was not sure if it was just a coincidence that we could not find her or that the writer was really rted to Reese and was hiding as well. Nevertheless, that person is no longer important at this point. We would still try to find Reese and use every clue we could get to find her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we are still best friends even though you did not aplish the first mission, but¡­¡± I eyed her meaningfully. ¡°I will pay you double if you help with something.¡±

    Lara turned off her induction cooker and walked straight to my direction. She then threw herself on the couch and sat next to me, her eyes sparkling with joy because of myst statement. ¡°Whatever it is, Your Highness. You are well aware that I love the smell of money¡­¡±

    I smirked, but then my face hardened as I recalled the way that person red at me as if he wanted me dead that night¡­

    ¡°Hire someone to tail Ernest Maxwell, Lara,¡± I told her seriously.

    Lara¡¯s brows furrowed, and the way she looked at me, it was as if she thought I was going insane.

    ¡°What are you up to, Olivia Miller? Are you freaking sure you want me to hire someone to tail your father-inw? What for?¡± Sheughed and shook that thought off. ¡°Is he having an affair or something? I don¡¯t get it!¡±

    I massaged the bridge of my nose and shifted my position to face her properly. I swallowed hard, recalling what happened that night. His stares, his words, his entire aura¡­ those were so different.  It was like that man had built a good facade for him to show the first time we met, and now he was slowly expressing himself to me, and I did not seem to like it. In an instance, he became strange and mysterious.

    ¡°Earth to Olivia? Hey, can you please tell me why you want me to tail your father-inw? Are you ying the good daughter-inw for Chase¡¯s mother?¡± Lara gasped. ¡°Or don¡¯t tell me he is really having an affair at his age?¡±

    I shook my head. ¡°No, it is not what you think it is, Lara. I don¡¯t know why, but there is something off about that old hag that makes me so ufortabletely. I want to know a lot more about the father of my husband,¡± I said with a serious tone of voice.

    ¡°Why? Did he say something odd? Or did he happen to do something bad to you?¡± she curiously asked, face was so serious as I drew her attention.

    ¡°That night, when we went to Maxwell¡¯s residence, I saw him giving me a deadly re, Lara. I did not know what it was for, but now I am really having a bad feeling. It¡¯s as if he knows something about Reese. I know it sounds crazy, but I just can¡¯t seem to get it off my mind.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you being paranoid, Liv?¡±

    I shook my head and clenched my jaw. ¡°No. Please, Lara. I need your help on this. Find someone who can tail him.¡±

    ***

    CHASE was not able to pick me up in the evening as he needed to work overtime due to the uingunch of their new project. He wanted me to stay at Lara¡¯s apartment, but I decided to go home to the mansion instead, with the rest of the bodyguards protecting me as I already wanted to take a rest.

    On our way home, a lot of thoughts whirled through my head, one of which was Uncle Ernest. At the back of my mind, I was hoping that Lara was correct, and that I was only being paranoid because I had been dealing with a lot of thingstely. I was all too aware that Chase¡¯s father did not like Reese Jones for him, but my gut feeling said that there was something more than that¡­ I did not know where this instinct would lead me, but I was hoping that I would not find out anything that would cause such big trouble for Chase. He dealt with a lot of things. I did not want to be a burden to him.

    Looking at the streets our car was passing by, all I could do was sigh and contemte.  I guess the only thing I ever wanted right now was a peace of mind and to live normally without any threat that I should be worried about. However, who was I to deserve such a life when I stole someone else¡¯s life for money?  I shook my head as I felt a pang of anxiety inside my chest. I could never really get used to the thought that I was taking advantage of someone else¡¯s life for my own benefit, no matter how hard I tried to tell myself that I should get used to it as it was my decision after all.

    It took almost an hour before we arrived at our mansion. As soon as I hopped out of the car, my forehead started creasing as I saw many bodyguards surrounding the whole mansion. I was sure these people weren¡¯t the ones Chase hired, as I recognized the faces of our men.

    ¡°Who are they?¡± I asked a familiar bodyguard who was securing the mansion all this time.

    ¡°They are Mr. Ernest Maxwell¡¯s bodyguards, Mrs. Maxwell.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± My eyes widened at what he said. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Ernest Maxwell is waiting in front of theke, Mrs. Maxwell. He¡¯s been here for thirty minutes, waiting for you and Mr. Chase Maxwell.¡±

    A surge of anxiety, as well as fear, went through me. In an instant, my entire body tensed up, and my mind became clouded.

    ¡°What the hell is he doing here?¡± I mumbled to myself, frozen in ce because I didn¡¯t know what to do.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    I was so ufortable with him that I had no single strength to face and talk to him. For some reason, her presence seemed to be bothering me in a way that could cause my panic attacks.

    What did he want, anyway?

 CHAPTER THIRTY

    OLIVIA

    WHEN I looked at Uncle Ernest¡¯s back, I felt a rush of anxiety rush through my veins. Standing in front of theke, he took a drag from one of his tobo pipes and gazed out over the water. It didn¡¯t matter that I could only see his back at this point; his powerful presence was already enough to make me tremble. What exactly was he doing here in the first ce?

    ¡°Who let him in?¡± I asked one of the bodyguards.

    ¡°Mr. Maxwell has called your husband, Madame. He was the one who permitted us to let his father in.¡±

    ¡°Chase?¡± I asked in disbelief.

    ¡°Yes, Madame.¡±

    It was unclear why Chase didn¡¯t tell me about his father¡¯s unexpected visit if he already knew. Inhaling forcefully, I muttered a curse. I suppose I had no choice but to face his father, despite the fact that his presence made me feel uneasy for an unknown reason.

    Ernest Maxwell waspletely unaware of my presence until one of his men walked up to him and whispered something, causing him to turn around and look over his shoulder in the direction of where I was hiding. I tightened my grip on the strap of my sling bag and took a deep breath as I summoned all of my courage and strength, then walked in the direction of him.

    Olivia, act cool. I swear you did not want him to feel that his presence bothered you, I reminded myself.

    ¡°Good evening, Reese,¡± he greeted me with a smile stered on his lips as soon as I stood up in front of him.

    While I could still recall how he red at me as if he wanted me gone thest time I saw him, the way he looked at me right now feltpletely different to me. It was sincere, light, and soft in its expressions.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Good evening, Uncle Ernest. Uhm, how long have you been staying here?¡± I asked reluctantly. ¡°You should havee inside. It is cold here outside.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you have nothing to worry about, Reese. I seemingly like the view from here,¡± he said, smiling as he nced at theke and the forest across it, then turned to me. ¡°Chase seems to have a taste when ites to houses. Both of you have got a nice ce here. It is cozy, pleasant, and definitely a ce you can go home to rx and unwind.¡±

    I forced an awkward smile on my face. After all this time, I could not figure out why his entire aura was acting differently now that he was speaking with me face to face. It was not ruthless or dominating in any way. In fact, his expression was very soft, and his eyes were glistening as he looked around our entire house, as if he were pleased that his son had been able to acquire a gorgeous house in which he could bring his wife to live.

    ¡°I have to agree with you on that, Uncle,¡± I managed to say.

    My anxiety and fear had gradually faded away, and all that was left was a sense of bemusement at how Ernest Maxwell was able to smile and speak to me in such a soothing manner. It washed away the difort I had been feeling just a few minutes before, and I could not help but wonder if I had been wrong all along to think so negatively of him after all this time.

    ¡°Would you like toe inside? Chase said that he would be homete because he needs to work, but I can call him and request him to go home early so you can have a conversation with him.¡±

    ¡°Oh, please don¡¯t bother, Reese. The reason I came here is you,¡± he said, and gave me a small smile.

    ¡°Me¡­ Uhm, okay, uncle. W-We can talk inside. Come with me, please.¡±

    He smiled and nodded his head. When I turned around, I pointed the way to the main entrance of our mansion. I had to admit that I was still ufortable in his presence, not because I was afraid of him, but because I was unsure of how I would behave in front of him after everything that had happened over the previous couple of weeks.

    Remembering how he behaved when the cops used Chase of illegal drug possession, then that day when he discovered that we were secretly married, and the death threat incident that urred a few days ago, I had the distinct impression that he was cing the me on me for everything. However, this was no longer the case.

    To bepletely honest, this situation made me rethink my judgment. Was it just a case of anxiety on my part to suspect that something was wrong with Chase¡¯s father? Because I had the distinct impression that I had been proven wrong¡­ yet again.

    ¡°Would you like some tea, Uncle?¡± I asked him when we arrived in the living room of the mansion.

    When I turned to face him, I noticed how his gaze wandered around the house, taking in every detail of Chase and my new home. As I continued to follow his gaze, I was struck by the obvious happiness that could be seen in his pair of oceanic eyes. It was only then that I realized Chase had inherited some of his father¡¯s facial characteristics, including his piercing blue eyes, his pointed nose, and his perfectly shaped jaws. But I couldn¡¯t deny that Ernest Maxwell was also a captivating elderly gentleman with the ability to seduce women around the same age as his.

    ¡°This mansion looks more appealing than our house.¡± He chuckled and settled himself on the couch. ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t bother. I had my dinner beforeing here.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure, Uncle?¡±

    ¡°Reese, you already married my son. I think it is time for you to address me like how you call your father,¡± he remarked with a smile.

    His statement caught mepletely off guard. Was it possible that I misheard what he said? He wanted me to refer to him as ¡°dad¡± from now on? I blinked several times and looked at him with wide eyes. I could not seem to grasp what he was trying to say. After a few seconds, he burst outughing, indicating that he had picked up on my reaction. My cheeks were flushed red as the heat rushed through them. I sat across the couch from him and cleared my throat. He evenughed while shaking his head. It was as if he was amused by my joke.

    ¡°I see that you are way more shocked by it than me visiting you here.¡± He shook his head, trying to hold back hisughter.  ¡°Yeah, I think it is time for you to call me ¡°dad.¡± You already became my daughter-inw after all.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought you werepletely against the idea of me marrying your son.¡±

    He then cleared his throat and let out a huge sigh afterwards. ¡°I know you had an impression like that, which is why I came here to talk things out.¡± His expression softened as he eyed me.  ¡°I want to apologize for my behavior, Reese. I know it is not right to take my anger out on you, and I did see that I went  too far. You did not deserve all that. After all those things that happened, I should have acted more like a father to you instead of making you feel that you were not suited for my son. I guess I was only concerned about Chase. I¡¯ve seen him in the devastating part of his life when you were gone, and I didn¡¯t like that at all. That¡¯s why when you came back, I thought you were going to hurt him all over again. As a father, I only wanted to protect my son. Even if he¡¯s already of age to make decisions, I still see him as a kid I needed to protect at any cost.¡±

    I waspletely taken aback. Hearing these words from Chase¡¯s father made me want to take back all of the mistrust I had previously harbored toward him. Just looking at him right now, who was looking at me with such a fatherly expression on his face, I waspletely convinced that he was only concerned about the well-being of his son. He did not want Chase to be hurt again over the same woman. In fact, if I had been in his shoes, I would have done exactly the same thing. That was what parents were expected to do, after all.

    ¡°I get it, Uncle-¡±

    ¡°You can call me Dad from now on, Reese. You are part of the Maxwell family already¡­¡±

    My heart raced so fast because of the high emotions I felt after hearing all of his thoughts.

    ¡°Y-Yes, dad¡­¡± I responded, calling him ¡°dad¡± for the very first time. It sounded foreign, but it did send warmth to my heart.

    I was well aware that everything was just a charade in order for me to seed with my n, but there were times like this when I could not stop myself from getting carried away. That¡¯s when it dawned on me that I was just a girl who didn¡¯t have any parents or family other than Lara and Mikael, which may have contributed to my being so soft whenever a parent spoke to me in such a heartfelt manner.

    ¡°I am hoping that you can forgive me, Reese, for doing things based on my emotions. I didn¡¯t think like a real adult.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t say it, Dad¡­¡± I cleared my throat and looked him in the eyes. ¡°I totally understand your reasons and I¡­ I forgive you.¡± I gave him a small smile to assure him I was telling the truth.  ¡°And I also want to apologize for causing a lot of trouble in your family. It¡¯s not my intention to stain your family name, and I never wish for Chase and Chandria to fight¡­¡±

    If I was being honest, I would say I was sincere when I apologized for causing so much trouble in their family, but the thing about Chandria and Chase made me feel as if I did not have any regrets.  Chandria was a bitch and mean. I thought she deserved some brutal words from her brother because she really did cross the lines.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯ve mentioned it, I also want to address Chandria¡¯s behavior towards you. I know that I shouldn¡¯t take the me, but as her father, I believe it is my responsibility to teach her moral lessons on how to treat people, and so I apologize for her actions, Reese. Chandria is still young and has a lot of things to realize and learn about. She only loves her brother so much that she thinks you¡¯re going to hurt him again.¡±

    I let out a sigh and nodded at him to give him the impression that I understood where his bitch daughter wasing from, but deep down, I knew that her reasoning was so flimsy and shallow to begin with.

    ¡°And I assure you that she is not the one who sent such death threats to you. She may be a spoiled brat but she can¡¯t do things like that to her brother¡¯s wife.¡±

    I simply smiled at him. I wanted to believe it if not for Chase, who convinced me that Chandria was capable of doing such things.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Reese. I will do my best to protect both of you too. Given that you are already part of our family, I won¡¯t allow anyone to hurt you, and I will discuss it with Chase once he¡¯s able to clear his head. He¡¯s still mad at his old man.¡±

    ¡°I can talk to him, Dad¡­¡± I said as I bit my lower lip. ¡°Chase has a lot on his te right now, and I think it added more for him to be so mad toward Chandria.¡±

    ¡°Point taken. I guess I will have to try harder in order to pick up the pieces of trust he once had for me and slowly fix it.¡±

    ¡°I promise to help you, Dad. Chase is not that heartless, I am confident that his anger will wash away anytime soon.¡±

    ¡°Hopefully, Reese¡­¡±

    Following the conversation I had with Ernest Maxwell, who preferred to be addressed as ¡°dad¡± now that I had married his son, I immediately called Lara on the phone and informed her that I had decided to cancel my request to follow Chase¡¯s father around. It became clear to me that I was only being paranoid as a result of the negative circumstances that had urred over the previous couple of weeks, and as a result of our ability to talk things out, my suspicions about him began to fade away as well. All that was left was the security of knowing that, for the first time in my life, I had a father figure that I could trust.

    I had to admit, it felt good to have parents¡­ Mrs. and Mr. Jones, then now Ernest Maxwell. Despite the fact that I was not meant to live this life, I was a little grateful for the opportunity to learn what it was like to have some parents. That alone brought me such joy, something I had never experienced before because I was ustomed to being alone, to being an orphan trying to make it in the rat race.

 CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

    OLIVIA

    WHEN EVERYTHING APPEARED to be going wrong, and when things did not seem to be falling into their proper ces, I realized that all I needed to do was take a deep breath and learn to face life all over again. I had no control over bad situations, or even bad days, because they were out of my hands. It all happened and they continue to ur when I least expect them, but this never meant that I had to be consumed with negative thoughts simply because I did not anticipate them.

    After all of the bad things that had happened to me and Chase, I decided to look for the positive aspects in the people who were around me-not to the point where Ipletely trusted them, because I still needed to be cautious-but I wanted to give myself enough space and time to not overthink and judge their actions whenever I felt like my emotions were running so high that they were clouding my judgment.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    I felt at ease immediately following my conversation with Chase¡¯s father and was convinced that my previous judgment of him had been incorrect the entire time. He helped me realize that he was a good person, a loving father who only cared about his son¡¯s well-being, and that his actions were only triggered by his emotions, which was understandable given that he was a protective father. All this time, I thought he despised me, but during our conversation, he made it clear that he only did not want Chase to go through the same ordeal as he had previously. That was something I understood.

    Every ounce of worry, fear, and negative feelings I¡¯d ever had about him had vanished by this point. All that was left was respect and appreciation knowing he was a good person. I could not help but wish that I had a father like him, who would go to great lengths to protect me from anything or anyone who might harm me, but I was unfortunate enough not to go through that kind of phase in my life, as I was only raised in an orphanage.

    That being said, I considered Chase lucky, not only because he had the wealth that would keep him on top for the rest of his life, but because he had a wonderful father who would rescue him whenever the situation became dire.

    I share all of these thoughts in my mind in Lara which I talked on the phone after the conversation I had with Ernest Maxwell and I recalled what she said¡­

    ¡°Oh, my God, Olivia. Are you hearing yourself right now? What if they figured out who you really are? Think about it! You are getting too attached to Chase¡¯s family!¡± Lara said and I immediately turned off the phone as I saw Chase open the door of our room. I then texted Lara that I¡¯ll call her next time.

    Though Lara was right, I felt happy that I could call him ¡°dad¡± from now on, too.

    After almost an hour¡­

    ¡°You seem happy,¡± Chasemented.

    We were both lying down in our beds at the time. My gaze was fixed on the ceiling, and I could not keep a smile off my face. In my peripheral vision, I caught a glimpse of him looking at me, his brows slightly furrowed in interest.

    ¡°I just feel like your dad is a cool father.¡± Then I nced at him. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe that he came all the way here to apologize to me. I mean, he could¡¯ve sent me a text or called me, right? It¡¯s fluttering, Chase.¡±

    He smiled a bit. ¡°Well, I am d that he really did that. I was kind of worried that I let him enter our residence. But I still let him because he said he wanted to apologize to you.¡±

    My smile widened. ¡°Perhaps you made the right decision. He was too sincere when we talked, Chase. As in no pretense, I felt it. I am happy that he finally epted me as his daughter-inw. I thought I would have to endure those very famous inw issues that I mostly see in soap operas.¡±

    Chase cracked a grin. His hand reached out and lightly pinched the inside of my cheek. ¡°I am happy for you, baby. Though I wish Chandria would do the same. I am still under the impression that she was the one who sent the death threat in order to exact revenge on you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about that death threat anymore, Chase. We have dozens of bodyguards here in the house. I don¡¯t think it will ever happen again. Whoever that person is, I think he or she only wants to pull off a prank.¡±

    ¡°Still, we can¡¯t let our guard down.¡± He leaned down a bit and showered me with kisses on my forehead and lips. ¡°Now, let¡¯s sleep. Tomorrow, you wille with me to my office again¡­¡±

    ¡°Your employees will really think that I am a clingy wife.¡± Iughed and hugged him. ¡°I should really think of something that will keep me upied other than watching you work!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s better that way, wife,¡± he murmured and hugged me back.  ¡°But if you want to do something, just let me know and we will do it together.¡±

    ***

    THE NEXT DAY, I was so excited when Chase¡¯s father called me, inviting me toe with him to the ribbon cutting of one of their newest five-star hotels. I was so excited to go that even though Chase did not like the idea of meing to that event without him, I persuaded him until he agreed.

    I was picked up by one of the trusted employees of Ernest Maxwell. It only took almost thirty minutes before we arrived at the new hotel.

    ¡°Thanks foring, Reese!¡± Dad greeted me with a peck on the cheek and a warm hug.

    ¡°Of course, Dad¡­¡± I said shyly. Calling him ¡®dad¡¯ still felt so foreign but I couldn¡¯t deny that it gave me a warm feeling inside knowing that I had a father figure.

    Their new hotel had forty floors. As I looked at it from the outside, I was amazed at how tall it was. I could not believe that Chase¡¯s family owned this entire building and over a hundred hotels within and outside the country. Dad led the way to the inside. My eyes widened in amazement as I looked at the lobby. The interior designs were elegant, and everything seemed to have diamonds glistening. This left me pondering. How much did they spend to build one hotel? I also wondered how much money they had in bank ounts!

    ¡°We can take a seat over there.¡± Dad pointed to the VIP waiting area and then nced down at his wrist watch. ¡°We still have thirty minutes before the program starts.¡±

    I nodded at him, and then we proceeded to the VIP waiting area and settled ourselves on the soft couches there. My eyes could not even stop lurking around. Amazing. That was the only word I could think of right now.

    ¡°This hotel looks amazing, Dad¡­¡± I remarked in awe.

    He chuckled heartily as his gaze wandered around to admire the ce.  ¡°I still can¡¯t believe that we are able to build numerous hotels, Reese. This will be our 128th hotel since we started the business almost a century ago.¡±

    ¡°For real, Dad?¡± I asked, astounded, but then I gasped when he looked at me curiously. ¡°Oh, pardon my memory, Dad. I can¡¯t remember anything¡­ but for sure, Chase had mentioned it to me in the past.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Reese, you¡¯re fine.¡± He smiled genuinely and then let out a sigh of relief. ¡°You should know that my father was not born into a wealthy family during his life. He lived paycheck to paycheck because life wasn¡¯t all that easy to deal with at the time. I recall him telling me that he worked all hours of the day and night just to support his studies and to provide food for his family. My grandmother was a single parent, and my father grew up without an older man to guide him and assist my grandmother in ful?lling their daily needs.¡± He clicked his tongue and shook his head. ¡°It was kind of dramatic and I am not sure if our history will entertain you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, please, Dad.¡± I looked at him curiously. ¡°It already piqued my interest, please I want to know more.¡±

    His expression softened. He nodded afterwards and then continued, ¡°My father applied for multiple part-time jobs to support his college and in order to provide for their family. He enrolled in a business course while in college because he had a strong desire to start his ownpany from the ground up. At his young age, he was already into business, and my grandmother supported him with that¡­

    ¡°It was during his second year of college when they were thrown in the street because they couldn¡¯t pay the house rent. That particr situation fueled my father¡¯s determination toe up with a business that could give shelter to those who needed a roof, even if it was temporary, and so he dreamed of starting a hotel business¡­ With the divine¡¯s help, he was able to purchase a small property. He started off his business in a small inn with a small amount of savings and the pure courage he had with him. Then you know what? That inn was renovated after a year. From a single-story inn, it became a three-story inn, and then became a hotel with six floors.

    ¡°Soon after he was able to build his very first hotel, he met my mother¡­¡± Chase¡¯s father smiled genuinely, eyes seemed to wonder about that certain time when his father told him these stories. ¡°My mother was an ountant, and she applied for a job in my father¡¯spany. I had to say that he had fallen in love at first sight. My mother did not leave him, even if he was at the lowest point of his life when Grandma died because of cancer. He almost lost his business, but my mom was there to pick him up and fix the pieces of his hope that were shattered. They went on with their lives and fought so many battles, took a lot of risks, and it all paid off. Before I was born, they were able to establish ten freaking hotels, which amodated a lot of people.¡±

    He then sighed as he leaned his back against the backrest of the couch. ¡°Their story truly affected me as a businessman. I am devoted to continuing what they have started and passing it to Chase when the right timees.¡± Then he looked at me with a smile stered on his lips. ¡°And you, as his wife, will be the light of his life. Whenever something goes wrong, and whenever things don¡¯t go ording to his n, your role is to soothe and support him, to be his ball of energy to keep going and be a source of his motivation. I would say, a partner is truly important in the business. No one can ever grow a business this big alone. A man should always have a partner that will support his decisions and make him feel alright whenever things go wrong. And I have high hopes that you can do the same for your husband, Reese. Chase might be sessful already, but he needs your support more than anything else. With you at Chase¡¯s side, I am confident that he will be able to perform what I expect from him, what the people expect from him. I hope you stay with him no matter what the situation is. As the wedding vows say, through richer and poorer and through thick and thin¡­¡±

    I gasped at everything Ernest Maxwell had shared with me, and it felt as if we had already built a connection and sympathy towards each other. Their family history was something I could look up to. I must admit, it ignited my desire to be Chase¡¯s support system, and it inspired me a lot.

    ¡°Dad, I have no words to say¡­¡± I smiled with delight. ¡°But this story you shared inspired me a lot. I promise I will be a good wife to your son, and will do everything to be the best partner he could ever have, not only in this business, but in life.¡±

    He nodded with satisfaction. ¡°I know you can do well, Reese. You¡¯re a smart woman, in fact, way more mature than my own daughter. You can run a business too if you want to. Just think of a business that you want to establish and I assure you that me and Chase will be there to support you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Dad¡­¡± I said shyly at him. ¡°You surely gave me something to ponder all night.¡±

    We bothughed. Minutes passed, and then his staff advised us that the program would be starting. During the entire ribbon cutting, I was there beside the very fine old man, Ernest Maxwell. What made me feel ttered and honored was the fact that he introduced me to the media reporters as his daughter-inw.

    ¡°Here with me is Reese Jones-Maxwell. I know everyone of you already knows her, but I¡¯d like to introduce her as my daughter-inw this time.¡± He nced over at me and gave me a warm smile. ¡°She will be part of our entire business, and I can¡¯t wait for Reese to explore what she¡¯s capable of.¡±

 CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

    OLIVIA

    EXPLORING what I was capable of and the idea of starting my ownpany were the things that kept me pondering the night after the ribbon cutting I attended with Chase¡¯s father. I did not know why, but the desire for me to try to establish a business which I could call mine had been fueled after hearing those encouraging words from Ernest Maxwell. They started from the ground too, and if Chase¡¯s grandfather was able to do it himself, then it was possible that I could do it too, as long as I worked hard for it.

    ¡°What are you thinking, Reese?¡± Chase asked curiously when we were having dinner. ¡°You seem spaced out. Are you alright?¡±

    Compared tost night, Chase went home earlier today as he was able to finish all his workload in the office. I cooked all his favorite dishes as part of me being a great wife for him. He seemed to enjoy it too, thanks to Lara, who helped me via video call on how to maneuver in the kitchen.

    ¡°Well, your father told me a lot of stories about your grandparents. I can¡¯t seem to erase it from my mind. I will honestly say that it is, indeed, inspiring.¡± I sipped on my mango juice and continued, ¡°Your father encouraged me to learn more about business stuff¡­¡±

    ¡°Reese, it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t engage yourself in managing thepany or handling some businesses. You can always do whatever you want, especially prioritizing your passion as a swimmer,¡± he said, assuring me as he reached for my hand resting on the table.

    I pursed my lips and nced at him in a gentle manner. ¡°But hearing your grandparents¡¯ story and how your grandfather started from the ground up actually inspired me to do something different this time, Chase. I think I want to explore what I am capable of. I want to know more about starting a business, the pros and cons, how to handle it, and everything I need to know in order to be a great businesswoman,¡± I said.

    The sheer determination and excitement were evident in my tone of voice as I spoke to Chase. The desire I felt was like a sugar rush that made me so hyper and energetic, and I assumed this emotion would keep me awake all night.

    Chase nced at me. Amusement was visible in his expression. He leaned his elbow on the table, fingers started to rub his chin while his attention was drawn to me. I pouted my lips. He might have thought that I was just bluffing, but I knew that I really wanted it¡­

    I was well aware that it sucks too. Why would someone like me, who was only after the money and wealth of Chase Maxwell, ever want to enter the business world? I, myself, could not understand where this determination hade from. I just heard a simple story in the past¡­ It was unusual for me to be carried away, but the way Ernest Maxwell encouraged me, I felt like he was giving me fatherly advice.

    I had always thought that parents¡¯ advice was the best. With all honesty, they knew which were and which were not good for their children.

    ¡°Interesting,¡± Chase uttered as he narrowed his eyes. ¡°You weren¡¯t that interested in business when I first mentioned it to you. You said your heart belonged to sports and the arts. ¡±

    I rolled my eyes. Here he was again, bringing up some of Reese¡¯s infamous¡¯ statements that I was not even aware of and to hell with it¡­This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Too bad I don¡¯t remember anything in the past, and I don¡¯t feel like remembering them at all.¡± I huffed out and clicked my tongue.  ¡°I want to start a new life and forget the past, Chase. This time I want to equip myself with knowledge about business. I think I could do more than just be a in housewife for you.¡±

    His lips curled up into a smile. Gazing at me as if he was a proud husband, he nodded and licked his lower lip.

    ¡°Well, what my wife wants, she gets¡­¡± he uttered before he winked at me. ¡°But you have to do it step-by-step. Before you enter the business world, you must have knowledge of it, from the basics to in-depth details. For you to acquire that, you will have to enroll in a university and take up some business courses.¡±

    I could have sworn that my heart skipped a beat the moment he said that I would have to enroll in a university. I did not have much of a proper education since I grew up in an orphanage. The idea of studying at a normal university made me feel both excitement and anxiety, but I did not want to entertain the negative emotions building up inside my chest and only thought about the positive oue of this decision I made.

    ¡°Are you saying that you will let me study business?¡± I asked, making sure that I heard him all right.

    ¡°Yes, wife. You can choose the university you prefer, take the entrance exam, and be a business course student,¡± he said with a grin. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see you wearing a school uniform again¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh my goodness, thank you, Chase!¡± I stood up from my seat and hugged him as I was so happy. ¡°I promise you that I will study properly. I won¡¯t let you down and will make you proud!¡±

    ¡°I am already proud of you, Reese¡­¡± He  chuckled and hugged me back. ¡°Whatever it is that will make you happy, I will give it.¡± He withdrew from me and looked me in the eyes. ¡°I will always support you. Whatever you want to do, you can always count on me, as long as it won¡¯t harm or hurt you.¡±

    The familiar warmth embraced my heart. I was all too aware that I should not be feeling this wayfortable with Chase, and the people around him¨Cbut I could not help but be carried away as they were the only people that made me feel and experience all the things I had been deprived of for almost my entire life, not just the money and wealth, but also those abstract things I could not name.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered and nced down at his lips before I tasted it.

    ***

    The next day, Chase apanied me to Steinfeld¡¯s University, one of the prestigious universities in the country that specialized in business entrepreneurship. I was so excited when I first saw the entrance to the university. It definitely looked like a dream university to all students who would enter college.

    Chase, being the best supportive husband he could be, had helped me register so that I could take the entrance exam that day as well.

    ¡°Are you sure you can go home by yourself?¡± Chase seemed worried when he asked me that.

    I told him to go to his office while I waited for the entrance exam to start, which would happen in less than thirty minutes. We both stood up just outside of the huge room where I would take the exam. I did not want Chase to waste more time apanying me, as I was aware that he had a lot of things to do in theirpany. He looked at me with furrowed brows, and based on his expression, I already had a feeling that he wanted to stay until I finished the entrance exam.

    I nodded in response to his question. ¡°I have my bodyguards who will wait for me and send me home. You don¡¯t need to wait until I¡¯m finished. You can go, Chase. I will be fine here and thank you for helping me. I greatly appreciate it.¡±

    ¡°I just don¡¯t feel like leaving you alone here.¡± He sighed in defeat.

    ¡°Chase, I am not a teenager anymore. You sound like a worried father!¡± I snorted and rolled my eyes at him. ¡°But kidding aside, I assure you I will be fine and I will call you once I get home.¡±

    ¡°You really have to,¡± he reminded me. ¡°If in any case, something happens, can you promise me that you will call me immediately?¡±

    I nodded my head as fast as I could. ¡°Rest assured, baby!¡±

    I even saluted him to make him feel at ease. He pursed his lips but then let out a chuckle when I started making some wacky faces in front of him.

    ¡°Alright, I will leave you here now.¡± He then tapped my shoulder and leaned down to kiss my forehead. ¡°Good luck on your exam. I know you can do it. You outsmarted a lot of your ssmates before, and I am confident you will ace the exam today.¡±

    ¡°I will do my best, Chase¡­¡± I said, but deep within me I could already feel the jitters crawling all the way down to my spine.

    So that girl,  Reese Jones, was a smart-ass kid? Oh, sh*t!

    ¡°Rooting for you, my love. I will see youter at our home,¡± he said, and then this time he kissed my lips and then bid our goodbyes to each other.

    I sat on one of the benches and waited for my name to be called by the proctor. I could have sworn that my heart pounded so aggressively inside my chest. It felt as if my rib cage was about to get destroyed, and the pang of anxiety rushed through my veins. Even my palms were sweating so badly at the same time. I took several deep breaths as I tried topose myself. Being nervous was not going to help me pass the exam at all.

    I closed my eyes as I inhaled and exhaled. I recalled that Chase mentioned that Reese outsmarted some of her ssmates before. Based on his tone, he¡¯d seen Reese as a smart woman who could even perfect an exam, and he hoped that I would be doing the same thing too¡­ but I was not Reese. My name was Olivia, and I hadn¡¯t had a chance to finish my studies before, even though I wanted to do so badly.

    With that in mind, I was kind of anxious and afraid to fail. I could never let Chase down, as he thought so highly of me. I must pass the exam and make him proud, no matter what.

    You could do this, Olivia¡­ I told myself before I heard my name being called by one of the staff who went out of the room.

    ¡°Mrs. Maxwell, please get inside¡­¡± thedy said, and then gestured the way inside.

    ***

    JUST WHEN I thought that I could start a new CHAPTER in my life and pursue taking up a business course, the surge of reality would have hit me so badly, pping me with the truth that I was stupid enough to the point that I was not able to answer all the questions in the exam. I was not even close to answering half of the entire questions written on the test paper.

    Difficult was an understatement. The exam was far more difficult, and if there was one word that could ever describe it, it was none other than savage.

    My shoulders were both down when I came out of the room, disappointed at myself for not making it. The fact that I was not able to answer all of the questions on the test paper made me feel very emotional. I blinked several times as I walked my way to the parking lot, making sure that no tears would be shed because it would only make me feel worse.

    I took my phone from my bag and was about to dial Chase¡¯s number, but then I contemted. How would he react if I told him that I was not able to answer the whole test paper?

    Would he be disappointed? Or would he regret helping me enroll at this university?

    Would he be suspicious of me since the Reese he knew was smart and I wasn¡¯t?

    ¡°Damn it! ¡± I huffed out of frustration as I ran my fingers through my hair. ¡°He will be disappointed, that¡¯s for sure¡­¡±

    I was only trying to explore and find out what I was really capable of. Why the hell was the process so hard for me to figure out?

    Fuck fate for making me feel less of a person once again¡­

    I slid my phone inside my bag. Biting my lower lip, all that was left in me was pity.

    I pity myself for not being enough.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mathias. I want to take a rest,¡± I said to one of my bodyguards, and I proceeded to leave the university.

    Sad to say, just when I realized that it was my dream university, fate pped me with the truth that I was not capable enough to study at such a prestigious school. That, more than any other, hit me to the core.

 CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

    OLIVIA

    MY EMOTIONS were too high, as if nothing could ever make me feel okay. Minutes after I went home, I threw myself into bed and sobbed into my pillow. I was extremely disappointed in myself for failing to perform well on the entrance examination. Though I was not that entirely ready, I mustered up the courage to do so and did stay up veryte to prepare for the exam. I had memorized some information from the books in Chase¡¯s library to the point where I was getting migraines. Howe the result of those efforts made me so unhappy and broken?

    No matter how hard I tried to be optimistic and see the positive aspects of everything, it seemed as if I would never be able to get used to having bad days. I was simply attempting to begin a new life, to educate myself, and to nurture myself, as I believed these were the things I had missed andcked the most. I was trying to pick myself up off the ground! Regardless of the circumstances, I wanted to be better¡­ but it seemed impossible.

    If only fate had yed a bit nicer to me.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Lara called me soon after I sent her a text message, telling her that I was devastated.

    As I looked down at my bare feet on the floor, I sobbed, my lips quivering. I went into the bathroom after crying my heart out in bed, only to find myself sitting on the toilet, crying again.  My chest felt so heavy. My tears would not stop streaming down my face. It was as if there was nothing that could make me at least better.

    ¡°Hey, are you crying? What¡¯s wrong, Olivia?¡± This time her voice sounded so worried, soft and soothing, which made me shed more tears.

    ¡°I took an entrance exam for a university today¡­¡± I started and swallowed so hard while wiping my endless tears away using a tissue.

    ¡°What?¡± She reacted, and I could tell that she was frowning wherever she was right now. ¡°Entrance exam? Are you nning to study?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the n, Lara.¡± I took a deep breath, then let out a whimper. ¡°But the exam was so difficult. I was not able to answer half of those ten-page test papers. I fucked up and I don¡¯t think the school would take me in,¡± I managed to utter between my countless sobs. ¡°Chase will be disappointed in me once he finds out about this. He had seen Reese outsmart a lot of her peers in the past. How could I possibly do that knowing how uneducated I am? Shit. I am screwed!¡±

    ¡°Hold on, Olivia. Please calm down a bit,¡± she paused and inhaled heavily. ¡°Alright, I want to understand what you are trying to do. So, basically, you went to a university today and took an entrance exam. May I know why you did that in the first ce? Is Chase forcing you to study?¡±

    ¡°No, he¡¯s not. It is my decision, Lara. I want to take a business course and start my ownpany in the future. I want to explore what I am capable of. I want to¡­¡± I huffed and swallowed hard. ¡°I want to be the best, Lara, and to exert some effort to see myself seeding in life.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand you, Olivia. Why would you go to that extent when you are already the wife of a billionaire? You are rich and sessful already! For the record, going to college will take more than just your efforts, it requires full responsibility andmitment. It is not something you will just enter just because you are bored. Geez!¡±

    I sighed, too exhausted to even contemte picking a fight with Lara over a freaking phone call at this point. I was well aware that this might have sounded insane to her, and that she might have thought it was a strange thing for me to do in this situation. But I could not resist the urge to try my luck, not because I was goddamn bored, but because I had decided to pursue a dream that I was willing to put in the effort to realize. If this is a case of insanity for her,  then I guess she could think that way, and I could only care less about her opinion.

    ¡°Lara, look¡­¡± I said, trying to stop myself from crying. I looked up at the ceiling and continued, ¡°You may think that I am bored in life now that I am a wife of a wealthy man. That¡¯s why I wanted to enroll in college, but let me tell you that I did think several times before I decided to push it through. This is the first time I ever dreamed of doing something I really wanted to do without minding the expenses and how I would survive my life. I want to go to a university so badly¡­ I want to study business! I want to be a person I¡¯d be proud of, to the point that even if Chase found out that I was only deceiving him, I could always pick myself up because I am not the same woman who runs after money anymore.¡±

    Lara waspletely speechless on the other end of the phone line, and all I could hear was my deep breathing. I knew this wasn¡¯t my usual self, but I was in such a bad mood. Was this the same feeling that some students had experienced when they failed an entrance exam? If that¡¯s the case, how did they manage to move forward?

    I could not believe that this was the highlight of my day. Failure¡­

    ¡°Okay, I understand now¡­¡± Lara said after a few minutes of silence and hearing me cry like a baby. ¡°I am sorry, Olivia, for the way I reacted. You already know me, I am such a trash talker. I didn¡¯t mean to add to your frustrations. I am really sorry.¡±

    ¡°Forgiven,¡± I said as I reached for another roll of tissue from the tissue holder beside me. I wiped my tears and blew my nose.  ¡°And I am sorry for bothering you, Lara. You¡¯re the only person who I can disturb and nag at.¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s okay. Perhaps I ampletely surprised about your decision, which is why I reacted that way, but if you really want to study and equip yourself, you shouldn¡¯t be afraid of failures, Olivia. I mean, it is part of the process. If you fail to enter one university, then go find other universities out there. Take several entrance exams and wait for the results. I am confident that you¡¯ll pass in one of them. It¡¯s too early to give up.¡±

    ¡°But how would I tell Chase about this?¡±

    ¡°Come on, he is your husband now. He wouldn¡¯t marry Reese Jones if he did not have much understanding that the woman he loved dearly could always experience failure at some point. For sure, he will understand. Knowing Chase, he won¡¯t be disappointed at all. Just be honest with him, move on and try again¡­¡±

    I nodded my head in agreement with what Lara had said. After all, she had a valid point. I couldn¡¯t do anything else right now but ept the fact that my first attempt had been aplete failure. However, I should never give up that easily. It was only my first attempt, after all.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°So, cheer up, girl. You¡¯ve got this! You¡¯ve been through a lot, and there¡¯s no way you can not pass a freaking entrance exam. Simply review more thoroughly and try again. Repeat the process!¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Lara.¡± The side of my lips curled up into a smile.

    ***

    I WAS IN THE KITCHEN attempting to prepare a decent dish for dinner, still upset about what had happened earlier in the day but determined to move on as quickly as possible from it. Lara waspletely correct. I should not allow myself to be engulfed in negativity simply because I failed once. In fact, I wasn¡¯t ustomed to living in such a manner.

    I have always been a fighter in life.

    I busied myself cooking chicken curry when I heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. I thought it was one of the bodyguards Chase hired to secure the whole mansion, but I was surprised to see that it was none other than my husband. He was all smiles as he walked into the kitchen in his business ck formal suit, dressed like the highest paid model.

    ¡°Hey there, gorgeous,¡± he greeted me as he walked by and kissed me on the forehead the moment he stood up in front of me.

    ¡°You went home early,¡± Imented, checking my wrist watch. It said five o¡¯clock in the afternoon.

    ¡°Well, I finished approving some proposals earlier than my supposed clock out time, and I am excited to see my wife.¡± His eyes went to the stove. ¡°What¡¯s that? It smells good.¡±

    ¡°Chicken curry for our dinner,¡± I replied, which made him grin.

    ¡°One of my favorites,¡± he remarked. ¡°You really are the best wife.¡±

    I shook my head, trying to suppress my smile as his presence made me instantly better. I heard him walking to the fridge, then he took a bottle of water and drank it.

    ¡°Reese.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°You did not update me about the exam. How is it?¡± he asked curiously.

    For a brief moment, my movements were slow as I struggled to summon the courage to tell him what had really happened. Closing my eyes, I reminded myself that Chase would be able to fully understand it.  When I opened them, I took a deep breath and turned around so that I could face him.

    He sat on one of the chairs in the countertop table. His full attention was directed at me, which made me feel very nervous at the time.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think the university will take me in, Chase¡­¡± I said softly.

    He gasped in his ce, and all I could think about was my embarrassment. Despite my best efforts to improve myself, I failed miserably on my first attempt to do so. Chase didn¡¯t say anything and just waited for me to exin myself further. I let out a long sigh and turned my attention to my feet.

    ¡°I¡¯m unable to finish the exam on time. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll pass it. I left almost half of the questionnaires unanswered.¡±

    And there, I said it.  My heart was beating so rapidly. I had no idea that admitting that I had failed an entrance exam for a university would be such a tough thing.  I was like, in the center of a fire.

    ¡°I know you¡¯ve seen me as a woman who¡¯s very intelligent and capable in the past, and I am sorry to disappoint you in this way-¡±

    ¡°Hey, hey¡­¡± He immediately stood up and closed the distance between us. He held both of my shoulders as he nced down at me. His expression softened, his eyes telling me that everything was okay. ¡°No need for you to say sorry. Entrance exams were never easy, Reese. I¡¯ve been there, and Ipletely understand.¡±

    ¡°But I disappoint you,¡± I admitted in a mutter.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t say that. You have done great, Reese. Your courage is adorable. In fact, I admire you so much. There¡¯s no way I would feel disappointed in you,¡± he said, trying tofort me as he caressed my hair.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you exaggerating a bit?¡± I said, a small smile escaping my lips.

    He chuckled and shook his head. ¡°No, wife. That¡¯s really how I felt when you made this decision. Did you get the result of the entrance exam already?¡±

    I shook my head and let out a big sigh. I looked at him, unhappy. ¡°They said they would just email us about the results. But I think I don¡¯t want to wait and check it anymore, I already know that I failed.¡±

    I leaned in close to his chest and closed my eyes. Heforted me by hugging me and patting my back, which helped me cope with my sadness. I may have had a bad day, but knowing that Chase was here with me, making an effort to make me feel better,  was enough for me to still see the good things about this day.

    ¡°Do you really want to go to that university?¡± he asked in his soft, curious tone.

    I nodded my head, my lips protruded, and I huffed. ¡°It became my dream university the first time I saw it. But maybe I am not meant to get epted at Steinfields. I called Lara and she said I could try somewhere else. She may be right, but I still can¡¯t seem to move on. That is the only school I want to attend.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± He inhaled heavily, then caressed my head. ¡°Don¡¯t be so sad. The results haven¡¯t been delivered yet. You still have a chance. Unless we see in their email that they rejected you, that is the only time we will try other universities.¡±

    ¡°But I don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible for me to pass the exam, Chase. I screwed it.¡±

    ¡°No, Reese. You are overthinking it again¡­¡± He withdrew from our embrace and pinched my cheek. ¡°Cheer up. Let¡¯s just wait for now, alright? Don¡¯t overthink it, please. You¡¯ll get ugly.¡±

    Hisst statement made me chuckle. I could not help but wonder where he got this kind of positivity. It was, indeed, infectious.

    ¡°That¡¯s better. I always like it whenever I see your pretty smile.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Chase. You¡¯re the best.¡± And I mean it.

    ¡°And I want to keep it as it is,¡± he said meaningfully. ¡°I will go upstairs because I need to make a few phone calls, but I will get back here so we can have dinner, alright?¡±

    ¡°Sure thing.¡± I tiptoed over and kissed him on the lips, which made him smile sweetly.

 CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

    OLIVIA

    MY CONVERSATION with Chase stayed in my mind all night. It left me pondering this decision I made to better myself. It seemed that even if I failed numerous times, Chase would always believe in me, regardless of the situation. He appreciated every bit of my effort, my courage, my urge to dream, and it made me realize that there was no harm in failing and trying again. Life was, indeed, designed that way.

    If the people around me believed in me, who was I to doubt myself? I did not want to disappoint anyone, so my courage fueled my determination to try my luck once again.

    That night, I busied myself with browsing the inte on my phone while lying in bed, checking for other universities that I could try on. It appeared that there were a lot of universities in the city that focused on entrepreneurship, but Stenfield¡¯s University was top notch. I sighed at the thought that I¡¯d missed my chance to attend that school.

    The door of our bedroom was pushed open, and I saw Chaseing in while holding a phone to his ear. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Sullivan. I greatly appreciate it. Oh no, I love to sponsor that cause. Please don¡¯t mention it.¡± His gazended on me, brows furrowing when he realized I was still awake. ¡°Gotcha. Take care, Mr. Sullivan. Bye.¡±

    ¡°You went home early but made numerous work calls at home. Don¡¯t you know that¡¯s cheating?¡± I told him as I narrowed my eyes.

    ¡°Business¡­¡± He shed an apologetic smile, and crawled into the bed right beside me. ¡°And why are you still awake? It¡¯s already past midnight.¡±

    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t sleep,¡± I replied, and showed him my phone screen, where there was a list of good universities in the country. ¡°I am looking for other universities to try on.¡±

    ¡°Reese, didn¡¯t I tell you to wait for the result first?¡± He said it carefully as he gave me a stern look.

    I pouted my lips. ¡°I know, but I want to prepare myself, just in case I¡¯m rejected.¡±

    With all honesty, I already had a feeling that I would be rejected, and I did not have the time to wait for that rejection email anymore. I mustered up the courage to try again. On the other hand, Chase seemed very persistent, telling me to wait for the result of my exam at Steinfield¡¯s even though we were both aware of how I screwed that exam.

    ¡°You¡¯re really stubborn,¡± he uttered as he snaked his arm around my waist.

    I shifted my weight to the side and looked him in the eyes. His face appeared to be fresh and even a little glistening, his scent was truly enticing, and his eyes were truly angelic. I traced every feature of his face with one hand, beginning with his forehead, moving down to the bridge of his nose, and finally his soft and kissable lips¡­

    ¡°You look tempted,¡± he said teasingly.

    I stopped what I was doing, embarrassed. I scoffed at him, but he onlyughed at me.

    ¡°So going back to what I was saying, let¡¯s wait for Steinfield¡¯s first.¡±

    ¡°What makes you think that I would pass the entrance exam, Chase?¡± I asked curiously, and then chuckled. ¡°I told you, I screwed it. But you¡¯re still pushing it and you seem so confident.¡±

    He cleared his throat and smiled. ¡°Because that¡¯s your dream university. I am pretty sure you did well even if you didn¡¯t finish answering the whole test.¡±

    ¡°What if I didn¡¯t do well?¡±

    ¡°Then we will try other universities. Simple as that.¡±

    ¡°Why not now?¡±

    ¡°Because we¡¯re still waiting for the result¡­¡± he said, and I felt his hand move all the way down between my legs.

    I waspletely speechless. My cheeks flushed as a result of his intense stare at me. When he started rubbing his finger right down there, I took a deep breath and held it. In a split second, he became undeniably sexually active. He only raised his body slightly in order to ce himself on top of me.

    My face turned red when he parted my legs, and without even breaking our eye contact, he made me feel his hard on that was pressing in between my thighs. A soft moan emitted from my mouth.

    ¡°I think we should do something that will make you fall asleep afterward,¡± he uttered.

    His tone turned so sexy that I felt a wave of emotion rolling over my entire body. A churning feeling went through my stomach when he leaned down and imed my lips.

    Minutes passed and I found our skin pping together, my body rising to nirvana as I screamed his name.

    ***

    I COULD NOT  bring myself to open the email that Steinfield¡¯s University had sent me this morning, so I sat in front of Chase¡¯sptop, biting my fingernails, and wishing I had more strength. Chase was right behind me, his arms crossed against his chest as he waited for me to be ready to view the freaking email before he could do anything.

    ¡°Hmm, so¡­ are we just going to stare at your email inbox for hours, baby?¡± he said, breaking the deafening silence while I contemted.

    ¡°I¡¯m rejected, Chase. That¡¯s for sure.¡± I bit my lower lip and spun around to gaze up at him with his swiveling chair.

    He simply gazed down at me, raised one eyebrow, and gave me a confused stare. He was like a very strict husband who was wearing a bathrobe and was hiding his naked body inside.  He looked damn hot with his messy hair, but I could not appreciate his beauty as the pang of fear engulfed my chest. My heart raced so fast and hard to the point that it felt as if my rib cage was going to explode.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t opened their email yet,¡± he remarked, tilting his head, forehead creasing evidently. ¡°Open it, Reese.¡±

    I instantly shook my head as I palmed my face. A surge of frustration rolled over into me. My eyes went back to theptop screen and I looked at the unread email the university sent me. I was well aware of the result already, but seeing that email made my palms sweat so hard out of anxiety. Chase added to the high emotions I was feeling right now. He wanted me to read the content of the email.

    ¡°Then, how about I open it for you?¡± he offered.

    ¡°No! You will only be disappointed in me, Chase!¡± I scoffed and pursed my lips afterwards.

    He chuckled a bit and clicked his tongue. ¡°It¡¯s too early for you to overthink, my love.¡±

    He tried to move the chair a bit so he could  get a hold of the keyboards of theptop, but I immediately blocked him. My arms were stretched sideward, exposing my naked body as the tie of my bathrobe loosened.

    He licked his lower lip and grinned widely. ¡°Are you trying to strip tease in front of me?¡±

    My face turned red in shame, and it made me cover myself as if this was the very first time he had seen me bare and naked. This time, heughed, and all I could do was give him a deadly re. He realized that I was upset, and tried his best to hold hisughter.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, baby¡­¡± he said carefully, suppressing the smile that wanted to escape from his lips. ¡°Let¡¯s just open the damn email, alright?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t need to open it,¡± I said frustratedly, then ran my fingers through my hair. ¡°I don¡¯t want to read the word ¡°rejection¡± in the email. It will break my heart.¡±

    ¡°But what if you¡¯re not rejected? Come on, Reese. You have to check so we¡¯ll know what to do next.¡±

    My lips pouted as I could not contain my emotions. I was embarrassed as I looked like a teenager who didn¡¯t want to be confronted by the hard truth via damn email. I pulled my hair and screamed a bit.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Chaseughed once again, then he held both of my shoulders and massaged them.

    ¡°Just rx, alright? Whatever the result is, I will never be disappointed in you, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about.¡± His voice was so reassuring that somehow it boosted my courage to view the email.

    I huffed out in defeat and looked up to meet his gaze. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯tugh when you see the word rejected.¡±

    ¡°Silly. Why would Iugh at you?¡± He leaned down and kissed my cheek. ¡°Alright, take a deep breath and count from one to three, then open it.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I will open it.¡±

    I inhaled sharply and looked at theptop screen once again. I swallowed hard, mustering all my strength. I navigated the cursor and pointed it to that specific email. I breathed once again, closing my eyes and clicking the email at the same time.

    Then the deafening silence started. Chase did not say anything, and I was very nervous in my seat. Eyes still closed, I elbowed him, encouraging him to say anything before I threw a tantrum in my ce.

    ¡°Were you able to read it? Was the rejection word written in all caps and bolded?¡± I inquired, a little nervously. ¡°Hey, say something!¡±

    ¡°Why the heck are you closing your eyes?¡± Heughed.

    I felt his hands on both of my eyes. He tried to open them, but I immediately covered my face. ¡°Just tell me that I am rejected and delete the email. I don¡¯t want to read it!¡±

    Stillughing heartily, the next thing I felt was him hugging me from behind.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Reese¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, yeah! I told you, I¡¯ll just move on and search for another university. You are the one who insisted on checking this goddamn email!¡±

    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s okay for you to open your eyes and read it yourself,¡± he rified.

    ¡°What for?¡± I asked, still covering my face. ¡°I don¡¯t want to feel embarrassed the second time around. Just delete the freaking email, Chase, and let¡¯s move on.¡±

    ¡°Alright, but I am not good at memorizing details.¡± He cleared his throat, and then continued, ¡°It states here that you passed, and you can enroll starting tomorrow. You will need to bring some necessary documents, such as a valid ID-¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    I opened my eyes and immediately looked at him, astounded, confused¡­ What did he say?

    He smirked boyishly, jerking his head for me to look at theptop screen. My heart pounded more and I could no longer swallow, even if I wanted to.

    ¡°See it for yourself, baby.¡±

    I caught my breath, slowly turned around to check on theptop. My eyes widened immediately as soon as I was able to read the content of the email.

    Dear Mrs. Reese Jones-Maxwell,

    We are pleased to inform you that you passed the entrance evaluation for Steinfield¡¯s University. Here is the list of requirements that you need to bring upon enrolment¡­

    ¡°I passed¡­¡± My voice got so low. I could not believe what my eyes were seeing.

    ¡°You passed¡­¡± he said in his soft tone of voice.

    I shook my head. Was this a dream?

    ¡°I passed?¡± I said it once again.

    ¡°Yes, baby. You passed¡­¡± Chase hugged me. ¡°Congrattions!¡±

    I was just right there, sitting and looking at theptop screen for a brief moment, trying to digest the content of the email my dream university had sent me, until it all sank in my head.

    ¡°I PASSED!¡±

    I screamed in happiness, felt giddy and, in one swift move, jumped on Chase and hugged him tightly. All I heard was his soft chuckle. He held onto me tightly as I hugged and wrapped my legs around his waist.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Congrattions, my love!¡± he said.

    I began to sob on his shoulder. ¡°I am so happy¡­ Damn it, I thought they rejected me, but it turned out I was able to pass their exam! I got there on such a roller coaster of emotions, huh?

    ¡°No one can reject you, wife. You worked hard to be able to get in. For sure, they have seen your effort.¡±

    I withdrew from our hug and looked at him. I smiled and caressed his cheeks. ¡°Thank you, Chase. You always believe in me.¡±

 CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

    OLIVIA

    I was thrilled to enroll in Steinfield¡¯s University. I had actually prepared my requirements and did not waste any of my time. The thought of getting myself enrolled in a university to study business courses made me want to jump in the air. I literally felt as if I was back to being a kid who was very excited to go to school and meet new friends, and it was like I was on cloud nine at this very moment.

    I could not seem to get a grasp of this change at all. To be honest, it felt surreal. For the first time in my life, I would attend a university to educate myself and would never have to worry that I might starve to death.

    It was a baby step towards my goal-bing a sessful businesswoman and creating my own name, not just someone who was the wife of a billionaire. I had no idea what kind of business orpany I would like to start in the future, but the thought of taking a step forward toward that goal truly elevated me.

    This would never have been possible without Chase¡¯s support, of course. In addition, if not for his father, who was the main person who motivated me to dream and be a better version of myself, I think I would never have experienced this thrill of taking risks.

    I was all too aware of the possible consequences, and I knew that it would never be easy to study while doing my responsibility as a wife to Chase, but it wasn¡¯t a valid reason for me to back out. Instead, I would do everything to make him proud.

    ¡°Chase, you do not have toe with me. For Heaven¡¯s sake, I do not need a handsome chaperone at university. Just go to work and make your wife proud!¡± I snorted when he mentioned that he wanted toe with me to the university for enrollment. ¡°On second thought, I am already proud of you. No lies.¡±

    I was busy putting a lot of things in my bag. Those requirements I needed had been delivered by one of Mrs. Jones¡¯s trusted men, valid IDs that had Reese¡¯s name attached to them and some documents from her previous college.

    Chase, on the other hand, was watching me while he leaned his back against the door frame of our bedroom, arms crossed against his chest, and was waiting for me to finish.

    As soon as I zipped my bag closed, I turned in his direction. He definitely looked like a bad boy this time, wearing a ck long sleeve shirt and pants, a luxurious pair of shoes, and essories, which made him stand out more. Even though his lips were pursed, his expression kind of grim, indicating defiance, and his brows furrowed, there was no doubt that he was such a great sight to see. However, his expression made me narrow my eyes a bit. This good-looking man was seemingly acting like a child right now.

    ¡°Chase, I will be alright, okay? My goodness! Stop acting like my father. I am not a freaking child anymore. I can enroll all by myself,¡± I said, convincing him that I was already a grown up who did not need any guidance for me to be able to enroll.

    ¡°What if you run into trouble? I can¡¯t seem to be at ease.¡± His forehead then creased.

    Iughed a bit. ¡°I am not a troublemaker, Chase.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, my love.¡± He walked near me and snaked his arms around my waist. ¡°What if some students, particrly boys, start to hit on you? I¡¯m kind of stressed at that thought. I don¡¯t want any other men eyeing my wife.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re ying the jealous type now, huh?¡± I raised one brow.

    ¡°I am always the jealous type of man, especially knowing that my wife is beautiful inside and out. A lot of men could easily flock to your way, and I don¡¯t like it¡­¡± he said, his lips protruding as he looked at me as if he wanted to get my sympathy.

    ¡°You have nothing to worry about, Chase. You are only stressing yourself over nothing.¡± I held his hand and let our fingers intertwine. ¡°It is only you who I want to be with. Even if there are men trying to hit on me, my eyes are set to only look at one man, and that¡¯s you, Chase Maxwell.¡±

    ¡°Fuck, you¡¯re making me turn on¡­¡± he murmured, closed his eyes and pressed his body against mine.

    My emotions were exhrated when I felt his hard on poking my tummy. I chuckled as I shook my head. He looked me in the eyes and simply gave me an apologetic smile while biting his lower lip. He looked so cute when he tried to maintain his cool, even if his body was already craving sex first thing in the morning.

    ¡°Should we stay for a little bit and-¡±

    ¡°No, you will bete!¡± I hissed with a smile.

    ¡°Oh, are you rejecting me?¡±

    I nodded teasingly. ¡°For now, yes, because you need to go to work and I need to enroll at the university.¡±

    He sighed heavily and smiled. ¡°Fine, you win. But you can¡¯t reject meter.¡±

    ¡°We will see, my love.¡± I tiptoed and reached for his lips for a kiss. ¡°Now, move. We have to go!¡±

    He chuckled and nodded his head in response. ¡°Aye, aye, my captain.¡±

    ***

    At university,

    My heart was filled with joy as I walked into the building where the registrar¡¯s office was. Seeing a lot of students in every corner of this ce made me feel that I had be normal again. This was just a hopeless dream before, but now I would be able to study the course I wanted the most.

    I let out a deep breath. I could feel my heart racing too fast inside my chest because of the mixed emotions that I was keeping inside: excitement, fear, and positivity.

    There were students that looked like teenagers, and there were some who seemed to be my age too. I could not help but observe the people in my surroundings while waiting for my turn to speak with the registrar staff to submit my requirements. It appeared that all of the students here were from the elite world based on their looks and postures, those who had golden spoons and had never experienced starvation at night. Their parents probably had to work hard so they could send them to a proper school for them to be well educated.

    They were so fortunate to live a life without any worries and with parents that truly loved and supported them. I just hoped that all their parents¡¯ sacrifices would pay off and that these students would really study well and make their parents proud of them.

    The side of my lips curled up into a bitter smile. It was at this moment when the world seemingly pped me with the hard and hurtful truth: that I had never gotten a chance to experience these kinds of situations. I was only an orphan who was abandoned by my biological parents, and no matter how I tried to get that thought out of my head, there were times like this when it would haunt me just to torture the weakest side of me.

    ¡°Come on, Olivia. This is not the right time for you to think about it. Cheer up. You¡¯re going to be an excellent student in theing days. You just have to focus on it,¡± I reminded myself as I ran my fingers through my hair.

    It didn¡¯t take a while for my turn to speak with the registrar staff. I walked in front of the registrar¡¯s window and greeted her from the other side of the wall, ¡°Good afternoon, Madame!¡±

    ¡°Good afternoon and wee to Steinfield¡¯s University,¡± she greeted back with a smile. ¡°May I have your documents, please?¡±

    ¡°Sure thing!¡± I responded politely as I took all the documents from my bag.

    I handed all of them to her and waited for the next procedure. While doing so, I noticed that there were a group of women around my age standing up behind me. They were having a conversation about the boys they dated over the summer and how they spent their vacation break.

    ¡°Herees the ugly duckling. I thought I wouldn¡¯t be able to see her again this semester, but it seems that she has a very thick face¡­¡± one of them said. Their conversation switched to another topic, particrly about someone who seemed to have just appeared in their sight.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    I knew that eavesdropping was wrong, but I wasn¡¯t able to stop myself from looking at them. They were a group of three, and as I followed their gazes, I saw a nerdy woman in her sweater, faded denim pants and ragged shoes. The woman they were eyeing was aplete geek who was wearing thick eyesses while her hair was braided into two. She seemed to be aware of how these three looked at her with disgust and insulting looks, but she never said anything andpletely ignored them as if they weren¡¯t there.

    ¡°Look at her. She really looks like a rug.¡±

    ¡°She clearly doesn¡¯t belong here. I can¡¯t understand why the dean epted her. What an eyesore!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll make her life a little bit more thrilling this semester,¡± the woman who seemed to be the leader of the group spoke as she crossed her arms against her chest.

    She was tall, slim, and undeniably beautiful in her purple fitted dress underneath his white formal coat. However, her eyes screamed of hate and dominance. They were indicating that no one should ever mess with her, or else they would be doomed.

    She was a walking red g, someone I wouldn¡¯t want to hang out with. I shook my head and looked at her target once again. I felt sorry for that instance, thinking that she would suffer from the hands of these three women this semester.

    ¡°Mrs. Maxwell¡­¡± My attention was drawn by the registrar¡¯s staff.

    I turned to the window and walked toward it. I noticed that she kept inspecting my documents with her brows furrowed.

    ¡°Are we done? What¡¯s the next step, please?¡± I asked politely.

    ¡°I am afraid you are missing one more requirement for your admission. Do you have a certified copy of your business ownership?¡±

    My forehead creased upon hearing what she said. Business what?

    ¡°Can you tell me what that is?¡±

    ¡°It is basically proof that you own a business. It is one of the requirements our enrollees need to submit for the enrollment process,¡± she stated with her nk expression. ¡°By any chance, do you own a business?¡±

    ¡°I am sorry, but I can¡¯t hear you clearly,¡± I said and moved closer to the window.

    ¡°I was asking if you happen to own a business, Mrs. Maxwell.¡± The registrar¡¯s staff said it loudly, which made me gasp a bit.

    I swallowed hard and looked at my surroundings. Fuck! Their eyes were all pinned on me. It appeared that the registrar staff got the attention of most everyone here on the line.

    ¡°My¡­¡± I closed my eyes out of frustration, and huffed before I opened them again. ¡°My family owned apany, Madame. I can ask my mother to send a certified copy through email if that would work for you.¡±

    I was hoping that it would actually solve the issue. However, the registrar staff looked at me with an evident dismay in her eyes.

    ¡°I am afraid you need to have your own business orpany, so you will be admitted to this university, Mrs. Maxwell.  It¡¯s one of the critical requirements as we aim to help people who already have established businesses, whether they be small or huge.¡±

    ¡°This is a school.¡± I shook my head in disbelief. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why I must have a business to show all of you so that you can admit me here. I just want to study. My goal is to learn how to start a business. That¡¯s why I want to enroll here, not to show off my business orpany¡­¡± I said this in hopes that she would understand and stop this minor fiasco, as I didn¡¯t really want to be the center of attention.

    ¡°We are only following the university rules, Mrs. Maxwell¡­¡± she said as she handed back my documents to me.

    People around me started to murmur something that I couldn¡¯tprehend. I turned around and saw how they were looking at me. It was as if I was an outcast in a pack of wolves. My lips formed a thin line as I tried to stop them from quivering. The three women who were just behind me eyed me with obvious insults.

    So what if I didn¡¯t have any business yet?

    ¡°The staff was right. Only people with businesses can enroll at this university,¡± said the woman who insulted the geek earlier.

    Ashamed as to where Icked that led my entire dream to crumple in just a matter of seconds, I walked away, trying to hold back my tears.

    I still couldn¡¯t believe the fact that I should have a freaking business orpany in order to study here. What kind of requirement was that? All I wanted was to study, to learn and to be someone I wouldn¡¯t be ashamed of, but here I was, humiliated by the fact that I had no business to dere so I could learn how to fucking start a business. It didn¡¯t make any sense at all!

    My tears were on the verge of escaping the sides of my eyes. I walked as fast as I could, if not for a familiar man in a ck suit who blocked my way. When I nced up at him, I realized that it was Mathias, the bodyguard who had been advised by my husband to watch over me.

    ¡°Mr. Maxwell ising, Madame,¡± he stated, and that made my eyes widen.

    ¡°What do you mean, Mathias? Why is Chaseing here?¡± I asked in an instant panic. Thest thing I ever wanted to happen was for Chase to see me in this state. I would never want him to worry about me, as I knew he had a lot of things on his te.  ¡°Why is heing here?¡±

    ¡°He found out what happened, Madame.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± I frowned. ¡°You told him?!¡±

    Mathias didn¡¯t answer and only gave me a firm expression. I guess I didn¡¯t have any say when it came to Chase¡¯s men. He was the one paying them, so their loyalty was to him no matter what happened. But the fact that he already knew what urred here made me feel very embarrassed and ashamed.

    ¡°Just tell him we can meet at home. Call him,¡± I demanded.

    ¡°I apologize, Madame. But he advised us to stay. He¡¯ll be here in no time.¡±

    ¡°Fuck¡­¡± All I could do was palm my face.

 CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

    OLIVIA

    SITTING on one of the benches across from the ser field, I remained still, taking all the time I had to gather enough courage after being humiliated in the registrar¡¯s office. I could still recall how the students gave me such insulting looks for not having a business yet. It was such a familiar moment when I felt so less, having no enough resources to blend in the crowd full of fortunate people.

    I nced to my left and saw Mathias standing up with his arms crossed against his chest. He had this modr inte headphone on his ear that helped himmunicate with Chase¡¯s men who were waiting for us from the outside of the university and also those who apanied my husband.

    Speaking of, I still didn¡¯t get a sense of why he woulde here, after learning what urred earlier, when we could talk about it at hometer. Thest thing I wanted to happen was to attract the attention of many students out here. Well, I caught their attention minutes ago, but I wasn¡¯t that sure if I could still take it the next time. It clearly gave me a surge of anxiety, and it seemed I would be stuck in it for quite some time.

    ¡°Why do you think Chase wants toe here, Mathias? Did he tell you his reason?¡± I asked him curiously.

    Mathias nced in my direction and had kept his head low as a form of respect to his boss¡¯s wife.  ¡°I am afraid Mr. Maxwell did not borate further on his reason, Madame.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to ask him that? Do you think I wouldn¡¯t be curious to ask?¡± I didn¡¯t mean to sound irritated and rude to him, but the entire situation frustrated me to the core. ¡°I am sorry if I am snapping out of you right now. I am just having a bad day. I didn¡¯t mean it,¡± I remarked as I felt guilty in an instance.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Madame. Mr. Maxwell wouldn¡¯te here for an irrelevant cause. ¡°You can entrust the situation to him,¡± Mathias replied formally, though his tone of voice somehow assured me that despite the bad circumstances I had faced earlier, I¡¯d get to experience something good.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    With a huff, I sat there in defeat. Instead of worrying, my interest was piqued by the cheerleading squad who were practicing on the field. It was strange to see cheerleaders at a university that focused primarily on guiding students to be business entrepreneurs. Was it some sort of extracurricr activity or organization? Nevertheless, their practice dance entertained me.

    When I was still working at the bar, Lara and I were friends with the dancers, and sometimes, if they felt like doing so, they would invite us to their studio to watch them practice. I recalled getting so amazed as to how they were able to dance perfectly and in rhythm. The same went for those cheerleading squads on the field. I wasn¡¯t born a dancer and only knew a few dirty dance steps to allure some previous customers. That¡¯s why my interest was always sparked by great performers.

    I let out a sigh and focused on something important-getting admitted into this university. Should I call Mrs. Jones and ask her to transfer thepany¡¯s ownership to my name? I grinned hopelessly. Chase was still working on re-establishing theirpany¡¯s reputation and here I was, wanting them to transfer the rights to my name only because I wanted to enroll in this university badly. What was I even thinking?

    I leaned my back against the wooden backrest of the bench and looked at Mathias again. I couldn¡¯t believe I was also stuck with this guy who wasn¡¯t fond of talking. It would be nice to have a bodyguard who was talkative enough to shove my irritation away.

    The deafening silence bored me to death. I decided that I¡¯d just call Lara while I was waiting for Chase, but when I checked my bag, I couldn¡¯t find my cell phone inside of it.

    ¡°Shit¡­¡± I shut my eyes and palmed my face. Funny. It seemed that I dropped it when I took all the documents out of my bag earlier.

    I looked over at the building where I came from: in that very particr building where I was humiliated. I held on to the strap of my bag tightly. How could I possibly return to the registrar¡¯s office after what happened?

    My lips were pressed into a thin line. Even if I didn¡¯t have the strength to go back there, I must have dragged my feet to do so. That cell phone had a lot of conversations I had with Lara, and we talked mostly about Reese!

    Oh no, please don¡¯t let someone pick it up! It must be on the floor near the office.

    ¡°Mathias, stay here. I am going back to the registrar¡¯s office. I lost my phone there,¡± I advised him as I stood up.

    ¡°I¡¯ming with you.¡±

    ¡°No, just stay here and wait for my husband. Block him if he tries to go into the registrar¡¯s office. I don¡¯t want to cause a scene. Do you understand?¡±

    He cleared his throat, then scratched the back of his neck. That made my brows furrow.

    ¡°Mathias, do you hear me?¡±

    He let out a sigh and lowered his head. ¡°I can tell him to wait here, Madame.¡±

    I rolled my eyes and stomped my foot once. Of course, I already expected him to be loyal to Chase. I should have known better!

    ¡°Whatever!¡± I hissed and stormed back into the building.

    I¡¯ve lost count of how many times I inhaled sharply with every step forward I made. I clenched my fist and gathered all the remaining courage I had as I walked into the building. The crowd looked at me when I made my way to the registrar¡¯s office. Torrents of anxiety engulfed my chest. I didn¡¯t like how they looked at me, but I had no choice but to find my phone.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back!¡± said the familiar woman who gave me insulting looks before. ¡°Do you already have proof that you own a business?¡±

    A lot of the students who were falling in lineughed. Great. In a sh, I became theughing stock of these filthy rich people.

    ¡°I came back to find my phone,¡± I responded in a low voice.

    I could feel my heart pounding inside my chest, so loud that it echoed in my ears. I needed to move fast so that I could get out of here now.

    My eyes roamed the floor and the registrar¡¯s windows, but I didn¡¯t see it there. The crowd, which was led by the three women who insulted me, wasughing alongside the rumors everywhere. I didn¡¯t know what I did to humor them like this, but I was actually getting pissed off. If not for Chase¡¯s and this university¡¯s reputations, I would have strangled them already.

    ¡°Are you looking for this?¡± A soft and sweet voice spoke from behind me.

    I turned around and saw the familiar face of the nerdy girl, who the other girls had talked about earlier. She smiled at me, and even though she was wearing thick eyesses, I could see the beauty behind it.

    She was holding my phone and handed it to me carefully.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, in a sincere way.

    ¡°No worries! I saw it on the floor when I inquired at the registrar¡¯s window.¡±

    ¡°Two losers have joined together¡­¡±

    ¡°They look good together. Mia found a loser friend¡­¡±

    I could have sworn I felt like groaning so loudly when I heard those wordsing from the group of women, or bullies, who actually thought so highly of themselves. I wanted to rush toward them and confront them for their actions, but I knew it wasn¡¯t a good idea. It would only cause more trouble for me and this nerdy girl.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t mind them. All they can do is talk, believe me.¡± She smiled and gave me a reassuring nod.

    I huffed in frustration and thanked her again.

    ¡°Whatever is missing in your requirements, I hope it all gets sorted out. You seem like a good person, and Steinfield¡¯s needs students like you,¡± she said, giving me onest smile before she turned her back to walk away.

    I was about to ask her name, but before I could do so, she was already swallowed up by the crowd from the hallway she walked into.

    ¡°So¡­¡±

    I turned to the woman who was speaking from behind me. There I saw the familiar face of a bully who actually looked great from the outside but seemed rotten on the inside.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± I asked, my forehead creasing badly.

    She tilted her head to the left and gave me a wry smile. ¡°I should be the one asking you that, missy. What else are you doing here? You weren¡¯t admitted, right?¡± She then crossed her arms and examined her long fingers, which were colored with fuschia pink polish. ¡°Too bad you don¡¯t own a business yet.¡±

    I rolled my eyes. Was this woman trying to pick a fight against me?

    If only I was portraying my true identity, Olivia Miller, I would not have hesitated to p her in the face, but since I was Reese Jones-Maxwell right now, I had to keep my emotions at bay.

    Instead of talking back, I just shook my head and turned my back on her. I was about to walk out when I felt someone intentionally block my way, causing me to stumble on my feet.

    The next thing I heard were gasps from everyone in the area, followed by a deafening silence. I whimpered when I felt the pain in my knees, which scratched against the floor. I could feel everyone¡¯s stare at me at this time. I waited to see if there would be anyone who would try to stop thismotion before it got more serious, but none ever bravely showed up.

    My things were all scattered on the floor. I looked around and everyone seemed entertained by what happened.

    Seriously? Did they think this was funny?

    I caught my breath, reminding myself that I should be a bigger person in this situation as I collected my things and put them inside my bag, but then a foot kicked my bag by force, causing my things to get scattered again.

    What the fuck was going on?

    There was no way I was going to let it slide by now!

    I rose to my feet and had decided to p the woman¡¯s face when someone grabbed me on my waist and pulled me.

    I spun around and saw the familiar charismatic expression of my husband, Chase Maxwell. His brows were furrowed, and as soon as he removed the aviator he was wearing, he red at the woman who had the audacity to mess with me.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here, wife?¡± he asked. His voice was so firm and deep that it sent shivers down my spine.

    I looked at the woman who stood in front of us, seemingly frozen as she stared at my husband. I pressed my lips into a thin line.

    Why was she looking at my husband as if she wanted to undress him naked?

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± My tone came off as if I was offended. ¡°Quit staring at my husband.¡±

    I felt Chase rubbing my waist, trying to get my attention, but my eyes couldn¡¯t see to leave this woman.

    ¡°Oh!¡± she reacted while her face was flushing red. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here, Mr. Maxwell.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up my wife.¡±

    She nced at me, and I only gave her a back-off-bitch look.

    ¡°Are these your things on the floor?¡± Chase asked.

    ¡°Well, yep. I stumbled a while ago.¡±

    I could see that the woman was starting to feel uneasy as I looked at her. She was so brave until Chase showed up, and I actually hated it as it seemed that she was attracted to my husband. That thought pissed me off.

    Chase, on the other hand, collected my things and put them all inside my bag. He carried it on his arm and then, with his other hand, reached for my hand and held it tightly.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the dean¡¯s office first before we go home,¡± he said.

    His words left me confused for a brief moment. I looked around and it appeared that the crowd were watching us as if we were in a movie. I let out a huge sigh, telling myself that I would let it slide right now as Chase was with me.

    I gave the irritating woman one final re before Chase and I went away.

 CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

    OLIVIA

    FINGERS intertwined as we walked into the dean¡¯s office, Chase had not spoken since what happened in the registrar¡¯s office. I exhaled loud enough for him to hear, but it seemed that his attention was drawn to the urge to have a word with the dean.

    ¡°Chase, may I know why you would like to speak with the dean?¡±

    There you go. I was able to ask a question after a few minutes of walking with him. He stopped for a moment, which made me halt in my direction too. Looking at him confusedly, I waited patiently for him to give me an answer. Somehow, I already had a hunch about what we wanted to do, but I still had to hear it from him. I wanted to know how he would try to convince the dean. I wanted to know his tactics and judged them myself.

    ¡°Do you really want to study here even after you be aware of the students¡¯ behavior here?¡± He was looking at me sternly as he asked that question.

    My mouth opened, somewhat surprised by what he asked me. Just when I thought that he didn¡¯t care that much about the incident that urred a while ago, here he was, standing in front of me, proving my mind wrong. My expression softened as I saw the glimpse of worry in his eyes. He truly was thoughtful. Ever since I met him, it was my first impression of him. There was no doubt about that¡­ even more so when he became my husband.

    His jaw was clenched and his eyes weremunicating more emotions than mine. It was as if he was trying to measure this situation I was in and could only decide what to do if he heard my answer to his question.

    In the back of my mind, I already knew it. He did not like what he had witnessed a while ago. Now he wanted to see if I¡¯d be able to handle it the next time it happened, but there would be no next time¡­

    ¡°Yes, but Icked something in my requirements. I guess I have no choice but to give this up now. Don¡¯t worry, I will look for a different-¡±

    ¡°Are youpletely fine with how the students behave here? Do you think you can manage it?¡± he asked, cutting my words off.

    Even though I was confused, I managed to nod my head in response to his question. ¡°There are always bullies in every school, Chase, but I know I can manage them. I assure you that.¡±

    He nodded and then smiled at me. ¡°Then what my wife wants, she gets. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    I had no clear idea what Chase would tell the Dean, but I guess all I could do was put my trust in him. As Mathias had mentioned to me earlier, Chase would nevere here for a great cause.

    Perhaps Chase only wanted to help me. I was not that naive to not figure out that he was kind of trying to pull some strings in order for me to be admitted here, and I was truly grateful to have him beside me, turning the impossible thing into the possible just to help his wife. But I hoped it would never bring us any trouble.

    When we reached the double doors for the dean¡¯s office, Chase turned to me and stared at me carefully.

    ¡°Would you like toe with me inside?¡±

    Without hesitation, I shook my head and said, ¡°I am fine waiting here for you, Chase. Just don¡¯t take too long.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t take that long. You can sit in the waiting area.¡± He caressed my cheek before he knocked on the door to let the dean know of his visit.

    I smiled at him before he entered the office. I took a peek at the ss window of the door, and saw Chase doing a handshake with the Dean. Based on the expressions on their faces, they seemed to have known each other.

    But still, I was a little bit worried about Chase¡¯s actions. I hoped everything went well and I would not regret this in the future.

    I sat in the waiting area, which was right next to the dean¡¯s office. As I waited for Chase toe out, my eyes roamed around this part of the university. I noticed that there was a library across from the dean¡¯s office.

    Even from where I was seated, I could really tell that the library was enormous and had a cozy area to study. Its double doors were made of ss. I could see the shelves towering and almost reaching the high ceiling. The ambiance screamed of old Spanish designs. It was rustic-kind, but it would actually give a student a warm feeling.

    I could not help but smile. I pictured myself using adder to get the book I wanted from the highest shelf and staying in the library in my free time to study. That thought made me feel delighted on the inside.

    Minutes passed and all I did was contemte as I remained still, but it didn¡¯t take that long before the double doors of the Dean¡¯s office swung open. I heardughter from two men, particrly from Chase and the Dean. I stood up,pletely surprised as they really appeared to be close, like friends.

    Chase¡¯s attention went to me. He smiled even brighter and motioned for me toe close. I stood up and moved to get near him. His hand immediately reached mine as he stood proudly in front of the dean.

    I couldn¡¯t help but look at the dean. He seemed around Ernest Maxwell¡¯s age, but his expression was lighterpared to Chase¡¯s father, who actually had a fierce expression on his face.

    ¡°Mr. Sullivan, I want you to meet my wife, Reese Jones-Maxwell¡­.¡± Chase introduced me to the Dean in his polite tone of voice. ¡°Reese, he¡¯s Mr. James Sullivan, the university dean.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Mrs. Maxwell,¡± the Dean said, offering his hand for a handshake, which I gratefully epted.

    ¡°Nice to meet you too, Dean.¡± I answered shyly.

    ¡°I am sorry about what happened in the registrar¡¯s office. Don¡¯t worry, I will handle everything myself and all that¡¯s left for you to do is attend the university by next week,¡± he said, whichpletely took me by surprise.

    I nced between them, totally in awe of what I had just heard.

    ¡°But I am not a business owner yet, Mr. Sullivan. The registrar¡¯s staff told me it¡¯s one of the critical requirements,¡± I said.

    The dean chuckled and nodded. ¡°Yes, but your husband has already exined the situation, and we were able to figure out what to do from this point. I apologize for what happened. I hope this did not stress you in any way.¡±

    I shook my head, even though I knew that I was stressed out earlier. I should add that I had encountered a bully who humiliated the shit out of me in front of the crowd. What a day!

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t mention it, Mr. Sullivan. I¡¯m worried that I¡¯m the one who should apologize. I didn¡¯t mean to have my husband intervene over this matter,¡± I said politely.

    ¡°Oh, please don¡¯t be.¡± He chuckled heartily, and at this point, my chest became a bit lighterpared to earlier. ¡°I am looking forward to seeing you attend the university, Mrs. Maxwell. I hope that we can help you in any way. Your husband mentioned that you n to start a business from the ground up, and it is truly inspiring.¡±

    My cheeks flushed red. I slightly elbowed Chase. I didn¡¯t expect him to open it up to the dean, and it made me shy! He only chuckled as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

    ¡°I appreciate you taking the time to listen to me, Mr. Sullivan.¡±

    Mr. Sullivan tapped his shoulder and gave him a nod of affirmation. ¡°I am happy to help, Mr. Maxwell. I am truly inspired by your wife¡¯s courage. I hope my daughter can do the same.¡±

    They exchanged a few morepliments before we actually bid our goodbyes. I waspletely dumbfounded as to what really happened inside the dean¡¯s office, but seeing Chase smiling from ear-to-ear, I already had a feeling that he had had a nice conversation with the dean. Well, if he didn¡¯t, I guess I wouldn¡¯t have been admitted to the university in the first ce.

    ¡°What exactly did you tell the dean, Chase? Don¡¯t tell me you bribed him?¡± I asked and threw him a suspicious look.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    We were able to get out of the building and didn¡¯t care about how the crowd eyed us inside. I bet Chase was already used to being the center of attention. I should really get used to it too.

    He shook his head,ughing, and said, ¡°I won¡¯t do such things, Reese. We only talked for a bit, sharing a truly inspiring dream that my wife would like to achieve.¡±

    ¡°No bribes?¡±

    ¡°No bribes, I promise. I also told him that I would process a transfer of a small business into your name, which you will handle within the year after getting some knowledge as to how business management works.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± I stiffened, giving him a wide-eyed look. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡±

    ¡°No, I am not kidding. Why would I?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re really transferring a business into my name and expecting me to handle it?¡±

    He blinked several times, and his brows began to furrow as he gave me a confused look. ¡°I told him that because this university needs assurance that all their students are handling businesses. But I will give you the freedom to run a business that fits your taste. I only gave him an impression that you¡¯re going to have the same path within the year, but what really impressed him is your courage, which is why he will handle things for us and you no longer have to worry.¡±

    His exnation gave me a sigh of relief. A few seconds ago, I almost had a heart attack. I thought he would really transfer one of his businesses to me. I didn¡¯t like it. I wanted to start my own business, from the ground up, even if I knew it would be difficult.

    ¡°Thank you, Chase, for helping me¡­¡± I inhaled. Now, I could feel that my body and mind were more rxed and at ease.

    Chase was like a knight in shining armor who saved my dreams from being shattered. I really thought that my dream of studying here at this university would end right here, right now, until he came, leaving mepletely surprised as to how he turned the table for me.

    ¡°I told you¡­¡± He held my chin up. ¡°What my wife wants, she gets¡­¡±

    I could feel the heat engulfing my entire face as he said those words gently. At the same time, it felt as if my heart panicked for some unknown reason as I looked at him longer. He smiled and caressed my cheek before his hand went down, reaching my hand and intertwining our fingers.

    ¡°Time to rx, wife! I want to eat some steak.¡± He chuckled and held his tummy. ¡°I haven¡¯t had my lunch yet.¡±

    My tummy rumbled too. It was too loud and I knew Chase had heard it too. I shyly smiled widely and said, ¡°Me too. Time to feed me, my husband.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright. Let¡¯s go, wife, before you turn into a dragon.¡±

    ¡°What did you say!?¡±

    He only chuckled, and then we continued walking down the stairs.

 CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

    OLIVIA

    WE DECIDED to go to one of the upscale restaurants near the university to dine. While we were finishing our steak, I became uneasy when I noticed Chase looking at me intently for quite some time.

    How do I put it into words? His stares made the butterflies inside my stomach feel giddy. Despite the fact that it had been a long time since we got married, started living under the same roof, and sleeping in the same bed, I still could not believe that I was worthy of Chase Maxwell¡¯s full attention.

    I was not trying to be dramatic at this moment, but these kinds of feelings were actually hindering me from thinking clearly. It was as if my mind were clouded with deeper emotions I could not even name at this point.

    He offered me a sweet smile when he caught me taking a glimpse of him.

    ¡°What?¡± I asked, somehow defending myself after getting caught.

    ¡°Hmm, I am trying to guess what is on your mind, baby.¡±

    One of my eyebrows lifted. ¡°What is your guess?¡±

    ¡°Have you been thinking about desserts?¡± he inquired in his deep yet curious tone.

    Iposed myself as I took a deep breath. So he thought that I was craving sweets, which was why I kept looking at him, huh? I gave him a sweet smile before I shook my head.

    ¡°I am aware of that look. I know you are just looking for sweets,¡± he said, and then asked the waiter for a dessert menu.

    One of the waiters went to our table right away, and as I nced up at him, I was taken aback by how attractive he was. In fact, every single waiter and waitress in this restaurant was undeniably attractive. So, apart from the ce being decorated in an attractive way- it had a ck and gold scheme, which gave customers an idea that they did have excellent taste-their employees added up to making this ce morepelling.

    Chase cleared his throat, and I came back to my senses as he got my attention. He then snatched the menu from the waiter and offered him a little bit of a re before he looked at me.

    ¡°Do you want anything specific?¡±

    ¡°Anything would do,¡± I replied, acting excited despite the fact that I had no sweet tooth at all. Perhaps Reese Jones used to nag him about craving sweets, and here I was, pretending that I liked it because, in Chase¡¯s pair of ocean blue eyes, I was none other than Reese.

    Chase¡¯s eyes darted across the menu, selecting a dessert for me, and when he was done the waiter took his order.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said.

    He leaned his back against his seat and gazed at me as if he was truly amazed by me.

    ¡°Congrattions, you have finally been admitted to the most top notch international business university. I am proud of you, wife.¡±

    ¡°Without your help, I wouldn¡¯t be able to be admitted, Chase.¡± I let out a huge sigh of relief. ¡°I still cannot believe what happened. I got epted despite not having theplete requirements¡­ I thought everything would fall apart¡­ not until you came to save my ass!¡± A giggle escaped from my throat.

    His oceanic blue eyes sparkled in joy. A knowing smile crossed his lips, giving me such a feeling that he was also happy about the oue of what he had done earlier.

    ¡°I truly am happy for you, Reese. I am proud that you have taken the very first bold move to get to know everything about business, even though you didn¡¯t really have to-¡±

    ¡°Oh, please, Chase. I really want this,¡± I said, assuring him that this decision was really for myself.

    ¡°Alright, wife. Please know that this new phase you want to walk into will be hard, but I want you to keep in mind that you can always rely on your husband,¡± he stated sincerely, and that made me smile more.

    His genuine words did not fail to make me feel as if I was the most blessed woman in the entire universe. My heart was filled with inspiration and a burst of energy that would keep me going¡­ all because he believed in me and supported me.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know I can handle it.¡± I winked at him.

    He chuckled a bit. ¡°Well, just in case things be a little bit heavy for you, I am here, Reese. I want to help you, I hope you understand.¡±

    I nodded in response. ¡°I really wouldn¡¯t be making this kind of decision if it were not for your father¡¯s inspiring words. It feels very rewarding to me to have the opportunity to pursue my dreams and to have a husband that will support me all the way. Rest assured that once I am capable enough, I will use my knowledge to help you as well,¡± I answered graciously.

    ¡°I like that idea, and I can¡¯t wait for it to happen.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    We both chuckled, feeling optimistic about the new phase in my life. The waiter then walked toward our table and served our order.

    ¡°It is our specialty here, the strawberry cheesecake. I hope you enjoy it,¡± said the handsome waiter before he walked away.

    My eyesnded on the dessert that was served, and I was amazed as it looked very delicious. Chase was about to taste it, but I stopped his hand right away.

    ¡°Can I take a picture of it first?¡± I asked hesitantly.

    ¡°Sure thing, baby.¡± He pursed his lips, trying to suppress a smile. He may be thinking that I was childish or whatnot, but I wanted to take a picture of the dessert. I¡¯ll post it on my social mediater!

    I took my phone out and started taking a picture of the strawberry cheesecake, and then, once satisfied, I showed it to Chase. I also asked him to pose, and then I took a picture of him too.

    Handsome!

    He said, ¡°Let me help you with your first bite.¡± Then grabbed the small spoon and scooped it onto the cake. ¡°Reese, baby, open your mouth.¡±

    What the? He wanted to feed me himself!

    I gave him a wide-eyed look and then looked to my left and right.

    ¡°Is it necessary? We¡¯re not teenagers anymore, Chase!¡± I said, and he only chuckled.

    ¡°My arm is already aching. Come on, baby,¡± he urged, and I just rolled my eyes at his persistence.

    I leaned forward and slowly opened my mouth. He put the spoon full of cake on me, and I was astounded at how delicious it was.

    ¡°How was it?¡± he asked.

    I replied, ¡°It tastes incredible. I¡¯m in tears.¡±

    He justughed at my reaction.

    ¡°I swear to you, I¡¯ve never had this kind of cake before!¡± I added with glee. ¡°This restaurant has be my favorite.¡±

    ¡°The owner of this restaurant will be one of your ssmates.¡±

    What he stated took mepletely by surprise. ¡°Oh my gosh, is that for real?¡±

    He nodded and tried a spoonful of the cake too.

    ¡°Will someone who owns an elegant restaurant like this be my ssmate? Didn¡¯t that person realize how sessful this business is?¡±  My eyes roamed around the perfection of this ce. Well, for me, this was already a sessful business!

    ¡°There¡¯s really no limit to learning new things, Reese. Even apany CEO studies at Steinfield¡¯s University.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± That made me even more shocked.

    He offered me a grin and finished the cake. I sighed out loud. I did not want to feel any pressure, but I could not help but feel so. I should never act stupid in front of my ssmates, who were practically business owners. If I made a mistake, I might have tainted Chase¡¯s family name.

    ¡°Hey, I know that expression¡­¡± His hand reached mine that was resting on the table. ¡°You got this, alright? Do not overthink it. No pressure, and just do what makes you happy. Eventually, you will realize that you have already made it.¡±

    I pushed all my negative emotions down as I did not want Chase to worry. In fact, I had no one to impress except myself. Chase was right. I would only have to do what would make me happy, and that was to be better by studying business management thoroughly.

    ¡°I swore to do everything I could to make you proud,¡± I told him, but it was more like a promise to myself. I would put everything I had into this decision to make it work, and I would never make him worry.

    ¡°I am already proud of you, Reese. There¡¯s no doubt about that¡­¡±

    As we finished our lunch, we finally stood up and were about to leave. I could not help but take a peek around with the rest of the personnel at this ce. I promised myself that I would bring Lara here next time. I bet she would drool over the good-looking waiters here. I giggled at that thought.

    I then took my phone out of my pocket and opened the notes, then started typing.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Chase curiously asked when we went out of the restaurant.

    ¡°I am just taking notes. It might be beneficial for me to list the pros and cons of having a restaurant as a business.¡±

    I stopped for a moment to finish typing all the things I¡¯d observed while we were inside. After that, I put my phone back inside my pocket and looked at Chase. He was grinning as he stared at me, then held my hand and squeezed it, which I appreciated.

    ¡°Are you interested in opening a restaurant someday?¡± he inquired.

    My forehead creased, and it was followed by a smile on my lips. I shrugged and answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. But something about providing services  to make customers happy somehow made me interested. We¡¯ll never know!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s too early to decide which business you would like to start. We can skip that part for now until you are fully ready.¡±

    I nodded, agreeing with what he said because he was right. I would take this slow.

    ***

    WE WERE already on our way home when I received an email indicating the schedule of my major subjects next week. I let out a shriek because of my utmost joy, which made Chase startled.

    ¡°Oh my gosh!¡± I eximed and tapped his arm while he was driving.

    ¡°Reese, I¡¯m driving. Please keep it down!¡± he said. His voice was a bit confused as he took a nce at me. ¡°What the heck? Are you crying?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not!¡± I yelled at him.

    ¡°Yes, you are!¡± he hissed.

    I chuckled. Shaking my head, I started to touch my cheeks and realized that tears were streaming down my face.

    ¡°These are tears of joy, Chase. I received an email from the Uni and it indicates all my schedules for the subjects I must attend,¡± I said and I beganughing in the front seat like a crazy woman.

    ¡°I¡¯m d you are that happy. It¡¯s been a long time since thest time I saw you that way, Reese¡­¡± He said, still ncing between me and the road. His lips could not suppress his grin.

    ¡°I¡¯m just so excited. I feel like I have be a kid again.¡± I could feel the happiness radiating from where I was seated.

    I recalled those days in the orphanage when I found out that I¡¯d be attending sses being led by the nuns. I was beyond happy at that moment, and that was the same emotion I feel right now.

    Those friends I had in the orphanage, I wondered where they were now.

    ¡°Reese, keep in mind that your lectures will be differentpared to what you had in college. You will need to concentrate more on this as business subjects are really confusing. Though I must admit that you were truly an A student during your college years, I am confident that you¡¯ll do well,¡± he stated, nodding like he was agreeing with his own statement.

    ¡°I am aware of it, Chase. I am nervous but I think I can manage. Don¡¯t worry too much. I got this!¡±

    I offered him a confident stare as my way of telling him that there was absolutely nothing to be afraid of.

    I am Olivia, and there¡¯s nothing I wouldn¡¯t be able to manage. I was born to be flexible, and even my brain could do it too.

    ¡°That¡¯s the fighting spirit, baby.¡±

    Then we bothughed in our seats.

    ***

    WHEN WE arrived home, I sent Lara a text message, informing her that I would start attending sses by next week. Before I turned off my phone, I read the reply she sent me:

    From: Lara

    Congrattions, my dear evil friend! Let¡¯s talk more about itter, deal? We should make a n to celebrate your admission! I am so proud of you. You¡¯re on your way to bing a true elite right now! Let them see what you are capable of! ??

    Her text message made me smile. I let out a loud sigh of relief and put my phone on the side table. I threw myself onto the bed. I was so exhausted today. Now, it was my time to rx a bit.

    My eyes were pinned on the ceiling as I imagined so many positive things I was looking forward to happening in the next few weeks when I felt Chase massaging my foot. I let out a gasp of surprise, and then nced at him. He was sitting at the edge of the bed, my foot resting on hisp as he massaged it gently.

    ¡°That¡¯s so sweet of you, my baby!¡± Imented, and stered a smile on my face. It felt more rxing now that Chase was massaging me. It actually served as some sort of reward for me.

    ¡°Do you like it?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I love it¡­¡± I let out a moan when he started massaging my toes in a gentle way.

    Chase leaned down and kissed my foot, which took me by surprise. He licked and kissed it repeatedly, and I could have sworn that surges of heat went through me as he continued doing it.

    ¡°I did not realize you had such beautiful feet,¡± hemented.

    From my foot, his lips traveled all the way to my lower leg, continuously nting soft and warm kisses there¡­ Then he worked his way up to my upper thighs and did the same thing. With each and every brush of his lips against my skin, I felt as if my entire body was slowly getting on fire. My breathing hitched, and I could no longer concentrate on the dreams I was imagining a while ago.

    Clearly, Chase had a way of getting my full attention¡­

    He then began unbuttoning my jeans. He was doing it while looking intently at me. I found it so slow that I had to assist him in doing so. When he pulled down my jeans, he was greeted by my simple ck underwear.

    He leered at me before he took a sniff of my crotch. I swallowed hard and bit my bottom lip. I watched how he started smelling it, then kissed it, while his hand began stroking my thighs. It was at this point that I let out a sigh as his lips went down, brushing against my hidden slit.  As the heat engulfed me, I could feel that my sex had started to be moist.

    ¡°You are really making it so difficult for me, Reese. Your ck underwear really suits you best,¡± he whispered under his breath.

    I was under the impression that he would take my underwear off, but he did not do so. Instead, he simply tugged it to the side and licked my bulging slide in between my thighs.

    ¡°You¡¯re so friggin¡¯ hot,¡± he uttered huskily.

    I felt his tongue devouring my skin, and all I could do was whimper under my breath.

    He chuckled. ¡°Do not force it to close. I want to be able to taste you even more.¡±

    The moment he started licking it, and swirling his tongue around my clitoris, a gasp escaped my lips. I was engulfed by an overwhelming sense of lust and it was rushing all through my veins so quickly.

    The piece of cloth between his lips and my sex was so sinful that it kept me cursing in my mind. Chase continued teasing me, and all that was left for me to do was cry in desire.

    ¡°Chase, please¡­¡± I begged. I could no longer recognize my own voice.

    He chuckled once more and finally removed my underwear, which was dripping wet already. I caught him sniffing it while looking me in the eyes.

    ¡°I really love your aroma,¡± he remarked as he continued leering at me.

    It did not take long before he threw my underwear on the other side of the bed and, without hesitation, began devouring my sex like it was ice cream¡­ he was licking it, and tasting it with his tongue, swirling in a rhythmic movement.

    ¡°Urgh, oh my gosh¡­ Chase¡­¡± I moaned loudly. ¡°Fuck, hmm, Chase¡­¡± I spread my legs widely for him to have better ess. My eyes rolled back as I bit my bottom lip, letting his intense and heated mouth eat me wholly to my satisfaction.

    My hands went to his head, gripping his soft hair. Gradually, I began jerking my hips, weing each attack his mouth was making against my clit.

    ¡°Ohh, good father¡­ Chase¡­¡± I cried. ¡°That¡¯s it, fuck. You¡¯re really good¡­¡± In the midst of the pain, I moaned these words as he slid something into my sex.

    I cried from both pleasure and pain. As it made its way into my insides, I felt that it was simr to a long andrge shaft of my husband. It was vibrating, and while it was inside of my sex, pounding me hard, he then kept aggressively licking and brushing his lips against my sex. That made me cry out of ecstasy.

    ¡°Fuck¡­ what is this, Chase?¡± I asked as it was pounding me so hard and so deep that I lost count of how many times I moaned and caught my breath until it made me reach my first climax.

    I screamed in pleasure, then I grabbed the duvet and gripped it tightly.

    I then realized that it was Chase¡¯s sex toy  that was like a long shaft that pounded me so hard. It vibrated on my inside, making me more turned on. It matched the way his lips and tongue stroked my clitoral spot.

    ¡°You¡¯re such a slut¡­ Your naughty noises made my sex really hard. Now I know how fucking slutty you are. You should see yourself, baby¡­¡± he uttered, then he continued licking my slit.

    ¡°Oh, heavenly¡­ soul¡­ Ugh, Chase.¡± I was still sore, but he didn¡¯t stop. For a brief moment, I thought I was receiving painful punishment as his tongue roughly tasted my flesh. But it didn¡¯t take that long as another wave of sensation started to build up inside my belly and my cries were reced by loud moans again.

    ¡°I¡¯m cumming, Chase¡­ Urgh, do¨Cdon¡¯t stop¡­ I¡¯m at my peak¡­¡± I shouted.

    My explosion was so intense that I couldn¡¯t help but wet his face and squirt as soon as I got to my second climax.

    ¡°I love you, Reese. I so fucking love you¡­¡± he murmured.

    After that, he crawled all the way up and kissed my lips¡­

    ¡­and I kissed him back with all of my emotions.

 CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

    OLIVIA

    THE NEXT DAY¡­

    After buying some school supplies and new clothes in the mall, I called Chase, telling him that I¡¯d visit my best friend, Lara, before going home. He had to work overtime too, so he let me visit Lara. It was a good thing he loosened up a bit when it came to securing and protecting me.

    As per his one condition, Mathias was with me all the time. Even though there were a lot of good things that happened in the past couple of days that made me feel so bright and optimistic, I could not let my guard down. The death threat I received thest time hadn¡¯t been forgotten, so I needed him to stay with me to ensure my safety and for Chase to be at ease.

    ¡°This calls for celebration!¡± Lara swayed in front of me, holding a bottle of champagne in her left hand while her right hand was holding two wine sses.

    I chuckled from where I seated as I watched her sway like I was some sort of VIP customer from Mike¡¯s bar.

    ¡°Stop it, Lara. Your dance sucks!¡± I said but clearly, I found her so amusing.

    ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t it bad to feel so happy for you?¡± She said, rolling her eyes.

    She then put the champagne and sses down on the table in front of me and did a couple more dirty choreos before she settled herself beside me.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not, but your dance makes me want to puke.¡± I made a face as if I wanted to really puke, and then we bothughed.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    ¡°Alright, alright, I had long admitted that you were the best performer at Mike¡¯s bar before, and I cannot defeat you for that title.¡± Using a wine opener, she opened the Champagne easily and filled both of the wine sses. She handed me one of them. ¡°Cheers to you bing an elite student of a top notch international business school!¡±

    Now, it was time to roll my eyes. ¡°What a crazy intro, but thanks!¡±

    We made a toss and my lungs were truly satisfied as soon as I sipped my champagne.

    Damn, this felt so great!

    Remembering what my life was like before, I could finally say that everything had totally changed and was happening ording to what I wanted.

    ¡°I am so happy for you, Olivia. You are really getting anything you want, and there¡¯s no way Chase wouldn¡¯t give it to you. Look how lucky you have be!¡± Lara said proudly.

    ¡°Consider yourself the main reason why I am in this state. If you did not push me to go to this extent, I bet I am still living paycheck to paycheck.¡±

    ¡°Well, then consider yourself lucky that you found a smart ass best friend.¡± She giggled and sipped on her wine ss.  ¡°So going to sses means you will be very, very busy. Are you cool with that?¡±

    I nodded in response. ¡°I am so ready that there¡¯s no way I will back out. Chase supports my decision too, and he¡¯s really looking forward to seeing me be a sessful businesswoman with all my hard work.¡±

    ¡°Chase is really too soft when ites to Reese Jones¡­¡± shemented, shaking her head.

    Lara¡¯s statement stung my chest a bit. It was like a sudden realization that whatever Chase was doing and giving me, it was all because he thought I was Reese Jones, the only woman he ever loved the most, and without that name I took advantage of, my existence would never be known to him.

    That thought, for some reason, saddened me. I cleared my throat and a giggle escaped from it after a few seconds, but it did not sound particrly joyful.  It was like me tossing the negative emotions for a moment, but clearly I would never forget it right away.

    ¡°Hey, did I say something wrong?¡± Lara¡¯s tone of voice became concerned and cautious.

    I looked somewhere else and finished my champagne in an instant. ¡°No, I¡¯m cool, Lara!¡±

    ¡°Are you telling the truth? I¡¯m pretty sure I saw the sadness in your eyes just a second ago. Don¡¯t tell me you got hurt by what I said?¡±

    ¡°Definitely no!¡± I giggled and mustered the courage to look her in the eyes. ¡°Why would I get hurt, Lara? Don¡¯t overthink it. Come on¡­¡±

    ¡°Humor me, Olivia.¡± She narrowed her eyes and jerked her head to the right. ¡°Did you fall in love with Chase Maxwell?¡±

    My eyes widened with her question. I could feel the heat rushing through my veins all the way up to my face.  I opened my mouth, shocked, and even though I wanted to respond and clear myself, I could not utter the right words to do so.

    ¡°Hmm, did you?¡± Lara grinned widely and was waiting for my confirmation.

    My heart raced fast. It was like I was facing a confrontation I was not prepared for.

    ¡°Of course not!¡± Finally, those words came out, defending myself from her baseless assumptions!

    But looking at Lara, I surely bet she did not believe me.

    ¡°Why would I fall in love with that man, Lara? We are only after his wealth, remember?¡± I gave her a wide-eyed look. I¡¯m not going to fall for his trap just because I married him. He may be kind and adorable, but I will never allow myself to fall for him. I¡¯m treating this scheme as a job.¡±

    ¡°You surely had a lot to say just to defend yourself, huh?¡± She finished her drink and refilled her wine ss. ¡°But I hope you are really telling the truth, Olivia. Falling in love with him is prohibited, unless you want your heart to be shattered into pieces once he finds out that you are a different person. Then that¡¯s really insane.¡±

    ¡°I ampletely aware of it, Lara. So stop with your nonsense assumptions. I am just really after his money¡­¡±

    She stared at me maliciously. ¡°And casual sex?¡±

    My face was engulfed by a tremendous shame. ¡°Lara!¡±

    She burst intoughter and tapped my shoulder. All I could do was roll my eyes. I could not believe she¡¯d gone from questioning my feelings for Chase to teasing me about wanting casual sex with him! This woman was much more insane than me, really¡­

    ¡°But, Liv, all joking aside. I am warning you. Do not, in any way, fall in love with him. I do not want you to get hurt in the end. You clearly know that it¡¯s not going to work out given that he only sees Reese Jones in you. Nothing more than that¡­¡±

    ¡°I am not that naive to not know that, Lara. I am guarding my heart. He¡¯s only our money machine¡­¡± I swallowed the lump in my throat and took the bottle of champagne on the table and drank it.

    I felt a pang inside my chest after saying those words¡­ but I immediately shoved that emotion away.

    ***

    After talking to Lara regarding my feelings towards Chase, a voice in my head kept telling me that I needed to stay overnight. There was an urge for me to drink more, to get wasted and contemte a bit, and I could only do it without Chase around. Lara liked the idea, as it has been a while since thest time we got wasted. I immediately took my phone from my bag to call Chase and inform him that I would not be going home tonight.

    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to sleep in yourfortable bed, with your hot husband who will keep you warm?¡± Lara teased me, giggling.

    I narrowed my eyes as I dialed Chase¡¯s number on my phone. It only rang three times before he answered my call.

    ¡°Hmm, what is it, wife?¡± he asked from the other line.

    ¡°Chase, I will stay here overnight. Lara and I have a lot of things to catch up on. Will that be alright?¡± I said as I bit my fingernails.

    Lara was so nosy that she even moved closer to me so she could listen to our conversation. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and scold her. She only giggled.

    ¡°I was actually expecting you home, Reese.¡± His response made me wince.

    Without any hesitation, I handed my phone to Lara and told her to convince Chase on my behalf. He wouldn¡¯t be able to refuse my best friend, I hoped.

    Lara cleared her throat first and then she said, ¡°Hi, Chase! This is Lara. Please let Reese stay here with me. We missed our girl talk. Don¡¯t worry, I will make sure that she¡¯s going to b safe here with me. We will also celebrate her admission to Steinfield¡¯s.¡± She chuckled, and I bet she didn¡¯t give him a chance to talk back. ¡°And since you know my address, can you please send us some food here-¡±

    I snatched my phone from Lara as soon as she started saying nonsense things to Chase. I gave her a wide-eyed look. This woman, really! Sheughed out loud in her seat, and all I did was roll my eyes.

    ¡°Please, baby. Let me stay here for the night. ¡± I said in a seductive tone of voice.

    Lara covered her mouth, suppressing her amusement upon hearing that tone from me.

    I heard Chase let out a loud sigh from the other line.  I bet he was massaging his head right now¡­ Of course, he wouldn¡¯t like it when his wife was not at home, knowing that we hadn¡¯t resolved that death threat thing that urred recently.

    ¡°Alright, Reese. But please, send me a text before you go to sleep and give me some updates. I want to make sure you are all fine there,¡± he remarked in defeat. ¡°¡­ and I love you so much. Take care of yourself, please.¡±

    Hisst words made my heart race so fast and loud. I swallowed so hard and shut my eyes. ¡°Thank you, Chase. I¡­ I love you, too.¡±

    After that, I ended the call and heaved a sigh.

    Lara narrowed her eyes and continued staring at me. ¡°Is that Reese talking or the real Olivia?¡±

    I held my breath with her question. She wiggled her eyebrows as she waited for my answer.

    ¡°Of course, it was me pretending to be Reese. You know, I can always say those words if needed just to get his trust and,ter on, his money¡­¡±  I rolled my eyes.

    My eyes automatically nced at the wall clock hanging above the television. It was already seven o¡¯clock, and Chase usually went home around eight.

    ¡°Why are you staring at the clock? Are you thinking about what time he¡¯d be home?¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but be stressed with Lara. This bitch would not stop nagging me about my feelings for Chase! And wait, since when did she be a mind reader?

    ¡°Don¡¯t push it, Lara. The only reason why I checked on the clock is because I wanted to know what time it is right now.  It¡¯s nearly eight and I can¡¯t miss my favorite TV series,¡± I hissed.

    She only shrugged her shoulders and didn¡¯t look convinced by my reason.

    ¡°Whatever, you fake ass bitch!¡± She then rolled her eyes.

    It was a relief that she stopped nagging after a few minutes. I asked her to order some drinks, as I was confident that her champagne would not suffice. I wanted to drink until I got wasted tonight. Beers would be more appealing, especially if we were going to watch a series.

    ¡°I do have to work tomorrow, Olivia!¡±

    ¡°You can take a break. I can talk to Mike and ask him to give you a vacation leave. You don¡¯t need to worry about your paycheck. I can cover it. Just tell me how much you need.¡±

    Her expression softened, as if she had instantly be a cute puppy. She clung to my arms and kissed me on the cheek.

    ¡°You are so kind, Olivia. With that kindness of yours, I am confident that you¡¯ll be very sessful in the future. If it¡¯s not too much to ask, why don¡¯t you hire me as your personal assistant instead?¡±

    Her suggestion made me chuckle, but I had to admit that she gave me an idea as to how I could help her.

    ¡°You are such a genius, Lara. You just gave me an idea,¡± I told her.

    She stared at me in confusion. ¡°Does that mean I will be your assistant from now on?¡±

    I shook my head and offered her a grin. ¡°No, even better than that¡­¡±

    The thought of having a business with Lara on my side who would help me build it sparked my interest. I couldn¡¯t wait to get back home and discuss it with Chase.

    Chase¡­

    For some unknown reason, as I thought about him, I couldn¡¯t help but feel sad.

    Not wanting the negative emotion to knock off the little positivity in me, I urged Lara to go out and buy some beers.

    She said, ¡°I¡¯ll be back, your royal highness,¡± and bowed her head.

    I shook my head and grimaced. When Lara finally went out, I remained still on the couch and was left to ponder. No matter how I tried to shove all those things Lara told me, they just whirled around in my head.

    I sighed and gazed at my phone resting on the center table in front of me.

    ¡°Don¡¯t call or text him,¡± I told myself.  But the urge in me was battling against my order. ¡°He is not your real husband¡­¡± I whispered, and then palmed my face.

    Out of frustration, I grabbed the pillow next to me and looked at it as if it was Chase.

    ¡°Chase, I am sorry to burst your bubble, but I am not Reese Jones. I am Olivia Miller, and let me tell you this, I¡¯m going to leave you soon. I only married you because I wanted your money. I am not in love with you, Chase. It sucks to be with you!¡± I said it with all confidence.

    But then, my expression softened and I ended up throwing the pillow on the other couch. I took a deep breath as I palmed my face.

    I whispered, ¡°It sucks to pretend to be a person that I am really not.¡±

    I thought about how I could tell him the truth when the right time came, or if all else went south¡­ Do I really have the courage to confess to him?

    Should I act as if I was a viin and tell him that I had just yed with him? I only used him because I wanted my life to change, and that it was his fault because he was the first one who approached me, iming that I was his fiance?

    Should I act so heartlessly like those antagonists in books and movies?

    I thought it would be so easy to y along with this pretense. But as the days passed by, it started to be so difficult. Even if I didn¡¯t want to be so attached to him, I found it impossible given that we only lived under the same roof. We slept in the same bed and did everything mostly together.

    This was harder than I expected. I wish I could escape this mess easily when everything bes so unbearable.

    It didn¡¯t take a while for Lara toe back. I was shocked that she bought a lot of beer and snacks! It was like there was a party going on here.

    ¡°What the heck? You bought a lot of beer!¡±

    Sheughed. ¡°Of course! We only have this night to spend with each other. You will be so busy by next week, so we might as well get wasted until dawn¡±

    She swayed happily and put all those beers on the table. She prepared some new shot sses and handed me a can of beer. I also took some chips and tasted the roasted chicken she bought.

    We started drinking and kept  shrieking in glee. We were like singledies who had all the time in the world to have fun. Lara then grabbed the remote for her television and turned it on.

    ¡°It¡¯s already eight o¡¯clock. You said you wanted to watch a series, right?¡± She chuckled, and I rolled my eyes.

    She knew that I was lying, but she kept pushing it.

    She scanned some channels until she settled on one specific one that aired a ssic soap opera. ¡°This one is too popr. I bet it¡¯s really interesting.¡±

    ¡°Since when was thest time I watched television?¡± I asked myself as I drank my beer.

    Both of us were watching the TV drama when the scene became so disturbing.

    ¡°I have just been lying all this time. You see, I am not the woman you¡¯ve been looking for. I underwent surgery that made me look like your first love. I am so sorry¡­¡± the female lead confessed while looking at the male lead.

    Lara and I gasped while watching as the guy responded, ¡°How dare you lie to my face all this time! You¡¯re so wicked and I can¡¯t believe you went to this extent! Let¡¯s get a divorce! I don¡¯t want to see your face ever again!¡±

    ¡°What the hell? Can¡¯t he see that the girl is on the verge of tearing up?¡± Imented and kept drinking my beer.

    ¡°But how can I stay away when I have already fallen in love with you?¡±

    ¡°Shut up! How can you y with my feelings? I want you to leave this house as soon as possible. You are nothing but a fraud!¡±

    The scene was so intense, but Lara grabbed the remote and turned off the television right away. ¡°I knew it. It is a terrible drama. Geez!¡±

    I blinked several times and swallowed the lump in my throat.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I hate watching television nowadays. The entertainment industry can¡¯te up with great stories to air as a drama.¡± She clicked her tongue and nced over at me. ¡°Hey, are you alright?¡±

    ¡°Lara, I am totally fine. Why did you turn it off? We can watch it. Come on. I want to know what will happen next.¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡±

    I stole the remote from her hand. I was about to turn on the TV when she tried to snatch back the remote.

    ¡°Fuck, Liv. That¡¯s my remote!¡± she yelled and rose to her feet.

    I got annoyed when she was able to get the remote from my hand, then she ran to the foyer,ughing out loud.

    ¡°Hey, just turn on the TV! I don¡¯t want to resort to violence, Lara! Give me the remote and let¡¯s watch that show!¡± I tried to get close to her, but she¡¯d run every time.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to! Stay out of those things that would only stress you, Liv. I am just concerned!¡±

    ¡°Whatever!¡± I gave up on her and just sat down on the couch as I felt a bit dizzy.

    She continuedughing, and all I could do was roll my eyes at her.

    ¡°Fine, you can take it.¡± She then handed me the remote. Finally. But I no longer had an interest in watching that TV drama.

    ¡°No, thanks!¡± I said as I just took a chip to eat.

 CHAPTER FORTY

    OLIVIA

    EMPTY CANS of beer were scattered on the floor. My eyes gazed at the wall clock and saw that it was already one o¡¯clock in the morning. Lara had already fallen asleep on the couch. She had gotten more wasted than me as she had finished so many beers earlier.

    I rose to my feet and grabbed the cigarette and lighter from the center table. I exhaled and decided to go to her small balcony. I leaned on the railings and let the fresh night air kiss my skin. I lit the cigarette, put it in my mouth, smoked it, and looked around at the street lights, the quiet neighborhood, the stray cats, and the empty street corners.

    I recalled when I was still working in the bar. I used to walk through the dark alleys every morning after my shift. At first, I was afraid of the darkness of the alleys, but gradually I became used to it. At that time, I felt I was a ve for money.

    The day before I met Chase, I was so happy and excited when Mike informed me that a VIP customer had offered to pay me three hundred thousand dors for my performance. I thought that I could leave my filthy job using that money and had already looked forward to living a decent life afterward. But Chase, the ever-so-dashing God-like billionaire, appeared and changed everything.

    I could not help but wonder what would have happened if I hadn¡¯t met Chase back then. I was curious about what life I would have lived if he had not shown up and I had received that money from my customer. Would it be less difficult for me?

    Would it be easier to breathe?

    I blew the smoke and put the cigarette in the ashtray sitting on the table here on the balcony. I wonder how Chase would react if he found out that I was smoking. I still did not know Reese¡¯s behavior, and I assumed I¡¯d done some things and moved differently while pretending to be her. It was quite surprising that Chase hadn¡¯t been suspicious of me yet.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know why I can¡¯t erase you from my mind, Chase¡­¡± I murmured to myself. I clutched my chest, and I could feel and hear it loudly. My heart pounded so fast and loud whenever I thought of him.

    I sucked in a breath and settled myself in one of the cold chairs surrounding the metal table. I leaned my back against the backrest and shut my eyes.

    ¡°I am so tired of thinking of you¡­¡± I murmured before the darkness swallowed my entire senses and I became unconscious.

    ***

    I felt the rays of sunshine blinding my eyes, and its heat was kissing my cheeks, making my eyebrows instantly crease. As I opened my eyes slowly, the first thing I saw was the sunlight. I shut my eyes for a moment, and then began scratching them to adjust my vision before I opened them again. I looked around and figured out that I had fallen asleep on the balcony.

    I exhaled heavily and stretched my arms while feeling the morning sunshine hit my face. I tilted my head from left to right and finally stood up and walked into the living room.

    There I saw Lara, who was still sleeping on the couch. Her snoring was so loud that it made me shake my head in disbelief. She snored like a big man.

    ¡°Lara, wake up!¡± I said as I walked toward her. I tapped her cheeks slightly, but she did not move even a bit. ¡°Lara!¡±

    I finally gave up when she did not even respond when I tried to tickle her neck. She was sleeping soundly because she was so wastedst night. I threw myself on the other couch and waited for her to wake up, but then I felt sleepy and took another nap.

    I woke up when I felt that I needed to pee. After doing my thing inside the restroom, I decided to check my phone to see if Chase had sent me any text messages. I realized that I forgot to send him some updatesst night, as I was already tipsy.

    My eyes widened when I saw that I had twenty missed calls from him. I covered my mouth in disbelief.

    ¡°Oh my goodness, what have you done, Olivia? Your husband called you numerous times and you didn¡¯t hear it!¡±

    I took a deep breath and read some of his text messages. I winced as I knew he was mad as hell! I was about to send him a text message when I heard a loud knock that came from the other side of the door.

    I immediately went to the door and pushed it open. A striking fear went through me when I saw a group of men wearing ck suits and ties waiting outside of Lara¡¯s apartment.

    ¡°What the hell?¡± I reacted as my forehead creased.

    One of the men stated, ¡°We are here to escort you back home, Madame.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you being so exaggerated?¡± Iined as it seemed that a dozen of them were here. I mean, Mathias could have picked me here instead.

    ¡°We are only following Mr. Maxwell¡¯s orders¡­¡±

    ¡°I know, but this is too much! I am going to call my husband!¡±

    I was about to dial Chase¡¯s phone number when I noticed the familiar ck luxury car that stopped in front of the apartment building from here on the second floor.

    I then saw Chase, who came out of his car and immediately went inside the building. From the ground floor, he walked his way up to the second floor and went in our direction.

    ¡°Reese,¡± he called my name. His voice sounded a little panicky.

    ¡°Chase, why are all your men here?¡± I asked the moment he walked towards me.

    ¡°I am so sorry. I got so worried that you didn¡¯t update mest night. That¡¯s why I gave them an order to pick you up here.¡±

    ¡°All of them? Chase,e on. Lara and I were fine,¡± I said, to rify things.

    He palmed his face and heaved a sigh. ¡°I know. I¡¯m sorry, Reese. I felt bad that I had to give them such an order out of impulse, and I know you will react this way, so I went here to personally clear things out.¡± He then reached for my hand and squeezed it as he looked at me with his eyes full of guilt. ¡°I do not want you to think that I am trying to be so possessive of you, all over again. I¡¯m sorry, Reese¡­¡±

    ¡°Again?¡± I was somewhat confused about thest words she said.

    Did he ever be so possessive of Reese before, up to the extent that he became so overprotective and exaggerated?

    He nodded and then nced at his men. He then ordered his men to get back to their cars. I sighed in relief when they left. Gosh! I still had a hangover and seeing a bunch of big men in suits and ties truly scared me!

    Chase sniffed and leaned down on me. ¡°You smelled of reeking liquor and cigars,¡± he stated, his brows furrowed.

    I cleared my throat and stepped back once.

    ¡°We finished a few canned beers and champagne, then I tried to smoke, but I threw it right away. Lara was really pushy for me to try it,¡± I reasoned, as I was nervous about his suddenment about me.

    He inhaled sharply and then nodded his head as if he understood it. ¡°Did I scare you? I¡¯m so sorry, wife. I really just got worried.¡±

    I felt a little bit guilty and responsible as I was all too aware that it would not have happened if only I had sent him some updates telling him that we were alright.

    ¡°I tried to call youst night and first thing in the morning, but you did not pick up any of my calls. My emotions were so high that I ordered my men toe here.¡±

    ¡°Chase, it¡¯s fine. I was only frightened to see a dozen of them here, but I understand. I should be the one apologizing¡­¡±

    He bit his lower lip and I saw how his Adam¡¯s apple moved. ¡°I¡¯ll do better next time. You might be thinking that I am weird and so overprotective.¡±

    My lips curled into a thin smile. I really could not understand why Reese Jones left this man so easily. He was so cute¡­

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to apologize, Chase.¡± I held his hand and caressed it.  ¡°It was my fault and I am sorry if I didn¡¯t update you.¡±

    I engulfed him in a hug and patted his back.

    I knew that Chase was so worried that Reese Jones might have disappeared again, and his being so overprotective was only the result of his fear of losing the woman he loved the most.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have to go to work?¡± I asked when I released him from that embrace.

    He smiled and said, ¡°I actually had a meeting, but I canceled it because I wanted to go here to personally see you. I sincerely apologize for my actions, wife. I know you only wanted to celebrate with your friend.¡±

    ¡°Is there a fire or something?! Why is everyone so loud!¡± Lara almost yelled out of annoyance.

    I turned around and saw her walking near the door frame, yawning and scratching her head.

    ¡°Hey! Chase is here,¡± I said as soon as she stood in front of us. I gave her a wide-eyed look as I was afraid her mouth would say something she shouldn¡¯t.

    ¡°Oh! Alright! Hi, Chase! Goodness, your husband is here!¡± Sheughed so awkwardly that it made me cringe.

    I rolled my eyes at Lara, then spun around to meet Chase¡¯s pair of oceanic blue eyes.  ¡°You can go ahead now, Chase. I will just call Mathias to pick me upter, alright?¡±

    He nodded. Compared to the expression he had earlier, he was more rxed now. He then leaned down to kiss me on the lips. Lara let out a shriek. It was so awkward that I stepped back a bit because my face was engulfed by an intense heat. I knew he also noticed it but he yed it cool and he just simply smiled at me.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I will leave now, Reese.¡±

    I nodded, and then he went back to his car and drove away.

    I exhaled out loud. I hoped I didn¡¯t offend him¡­

    Lara tapped my shoulder, which drew my attention.

    ¡°Did you see that? Chase Maxwell is really a catch, right?¡± She eximed, feeling so giddy. ¡°He is undeniably charming, handsome, understanding, and rich¡­¡± She then chuckled. ¡°A billionaire who already has everything! Oh, did I mention how hot he looked just earlier? Oh, my goodness! My hormones are raging because of him! He¡¯s truly a catch!¡±

    I didn¡¯t know why, but I got irritated. ¡°Are you saying that he would never fall in love with someone who is not beautiful, charming, and wealthy? Is that what you are trying to say, Lara?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± her forehead creased,pletely confused.

    I shook my head and went inside the apartment.

    ¡°Goodness, why are you so grumpy? It¡¯s too early, Liv!¡± she hissed and then followed me in the living room. ¡°You know what? We have no other choice but to look for the real Reese Jones. We need to know where she is, or if she¡¯s still alive or not, right? I assure you it will give you peace of mind and you can decide whether you¡¯ll continue pretending to be her or you¡¯ll get out of that mess once your bank is fully loaded.¡±

    Lara said from behind me. She may be right, but my mind couldn¡¯t seem to entertain any conversation that was rted to Reese. Perhaps because of the hangover I had fromst night¡¯s drink¡­ I just didn¡¯t want to hear Lara¡¯s voice at the moment.

    ¡°Lara, can you please tone your voice down? I don¡¯t want to be bothered by Chase¡¯s feelings. Once I have enough money in the bank, I will stay away from his sight, regardless of whether Reese was alive or not!¡± I said, and it was like a promise that I engraved in my heart.

 CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

    OLIVIA

    It was around one o¡¯clock in the afternoon when I decided to call Mathias to pick me up at Lara¡¯s apartment. I had to wait for Mikael first to return home from his school camping as I had missed him too.

    When I arrived home, I went straight to our bedroom to take a rest. I threw myself on the bed, exhaled out loud, and massaged the bridge of my nose. Even though a lot of things happened today, my mind could not seem to get tired of thinking about Chase. I shifted my position sideways and caressed the part of the bed where he usually slept. Even the pillows and duvet smelled like his familiar perfume. I hugged the pillow he used and snuggled with it.

    I missed him¡­

    It had only been a day since I had not slept here, yet my entire body seemed to be craving him already. I did not know what kind of emotion this was¡­ but I guess it was fine for me to go along with it.

    Was he mad that I flinched when he kissed me earlier this morning? I hoped not, but my eyes had seen that he was somewhat confused by what I did. If ever he brought it up, I would clear things out, even if it meant telling him white lies.

    ¡°I missed you, Chase¡­¡± I murmured under my breath.

    I heard my phone ring, and my gut feeling told me that it was Chase. I rose from the bed and grabbed my phone, too excited to answer his call.

    ¡°Hello there, Chase!¡± I greeted him as soon as I answered the call without checking the caller ID number.

    ¡°Oh my God!¡± My expression changed when I heard the familiar and irritating voice of Chase¡¯s sister.

    I looked at the phone screen, brows furrowed, and asked myself why this bitch was suddenly calling me. I mean, we weren¡¯t close as far as I recall.

    ¡°What¡¯s up, Chandria?¡±

    ¡°What the hell were you doingst night? I heard that you got drunk with your friend and didn¡¯t go home! Aren¡¯t you supposed to take care of my brother?¡± she yelled at me from the other line.

    I winced at her annoying tone. It was as if she was telling me that I was not a good wife when she did not have any idea about the entire situation.

    ¡°Where did you hear that, Chandria?¡± I asked coldly as I was getting so annoyed too.

    The fact that she argued with me previously, and Chase¡¯s suspicion that she was the person behind the death threat, made my entire blood boil out of rage. Now, here she was, making me feel angry all over again.

    ¡°You do not have to know, Reese. And may I remind you that you have no right to question me.¡± I could feel it from here that she was already gritting her teeth while talking to me. ¡°How dare you leave my brother so you could party with your friend? You¡¯re supposed to y your role as his wife, not act as if you were a single woman who goes out whenever you feel so. Shame on you, Reese!¡±

    I could have sworn that my ears were so irritated by her high pitched voice that I intentionally dropped the call. How the hell did she get my phone number, anyway?

    ¡°Chandria, you smart ass bitch. You are really getting on my nerves!¡± I yelled while ncing at my call logs.

    I went all the way to block her phone number as I valued my peace of mind more than her capriciousness and whines then I received another call. I carefully checked the phone number and it was different from the one Chandria used a while ago, so I thought it was safe. I decided to answer the call just to check who was calling me.

    ¡°How dare you, Reese Jones! Did you just hang up on me?!¡± Another voice, of a seemingly crazy woman, just yelled from the other line. Then I realized that it was Chase¡¯s annoying sister once again! ¡°Did you freaking block my number?!¡±

    I fought the urge to roll my eyes. How could she be so stupid?

    ¡°Perhaps it was only an ident,¡± I replied but of course, knowing this woman, I knew she would never believe what I said.

    ¡°Who are you fooling? Don¡¯t tell me it was just an ident that you went all the way into your contact settings and blocked my phone number instantly, because I will never believe you, Reese. I wasn¡¯t born yesterday to be so ignorant of what you did!¡±

    I shook my head and massaged the side of my head. ¡°Whatever, Chandria! But I wouldn¡¯t block your number if you only chose to behave properly while talking to me.¡± I sighed heavily and thought of something fun to do instead. ¡°How about this? Since Chase is not yet home and I am also bored to death, why don¡¯t we meet?¡±

    Sheughed sarcastically. ¡°Why would I meet with you? Aren¡¯t you aware that we¡¯re not even close?¡±

    I just said, ¡°Tell me where you are right now,¡± ignoring what she said.

    ¡°I am still in ss. I¡¯m just taking my break,¡± she answered.

    ¡°Great. I¡¯ll go there and fetch you. You can skip your sses, then we can go somewhere else to have fun.¡±

    She may have thought that I¡¯d lost my mind. There was no reason for me to meet her either, but I¡¯d like to kill some time and observe her personally. I wanted to judge her actions myself to see if she was the one who sent the death threat a couple of weeks ago.

    ¡°You really are crazy. Why would I skip my ss just to meet a bitch like you?¡± she hissed, and I could only smirk while listening to her rants.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget that this bitch you are referring to is your sister-inw, Chandria. So, being the wife of your brother, have some respect and listen to me. In fact, I really think that you don¡¯t want to attend your next ss. So, let¡¯s just meet. I promise it is my treat.¡± I tried to sound as sweet as possible.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe what you just said, Reese. You¡¯re out of your mind!¡± she yelled at me. ¡°Whatever! Do what you want, but leave me out of it! I only called because I wanted to warn you. If you want me to be cool with you, be a great wife to my brother!¡± After saying those words, she hung up the phone.

    I grinned and shook my head. Chandria was truly a brat. I wonder how Ernest and Chase put up with all her whines in life.

    But whatever it was, she told me on the phone, it would not stop me from doing what I wanted. I took a bath and wore a trendy outfit-a floral dress partnered with white sneakers. I rushed downstairs and asked Mathias about Chandria¡¯s school.

    ¡°I am sorry, Madame, but I do not have that kind of information,¡± he answered.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I am going to ask Chase,¡± I said as I hopped inside the car.

    I sent Chase a text message, asking him to which Uni Chandria attended, but he seemed to be so busy that he didn¡¯t reply to my text message. I then decided to call Chandria. I was lucky enough that she did not reject my call.

    ¡°What is it, bitch?¡± she asked as soon as she answered my call.

    ¡°I swear you do not want to use that tone on your sister-inw, Chandria.¡± I leaned my back against the backrest of the passenger seat. ¡°Where do you study? Tell me.¡±

    ¡°Are you really this insane?!¡± She then ended the call.

    ¡°What the hell?¡±

    I gritted my teeth as she was clearly testing my patience. I was so annoyed that I ended up sending her some text messages multiple times. After what it seemed to be my hundredth text message to her, she then replied with the exact address of the university where she studies.

    ¡°There you go,¡± I said, smirking widely. I told Mathias to drive me to the address Chandria provided, and he followed my order.

    While we were on the road, I could not fight the urge to call Chandria once again, to make sure that she was not fooling me.

    ¡°If you are lying to me about the school you are attending, I will make sure to tell Chase and even your father about this,¡± I said warily when she answered my call.

    ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Reese. Don¡¯t ever push your luck! Don¡¯t go here. My ss will start soon, and I only have a thirty minute break.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will help you sneak out.¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to-¡±

    I ended the call. Same thing as what she did to me earlier. Iughed devilishly in my seat, not minding Mathias¡¯ confused look at me from the rearview mirror.

    I realized that her school was only thirty minutes away from our home. Mathias stopped the car in front of the main gate of the campus, and all that was left for me to do was pursue that devilish woman toe out.

    I sent her a text message:

    I am already here. I¡¯ll go inside and ask for your room.

    I was grinning from ear to ear when I walked to the main gate. Many students looked at me. Some were astounded, and some gave me a confused look. If I didn¡¯t know that Reese was kind of popr, I would have really felt anxious by the way they stared at me.

    ¡°That¡¯s Reese Jones-Maxwell, right?¡±

    ¡°Chase Maxwell¡¯s wife is really pretty!¡±

    I heard many whispers about me, but I decided to ignore them and went straight inside. I thought that the security guards would question me before they let me in, but it appeared that they were stunned by my beauty and aura. Instead, they greeted me happily.

    ¡°Good afternoon!¡± I greeted them back, trying to be nice and polite.

    A lot more students threw their gazes at me when I walked into the building. To ensure my safety, Mathias was walking behind me. I felt more safe and confident with him by my side. Just in case Chandria threw a tantrum or started picking up a fight with me, I had Mathias to defend me.

    A cute student walked in front of me, and I immediately held her shoulder.

    ¡°Hi there, prettydy. Do you know what ss Chandria Maxwell belonged to?¡± I asked politely.

    ¡°Chandria?¡± Her brows furrowed. I nodded.

    ¡°She¡¯s in the cafeteria right now,¡± she answered shyly. ¡°I can take you there if you need help.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s so nice of you! I appreciate your help,¡± I said, and I smiled at her widely.

    A surge of excitement went through me. I wanted to see how Chandria would react when she saw me in the flesh¡­

    While we were walking our way to the cafeteria, my mouth felt so itchy to ask questions to thisdy who was kind enough to help me.

    ¡°How¡¯s Chandria at school, if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡±

    She gazed at me and shrugged. ¡°She does whatever she wants, I guess.¡±

    ¡°Is she a pain in the ass to her professors?¡±

    ¡°Mostly¡­¡±

    I giggled. Based on Chandria¡¯s personality, she clearly had the ability to make everyone angry. I was actually curious about why she ended up having that kind of behavior. Her brother was so kind, and I could really tell that their father was also the same. I thought about their mother, who had been showing how displeased she was with me ever since I met her. Perhaps Chandria got her rude behavior from their mother? I mean, it was actually obvious that Mrs. Maxwell was ill-mannered.

    I shoved that thought away as it wasn¡¯t the right time for me to ponder it. Thest stopped in front of the cafeteria, raising her index finger and pointing to the woman who was sitting on the table in the corner of the ce, chatting with her friends.

    ¡°There she is,¡± she said.

    OLIVIA

    ¡°Thank you so much for your help!¡± I replied and smiled at her.

    She offered me a shy smile. ¡°No worries. I was a fan of yours when you were stillpeting in swimmingpetitions. You were cool, Mrs. Maxwell. Hopefully, you can find a way to get back to swimming.¡±

    I was taken aback by what she said. So, she was Reese Jones¡¯ fan, eh?

    ¡°I am so honored to meet a fan like you. And we¡¯ll never know! When my memoryes back, I will be able to return to swimming.¡±

    But I was not Reese Jones, and the memory I was referring to would nevere back as it wasn¡¯t mine to begin with.

    ¡°I am looking forward to that. So, I will go now,¡± she said, as she scratched her head a bit.

    I nodded and thanked her again.  I watched her walk away, and when her presence was no longer visible, I turned to the cafeteria.

    I did not waste any time and rushed inside. I went to the table where Chandria was sittingfortably, holding her stylus pen while her eyes were looking down at her expensive tablet and giggling with her friends.

    ¡°Hey there, my little Chandria!¡± I greeted her as soon as I stood in front of their table.

    Her friends¡¯ attention immediately went to me, astounded and confused by my sudden presence. Chandria froze in her seat, cleared her throat and did not bother looking at me, as if I was invisible to her. Instead, she continued talking to her friends while jotting down some notes on her tablet.

    ¡°Chandria, I know you just heard me. Come on, do not ignore me!¡± I said and to get her attention, I waved my hand and smiled at her friends. ¡°Oh, I am sorry if I suddenly appeared without introducing myself. My name is Reese Jones-Maxwell, and I am Chandria¡¯s sister-inw. It¡¯s nice to finally meet you!¡±

    They came back to their senses and nodded at me in response. They also greeted me and offered their hands for handshakes.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that I finally met you, Reese! You¡¯re a great swimmer! I am indeed a fan of yours!¡± One of Chandria¡¯s friends said. ¡°I was rooting for you and Chase Maxwell back then and did not believe the rumors. I am d you two have finally married!¡±

    ¡°Andrea, stop it¡­¡± Chandria gave her a wary look.

    I smiled and turned my gaze on Chandria. She exhaled loudly, stood up, and walked out without saying anything. Her friends gasped at her sudden change of behavior. They looked so worried about her.

    I shook my head as I crossed my arms against my chest. ¡°She actually does not feel well, girls. So, I went here to pick her up and escort her home.¡±

    These two friends of hers frowned and nced at each other.

    ¡°That might be the reason why she was so irritated earlier,¡± the woman named Andrea said.

    ¡°Okay, you can send her home, Reese. I will tell our professor that she is not feeling well today. We will take notes and give them to her tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s so nice of you. I¡¯m going to follow her now. Nice meeting both of you!¡± I said and stormed out of the cafeteria to follow the little devil.

    I ran as fast as possible and then grabbed her hand to stop her from walking away from me.

    ¡°Not so fast, bitch!¡±

    ¡°Let me go, Reese!¡± she said and tried to get her arm from my grip, but I did not give her that chance.

    ¡°Not your lucky day, my dearest evil sister-inw. You wille with me,¡± I said as I gripped her arm tightly and dragged her out of the school with me.

    ¡°What the hell do you want?¡±

    I then brought her in front of the car and only let her go when Mathias blocked her way. I clicked my tongue as I looked at her, amused by her reaction.

    ¡°I already exined to your friends that you do not feel well and that you need to go home. Now, I am here to take you out with me,¡± I said and grinned. But she only rolled her eyes at me.

    ¡°It is not up to you, Reese. I need to go back!¡± she said, but I grabbed her arm right before she took a couple of steps.

    ¡°Don¡¯t y hard to get on me, Chandria. I know you don¡¯t like to go to school,¡± I said, as a matter of fact.

    ¡°What did you say? Are you trying to offend me?¡±

    ¡°If you really care about your next ss, you are not going to let me drag you all the way here!¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    What I said made her shut up. She looked at me angrily, and I could really tell that she was upset with me, but even if she snarled at me, I would never flinch and run.

    ¡°What the hell do you really want from me, Reese? Again, we are not that close for you to take me out.¡± She let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°I am more convinced that you are getting insane. Is that the aftermath of your so-called amnesia?¡±

    I rolled my eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with making up with you? Geez, you are my sister-inw and even though you almost got me killed previously, I wouldn¡¯t be able to escape the fact that you are part of my family.¡±

    ¡°Well, then you no longer need to make up with me. Just try to be a good wife to my brother. Even if I hated you, I wanted him to be happy,¡± she exined.

    I narrowed my eyes and smirked. ¡°How cute, Chandria. You love your brother that much, huh? That¡¯s enough reason for you to make a lot of fuss to make me go away¡­ even if you resorted to it by giving me a death threat?¡±

    ¡°Mind yournguage. I am not the person who sent you that freaking death threat. Why would I even waste my time ying games with you? That¡¯s worthless!¡±

    I observed the expression on her face. She grimaced and offered me nothing but a re. She did not even flinch even though I gazed at her for that long. There was no hint of guilt or lying in her eyes¡­ That only means that she was telling the truth.

    Chandria was not the one who sent it.

    ¡°Try to calm down a bit, little girl.¡± I was about to touch her hair but then she immediately pushed my hand away.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even dare touch me!¡± she yelled.

    I winced at hearing her voice. A memory of me when I was a child shed through my eyes: a kid that pushed me away. He was a visitor to the orphanage who came with his parents. That arrogant kid told me that I had no right to talk to him or be his friend because I was a filthy orphan¡­ The way Chandria looked at me reminded me of that kid.

    Chandria shook her head and was about to go but I held her hand once again.

    ¡°Chandria, why don¡¯t you give me a chance first? I want to end this conflict between us, and spend some time with you because your husband¡¯s sister.¡± I sighed heavily and looked her in the eyes. ¡°I want to be closer to you, and to apologize for how I acted before. Just please, let me. It¡¯s my treat.¡±

    Her chest was moving up and down in rage, but soon her expression softened and she became a little bit calmer.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really know what you are up to. You¡¯re so weird,¡± shemented, and then hopped inside the car, wearing the grim expression all over again.

    I turned to Mathias. ¡°Let¡¯s go to a nearby beach.¡±

    ¡°Sure thing, Madame.¡±

    I hopped into the passenger seat beside Chandria. She moved a bit away from me, and I could only giggle because of her childish actions.

    ¡°Where would you take me?¡± she asked after what seemed like half an hour of being on the road.

    ¡°We will go to a beach and have fun there,¡± I replied.  ¡°We¡¯ll have some coffee, too. I badly need it because I still have a bad hangover.¡±

    I picked my phone from my bag and took a picture of me and Chandria pouting her lips in annoyance. I then sent it to Chase and then informed him that I was with her sister.

    To: Chase

    Hello there, husband. I am with your sister. I took her out for a girls¡¯ date to try to mend things between us. Wish me luck! I miss you! ??

    I could not help but smile. I bit my lower lip and showed Chandria my phone screen. She only rolled her eyes and shook her head.

    ¡°Can you at least smile a bit? Come on. We¡¯re going out for a sisterly date!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, right, and you¡¯re creeping me out¡­¡± She pouted her lips.

    ¡°Feisty!¡±

    Even though Chandria was a bit sour to me, I could not deny that I was kind of excited about fixing the conflict between us. Sitting beside her without us fighting like wild cats was actually a good start. I hoped that after this day, she would be able to open her heart to me. I bet Chase would be so happy once he saw me and her sister on good terms. I mean, who wouldn¡¯t want a peaceful life without an enemy to mind, right?

    My phone vibrated. I opened my inbox hoping to see if Chase had already replied, but it was Lara who had just sent me a text message.

    From: Lara

    Heyoo! Little Devil, I hope you¡¯re fine! Are you with Chase? Make sure to give him a wild night, to the point that he can no longer walk the next day! Or try to give him ap dance. I bet he would love it!

    I shook my head and massaged the temple of my nose after reading her message. I sent her a reply, informing her that I was with Chase¡¯s sister, as I nned to treat her somewhere nice. I even sent her our selfie.

    After a few minutes, I got a reply from her.

    From: Lara

    Oh my gosh! Liv! Are you trying to get Chandria to like you? You¡¯ve already fallen for the trap! First, you¡¯ve be close to Chase¡¯s father and enrolled at Steinfield¡¯s Uni. Then now you are going to spend some time with Chase¡¯s devilish sister?

    You know what that is? You are already in love with Chase! Liv, run away. I am warning you. You will get hurt at the end! It¡¯s not worth it!

    I bit my lower lip and ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. I deleted her text message and turned off my phone. Something was wrong with me¡­ I did not know why, but my chest felt so heavy after reading her text messages.

    ¡°Interesting. Now, you look annoyed,¡± Chandriamented, her eyebrows raising.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind me. I just received a terrible message from a friend,¡± I replied.

    ¡°Things that make us annoyed are mostly the hard truths,¡± she responded.

    My forehead creased by what she said. I cleared my throat as it made me ponder.

    ¡°Yeah, maybe¡­¡± I said after a few seconds, and thenughed a bit.

    Geez, Olivia. Are youpletely out of your mind? I shoved all my thoughts away and focused on my goal for today-to get closer to Chandria Maxwell.

    ¡°I am getting bored. I hope you¡¯ll treat me to something fancy. I am not cheap.¡±

    I then gave her a sweet grin. ¡°Seems so.¡±

    ¡°We are here, Madame,¡± Mathias announced as he stopped the car.

 CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

    OLIVIA

    ¡°Have you ever visited this beach before?¡± I asked Chandria curiously.

    As we approached the beachside eateries, I noticed the way she looked around. She seemed very amazed at this ce, as if she had never been here before.

    The beach was, indeed, breathtaking. The sound of the waves hitting the shore and the salty fresh wind made my mind so rxed.  Kids were ying on the seashore, while some were enjoying a dip in the waters.

    ¡°It is my first time visiting this beach. Mom is a bit strict, so it is difficult to ask for her permission whenever I want to travel. I can only travel if they tag along or if there¡¯s a family reunion,¡± she replied. A bitter smile escaped her lips.

    I was quite surprised to hear it from here. Given the wealthy life they had, I thought Chandria was able to travel to every ce in the world, but I bet I was wrong to even think about it. Perhaps their mother was so uptight and strict that she would not let her travel all by herself even though she had alreadye of age.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, because you already have a sister-inw, I will make sure to tag along whenever you want to travel, so your mom will let you,¡± I reassured her.

    She gave me a wry smile. ¡°Just so you know, mom still dislikes you. If you want to help me travel whenever I feel like it, perhaps you should try to get along with mom first.¡±

    ¡°Well, I am d that you mentioned that. I will visit her soon and try to win her heart like how I won yours. How does that sound?¡± I winked at her.

    She rolled her eyes, but a ghost of a smile could be seen on her lips.

    ¡°Do not push your luck too much, Reese. I still dislike you too,¡± she remarked, but I did not feel any worry about it. It felt as though she did not mean it, and it only made me grin at her.

    ¡°We will see, Chandria!¡±

    I grabbed her hand and dragged her. I heard herin, but I did not mind it all. Since we were here on the beach, I would make sure that we would both enjoy spending time together.

    We found an exquisite restaurant as we roamed around the beachside. We went inside so we could eat and drink some coffee. I craned my neck as I nced around the ce, hoping to find an avable table for two when a member of the staff approached us.

    ¡°Hi, there! Table for two, please,¡± I said politely and offered her a smile.

    Thedy looked like she was in her mid-twenties. She was wearing a reading ss, which she adjusted as she eyed me carefully. She did not smile back at me, and even though I noticed her grim expression, I still managed to keep a smile on my lips to be polite to her.

    ¡°Good afternoon. I would like to know if you made a reservation for today, please?¡±  she asked.

    I looked at Chandria who only shrugged at me. I looked back at thedy and slightly scratched my nape.

    ¡°We actually do not have any reservations. We are walk-in customers,¡± I replied softly.

    ¡°I am afraid we are currently not epting walk-in customers, Madame. Our customers can only dine in upon making a reservation, which should be done before twenty-four hours from the reserved date.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it possible to let us in only this time? We traveled from a far away city, and we would like to dine here to celebrate some great happenings in my life.¡±

    I didn¡¯t mean to be so pushy, but this restaurant caught our attention. This might have been the best restaurant we¡¯ve checked out here in this ce, and I could not pass up the chance to dine here with Chandria. I offered thedy a hopeful look, but she appeared to be tough enough to decline my request.

    ¡°Again, Madame, I apologize, but we are not epting walk-in customers. I have already made myself clear and please do not have me repeat the rules,¡± she responded, which made me gasp.

    She sounded so rude and emotionless. I looked at Chandria who seemed to notice thedy¡¯s behavior too, as she raised her eyebrow while looking at her.

    I clenched my jaw as I felt too embarrassed at the moment.

    ¡°I apologize, but I do not like your tone of voice. Is this how you interact with your customers?¡± Iined, a little annoyed.

    ¡°I already exined the rules, Madame. It is you who¡¯s making thingsplicated here,¡± she said and rolled her eyes.

    I could have sworn that my annoyance grew deeper at what she did. I did not want to be Karen at this point, but thisdy needs some proper customer service training.

    ¡°You¡¯re so rude!¡± I almost yelled, but I still managed to keep my emotions under control.

    I reminded myself that I was not Olivia Miller at the moment, and thus I had to act as Reese Jones-Maxwell, a prim and proper wife of the well-known Chase Maxwell.

    ¡°Keep your cool, Reese. I swear you do not want to humiliate yourself here. People will start talking about you and it might spread on social media,¡± Chandria softly mumbled through her gritted teeth as she tried to calm me down.

    I huffed in frustration and ran my fingers through my hair. She was right. I could not do something that would only cause people to talk about and make fun of me¡­ I could not afford to humiliate my husband.

    ¡°She did not mean to yell at you. We are sorry,¡± Chandria said to thedy.

    I swallowed hard and nodded. ¡°Yeah, I am sorry if I was a bit pushy, but I clearly understand now. I guess we have no other choice but to leave.¡±

    I heard Chandria sigh. She seemingly liked to dine here, if not for the restaurant¡¯s stupid rules.

    Why wouldn¡¯t they ept walk-in customers in the first ce? I could not see the sense in restricting people from dining here only because they did not have any reservations.

    If I ever started a business like this, I would never implement such a stupid policy. Every customer should be able to dine without any issues.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go?¡± I asked Chandria.

    ¡°As if we have any other choice?¡± She shook her head.

    ¡°Is there something wrong here?¡± A gravelly voice of a man asked.

    Chandria and I both looked at the man who came out of what seemed to be a manager¡¯s office.

    I could not help but look at him from head to toe. He had neat brown hair, a full-trimmed and groomed beard, brown skin, and a broad body. It was noticeable that he had a fit physique.

    Based on his clothes and the way he stood with the utmost confidence, I bet he was the manager or even the owner of this restaurant.

    ¡°Hailey, what is going on here?¡± he asked the staff.

    ¡°Sir, they didn¡¯t make any reservations, yet they insisted on dining in.¡± Thedy exined to the man who was standing next to her.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± he asked, then he casually walked towards us and introduced himself as the owner of the restaurant.

    ¡°My name is Matthew, the owner of this restaurant.  May I know the reason why you insist on dining in without a reservation?¡±

    ¡°We did not know that we needed to make a reservation before we could dine here. I just want to celebrate my admission to an international business school and also treat my sister-inw. But I understand that you have some strict policies here and we are leaving now,¡±  I exined and held Chandria¡¯s arm.

    ¡°You can dine here. No need to leave,dies,¡± the owner said which made my expression light up. ¡°Hailey, please prepare a table for them.¡±

    The staff seemed shocked that their boss somehow broke the rule. She nced at him and then at us with a confused look.

    ¡°Hailey.¡±

    ¡°G-Got it, Sir Matt¡­¡± She then nced back at us. ¡°Please follow me.¡±

    I fought the urge to giggle upon seeing the staff¡¯s reaction. I nced at Chandria who was grinning from ear to ear as she watched the staff, but when she nced at me, she suppressed it and raised her eyebrow at me.

    When we walked inside, I was amazed at the array of luxurious interiors of the ce. Beautiful flowers were hanging around each corner of the restaurant, some vintage pieces of vinyl, old cameras, a pile of books, a bicycle, and a retro painting of some famous actors from years ago.

    Then each corner was filled with transparent ss mirrors, which would allow us to see the beautiful beach outside. I also noticed that they had a hallway, and if we walked straight there, it would lead us to the alfresco dining area where we could enjoy the scenery and the salty fresh air.

    ¡°Miss, is there a spot avable outside?¡± I curiously asked as I would like for me and Chandria to experience the beautiful scenery while sipping a coffee from their alfresco.

    ¡°Sure thing, Madame.¡±

    ¡°What do you think, Chandria? Would you like to try their alfresco dining?¡± I asked her.

    I saw a glimpse of excitement through her eyes, but I guess she was fighting the urge to let it out given that we hadn¡¯t made up. Instead, she simply nodded.

    We were finally able to secure a table in the outside dining area of this restaurant. While we waited for our food, which I had already ordered for the two of us, I could smell the salty seawater from the beach nearby. The scenery was breathtaking and could give a person a feeling of being at home.

    The sun was about to set and had already reached the horizon.

    ¡°This ce is so cool! Do you like the breathtaking view, Chandria?¡± I asked her happily.

    She shrugged her shoulders, but I could really feel that she was only holding back her emotions and trying to pretend as if the entire ce did not impress her in any way. But I had a way of observing people and their feelings, and that included her.

    Whenever she nced sideways to hide her expression, I could see from the corner of her eyes that she was, indeed, astounded by what she was seeing in front of us.

    She even took a picture of it with her phone, which she kept hidden. I pretended to keep myself upied by checking my phone, allowing her to take it all in at her leisure while I stayed busy.

    I was too aware that she would likely be concerned aboutpromising the persona she let me see from the beginning. I thought that she was too bitchy and pure evil. However, when she called me earlier and scolded me for not going home, I came to realize that she was only concerned with her brother.

    Deep within her, she was also simr to Chase, who tends to admire someone¡¯s effort even without verbally expressing it.

    When the food was served, I could feel my stomach rumbling at the side of the pasta, pastries, and coffee. I was drooling!

    Chandria¡¯s face lit up too, and she could not take her gaze away from the food that was served on her te. In fact, she asked for permission to photograph the food before we started to eat.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    ¡°Come on, do it. You do not need to ask for my permission. It is kind of weird of you!¡± I giggled.

    She rolled her eyes, but then she took pictures of our food with a smile on her face.

    ¡°Should we take a picture of us, too?¡± I asked her carefully and offered her a thin smile.

    ¡°Sure¡­¡± She nodded and rolled her eyes again.

    I used my phone and took a picture of us. I yed wackily, and Chandria made a peace sign. I thought it was so adorable that I did not hesitate to send it to Chase.

    He then sent me a text message:

    From: Chase

    It seems like you two are having fun. I wonder if the world is ending and you two decided to hang out with each other.

    I could not help but giggle. I typed a reply to his text message:

    To: Chase

    I can confirm that your sister is innocent and isn¡¯t the person who sent me the death threat. We are still arguing at times though I could feel that we will be best of friends very soon!

    I was all smiles when I typed the message and sent it to Chase. I looked at Chandria, who was surely enjoying her food and coffee. The fact that we had an argument over the phone and at her school but ended up having a great time here at the beach made me feel the warmth inside my chest.

    It was as if I had finally gotten her approval to be with Chase, and all I felt was nothing but pure joy and peace.

 CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

    OLIVIA

    Who would have thought that I would have enjoyed spending my day with Chandria on the beach side? I was well aware that my day did not start off that good but I was d that I made a decision to pester Chase¡¯s younger sister. That little bitch seemed to have enjoyed spending her time with me too, although she did not tell me about it verbally because her pride was like a gold for her, I could feel that she did not regret ditching her ss for me.

    I was exhausted but still all smiles when I arrived home. I went to the living room as I heard some noises in there. There I saw Chase sittingfortably on the couch while reading some of his piled up paperworks which he took home with him. In the center table was hisptop and a cup of coffee on its side.

    ¡°Hello there, my dear husband,¡± I greeted him as I walked toward him, and then kissed him on his cheek. He smiled at me and urged me to sit. I settled myself on his side. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t finished this paperwork yet. I brought it here so I can still spend more time with you,¡± he responded with his husky yet sweet voice.

    ¡°So you want to spend more time with me while you work?¡± I raised a brow and gave him a teasing look.

    He chuckled a bit. ¡°Of course. I can always multi-task, my love¡­¡±

    When he leaned forward to kiss my lips, I automatically closed my eyes and felt the softness of his lips on mine. It was a quick kiss, yet enough for my heart to pound aggressively inside  my chest.

    I bit my lower lip, and then wrapped my arms around his nape.

    ¡°Have you eaten before you start working? Do you want to eat something?¡± I curiously asked.

    Knowing Chase, he was not much of a heavy meal eater. He could go to work even with only a few sips of his coffee and eat one slice of bread on a daily basis but I wanted him to eat more since he needed more energy for his work. After all, it wasn¡¯t easy to work as a CEO of theirpany.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten yet, baby. I want to get this done first,¡± he responded and turned his eyes back to his papers.

    ¡°Alright, I will cook you dinner for the two of us and then I will tell you what happened during my trip with Chandria,¡± I said with enthusiasm. ¡°You won¡¯t believe what happened earlier when I fetched her at her school. It was so funny!¡±

    I thought he would be excited to hear my stories about how I spent my day but he only said, ¡°No problem, my love. There are still papers here that I must review but I will make an effort to catch up with youter on. I don¡¯t really have the time to sit down and eat dinner. You can go ahead and eat your dinner once you are done cooking. I will try to go downstairs once I feel hungry.¡±

    I pouted my lips. Eating dinner would not even take an hour. Was he really so busy that he could not give himself a break so he could talk to his wife for a moment?

    ¡°Is that alright, baby?¡± he asked when he noticed that I did not respond to what he said.

    As if I had any other choice. I had to be understandable as his wife. That was also part of this pretense.

    ¡°Fine, I guess I can¡¯t really eat dinner with you tonight¡­¡± I said, trying to sound sad to see if he would change his mind.

    However, he did not respond and simply started typing paragraphs on hisptop. In the end, I only took a big breath and kissed him on the cheeks. That seemed to catch his attention because he nced my way and kissed me on the lips again.

    ¡°Thank you, my love¡­¡±  he uttered with a smile.

    ¡°Of course, baby.¡± I remarked and then I stood up to change clothes so that I could cook dinner.

    ***

    While I was in the kitchen, I had the realization that this could be the reality of being the housewife of a billionaire and a CEO of his ownpany. Of course, he would be extremely busy because, like his father Ernest Maxwell, he could not afford to stop working given that he had many employees who depend on him. His work was not as easy as other jobs out there whereas he could on a day break from his duties.

    I could not help but envy Chase as he already found his passion.

    ¡°How about you, Olivia?¡± I muttered under my breath, and then let out a long sigh.

    I wished I could also find my purpose in life. Admittedly, it was kind of scary to see myself chasing after money for the rest of my life. I wanted to do something with purpose. I wanted to try new things that would bring out the best in me.

    I wanted to free myself from being an impostor too, to live without the fear of getting caught¡­ I wondered when it would happen.

    I came back to reality when I took a glimpse at the pasta that I prepared. I let out a gasp when I saw that it had be overcooked.

    I winced at myself. Olivia, why aren¡¯t you focusing? What¡¯s wrong?

    I  huffed in frustration and finished preparing my food. I did not want to waste any food so even though the pasta became gooey and had an unpleasant taste, I still ate it.

    ¡°Better to finish it all¡­¡±  I said to myself. At first, I was a little bit sad that Chase did not join me for dinner, but the fact that I screwed up the food made me feel a bit relieved. Thest thing I wanted was for him to have a stomach issue.

    After finishing my dinner, I cleaned up the kitchen and turned off some lights on the first floor.

    I went to the living room to check on Chase. He was still there, working so hard.

    ¡°I will go upstairs to take a rest, Chase.¡± I walked toward him and sat next to him.

    He only nodded in response. His eyes were fixed on hisptop.

    ¡°You should have finished all this in your office,¡± I remarked.

    ¡°It just so happened that the lights weren¡¯t working in my home office. I am not sure why, but I already called someone toe and take a look at it. I hope it will get fixed by tomorrow. Can you please prioritize it tomorrow for me?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Of course. I can handle it.¡± Then I offered him a thin smile.

    Chase did not say anything after that short conversation we had about his home office. I was hoping he would ask me about how my day went but no. I decided to go upstairs and went to our bedroom to take a rest.

    I had to admit that it was a little depressing though. I knew to myself that I was only acting and I should not get attached with him in any way but since we got married, otherwise happened.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    I woke up the next day without Chase beside me in the bed. It was unusual for him to leave without me knowing. As I sat up from bed, I noticed that he left a note on the side table:

    Reese, I left early because I need to have a meeting with some of my new investors. I¡¯m sorry if I didn¡¯t wake you up. Don¡¯t forget to eat some breakfast. I cooked for you. Also, maintenance workers will being over to fix the lights in my home office. Please assist him. Have a great day ahead.

    ¡°You should have woken me up, Chase¡­¡± I uttered under my breath and ran my fingers through my hair.

    I got to my feet and started my daily routine. I felt bad that Chase just left without letting me know but I still tried to shove that feeling aside. I went to the kitchen and ate the breakfast that Chase had prepared for me while texting the people who would fix the light in his home office.

    It did not take a while for them to arrive. As soon as I heard the doorbell ring, I went to the main door and opened it.

    There I saw Mathias. He slightly lowered his head as a form of respect to me.

    ¡°Good morning, Madame. The maintenance workers who will fix the light fittings have already arrived,¡± he informed me politely.

    ¡°Sure. You can let them in now, Mathias.¡± I offered him a thin smile before he left.

    I saw the vehicle of the maintenance workers outside of the main gate. There were around five people who got out of the car.  When they set foot on the porch, I immediately greeted them.

    I let them in and escorted them inside Chase¡¯s home office.  One of the maintenance workers was their manager, who checked the lights and discussed a n with his employees. I simply watched them even though I had no idea about what they were talking about.

    Their manager looked like a man in his forties.  He walked toward me and spoke.

    ¡°It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs. Maxwell. My name is Keh Ford, and I would like to formally introduce myself.  I feel very privileged to have met Chase¡¯s caring wife,¡± he said which made me giggle a little.

    Hearing others refer to me as Chase¡¯s wife gave me a nice and fuzzy feeling on the inside. We talked for a moment to discuss what he was nning to do with the office lighting. I listened carefully and provided him permission to do anything they had to do in order for the lights to get fixed.

    It did not take long before they started working. I prepared some sandwiches and refreshers for them while they worked at Chase¡¯s office. After an hour, Keh informed me that they were done fixing everything. He also handed me a booklet that contained some information regarding theirpany.

    I let them have their snacks first and then they left afterward. I observed Chase¡¯s home office and I could really tell that I was impressed with how quickly they were able toplete their task.

    I even double checked the lights and was satisfied to find out that all them were in excellent operational condition. In case Chase had to bring his work over at home, he would be able to work here from now on.

    I smiled at that thought.

    I went to the living room, recalling that I put the booklet they had provided me before they left.

    ¡°Astonished Lighting Company, hmm¡­¡± I muttered under my breath as I read the front page.

    I could not deny that I got quite intrigued by thepanies and businesses that I came across on a daily basis as I would like to study how they operate and for me to know what business I would start up when the right timees.

    Starting from putting notes to knowing how they work with the help of an inte browser, I was getting the giz of the nature of their business and I was gaining some ideas at the same time.  So far, providing services was the first time I would like to have when I set up my own business.

    I was not sure what kind of business or service it would be but the thought that I would be able to help a lot of people or provide something to them made me more excited and determined. I just hoped I could move forward and advance this effort, so that I would be able to help Chase as well.

 CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

    OLIVIA

    DAYS PASSED so quickly and my first day of ss had arrived. I could have sworn that I could not wait to attend sses. Chase, who had been a supported husband, sent me to the university. While on the road, he offered me some advice: how to stay focused during ss, how to study and the likes. There was no doubt that he was truly excited and at the same time had high expectations of me.  With that, I could feel my emotions running so high. It fogged my brain, making it impossible to concentrate as to the other things he was saying to me.

    My excitement turned into anxiety that it made me want to go to the bathroom and vomit in the sink.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Chase asked worriedly, noticing my sudden silence on our way.

    ¡°I am. I think I am just excited and anxious at the same time¡­¡± I replied faintly and took a couple of deep breaths to calm my heart a bit.

    A couple of minutes passed and we arrived at Steinfied¡¯s University. Chase went out of the driver¡¯s seat and opened the door for the front seat for me. He chuckled when he saw me huffing and murmuring life reminders for myself.

    ¡°Come on, my love. You can do it. Do not overthink and just enjoy,¡± he said, cheering and then leaned down to kiss my cheek. ¡°I love you so much, and I hope you have a good time on your first day.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much, Chase¡­¡± I offered him a sweet smile and held his arm a bit.

    We both heard his phone ring. He immediately answered it and I nced at him while he talked over the phone.  I realized it was his father because I heard him calling the person on the other line as ¡®dad¡¯.

    ¡°Yeah, I will be there shortly¡­ I sent her to the university. It is her first day¡­ Alright¡­¡±

    Chase nced at me. I gave him a confused look when he handed him his phone.

    ¡°He wants to speak with you, Reese.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay!¡± I said and took the phone. I cleared my throat and spoke. ¡°Hi, dad.¡±

    ¡°Hi, Reese. How are you doing?¡± His voice was seemingly lively.

    ¡°I am doing great, dad. How are you?¡±

    ¡°I am doing fine, sweetheart. Chase told me that you will start attending school today. Are you excited?¡±

    I chuckled shyly. ¡°Yes, dad. Very much so¡­¡±

    ¡°Great. I had a friend who used to attend Steinfield¡¯s and he learned a lot during his two year of studying there. I am confident that you will be nurtured.¡±

    ¡°I hope so, dad. Thank you,¡± I sincerely said. He was the reason why I decided to take a business entrepreneurship ss as he helped me figure out what I would really want to do in my life.

    ¡°Make me proud, Reese. I am rooting for you¡­¡± he added, which made me stunned for a brief moment.

    His words were stuck in my mind. Those were the best words I had heard today, if not him mentioning Reese¡¯s name that made me a little bit downhearted.

    Was it too much if I hoped that one day the people around me would actually address me on my real name?  I bet it would have been more fine if he said, ¡°I am rooting for you, Olivia¡­¡±

    It was a mere thought, yet hurt so much.

    ¡°Have a great day, Reese.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, dad. Take care of yourself,¡± I said and bid my goodbye to Chase¡¯s father.

    He talked to him for a few seconds and then after that, the call ended.

    ¡°Make friends and do not be overwhelmed. Just be yourself, Reese,¡± Chase remarked in a sweet tone. He leaned down and kissed me on my forehead.  ¡°Call me on your breaks.¡±

    ¡°Sure thing, Chase. Be careful when you drive,¡± I said and smiled at him.

    ¡°I will. I love you.¡±

    ¡°I love you too¡­¡± I replied and sighed in relief.

    With a smile, he went into his car. I waved at him as I took a peek into the car¡¯s window. He chuckled a bit and mouthed, ¡°I love you,¡± once again. After that, he already went away.

    I huffed in and spun around to look at the university. It was undeniably enormous. It was as if a downtown city with open parks, museum buildings, cafes and library, and a slew of other beautiful ces that I wished I would have more time to exploreter on.

    ¡°Don¡¯t disappoint those who believe in you, Olivia¡­¡± I uttered to myself and then entered the main gate.

    While I was walking in the hallway, trying to find the correct ss. Suddenly, someone approached me by tapping my shoulder. When I turned to this person, I saw a familiar face of a woman who was smiling at me.

    ¡°Hello there! I¡¯m d to see you here!¡± she said.

    Her face looked very familiar. I thought I had seen her before, but I could not tell where exactly.

    ¡°It¡¯s me. The staff in the restaurant on the beach side, remember? You were thedy who brought her sister-inw to our restaurant even without a prior reservation, right? I am pretty sure it was you,¡± she added as she looked at me as she was scanning my face.

    My eyes widened when I realized that she was indeed the same person in the restaurant, let alone the nice girl who helped me during the enrollment period!

    ¡°Is this real? You were the one who helped me during the enrollment and the same girl who irritated me in that restaurant? Tell me you¡¯re kidding!¡± I blurted out in disbelief. ¡°My goodness! I didn¡¯t recognize you!¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t introduced myself properly. My name  is Hailey Mia Brown. My friends here call me Mia, and about what happened in the restaurant? I am truly sorry. It was my hormones who overtook me that time,¡± she said and offered me a thin smile.

    I inspected her from head to toe. ¡°You wear thick eyesses, and your style ispletely differentpared to your outfit in the restaurant. I thought they were two different women.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know I kinda look old-fashioned when I am at school. I get thatment a lot.¡± She then giggled.

    ¡°I cannot believe it! So, are you an employee or a student here at Steinfeld¡¯s?¡±

    ¡°Student.¡± She jerked her head. ¡°My father inspired me to be a sessful businesswoman and I want to follow the same path he¡¯d taken.¡±

    I recalled the man who intervened when we were having a heated conversation. ¡°Do you mean you are the daughter of the owner of that restaurant? Matthew, isn¡¯t it?¡±  I asked her curiously.

    ¡°Yes, Mathew Brown is my father, but I normally call him ¡®Sir¡¯ whenever we are at work.¡± She smiled.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± I said, nodding.

    ¡°Seems like we are in the same block,¡± she said as she checked my identification card.  ¡°We better get going because the first ss will begin in a few minutes.¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    She jerked her head and then started walking.

    So we were ssmates? Cool!

    ¡°Let¡¯s get going, Reese!¡± She turned to me when I didn¡¯t make any move.

    I came back to my senses and nodded.

    ¡°Sure thing!¡± Then I walked beside her.

    I fought the urge to ask her some questions however my smartass mouth could not be stopped at the time.

    ¡°Mia, right?¡± I asked.

    She gave me a nce. ¡°Yes, you can call me Mia, or Hailey. It¡¯s up to you¡­¡±

    ¡°I will call you Mia then,¡± I said and cleared my throat. ¡°You mentioned that you want to be a sessful business woman someday and you want to follow the same path your father had taken. May I know what inspired you toe with such a decision?¡± I asked out of curiosity.

    Simply by looking at her physiques, I could really tell that she was much younger than I was, and I could not help but be amazed that she already had the courage to pursue a business degree at her age. She was even working as a waiter at their restaurant.

    ¡°Well, my father started the business from the ground up. Currently, we already have twenty restaurants in the country and we are nning to extend our business internationally. We have begun operating in China, Singapore and Taiwan. I believe my father can¡¯t do this on his own so I want to make sure that our business will continue to grow. My father told me that I will be the one in charge of it in the future so I want to be ready to handle it so he won¡¯t regret his decision.¡±

    Her exnation surprised me for a bit. The fact that I heard all those things from a young woman truly amazed me.  Based on her appearance, I believe she was also just in mid-twenties, and might be younger than me. But despite that, she really looked like someone who was independent and can be reliable on business matters.

    On the other hand, all I knew was how to pole dance and perform in front of men. Business did not cross my mind even once when I was still working at the bar as my goal was to earn some cash to support myself.

    I chuckled as I recalled the memories I shared with Lara.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s funny? Does my exnation seem strange to you?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no! Please don¡¯t get me wrong. I just remembered something in the past.  You see, I really hadn¡¯t thought about starting a business until I got married.  All I did was to focus on how I can earn money quickly. But I hope everything willpletely change this year. I dream to be a sessful business woman too!¡± I eximed as I smiled at her.

    ¡°I see what you mean. By the way, how old are you?¡±

    As soon as she asked that question, I stepped back.

    ¡°Well, only if you don¡¯t mind telling me,¡± she went on to say.

    ¡°I prefer not to answer that!¡± I responded, and then gave her a harsh look beforeughing.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine. But you are also fairly young looking. That¡¯s why I asked.¡±

    I giggled and nodded. ¡°Well, you can say that I am young.¡±

    She then chuckled as we continued to walk our way through the hallway.

    I must admit that I felt so relieved to have someone like Mia to apany me. I knew for sure that it would be quite difficult for me to make friends here, given that most of the students here were all from the elite world.

    My eyes wandered around and I was astonished by the fact that there were some elderly students enrolled at this university too. There were foreigners on the elevator, and based on their appearance, I assumed they were from Europe or Asian countries.

    Group of students walked past us. The first group was dressed in suits and ties, while the second ones was dressed in crisp white polos, then there were folks who were dressed in in white shirts that were neatly tucked into their well-fitting pants.

    I could smell the exquisite perfumes that those gentlemen were wearing. I could not help but give them a second look. Admittedly, most of them were undeniably handsome too.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think there were a lot of hotties here, Mia?¡± I asked, nudging her arm with my elbow as I did so.

    She rolled her eyes and gazed at the group who just walked past us.

    ¡°Let me tell you this, Reese. Those men are not for the faint of heart; be careful whenever they are around. The only thing they have inmon is their desire for power and sess in life. They are simr to us in this regard but deep within, they despise the fact that women are studying at this university,¡± she remarked in a low tone of voice.

    She sounded so bitter when she said those that it actually gave me an impression that someone among that group probably hurt her. Perhaps an ex-boyfriend? Who knows? Or maybe I was wrong to think something like that about her.

    When we got to the third floor of the building, we were greeted by another long hallway. I simply followed her till we reached our ssroom. As soon as we walked through the door, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to us. They were all well seated.

    It was hard to engage with them since they were dressed so professionally, whereas I was simply wearing a simple blouse and jeans and Mia was dressed in a sweater and in what appeared to be pajama-like bottoms. We were like siblings who didn¡¯t belong in a world full of fashion.

    ¡°Please take your seat,¡±  I noticed an elderlydy sitting at the desk on the front tform, checking papers. ¡°I said, take a seat!¡±

    I came back to my senses as I did not expect her to yell. Mia and I nced at each other and decided to move. We chose to sit at the back but we heard the professor speak again.

    ¡°Both of you, sit here in front!¡±

    I winced at her terrifying tone. But then she started giggling.

    ¡°I am just kidding. I won¡¯t bite you, so don¡¯t be frightened and sit over here!¡±

    Everyone in the ss burst outughing. In embarrassment, I scratched my head as everyone stared at us. I offered them a shy smile and as my eyes roamed around, a man sitting at the back row caught my attention.  He was tall, had a white skin and blonde hair and I admit that he was kind of cute with his thin eyesses. He was smirking as he looked at me.

    What was he smirking at?

    I suppressed my smile and rolled my eyes at him.

    Mia tugged me, motioning me to join her to sit on the front row.  I nodded and walked with her, then when we were both seated, I leaned forward and whispered, ¡°Our professor was frightening, wasn¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°I can hear that!¡± the professor eximed, which took me by surprise. I could have sworn I froze in my seat. I only calmed down when she chuckled. ¡°Once again, I am just kidding.¡±

    Our ssmatesughed once again and I could only lower my head because of the embarrassment.

    ¡°I am sorry if I was trying to intimidate you. I am just trying to lighten up the mood of everyone, since it¡¯s the first day of ss. Seems like everyone enjoyed it, huh?¡±

    Some of our ssmates agreed,ughing.

    At the back of my head, I was asking myself if this was really how the first day of ss should look like. I wasn¡¯t able to attend college, and this situation was totally new to me.

    Just yesterday, I imagined myself introducing myself as Reese Jones-Maxwell to them in a sophisticated and refined manner, but instead, I became an instantughing stock or more like a clown among my ssmates and professor.

    ¡°Way to go, Liv¡­¡± I said quietly as I thought about it.

    The professor then rose to her feet and addressed the ss as if she was one of the students as well, which was acknowledged by the entire ss positively.

    ¡°She¡¯s not a real professor. She was simply ying a practical joke on everyone,¡± one of my ssmates who was seated on the back murmured enough for me to hear.

    ¡°What?¡± I asked, astounded, leaping out of my seat in surprise. ¡°I really thought she was a terror professor.¡±

    ¡°Calm down! Some of us were also pranked,¡± another ssmate said from the back.

    ¡°I came here to study, and I don¡¯t want to be pranked by anyone!¡± I responded, voice was a bit annoyed.

    My frustration caused the entire ss to fall silent. I looked around and noticed they were all looking at me. I then noticed some of them truly had an intimidating aura. Some of the girls were wearing neat ponytails; their hair was done neatly while some were wearing nice dress shoes and pumps. Others were dressed elegantly in ck zers, nice jewelry, and dresses.

    I came to my senses when my attitude as Olivia Marie Miller¨C my real identity¨C came out as in front of them, rather than the Reese Jones-Maxwell that I was attempting to portray to the rest of the world.

    I sighed and only sat properly, feeling crushed.

    ¡°It is our first day so let¡¯s all take it easy and enjoy ourselves. Once we met our actual professor, we¡¯d miss having all of this free time,¡± the fake professor said, a smirk on her face as she spoke.

    She then walked towards my desk. ¡°My name is Rose Josephine, and I would like  to introduce myself to you. You are Reese Jones-Maxwell, is that correct?¡± she asked.

    I blinked several times as my forehead wrinkled.

    What does she want?

 CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

    OLIVIA

    This woman, whose name was Rose Josephine, stared at me intently. Her perfectly plucked eyebrows were raised and her lips curled up in a smirk. Her entire aura seemed to radiate fierceness, angst, and sophistication. The fact that she pretended to be our professor pissed me off, but soon enough, after her identity was revealed, all I felt was curiosity about her.

    She looked at me as if I was a thorn in her favorite flower.

    ¡°How did you know my name?¡± I asked. My brows wrinkled as I stared back at her.

    She chuckled a bit and then looked down at my chest.  I followed her gaze and realized that she was looking at my identification card.

    ¡°It¡¯s indicated on your ID card, Missy.¡± She sat on my desk, and it made me frown. I leaned my back against the backrest of my seat and looked at her. ¡°Maxwell. Did you know that yourst name is very well known? I can¡¯t help but assume that you are somehow rted to Chase Maxwell, the famous, gorgeous, and enigmatic young billionaire,¡± she added, her tone sounding very curious about me.

    Our ssmates were all silent. They only watched us from their seats. This woman seemed to be leading the entire ss. No one was trying to go against her will. Even though she had already pretended to be the ss professor to scare the shit out of me and Mia, no one dared to call her out.

    But she mentioned Chase¡¯s name, and that made me more drawn to her.  The way she talked, it gave me the impression that she was not aware that I was Chase¡¯s wife. It was kind of odd, though. I assumed that most people were already aware of my status as his wife.

    Was this woman not watching the news or reading news articles?

    ¡°Actually, I am Chase Maxwell¡¯s wife¡­¡± I said, mustering all the courage to let her know of my identity, even though I knew it was not even necessary for me to introduce myself as Chase¡¯s wife, as my goal was to create my own identity here at this university.

    I noticed how her eyes widened in disbelief. All of a sudden, her expression changed. She waspletely speechless as she stared at me. I held my breath when she leaned forward to have a closer look at me.

    ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± she inquired. She fought some kind of emotion  that wanted toe out of her, but then she was unable to do so. She burst intoughter.

    She stood up as she shook her head. Her eyes looked around as if she was trying to get our ssmates¡¯ attention and see whoughed at my statement.

    ¡°I am not really watching the news, I apologize!¡± she added. ¡°But I am curious how the hell Chase settled with a woman like you in the first ce. What happened that led him to marry you?¡±

    I gasped. I could not believe I just heard those words from her. What was she trying to say?

    ¡°I am going to verify whether you are telling the truth or not. But regardless, I just find it ridiculous!¡± She shook her head, crossing her arms against her chest. ¡°Reese Jones¡­ So you were that woman who left him days before the wedding? Your disappearance was reported in the media.¡±

    My chest tightened upon hearing all those things she stated. I was unable to react. All I did was to remain still in my ce. I wanted to defend myself, but I did not have the slightest idea how. I could not speak for the real Reese Jones when it came to that unwanted event that happened in the past. Only she could tell the reason why she abandoned Chase before their supposed wedding.

    God was the only one who knew what happened to her, and I was certain that it had nothing to do with my current situation. Everyone has moved on already! And this woman, who came out of nowhere, suddenly brought it up as if it was a good topic tough at. She spoke so highly of herself!N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    She did not even have a great deal of familiarity with Reese Jones. Despite the fact that I had no personal knowledge of Reese Jones, one thing was certain: Chase was madly in love with her, and no one had the right to judge her except him.

    ¡°You are bringing up the past that has been long forgotten, Missy. What really counts right now is the fact that Chase is sincerely in love with me, his one and only wife. And to tell you what? My husband and I, as well as our families, have moved on from that controversy you mentioned.¡± I offered her a sweet fake smile.  ¡°I am curious as to why you brought it up in the first ce. Do you like my husband?¡±

    Her expression instantly radiated anger. I smirked inwardly. So, she humiliated me because she had a thing for my husband?

    ¡°I am sorry, but whatever you do or say, you cannot have him because he is already married to me. We got married because we love each other. The charismatic young billionaire you are referring to is mine, Josephine Rose.¡±  I said to piss her more. ¡°By the way, you look so intelligent and sessful in your field of business, but I was disappointed to see your rotten behavior on the first day of ss. Isn¡¯t this university supposed to admit students with outstanding business and personalities?¡±

    She looked at me as if she wanted to tear my flesh apart. I offered her a sarcastic smile before I rolled my eyes. She was wrong to try to bitch at me. I may not have a single idea about Reese Jones, but I could always showcase the bitchiness of Olivia Marie Miller.

    Josephine Rose looked very annoyed. I thought she was going to talk back or even initiate a cat fight, but much to my surprise, she stormed toward her seat instead.

    ¡°Serves her right.¡± Mia murmured, and then she giggled.

    ***

    After the first ss, most of my ssmates praised me for standing up against Rose Josephine. I really thought she was kind of leading the ss, but apparently, she was some sort of bully who made fun of every new student in the ss.

    ¡°You did a great job, Maxwell. That is something I did not anticipate.¡± Someone tapped me on my shoulder as he said those words. When I took a quick look by checking over my shoulder, it was that blonde man. He smirked at me.

    My eyes narrowed as I looked at him. For some unknown reason, he looked amused. I did not respond to him as I could not find the will to interact with someone like him. His entire aura screamed trouble and I hated to associate myself with it.

    He grinned more when I did not react. He simply walked past me and Mia, and all I did was follow him with my own gaze as he walked out of the room.

    ¡°Who is he?¡± I asked Mia, though I was not that curious about him.

    I guess I needed to know who he was so I could distance myself from him whenever I heard his name or felt his presence.

    ¡°Oh, that man?¡± Mia adjusted her eyesses. ¡°You have to be so cautious with that man, Reese.  He is the notorious casanova of this school. Believe me, he aced the art of breaking women¡¯s hearts more than passing the majors. He is that cruel.¡±

    ¡°I see. I don¡¯t like the way he stares at me.¡±

    Mia looked around, and then she leaned closer to me enough for her to whisper in my ear. ¡°That man is dangerous. He has seduced married women in the past. If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t interact with him.¡±

    I chuckled a bit. There was no way I would associate myself with that kind of guy. I was already married to the hottest billionaire in town. Admittedly, that blonde guy had attractive features and was quite intriguing. A predator whose prey would not have the strength to run, but rather would fall for his seductive charm.

    But that was all.

    He could not match Chase¡¯s great personality¡­

    ¡°And what is he doing here? Studying or hunting girls?¡±

    That was supposed to be a joke, but Mia started spoon feeding me information about that guy that I was not interested in.

    ¡°His family was one of the shareholders of this university for so many years. He runs apany, a chain of hotels and casinos to be exact. He was a famous womanizer in the underground economy. I don¡¯t really know why he¡¯s studying here, but it doesn¡¯t seem like he wants to learn more about how to operate a business because he¡¯s clearly good at it. In my opinion, his motivations are simply to have fun and locate some prey.¡± Mia sighed and looked at me warily. ¡°That¡¯s why you have to be careful, Reese. It seems to be that you got his attention. Do not ever fall for any of his traps.¡±

    I smirked at what Mia said. That man would not be able to y with me. If he thought I was prey he could easily seduce using his charms, he was clearly mistaken. Olivia Marie Miller was not born to have such a weak attitude.

    ¡°And what is this notorious man¡¯s name?¡± I asked, raising one eyebrow at Mia.

    ¡°Are you getting intrigued by him?¡± Mia asked, her tone was suspicious.

    ¡°Oh, please¡­¡± I rolled my eyes and tapped her shoulder. ¡°You have nothing to worry about. I am not going to let my guard down. Besides, I need to know who my enemy is¡­¡± I assured her as her expression looked very concerned.

    ¡°Charles Brent. That is the name of the casanova you have to stay away from,¡± she uttered softly.

    I nodded. She looked around once again, seemingly overly conscious that people might be hearing us talking about Charles Brent. My eyes could not help but narrow when I noticed how her cheeks flushed. She licked and bit her lower lip and cleared her throat. Her bodynguage was too obvious.

    ¡°Do you have a thing for Charles Brent, Mia? Are you perhaps attracted to him?¡± I asked. I didn¡¯t mean to sound as if I was teasing her, but my tone came off that way.

    She was bewildered, to the point that she nearly fell off her chair.  Iughed so hard that she only hit my arm.

    ¡°You do like him, I see¡­¡±

    ¡°Lower your voice, Reese!¡± she said through her gritted teeth.

    ¡°Fine!¡± I giggled as I shook my head.

    ***

    All four sses went well today. Nothing too serious or nerve wracking had happened. I bet the professors were all trying to keep their cool during the first day and only had us introduce ourselves, set some proper expectations, and discuss the lesson they had to cover for the entire week.

    Mia was with me the entire day. I was so happy that we were blockmates. I mean, I was not sure if I could make any friends, and it was a good thing that she approached me.

    ¡°See you tomorrow, Reese,¡± she said as she waved her hand at me. Her driver was waiting outside, and she needed to get home quickly because she was going to help her father in their restaurant.

    ¡°See you! Take care!¡±

    I sent Mathias a text message, asking him to give me a few minutes. He was already in the parking lot, waiting for me to leave the campus, but I wanted to go to the library and borrow a book that was introduced by one of the professors earlier because I nned to do advanced reading.

    I went to the library and noticed that there were only a few students inside. I walked towards the librarian to ask whether the title of the book I needed to borrow was avable here. She advised me to go to the left part of the bookshelves, particrly the second tost shelf, as I could find the book there.

    ¡°Thank you!¡± I told the librarian and went to the corner she talked about.

    As I walked, I could smell the familiar scent of some limited edition books. The bookshelves that towered over me were filled with brand new books, and I bet the university spent thousands of dors on all the books sitting here.

    I wondered if a book cafe would be a hit with consumers¡­ That kind of business sounded like pure fun!

    When I reached the right shelf, my eyes checked each title, trying to find the one I was looking for. As I looked up, I realized that the book I needed to borrow was sitting on the top row of the shelf. I grabbed thedder and went upstairs to get the book, but I stopped midway when I heard some noises from the other side of the shelf.

    ¡°Ohhh¡­ Y-Yes¡­ Oh, my gosh¡­ that¡¯s so good¡­.¡±

    It was the soft moan of a woman.

    I instantly covered my mouth, realizing what was happening from the other side.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ faster¡­ right¡­ oh my god¡­ I am cumming, faster¡­ Charles¡­¡±

    My eyes widened as I heard a familiar name. I fought the urge to take a peek, but my curiosity overtook me.

    At the very corner of thest shelf, I saw a familiar body shape of a man banging a brte woman. His pants were slightly removed, making his ass visible.  Their every thrust was so rough and loud that I could hear their skin pping in my direction.

    ¡°Fuck¡­ Spread your legs wider, honey¡­¡± He groaned as he continued assaulting the woman¡¯s sex.

    ¡°Fill me, Charles¡­ Come on¡­ I am cumming¡­¡±

    ¡°Holy cow¡­¡± I uttered, loud enough for them to hear.

    The man immediately looked up and met my gaze.

    My cheeks flushed. I moved fast and descended to thedder, then ran away!

    That freakin¡¯ Charles Brent just had sex inside the library! What the hell? Didn¡¯t he have some kind of decency? Out of all ces, he chose to bang a woman in here?!

    I ran into the parking lot and when I saw the familiar car and Mathias, who was leaning on the side of it, I called his attention.

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go!¡± I said, panicking.

    ¡°Are you alright, Madame?¡± he asked worriedly.

    I hopped inside the passenger¡¯s seat and clutched my chest.

    ¡°Madame?¡± Mathias called me once again.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine! Let¡¯s go, please,¡± I said and palmed my face.

    Fuck¡­ What the hell did I just witness there?

 CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

    OLIVIA

    EVEN when I arrived home, I had trouble getting rid of that particr scene in my mind. I had to admit, I did not expect my first day of school to be so overwhelming, let alone witness one of my ssmates having sex inside the library. I mean, where did he get the audacity to do such things inside the university facility?

    Just by remembering it made my entire body feel so cringey. I winced a lot of times, and thinking that I would see him the next day made me want to ditch the ss¡­ I was well aware that I should not feel this way and that he should be the one who should be ashamed of what he did, but I felt like I was someone who got caught doing shameful things.

    Why were we ssmates, anyway?

    I palmed my face. I went to the bathroom and filled the tub with water. In this case, I hoped that a dip would actually help me get rid of it in my mind.

    I undressed myself and went into the bathtub, with the vinyl ying ssical music on the other side of the tub. I had a ss of red wine with me, and as the bubbles started embracing my skin, making me feel the coldness of the water, my body, as well as my mind, became a bit more rxed and clouded with only happy thoughts.

    All I had to think about was the good things.

    All I had to be grateful for was the fact that I made a friend on my first day at school¡­

    I took several deep breaths. It felt like I was in deep meditation when I heard my phone ring. I answered the call when I figured out it was Lara, and put it on loudspeaker so I could still talk to her even though I was taking a bath.

    ¡°What¡¯s up, my dearest aspiring entrepreneur?¡± she said, seemingly teasing me as sheughed as soon as she said it. ¡°How¡¯s school? Did you get bored in sses? I am so worried!¡±

    I fought the urge to roll my eyes at her statement. If Lara was only here, I would have hit her arms already.  Did she think I was the person who would easily get bored in sses? Was it really her impression of me? Azy ass woman?

    ¡°I am sorry to burst your bubble, Lara, but I actually had fun attending my sses. I met my professors and gained a new friend,¡± I said, my tone was proud and boastful.

    ¡°A new friend, huh?¡± Her tone sounded suspicious. ¡°Should I be worried about that? You are not thinking of recing me, are you?¡±

    Iughed. Shaking my head, I seemed to get the desire to tease her.

    ¡°Well, if you start ying nice with me from now on, I can still reconsider being friends with you!¡± I remarked  to tease her.

    ¡°Try me, Olivia.¡± I knew she was scoffing even though I wasn¡¯t seeing her face.  ¡°If you try to rece me, I will show you what hell really feels like!¡±

    We bothughed at her statement. For a moment, I thought Lara was really my savior.  She did save me from the unwanted thoughts that whirled around my head for so long.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s up? Anything exciting that happened today? Who¡¯s that new friend you are referring to?¡±

    ¡°Her name is Hailey Mia Brown. She was the woman who helped me during the enrolment and apparently the same staff at the restaurant that me and Chandria had visitedst week.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a cool woman¡­ like me.¡± She giggled and sighed. ¡°Are your ssmates kind and approachable? And oh! I bet you introduced yourself to every ss today!¡±

    I rolled my eyes. As if no one knew what was happening during the first day of ss.

    ¡°All of my professors look nice and cool. As for my ssmates, I haven¡¯t talked to most of them yet, but guess what? Someone tried to humiliate me earlier.¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°What?! Who dared do such things to you?¡± She sounded shocked and upset.

    ¡°Her name is Rose Josephine. She cannot believe that I am Chase¡¯s wife. But I shut her down, making her realize that I am not the woman she can easily mess with,¡± I added with a proud smile on my face.

    ¡°Whatever you did back there, I am proud of you! Do not ever let those spoiled elites trample you, girl. You are way better than their impressions of you!¡±

    ¡°I know! Thank you, Lara¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course! You know, I can¡¯t help but wish that I went to that university with you. I¡¯m worried that you will end up being bullied. Reese¡¯s reputation was not good after what she did to Chase, you know.¡±

    ¡°I can manage.¡± I bit my lower lip and shut my eyes. ¡°And if you are asking about a shocking event that happened on my first day, I think it was the moment when I saw a man having sex in the library.¡±

    ¡°What the fuck?! Did I just hear it right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± I opened my eyes and leaned both of my arms on the lip of the tub, burying my chin on them. ¡°That man is my ssmate. I can¡¯t believe he had the gut to do kinky things at school. I mean, they would have checked in at the hotel nearby.¡±

    Laraughed on the other line. She sounded as if someone was tickling her neck.

    ¡°That¡¯s hrious!¡± she eximed. ¡°Maybe they are looking for a thrill or something? Were they aware that you¡¯d seen them doing it?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, yes, that¡¯s why I am a bit problematic here. How can I face that man without getting embarrassed?¡±

    ¡°Why would you be embarrassed? Did you perhaps see his shaft or what?¡±

    ¡°No, but I saw his ass and how he banged his woman? Does it make a difference?¡± I said, my brows were furrowed.

    Lara burst intoughter. My lips formed a thin line as I looked at my phone. The way sheughed made me want to storm into her apartment and strangle her hair.

    ¡°I think those kinds of things are mon to some elite men. They couldn¡¯t care less where they would release their semens¡­¡±

    ¡°Chase isn¡¯t like that.¡±

    ¡°Whoa! I didn¡¯t say that Chase is included in ¡®some elite men¡¯ I am referring to!¡±

    ¡°I am just making sure!¡± I scoffed.

    She chuckled a bit. ¡°But I guess the next question is, that ssmate of yours, is he a hottie? Good-looking?¡±

    I recalled Charles Brent¡¯s face. ¡°A little bit, yeah¡­¡±

    ¡°A little bit?¡±

    ¡°You heard me, Lara!¡±

    Sheughed. ¡°Calm down! Anyway, there¡¯s nothing to be embarrassed about, okay? He should even apologize or something. Just act as if you didn¡¯t see anything. The less you talk, the less he gives you attention¡­ Unless, of course, you want him to pay attention to you-¡±

    ¡°FYI, I am not fucking interested in him, Lara.¡±

    ¡°I am not saying you are interested in him though!¡±

    I pressed my lips together. Shaking my head, all I could do was sigh. I was not trying to be so defensive, but it wasn¡¯t right for a married woman to be so bothered by another man¡¯s presence, and that was something I wanted to get rid of myself.

    That freaking Charles Brent was nothing but a pain in the ass¡­

    ¡°Just be yourself, Liv. You don¡¯t need to think of anything or anybody else except for yourself. Do you get me? You got this, girl, fighting!¡± She cheered me on.

    A smile escaped my lips. ¡°Fine. Thanks, Lara. I will have to take a shower now. Talk to you soon!¡±

    I took a shower after that phone call. After almost an hour, I went to bed to take a power nap. I was checking my phone when I received a text from Mia.

    From: Mia Brown

    Hey, Reese. Those things I shared with you about Charles, can you please keep it a secret?

    I sent her a reply, telling her that I would never tell anyone about those things she shared. After that, I took a nap and rested for a while.

    ***

    My eyes opened and the first thing I saw was the dimness of the bedroom. I shifted my position to check the clock on the side table. My eyes widened when I realized that it was already seven o¡¯clock in the evening.

    ¡°Oh, shit!¡± I muttered and forced myself to rise from the bed.

    Chase would be home around this time, and I hadn¡¯t prepared dinner for us!

    I quickly stormed out of the room and descended downstairs. When I entered the kitchen, I came to a halt when I saw the familiar back of the man, facing the stove while cooking. I inhaled and smelled the delicious scent of steak¡­

    Chase was still in his business suit and only wore an apron as he maneuvered in the kitchen. I leaned on the doorframe, crossing my arms against my chest as I watched him with a grin on my lips.

    He seemed so focused on what he was doing that he hadn¡¯t noticed my presence yet. I remained silent as I seized the moment.

    He was such a great view.

    I clicked my tongue.

    Then I caught his attention. He checked over his shoulders and our eyes met. His eyebrows raised, and he offered me a cocky grin.

    ¡°Enjoying the view from there?¡±

    I nodded as I licked my lower lip. ¡°You look so damn sexy in that apron, Chase.¡±

    He shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Another reason for me to think you¡¯re eye-rapingme.¡±

    ¡°Eye-raping is different from admiring you, my love,¡± I rified.

    I walked towards him and hugged him from behind. Chase then slightly turned around to kiss my forehead.

    ¡°I see you are cooking steak,¡± I said.

    He chuckled.  ¡°I¡¯m craving it. I will be done here in a few. You can prepare the tes and wait for the food to be served by your sexy chef.¡±

    I giggled like a kid, and then I nodded. ¡°If you say so, my sexy chef.¡±

    I walked to the cab and took tes from it and then prepared the table like what he told me to do.  While waiting for the steak to be ready, I went upstairs and washed my face. I bet I still have some morning stars in my eyes as the supposed nap I wanted became a four hour sleep. Dang!

    To make the dinner extra special, I changed clothes. I wore a red silky nightdress, put a pink gloss on my lips, and sprayed my favorite perfume on my neck.  I checked my reflection in the mirror and was quite satisfied with my overall physical frame.

    I went back to the dining room and saw Chase preparing the steaks already. When his gazended on me, I noticed how he licked and bit his lower lip while looking at me from head to toe. He then put the steak down. His arms went on both sides of his hips.

    Shaking his head, he said, ¡°Are you trying to tease me, my love?¡±

    I giggled and shook my head and acted innocent, biting my index finger nail.

    ¡°Now, that is really eye-raping¡­¡± Imented when I observed how he eyed me as if he nned to do something right here, right now.

    Chase narrowed his eyes. ¡°Such a temptress.¡±

    I walked to the table, my fingers tapping it slowly as I took my seat.

    ¡°I¡¯m hungry. The steak smells and looks delicious!¡± I said and pped my hands together. ¡°Thank you, Chef Chase!¡±

    He offered me a cockily smile.  ¡°Anything for you, my temptress.¡±

    He sat on the chair across from mine and started chopping my steak. While watching him, I could not suppress the smile on my lips.

    Chase was really dazzling.  The very reason why a lot of women were after him, even the women at the university¡­ even that Rose Josephine, whose existence did not matter to me.

    ¡°How¡¯s the first day of school, baby?¡± he asked when we started eating our dinner.

    ¡°It was, hmmm¡­¡± I paused, thinking of the right word I could use to describe the entire day without telling him some embarrassing events of it.  ¡°¡­ great I guess. I have a friend already. Her name is Mia!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! How about your ssmates? Are they cool?¡± he carefully asked.

    I nodded my head. I thought about not telling him about Rose Josephine and Charles, as I did not want him to worry anymore. I wanted him to feel that everything was okay at the university. In that way, I could also prevent him from intervening. I know that, knowing Chase, he could easily do something in every situation I was in, and I don¡¯t want that to happen right now.

    What I wanted is to establish my own name and make people think that I could move even without my husband¡¯s help and power.

    ¡°The professors are kind, too.  They are approachable and sessful in their own fields, so I am confident that I will learn a lot from them!¡± I shared it with him.

    Chase smiled at me and he seemed very happy to hear it all from me. He pursed his lips after that, and gave me a meaningful stare.

    ¡°Any men who want to hit on you there?¡±

    I shook my head and offered him an assuring nce.  ¡°No, I told my ssmates that I am already married.¡± Then I raised my left hand, where it had our wedding ring. ¡°This is the proof if, in any case, they won¡¯t believe me.¡±

    He chuckled and nodded his head.  ¡°That¡¯s my wife, yes¡­¡±

    ¡°So you don¡¯t have to worry about me, Chase. I assure you that my priority at that university is to study. That¡¯s all. Once I gain enough knowledge, I n to plot the business I want to start up.¡±

    ¡°And if you need my help, I am always here to lend a hand, alright?¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Chase! But this time, I want to do everything without your help. I want to try to stand up on my own and see where this determination will lead me.¡±

    ¡°You are really making me proud¡­¡±

    I winked at him.

    ¡°I can do more than making you proud,¡± I said as I wiped the side of my lips with a serviette as I already finished my food.

    His eyes grew darker, it was as if he was waiting for the real main course.

    I stood up and went to him, sitting on hisp and putting my arms around his neck.

    ¡°Do you want to be entertained?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Hmm, make me¡­¡± he said, his tone challenging me.

    I pinned my body closer to him, leaned down to kiss his soft lips. I felt his arm wrap around my waist. He kissed me back, and it was so passionate that it instantly clouded my mind.

    ¡°And for dessert¡­¡± I whispered in between our kisses, then released his lips. I stood up as I held his hand, gently dragging him up and caressing his behind. ¡°You can have me¡­¡±

 CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

    OLIVIA

    The next day,

    When I arrived at the university, the first person I saw was Mia, who waved her hand at me. She ran towards my direction and pulled me to the shed on the side of the pathway.

    ¡°Good morning, Reese!¡± She greeted me.

    ¡°Good morning, Mia!¡± I offered her a quick hug.

    ¡°Do you still remember what I texted you yesterday?¡± she asked, biting her lower lip.

    A chuckle escaped my mouth and then I nod, ¡°Please don¡¯t worry about those things you shared yesterday are safe with me.¡±

    She sighed out loud, and then when I grinned, all she did was roll her eyes at me. As I looked at her, the idea of ??giving her a makeover popped into my mind.

    Admittedly, Mia looked stunning without her eyesses. A beauty was hiding from them, which, in my opinion, had to be seen by everyone.

    I recalled that time when me and Chandria went to their restaurant, she wasn¡¯t wearing such thick eyesses, and she looked absolutely lovely with just a little makeup. How much more if shepletely removed the eyesses?

    ¡°Mia, I am wondering why you are trying so hard to look average when, in fact, you¡¯re so lovely, especially without those eyesses.¡± I could not help but share my thoughts with her as we headed into the hallway.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to look lovely, all because of a certain guy,¡± she said, and I looked at her with a confused expression.

    ¡°What?¡± Iughed.

    ¡°Well, I know that is ame reason, and you probably do not understand me, but that¡¯s the truth. ¡±

    ¡°Is it Charles?¡± I asked. Her cheeks flushed immediately, which confirmed my question. ¡°You see, that guy is the worst. So, I think I understand why you are not trying to undergo some makeover.¡±

    Mia nodded and slightly elbowed me. ¡°Don¡¯t mention his name in public. Every girl here worships him.¡±

    I nod. ¡°Alright, then I will give him a code name!¡± I remarked, which made us both chuckle.

    ¡°It has to be good, Reese!¡± she said, still giggling.

    ¡°But can you tell me what made you like that man? I mean, he¡¯s a Casanova here at the university, and that¡¯s not a good reputation,¡± I asked her.

    ¡°I am aware of his past. He became a Casanova because a certain girl that he liked previously did not like him back. That girl rejected him in public, and he¡¯s changed after that situation,¡± she expressed.

    ¡°He was rejected? Wow!¡± I reacted.

    She nodded and sighed.

    ¡°Yes, he used to be a gentleman, sweet and kind. We used to be childhood friends, and what I liked about him was the old version of him. It¡¯s just that things happened that changed him into the worst person he could ever be .¡± She offered me a thin smile.

    ¡°I see. Ipletely understand it now,¡± I said, then nodded. ¡°But I am curious. Do you have any ns to tell him about your feelings?¡±

    She immediately shook her head. ¡°No, I kind of like him, but it isn¡¯t that strong enough for me to confess to him. Hell no!¡±

    I nodded my head, but I was skeptical of her response.

    Afterwards, I shrugged my shoulders and stated, ¡°Alright, that¡¯s fine. But, if there is one thing, I would like you to do, it is to first change your wardrobe and appearance. You are so beautiful, Mia. You have to dress well for your age. Don¡¯t settle for clothes that make you look like a granny!¡±

    She chuckled and held her name. In the end, she only nods her head.

    ¡°Perfect,¡± I said, putting my arm around her shoulder.

    We were about to enter our ssroom when I saw the brte girl walking along with Charles Brent.

    I could feel the heat engulfing my cheeks when I recalled what I had witnessed back in the library. I contemted whether I should greet them or not, but they seemed not to have recognized me. They talked on the railing across from the ssroom.

    I then nced at Mia, debating whether or not I should tell her what happened yesterday in the library. But when the brte girl started crying, which drew our attention, I decided not to say a word about it.

    My mouth dropped when the brte girl knelt on the ground, grabbing his leg while begging him not to break up with her.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± I muttered to myself as I watched them.

    Mia watched them too,pletely frozen in her ce.

    I was appalled by the fact that the girl knelt in front of him, and he did not do anything to soothe her.

    He was seemingly trying to dump her after what they did inside the library¡­

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t do this, Charles. I am begging you!¡±

    ¡°Get off of me!¡± Charles shouted, shoving her arms aside, then stormed in our direction.

    He nced at me, and then smirked afterward.

    ¡°The ss will start soon. I bet it isn¡¯t the right time for you to be nosy.¡±

    Then he went inside, leaving us both dumbfounded in our ce.

    Rage went through me as I watched the brte girl cry on the ground. She was totally hurt that Charles just dumped her like that.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t right,¡± I said, then I went inside the ssroom and stormed into Charles¡¯ seat.

    Mia followed me, trying to drag my arm, but I did not even move a bit.

    ¡°Hey, is that really how you are going to treat your girlfriend?¡± I yelled at him.

    I could feel Mia reaching for the fabric of my blouse as if she were attempting to stop me from continuing.

    ¡°What do you want from me?¡± He asked, his tone sounding as if he was bored to death.

    ¡°Do you have a hearing problem? That girl from the outside is your girlfriend, right? What do you think gives you the right to treat her like trash?¡± I added, my chest moving up and down as I was totally upset by what he did. ¡°Just to remind you, just because you can easily get into the pants of every woman here, doesn¡¯t mean you have the right to hurt them whenever you want!¡±

    His brooding eyes darted at me, as if it was telling me I was in trouble this time.

    ¡°Mrs. Reese Jones-Maxwell, I don¡¯t get why you¡¯re so upset. For the record, she¡¯s not my girlfriend. I found her interesting a few days ago, and we hung out for a bit, but that¡¯s it. I told her I didn¡¯t have any feelings for her, but she insisted on keeping me in a rtionship. Isn¡¯t it so obsessive?¡± He said this before he stood up.

    ¡°Are you really out of your mind?¡± I asked in disbelief.

    I was bewildered to hear it all from him after seeing them having a steamy moment inside the library. Is that how he hangs out with girls? Bang them while drawing the line between them at the same time?

    He nced at me from head to toe.

    ¡°I must admit that you¡¯re quite stunning.¡± He leaned forward enough for him to reach my ear. ¡°I knew you saw us yesterday. We can also do thatter after ss.¡± He chuckled. ¡°I promise it will be fun and better¡­ And your husband will never know about it.¡± Then he stood up properly, offering me a wide smirk.

    What the hell did he just say?This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    I was about to punch him in the face, but I held back as I did not want to cause any trouble, and I still had some respect for Mia and their friendship.

    He only shook his head, turned his back on us, and walked away.

    ¡°Wow, what a piece of-¡± I groaned and fisted my hand.

    ¡°Reese, calm down.¡± Mia continued to grip my arm. ¡°Just don¡¯t mind him. He does that every week. Nothing is new.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe what an asshole he is, Mia!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I want to change him ¡­¡± she murmured loud enough for me to hear.

    ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about changing that son of a b-itch, let me handle it for you. I will take care of him and make sure he¡¯s going to taste his own medicine,¡± I said through my gritted teeth, which caused her to be puzzled.

    ¡°What are you going to do? Let¡¯s just leave him alone, alright? I¡¯m sorry if you¡¯re getting involved in this mess. Can¡¯t we just give him the attention he wants?¡± she stated.

    I shook my head. ¡°No, Mia . Men like him will never learn unless someone teaches him a lesson.¡±

    After saying it, I went to my seat andposed myself. Mia only followed me. She was about to say something, but the professor had already arrived, which quieted her instead.

    Damn him!

    I found it hard to concentrate in ss as I busied my mind withing up with a n on how to make Charles Brent fall on his knees and beg for forgiveness.

    I wanted him to sob uncontrobly and express regret for all of his mistakes. I understood he was rejected by the woman he liked, but that didn¡¯t give him the right to behave worse.

    And why was I even so bothered with him?

    I instantly remembered that I had my own problems that I needed to focus on.

    ¡°Reese, can you please read page forty-five of the book?¡± Our professor drew my attention to him.

    That made me eye him in surprise. I immediately checked my bag, and I winced as I didn¡¯t find the book inside of it.

    ¡°Wait, Mr. Smith, I just checked my bag and realized that I had forgotten to bring my book. I apologize for any inconvenience.¡± I lowered my head.

    Mia shared her book with me and then gave me a wide-eyed look. I cleared my throat and stood up. The professor simply had a look of disappointment on his face when I began reading aloud to the ss.

    ¡°Everyone, please study for your quiz tomorrow.¡± Then the professor looked at me. ¡°For you, Ms. Reese, I¡¯ll let this slide for the time being. But I want you to know that I personally know Ernest Maxwell, who happens to be the father of your husband. I admired that family so much. I came across your parents once, and I can tell they are good people. I sincerely hope you do not disappoint them.¡± In between furrowing his brows, he said those words.

    He then walked out of the room, and all I could do was let out a huge sigh.

 CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

    OLIVIA

    RIGHT AFTER the first ss, Mia and I went to the cafeteria to have some lunch. I feltpletely dismayed about what happened in the ss earlier. I should¡¯ve stayed in focus. It was embarrassing that the professor made suchments to me in front of my ssmates, and the fact that he was friends with Chase¡¯s father made it a little more overwhelming.

    What if he told Chase¡¯s father about what happened earlier?  I could not afford to disappoint Daddy Ernest. I mean, he was the one who inspired me to take a business course, and this was how I would behave at the university? It didn¡¯t look so cool at all.

    All I could do was sigh. I was well aware that my face was all grim right now as I yed with my pesto, but I could not find the will to shove my worries aside.

    ¡°Hey, are you alright? Are you still bothered about our professor¡¯s impression of you in the ss a while ago?¡± Mia asked worriedly as she ate her zed donut.

    ¡°He knows my husband¡¯s father. I cannot help it,¡± I said and shrugged. ¡°If only I stayed focused and brought my book with me.¡±

    I clicked my tongue. Thinking about how I forgot the book because Chase and I got so busy in bedst night made me wince. I should have made sure that my books were all inside my bag before giving him my entire attention.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so upset with yourself. It normally happens,¡± Mia assured me and offered me a thin smile. ¡°Just to be sure, I will call youter before I sleep, to remind you about putting all the necessary books in your bag.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a n.¡± I let out a sigh and chuckled a bit.

    ¡°Dig in. Come on, we only have around thirty minutes before the next ss,¡± she reminded me.

    I nodded and started eating while Mia busied herself on her tablet. She was reading a certain ebook about romance, which she shared with me a while ago. She looked so geeky, but I must admit that she was totally smart in ss. I wished I could be like her¡­

    I was almost done with my food when I noticed a familiar man approaching our table. My brows immediately furrowed at the sight of Charles, who was wearing a popr grin on his face, and getting all the attention of the women inside the cafeteria.

    When he winked at me, I could not help but roll my eyes.

    ¡°What¡¯s up,dies?¡± He greeted us, now standing just beside our table.

    Mia¡¯s cheeks flushed when she looked up at him, and then instantly looked away and murmured something which I did not hear. This girl, really.

    ¡°What do you want, ass-hole?¡± I asked straightforwardly.

    I sipped on my wintermelon milk tea and waited for him to answer. He then leaned both of his arms on the side of the table, making all his arm muscles flex a bit in his white t-shirt.

    I raised an eyebrow. Even though he was grinning from ear to ear, all I offered him was apletely grim expression.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to invite you this weekend. I¡¯ll be hosting a yacht party and inviting some celebrities too. It will be fun, especially if you¡¯de,¡± he said and bit his lower lip.¡±

    What the heck? Was he flirting with me right now? I bet he was aware that I was a married woman, and this was how he would behave?

    Mia was probably right¡­ This guy did not seem to give a damn if the woman he wanted to flirt with was married.

    I leaned my back against the backrest of my seat. Crossing my arms against my chest, I smirked at him.

    ¡°As far as I recall, we are not friends, not even merely acquaintances, so why would I go to that party?¡±

    ¡°Oh, shit. Are you ying hard to get right now, Mrs. Maxwell?¡± he teased and giggled yfully. ¡°Aren¡¯t you up for some fun?¡±

    ¡°I do, but I am quite picky when ites to people I want to befriend.¡± I shook my head. ¡°And I am afraid you are not on the short list¡­¡±

    He clicked his tongue, quite challenged.

    ¡°You are going to miss some fun if you reject my invitation. You see, I am trying to be friendly.¡± He then turned around and looked at the crowd, whose attention was drawn to us. ¡°Right, guys? Charles Brent is fucking friendly to everyone. Who¡¯s with me?¡±

    All I could do was roll my eyes when a basketball team from the other aisle of the cafeteria cheered for him. Even the women who were at their table did the same thing, making me realize how dumb they were for patronizing this notorious casanova. Why were they glorifying a total jerk? It didn¡¯t make any sense.

    An idea popped into my mind. I looked at Mia, narrowing my eyes as I knew she would benefit from this n I came up with.

    Charles turned to me, giving me a cocky grin.

    ¡°So? Are you going to the yacht party?¡± he asked again.

    I gave him a fake sweet smile. ¡°Alright, since you are persistent, I will go.¡±

    ¡°No one can really resist my of-¡±

    ¡°But in one condition¡­¡± I said.

    Charles¡¯s forehead creased. ¡°Cool, what is it?¡±

    ¡°Mia will go with me.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± He said in disbelief, and then his gaze finallynded on Mia, who lowered her head and became quite more ufortable now that Charles¡¯ attention was now on her. ¡°You want to tag nerdy Mia?¡±

    I nodded my head. ¡°Of course. I must bring my friend so my husband won¡¯t get worried about me. I am a married woman, Charles. You have to understand.¡±

    He then let out a sigh and nodded in defeat.

    ¡°I certainly got your point. Sure, you can bring Mia.¡± He then tapped Mia¡¯s head and winked at her.  ¡°See you there too, nerdy Mia.¡±

    Mia¡¯s face heated in shame. She wasn¡¯t able to talk, but all she did was nod her head. I fought the urge tough as I knew she would end up getting embarrassed, but she looked so cute.

    ¡°Then I guess, it¡¯s a deal. I will inform you about the address on Friday.¡±

    ¡°Sure, thanks!¡± I smiled fakely at Charles.

    He then went away. I rolled my eyes, shook my head and sipped on my drink again.

    ¡°What the heck are you thinking, Reese? Why would you tag me at that party?¡± she asked, seemingly paranoid as she breathed heavily. ¡°I can¡¯t go with you. I am not really socially friendly!¡±

    ¡°Hey, calm down!¡± I smirked. ¡°You have to go with me. I have a n.¡±

    ¡°What kind of n?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a secret for now¡­¡± Then I wiggled my eyebrows.

    ¡°Holy cow.¡± She clutched her chest. ¡°My heart is racing so fast!¡±

    Iughed a bit. She obviously likes him more than what she just told me. I just hope this n I came up with will work.

    I couldn¡¯t wait.

    ***

    MIA WAS totally nervous and curious about the n I mentioned to her when we were in the cafeteria. Even after our second ss, she did not stop nagging about it.

    I wished I could tell her right away, but I knew she would end up not going to that yacht party with me if I told her this early.

    ¡°You can say that this n has something to do with teaching your crush a lesson.¡± That was the only thing I mentioned to her.

    ¡°But I need to hear it in detail, Reese!¡± she demanded and held my arm.

    We were walking down the hallway, heading for the next ss. I fanned myself using my hand. The heat this afternoon was so intense that a few walks made me run out of breath already. I wiped the sweat on my forehead as we turned left to walk upstairs for the next floor.

    ¡°Come on, tell me, Reese!¡± She pushed my arm and shook it.

    For some reason, I instantly felt dizzy. I came to aplete halt and leaned on the wall beside me. My hand reached for my head. I swallowed hard, inhaled heavily, and fanned myself even more.

    ¡°Hey, are you alright?¡±

    Mia stopped too, as she checked on me.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m okay. It¡¯s just so hot that I¡¯m feeling so dizzy¡­¡± I said and nced at her to give her an assuring smile.

    But then, Mia¡¯s expression turned into aplete bewilderment. Her eyes widened, and the next thing I knew was that she took something from her pocket and immediately covered my nose.

    ¡°Goodness, Reese. Your nose is bleeding!¡± she said, panicking.

    My forehead creased.

    I touched my nose and felt a warm fluid that I first thought was just sweat oozing from my nostrils, but as I looked down at my hand, I saw blood stains from my fingers, which made me gasp.

    For instance, I felt a double pang of anxiety go through me.

    ¡°Reese, let¡¯s go to the clinic!¡± Mia grabbed my hand, and I supported myself so I would not fall.

    However, I was unable to respond to her. My heart was racing too fast. Then,ter on, I felt a sudden trembling in both of my feet followed by abdominal pains that made me feel sick to my stomach. It felt as if I was engulfed by the cold, and my entire body seemed to be going into aplete convulsion, which made me shut my eyes.

    My senses were crushing down on me, as if I were facing the end of the world.

    When I opened my eyes while enduring every unbearable feeling all at once, I noticed a swarm of small children around me. My eyes welled up with tears as I realized that these were the children I had been living with at the orphanage.

    ¡°I am seeing these things again¡­ no, not again please¡­¡± I said out loud, and I felt Mia¡¯s hands on my shoulders.

    ¡°Hang on Reese! Calm down and I will take you to the clinic!¡±  she said, panicking.

    Before I closed my eyes, I saw the caretaker of the orphanage smiling at me and saying familiar words that sent shivers all over me.

    ¡°Olivia, please don¡¯t go¡­¡± Then the happy smile on his face turned into a sad one. My chest tightened and I had difficulty breathing.

    I sucked in a breath, my eyes widening as the vivid memory of the past reyed in my head. My limbs felt like crushing, and all I could do was grab Mia¡¯s hand as my support, but I only ended up being engulfed by the familiar darkness¡­

    OLIVIA

    I WOKE up in a terrible nightmare.

    I saw myself when I was still a child living in the orphanage. My breath gasping for air, I then found myself lying in bed, my eyes staring at the white ceiling. ncing at the light fixtures gave me an idea that I was in the university clinic.

    I looked around and yelled Mia¡¯s name.

    ¡°Are you there, Mia?¡± I yelled in a hoarse voice. I cleared my throat and all I felt was its dryness.

    I then saw Charles beside me, sitting in a chair beside me, who seemed to have fallen asleep right there.

    He then opened his eyes and said, ¡°You¡¯re awake now, sleeping beauty! Why didn¡¯t you wake me up? You love the view from there, don¡¯t you?¡± he asked while giving me a wide grin.

    My forehead creased. What was he doing here?

    ¡°Where¡¯s Mia?¡± I asked firmly, and then checked if my phone was with me.

    I began panicking when I couldn¡¯t find it in my pocket. I then looked at Charles who was only watching me.

    ¡°Did someone get my phone? Where is it?¡±

    ¡°Mia¡¯s got your phone. I guess she was trying to call your parents,¡± he replied, and then shrugged his shoulders.

    I gasped and panicked, knowing Mia¡¯s got my phone. I immediately grabbed my bag, but then I got relieved for a few seconds when I saw that my personal phone was in my bag and was hidden in one of its secret pockets. It was a good thing that I separated my work and personal phones. In such a reckless act, I could not afford to reveal my true identity.

    ¡°You look like someone who¡¯s hiding something pretty big,¡± Charles said, which made my eyes widen. I nced at him, and he jerked his head as he looked at me, his expression was obviously intrigued.

    ¡°What? I am not hiding anything. Why are you saying strange things?¡± I replied, but my voice came off as defensive.

    He then smiled, and he leaned more towards my face.

    ¡°I know that you¡¯re hiding something, Reese Jones-Maxwell. I can read facial reactions and bodynguage. Whatever it is that you are trying to hide, I know for sure that, in the end, it will soone out,¡± he said and smirked.

    I rolled my eyes at him and scratched the back of my neck.

    ¡°Be careful of your allegations against me, Charles. I swear you would not want to start a war with me,¡± I said firmly, and that made him chuckle a bit.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just messing up with you. I¡¯m simply ying and I don¡¯t want to start any war, especially since you¡¯re a Maxwell.¡±

    I smirked at him and replied, ¡°Well, I am d to hear that.¡±

    The door swung open, and I saw Mia and Chase going into the room, which made my jaw drop a little. Charles¡¯s chuckle and smile were gone, and he went silent as he saw them walking towards my bed.

    ¡°Goodness, Reese! I am d you are already awake!¡± Mia eximed and hugged me.

    ¡°Mia, thanks for helping me¡­¡± I said and offered her a thin smile. Then I looked at Chase, whose attention was drawn to Charles.

    He stared at him confusedly, but the dark expression on his face was also visible.

    ¡°Chase, my love. You¡¯re here. I am sorry, I know you are supposed to be at work,¡± I said, trying to get his attention.

    Charles stood up from his seat. ¡°Nice to meet you, Chase Maxwell.¡±

    He extended his hand and offered a handshake, but Chase only gave him a nod and went straight to me.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Chase asked worriedly.

    I gave him a sweet smile and caressed his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I feel better now.¡±

    ¡°We are going to give you some privacy,¡± Mia said, and motioned for Charles to go out as well. She waved her hand goodbye and walked out of the room with thetter.

    I then turned my gaze back to Chase.

    ¡°Look, baby, I got a call from Mia. She said that you were terribly sick earlier. Are you sure that you want to go through all of this? You¡¯re getting tired, you don¡¯t have to push yourself,¡± he said while brushing my hair using his fingertips.

    I tried to hold out my tears when he engulfed me in a warm embrace.

    ¡°Baby, I know how hard it is to study and learn about business. I was like that before, but please reconsider. Maybe it¡¯s not your time, and I don¡¯t want to see you struggling like this. Itpletely affects your health,¡± he added, while whispering it into my ears while hugging me tightly.

    I embraced him back. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Chase. It probably has something to do with the hot weather, but I need to do this in order for me to prove my worth, especially with your father. I made a promise to him.¡±

    It reminded me of my sole goal: to prove to Mr. Ernest Maxwell that I was worthy of his son and to establish myself into something bigger. I don¡¯t want to live like a shadow for Chase. I don¡¯t want to be a in housewife. I need something that I could call my own.

    ¡°Your parents are so worried. They want us to visit them at the weekend or anytime we¡¯re not busy,¡± he said.

    I offered him a smile, then I nodded.

    ¡°Sure, Chase. We can do that. I miss my parents too¡­¡±

    He kissed my forehead, then went to my lips and kissed me tenderly. He told me he loves me, but for some reason, it saddened me to hear Reese¡¯s name next to his I love you¡¯s.

    Am I falling in love with Chase Maxwell?

    That question sent a sting in my chest.  I could not help but question myself. I only came back to my senses when we both heard a knock on the door and the doctor came in.

    ¡°How are you, Reese? Do you still have trouble breathing?¡± the doctor asked, ncing at me and Chase. ¡°My name is Eudora. I¡¯m a doctor at this university. Nice meeting the both of you.¡±

    ¡°Doc, how¡¯s my wife¡¯s condition? What exactly triggered her to faint earlier?¡± Chase asked, as he had already gone to the doctor.

    ¡°Her ssmate informed me that she had some issues breathing earlier and she passed out after seeing her blood. As I tried to evaluate the situation, I thought it would be best to see a professional.¡± Then the doctor looked at me. ¡°Have you taken any medications before regarding any anxiety disorder? Antidepressant?¡±

    I caught my breath and swallowed so hard. For a brief moment, I was scared to admit it and avoided her gaze.

    I did not want Chase to hear that he had a mentally ill wife.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine if you¡¯re ufortable answering it¡­¡± I gave her one fast nce and saw her attention directed at Chase. ¡°But one thing you need to do, Mr. Maxwell, is to have your wife see a professional psychiatrist,¡± she said.

    Chase looked so confused. His gazended on me, and I saw a glimpse of worry in his eyes. It doubled the fear inside my chest. I lowered my head and bit my lower lip.

    ¡°So, can I take her right now so we can go to the hospital to see a psychiatrist?¡± Chase asked the doctor, and I heard her agree with it.

    She then gave me a prescription. When I tried to get the prescription, Chase immediately grabbed it from the doctor.

    ¡°Let me handle it for her. I¡¯ll have this taken care of,¡± he said, then smiled at me.

    ¡°Those medications are only for today¡¯s situation, but in the long run she needs to seek medical advice from a psychiatrist. She can be excused for her next ss. I will send a letter to her professor.¡±

    I was then finally discharged from the clinic. I felt embarrassed. I was not hoping for Chase to find out that his wife has a mental condition.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Chase did not speak or ask me about my condition, but I knew that even though he was acting like he was okay, I could see in his eyes that he was upset and worried. I was tearing up inside me and I don¡¯t know why.

    ¡°Everything will be alright, baby, I¡¯ll take you to the nearby hospital. I personally knew the owner of that hospital. They¡¯re the best in terms of such conditions, and I know they could check on you and help. But for now, I want you to rx and don¡¯t think about your studies,¡± he said while assisting me outside of the clinic.

    As we walked to the hallway, we walked past the ssroom for my supposed third subject for today. I held the hem of Chase¡¯s business suit, which made him stop walking.

    ¡°That¡¯s my third ss.¡± I pointed to the ssroom. ¡°Can I speak to my professor for a minute?¡±

    ¡°Sure, let mee with you.¡±

    I nodded, and then we went straight to the ssroom. I knocked twice and carefully opened the door.  The professor was reading a book in ss, but was interrupted when he noticed our presence.

    ¡°Hi, Mr. Lively. My name¡¯s Reese Jones-Maxwell.¡± I walked towards him and felt Chase follow me from behind. ¡°I was supposed to join this ss today, but something happened that made me need to go to a nearby hospital. I want to formally excuse myself.  The university doctor informed me that she will send you a letter about my situation.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no. I hope you¡¯re feeling okay,¡± he said, then his gaze went to my husband.

    As if that was Chase¡¯s cue, he then extended his hand to my professor and introduced himself.

    ¡°My name is Chase Maxwell, Reese¡¯s husband. I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Lively.¡±

    I heard gasps from my ssmates, mostly from the girls. I turned to them and saw that they were astounded, stunned and excited to see my husband in the flesh. Mia was seated in thest row. She giggled and waved her hand at me.

    ¡°Gosh! Reese is so lucky to be married to Mr. Maxwell!¡±

    ¡°Chase Maxwell is so stunning in person!¡±

    ¡°I am curious how the hell Reese made him marry her! Chase is so damn hot!¡±

    Those were the murmurs I¡¯ve heard from some of the women, which made me roll my eyes inwardly.  I held Chase¡¯s arm, letting them see it so they could back off.

    ¡°My wife might need to take a break for a couple of days. I hope that will be fine with you, Mr. Lively.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Mr. Maxwell. There¡¯s nothing to be worried about, and I will look forward to seeing Mrs. Maxwell return to good health.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Mr. Lively.¡± I offered him a thin smile.

    We then left after that. We used an elevator to go to the ground floor. I noticed that the car was already parked in front of the building. Chase opened the door of his car and assisted me in going in. As soon as the car stepped outside of the university, my heartbeat went normal.

    ¡°I guess you are right. It could be hell, but I wouldn¡¯t be able to learn if I stayed in myfort zone,¡± I exined, which surprised him.

    ¡°I thought you only wanted the ¡°riches of Babylon¡± and didn¡¯t want to work so hard to get them. I could give it to you every single day especially since you¡¯re now my wife, I think that¡¯s pretty obvious, right?¡±

    His statements made me question myself again, whether or not this feeling that I have right now is already love towards this billionaire.

    Chase Maxwell was head over heels in love with Reese Jones¡­

    Why was I trying so hard to improve myself? Was I just doing this because I wanted him to love me as Olivia and not as Reese Jones? Am Ipeting with Reese right now? His money was the only thing that mattered, right?

    Lara was truly right from the start¡­ I might be in big trouble, if I ended up falling in love with him.

 CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

    OLIVIA

    ¡°MRS. MAXWELL, please make sure to take these medications religiously,¡± said the psychiatrist after handing me a prescription with a list of medications I have to take to treat my anxiety disorder.

    The psychiatrist eyed me as if she was trying to read my mind.  I was ufortable admitting that I had experienced so many panic attacks in the past months, knowing that Chase was seated beside me, listening to whatever we were talking about. I was torn between being honest and telling lies.

    This anxiety disorder was Olivia¡¯s problem after all. It wasn¡¯t Reese¡¯s.

    I licked my lower lip, and carefully took the prescription from her, trying to look away from her serious gaze. ¡°T-Thank you, Doctor Singh. I will take them religiously.¡±

    ¡°Great, and if you can also do dietary adjustment and exercise in the morning, it will help you ease your mind and minimize your body¡¯s responses to anxiety. I will see you after a week for a cognitive therapy session as per your husband¡¯s request.¡±

    I nced at Chase, who waspletely silent. He only nodded, confirming what the doctor had said just now. Doctor Singh provided additional advice and then after that, we left her office.

    I could not help but inhale sharply as we walked to the pharmacy. Chase¡¯s silence bothered me the most.  He was clearly bewildered to find out that I had an anxiety disorder, and I knew he was upset that I did not tell him.

    How could I? I bet Reese did not have the same disorder as mine, and I was aware that telling him would only mean I would put myself into trouble. I got it from when I was a child, in the orphanage to be exact, and this disorder has remained a constant reminder that my childhood was far beyond the worst, it was traumatic, and unbearable.

    I bought some of the medications I needed to take. One of them was familiar, as I had been taking it for a couple of years, thinking I would be treated by it alone.

    ¡°We can go,¡± I said carefully, and took a glimpse of Chase.

    His lips were pressed together and had formed a thin line. Brooding eyes looked down at me as if he had a lot of things to say but was only fighting the urge to spill them out. I swallowed hard and held his hand even though my heart was racing fast.

    ¡°I-I am so sorry if I did not tell you.¡± I finally said it, hoping somehow my apology would relieve the stress he had because of this.

    Our eyes locked. His expression finally softened, and then he let out a long sigh. Holding my hand and intertwining our fingers, he said, ¡°I am fucking upset to myself that I haven¡¯t noticed you going through such things, Reese.¡± I did not know you were going through a rough time.¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s fine, Chase-¡±

    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t, baby. The past weeks have been stressful, and I did not have any slight idea that you¡¯re suffering from anxiety. I should¡¯ve taken care of you way better, had I only known about this from the start.¡±

    Chase looked so upset, worried and regretful. My heart could not help but race more, to the point that my limbs were tightening. Seeing him worried about me made me feel a lot of emotions. It was as if I was on cloud nine. No one had ever worried about me and my anxiety disorder except for Lara before, and now I had Chase. I knew this was not the right time to feel happy, but I could not fight the smile that escaped my lips.

    ¡°Don¡¯t smile at me like that. I am worried about you,¡± he said, then his lips protruded.

    ¡°You make me flutter, I can¡¯t help it.¡± I squeezed his hand enough for me to assure him I waspletely fine. ¡°As long as my panic attacks do not happen every day, and for as long as I am taking my meds, I will be in good condition, Chase. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t easily be at ease, Reese. Please follow Doctor Singh¡¯s instructions. You will go to your weekly therapy and if I need to join you for morning exercises, I will do so.¡±

    I chuckled a bit and offered him a nod. ¡°For as long as you¡¯lle with me every week for the therapy, and yes, you can join me for the morning exercises.¡±

    ¡°Then that¡¯s a done deal.¡± He offered me a thin smile, put my hand all the way up to his lips, and kissed my knuckles. ¡°I am going to take care of you more, wife.¡±

    I smiled at him, trying to suppress the loud beating of my heart, then gave him a nod.

    We walked to the parking lot of the hospital, and from there, Mathias was patiently waiting for us. He opened the passenger seat soon after seeing us. I hopped in first, and Chase was seated beside me.

    I leaned my head on his shoulder with our hands still sped together. I shut my eyes when the car started moving. I felt Chase caressing my hair for a bit and giving me a kiss on the forehead.

    ¡°Too romantic¡­¡± I murmured.

    I heard him chuckle softly.  ¡°For you, yes.¡±

    ¡°I am sorry if I got you worried back at the university. I will be careful next time,¡± I said. I thought about bringing a small and portable fan with me in case I need to walk outside the ssroom during afternoons, I would be able to prevent getting a nosebleed.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright, Reese. We¡¯ll take care of your health together.¡±

    I nodded.

    Silence engulfed us for a few moments. I thought Chase had fallen asleep while I was leaning my head on my shoulder, but I was surprised by his sudden question.

    ¡°Are you friends with Charles Brent?¡± he asked curiously.

    I rose and looked at him.

    ¡°No,¡± I replied, with my brows furrowed.

    ¡°He has a bad reputation.¡± He looked at me intently. ¡°I mean, when ites to women.¡±

    ¡°I know. Mia told me about it and it¡¯s quite obvious that he is a casanova.¡±

    ¡°That man does not know the meaning of respect. He tries to flirt even with married women. Seeing him there made me a bit concerned about you,¡± he said in his serious deep tone.

    I raised one eyebrow. ¡°Are you saying that he might try to flirt with me and steal me away from you?¡±

    He jerked his head, at the same time rolling his eyes when he saw I was about to burst intoughter.

    ¡°Like I said, he doesn¡¯t hesitate to flirt with married women, and apparently, you are a married woman¡­¡± He then cleared his throat. ¡°I just don¡¯t like that man to be near you.¡±

    ¡°I can smell jealousy here,¡± I joked as I bit my lower lip.

    ¡°I am not jealous¡­ yet.¡± He sighed.  ¡°But I am notfortable seeing you with him. If it isn¡¯t too much to ask, can you stay away from him?¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°Okay,¡± I replied, nodding at him. ¡°I don¡¯t like his attitude, anyway. To be honest, I was quite surprised that he was with me in the clinic earlier. But you have nothing to worry about, I won¡¯t give him even the tiniest of my attention.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said.

    I leaned my head into his shoulder again, let out a sigh of relief, and closed my eyes for a bit.

    ***

    AT HOME,

    Just before we had our dinner, I worked on a couple of homework assignments our professors had given us and which had to be submitted once I got back. Chase nagged about not doing it right now andpletely taking a rest, but I refused to do so. I felt better now, so I did not allow any excuses to prevent me from doing my studies.

    After working on my homework, I also reviewed my notes to ensure that I wouldn¡¯t forget what had been discussed during the 2 sses I attended today. Mia sent me some notes for the third ss too, which was a great help for me not to miss anything at school after I fainted.

    ¡°Look at you, Olivia. You are getting so productive,¡± I said to myself, giving my shoulder a pat.

    I looked at myself in the mirror and decided to tie my messy hair. Chase was the one who prepared dinner for this night, and it had been two hours since he went downstairs to maneuver in the kitchen.

    I went there to check on him. I saw him dressing up the roasted chicken he prepared, putting some green leaves on it to make it more appealing. I sniffed and smelled the familiar scent of egg soup, making my stomach rumble.

    ¡°There you are. Done with the homework?¡± he asked when I walked towards him.

    ¡°All done, Mister!¡± Then I looked at the food. ¡°This chef doesn¡¯t fail to impress me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m good at, impressing you.¡± He gave me a cocky smile, and I just rolled my eyes. ¡°Go prepare the tes in the dining room. I will have this served in a few.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to dress the te that much, baby. We are going to eat it anyway,¡± Imented, but he only clicked his tongue.

    ¡°Just leave this thing with your chef,¡± he said and winked at me.

    We had dinner, and after that, Chase went to the swimming pool as he wanted to have a dip. I nned on joining him, so I wore a yellow two piece and brought some towels with me that we could use.

    Chase was swimming like an athlete. With every sway of his arm in the water, his muscles flexed perfectly. The night wasn¡¯t that chilly, and I could see the stars in the sky. It was, indeed, a perfect night to go for a swim.  I put the towels down and went to the side of the pool and dipped my feet under the water.  It brought me a rxing feeling, and I could not help but y with it, sshing water all over as I kicked my feet under.

    ¡°Look who¡¯s here,¡± said Chase, who swam towards me.  ¡°Swim with me, jump down.¡±

    I shook my head and swallowed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I can still swim. I am notfortable going to the deeper part of the pool.¡±

    ¡°I know, don¡¯t worry, I will hold you. Come¡­¡±  He extended his arms, looking forward to me jumping into the water.

    I chuckled and nodded in the end, and joined him.  The coldness of the water instantly engulfed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, making sure that I would not easily drown.

    ¡°Do you feel okay now?¡± he asked, and I simply nodded and gave him a smile.

    ¡°Yes, my love. This is great, very rxing,¡± I said while still embracing him in the cold water.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since thest time we took a dip together,¡± he said, pulling me closer to him.

    I couldn¡¯t help but stare at his beautiful eyes.

    ¡°Mine¡­¡± he murmured as he stared at me.

    ¡°I¡¯m all yours, Chase,¡± I said in my low tone of voice.

    He then kissed my lips so tenderly that it made me shiver. I kissed him back, tasting the warmth of his mouth.  His hands traveled from my hips down to my bottom. I could not help but smirk when I felt him pulling down my high-waisted bikini bottom.  He then squeezed my behind as he bit my lower lip. Heat and sensation went through me when I felt his shaft brushing into my thighs,pletely turning me on.

    He continued kissing me passionately on the water, and I was catching my breath while I was embracing him. I could feel his body bing warmer than before, and the cold water didn¡¯t feel cold anymore.

    I said in hushed tones, ¡°I love you, Chase. I love you so much. You¡¯re the best thing that happened to me.¡±

    He kissed my neck, and the next thing that happened shocked me, as he had already slid his shaft into my sex.

    I embraced him tightly and cried out because of the pain. I bit his shoulders, causing him to groan.

    ¡°That hurts so much,¡± he said, and that made meugh.

    ¡°That¡¯s my love bite,¡± I said with glee, but I closed my eyes as he got deeper inside of my sex.

    ¡°Alright, baby, let me pour all of this inside you. How many kids do you want?¡± He jokingly asked, then pounded my sex so hard that it made my body numb in the water.  My feet felt numb as he aggressively thrust his waist towards my sex.

    ¡°Don¡¯t stop, Chase, I¡¯m going insane. Ugh, fuck, Chase,e on, baby!¡± I moaned and I thrust  to wee his shaft¡¯s attack even more.

    ¡°I want more of this. Your sex is driving me crazy,¡± he said.

    Those words made me bite my lower lip.

    ¡°F-uck, make me your slut, Chase¡­¡± I groaned as he approached my sweet spot. My eyes were weeping with pain and pleasure at the same time. ¡°Here it goes¡­ don¡¯t stop¡­ Chase, ugh, fuck¡­ I¡¯m your f-ucking sl-ut! Shi-t, you¡¯re so fucking great at this!¡± I said out loud and cried.

    When I cummed, I yelled and groaned so loudly that I could feel him pouring everything inside of my sex.

    ¡°That was good, baby.¡±

    He kissed my forehead, and I caught my breath and clung onto him.

 CHAPTER FIFTY

    OLIVIA

    THE NIGHT felt surreal.  After that steamy moment we had in the swimming pool, Chase and I yed as if we were kids enjoying the cold water under the night sky. For a brief moment, I forgot the stressful happenings I had encountered earlier in the day. All the worries and anxieties that whirled around in my head instantly faded away now that Chase was with me.

    He was like my happy pill, I must admit. When everything seemed difficult, like a gray sky giving me such heavy feelings within my chest, a simple smile from him would make it all different. The gray sky would turn blue, and my worries would turn into assurance.

    ¡°I am happy to be your wife, Chase,¡± I whispered sincerely into his ears when he carried me as we walked into the living room.

    My heart raced so fast as I said those words I¡¯ve been meaning to tell him. Not because I was pretending to be Reese Jones, but because it was how Olivia Marie Miller truly felt at this moment.

    I swallowed so hard when I met his gaze. His oceanic eyes spoke a lot of emotions: hope, contentment, happiness, andstly, love¡­ Those were the emotions he felt for Reese Jones, the lies I made up, which I knew I could never pretend to be for the rest of my life.

    ¡°You made me the happiest man alive when you married me, Reese,¡± he said as he came to aplete halt. ¡°You¡¯vepleted my life and I cannot ask for more.¡±

    I offered him a thin smile, but deep within I knew my heart was being torn apart because those words were not meant for me, for Olivia Marie Miller, but for the true love of his life, Reese. That missing woman, whose reason for leaving Chase was unknown. I¡¯m envious of her¡­

    ¡°Youpleted my life too, baby. You have to know that,¡± I replied.

    When he leaned forward to give me a soft kiss on my lips, my eyes went teary, but before hot tears could flow down my cheeks, I blinked them all away.

    Chase smiled as he released my lips. ¡°We better sleep now.  You should not be staying upte, wife.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s the reason why I am staying upte?¡± I teased him.

    He rolled his eyes.  ¡°Making love with my wife before I sleep is really healthy. Don¡¯t worry, we will do it way early next time, so we won¡¯t have to stay upte.¡±

    ¡°Whatever, Chase.¡± I chuckled a bit.

    He chuckled too and nted a soft kiss on my forehead before we walked upstairs to our bedroom.

    ***

    I DID not attend the sses the next day. Even though I wanted to, Chase did not allow me to, telling me I needed to rest for a couple of days after what happened yesterday, despite the assurance I gave him that I was feeling better now.

    Chase had to go to work early, but before he left me, he made sure that breakfast was already served in bed, along with some meds I had to take in the morning, which, in my opinion, was so sweet of him.

    ¡°What?!¡± Lara¡¯s eyes widened after I told her about what happened yesterday. I called and asked her toe visit me. I¡¯d be crazy to stay at home with no one to talk to, so she went to visit me around nine o¡¯clock after she sent Mikael to his school.

    I nodded at her as I stretched my arms and moved my hips while following the gym instructor I was watching on the inte. I decided to do some morning exercises beside the pool while Lara was sittingfortably on the sun lounger.

    ¡°You should have been extra careful about yourself, Olivia! You have to take your medications religiously! What if you had a panic attack in a public ce? I would never forgive myself if something happened to you!¡± She scolded me.

    A smile escaped my lips. Lara tended to act as if she was my mother. She knew everything about my anxiety disorder. She always worried about it when I was still in the bar, to the point that she constantly reminded me to take my meds every time I needed to and handled some VIPs for me whenever she felt that I needed to take a rest.

    ¡°The weather was too hot yesterday. Seeing my blood really triggered the sh-it out of me,¡± I said, catching my breath and pausing the video I was following.

    I grabbed the small towel on the other sun lounger across from where she sat and then sipped some water from my tumbler.

    ¡°So Chase found out about it?¡± she asked curiously.

    ¡°Yeah, we went to the hospital after that incident at school. He was obviously upset about it, but I assured him I was fine.¡±

    ¡°Fine? You just had a nosebleed at the university!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just an ident given the hot weather, Lara.¡±

    ¡°And you had a panic attack!¡±

    ¡°It has been taken care of too.¡± I rolled my eyes at her. ¡°You two should have nothing to worry about. I can handle myself. I am not a child anymore.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you are not a child anymore, so you better follow the doctor¡¯s instructions and stop acting like you can always handle everything. Let Chase help you, got that?¡±

    I offered her a sweet smile. ¡°Yes, mommy!¡±

    ¡°Stop that, you¡¯re not funny!¡± She then rolled her eyes at me and I could not help butugh a bit and inhaled heavily.

    ¡°If there¡¯s one thing that we should worry about, I think it is none other than my feelings towards Chase.¡± I sat beside her and leaned my head on her shoulder.

    I felt Lara¡¯s curious gaze on me.  ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    I let out a huge sigh. ¡°I think I¡¯m falling in love with him, Lara¡­ and I don¡¯t know how I can stop myself from falling so deeply in love with that billionaire¡­¡±

    ¡°Holy crap!¡±

    I chuckled at her reaction. ¡°Yeah, I know you¡¯ve given me a lot of warnings, but no matter how I try to avoid it, my heart is betraying me, Lara. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s unfair?¡± I sat properly and looked at her. ¡°It¡¯s my heart, a f-ucking part of my body¡­ Why isn¡¯t it letting me control my feelings?¡±

    ¡°I told you to be careful, Olivia Marie. Once you fall for him, it would be hard for you to detach yourself when the right timees.¡±

    ¡°I know¡­¡± I sighed in defeat and gazed at the swimming pool instead. I don¡¯t know why, but this conversation made my chest tighten a little.  ¡°Believe me, Lara, I tried¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m speechless, Liv. You are making me so freaking worried,¡± she said.

    I bit my lower lip. I could not utter anything after confessing everything to Lara. I just felt that I needed to let it out or else I would explode. These feelings I¡¯ve been feeling towards Chase feel like both heaven and hell¡­ And the funny thing was, I could not do anything to even get away from it.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you this, Liv. It will only be difficult for you if you let your emotions take over your mind. You should be able to control the situation and decide ording to your n, not to be carried away with this pretense that will only hurt you in the end,¡± she added, and I knew to myself that she was right.

    I nodded and nced back at Lara, and then offered her a thin smile.

    ¡°I know and I promise I will do something to stop this¡­¡±

    ¡°You better be, Liv. I am worried that your feelings would only cause your downfall.¡± She let out a long sigh and shook her head afterward. ¡°I apologize, but I can¡¯t find the will to support it when I know how it will only hurt you in the end. Ipletely detest it.¡±

    I nodded, assuring her that my feelings towards Chase would cease in any way possible, even though I knew it would never be easy¡­ My heart wouldn¡¯t want to listen to what my mind dictates it to do.

    ***

    LARA WENT home in the afternoon. I spent my time inside the bedroom, and could not help but overthink the fact that I was falling in love with Chase Maxwell¡­ No, I think I had already fallen for him, and as the days passed, the feelings that I identally harbored for him were bing stronger and deeper.

    ¡°You are so stupid, Liv,¡± I told myself as I snuggled into the pillow beside me in bed.

    Never in my entire life had I expected to be in love with a man. All I cared about was my own survival and earning money to leave my rat race life. But it actually happened and it was toote before I realized it.

    Was this some kind of consequence? Is this bad karma that I should bear for deceiving him? Was this the turn of events that fate had to offer me because I chose to be a bad person?

    I don¡¯t know¡­

    I wish I could answer it myself.

    My eyes went teary as I looked at the side of the bed where Chase usually sleeps. I caressed that part and for every stroke of my hand, my chest could not help but tighten more.

    Was there any way to get rid of these feelings?

    I blinked several times when I heard a knock on the door. I inhaled heavily, sat up and made sure that my eyes were perfectly fine as I was on the verge of crying a few seconds ago.

    ¡°Madame¡­¡± I heard the baritone voice of Mathias from the outside.

    I rose and walked to the door and opened it. Mathias lowered his head as soon as he saw me, and then handed me a small envelope.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I asked curiously and took the envelope. When I opened it, I saw a red card inside, which had a message from Chase.

    Get ready, my love. I have a surprise for you. See you at seven.

    Love, Chase

    I could feel the familiar warmth in my heart as I read the message. I nced at Mathias, and spoke, ¡°What is he nning?¡±

    He cleared his throat and looked at me. ¡°It is a secret, Madame. Please get ready. We¡¯ll take our leave at six-thirty.¡±

    I pressed my lips. This guy never really tells me anything. His mouth was zipped whenever I asked him about Chase. He deserved a loyalty award¡­

    ¡°Sure thing. You can go now,¡± I told him.

    He lowered his head once more and then descended downstairs. I closed the door and leaned my back against the bedroom door. I read the card once again.

    I fought the urge to feel giddy, as I knew it wasn¡¯t right to feel that way. However, my heart seemed to have mastered the art of betrayal. A smile escaped my lips. My heart was pounding loud and fast, and I could not help but anticipate what was about to happen tonight.

    I did not waste much time and started to prepare. After taking a bath, I went inside my walk-in closet and looked for a nice dress to wear. Whatever it was that Chase had nned for tonight, I must have looked stunning in his eyes. That thought made me feel giddy.

    I settled with an apple green spaghetti strap fitted and glittery dress.  I partnered it with a silver stiletto and simple yet glimmery jewelry.

    After putting a light makeup on my face, I fixed my hair and let it loose on my back. I then sprayed my favorite perfume on my neck and I was all set.

    At exactly six-thirty in the evening, Mathias escorted me to a luxurious limo, from which I didn¡¯t know where it came from.

    ¡°I will take you to the ce where you¡¯ll meet, Mr. Maxwell, Madame. You can rx in the passenger seat. An appetizer and wine are served to you,¡± he said.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± that was all I could say at this point.

    I hopped into the car, my eyes couldn¡¯t help but roam around the insides of it as it was my first time riding in a limo. I didn¡¯t even know Chase owned one¡­

    Charcuterie board with grapes, biscuits, slices of cheese and other fruits was sitting on the center table across from thefortable leather where I sat. The aroma of wine filled the entire car, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile as if I were a high school student being courted by the most popr man on campus.

    Mathias started to drive the limo and all that was left for me to do was sit back and enjoy the appetizer and wine that were prepared for me.

    I felt so excited. It was as if there was a ticklish feeling inside my stomach, and the butterflies inside it could no longer calm down.  As I sipped on my wine ss, my eyes couldn¡¯t stop looking at the window, lowkey checking if we were near our destination or not yet.

    I wanted to see Chase already.

    It did not take that long before the car stopped in front of a skyscraper building.

    ¡°Is this the ce?¡± I asked Mathias as I looked above the building. It looked like it was the highest building among all the buildings my eyes could see.

    ¡°Yes, Madame. Let me escort you inside,¡± he said.

    I only nodded, and then we entered a stunning lobby. I was in awe while looking around.  Everything in here screamed nothing but elegance. We used an elevator, and Mathias pushed the button for the rooftop.

    I inhaled heavily. I couldn¡¯t help but feel both excited and nervous.

    ¡°How do I look, Mathias?¡± I asked, which made him look at me.

    His cheeks flushed, and Iughed a bit.

    I said, ¡°I just want to make sure I am presentable for my husband.¡±

    ¡°You look very lovely, Madame, and Mr. Maxwell will always be stunned by you, even in your pajamas.¡±

    My eyes narrowed at him, and he only offered me a thin smile.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°Do you have a girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°Madame?¡± He seemed shocked.

    ¡°I am asking you if you have a girlfriend.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I do,¡± he replied.

    ¡°Well if you love your girl even in her pajamas, then I bet you¡¯re really head over heels in love with her,¡± Imented with a smile.

    Mathias¡¯s smile widened, and he seemed satisfied with what I said.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, Madame.¡±

    I nodded and pressed my lips together.

    When the elevator reached the rooftop, all I did was inhale heavily and clutch my purse. The door opened and the first thing that weed me was the fresh night air.

    We walked through a small hallway, and as soon as I stepped into the man-made bermuda grass, I saw the romantic dinner at the center of the ce.

    My heart was racing so fast.

    It was a candlelit dinner and there was a musician ying a piano on the other side. Beautiful, dim lights formed in the shape of a heart were lit on the floor and surrounding the table, and right next to it was Chase, holding a bouquet of red roses in his hand and wearing a sincere smile.

    I bit my lower lip. Seeing him right now made my heart pound more aggressively. My feelings for him were getting deeper and deeper, there¡¯s no doubt about that¡­ Even though my mind reminded me not to entertain such feelings, my entire body speaks otherwise, telling me it¡¯spletely fine to get drowned with this love for now.

    ¡°Chase¡­¡± I called his name, and tried my best not to tear up in front of him.

    He walked towards me, and with every step he made, the butterflies inside my stomach couldn¡¯t stay still. The ticklish feeling inside of me became stronger, and I couldn¡¯t do anything other than be carried away with it.

    ¡°Wife¡­¡± he greeted me when he stood in front of me, kissed my cheek, and handed me the bouquet. ¡°This is for you.¡±

    ¡°I love it,¡± I said as I looked down at the fresh roses and nced at him.  ¡°Thank you, Chase.¡±

    ¡°Come.¡± He offered his hand, and I didn¡¯t hesitate to hold it.

    He guided me to the table, pulled a chair for me, and let me sit on it.  My emotions were so high. My eyes roamed around andnded on him after a few seconds. All I could see in his pair of blue eyes was love.  That¡¯s all.

    ¡°I felt that we werecking some quality time as I¡¯ve been busy with thepany, and I apologize for that. Tonight, I want to make you feel that you¡¯re special, loved and appreciated, my wife¡­¡± he said sincerely.

    His words reached my heart. The familiar warmth made my eyes teary, but I smiled it away as I didn¡¯t want him to see me cry.

    ¡°Thank you, Chase.¡±

    He reached for my hand, and I let him take it. Then he kissed my knuckles. ¡°I love you, Reese¡­¡±

    ¡°I love you too¡­¡± I replied with a sincere smile, even though his feelings weren¡¯t meant for mine.

    This was the hardest part of being in love¡­ I had to ept that my feelings would not be returned in the way I expected because we started in a game of deception where truth has no ce¡­

    This love was the consequence of all the lies I made up for money.

    This is your real karma, Olivia Marie Miller.

 CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

    OLIVIA

    DAYS QUICKLY passed by. Chase had been very busy after the romantic candlelit dinner we shared on the rooftop of a five-star hotel. I had to say that it was memorable, and I would never forget how my heart felt so happy at that moment.

    It was Friday when I received a text message from Charles, indicating the details of the yacht party he mentioned the veryst time we talked. The situation made me ponder for a while. It was clear to me that Chase didn¡¯t like him and wanted me to stay away from him, but my heart was torn due to my initial n.

    The only reason why I agreed to attend the party was that I wanted to teach Charles a lesson, and Mia would be the one to do that. He called her a nerd, and based on how he looked at her when he approached us, I sensed his disgust because Mia didn¡¯t fit his standard for women. But it has to stop right there.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    I wanted to help Mia with a makeover n. She was, indeed, beautiful and too sincere. She would be his downfall.

    So even though Chase was not in favor of me hanging out with Charles, I had to do something just this once. I told him that I¡¯d be attending a yacht party with Mia as a ssmate had invited us. I told him it was a pure women¡¯s party which would be held at the Southville beach and that he shouldn¡¯t worry about me because Mia would be with me.

    Chase was hesitant at first, but he felt that I needed to get some fresh air after being stuck at home for days, so he eventually agreed to let me go.

    Yes, another lie. I felt regretful about it, but I promised myself it would be the first andst time I¡¯d lie about Charles. And I hope he never finds out about it.

    ***

    IT WAS Saturday morning, and I woke up with my phone loaded with text messages from Mia.

    I checked my phone and read her messages:

    From: Mia Brown

    Reese, I need your help! I want to look beautiful at that party. I¡¯m hoping that Charles can finally see me as ady!¡¯

    She said in her text message, that just made me chuckle a bit. I told her about my nst night. At first, I felt that she was doubting it as she didn¡¯t have that confidence in her. She felt inferior among the high maintenance women Charles had dated in the past, but I told her that she didn¡¯t ever need topete. She only needs to improve her physical appearance as part of the initial n and let her kindness and truthfulness do the work.

    I had high hopes that she could change that man¡¯s mind and make him realize that women¡¯s worth was far greater than he thought.

    As usual, even though it¡¯s the weekend, Chase has an important meeting with some investors and also with the Ambassador of Spain, with whom Chase would like to build a connection for hispany.

    ¡°I¡¯m hoping I¡¯ll reach that level soon,¡± I said to myself, and then rose to my feet. I stretched, then I decided to do some yoga to clear my mind a bit, then I ate my breakfast and took my medication afterwards.

    Soon after I was done with my daily routine, I packed my things as I needed to meet up with Mia. I¡¯ll visit their restaurant on the beach.

    Thest time I went there was with Chandria. It was a truly spectacr ce, with a beautiful view of the beach, that I couldn¡¯t fight the urge to return to.

    ¡°Please get the car ready,¡± I said to Mathias as I walked out of the house, and informed him that we would be going to the same beach we visited thest time. ¡°By the way, did Chase mention anything regarding my activity today? Any reminders perhaps?¡±

    ¡°Nothing, Madame. Mr. Maxwell is a bit busy and didn¡¯t leave any messages. He just wanted to make sure that I¡¯d drive you safely to your destination. I heard that you¡¯ll be attending a yacht party with your ssmates at the university.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Thanks, Mathias!¡±

    I then checked my phone to see if there were any new messages from Chase. I pressed my lips together and pouted. He didn¡¯t send me any.

    ¡°Weird. You¡¯re getting so busy again¡­¡± I said to myself, then I walked near theke while waiting for Mathias to prepare the car.

    The weather looked very fine. I smiled as I inhaled the fresh air and felt the cool breeze embrace my skin. The sun was up, but it wasn¡¯t that hot, which was a good thing.

    I busied myself admiring theke when my phone rang. My mood lit up when I saw Chase¡¯s caller ID.

    ¡°Hey, baby! How are you?¡± I asked as soon as I answered the phone.

    ¡°I am good, Reese. I realized I wasn¡¯t able to say goodbye to you earlier. I just wanted to call to hear your voice. Please remember to take care of yourself, take your medications, and have fun at the yacht party,¡± he said, which made my heart calm.

    For a brief second, I thought that he had found out that Charles was the one hosting the yacht party.  It was just too paranoid of me to think of that.

    But if he found out about it, then I¡¯d be screwed.

    ¡°I will, baby. I love you!  You take care as well,¡± I responded before our phone call ended.

    On our way to Mia¡¯s restaurant on the beach, she sent me a couple of messages regarding how she felt about our situation. I gave her encouraging words and couldn¡¯t help but smile as she was bing too paranoid.

    The car stopped, which made me look at the front. The stoplight was red at the time.  My eyes went to the rearview mirror and I noticed a ck sedan just behind our car.

    Mia sent me a message once again. I felt the car moving and making some turns. When I looked at the rearview mirror, I then noticed that the ck sedan was following us.

    ¡°Mathias, have you noticed the ck sedan behind us? I find it weird. I feel like it¡¯s following us.¡± I shifted my position and looked directly at the car. ¡°There¡¯s no traffic. It can easily do an overtake at this point. We made some turns and it is still there.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Madame. I¡¯m keeping an eye on it. I can easily push the red button in this car that would connect me to the police and Mr. Maxwell¡¯s men to locate our location and get assistance if needed,¡± he said.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯m just a little worried,¡± I said, nervously.

    When we arrived at the restaurant, I saw Mia, who was waiting for me outside, and was wearing a in white polo shirt, eyesses, and ck pants.

    ¡°You¡¯re finally here! I missed you so much!¡± she greeted me and gave me a warm, long embrace.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t even gone that long! How¡¯s the university? I missed going to our sses!¡±

    My statement made herugh. She then rolled her eyes at me and said, ¡°You missed your sses but you didn¡¯t miss me? How dare you!¡±

    ¡°Alright, I missed you too,¡± I replied.

    We both chuckled. Mia seemed so excited right nowpared to when she texted me earlier.

    His father went out, and I greeted him. He asked me for a favor to watch his daughter. I assured him that I would take care of Mia.

    I couldn¡¯t help but feel the excitement too. I just wanted to help Mia get her confidence. It was like a mother role which Lara yed for me when I was starting to learn about pole dancing and performing sexy dances on stage.

    Now, I was the one ying the role of a mother, and I¡¯d be teaching Mia how to be confident in so many ways.

    ¡°First, we¡¯re going to fix your wardrobe!¡± I said.

    ¡°Sure, sensei! Teach me!¡± she eximed jokingly and nodded her head.

    ¡°Stop that nonsense! Let¡¯s hop into the car and go to a nearby shopping mall,¡± I announced, which only made her giggle.

    ¡°Aye, aye, sensei!¡±

    ***

    WE WENT inside the shopping mall, and I decided to buy some clothes for the party. It should be elegant and, at the same time, show her simple yet fun personality, so I picked up some dresses and shoes for Mia.

    ¡°Are you sure I can wear this?¡± She winced as she looked at the fitted dresses I had in hand.  ¡°They will expose my back.¡±

    Iughed as I saw her forehead creasing.

    ¡°You have to,¡± I said.

    ¡°No way, I can not wear those,¡± she said, her voice cracking. ¡°Even my thighs will be exposed with these thigh-slit dresses. My legs aren¡¯t that perfect!¡±

    ¡°Mia, would you like me to help you or not?¡±I asked.

    She looked at me for a bit, then sighed in the end.

    ¡°Alright, let me try these dresses. I¡¯ll go to the fitting room,¡± she expressed in defeat.

    I smirked as I handed her the dresses.  I waited for a couple of minutes. When she stepped out of the fitting room, my jaw dropped as I saw her beautifully wearing the dress I gave her.

    ¡°Perfect, Mia! You look amazing!¡± I eximed, squealing with delight.

    However, her brows were still furrowed and her lips pouted.

    She then scoffed, ¡°It¡¯s too embarrassing. It¡¯s too showy! My back is exposed, and my right thigh is also a little bit exposed!¡±

    I rolled my eyes and walked towards her.

    ¡°Come on! Chin up! This is only the first part¡­ We haven¡¯t switched to the exciting part yet. Watch out!¡± I said with a wide grin on my face.

    ¡°Oh no! Can I back out?¡± she asked.

    Chuckling, I held her shoulders. ¡°You signed up for this and there is no way out! The only way is to go through all of these and see the oue of the change we¡¯re making. It will be worth it, I promise!¡±

    She let out a long sigh. ¡°Fine, I trust you, Reese. You¡¯re the wife of the most famous billionaire, Chase Maxwell, one of the hardest to catch and one of the biggest fish in a world of bachelors. So, whatever it was you did, I want to try that too.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for trusting me, Mia.¡± I winked at her and then asked the salesdy to pack all of the clothes that I picked so I could pay for itter on.

    Then it was my turn. I picked some elegant dresses that I would like to wear at the party tonight.

    A red backless spaghetti strap dress caught my attention. I picked it immediately as it reminded me of my previous self when I was still working at the bar.

    I must admit that I kind of missed pole dancing and performing on stage. Though I was d that it happened as it helped me survive, I no longer wanted to remember those difficult times when I needed to force myself to dance on theps of old hags just for money.

    It was all different now.  I could get whatever I wanted in just one quick snap. Everything could be purchased so long as I used the ck card, which had my name imprinted on it.

    With the help, of course, of my husband, Chase Maxwell, I could easily buy anything that I wanted without breaking a sweat.

    Mia¡¯s eyes widened as I took out the ck card from my wallet.

    ¡°Oh, holy cow, Reese! Is that the invite only prestige card of the Whales Bank?¡± She then took the card from my hand in an instant. ¡°Only a select few members are getting these types of cards. Only the elite of the elites! This is my dream card!¡± she eximed.

    I was shocked to see how excited she was for one brief moment. When she suddenly came back to her senses, she then gave it back to me.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was just too excited to see it in person! I had only seen such cards before during a lunch meeting that I joined with my dad and a few of his business friends in Europe,¡± she exined.

    ¡°Oh that¡¯s fine,¡± I said in a monotonous tone.

    I was not truly aware of the background of this card. I believed that it was only given to me by Chase so he could trace my spendings.

    I then handed my card to the cashier, and one of the salesdies asked me if I could hire her as my personal shopper. I was taken aback and I was wondering what it meant to have a personal shopper.

    ¡°Ms. Reese, please consider me. Hire me as your personal shopper. I would like to work with you. I hope you can consider me to be part of your m team! You have a great eye for fashion. I can sense that and to be honest, I was a huge fan of yours when you were still in the sports field before. I was one of the people that supported you as an athlete. I didn¡¯t know that you have such a fashion taste until I saw it with my own eyes!¡± she said, that made me want to gather my thoughts.

    I guess she knew more about Reesepared to me, knowing that she was a fan of hers, but having a great eye for fashion like what she said  was a different case. It was my real passion, as Olivia.

    I took a deep breath and I pulled out my calling card for my business phone.

    ¡°Here. you can contact me on this number, but please just send me a text message or email as I don¡¯t pick up calls right away,¡± I said, then I went to Mia for us to check some makeup.

    ¡°Thank you so much, Ms. Reese!¡± I heard her screaming with glee. I smiled a bit and continued walking past her with Mia.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on there?¡± Mia asked curiously.

    ¡°Nothing¡­¡± I answered and shrugged.

    Someone from the store assisted us and grabbed the bags of clothes that we bought. It wasn¡¯t that much because we already wore the main dresses that we would like to show off at tonight¡¯s party. I instructed the store staff to help me and go to the parking lot where Mathias was waiting.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s check out some make up,¡± I said to Mia.

    ¡°Sure, I bet you already have a team or some professional make-up artist that would help us to check them, isn¡¯t it right?¡± Mia asked.

    ¡°Oh, Mia! No need to call a professional, and I don¡¯t have a ¡°m team¡± or some sort of that. I can do this on my own!¡± I giggled, which surprised her.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have a team to do your makeup? I thought that you did have the help of a professional. I always see rich people have their own team to manage their hair, their make up, their dress, just to make sure they¡¯re looking good!¡± she said.

    ¡°Oh, yeah, right. Back then, when I was working, I had someone put makeup on me. Her name was Lara, but most of the time I can do my own makeup and my hair. But you gave me an idea! I might need that in the future,¡± I replied.

    I then went to the makeup store and from there I checked the makeup brands that I only see in the magazines. I was impressed to see them, and I immediately checked Mia¡¯s skin tone.

    ¡°Let¡¯s find your perfect shade, Mia,¡± I said to her, which made her dumbfounded.

    ¡°Excuse me, Miss. Can you help us to check what¡¯s best for her skin tone?¡± I asked the consultant standing beside the make up kits.

    After a long conversation with her and checking Mia¡¯s skin type, I then picked up all the things that we needed and we decided to go to a room where we could put the makeup on.

    ¡°Here you go, beautifuldy. y!¡± I said after putting the finishing touches on her face.

    ¡°What the hell? Is this me?¡± She screamed like a little girl and jumped.

    I saw her standing straight, feeling good about herself. She got a new level of confidence in herself. I felt something inside me just got inspired. Perhaps this was my calling?

    I don¡¯t know¡­

    ¡°Can I do this as my first business? Anything that involves making other girls feel beautiful ¨C you see, every woman deserves to feel beautiful,¡± I said, smiling while staring at Mia.

    I couldn¡¯t help but see myself in Mia. I was just like her many years ago. Lara helped me to feel beautiful and to realize that I could be pretty like the others too.

    I controlled my emotions and I went to thefort room because I couldn¡¯t afford to cry with my makeup. My eyes nced at the mirror, then a part of me was proud.

    This was no longer about Reese Jones; it was about Olivia, a girl who didn¡¯t know her family but had a desire to better herself. Perhaps, this was my calling, not just to pretend to be someone else.

    I then went outside of thefort room and I asked Mia for us to leave the shopping center.

    We went inside the car. Mathias was blinking and tapping his face with his hands.

    ¡°You look so stunning, Madame Reese and Ms. Mia,¡± he said. That made me happy.

    We drove near to the seaside, and as we approached the location, I noticed some great looking cars that were already arriving at the port.

    ¡°Mathias, we wille back here at twelve midnight since the party will start at eight in the evening,¡± I informed Mathias, as he should be waiting for us while we were in the port. Once my n seeded, I would go home.

    I nced at Mia and she was more confident than ever.

 CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

    OLIVIA

    We arrived at the port, not knowing what adventure would await us. The lights that were emitted in this ce added a nostalgic feeling and reminded me of the letter postcards that I usually see in old letters back in the orphanage. It was as if I was looking at the wallpaper of aputer screen.

    It was very picturesque.

    ¡°Mathias, we have to go from here. Please wait for me and Mia, alright?¡± I said to Mathias.

    He bowed his head and then replied, ¡°I will wait here like what you ordered, Madame.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much!¡±

    Mia also thanked Mathias before we headed towards the ship.

    This was actually the first time I¡¯d been on a yacht, and I must admit that I couldn¡¯t hide my excitement. It was like a dreame true. The yacht was colored white; it was enormous, and it towered among all the other regr yachts resting at the port. I bet it could amodate up to a hundred people as it had a second floor and a view deck. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder how much this yacht cost. It seemed to me that Charles spent a lot of millions just for this.

    Mia clung to my arm with her hand. ¡°Reese, I¡¯m so nervous. You see, I¡¯m not really socially friendly. What if I ruin your n?¡±

    I looked at her and saw how her eyes roamed around the port as we walked to the boarding area. I offered her a sincere smile and held her hand to assure her that everything would turn out fine.

    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, Mia. Just be yourself and let the other people see how kind and friendly you are. I¡¯ll be with you, so don¡¯t be so tense. We will have fun!¡± I said, trying to cheer her up.

    She let out a sigh and gave me a sweet smile.

    ¡°Thank you, Reese. I owe you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. You¡¯re my new friend, and I always help my friends¡­¡±

    She giggled and leaned her head on my shoulders.

    We continued to walk until we reached the crowd lining up to board the yacht. I noticed some familiar faces. It appeared that Charles had invited our ssmates too. Thesedies and gentlemen wore elegant clothes, stunning jewelry, and brought some luxurious items with them. This was, indeed, a real party for the elite of the elite.

    I couldn¡¯t help but think about my n. The only reason I wanted to attend the party was to teach Charles a lesson; to make him realize that Mia was a beautiful woman inside and out; and to see her as ady who was worth the time and attention of others. Aside from that, I wanted to help Mia gain confidence in front of the crowd, build connections, and be socially friendly.

    As long as my n works, it would make me happy and satisfied. I guess it would be worth the lies I told Chase¡­ I also thought that I would probably bump into some great business owners here and learn a thing or two from them.

    ¡°Good day, Mrs. Maxwell,¡± a young man in his early twenties said, dressed sharply in a suit and with neatlybed hair. ¡°Please allow me to escort both of you to the ship.¡±

    Mia and I both looked at each other and then nodded. We followed the man, and he guided us to the boardingdder that would transport us to the ship.

    Thedder was a bit swaying. Luckily, the man held us carefully to ensure that we wouldn¡¯t fall and set our feet on the ship properly.

    My mouth dropped open as I was greeted by what seemed like a high-end bar. I could smell the luxurious aromas of liquor, food, and desserts, as well as therge crowd of people who each had their own ce in this elite society.

    The entire deck exuded elegance and wealth¡­

    ¡°Wow!¡± Mia eximed in surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Charles invited a lot of people in here.¡±

    ¡°That only gives us an idea of howrge his connections are,¡± Imented, a little bit satisfied with all the great things I saw before my eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s find a ce to settle in.¡±

    I held Mia¡¯s hand and we approached the center of the deck. The cold and salty breeze embraced my skin, which gave me another satisfying feeling. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the day, even though the party hadn¡¯t started yet.

    Loud music could be heard in the ce, making some of the guests dance in their elegant dresses and suits, and I couldn¡¯t hide how great it was to watch them enjoy themselves. Some of the guests even greeted us warmly. I got engaged with a few words and exchangedpliments.

    ¡°Goodness! You must be Reese Jones, Chase Maxwell¡¯s wife. Am I correct?¡± One of thedies asked me as she approached me and Mia.

    She offered us a sweet smile. Thedy was so stunning, I had to say. She was wearing a ck, revealing dress with a diamond ne and earrings. She looked very rich, yet her expression told me that she was a down-to-earth woman.

    ¡°Hi, yeah! My name is Reese Jones-Maxwell, Chase¡¯s wife,¡± I said as I introduced myself. ¡°And this is my friend, Mia Brown.¡±

    She extended her hand and shook hands with me and Mia.

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you here! My name is Ellie Steward, one of the owners of a luxury bag, the Davis,¡± she introduced herself.

    ¡°Oh! It¡¯s nice meeting you, Ellie!¡± I said, astounded.

    I recognized the brand of bag she mentioned because Lara had introduced me to it when I was still a bar dancer. We bought imitations of it from the ck market before.

    ¡°My gosh! I love the bags you released! I¡¯m so happy to meet you here, Ellie. I hope I can invite you for dinner at our house sometime. I will be d to cook delicious food for you!¡± I said, seemingly excited to see her and hoping that I could get to know her and perhaps get a free bag!

    She smiled at me and handed me her calling card. ¡°I¡¯d love to get to know you, Mrs. Maxwell. Please contact me whenever you have that time for dinner. I¡¯ll go ahead for now. It¡¯s nice to meet the both of you again!¡±

    My gaze followed her when she walked past us and approached a group of people near the railings. I squeezed Mia¡¯s hand out of excitement. I didn¡¯t expect to see one of the owners of one of my most favorite brands here!

    Who else was here, anyway? This ce was filled with wealthy people!

    ¡°You¡¯re so lucky to be approached by a known person, Reese!¡± Miamented.

    ¡°I actually didn¡¯t know her, but I love Davis, so I was surprised that she approached us!¡±

    We both giggled. I put the calling card inside my purse. We roamed around and continued to blend into the crowd. On the upper deck, I saw the DJ ying upbeat music. We reached the open bar. My eyes couldn¡¯t help but nce at those handsome bartenders serving drinks.

    But of course, Chase was still the most handsome man I¡¯d ever seen, in my opinion.

    ¡°Mia, let¡¯s get some drinks to warm ourselves up!¡± I told her, but when I looked at her, it seemed that her shyness had taken over.

    ¡°Reese¡­¡± She was tugging my arm slightly.

    ¡°Mia, what¡¯s going on with you?¡± Are you okay?¡± My forehead creased.

    I tried to suppress myughter as her confidence vanished in an instance now that we were here at the bar counter. I was about to soothe her when someone approached us. I mean her¡­

    ¡°Hi there! It¡¯s my first time seeing such a pretty face here. May I know your name?¡± It was a question from a tall guy with blue eyes, a perfectly sculpted face, and he had a great smile as well. He was looking straight at Mia.

    I nced at Mia, who seemed a bit stunned.

    ¡°Hey, he¡¯s asking you,¡± I said, nudging her.

    That was the only time she came back to her senses. She blinked several times before she spoke, ¡°T-Thanks for thepliment. My name is Hailey Mia Brown. You can call me Mia.¡±

    The handsome guy initiated a move. I was shocked when he reached for Mia¡¯s hand and guided it all the way to his lips and kissed it.

    ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure to meet you, Mia. My name is Joshua Peterson,¡± he said, then gave her a warm smile.

    I couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow. It looked like Mia finally got some attention from a guy! I bit my lower lip as an idea popped in my mind.

    ¡°You know what? Let me give you guys some alone time. My mouth is getting a bit dry. I will just get some drinks,¡± I said to both of them, then I winked Mia. That made her frown.

    ¡°Reese, don¡¯t leave me here!¡± she whispered, but I acted as if I didn¡¯t hear her words clearly, then just went straight to the open bar to get some drinks.

    I sat on the barstool, then asked the bartender for a ss of margarita.

    ¡°Here¡¯s your drink, Miss.¡± One of the bartenders just gave me my drink.

    I took a deep breath and, for a brief moment, I hoped Lara was with me to enjoy this open bar. She hadn¡¯t gotten into this kind of party, and I was sure that she¡¯d love it since she was born a party goer. That thought made me smile. Now, I miss that devil.

    As I savored my drink, the upbeat music went loud. The crowd started to gather at the center of the deck, and danced as if this was going to be thest day of their life.

    ¡°Looks like people are getting all warmed up,¡± I said to myself, and I shifted my position to watch them.

    There was this girl who began dancing wild on their mini stage. The crowd cheered for her and I was impressed with her dance moves. Another group joined her and my eyes widened when I realized that they looked very familiar.

    ¡°Damn it. They are the choreographers at the bar I used to work at¡­¡±

    They dressed nicely though, so even if they were dancing seductively, there was still ss in it. The rich people really like to be entertained, especially these rich dudes giving tips to the dancers. Their glossy sexy outfits were really eye-catching. I couldn¡¯t help but take pictures of them, then I sent it to Lara.

    I then looked around and noticed that there was a staircase leading to the ship¡¯s second deck. I walked towards it and went upstairs. There was a big pool that had girls wearing only swimsuits.

    ¡°Wow! I wish I had brought my swimsuit!¡± said by the familiar voice.

    I looked at my back and saw Mia. My forehead immediately creased at the sight of her.

    ¡°Hey, why are you here? You¡¯re supposed to mingle with Joshua!¡±

    She winced and shook her head. ¡°Yeah, I know that¡¯s what you wanted. That¡¯s why you left me with him!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! He looks nice, not to add that he¡¯s too handsome and he noticed you!¡±

    ¡°I know that, but we¡¯re here for me to have the courage to be noticed by Charles, right? I want to focus on our n, so I told him I¡¯m going to find you.¡±

    I tapped her shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s not just about you being noticed by Charles, but take a look around you. I can sense some cute men staring at us, and it¡¯s not because of me. You see, they¡¯re interested in knowing you more. Listen to me, Mia, build your confidence by speaking more to these men. I believe there¡¯s no harm in just having a conversation with them. If they be flirty, just call me and I smack their face!¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright!¡± she said and chuckled a bit.

    I asked the bartender for some drinks. ¡°One Cosmo, please!¡±

    ¡°You know that I don¡¯t drink!¡± she said, grasping my hand. The bartender gave it to us and forwarded it to Mia.

    ¡°Come on, just one sip!¡±

    She offered me a re but gave in thereafter. We didn¡¯t realize how many drinks I had. I just found myself sexy dancing on stage and I came back to my senses when people were cheering for me.

    ¡°Go, Reese!¡±

    ¡°Oh my gosh, why am I here on the stage?¡±

    I then saw Mia grabbing my hand and saying, ¡°Silly, what are you doing up there?¡± she said, pulling me down.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. What just happened?¡± I asked.

    One of the guys approached me and said, ¡°I had no idea you were such a great dancer, Reese! I love it!¡±

    I just turned around and didn¡¯t listen to him anymore as my head was starting to throb.

    ¡°Reese, stop drinking! You¡¯re already drunk!¡± Mia yelled at me and grabbed the red cup from my hand.

    ¡°How am I supposed to be drunk with that drink?¡±

    There was a sudden spike of energy that went through my body and made me want to dance. When the music switched to electronic, all the people started dancing.

    I felt someone was touching my behind.

    ¡°What the hell?!¡± I yelled, but I couldn¡¯t help but start dancing when the disco lights kicked in.

    I no longer saw Mia when the crowd was packed. I was then handed a drink.

    ¡°Come on, Reese, drink some more,¡± ady said to me.

    I shook my head. ¡°I can no longer drink. I¡¯m not supposed to be drunk. I¡¯ll need to go back to the port by twelve!¡±

    I was shocked when someone embraced me from behind. I gasped and tried to walk away, but it was such a tight crowd. I pushed myself to go out of this crowd and I nudged my elbow at that person that was groping me.

    ¡°Get off me, you piece of shit,¡± I said, then I stumbled to the floor.

    All I could see from here was people dancing on their feet. I then saw girls kissing other girls, and guys kissing other guys, and then some men kissing girls half-naked.

    ¡°What the fuck, is this an orgy party?¡±

    OLIVIA

    I GOT TO my feet and went down to the other deck, where I was greeted by a man in a suit who checked if my name was on the list before allowing me to enter. Fortunately, I was able to enter the first deck of the yacht, where I saw people swimming in bikinis and guys in swimwear.

    Others sat in the sun loungers, watching a movie projected on a projector screen. It was actually weird that this party was more normal than the one upstairs. No loud music at all and no alcoholic drinks. I just watched people enjoying themselves in the pool. Some were eating at their tables, and some were chatting with their friends.

    My ssmates were all upstairs partying. Then here were the people, who, based on their looks, were wealthy businessmen.

    ¡°Reese!¡± I heard Mia¡¯s voice calling my name.

    I turned to her and noticed that she was sweating.

    ¡°Where have you been, Reese? I was looking out for you. I can¡¯t seem to find Charles in his own party!¡± she added, and I could feel the irritation in her voice as well.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mia. I didn¡¯t expect to have that kind of crowd upstairs. There is no way I can match their energy, though at first, I must admit that I got carried away and danced like a freak on stage.¡±

    She only shrugged her shoulders and we went to one of the lounge seats and enjoyed the peaceful ambiance of this ce.

    I looked around and finally saw Charles who was at the edge of the deck. He was holding two lovely women in his arms and was smiling from ear to ear.

    ¡°Hi there!¡± I greeted them as I approached them. ¡°Hello there, lovelydies,¡± I said as I nced between the two lovely girls in his arms.

    He noticed my presence, then whispered something to his girls, which made them both leave. Charles then greeted me, and I could have sworn that he was shocked after heid eyes on Mia.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me you were going to bring someone so lovely here to my party, Reese. It¡¯s nice to see you here, Miss,¡± he said, full of attention and eyes sparkling solely for Mia.

    ¡°That¡¯s Hayley Mia Brown, you idiot,¡± I said to Charles, making himugh.

    ¡°No way. That nerd? Mia Brown? Don¡¯t kid me, Reese.¡± Heughed once more as he shook his head. ¡°No really, what is her name? Is she your friend?¡±

    My eyes went to Mia, and she was holding out her tears. She stood up and nced between me and Charles.

    ¡°See? I told you, Reese. All men are jerks!¡± she said, then walked away.

    I gasped as I didn¡¯t expect Mia to react that way. But she was totally right about what she just said. Charles was a jerk.

    ¡°Have you seen what you just did, Charles? You are really a stupid jerk!¡± I said, totally irritated. ¡°I already told you that she¡¯s Mia. She dressed nicely and was no longer the nerd you used to know!¡± I pointed my index fingers at some guys who were ncing at Mia as she walked away. ¡°You see, all the guys right there are checking her out!¡±

    My gaze followed Mia. She went to the other side of the deck, standing alone in the corner. An elderly man in a pink polo shirt casually approached her and immediately touched her face. Mia¡¯s face was horrified. My eyes widened, and I stood immediately to rush into her, but Charles stopped me.

    ¡°Stay here. Let me take care of it.¡±

    Charles¡¯s jaw clenched. For a brief moment, I saw the anger in his eyes. He quickly walked in Mia¡¯s direction. I was stunned when Charles stopped the elderly man from touching Mia. He held him so tightly in his cor and then let him go when he finally apologized to Mia.

    I rushed into them and immediately hugged Mia.

    ¡°Are you alright, Mia?¡±

    I could feel that Charles was sincerely worried about her. Her eyebrows furrowed, and then she tried to walk away again from him.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, alright? I knew this from the beginning. I knew it was you, Mia,¡± he said as he grabbed her hand. ¡°Please ept my apology. The truth is, back in the day, I already knew that you were beautiful and I was just teasing you because I knew we were childhood friends. To be honest, Mia, remembering the past only brings back such dark memories, but I was d to have you, you didn¡¯t leave me,¡± he stated.

    ¡°You idiot,¡± she said, then pulled her hands away from him.

    She then walked past him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Reese, we can consider this mission aplished,¡± she stated.

    ¡°Really?¡± I asked curiously, then my nce went to Charles. ¡°His eyes, though, are sorrowful. I think Charles wanted to talk to you more. Look at him.¡±

    She then turned around and checked on him. He pulled up a stick of tobo and lit it up while staring at the pitch-ck sea.

    My forehead immediately creased. My eyes roamed everywhere, and all I saw was the sea.

    What the hell? This yacht was sailing? I thought we¡¯d be staying near the port! I gaped,pletely shocked and was caught off guard.

    Dang! I was nning to go back to the port at ten or eleven! Mathias was waiting for us near the port!

    ¡°Mia!¡± I called her and turned in her direction, but she was gone.

    My eyes looked for her and I realized she went back to Charles and talked to him.

    I palmed my face. ¡°Goodness, what should I do?¡±

    Biting my lower lip, I decided to follow Mia.

    ¡°Don¡¯t smoke, it¡¯s bad for you. I thought you had already stopped that years ago,¡± I heard Mia say to Charles.

    The cold and salty wind blew in our way. I couldn¡¯t help but hug myself and watch them.

    When Charles tried to throw the stick of tobo into the ocean, he was stopped by Mia by holding his arm.

    ¡°Freak! Give that to me, and I¡¯ll dispose of it for you,¡± she said.

    Charles shook his head and asked the staff nearby to throw it for him.

    ¡°Would you like to dance or have a drink or something?¡± Charles asked, then Mia¡¯s face turned red.

    She nced at me, then I gave her a thumbs up to give her a signal to go on. I couldn¡¯t hide my smile any longer. These two were so cute. It was as if they were high school teenagers.

    ¡°Alright, sure,¡± she said nervously.

    ¡°Mia, y hard to get first, okay?¡± I whispered, nudging her elbow as she walked past me.

    ¡°Reese!¡±

    I chuckled. ¡°You guys, have fun!¡± Then I nced at Charles. ¡°By the way, Charles, I would like to ask what time I could go. I need to be at the port at eleven,¡± I asked.

    ¡°What? We will go to a private ind! It¡¯s Sunday tomorrow, so there should be no ss. Take a break, Reese! Don¡¯t tell me that you didn¡¯t know?¡± he asked, then he didn¡¯t bother to wait for my answer as they had already walked somewhere else.

    ¡°Shit, I¡¯m screwed!¡± I frowned and started biting my nails as my anxiety doubled.

    The fact that Mathias was waiting for me near the port, there¡¯s no way Chase wouldn¡¯t find out about this! I didn¡¯t even inform Chase that this would be an overnight party!

    Charles didn¡¯t even mention it when he sent me the details!

    I leaned against the railings and started craning my neck, hoping to see any positive things that could actually calm myself down at this point. However, all I saw was the waves of the sea as the yacht continued to move somewhere I didn¡¯t know.

    My eyes went back to the crowd of businessmen.

    I let out a heavy sigh and thought I should take advantage of the situation. I could start making connections with some businessmen here. They might be able to inspire me to run a specific business in the future.

    My heart pounded with excitement as I thought about having my own business. One of the things I¡¯d like to start has something to do with boosting girls¡¯ self-esteem. like Mia.

    I checked Ellie Steward¡¯s calling card again, and after a few minutes of contemting.

    Perhaps starting a makeup or clothing line would be a good idea, but there were so many thoughts and worries racing through my mind that they began to overwhelm the little shit in me.

    What if I couldn¡¯t make it? I bet it would only disappoint Chase and his father.

    I exhaled heavily and lowered my head.

    ¡°Why is it so difficult toe up with some business ideas without worrying so much?¡± I murmured to myself.

    I then looked around and saw Ellie Steward, who was interacting with some businessmen on the deck. Our gaze met. She immediately recognized me as she offered me a thin smile.

    She then waved her hands to the businessmen and then approached me.

    ¡°Hey, why are you all alone here? Where is your friend?¡± she asked curiously.

    ¡°Oh, Mia? She went with Charles. I think they are going to talk about some things.¡±

    She nodded. ¡°Interesting. While everyone¡¯s busy having fun here, I¡¯m walking around, trying to check on the women¡¯s outfits and essories toe up with a new style of products I¡¯ll n tounch this year.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s really how business-minded people work, huh?¡± Imented.

    We both chuckled.

    ¡°You see, I truly find you pretty. Your choices in your jewelry stunned me. I can say that you have great fashion sense, Reese.¡±

    I was surprised to hear it from her, and I was overwhelmed. Hearing apliment from a business owner was totally different from normal people.

    ¡°Thank you, Ellie. It¡¯s an honor to beplimented and praised by someone like you for my fashion taste. It¡¯s my first time hearing it from someone who has all the knowledge about fashion that I truly respect,¡± I said, hoping that I made an impression on her.

    ¡°Would you like to partner with me?¡± she asked curiously. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at me.

    I gave her a wide-eyed look. Was this for real?

    Ellie Steward, the owner of the luxury brand of leather goods, just asked me to partner with her?

    Oh, shoot! I knew I had to stay calm at this moment so that I wouldn¡¯t give her a bad impression of me, but I couldn¡¯t fight the urge to feel excited about it.

    ¡°I would love to!¡± I eximed. My voice came off so loud and excited.

    Laughing, she shook her head and patted my shoulder.

    ¡°I¡¯m excited to work with you, Reese. Let¡¯s set up a meeting once I free up my schedule, alright?¡±

    ¡°Thank you for believing in me, I can¡¯t wait to have that meeting with you!¡±

    She then left and joined a group of men after our conversation. Many ideas had just exploded in my head. I was already imagining myself having my own employees, attending board meetings, and Chase was just head over heels in love with me, feeling so proud of what I had achieved.

    Though I wasn¡¯t sure whether that would be enough or not for me to prove that I could establish my own name. Doubt and fears started to attack my chest.

    There would be trials, that¡¯s for sure, but in order for me to be liked by the Chase family, I should do this no matter what.

    I clenched my fist, thinking that I hadn¡¯t met Ellie Steward by ident. There should be a purpose, and this should be the key to my next big step toward entrepreneurship.

    I was suddenly curious about what happened with Mia and Charles. The loud music started ying.

    I walked around and saw Charles with Mia beside him.

    ¡°Guys, I want you to announce my girlfriend, Mia Brown,¡±

    Everyone on the yacht apuded and cheered for them.

    ¡°What just happened? That was fast! Oh my gosh, Mia!¡± I eximed.

    Mia then smiled at me and gave me a peace sign.

    ¡°That girl already fell for his charms right away!¡± I rolled my eyes at her while she was still grinning from ear to ear.

    The DJ then yed a piece of slow music, and they started dancing together. It was their own moment. Everyone was watching them in the center. The lights also be dim. Warm lights were switched on in every room on this yacht.

    ¡°Such a romantic scene. I wish Chase was with me¡­¡±

    Some of our ssmates then went down to check if they had witnessed such a scene. Somehow, I was like a proud mother to Mia. A few days back, I was only teaching her to be confident in herself, but now she has Charles head over heels with her beauty.

    ¡°Guys, let¡¯s toast and cheer for us. This is for me and Mia. I should confess that ever since I became a billionaire, I¡¯ve owned different businesses under my father¡¯s name. Mia was there for my ups and downs. Then I was blinded by my infatuation with someone that I hadn¡¯t opened my eyes enough to see that there was Mia, whom I truly loved. So please join me in celebrating not only the grand opening of my private resort, which we will see in a few minutes as we arrive, but also my confession of love to Mia!¡±

    ¡°Cheers!¡± Everyone was tossing and raising their sses. We celebrated the moments that Charles and Mia shared with each and every one of them. Then everyone began to dance to the beat of the music that the DJ was ying.

    While the people were dancing, I saw that the yacht was heading towards a secluded ind.

    ¡°Is this the private ind that Charles was talking about?¡±

    I took a look and checked it from where I was standing. The ind was surrounded by light posts that lit up the entire shore. The wooden cottages were also scattered everywhere. There were some gs of different colors waving through the wind. Then, on a much higher part of the ind, castle-like houses were built.

    I felt so guilty about Mathias, who was still waiting for us in the port. I felt so bad about it. When I checked my phone to contact him since it was already eleven in the evening and he was supposed to see me there, my eyebrows furrowed when I noticed there was no mobile signal from this area.

    ¡°This is stupid. Mathias would surely call Chase at this point if he found out that I lied.¡± I palmed my face. ¡°I am so doomed! How can I exin this to my husband?¡±

    A loud growl from my stomach made me run to thefort room at this point.

    ¡°Get out of my way!¡± I asked a few people as I ran.

    I went inside thefort room and then settled into one cubicle. My stomach felt so ill, perhaps because of the drinks that I had earlier.

    ¡°Charles has a new victim. I wonder how many days it will take before she gets dumped by him!¡± said the woman who went inside thefort room, which made me raise one of my eyebrows. She seemed to be talking to someone.

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I am thinking about. She¡¯s not even that pretty. If you removed her fake eyshes and makeup, I bet you¡¯d start seeing an animal like the ones we¡¯ve seen on television. She¡¯s like a disgusting animal from the zoo.¡±

    They bothughed. My lips formed a thin line as I tried to peep to check on their faces. I swore that I would remember them. My eyes widened when I saw the blonde girl whom Charles had dated before.

    ¡°You¡¯re such a jealous girl. How dare you pass judgment on Mia¡¯s make-up and eyshes!¡± I whispered through my gritted teeth.

    I was about to confront them, but a bunch of girls went inside of thefort room. I then closed the cubicle door slightly before peeking to see who was approaching.

    ¡°Did you have it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course! Let¡¯s have fun. Here, take it while no one¡¯s here.¡±

    My eyes widened when I saw a small pill that they both took. I wasn¡¯t born yesterday, and I knew that it was a party drug. When they were trying to leave, my stomach growled, then my body started shaking as I let out a loud fart in the cubicle.

    ¡°Someone is here?¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±

    My heart was pounding so fast. My stomach and my farts betrayed me. I was sweating bullets and also getting nervous about what would happen next.

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go! Frederick is waiting outside!¡±

    The girls left thefort room as I heard their footsteps with some guy named Frederick, whom they said was waiting for them.

    I couldn¡¯t ignore what they did. I¡¯m sure that it was a party pill that they took. I should be careful.

    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether Charles knew about this or not.

    He shouldn¡¯t have allowed this to happen at his party! We would be screwed!

    I bit my lower lip, realizing that we were on a secluded ind. Of course, it would be safe to say that things like this would happen because there would be no authority.

    ¡°Oh, no, Mia!¡± I went into an instant panic.

    I immediately went out of the cubicle, then washed my hands and fixed myself in the mirror. I should have warned her not to drink any of our ssmates¡¯ drinks!

    When I went outside of thefort room, my eyebrows furrowed as I saw Mia in the middle of the crowd dancing with Charles. She was handed a drink by a stranger, but as soon as she started to sip from the cup, I rushed towards her and grabbed her from the crowd.

    ¡°Tell me, Mia, have you taken any pills from them?¡± I asked her.

    ¡°Oh, Reese! You should¡¯ve seen what just happened. Charles just kneeled in front of me a while ago and confessed his feelings for me. I can¡¯t say no to him!¡± She eximed with delight.

    I noticed her cheeks flushing and her eyes seemed a bit narrowed.

    ¡°Are you already drunk? Tell me, did you take some pills from random strangers or from our ssmates?¡±

    ¡°No, why?¡±

    A sigh of relief came out of my chest. I could have sworn I¡¯d never forgive myself if Mia had been drugged all because I tagged her here. I needed to protect thisdy from the party pill that was circting in this crowd.

    ¡°Shot, shot, shot, shot!¡±

    Ady drank almost half a bottle of tequ while the crowd was cheering for her.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I wanted to make an announcement. We finally arrived at my private ind. Everyone, you can now proceed to go down from this yacht. Let¡¯s continue the party at my private resort!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    ¡°I would like to take the most expensive room, Charles!¡±

    The crowd was so excited that they had already imed some private rooms. Some of them would probably make out because everyone here was already drugged by the pill.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    I need to protect Mia at all costs. I¡¯m hoping that Charles was not behind this¡­

    ¡°Mia, promise me you are not going to ept any drug pills or drinks from our ssmates, okay?¡±

    She nodded. I then exined what I saw earlier inside thefort room.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if Charles knew about this, but I just don¡¯t want to be involved in this. I don¡¯t want to pile up my wrongdoings against Chase. He would be so upset if he found out what was going on at this party.¡±

    Mia¡¯s brow furrowed when I said that.

    ¡°I can ask Charles. I¡¯d be upset if he knew this all along and wouldn¡¯t mind our safety. I also don¡¯t want to be drugged by anyone or someone from our ssmates. I¡¯ll be mad at Charles if this is his n all along to take advantage of other girls.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, we should have known earlier and asked Charles about this. Thest time I was involved in something like this, I was put in jail. Because someone put a bag of illegal drugs in Chase¡¯s car and it¡¯s a good thing, we¡¯re proven not guilty with the help of his father.¡±

    Mia¡¯s face crumpled as I said that to her.

    ¡°I know it¡¯s truly unexpected to hear it from me, but trust me, you wouldn¡¯t like it to be interrogated by the police.¡± I continued.

    Our ssmates and some random strangers then started to go down from the yacht. Everyone became excited, and they rushed toward the ind. I didn¡¯t follow them, and Mia and I waited for Charles.

    When the three of us were now alone on the yacht, I confronted Charles.

    ¡°Charles, did you know about the circting party pill at your yacht party?¡±

    He was taken aback and scratched his head.

    ¡°I noticed it but it would be difficult for me to stop them. This is just one night. I don¡¯t want to ruin the grand opening for my private resort.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but what if thises out to the media? Our school¡¯s reputation and our own reputation might be tarnished!¡±

    ¡°This is normal, Reese. Some of the investors that are here at my party, including Ellie Steward, whom you spoke to earlier, were aware that it was happening, but they kept quiet because they know that it is also a business for someone on this yacht. Selling drugs makes a good amount of money¡­¡±

    What the hell?

 CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

    OLIVIA

    THE NIGHT went on the secluded ind owned by Charles himself.

    I could not help but question whether there was anything less dignified than seeing people getting more wasted and witnessing their audacity to distribute the party drugs as if it was only some sweet candies.

    All I could do was curse under my breath. I badly wanted to stay inside one of the suites in the resort, if not for Mia, who chose to stay with Charles and be on the watch as she didn¡¯t want him to take any drugs either.

    ¡°Believe me, Mia. Had I known this would happen, I would not have dragged you to the party at all,¡± I told Mia with my arms crossed against my chest.

    ¡°I know, Reese, and I understand what you feel. But we are already here. Let¡¯s just wait, remain cautious and avoid getting ourselves into trouble. I already asked Charles to send us back to the port in the morning,¡± she said, assuring me that everything would be alright despite the horrible acts I was witnessing before my eyes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why he can¡¯t do it now? My bodyguard is waiting for me at the port!¡± I said, totally annoyed.

    ¡°You see, I already asked him. However, he said that the captain is totally wasted and no one else knows how to maneuver a yacht here, Reese. I am sorry about this.¡±

    ¡°Like seriously! To hell with him for not telling me that this is going to be an overnight party.¡± I shot her with a re.

    We were here on the beach front. The people kept partying with loud music being yed on. That made them alive. They were dancing in the white sand. Most of them were holding beer cups, totally wasted and high from both alcohol and the party drugs they took.

    Despite the obvious illegality, there were men who were still offering party drugs, and my stomach twisted at the sight of it.

    ¡°Hey, hey, hey,dies! Do you want some? One happy pill only costs three hundred bucks,¡± said the guy who approached us while we remained seated on one of the sun loungers beside the shore where the people were dancing like crazy.

    ¡°Happy pill?¡± I asked in disbelief.

    The guy jerked his head and grinned. ¡°Yeah. If you took one of these, you would be extra happy,¡± he said meaningfully.

    ¡°Go away or else I will punch you in the face!¡± I scoffed at him.

    Mia tightened her hold on my arm and told the guy we were not buying anything from him. The guy offered me a smirk before he left. Rage boiled in me as I could not take what was happening here any longer.

    ¡°I just want to go home.¡± I huffed in frustration.

    ¡°We will go home first thing in the morning, Reese. I assure you that,¡± Mia said.

    ¡°F-uck this ce. There isn¡¯t any cellr signal here. How can I contact my husband? Chase will be so mad at me,¡± I responded, and palmed my face.

    Mia kept patting my back while keeping an eye on Charles at the same time. He was talking to some businessmen and seemingly having fun, ignoring the illegal dealings happening at his own freaking party. If not for Mia, I would have rushed into him and punched his face for turning a blind eye.

    The night went on. We stayed on the sun loungers for almost an hour, and after that, Mia asked for us to go inside the resort and check in because we were both feeling sleepy. All I could do was sigh as we stood up.

    We walked towards the main entrance of the resort, but we came to a halt when we heard loud screaming followed by a gunshot.

    I went into an instant panic and quickly squatted on the ground with my hands covering my ears. My heart raced aggressively inside my chest, and the fear that someone might have been shot made me feel cold.

    ¡°What is going on?¡± I asked Mia, but tears already streamed down her face. She waspletely scared about the gunshot we heard.

    I slowly stood up and turned to the beach front, where I saw people fighting, screaming, and cursing. My eyes widened at the sight of them. Charles tried to interfere but ended up getting punched by a man who seemed so high because of the drugs.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t there any security here? Anyone to help?!¡± I asked in panic.

    Mia shook her head. ¡°Bring Charles here, Reese! It¡¯s dangerous!¡±

    ¡°Stay here! I will go inside and ask for help!¡±

    I ran and quickened my pace. I went inside the resort and looked for someone to report the situation to. I then found some staff in the lobby and asked them to deploy their security in the beach front area as there was a fight happening.

    Security guards then lined up and got deployed in an instance by their leader. I followed them and took Mia away from the crowd. The situation escted, and the next thing I knew, I heard men firing guns in the air, which made everyone scream in fear.

    ¡°We have to run!¡± I told Mia, but she screamed when she saw Charles getting beaten up by some men. ¡°Mia, no! We have to run!¡±

    ¡°They are beating Charles, Reese! No!¡± She cried hysterically.

    I caught my breath. My mind went nk and I could not think any longer as the situation had gotten worse. I embraced Mia, trying to stop her, but she was too strong to get away from me and ran towards Charles.

    I followed her, but I stopped and covered my ears when I heard another gunshot. I was on the verge of tearing up when the movement of the air shifted and became so strong that it blew my hair and dress with force.

    A strong wind blew the sand away. People stopped what they were doing and started looking above their heads. When I looked above, I saw a chopper moving in our direction. The loud noise of its fans made it impossible for me to hear the crowd any longer.

    I watched it as it moved. It slowly went to the yacht¡¯s rooftop, and itnded there.

    Everyone was watching the chopper. My heart continued to race fast. Someone was slowlying out of it, and I gasped when I realized that it was my husband.

    ¡°Chase¡­¡± I mumbled.

    I was ovee with relief and anxiety; I was relieved that he hade here to save me and Mia, but I was concerned that he might discover that I had lied to him. That thought made my tears pool in my eyes.

    I watched how he descended from the yacht. His face was grim; his jaw and fist were both clenching. His eyes searched for someone in the crowd, and I stiffened when his ocean blue eyes found me.

    He then closed the distance between us. I was about to exin, but he quickly grabbed my hand and dragged me away.

    ¡°Chase! Hold on, I am going to exin! Chase!¡± I called him but he did not say a word.

    Fear went through me. I knew he was damn mad at me for lying. I bit my lower lip and let him drag me, but Charles came into the picture.

    ¡°Why are you dragging her?!¡± Charles shouted at him.

    Chase turned to him. His jaw clenched even more and I panicked when he punched Charles in his face, which made him fall to the sand.

    ¡°How dare you include my wife in this mess!¡±

    ¡°Chase, don¡¯t! Please calm down!¡± I pulled his arm, trying to prevent him from striking Charles again.

    Mia ran to Charles and helped him stand up.

    ¡°You should not have hosted a party if you can¡¯t control your crowd!¡± Chase shot him a re. ¡°Do you see what you¡¯ve done?¡± He then pointed to the crowd. ¡°People are f-ucking drugged and some have brought their guns. Isn¡¯t this kind of party illegal?¡±

    ¡°I will have the situation under control-¡±

    ¡°F-uck off, Charles Brent. You never controlled the situation and let your peeps be drugged as if it was a legal thing, and f-uck you for dragging my wife into this!¡±

    ¡°Chase, please! Stop!¡± I told him, tears pooling in my eyes.

    His gaze turned to me. I shivered when all I could see in his eyes was anger.

    ¡°You lied to me,¡± he said in his deep tone and using voice. ¡°We are going to talk, Reese. Go to the chopper. Now!¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright. Please, calm down!¡± I wiped my tears away and looked at Mia.  ¡°Mia,e with me, please. I can¡¯t leave you here.¡±

    ¡°No, she wille with me,¡± Charles said, taking Mia in his arms.

    ¡°I was the one who brought her here. I should be the one to take her home, Charles!¡± I said firmly and quickly tugged Mia onto my side.

    ¡°Mia,¡± he called her.

    ¡°We will talk, Charles¡­ at school, but not now¡­¡± she said, her lips quivering.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mia. I¡¯m sorry¡­ I really do,¡± I said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be, Reese. We both did not know this would happen¡­¡±

    We then headed to the chopper. Chase was still silent and obviously furious, though he assisted me and Mia to hop in the passenger seats of the chopper and passed ear protection to us.

    I tried to hold his hand, but he shoved my hand away. That alone made me feel so guilty. I lowered my head and cried in silence.

    The chopper sent Mia to their restaurant on the beachside. Chase was the one who faced Mia¡¯s father. They talked for a minute, and then he went back to the seat on my side.

    I could not even calm down a bit. My entire body tensed, knowing that Chase was furious at my lies. I inhaled heavily and pondered, gathering my thoughts so I could deliver a good apology once we got home.

    ¡°Chase¡­¡± I tried to get his attention. But he never gazed at me.

    The choppernded on the vast bermuda grass beside our house. We hopped out of it. Chase did not say a word and only motioned for me to go inside our house. I licked my lower lip and nodded.

    I went inside the house and waited for him in the living room. I could not rx anymore. My hands felt so cold as I paced back and forth and waited for him. I could feel my heart pounding aggressively inside my chest, and my anxiety doubled when I heard his footsteps approaching me.

    ¡°Chase, I am so sorry¡­¡± was the only thing I said to him.

    He shot me a re. The fury in his eyes became visible. For a brief moment, I thought I was looking at a different man, but my guilt struck me, telling me I was the one who caused this whole thing after all¡­ and I deserved it.

    ¡°Since when did you start lying to me, Reese?!¡± His voice boomed inside the whole house, and I almost jumped to my feet with his shout.

    ¡°It¡¯s not my intention to lie, Chase-¡±

    ¡°But you f-ucking did! Why?!¡±

    ¡°I just wanted to help Mia, alright? He likes Charles and-¡±

    ¡°You know what makes me furious?!¡± He cut me off.  ¡°That is the fact that you lied to me just to go to that f-ucking party being hosted by Charles! Didn¡¯t you see how the people acted at the party?! There were drugs being distributed! Have you taken drugs too?!¡±

    I wasn¡¯t able to control myself and pped him in the face. With ragged breathing, I looked at him in disbelief.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t, Chase! I know what I am doing and I won¡¯t do anything that will tarnish your name!¡± I defended myself. ¡°I swear I didn¡¯t know any of that, and had I known about it from the start, I would never havee to that party with Mia!¡±

    ¡°But still, you chose toe. You chose to lie to me and made me look so f-ucking stupid, Reese. I should have known better! If I didn¡¯t send my men to follow you, I don¡¯t think I could ever imagine what would happen next at that freaking illegal party!¡±

    ¡°You got me tailed by your man? How could you, Chase! Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± I asked, horrified to hear it all from him.

    ¡°After what you just did, do you think I¡¯d still trust you?  You lied to me!¡± he shouted at me, which made me tear up. ¡°For the record, you are not yet getting better, Reese! You are supposed to undergo therapy! For God¡¯s sake, how could you act like a normal teenager when you are not!¡±

    His words struck my core. I stiffened as my chest tightened, trying to process all the words he said, and when it sank, it left me gasping for thin air.

    All I saw was red.

    I burned with deep anger as I realized he thought I was not normal; that I was a wife he did not trust and let his men tail me because I was clearly not f-ucking normal¡­

    The man who I thought came to save me was, in the end, the same man who crushed me into pieces when I least expected it.

    My heart suddenly hardened.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± I yelled at him.

    My itching palmnded on his cheek once again, but this time, it was a severe p that I did see my finger marks on his face.

    ¡°Yes, I suffer from an anxiety disorder, Chase. But that does not mean I am not normal. I am not as crazy as you think I was¡­¡± I said, but my voice came off cold and hurt.

    Unable to bear the heavy emotions from the fact that he insulted me, I walked past him, crying.

    ¡°Reese,¡± he called me, but I never looked back.

    I ran to the foyer and exited the house. How could he say all that to me?

    How could he f-ucking rub it in my face that he thinks I am not normal?

    How could he, of all people, treat me as if I was a crazy woman?

    ¡°Damn it!¡± I cursed under my breath.

    I was almost running to the main gate. There I saw Mathias. He approached me and was trying to stop me, but I extended my hand and asked him for the car key.

    ¡°Madame, it¡¯s past midnight. You can¡¯t drive in this state,¡± he said. His voice was still formal and polite.

    I shot him a re. ¡°Give me the key, Mathias. Please¡­¡±

    ¡°Madame, please calm down a bit.¡±

    ¡°I said give me the freaking keys, Mathias!¡± I demanded.

    He let out a sigh and then picked up the key from his pocket and handed it to me.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you ever try to follow me!¡± I said and then walked away.

    I went towards the car avable and hopped in it, then I drove it fast away from the house.

    I was biting my lower lip firmly the whole time I was on the road, driving, with my heart feeling so heavy and betrayed.  I screamed and drove the car to the side of the road and stopped it.

    ¡°How dare you! How dare you!¡± I mmed my hands on the steering wheel and buried my head in it afterward.

    I thought he¡¯d understood my condition better. I thought he¡¯d cared for me, but he was just the same with others who see anxiety disorder as insanity.

    My whole body was trembling, both in anger and regret.

    ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Please, don¡¯t cry¡­¡± I said to myself and wiped my tears away.

    I licked my lips and tasted the sickly-sweet taste of my own blood.

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    Hot tears continued to stream down my face no matter how I tried to wipe them away. I swallowed so hard and recalled all those hurtful words Chase said to me in the house.

    My lips quivered. I could not believe he¡¯d thought something like that about me. I thought he waspletely different¡­ But no, he proved me wrong!

    I cried in the car, letting all my emotions out. It took almost half an hour before my body calmed down.

    After that, I decided to go to Lara¡¯s apartment.

    I knew it was possible for Chase to follow me there, but I didn¡¯t give a damn about him. After what he said, I came to realize that rich people would never understand my situation because their worlds revolved only around money, and nothing else.

    When I arrived at the building where Lara lives, I desperately rushed into her apartment and knocked on the door numerous times.

    ¡°Lara. Lara, it¡¯s me. Please open the door,¡± I asked as I sobbed.

    It did not take that long before the door opened. Lara appeared before my eyes. Her brows furrowed, her mouth half-opened as she looked at me in confusion.

    ¡°My goodness, Olivia. What happened?¡± she asked.

    I immediately embraced her and all I did was cry myself into her shoulders.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°Sssh, hush now¡­ I am here. It¡¯s okay¡­¡± she said. Her voice was soothing and she started patting my back, which made me cry even more. ¡°Goodness¡­ what the hell happened to you, Liv¡­¡±

    Tears filled her t-shirt as I embraced her tightly. It was as if she was the only lifeline I had, and if I let her go, I¡¯d end up meeting my downfall.

    ¡°Come inside. Let¡¯s talk,¡± she said, and I only nodded.

    I released her. Lara then closed the door and guided me to her room. I went straight to her bed and threw my body there.

    For a split second, I felt like I was a teenager crying over a guy who had betrayed me. I hugged her pillow and turned my back on her, as I did not want Lara to see me in this state.

    ¡°Alright, whatever it was that happened, just cry your heart out and when you are done, you can talk to me,¡± she said.

    I only nodded at her.

    She tucked me in and let me cry myself to sleep.

 CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

    OLIVIA

    I THOUGHT I was all done crying my heart out the entire night, but when I woke up remembering what happened, my eyes could not help but tear up.

    Those hurtful words Chase had told me kept repeating in my mind and were like daggers piercing my chest. No matter how I tried to ignore it, it all crawled back into my head and kept suffocating me.

    ¡°So that¡¯s it? You¡¯re going to cry again?¡± Laramented soon after she entered the room.

    I snorted. My gaze followed her when she walked towards the window and opened the curtains. I winced when the sunshine reflected in the ss window and blinded my eyes.

    Lara then turned to me. Her arms were on both sides of her hips and she eyed me as if she was waiting for me to say everything.

    ¡°Mikael already went to school. Even my kid is worried about you because he heard you crying all night,¡± she added. ¡°I wanted to call Chase myself and ask him what exactly happened, but I am afraid I would end up scolding him for making you cry. So, you have no choice but to tell me everything now, Olivia Marie.¡±

    I swallowed the lump in my throat. I could feel the dryness in my mouth as an aftermath of my sudden breakdownst night. Even my eyes felt so heavy, swollen and tired. However, I would say nothing could ever defeat the excruciating pain I felt in my heart.

    ¡°Olivia,¡± Lara called to my attention when I did not respond to her.

    ¡°Can we have a drink?¡± I asked her and let out a heavy sigh. ¡°I need a beer and to get wasted so I can forget everything. I can¡¯t take the pain, Lara.¡±

    My lips quivered. My tears were about to stream down my face again, but I looked at the ceiling and blinked them away.

    I heard Lara sigh. ¡°You look totally a mess, Liv. Is this the result of your forbidden love for that man? Do you really think it is worth giving your feelings a try? Look at yourself in the mirror. You are clearly hurting for real.¡±

    I shut my eyes and gulped the pain down. After that, I met Lara¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°I need to clear my head a bit, Lara. Please, I want some beers. Let¡¯s have a drink¡­¡±

    I knew she was fighting the urge to roll her eyes at me, and perhaps she thought I was stupid for letting myself fall for Chase and letting him hurt me in this way. But I don¡¯t care anymore.

    ¡°Fine, we will drink. But you have to eat breakfast first. I won¡¯t let alcohol be your first meal in the morning,¡± she said, and then motioned for me to leave the room.

    I nodded my head and offered her a thin smile, though it did not reach my eyes.

    ¡°Thanks, Lara.¡±

    We went out of her bedroom and ate breakfast in the dining area. Lara cooked soup and light dishes for me to wash away my hangover fromst night¡¯s drinks. After that, she bought some beers and snacks.

    We settled into the living room. As I sipped my beer, I felt a stinging feeling going down my lungs, and it was satisfying.

    ¡°Chase and I had a fightst night,¡± I started as I looked at my drink.

    We were both sitting on the couch. I was hugging my knees while Lara was beside me. Her feet were on top of the center table.

    ¡°Listening,¡± she said.

    ¡°He found out that I lied to him about the party hosted by a man he didn¡¯t like. The yacht went to a secluded ind, and there was drug distribution and gunshots¡­ We witnessed a total mess. Chase used a chopper and followed me, and then we fought at home. He said a lot of things that hurt my feelings. He was furious at me, and told me I wasn¡¯t normal at all because I had an anxiety disorder¡­¡±

    ¡°What the hell? He did say that?¡± Lara almost yelled at me,pletely shocked.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    My tears fell down and I grabbed the roll of tissue on the center table and wiped my tears away before I nodded at her.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I am so upset with him. I epted the fact that he was mad at me for lying to him, and I understood where he came from, but¡­¡± I sobbed and shook my head. ¡°Telling me that I am not normal because of my disorder is a different thing, Lara. He made me feel like I was an insane woman. He wanted to put a leash on me so I couldn¡¯t tarnish their names. I really thought he was different from people who think anxiety disorder is insanity, but he just proved me wrong.¡±

    Lara muttered a curse under her breath and patted my shoulder as I couldn¡¯t stop myself from crying. I drank my beer and finished it immediately, then opened up a new bottle and drank it again.

    All I did was to let out my pain, and Lara listened all the time. I lost count of how many bottles I had finished. But the mere fact that I felt so dizzy only indicated that I had enough.

    ¡°I¡¯ll use the bathroom,¡± I said, and blinked several times.

    I had trouble standing up but was still able to do so after a few attempts to bnce out. I went to the bathroom to pee and washed my face in front of the mirror afterwards.

    I looked at my reflection in the mirror. All I could see was a totally messed up woman who loved the wrong man; an insane woman whose n got all ruined because she freaking fell in love with a man she was only supposed to deceive.

    ¡°You are suffering the consequences¡­¡± I said to myself andughed at my reflection. ¡°This is entirely your fault. You should not have fallen for him. You shouldn¡¯t¡­¡±

    My shoulder began shaking as a new batch of tears fell down my cheeks. I sobbed as I couldn¡¯t take the pain inside my chest. I clutched it and lowered my head.

    ¡°This is all wrong¡­¡± I whispered.

    A scissor from the sink got my attention. I pressed my lips together and looked at it intently. I pondered for a while and ended up taking the scissors.

    Out of frustration, I cut my hair while crying, as if that would end my misery. I only stopped when Lara mmed the door open and saw what I was doing. She quickly grabbed the scissors from my hand and hugged me tightly.

    It was around afternoon when someone knocked on Lara¡¯s apartment. My heart pounded aggressively when I heard the familiar voice of a man talking to my friend and asking about me.

    ¡°I want to see her, Lara. Can you please let me in? I need to talk to my wife,¡± I heard Chase say.

    I was inside the bedroom at the time, and all I did was listen to what was happening on the other side of the door while biting my lower lip.

    ¡°She¡¯s taking a rest, Chase. I suggest you give her some time. She will talk to you when she¡¯s ready,¡± Lara responded.

    ¡°But I want to fix this fight as soon as possible. It is driving me insane¡­¡±

    I swallowed hard when I heard his voice. It sounded so desperate and longing¡­ But even though I slightly felt guilty about the situation, I knew I wasn¡¯t that ready to face him after what happened.

    I wasn¡¯t even sure when I would be ready to forgive him.

    ¡°Please, Lara.¡±

    ¡°No, Chase. I apologize, but Reese needs some time to clear her head. I hope you respect that.¡±

    Then I heard silence. I thought he had already left until he said something again.

    ¡°Tell her I love her and I regret saying those things I told herst night¡­¡±

    ***

    ¡°DID YOU just clean the entire house, Liv?¡± Lara asked the obvious as she looked at me while I was holding a vacuum cleaner.

    ¡°I have nothing else to do, Lara. Besides, I don¡¯t know how to clear up my mind after what happened at that stupid yacht party,¡± I said, wiping the bullet of sweat that formed on my forehead and continuing cleaning her living room to keep myself busy.

    Lara was always there to help me, especially in tough times. It had been almost a week since I ran away from Chase. I had nowhere to go except to her, and I was d she wasn¡¯t forcing me toe home.

    Reese¡¯s parents found out what happened. Lara made sure that the situation would be under control and texted them, assuring them that everything was fine regarding their daughter and informing them that Reese was only busy clearing her head and taking medications.

    ¡°Look at these, Live! How am I supposed to live normally with these lovely flowers piled up at my door?¡± Her tone was a bit annoyed.

    I looked in her direction and saw that she was inspecting all the flowers outside.

    ¡°I will throw them away. I¡¯m sorry if that bothers you.¡± I then went outside, walked past her, and grabbed the bouquets of flowers being sent here with some letters.

    It confused me why he kept sending me flowers here. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to send me the divorce papers? I would be happy to sign them and end my misery.  Starting over with my life would be a great idea at this point.

    Lara was right. I was a fool to fall in love with someone like him¡­

    With that in mind, I put all the flowers in the garbage bag without any regret.

    For the past couple of days of staying out of his sight, I have had a lot of things to ponder. I was convinced that my growing feelings for him only started because I simply pitied him and regretted deceiving him about who I truly was; that I was not the Reese Jones he was looking for.

    I realized that the lies I told him just to go to the yacht party and how he reacted and made me a fool were enough for me to see the darkest side of him. All of a sudden, he turned into someone that I never expected to see for a tiny lie I made. I could never imagine how he would react once he found out that I was not Reese Jones¡­

    ¡°Damn it,¡± I cursed under my breath. Imagining how things would escte once he found out my true identity was enough to ruin my entire day.

    ¡°Goodness! I beg you not to cry again, Liv,¡± Lara said while she was leaning her back against the doorframe.

    My hands started to quiver. I could feel my chest tightening and it started to cause me a panic attack. I instantly let go of the garbage bag, and all the bouquets scattered to the ground.

    The stinging feeling of anxiety getting through me was the worst feeling ever.  I inhaled deeply, trying to catch my breath. My stomach started to growl and I ended up vomiting in the garbage bag.

    ¡°Shit, not again¡­¡±

    ¡°Liv, are you okay?¡± Lara went into an instant panic. ¡°Let me take you to the hospital!¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine, Lara. Maybe I am just tired,¡± I replied, and caught my breath after vomiting.

    She rubbed my back and said, ¡°Let me take care of this. Please go inside and take a rest. I will go to the grocery store to buy some things.¡±

    I only nodded and entered her apartment. My chest felt so heavy that all I could think about was ending my life. I went to the bathroom and looked for something that could help me end everything, but I only ended up sitting on the toilet and crying my heart out.

    Even if I wanted to, I could not afford it. Lara would hate me for life if I did it.

    After releasing my emotions, I washed my face and took some pills from the medicine cab for me to take. Then I drank a ss of water.

    ¡°You have to keep going, Olivia,¡± I told myself as I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

    When my mind cleared up I went to the kitchen and opened a bottle of red wine and poured it into the wine ss. I sat on the couch and took a sip of the wine. I sighed, remembering what happened between me and Chase that I wanted to erase from my head.

    I felt so sorry for myself, for Lara, for Mia, and for everyone whom I believed supported me. It was, indeed, difficult to stay strong all the time. I hope they won¡¯t take it against me.

    To switch up my mind, I grabbed the remote and turned on the smart TV.

    ¡°Time to watch some boring TV shows,¡± I said.

    I had a difficult time finding an interesting TV show. I recalled being so interested in any TV shows before, but now it waspletely different, as if I had totally disconnected from the things that I used to enjoy before.

    Sighing, I ended up watching news and weather updates just to keep myself updated.

    ¡°Our program will be interrupted with a special announcement. Please stay tuned¡­¡±

    ¡°What the heck?¡± I reacted when the news program cut off with a group of men singing a 90¡¯s love song. Then it was followed by a certain message:

    ¡®I¡¯m sorry for what happened, Reese. Pleasee back to me.¡¯

    It was in white text and had some flowers in the background that I found too familiar. In the lower part of the text, it showed a time and date, which would be tomorrow at twelve noon. My forehead creased as I looked at it, and then after a second, the TV ended it and it went back to the news like nothing happened.

    After a couple of minutes, I spilled out the wine that I was drinking when I soon realized that the TV ad mentioned that specific name: Reese.

    ¡°Wait¡­ Reese? Is that a TV ad for me?¡± I winced at that thought. ¡°There¡¯s no way that it¡¯s about me. It said Reese, not Reese Jones¡­¡± I palmed my face.

    I uttered a curse and began to switch to other channels instead.

    Then I almost spilled my wine again when I saw the same Ad on other channels.

    Reese, forgive me¡­

    That was the freaking message that made my heart pound so fast, to the point that I became so nervous, thinking that it was Chase¡¯s doing.

    Was he aware that I love watching TV so much? Or maybe he realized that I didn¡¯t have anything to do in Lara¡¯s apartment but to watch freaking TV, so he settled with such ideas?

    Either way, it was deeply upsetting to the shit in me.

    He knew that I didn¡¯t have a job or anything productive to do¡­

    Every single time I switched the channel, all I saw was the same TV ad that I had gotten sick of already. I threw the remote at the TV and screamed.

    I finished my wine and stood up just to pace back and forth while biting my nails. I was only interrupted when my business phone rang. I checked the caller ID and it was Mia.

    ¡°Not now, Mia.¡± I rejected her phone call because I didn¡¯t know what to say. I was not in the right condition in terms of my mental health.

    I thought about the TV ad again. If this was Chase¡¯s doing, then I didn¡¯t know what to say. If I forgave him, then he ended up knowing that I was lying the whole time as Reese Jones. What would happen next?

    Was this an opportunity to cut ties with him?

    But every time I imagined that we would get a divorce and walk separate ways for good, my heart felt like it was being torn into pieces.

    I shut my eyes. I reminded myself that he would never love someone as deceitful as me; that the reason why he was chasing me was because he thought I was Reese; and if I introduced myself as Olivia, a girl who had nothing to offer and an orphan, he would only shoo me away. Rich people do that kind of stuff. They throw away worthless things, even people.

    My thoughts were all ripped out when I heard my phone chime. I looked at it and noticed that Mia was sending me a lot of text messages.

    From: Mia Brown

    We need to talk, ASAP!

    I got my connections! You can¡¯t hide on me, Reese Jones!

    I¡¯ming for you! Wait for me!

    My forehead creased as I read her text messages. What was Mia plotting?

    A few minutes passed and I heard a loud knock on the main door. My heart pounded so fast, and I stiffened in the living room, totally startled. I checked the clock. It was too early for Lara to go home.

    ¡°Who is it?¡± I asked in my faint voice.

    The loud knock continued. I slowly walked to the door and mustered my courage to speak loudly.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there? If you are one of Chase¡¯s men, please don¡¯t waste your time and go tell him that I no longer want to see him!¡±

    ¡°Reese, it is me, Mia! Please open the door! We need to talk,¡± she said. Her voice sounded as if she was in a hurry. ¡°I want to help you! I know you suffered so much because of me. Please, open up the door so I can  exin a lot of things to you. You didn¡¯t deserve this, Reese! Please, let me in!¡±

    I frowned. My hands were shaking, then, with all of my remaining strength, I opened the door. I was greeted by Mia¡¯s teary eyes, then she immediately engulfed me in a warm embrace.

 CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

    OLIVIA

    ¡°WHAT BROUGHT you here, Mia? How did you know that I was here?¡±

    Mia¡¯s arms were still wrapped around me when I asked her that.

    ¡°Chase told me you were staying at your friend¡¯s house, so I tracked you down,¡± she exined.

    I exhaled deeply. I can¡¯t really hide myself from these billionaires around me. I gathered my thoughts, then invited her toe talk to me in the living room.

    ¡°Sorry Mia, we only have instant coffee here. This won¡¯t match what you have from your restaurant, but-¡± I was not able to finish my words because she cut me off by holding my hand tightly.

    My brows furrowed.  ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mia?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve seen the TV ad, don¡¯t you? Because I¡¯ve also seen it.¡± She sighed and looked at me intently. ¡°You see, that was Chase Maxwell¡¯s doing. His cousin had connections in the mediawork in this country, and he probably asked to air that ad for you to see¡­¡±

    I bit my lower lip. Out of frustration, I then asked her to leave the apartment. Hearing Chase¡¯s namee out of her mouth totally annoyed me.

    ¡°Mia, if you came here just to shove it in my face that Chase and I had problems, then get out of here. I¡¯m suffering enough and, to be honest, I don¡¯t have any courage to talk about him.¡±

    I was holding my tears in front of her as I could only show my vulnerable side to Lara.

    Mia should not see me like this, not at all.

    ¡°Please, listen to me, Reese. He reached out to me. Chase asked and begged for my help. I felt that this is my way to repay you!¡± She squeezed my hand and her expression softened even more. ¡°You¡¯ve helped me gain confidence and you made me realize that my belief in men was wrong. With your help, Charles confessed to me. I owe you a lot, Reese, so please allow me to help you.¡±

    I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist.

    Poor Mia, If she knew who she was talking to, that I wasn¡¯t the person she thought I was, that Chase was trying to reim¡­ she would definitely feel bad about me.

    Even my body was tired of ying that role in front of her.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need your help, Mia. I want to clear my head, and once I am ready, I will settle everything with Chase. We will eventually talk about what happened, but I don¡¯t think this is the right time for that. I appreciate you trying to help get this straightened out, but you can leave now.¡±

    ¡°But, Reese-¡±

    ¡°Please, leave, Mia.¡± I cut her off and pointed to the door, motioning for her to leave.

    Her shoulders sagged as she let go of my hand. Her face turned gloomy.

    ¡°If you say so, Reese, I¡¯m leaving now.¡±

    She was about to leave, but the door opened as Lara entered the apartment with groceries in both of her hands. She came to a halt when she noticed me and Mia in the living room.

    ¡°Uh-oh! Am I interrupting you guys?¡± she asked, raising her eyebrow at me.

    I looked away, and I gave up when Lara started talking about the advertisement that Chase had made to be aired on TV.

    ¡°Reese, you saw it, right?  I saw that TV ad. Every girl in the salon, even in the grocery store, talked about that advertisement. They were saying that it was such a romantic move for the guy. I couldn¡¯t help but giggle because I knew that it was meant for you! Come on, Reese! I think Chase truly wanted you back and felt sorry for his mistakes. Forgive him already!¡±

    For some reason, I want to punch Lara in the face.

    Mia then spoke to her, ¡°Hi, nice to meet you. My name is Mia, Reese¡¯s ssmate.¡±

    Both of them shook their hands.

    ¡°My name is Lara. Her best friend, and I had always been here if she had problems. I always covered her ass if she messed up. Nice to meet you too,¡± she replied to Mia.

    I was so annoyed that I rolled my eyes and went to the bathroom, then locked the door.

    While I was inside the bathroom, I ced my ears near the door and tried to listen to their conversation.

    I knew I was such an idiot for doing this right now, but I could not help leaving Mia in Lara¡¯s hands.

    ¡°The reason why I came here is because Chase reached out to me. Well, we are kind of close as we used to talk at some gatherings before. To cut the story short, he wanted me to tell Rees about his ns. The original n was just for him to surprise Reese by going here, but he knew that she would be upset if he did that, knowing that his wife was so mad at him when she had her tailed by his men.¡±

    I was taken aback by hearing this from Mia. Was she saying that Chase was trying to be careful now and sought her help instead of having his men pick me up here?

    He might have thought I turned soft-hearted if he had summoned Mia herepared to his men. But still, no matter what he tried to do, I could not face him right now.

    I also felt responsible for my emotions. The truth was, I was scared that he would end up despising me if he knew that I was not his true love.

    He ended up kneeling down to beg me to talk to Reese, saying that he didn¡¯t want to do it just because she was his wife, but because he knew he had gone too far in his actions. He said that when she had gone missing before and did not attend their wedding, he felt so miserable, but now that he had married her and seen her new personality, he ended up loving the new her.

    My heart raced so fast upon hearing Mia¡¯s statement. I heard Lara scream at the top of her lungs.

    ¡°Oh my gosh! Have you heard that, Reese Jones?¡± she said, obviously trying to get my attention. ¡°I know you are listening, Reese! Mia said that Chase loves the new¡­ the new! Let me say it again, the new Reese Jones!¡±

    Then I heard her pping her hands whileughing in glee. It was such a terrible thing to say in front of Mia. She may find her weird.

    But I couldn¡¯t help but smile for some reason. Does that mean that Chase appreciates me more than the true Reese Jones?

    ¡°So what¡¯s the n, Mia? Because my best friend definitely loves to settle things out with Chase Maxwell! They are husband and wife, after all.  To get them reunited is the only logical option because Reese can¡¯t live forever here in my small apartment!¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    I shook my head and pulled my hair out.

    Why was she deciding for me?

    I bit my lower lip and fought the urge to ept that she was right. I could never stay in the rabbit hole I fell into forever.  I dug enough already for me to be in this situation¡­

    ¡°So I talked about the situation to my boyfriend, Charles, and he felt that he was also responsible for their misunderstanding. He went and contacted Chase, then lent him one of his private inds. They worked together and prepared a private dinner for just the two of them¡­¡±

    ¡°What?¡± I murmured to myself.

    I was still listening to them when the door swung open, which made me gasp.

    ¡°I got keys, remember?¡± Lara raised her hand, which was holding the bathroom key.

    I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

    ¡°You heard Mia. Chase worked with Charles. I believe he despised that guy so much, but he ended up working with that dude just to ask for your forgiveness. To win you back!¡±

    I bit my lower lip, then I nced at Mia staring at me with her eyes swollen with tears.

    ¡°Reese, make up your mind. You need to act now. I will bring you to the private ne that will take you there,¡± Mia said out loud.

    I was stunned. ¡°Why would it be today?¡± Is the date indicating that it will be tomorrow?¡± I then suddenly realized that today was May fourteenth. ¡°Oh no! I thought it was the fourteenth  tomorrow. What time is it now?¡±

    ¡°It is already ten o¡¯clock,¡± Lara said, then he dragged me to her bedroom. ¡°We don¡¯t have any time to think, Reese. Let¡¯s not waste Chase¡¯s n. I will pack your things now!¡±

    ¡°Wait! Why?¡± I asked as I was so confused.

    ¡°Earth to Reese Jones-Maxwell! He nned for both of you to spend time on an ind, and only God knows how many days you will be there together!¡±

    ¡°No way! I can¡¯t do this right now, Lara! I need more time to think! I thought it would be tomorrow!¡±

    ¡°Liv, listen to me. I guess Chase wants a baby! He wants to have a baby with you!¡±

    ¡°What the f-uck are you talking about? He doesn¡¯t want to!¡± I snorted.

    ¡°Yes, he does, after all of this fighting. Of course, he wants to have a baby with you!¡± She giggled and gave me a smirk.

    My head was starting to throb with these conversations I had with Lara. She didn¡¯t make any sense!

    ¡°Listen to me, Liv. You heard Mia. He likes the new Reese. He likes you more than the old Reese Jones.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not true. Maybe he is only in love with the idea of having Reese Jones around. He was just confused and that¡¯s about it. Besides, I¡¯m only doing this because of the money. So quit it. It¡¯s not true!¡±

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s true!¡±

    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°Trust me, once you bare his child, even if you told the truth, he would still end up epting the real you.¡±

    My eyes widened when I saw Mia already behind Lara.

    ¡°How long have you been there?¡± I asked with my shaky voice.

    ¡°Long enough to hear your conversations¡­¡±

    I gulped and exhaled deeply, then nced at Lara, who was looking nervous as well. I tried to remain calm, but Mia then spoke once again.

    ¡°I only heard something about the truth that you want to be epted. Whatever it is, Reese, that you don¡¯t want to share with me right now, that¡¯s fine! But I¡¯m hoping that it will not affect our friendship.¡±

    ¡°Of course not, Mia! But one day or another, once I¡¯m ready, I¡¯m going to tell you.¡±

    She then smiled at me and said, ¡°Thank you, Reese, for trusting me. I believe so much in you, so if you¡¯re notfortable sharing it with me right now, it¡¯s fine. Also, I¡¯m sorry for what happened. I hope by doing this I can make it up to you. To save your marriage with Chase¡­¡±

    I shook my head.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to say sorry, Mia.¡±I gave her a smile, walked up to her and embraced her. ¡°Thank you. This is more than enough, I¡¯m going to remember this forever.¡±

    We immediately packed my things, then Mia¡¯s father was actually waiting for us outside in his car. Lara and Mia helped me put my luggage in his car, then he drove us to their house near the beach. ording to them, that was where the private ne was waiting for me.

    When we arrived, I met the pilot, and then my luggage was put inside. My heart was pounding non stop. It had been almost a week since thest time I saw Chase.

    I truly missed him so much¡­

    Before we took off, I nced at the mirror beside my seat. I then drew a heart in the window.

    ¡°Thank you, Mia and Lara. See you guys soon!¡± I yelled at them even though I knew they wouldn¡¯t hear me. Seeing their smiling faces was enough.

    ¡°Wait for me, Chase, I¡¯ll be there soon, my love¡­¡±

 CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

    OLIVIA

    AFTER SUCH an intense fight I had with Chase and days of crying my heart out, I could not deny how excited and nervous I was to finally see him again. It was strange how my heart was instantly filled with hope and love all over again right after the roller coaster of emotions I went through. I never thought I would still feel such positive emotions after drowning myself in the depths of heartbreak and sorrow.

    My lips curled up into a smile. I was sitting beside the ne window and looking at the sea of clouds outside. The fact that Chase made an effort toe up with stunts like these just to be forgiven made me feel the warmth inside my chest.

    He never failed to make me feel extra special.

    I let out a long sigh and sipped my tea, pursed my lips as I tasted the best tea ever and couldn¡¯t help but wonder what would happen once we saw each other.

    ¡°I missed him¡­¡± I said to myself as I leaned my back against the soft andfortable backrest of my seat.

    It almost took two hours before the ne finallynded on a private ind that I would say was too far away from the city. I was greeted by the fresh salty air as soon as I descended to the white sand while holding my luggage bag.

    My eyes immediately roamed around the ind. I gasped,pletely stunned by the beauty of the entire ce. The ocean was crystal blue, and I could see a lot of starfish and seashells on the shore. Palm trees could be seen everywhere; there were rock formations on some parts of the ind; and the sound of ocean waves and whispers of the wind made my body feel more rxed.

    The ne left after a couple of minutes, and for a brief moment, I stayed on the shore admiring the view. I took my phone out and had taken a lot of pictures of the ind before I noticed that there wasn¡¯t any cellr signal here either.

    ¡°The ind being an ind¡­¡± Imented. I looked around and saw the trail on the left part of the shore.

    I hadn¡¯t seen a single soul on the shore, so I decided to walk to the trail, hoping that I would see Chase or someone that would point me to the exact ce I needed to go to. As I walked my way, I was amazed by the beauty of the nts and trees I passed by. This ind was clearly being taken care of despite the fact that it was secluded and far away. Charles probably spent a million dors just to keep its authenticity for him to enjoy whenever he felt like going ind hopping.

    I shook my head as I thought about how many inds he owned by now.

    After a few walks, I found myself standing in front of a private vi. I was hesitant to enter it, but it was the only house I had seen in this ce, and the thought that Chase was probably inside and was waiting for me doubled my courage to enter it.

    The gate was not locked, which made my attempt to trespass easier. Still dragging my luggage bag, I walked to the porch and came to a halt topose myself.

    ¡°Do not be so nervous. It is going to be alright, Liv¡­¡± I said to myself and took several deep breaths as I gathered all my thoughts and the words I wanted to tell Chase.

    I decided to forgive him; to forget those hurtful words he said, and to apologize for lying to him. I wanted to assure him that I would never make the same mistake again and that I would never make him worry again. I would tell him that despite everything that happened, I still love him and I miss him so badly.

    Those thoughts made my heart pound aggressively. I knew this was beyond madness as it was not part of my original n to suck money out of his pocket, but I no longer give a damn.

    All I knew right then was the fact that I was madly in love with him¡­

    I took one deep breath and then pushed the door open.

    ¡°Chase?¡± I called his name as I entered the vi.

    My jaw dropped when I nced at every corner of the ce. The vi was so spacious. It had a minimalist interior design. The walls were painted white and brown, whichplemented the antique furniture sitting around in its right ces. The living room was enormous and had a firece too, and on its right side there was a ss door that would lead to an outdoor pool and the oceanfront view.

    ¡°Chase, I¡¯m here!¡± I called once again. This time my voice was loud enough for him to hear.

    I was hoping to hear a response, but all I heard was silence. I pouted my lips and decided to leave the luggage bag on one of the couches and ran upstairs.

    The second floor also had a living room and a balcony where a couple could sit for a romantic lunch or dinner while gazing at the ocean view in front of them, and there were rooms avable on the other side of the hallway.

    ¡°Chase?¡± I called my husband as I walked to the hallway and checked the rooms one by one.

    I entered the master bedroom and saw some luggage beside the king-sized bed. I quickly inspected it and figured out it was Chase¡¯s stuff!

    ¡°Chase!¡± I rushed into the bathroom, hoping to see him there, but to no avail. ¡°Where is he?¡±

    I could not help but wonder where he went at this point. He was supposed to wait for me here. Could it be that he was at the beach all along? I palmed my face, thinking that our paths didn¡¯t cross when the nended here earlier.

    With that in mind, I quickly descended to the first floor and went out of the vi.

    I ran towards the shore and called his name as I wandered. Perhaps the nended on the wrong part of the ind, and Chase was on the other side of it, waiting for me. Even though I was starting to feel a bit tired walking and calling his name, I did not stop even for a minute as I really wanted to see him badly.

    However, I already checked every area of the front part of the ind, and Chase was nowhere to be found. Worry filled my chest. His luggage was already in the vi, which meant that he arrived here before me¡­ But where did he go?

    I went back to the vi, trying my best to be positive despite being anxious about my situation. I checked the pool, garden, kitchen, and backyard, but Chase was nowhere to be found.

    Maybe we went somewhere to prepare something special for me?

    I settled with that hunch as I could never entertain negative thoughts at this point. I sat on one of the couches and leaned my head against the backrest while waiting for Chase. Out of exhaustion, my eyelids feel heavy, and even though I tried my best not to fall asleep, I unconsciously yawned and shut my eyes.

    When I finally woke up, I realized that it was almost sunset. My eyes widened, and I stood up and called out to Chase again, hoping that he had already arrived at this time. However, my voice just echoed in the house, and nothing¡­ no one ever responded.

    I gasped. My chest tightened at the thought that Chase might have forgotten that he was supposed to be here, or that his work was way more important than fixing the loose ends of our rtionship. I mean, if he could not make it, why even start a n like this?

    Damn it!

    I stormed out of the vi and inspected the whole area, but I hadn¡¯t found a single soul that would help me get home as I no longer wanted to be here anymore.

    I walked and continued to mutter curses under my breath while holding back my tears. I could not believe I had to deal with this situation. Let alone, I had anticipated this. All the excitement I felt from the ne before I arrived here went away, and the only thing that was left was embarrassment.

    My feet felt the sand once again. I took several deep breaths as I gazed at the ocean and the sun setting down from afar. I swallowed so hard. Tears started to stream down my face, but my hands were quick to wipe all of them off.

    ¡°I should not have listened to them¡­ I should not have listened to my freaking heart,¡± I said, kicking the sand to let out my frustration.

    I ended up picking up some marbles on the sand and throwing them into the sea while cursing and venting my rage. I felt as if I was being power tripped by Chase Maxwell, and he was sittingfortably at home,ughing and mocking me.

    ¡°Darn it!¡± I yelled and threw anything solid that came into contact with my hand from the ground.

    I then sat on the sand and watched the sunset while crying and wishing that my misery would just end. I hugged both of my knees and buried my head on top of them and sobbed like a child missing in an unfamiliar ce.

    My wet cheeks were kissed by the salty air. I bit my lower lip. My emotions overpowered the shit in me, to the extent that even impossible ideas started to whirl around my head.

    What if he found out about my real identity and, out of his anger, he decided to ditch me and left me hanging on this ind all by myself?

    What if this was my punishment for deceiving him?

    My heart felt as if it was being wrenched severely. I knew that Chase had all the good reasons to seek revenge because I deceived him, and I knew that I had no right toin because I was the one who started this whole mess¡­ just because I wanted to get rich overnight.

    OLIVIA

    I remained still. My eyes gazed at the sea and let both of my thoughts and the sound of the waves consume my head. I realized that no matter how I tried to make myself happy, I would always end up getting hurt because my course of actions were never right.

    I heaved a sigh and looked down. My fingers reached for the white sand and drew circles on it while tears were streaming down my face.

    I felt so tired from both crying, thinking, and hoping when the situation was so clear as the crystal blue sea.

    I mustered the courage to finally stand up. Putting out a huge sigh, I decided to call this a day. Tomorrow, I will find a way to get home.

    I nced at the sea for thest time, and then I turned around and walked back to the trail. However, I stopped midway when I heard the sound of something from afar. At first, I thought it was some crickets making a noise at night, but when the sound became clearer, I realized it was a vehicle.

    I looked at the sea. My forehead creased when I saw a white thing moving, or should I say, approaching the shore.

    Squinting my eyes, my mouth dropped when I realized that it was a yacht, and as it got closer to the shore, I noticed that the person navigating it was none other than Chase¡­

    My heart raced so fast and loud that it hurt my limbs already. Tears pooled in my eyes as I stiffened in my direction. My eyes could not look away from the sight anymore.

    ¡°Chase¡­¡± I whispered.

    I assumed he had abandoned me; that he no longer cared enough to pick me up on this ind, and that he was pulling such stunts to exact his revenge on me.

    But the glimpse of hope inside my chest told me Chase would never treat me that way.

    When the yacht finally stopped near the shore, Chase quickened his pace and jumped onto the white sand immediately. His eyes looked everywhere, and when he finally met mine, I saw the relief and worry in his expression.

    He ran towards me. My tears were still falling when he closed the distance between us. I gasped when he immediately pulled me to him and engulfed me in a warm embrace.

    All my worries, anger, and what ifs instantly vanished the moment I felt his arms covering my trembling body.

    ¡°Oh my God, Reese¡­¡± he muttered and quickly released me. His hands cupped both of my cheeks, inspecting me from head to toe. ¡°Are you alright? Look, I am so sorry.¡±

    I nodded and offered him a thin smile. Even though I already gathered my thoughts when I first arrived here, I became lost for words the moment I saw his face.

    How I missed this man in front of me¡­ It had been days of pure emotional terror.

    He let out a huge sigh and kissed my forehead. ¡°I am so sorry if you waited for hours. I am truly sorry. It was my fault. We had trouble back in the city, and my n turned into a mess¡­ Please forgive me¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to make you cry again, my love.¡±

    I swallowed so hard as I tried to process all his exnations. I couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed to think that he¡¯d taken revenge on me on purpose. But here he was, proving to me that my thoughts were all wrong.

    ¡°So, you didn¡¯t ditch me?¡±

    He gave me a wide-eyed look before he shook his head.

    ¡°No way, baby! Why would I do that? We had a situation back there. The people I hired to set up my surprise backed out, and I had to find new ones who could help me. I didn¡¯t know it would take that long. Had I known that it wasn¡¯t easy, I should have adjusted the time for the ne to pick you up at ater time.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay¡­¡± were all the words I could say.

    I was totally speechless at this moment. I could not even look him in the eyes properly. But I knew deep within my heart that I was relieved to finally see him here.

    ¡°I apologize, Reese, for all these mishaps. I didn¡¯t mean to keep you waiting for so long.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I know, Chase. It¡¯s alright,¡± I said, and smiled a bit.

    ¡°The crew will set up everything for us.¡± He looked in the yacht¡¯s direction.

    I followed his gaze and noticed that he actually brought people to help him with his surprise. My cheeks flushed, thinking that Chase had gone to this extent only to apologize for what happened.

    ¡°In the meantime, let¡¯s go to the vi. Your skin is cold,¡± he said.

    I cleared my throat and only nodded at him. I knew he was staring intently at me, but I couldn¡¯t meet his gaze without feeling awkward. Perhaps I was wrong to think that I had mastered how to act in front of him because my stomach was twisting in shyness right now.

    He guided me as we walked down the pathway that would lead us to the vi. The entire ce was filled with darkness. Chase turned on the buttons for the lights, and in an instant, the living room was filled with coziness.

    ¡°We can go back to the yacht after an hour, Reese,¡± he said, which made me turn to him.

    The way he stared at me sent shivers down my spine. His ocean blue eyes were like trying to read my mind and I had to look away as I couldn¡¯t take it. Clearing my throat, I nodded my head in response.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a bath first,¡± I said, grabbing my luggage and walking upstairs.

    I could have sworn that I felt as if my heart would explode any minute. I wanted to hug him, to kiss him, and tell him how sorry I was¡­ But I was also embarrassed about this conflict between us, and even though I wanted to ignore it, I just couldn¡¯t.

    I went to the master¡¯s bedroom and put my luggage on the bed.

    ¡°Calm down a bit, Liv¡­¡± I uttered as I grabbed the towel.

    I walked to the bathroom to take a bath. After that, I wore a bathrobe and went out. I opened my luggage bag to look for a nice dress that I could wear.

    The door opened. I was shocked when Chase entered the bedroom and looked at me. I cleared my throat and looked away.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to change clothes,¡± he said as he walked toward me.

    ¡°Alright¡­¡± I said in my soft voice and continued with what I was doing.

    I cursed under my breath when I realized that Lara only put sultry stuff like ck lingerie, thongs, see through underwear, and a freaking vibrator inside my luggage. The only wholesome thing was the dress itself!

    I held the lingerie while I bit my lower lip firmly.

    ¡°Damn it, Lara. I¡¯m going to kill you,¡± I mumbled.

    ¡°Nice lingerie you got there. I bet you look lovely in it,¡± Chasemented.

    I could feel the heat engulfing my face upon hearing his statement. When I looked at him, I noticed that his eyes were pinned on the lingerie on my hand, then he nced at me and gulped.

    ¡°Lara put it inside my luggage bag. It wasn¡¯t me,¡± I said awkwardly.

    I saw how his lips curled up for a smile, and without any hesitation, he removed his t-shirt and unted his broad chest and six-pack abs. I was so surprised by his sudden undressing of the shirt that I wasn¡¯t aware I was already licking my lower lip.

    I only came back to my senses when he giggled. He also opened his luggage and grabbed some stuff when a see-through boxer fell on the floor.

    What the hell, Chase?

    I coughed and looked away. I grabbed my things and stormed into the bathroom so I could get dressed.

    I fanned myself as soon as I closed and locked the door.

    ¡°Calm down, Liv¡­¡± I said to myself and huffed in frustration.

    Why do I feel so hot all of a sudden? I shook my head and shoved the sultry thoughts aside. I got dressed and wore the simple red spaghetti dress Lara lent to me and partnered it with a white pimp sandal. I put some light makeup on my face too, and after that I styled my hair while letting it loose.

    After a few minutes, I was all ready.

    I went out of the bathroom and saw Chase putting on an elegant watch on his wrist. He was only wearing a ck long sleeves, pants, and shoes, yet he could easily attract every person that would see him. He was such a head turner.

    I sucked in a breath when his ocean blue eyes nced at me. My heart pounded so aggressively with the way he stared at me.

    ¡°Ready?¡± he asked.

    I nodded and offered him a thin smile. ¡°Y-Yes¡­¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°You look stunning¡­ as always,¡± hemented.

    I stiffened when he walked towards me. ¡°Let¡¯s go?¡±

    I was surprised when he held my hand, which made me look at him. He guided my hand to his arm and tapped it softly.

    My cheeks flushed at that gesture.

    Damn it, Chase!

 CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

    OLIVIA

    EVEN THOUGH we¡¯ve been together, slept, and made out for how many months, it sure was so awkward to face Chase like this. I couldn¡¯t erase the memory of him getting furious at me thest time we talked.

    I became more self-aware of what I was doing, and perhaps I didn¡¯t want to mess it up for him, as I also wanted to give our rtionship a chance¡­ Well, our fake rtionship and marriage.

    I needed to rediscover my motivation to role-y a great wife.

    ¡°Reese, are you alright? You¡¯re spacing out.¡±

    His voice made mee back to reality. I nced at him and offered him a thin smile before I nodded. ¡°I¡­ I guess I can¡¯t wait to see what you prepare for me. It¡¯s quite unimaginable for you to do things like this.¡±

    He let out a sigh and held my hand. ¡°I¡¯ll do everything, actually, anything just to win you back, Reese.¡±

    Those words of promise made me swallow hard. His intense gaze made me shiver.

    ¡°Thanks¡­¡± A nervousugh came out of my mouth.

    No matter how I tried to act normally in front of him, it would never be the same after thatst yacht party. It was like a constant reminder that I couldn¡¯t put my guard down and let emotions take over me because it would be unfair for him.

    A knock was heard on the door of our room, and Chase went straight away to open it.

    ¡°Mr. Maxwell, your candle-lit dinner is ready. Let me know if you want to go ahead and have your dinner.¡±

    Chase then turned around and looked at me.

    ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll be there in a minute,¡± he said to his men, then closed the door.

    I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. I freaking need to switch my persona. I shouldn¡¯t act as Olivia Marie right now. I have to act as Reese Jones-Maxwell, his wife.

    ¡°Thank you so much, baby,¡± I whispered in my low voice and slowly walked towards him.

    I wrapped my hands around his neck. However, the way he looked at me in my eyes sent shivers to my spine. My heart was beating so fast that I didn¡¯t feel the same way before. I quickly removed my hands from him and excused myself into the restroom.

    I looked in the mirror and reminded myself of my goal. I took a deep breath. I massaged the temple of my nose.

    ¡°You can do this,¡± I said.

    Chase¡¯s knock on the bathroom door made me startle. I was so nervous that a single knock startled me.

    ¡°Reese, baby, let me know once you¡¯re ready, okay?¡±

    ¡°Sure, baby!¡± I said with glee in my voice.

    I nced at my hands and they were shaking.

    Why was I so nervous this time around? I ignored it and went out of the bathroom. We exited the room, and I clutched his arms.

    ¡°Thank you so much again for not abandoning me on this ind. I was so scared of not seeing you here.¡±

    He then shifted his body in front of me, and then he slowly touched my face with his hands.

    ¡°I won¡¯t ever do that. I won¡¯t abandon the woman that I love,¡± he said sincerely.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    He smiled at me. ¡°Yes, absolutely. A hundred percent sure¡­¡±

    He then leaned down and kissed my lips tenderly.

    My lips quivered when I felt his lips brush into mine. I was certain that I missed the feeling of being kissed by this man. As our lips continued to touch, I saw a staffing in our way in my peripheral vision.

    ¡°Ch-Chase¡­¡± I slightly pushed Chase away from me.

    We both heard the loud cough of the staff member as he walked near us.

    ¡°Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell. I am sorry to interrupt. The dinner is ready. In case you need anything, please feel free to call me.¡±

    I waspletely stunned by the sudden interruption, but I still managed to give him a nod. Chase also smiled at him.

    He held my hand as we left the vi, and then we headed to the shore, where I noticed red rose petals scattered across the ss table. In each corner, there were some long wooden sticks decorated with pink and white flowers. The strips of light-emitting a warm shade were dangling from each post.

    Chase then assisted me to sit down on the chair. I heard beautiful music being yed by a violinist, and I couldn¡¯t deny that it was rxing.

    ¡°This is such a treat! Chase, I couldn¡¯t believe this was all happening¡­¡±

    ¡°You deserve all of this, Reese. I want to make you feel that I love you so much, and that I want to win you back,¡± he said.

    His words just made my heart melt. The sound of the waves, along with the lovely melody from the strings of the violin, made this night even more special.

    ¡°I apologize for what happened, Reese. It wasn¡¯t my intention to be so harsh on you. I swear, I regret what I said that night,¡± he confessed and reached for my hand that was resting on the table. ¡°I hope you can forgive me, my wife. I can¡¯t go on a day knowing you¡¯re mad at me.¡±

    ¡°I was the one who¡¯s at fault here, Chase. It was my mistake. Clearly, I put your name at risk. I was aware of the drug trade that was taking ce at that party. It was surely a very risky situation that would have put me in the headlines if the media found out that I was involved in it. I¡¯ve disappointed you, Chase. I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡±

    My face was crumpled and I took a deep breath. I wanted to say more to Chase, but I might end up oversharing it. I might end up sharing my feelings for him as Olivia.

    ¡°Reese, you don¡¯t need to say sorry. Really, I was the one to me here. You might not remember this, but I was always an asshole in our rtionship, even way back before our wedding. I mean, the first wedding that didn¡¯t push through. We had a terrible fight, and I kept repeating my mistakes. But this time, I want to do it right.¡±

    He looked me straight in the eyes. I didn¡¯t know how to react, but all I wanted to do was cry, even though it wasn¡¯t the appropriate time. He was telling me a side of the story that I didn¡¯t know about.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just forget it, Chase. I want to start anew with you,¡± I dered.

    He smiled at me. ¡°Sounds good to me, baby. Thanks for the chance.¡±

    ¡°I love you,¡± I murmured.

    ¡°And I love you too,¡± he sincerely said.

    My mind wondered why he and Reese got into a fight before their wedding¡­

    ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell, here¡¯s the food that we prepared. Please enjoy!¡± The server then put the food on our table, and I was pleased with what they prepared.

    Everything appeared to be delicious, and knowing Chase, the dishes that were served here were all expensive delicacies. While eating the food, I noticed Chase not touching his food at all.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Chase? Are you not hungry? The food tastes well,¡± I said.

    He then showed me a picture of me and him in front of the Eiffel Tower.

    ¡°That¡¯s in Paris? Wow, we¡¯ve been there?¡±

    He nodded and smiled at me, then his face got crumpled.

    ¡°I do remember that night. You were so scared because your swimmingpetition was nearing and you were afraid to lose your title. I told you that you don¡¯t need to be scared since you¡¯re the best. But seeing you now, you¡¯re a truly different person,¡± he stated.

    I was stunned when he told me that I was a different person from the Reese Jones that he used to know.

    Could it be because I was pursuing a different profession even though I knew that the real Reese Jones was a swimmer? I might still need to convince him that I still loved swimming even though I truly didn¡¯t know how to swim.

    ¡°Listen, baby, I want you to know that I still want to go back swimming. I mean, that¡¯s what I usually do, right?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to, Reese. I¡¯m just saying that maybe it would help you to recover your memories and also help with your medication. Doing the things that you¡¯re passionate about may possibly give you a positive result, right?¡± He exhaled deeply then massaged the temple of his nose, ¡°Actually, I just wanted to see if that benefited you. I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m blurting out nonsense. I¡¯m overthinking it and I¡¯m repeating the same mistakes again, I¡¯m sorry¡­ ¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine, Chase. Yes, I certainly agree with that suggestion. Absolutely, that surely makes sense to me. Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll give it a try again. Maybe in a few weeks, I¡¯ll free my schedule.¡±

    His face then went rxed. I realized that he was still hoping for me to remember everything; to return to my normal condition. But that amnesia thing was only made up of lies¡­

    I have to ept that no matter what happens, he may still believe that I am not normal, and I must return to my former self.

    The Reese Jones that he truly knew before.

    I would just agree with that suggestion from him, and I had no right to object because it¡¯s part of my job to pretend that I¡¯m his long-time girlfriend.

    ¡°But remember, Reese, I¡¯m also epting the fact that you can¡¯t go back to the things that you¡¯re used to. So no need to force yourself, okay? If that doesn¡¯t work right, then drop it. What¡¯s important to me is for you to feel good about yourself.¡±

    I forced myself to give him a smirk, trying not to burst out in front of him. Bitterness was swirling around my system. This would torture me forever if I couldn¡¯t tell him the whole truth. A part of me was really itching to say that I¡¯m not Reese Jones; that I am Olivia Marie Miller, who was just after his money from the start.

    I couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty about his situation. I used him to try to change my life and not worry about money anymore.

    I bit my lower lip and exhaled deeply.

    ¡°Chase, what if I didn¡¯t return to my old self? Or what if I wasn¡¯t the Reese Jones you used to love from the very beginning? Would you still pursue me? The new me?¡± My lips were quivering as I asked him this question.

    He was quite surprised by it based on the expression on his face, and for a split second, I regretted that I asked Chase.

    ¡°What do you mean? Well, if that happens, then-¡± Chase¡¯s response was cut off when a fireworks disy suddenly showed up in the sky.

    I nced at the sky and it was such a beautiful sight. My eyes widened when I realized it was a customized fireworks disy. Reese Jones¡¯s name could be seen inside a heart shape.

    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, Chase! Thank you!¡±

    OLIVIA

    THE fireworks ended nicely. I blinked my tears away as I realized that my future with Chase remained unknown. With the ticking bomb that could reveal the truth at anytime, I knew that I must prepare myself and ept the oue of the lies I made up.

    ¡°Your food is getting cold. Let¡¯s eat, my love.¡± Chase got my attention.

    I smiled at him, but it didn¡¯t reach my eyes. Many thoughts consumed my chest, making it impossible for me to enjoy the food.

    ¡°Reese, is everything alright?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Chase.¡±

    I sighed heavily and picked up my spoon and fork to try the food. I reminded myself that I should never give Chase a chance to be suspicious of me. Otherwise, I would end up facing countlesswsuits once he figured out that I was not the real Reese Jones.

    Though thinking that I¡¯d be helpless if that happened, the sheer determination to build a business crossed my chest. Perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be so less dignified to get some resources if all else failed. I mean, that¡¯s the n, after all.

    I knew I couldn¡¯t win the battle of love, but I could stand a chance in terms of business¡­ which would lift me up off the ground in case the truth gets revealed to everyone.

    Chase had been so romantic all throughout our dinner. After savoring the food that was served, we danced for a bit while the violinist yed a great ssic song.

    ¡°I love you so much, Reese¡­¡± he whispered to my ear.

    My heart skipped a beat because of his soulful words, ignoring the fact that they were meant for the real Reese Jones.

    ¡°I love you too,¡± I replied, but my voice came off hurt and low.

    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Should we end the night here?¡± he asked carefully.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± I bit my lip and embraced myself. ¡°I also feel cold and there are tiny insects swarming up to my feet.¡±

    He smiled and wrapped his arms around my waist. ¡°How about now? Do you still feel cold?¡±

    I pouted my lips and narrowed my eyes as I gazed up at him. My battle to fight my feelings towards him continued because of his irresistible charm.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    How could he be so charismatic in every way?

    ¡°I think you being close like this is much better¡­¡± I said.

    We both chuckled.

    We then headed back to the private vi. While walking to the familiar garden going to the porch, we noticed that the lights were flickering. The wind was blowing so hard that it forced its way through the windows, making an ufortable sound. The ss panes shook and bent a bit because of it too.

    ¡°Wear this,¡± Chase said, taking off his ck coat and wrapping it around my shoulders.

    He probably noticed that I was quivering even more because of the cold winding from the windows.

    ¡°Thank you, Chase.¡±

    I felt the warmth, but it wasn¡¯t enough. I moved closer to him and clung to his arm. We walked to the living room, and with one blink of an eye, everything turned pitch ck.

    ¡°Chase, what happened? Is there a ckout? I can¡¯t see anything,¡± I stated. My voice was in a panic.

    Anxiety went through me. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Even when I was a kid, I was frightened in the dark as sharing ghost stories back then was a thing if there was no electricity in the orphanage. I was always a victim of their pranks, especially because of the fact that they knew exactly how I was scared of ghosts.

    ¡°I am sorry about this, Reese. There is probably an issue with the electricity. I am not sure if they have generators here,¡± he responded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we can use my phone as a shlight.¡±

    He then picked up his phone from his pocket and turned on its shlight.

    He then opened his phone shlight as we went inside.

    We walked upstairs, and when he tried to open the door to the master bedroom, it was locked.

    ¡°Weird. Why is it locked?¡± He then reached for his pocket, trying to look for the room key. ¡°Sh*t. The keys are missing.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± My forehead creased.

    ¡°Is it in your purse?¡± he asked.

    Even though it was dark, I managed to check my purse, but I hadn¡¯t seen any keys inside. Then I recalled that I was the one who locked the door and probably forgot to take the keys on the side table.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chase. I think I left it inside,¡± I said and bit my lower lip.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright, baby.¡± He patted my shoulder, assuring me that it was fine. ¡°Let me go check the locker downstairs and see if there are spare keys we can use.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to leave me here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll just go downstairs for a minute, Reese.¡±

    ¡°No, I aming with you!¡± I demanded.

    I had no strength to stand here all by myself. I heard him sigh and said, ¡°Alright. Come with me.¡±

    We then proceeded to the locker he was referring to. The lights flickered once again, which made me scream in fear.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± I cursed under my breath. The weather was clearly fine earlier, but now, I could hear the loud sound of thunder. That doubled my anxiety.

    ¡°Rx, Reese. I¡¯m here. I¡¯m not going to leave you¡­ or am I?¡± His tone of voice suddenly changed upon saying thosest words.

    ¡°What the hell are you saying, Chase?¡±

    ¡°What if I¡¯m just pretending to be Chase Maxwell?¡± Heughed devilishly. ¡°I¡¯m not your real husband. I am just ying the part, and I will now leave you in the dark! Boo!¡±

    I screamed like a little girl being haunted by ghosts.

    Heughed for a bit, but when he noticed that I was in tears, he immediately apologized and embraced me tightly.

    I pushed him away and punched his chest.

    ¡°Damn you, I was scared for real! How dare you just do that to me!¡± I snorted.

    He was clearly teasing me, but my heart just jumped out of my chest with his tone of voice earlier. It was truly spooky.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, wife. Come on, I was just joking!¡± He fought the urge to continueughing. ¡°Alright, I promise it won¡¯t happen again. No more scary stuff.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not funny, Chase! I¡¯m truly scared!¡± I scoffed.

    ¡°You weren¡¯t scared in the dark before.¡±

    ¡°That was before!¡±

    His face was crumpled. I realized that I went overboard with him by yelling.

    I palmed my face. ¡°I just want to go to our room and sleep with you.¡±

    ¡°I understand and I¡¯m sorry again, baby. I found the keys. Lets go upstairs so you can take a rest,¡± he said.

    We went back to the master¡¯s bedroom. Chase saved his phone battery, so I used mine as our shlight to lighten up the room a bit. I changed my clothes and was ready to go to bed when Chase caught my attention. He was sitting on the edge of the bed and was doing something on his phone.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you sleepy yet?¡± I asked.

    He shook his head and turned to me. ¡°Will you be fine alone here for a couple of minutes? I want to check the electricity source and see if I can fix it.¡±

    I gave him a wide-eyed look. ¡°There is no way I can stay here all by myself, Chase.¡±

    ¡°I promise it won¡¯t take long, baby. I want to get it fixed so we can both sleep properly.¡±

    I let out a heavy sigh and nodded in the end. He stood up and kissed my forehead.

    ¡°It will be quick,¡± he assured me.

    ¡°Fine,¡± I said and went to bed.

    He tucked me in first under the nket before he went out of the room. My heart pounded aggressively inside my chest. The thought of being alone in a dark room sent shivers down my spine. I thought about the happy memories, not letting the fear engulf me, but the mere sound of the wind rustling against the window made it impossible for me to focus.

    I shut my eyes, but it made the situation worse as I imagined shadows trying to get near me. With that in mind, I quickly got off of bed and stormed out of the room.

    ¡°Chase?!¡± I called him but no one responded.

    I descended downstairs and looked around the vi, but got even more scared. The rustling sound from outside made me panic. I rushed towards the main door and proceeded outside. I was checking over my shoulders as I ran when someone blocked my way and held both of my arms.

    I screamed. My fist was about to strike the face of the person who suddenly appeared if he didn¡¯t speak right away.

    ¡°Reese, it¡¯s me!¡± Chase¡¯s voice made mee back to my senses. ¡°Why are you running outside? I told you to stay in our room.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t!¡± I said, shaking my head.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m here. Don¡¯t be scared, my love.¡± He wrapped his arm around my shoulder. ¡°I talked to the crew and they said there were issues with the sr panel. They already called someone toe and repair it first thing in the morning.¡±

    ¡°Charles should have invested a lot of money to maintain the sr energy here!¡± I scoffed.

    Heughed a bit and caressed my hair. ¡°Let¡¯s walk to the beach side then for you to calm down.¡±

    I pressed my lips together. Chase gazed at me with a smile.

    ¡°Fine,¡± I replied.

 CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

    OLIVIA

    ¡°DO YOU feel more rxed now?¡±

    I looked around the ocean and inhaled the salty night air before I nced over at him and nodded. After walking around the front beach, we settled in between the palm trees. There was a hammock set up here, and we could see the yacht emitting a dim light near us. The wind was still blowing strongly, and even though there was thunder in the sky, it didn¡¯t seem like it would cause a downpour at any moment.

    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe that this ind doesn¡¯t have reliable sr energy,¡± I said and giggled.

    ¡°Just because your friend is filthy rich doesn¡¯t mean he gets everything under control,¡± Chasemented, and gave me a smile.

    He handed me a beer, which he had asked for from the yacht¡¯s crew earlier, and sat in the hammock with me. I stared at him, seemingly stunned by his statements.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that,¡± he said, and sipped on his beer. ¡°I think it wasn¡¯t toote for me to realize that Charles didn¡¯t mean for everything to happen that night.¡±

    ¡°Of course not, Chase.¡±

    ¡°We already talked and apologized to each other.¡± He huffed and swallowed hard. ¡°And I realized that I shouldn¡¯t prohibit you from making friends. Since Charles seems to be serious about having a rtionship with Mia, I will let you be friends with him.¡±

    ¡°Are you being serious right now, Chase?¡± I asked him with my furrowed brows.

    Hearing him say all those words made me so happy. I couldn¡¯t believe that he¡¯d reflect that in his actions toward other people. I was wrong to think that he was only being kind to people he liked and was merciless towards men he didn¡¯t want in his sight.

    ¡°I am serious, Reese. I want to be understanding. If this would prevent us from having an argument, I¡¯d be willing to change. I will do anything so that your feelings, and impressions of me won¡¯t change.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I did in the past to deserve such a great man like you, Chase.¡± I held his hand and stared intently into his eyes. ¡°Thank you for everything you¡¯ve done.¡±

    ¡°All for you, my love,¡± he murmured.

    He leaned forward to give me a soft kiss on my lips. I could taste the sweetness of his lips along with the bitter sting of the beer he drank. I held his nape and kissed him back, ignoring the voice in my head that was telling me to keep my senses straight.

    The fact that Chase was willing to change for me to be happy made me feel so giddy inside. Even though I knew that he¡¯d do it for the real Reese Jones, the foolish side of me couldn¡¯t ignore how he wanted to be better just to keep what we had¡­ despite it being temporary.

    I wish I could tell him everything I feel. But I don¡¯t think he could take it-to learn that the woman he¡¯s been with was a fraud; a mere mirror image who only deceived him to get a better life.

    ¡°I love you¡­¡± I whispered in between our kisses.

    Those three words made him groan. His hands started to travel down the inside of the robe I was wearing. A bolt of electricity went through me when his touch moved from my waist down to my bottom. He squeezed one of them, which made me bite his lower lip.

    He chuckled and released me. His eyes looked down at my clothes. My cheeks flushed when I realized that my cleavage was too exposed in the freaking lingerie Lara had gotten me.

    ¡°This thing really looks good on you,¡± he said.

    Both love and lust filled his eyes as he inspected my lingerie while his hand traced circles from my bottom going to my under boob. I sucked in a breath. My body tensed immediately, and it was asking for more.

    I drank my beer, hoping that it would wake up my senses, but it only added to the heat engulfing me. Chase moved closer to me. He leaned down, smelling my shoulder. His nose went to my neck, and I shivered when I felt his mint breath against my skin. I tilted my head as his lips started to nt soft kisses on there, making me shut my eyes and gasp.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°Chase¡­¡± I moaned his name.

    My hand was supposed to hold his knee, as I didn¡¯t think I could still take it any longer, but I identally touched his manhood. My eyes opened widely and I looked at it.

    He was so damn huge and hard¡­

    ¡°That¡¯s your fault. Your sultry clothes turned me on,¡± he said.

    I gulped. My breathing became even more heavy as I gazed down at his manhood. A voice in my head kept telling me to touch it more, as it would bring a lot of pleasure to Chase, but I also knew it was awkward to do it after the fight we had.

    ¡°Would you like to touch it?¡± he asked.

    Was I the only one worrying about it?

    My gaze met his ocean blue eyes, which actually radiated the need he wanted. Without even thinking, I nodded my head, drank my beer until it was finished, and tossed the bottle aside on the sand.

    ¡°Come.¡± He stood up as I continued to gaze at him.

    He offered his hand, and I willingly epted it. Then we walked to the big palm tree. He ced me behind it, far enough for the crew from the yacht not to see us.

    Right there, he cornered me. My breath hitched as he leaned closer to me, to the point that our noses were touching.

    ¡°Now, touch me,¡± hemanded. His voice was now husky and sultry.

    I let out a soft gasp. Without breaking our eye contact, my hand traveled down to his manhood. It was as tough as stone, and its length could easily crush me.

    I touched it, and at the back of my mind, I was cursing the board shorts he was wearing. It was a sinful blockage that only added to my frustration.

    Chase¡¯s breathing went ragged. I could see how he bit his lower lip as I continued to caress his manhood. My hands moved back and forth in a slow manner, and I remained looking at him. The way his jaw clenched and stared at me with such irresistible desire in his expression made me want to give myself in to him immediately.

    ¡°More¡­¡± he requested.

    He buried his face on my shoulder, and then moved his lips to kiss me on my neck. I was still touching him when he started pleasuring me with his tempting kisses that made my knees go jelly. If not for his other arm that was wrapped around my waist, I could have sworn that I would have fallen to the ground already.

    ¡°Chase, urgh¡­ I miss you¡­¡± I moaned and jerked his manhood faster this time.

    ¡°I miss you more, Reese. You have no idea how much I miss making love to you¡­¡±

    It grew bigger¡­ longer, and it started poking my belly button. That doubled the sensation I was feeling.

    ¡°F*ck, you¡¯re so good, baby¡­¡± he murmured before he imed my lips.

    I couldn¡¯t take it anymore. I slid my hand inside his board shorts. I moaned as I felt the satisfaction of having the liberty of holding his hard flesh.

    ¡°Damn it, Reese¡­¡±

    My mind became haywire. When he started to untie my robe and slightly pulled down my thong, I willingly spread my legs for him. He tossed his shorts down, revealing his manhood.

    Its tip brushed against my sex, and I moaned at it. Biting my lower lip, I let Chase carry me and leaned my back against the palm tree.

    I wrapped both of my legs against his waist, and when he slowly entered me, my sanity had escaped me.

    We had sex while standing; he pounded me while I tried to tone down my voice as I moaned. It made the intercourse more exciting and unforgettable.

    ¡°I love you, Reese,¡± he moaned as he released his juices inside me.

    My mouth formed an O¡±. I wanted to respond, but my body was so tired that all I did was embrace him after reaching our climax.

    ***

    I WOKE up when I felt the sunshine starting to blind my eyes. The first thing I saw was Chase, who was sleeping soundly beside me. We were still in the hammock, embracing each other and seemingly didn¡¯t care about the rest of the people seeing us here.

    I recalled what happenedst night, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    Chase and I just had sex behind the palm tree. Never in my entire life had I dreamt of something like that. It may be rude to do it in a ce where people could easily catch us, but the thrill was priceless.

    I looked at Chase and memorized the features of his face.

    ¡°You¡¯re so near yet so far¡­¡± I whispered, embracing the reality that even though he was beside me, treating me as his wife and the love of his life forever, I could never really tell that I owned him given that I was only a fraud.

    I realized that it was too early for me to entertain all the hurtful truths, and so I decided to toss them aside and seize the moment. I couldn¡¯t tell whether this would be thest time that I¡¯d get to experience this or not.

    ¡°Chase,¡± I called his name, trying to wake him up. ¡°Wake up, it¡¯s already morning.¡±

    ¡°Hmmn,¡± he moaned softly, eyes still closed, and hugged me more.

    I chuckled a bit and caressed his cheek. ¡°We have to go back to the vi, Chase. Come on. Time to wake up.¡±

    ¡°Just one more minute¡­¡± he whispered and kissed my forehead.

    I smiled from ear to ear as I watched him trying to get another nap for a minute.

    ¡°Chase¡­¡± I called him again. This time I brushed his hair using my fingers. ¡°I¡¯m already hungry.¡±

    ¡°You are?¡± He groaned a bit.

    I nodded. ¡°Yes, feed me.¡±

    ¡°Fine.¡± He pouted his lips.

    When he opened his eyes, I greeted him, ¡°Good morning,¡± and kissed him, which made him smile. He then looked around as he hugged me.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize we were able to sleep here in the hammock,¡± hemented.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m d we fit.¡± I giggled and continued, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect I¡¯d have a good sleep here.¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± he said, grinning. ¡°And I like it whenever I get to see your pretty face first thing in the morning.¡±

    ¡°Such a sweet talker.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true. Your pretty face turns me on in the morning,¡± he responded, and winked.

    ¡°Stop that. It¡¯s too early for kinky stuff!¡± I hissed, and I could feel my cheeks blushing as I recalled how we had sex in a standing positionst night.

    He chuckled and pinched my nose softly.

    ¡°Come on! We have to go back to the vi. I want to take a bath,¡± I said.

    ¡°How about we conserve some water and bathe together?¡±

    My eyebrow raised. Licking my lower lip, I replied, ¡°Shall we?¡±

    ¡°Yes, please.¡± He leaned enough for him to reach my ear. ¡°And I will make you cum a few more times.¡±

    I giggled like a kid. ¡°I don¡¯t believe in words, Chase¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll show you. Come.¡±

    We went back to the vi and, as we had talked about, bathed together while doing some stuff inside the bathroom. I had to admit that Chase could never really get tired of making love.

    After that, we went to the yacht as the crew prepared breakfast for us. I felt that the day started in a good way. My chest was lighter nowpared to the past couple of days. While we ate, Chase told me some stuff about thepany, Reese¡¯s parents, and the things he¡¯d be doing by next week. We were only interrupted when his phone rang.

    I was surprised that his phone had a signal when mine didn¡¯t have any. I pouted my lips as I listened to him talking to his secretary on the phone.

    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked when he finally ended the call.

    ¡°Debbie reminded me of my schedule to go on a business trip to Singapore in the afternoon,¡± he responded and sipped on his cup of coffee. ¡°But I want to spend more time with you here, so I asked her to reschedule.¡±

    ¡°Oh no! Why would you do that?¡± My forehead creased.

    ¡°Because my wife is way more important than my business meeting,¡± he said.

    I shot him a re and sigh. ¡°Come on, Chase. I don¡¯t like it when you¡¯re ruining your schedule just for me. Let¡¯s get back to the city, and please go on that trip.¡±

    ¡°No, Reese. I want to make up with you and-¡±

    ¡°Chase, you¡¯ve done enough and made me the happiest. No need for you to reschedule that meeting because you¡¯ll be attending it.¡± I reached for his hand that was on the table. ¡°Please?¡±

    He sighed in defeat and smiled at me. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what I did in the past to deserve such an understanding wife.¡±

    I winked at him and we bothughed.

    After having our breakfast, we packed our things and then left the ind. Soon after getting near the city port, my phone started to pick up a cellr signal, and I was shocked to see a lot of text messagesing in from both Lara and Mia.

    Those two could actually make a good tandem, being both naggers.

    I replied to their text messages, letting them know that Chase and I had finally reunited and that we were going back to the city today so he could attend an important meeting. They were both teasing me via text messages, saying that I¡¯d get pregnant in no time after the quality time Chase and I had on the ind.

    I rolled my eyes and was about to ignore their texts when I received another new text message from an unknown number.

    The text said, ¡°Who are you?¡±

    It brought confusion to me. I was pretty sure that the phone number was not familiar to me.

    Perhaps it was someone who sent a text to the wrong number?

    ¡°Probably¡­¡± I murmured and deleted the text message instead.

    ¡°You were saying something, Reese?¡± Chase asked curiously.

    I shook my head. ¡°Nah, I just received a random text from a stranger, but I deleted it.¡±

    Chase nodded, wrapped his arm around my shoulder and kissed my forehead while we both stood up on the railings of the yacht as it approached the port.

    ¡°We¡¯re back,¡± Chase dered.

 CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

    OLIVIA

    CHASE WENT to Singapore for a business trip. He told me it would take a couple of days, and while he was gone, he heightened the security in our house just to make sure that I¡¯d be safe at all times.

    He already allowed me to go back to the university, and I couldn¡¯t be happier since I missed going to sses. I was lucky that Mia had been there to lend me her notes online, and I was able to catch up and prevent myself from worrying about the uing preliminary exams.

    What bothered me the most was receiving strange text messages from an unknown number. It was a bit creepy as the text messages didn¡¯t look like they were sent to the wrong number.

    I don¡¯t know why, but I had a feeling that the sender knew me and those messages were actually meant for me.

    From: Unknown Number

    You have to watch your back.

    I have my eyes watching your every move.

    I couldn¡¯t help but feel worried about it. What if it was the same person who sent me a death threat before? No matter how hard I tried to ignore it and simply think it was a prank, my mind couldn¡¯t seem to calm down even for a little while.

    I wanted to tell Chase about it, but I didn¡¯t want to ruin his business trip. I also had a feeling that it wasn¡¯t appropriate for me to tell him because he might be suspicious of me.

    ¡°I am really d you are finally back, Reese! How¡¯s the quality time with your husband?¡± Mia excitedly asked me soon after we met at the university.

    I gazed at Mia, then let out a sigh. Perhaps I shouldn¡¯t worry about those text messages right now. We will be attending sses in a few minutes, and I must stay focused.

    ¡°It was priceless,¡± I said with a smile and held her hand. ¡°I want to take Charles personally for helping Chase, Mia.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you can thank himter. That bastard won¡¯t attend the first ss, tsk.¡±

    I stared at Mia, who was shaking her head. She seemed annoyed that Charles wouldn¡¯t attend the first ss, but I could see in her eyes that she was truly happy. Mia¡¯s makeover did happen overnight, and who would have thought that she ¡®d have a boyfriend after that party?

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± She clung to my arm.

    As we approached the ssroom for our first ss, Mia kept mentioning a lot of things that I missed while I was on my leave of absence. The professors went easy on me too. Thank you to the university doctor who informed them of my situation after I had a panic attack the previous time.

    Our ssmates greeted me. Some have asked me how I was doing all this time, and it was actually overwhelming to think that they cared about me.

    After the first two sses, Mia and I went to the cafeteria for lunch.

    ¡°You know what? I¡¯m really happy that you and your husband are finally on good terms. For the record, I can confirm that Chase really loves you.¡± Mia shook her head while smiling a bit. ¡°I hope Charles and I will have that kind of rtionship.¡±

    ¡°It is fulfilling, but you¡¯re not going to enjoy having an argument with your partner, Mia. I am telling you,¡± I said and gave her a wary look. ¡°You would not like the feeling of being so frustrated because of the freaking space he would give you. I mean, for them, it is like giving you some time to think and cool down, but for us, it¡¯s an avable time for the demons to twist our minds, so we would end up being so paranoid about the whole situation¡­¡± I exined.

    ¡°But¡­¡± Mia shot me a confident stare. ¡°For as long as you love each other, no arguments or even lies will set you apart!¡±

    ¡°Well, it depends on the weight of lies or sin you willmit. There are lies that aren¡¯t meant to be forgiven, Mia,¡± I said, and let out a sigh.

    ¡°I know Chase will not leave you, Reese. I¡¯ve seen the sincerity in his eyes. He truly loves you, and I want to feel that kind of love from Charles.¡± She pouted her lips. ¡°I think it is normal to have some doubts since we are just starting our rtionship. Have you felt this kind of emotion when you started your rtionship with Chase?¡±

    Her question made me cough. How would I even know how it felt when I wasn¡¯t the one who started the rtionship with him? It was Reese¡­

    ¡°It is normal, Mia. I had doubted him too, but he made a lot of effort to shove those doubts away. He made me realize that the risk I took when I epted his love was worthwhile,¡± I lied.

    I sipped on my cafette as I couldn¡¯t take those lies I made up just to cover my ass. Mia, on the other hand, appeared to be convinced, as she nod her head as if she had learned something about me. I shook my head and smiled a bit.

    ¡°Just be yourself, Mia. Charles will be head over heels in love with the true version of you. You don¡¯t need to change your personality or whatnot. In fact, you two make a good couple,¡± Imented.

    ¡°I hope everyone thinks that way.¡± She rolled her eyes and looked around. ¡°Ever since we decided to go public with our rtionship, I always sense women throwing daggers at me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what you get for having a popr boyfriend,¡± I said, smirking.

    She giggled as if something had just tickled her. Oh, this poor thing.

    Mia was about to say something but her phone chimed, which interrupted her. I watched her as she checked her phone. Her expression changed, furrowing her brows and muttering a curse under her breath while she read the text message she received.

    ¡°Anything wrong?¡± I asked curiously because she seemed a bit pissed off while reading the text.

    ¡°You know, someone has been sending these creepy text messages since yesterday.¡± She sighed and then handed me her phone.

    My forehead creased as I took the phone and then read the text messages. She got three messages from an unknown number saying:

    You befriended someone who isn¡¯t real . This was the text message she received yesterday.

    Watch out for your friend.

    She might be gone soon.

    A pang of anxiety struck my chest. The text messages were the same as what I had been getting¡­ My hands started to quiver, thinking that the person who was behind this was the one who had sent me such death threats.

    Or could it be the real Reese Jones?

    My heart pounded aggressively as I thought about Reese.

    ¡°F*ck,¡± I muttered and dialed the number of the sender. All I heard was a busy tone.

    My jaw clenched. I tried it one more time, but to no avail.

    Damn it!

    ¡°Reese, are you alright?¡± Mia asked worriedly. ¡°I¡­ I actually tried to call its phone number but it appeared to be not receiving calls.¡±

    ¡°Why did you do that?¡± I asked. My tone was high, which startled her.

    Her mouth was left half open. It was as if she wanted to speak but was having a hard time gathering her thoughts because of my sudden outburst.

    ¡°Because I am curious who it was, Reese. I thought maybe someone was just pranking me¡­¡±

    My breathing was ragged and I knew Mia could see that as she stared at me all the time. I uttered another curse as I ran my fingers through my hair, and decided to block the phone number from Mia¡¯s phone number.

    ¡°I¡­ I am so sorry, Mia. I didn¡¯t mean to snap on you¡­¡±

    She nods confusedly. ¡°That¡¯s alright, Reese.¡±

    ¡°I blocked the number. Just ignore it, okay?¡±

    ¡°But are you aware of this? I mean, I don¡¯t understand why you suddenly reacted like that,¡± she said hesitantly.

    It was obvious that Mia was totally curious about me since that day she heard me and Lara talking in the apartment. I gulped it down and shook my head.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°We just have to be extra careful, Mia. I¡¯ve been getting the same text messages too and ended up blocking the phone number because it¡¯s bing a nuisance. A person like that doesn¡¯t deserve an ounce of our attention,¡± I said.

    ¡°Alright¡­¡± She then bit her lower lip and sighed.

    ***

    ¡°I DON¡¯T freaking feel safe anymore. I feel like something big is about to happen and I have no idea what it is about!¡±

    My frustration overpowered me as I paced back and forth here in the living room. Lara crossed her arms against her chest while sitting on the couch as she watched me getting so paranoid over those text messages me and Mia had been getting.

    Those were clearly threats; a clear message that someone out there knew about my lies- that I was a different person pretending to be someone I wasn¡¯t. Biting my nails, all I could think about was how I should be able to fix this ¡­

    I would never want Chase to find out about this situation, or else he would end up being suspicious of me¡­

    I contacted Lara as soon as I went home. I needed someone to talk to, and she immediately came over to talk to me. I told her what happened, and she couldn¡¯t believe that someone was trying to mess with me.

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s the real Reese Jones?¡± I asked when I turned to her.

    She took a deep breath, seemingly trying to decode the situation too.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s Reese, Liv.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± My brows furrowed.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m thinking that it¡¯s the same person who sent you a death threat.¡±

    ¡°But that person thought I was Reese Jones. This one who¡¯s trying to mess with me knows that I am not Reese,¡± I replied. My voice was so low as I didn¡¯t want any of my bodyguards to hear what we were talking about. I continued, ¡°I really have the feeling that it is none other than Reese¡­ she might¡¯ve found out someone¡¯s ying her role and is probably furious at me.¡±

    ¡°For me, it is strange for her to do such things, Liv. If that was Reese, she could have exposed you instantly and imed what was deemed hers. Don¡¯t you think? Why would she try to y games with you? I mean, if I were in her position, I would really open the gates of hell just to get my life back. That¡¯s her supposed initial response to the situation.¡±

    ¡°I think I am going to have a heart attack at any time, Lara. Chase can¡¯t know about all this mess or else I¡¯m doomed.¡± I palmed my face, trying to calm my heart from its worry, but it only got worse as I thought about all the possibilities.

    ¡°What if it was just someone who wanted money? We cannot always assume, Liv. You know it is bad for you to overthink. You¡¯re still under medication, remember?¡±

    ¡°I know¡­¡± I let out a sigh and sat on the couch right next to her. ¡°I¡¯m just scared that it might be Reese and she¡¯s nning to expose me to Chase. I don¡¯t want to hurt him, Lara.¡±

    ¡°I am sorry, Liv, but as far as I know, he¡¯d really get hurt once the truth gets revealed. No matter how you try to avoid it, I don¡¯t think you will be able to keep it from him forever ,¡± she said, reaching for my arm and then patting it. ¡°Just ignore it for now. We¡¯ll try to observe and see what that person¡¯s next step would be.¡±

    I huffed in frustration and leaned my head on her shoulder. ¡°My lies are starting to haunt me.¡±

    And the haunt was like a never-ending nightmare.

 CHAPTER SIXTY

    OLIVIA

    ¡°HOW¡¯S my beautiful wife doing?¡±

    I smiled, hearing Chase¡¯s familiar voice over the phone. It was already past midnight when he called, and I guess he forgot about the different time zones we currently had. It was afternoon in his time, and he mentioned that he had just finished a conference meeting in Singapore.

    ¡°I am fine, Chase. How are you?¡± I asked as I yawned. I shifted my position and hugged the pillow beside me, imagining it was him while I had my phone in my right ear.

    ¡°I¡¯m kind of bored here and I miss you so much already,¡± he answered.

    ¡°I miss you too, Chase. When do you think you can go home?¡± I curiously asked, given that three days had passed already.

    I heard him sigh on the other line. ¡°I might stay here for a week, my love. The deal hasn¡¯t been signed yet, and I need to formally meet with some business partners here.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s too long.¡± I said, a bit sad that I had to endure another four days without him by my side.

    With all the mess I¡¯ve been dealing with, I wanted to see him badly to shove my worries away.

    ¡°I know, my love. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll check if I can pull some strings so I can go home as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t even try, Chase. Just focus on what you need to do there, and I will be here patiently waiting for you. In the meantime, I¡¯m going to cuddle with your pillow.¡±

    He chuckled. ¡°I wish I was there to cuddle with you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I miss your warm body. It¡¯s so huggable.¡±

    ¡°Just huggable?¡±

    I smiled. ¡°And tempting¡­¡±

    ¡°What else?¡±

    ¡°Desirable?¡± I giggled.

    ¡°Is that a question?¡± Heughed too. ¡°You¡¯re naughty.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not! You¡¯re asking me questions and I simply answer them!¡±

    ¡°God, I miss you, really¡­¡± he said huskily. ¡°Are you sure there¡¯s nothing bad happening right there that I have to know about?¡±

    ¡°Nothing, Chase¡­¡± I bit my lower lip and for a split second I recalled the mess I was currently in and I couldn¡¯t tell him because I wanted to protect his feelings. ¡°Everything is good. I can manage!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a relief, Reese. Don¡¯t forget to call me whenever something happens. Mathias is there to also assist you twenty-four by seven,¡± he reminded me, as if he was a father, intoning some rules set for his daughter.

    ¡°Aye aye, captain!¡± I said and kissed the speaker of my phone. That was enough for him to hear.

    ¡°I wish I could taste those lips of yours¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been dry ever since you¡¯ve gone.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll wet it when I get home. I¡¯ll kiss every part of you¡­¡±

    ¡°And I look forward to it, baby,¡± I said while I bit my lower lip.

    ¡°Go back to sleep now, my love. Don¡¯t forget that I love you very much,¡± he said sweetly to me.

    ¡°I love you too, Chase. Good luck!¡±

    I was the one who ended the phone call. I yawned once again, and hugged the pillow tightly. My eyelids felt so heavy that I instantly fell asleep.

    My sleep was interrupted by a call. I absentmindedly answered it with my eyes still shut. It was probably Chase and he might¡¯ve forgotten to say something.

    ¡°I know your secret¡­¡± an unfamiliar and faint voice of a woman spoke from the other line before the call ended.

    ***

    BULLET SWEATS were formed on my forehead. My breathing was ragged and my chest tightened as I answered a call from none other than Reese Jones.

    ¡°You¡¯ve stolen everything from me! You¡¯re a fraud, Olivia! No matter how you try to be me, I know the truth¡­ and everyone will know about it in no time. Chase will hate you! He will do anything to put you in jail!¡± Then sheughed.

    I gasped. I forced my eyes open and got up immediately. My eyes widened as I thought about that nightmare.

    It was Reese¡­ and she was furious at me!

    ¡°F*ck¡­¡± I cursed under my breath and quickly grabbed my phone to check on my call logs.

    My mouth ran dry when I saw an unknown number who called me after Chase. I remembered answering a phone call right before I slept, but I couldn¡¯t recall what the call said at the time. Running my fingers through my hair, all I felt was deep horror, thinking that my instincts could be right.

    It may have been Reese Jones, and she was trying to mess with me¡­

    I dialed the phone number, but I only heard a busy tone.

    My heart raced so fast, like it never had before. It was as if a big stone was put in my lungs, making it impossible for me to breathe properly. I ran to the bathroom and took the medicine for the panic attack and immediately drank it. Then, I washed my face to clear my head a bit.

    ¡°She can¡¯te back¡­ She can¡¯t take Chase away from me¡­ I¡¯m not going to let her,¡± I said to myself.

    Tears pooled in my eyes. I knew it was insanity for me to think this way, but I loved Chase so much and I couldn¡¯t afford to lose him. If I had to beg and kneel in front of Reese, I¡¯d willingly do it.

    My entire body trembled, and I had a feeling that this would only be the start of the real nightmare I had to face.

    ***

    I WAS COMPLETELY out of focus the whole period of my first ss. The professor gave us a quiz, and I failed it. All I could do was sigh as I stared at my test paper with a red mark on it. I crumpled the test paper and put it inside my bag.

    ¡°Reese, are you alright?¡± Mia asked me. Her tone sounded worried.

    I stared at her. ¡°I am.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised that you didn¡¯t pass the quiz. I mean, you¡¯ve always wanted to be good in ss. That¡¯s why I thought maybe you had a problem¡­¡± she exined carefully.

    I wished I could tell her what has been bothering me. However, I didn¡¯t want to take a risk and include her in my trouble.

    ¡°I¡¯m alright, Mia. I¡¯m just in a bad mood, perhaps because of my period,¡± I lied.

    ¡°Oh, that sucks.¡±

    I sighed. ¡°I know.¡±

    During our free time, we went to the library as I needed to borrow a couple of books for my written report. I still couldn¡¯t get Reese out of my mind. There were so many thoughts whirling around my head, and it added to the anxiety filling my chest.

    I inhaled heavily, trying to stay focused on my report, but my hands were shaking so badly, to the extent that I couldn¡¯t write properly. Mia saw that, but I was d she didn¡¯t say a word or ask about it because I didn¡¯t know how I could answer her at all.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really know what¡¯s bothering you, but I want to tell you that everything will be alright, Reese, and I am always here to help and lend a shoulder if you need one,¡± Mia said during our lunch break.

    ¡°Thanks, Mia¡­¡± I offered her a thin smile and tried to eat my pasta.

    My phone chimed, and for a split second, I felt so excited to see that I had received a text message from Chase. But my skin turned pale when I read it.

    From: Chase

    Mia texted me saying you¡¯re not alright. What¡¯s happening, Reese? Please do tell me if there¡¯s anything that¡¯s bothering you.

    ¡°Mia, how could you!¡± I couldn¡¯t help but raise my voice and stare at Mia angrily.

    ¡°What?¡± she asked, totally dumbfounded by my sudden reaction.

    ¡°You told Chase!¡±

    Anger went through me, realizing that she had just meddled with my life without my permission. I shot her a re. Her eyes widened as if she had just realized something and then she looked away.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Reese. I thought Chase had to know about what¡¯s happening with you. He is your husband and I am only concerned-¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to tell him about it!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m only worried about you, Reese. Look, I¡¯m very sorry¡­¡±

    I shook my head, still pissed off about what I had learned.

    ¡°I have to go,¡± I said, as I wanted to end this argument. I didn¡¯t want to say hurtful things to her.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Reese, I¡¯m really sorry. Please-¡±

    ¡°Not now, Mia. Please, leave me alone,¡± I said, cutting her off and walking away.

    My eyes went teary as I rushed into the nearestfort room. I quickly went inside of one of the cubicles and sat on the toilet while pulling my hair in frustration.

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡± I said as tears started to stream down my face.

    I thought I was strong enough to deal with all the messing my way. But this one¡­ this freaking one that included Reese herself, was hard enough for me to face. Since Mia told Chase that there was something bothering me, I knew he¡¯d start nagging about it and it wouldter cause a conflict between us because there was no way I could tell him that.

    I was totally pissed off at Mia for telling him.

    After crying, I went out of the cubicle and retouched my makeup. I was about to go to my next ss when my phone chimed.

    It was none other than Chase¡¯s father, who was asking me if we could meet because he¡¯d tell me something important.

    And I wondered what it could be?

 CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

    OLIVIA

    I WENT to Maxwell¡¯spany to visit Chase¡¯s father. I still wondered what he would discuss with me at this moment. I saw my reflection in the elevator¡¯s golden colored double doors.

    ¡°Sh*t¡­¡± I cursed under my breath when I noticed the wrinkled cor of my polo shirt.

    I somehow fixed it, but I wasn¡¯t satisfied with my entire look. Had I known that Ernest Maxwell would ask me to visit, I would¡¯ve dressed a bit nicer than I did.

    The elevator door just opened and his secretary just escorted me to a private elevator that would lead to his office. She then nced at me from head to toe. It was kind of awkward, but I managed to speak with her.

    ¡°So¡­ How¡¯s working with Mr. Maxwell? Is he a good boss?¡± I looked curiously at her.

    ¡°He¡¯s actually not just a boss; I¡¯m more seeing him as a visionary and a true leader, a very passionate leader of thispany.¡± She smiled at me in a sarcastic way, then gazed at my wrinkled cor.

    I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

    ¡°Are you a bit nervous, Ms. Reese?¡±

    ¡°Oh, of course not. I¡¯m only¡­ in a hurry, that¡¯s why I¡¯m not¨C¡±

    ¡°Presentable and unprepared? You¡¯re the daughter of his son, Chase Maxwell, and I believe you should always be on top since you¡¯re carrying their family name. It¡¯s one of the most important names in the business industry,¡± she said as she cut me off. She then exhaled deeply and raised her eyebrows. ¡°You can go to our restroom. I can help you fix it.¡±

    ¡°No thanks,¡± I said simply, smiling at her.

    Shaking her head, she just smirked at me.

    The audacity of this woman¡­ I felt so judged, and her being a secretary to Chase¡¯s father doesn¡¯t give her the right to treat me this way. After all, I¡¯m still the wife of Chase Maxwell.

    The elevator doors opened, and we went in front of Ernest¡¯s office. She was about to open the door, but I stopped her midway.

    ¡°You can now leave. There is no need for you to go inside since we¡¯re going to have a father-and-daughter-inw conversation.¡± I smiled sweetly at her and continued, ¡°You can go back to the reception or grab some coffee or whatever suits you.¡±

    I rolled my eyes and walked past her. I pushed the door open and my eyesnded on Chase¡¯s father, who was sitting like a real leader in his swivel chair.

    He nced at me and offered me a thin but weing smile.

    ¡°There you are. Have a seat, Reese.¡±

    ¡°How are you doing, Dad?¡± I asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m doing very well, sweetheart. Thanks for asking.¡±

    I then looked around at his office. The walls were painted brown with some wooden designs on them and exposed bricks. It felt very homey, and the family portrait hanging just behind his desk added some personal touches to this spacious ce.

    ¡°So, have you met Melissa outside?¡±

    My brows furrowed as I wondered who he was talking about.

    ¡°The woman who brought you here. Her name is Melissa. She¡¯s my sister, and technically, your aunt-inw. My secretary was on a holiday trip with her family, and so she¡¯s been extending her help to assist me here. Have you talked? She¡¯s very excited to see you in person,¡± he added.

    I was shocked at what I just heard. For a brief moment, I hoped that I could turn back time and fix the mess I just made.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Sh*t, Olivia¡­ So that woman was his sister! Chase¡¯s aunt! I massaged the temple of my nose and bit my lower lip.

    ¡°Y-Yes, Dad. I met her. She seems very nice. I would like to talk to her again to clear things up.¡± Ernest¡¯s forehead creased as if he was curious about what happened before I entered his office. ¡°I mean, I am thrilled to see her, Dad.¡±

    He nodded. ¡°By the way, the reason why I asked you toe here is because I want to tell you some bad news¡­¡±

    I blinked several times. ¡°What is it, Dad?¡±

    ¡°Chase¡¯spany lost millions of dors,¡± he answered.

    I frowned, totally shocked. I couldn¡¯t help but worry about what happened to Chase¡¯spany. At the same time, I was scared that it had something to do with me.

    ¡°My goodness. That¡¯s really bad news, Dad. Howe Chase isn¡¯t telling me this?¡±

    He let out a huge sigh. ¡°It¡¯s truly devastating, Reese. There are a lot of investors pulling out their shares because of the rtionship he has right now with your parents. It has something to do with thewsuits against your parents that I¡¯m sure you are not aware of. There are some write-ups that just spread, and Chase will lose more than what he lost right now if this continues.¡±

    I swallowed the lump in my throat. The thought of Chase losing everything scared me.

    How could this happen to him?

    Ernest opened a bottle of whiskey and poured it into his ss. I watched him move and noticed that there was something off about him. The atmosphere in his office became stiff and it was difficult for me to make any moves.

    His expression changed when he sipped from his ss. His eyes radiated fury, and my heart raced because of it. I cleared my throat and tried topose myself.

    ¡°I know it is not entirely your fault and my son only wanted to help yourpany. I¡¯m just worried about you and Chase. The export business of your parents isn¡¯t doing well. Then, Chase bought the shares of thatpany and wrote millions of dors in checks. With poor management and bad financial decisions, exporting grapes was no longer sweet at all. It¡¯s all sour.¡±

    I lowered my head and gazed at myp while biting my lower lip. I held back my emotions because I didn¡¯t want to cry in front of him.

    Before, I was so happy that he helped Reese¡¯s parents. But I didn¡¯t see thising. I ruined his business, his career, and put his family name in jeopardy¡­

    ¡°You¡¯re a smart girl, Reese. And I believe that you¡¯re trying your best ever since you enrolled in a prestigious business school. However, the time is ticking. In a matter of a short time, what I built from scratch will turn into dust.¡±

    ¡°I will meet up with my parents, Dad. Let me handle this, and please ept my apologies if my family disappointed you,¡± I said, my lips quivering.

    I tried to hold my tears, but my vision started to get blurry, and they fell instantly. I immediately wiped them as I didn¡¯t want to be so pathetic in front of Chase¡¯s father.

    ¡°Reese, do you remember any single thing that happened to you before?¡±

    I shook my head and stared at him.

    ¡°I¡¯m wondering why you can¡¯t remember anything, especially the time you ran away from my son and canceled your wedding.¡±

    ¡°My memory hasn¡¯te back, Dad. But I am trying¡­ I am also suffering from an anxiety disorder and it might be the reason why I can¡¯t bring them back.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that, sweetheart.¡± He stared at me sincerely. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s appropriate for me to discuss another matter with you.¡±

    ¡°What is it, Dad?¡±

    He shook his head, as if he¡¯d decided to call it quits after I told him I was sick.

    ¡°Dad, please. I want to know¡­¡± I begged.

    ¡°I¡¯m just thinking whether it is possible for you to file a divorce to end your marriage with my son,¡± he said.

    My eyes widened after hearing it. I looked at him in disbelief. He poured another whiskey into his ss before he continued.

    ¡°I pledge to continue supporting you financially. I¡¯d give you seven million dors. I still think that it was too abrupt for the two of you to get married. I don¡¯t see the capability within you, as well as with my son.¡± He sighed and sipped on his ss. ¡°Both of you are still young, and trust me, you can explore other things that will enhance your potential and skills. Believe me, ten or fifteen yearster, you¡¯lle to my office and thank me.¡±

    Tears were pooling in my eyes. This time, I didn¡¯t wipe them as my entire body was trembling with both anxiety and disappointment. I sucked in a breath, and I immediately opened my purse to take my medicine, as I felt that I¡¯d get a panic attack at any moment.

    I shook my head to refuse what he said, I continued to sob in despair.

    ¡°I believe this is the perfect time to convince Chase to file a divorce. Just tell him that you need to recover first from your mental disability. It¡¯s a tough decision to make, but it would be best for you and Chase.¡±

    ¡°Dad, I can¡¯t do that¡­¡± I said, still shaking my head.

    ¡°Reese, listen carefully. This will be the best for both of you. You will still have my full support if that¡¯s what you¡¯re worrying about. I just love my son so much that I didn¡¯t want him to sink and lose everything, and if you love him too, you¡¯re going to ept this offer. Trust me, it¡¯s for the best. Think about it.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t believe that he offered me millions of dors just to break up with his son. How was I supposed to react to this? If I said yes, then it would prove to him that I was just after the money, but if I said no, then Chase would be stuck with an idiot housewife with Reese¡¯s problematic family.

    ¡°You probably do not remember this, but you actually didn¡¯t like my son back then. You had a boyfriend in yourpany, and the only reason you agreed to marry him was because that¡¯s what your parents wanted you to do.¡± He pressed his lips together and continued, ¡°That guy¡­ I wonder what happened to him, by the way, especially since you¡¯re married to my son. I suggest you find that guy and talk to him. He can certainly-¡±

    ¡°I apologize, but I love your son so much and I can¡¯t see myself going back to my previous rtionship nor remember anything from the past. I wish you can respect that, Mr. Maxwell,¡± I said, deeply hurt that he brought up some events in the past that I was not aware of.

    I had no connections to Reese¡¯s past, and whatever it was, I wanted it buried and forgotten.

    I was wrong to think that he was a nice person.

    Even though I wanted a huge amount of money, it didn¡¯t feel right for me to divorce Chase because of it. I couldn¡¯t hurt him that way.

    ¡°I expected a far better response from you, Reese. But I guess I have to understand. In case you change your mind, know that I¡¯m just a phone call away.¡±

    ¡°No, I won¡¯t change my mind¡­¡± I replied firmly.

    He then shrugged his shoulders. ¡°You don¡¯t need to talk to your parents about this matter. It¡¯s all part of the business. The decision is on you. The only person that can stop my son from sinking to his lowest level is none other than you, Reese. Keep that in your mind.¡±

    My jaw clenched. I couldn¡¯t take his words any longer, and so I went out of his office without saying any word.

    As I hopped inside the car, I heard my phone chime. I was still having a high emotion when I read Ernest Maxwell¡¯s text message:

    Don¡¯t ever mention this matter to Chase or to your family, or else, this will be thest time we¡¯ll have a nice conversation.

    Whatever that implied, it only meant one thing, I would be dead.

    My suspicions about him returned in an instant.

    There was something off about him and I had a feeling that he took his part in why Reese Jones went missing.

    OLIVIA

    I WOULD never forget how Ernest Maxwell treated me¡­

    My tears streamed down my face as I waited for the elevator to reach the ground floor. It was as if my heart had been mmed and crushed into pieces. I gasped for thin air and wiped my tears away, thinking that Mathias would notice my swollen eyes and report it to Chase.

    The elevator door finally opened. I went out of thepany and heard my phone ringing from my bag. I answered it when I saw it was Lara.

    ¡°Lara, I have to tell you something¡­¡± I said and swallowed so hard.

    ¡°You sound so tense. What¡¯s wrong, Liv?¡± she asked worriedly. ¡°I called because I wanted to ask you if you wanted me toe over for dinner since you¡¯re alone.¡±

    ¡°Got it. Pleasee over. Talk to youter,¡± I replied, and ended the call.

    I went to where the car was parked. I immediately noticed Mathias, who was standing outside and waiting for me. He nced my way and opened the passenger seat¡¯s door for me.

    ¡°Let¡¯s stop in a nearby convenience store, Mathias. I want to buy some beers,¡± Imanded when he started the car engine.

    He looked at me through the rearview mirror. ¡°Is there something wrong, Madame? I know I¡¯m not in the position to ask you this, but Mr. Maxwell wanted to make sure that you¡¯re doing fine.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m absolutely fine, Mathias. And you can report to Chase that I¡¯ll be spending the night with Lara. She¡¯lle over to the house. We¡¯re going to celebrate something. That¡¯s why I want to buy some beers.¡±

    I let out a heavy sigh and turned my gaze to the window to ensure that Mathias would not see my teary eyes.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, Madame, may I know what you would be celebrating? So in case Mr. Maxwell asks, I know what to tell him,¡± Mathias asked.

    ¡°Yes, I¡­ I aced the examination we had earlier. Ernest had learned about it andplemented me. Lara and I would celebrate my simple achievement.¡±

    There, I lied once again. I wondered how many people I should lie to just to conceal the truth. I thought I could live with these lies I made up, but they were starting to haunt me at night, giving me the creeps.

    ¡°Understood, Madame. I will let Mr. Maxwell know about it, and congrattions,¡± he said.

    I nodded and looked at him from the rearview mirror. He didn¡¯t seem convinced, though. It was like he knew everything that happened in Ernest¡¯s office.

    In less than thirty minutes, the car stopped in front of the convenience store. I went in there and filled my shopping cart with some snacks, beers, tequ and ice cream for hangovers. I quickened my pace and was about to go to the cashier when I noticed a small shelf loaded with thetest issued magazines. One of them had Chase on the cover.

    I couldn¡¯t help but smile, seeing how charismatic he was in his formal suit.

    ¡°You¡¯re mine, handsome¡­¡± I said and put the magazine in my cart.

    While I fell in line for the cashier, I recalled the conversation I had with Ernest Maxwell. My chest started to feel heavy thinking about how low he thought I was for offering me some huge amount of money to stay away from his son.

    ¡°Bastard¡­¡± I shook my head and shoved my negative thoughts aside.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re going through a difficult breakup, huh?¡± Thedy cashiermented.

    My forehead creased at her statement. ¡°No, it¡¯s not a breakup. In fact, it¡¯s a celebration because today is my birthday. ¡±

    ¡°Oh, my bad. Well, happy birthday, dear. I hope you enjoy your special day,¡± she said.

    ¡°Thank you so much,¡± I replied.

    I bit my lower lip, and couldn¡¯t run from the awkwardness I felt in exining why I was buying a lot of liquor myself. Even from her face, I could tell that she didn¡¯t buy my exnation. Luckily, she was a stranger.

    I took the grocery bag, went out of the convenience store and ced it in the back of the car. Mathias was quick to maneuver the car and we were back on the road again. I was patiently ncing at the side streets we passed by when I noticed a ck car that was following us.

    ¡°Mathias, is that the same car that followed us before?¡±

    ¡°No, Madame. Mr. Maxwell had stopped his men from tailing you after the yacht party.¡±

    ¡°Then who is it?¡± I curiously asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Madame. I¡¯ll observe the car and make sure it¡¯s not going to cause us trouble.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± I inhaled sharply as my anxiety started to engulf my chest.

    ¡°Yes, Madame. Please, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°OK,¡± I said in defeat, leaning my head against the backrest of my seat.

    ***

    LARA WENT to my house and bought a roasted chicken for us to eat for dinner. I couldn¡¯t remember thest time I ate such a simple ready-to-eat takeout in a simple chicken store, but I missed it so much that I had finished almost half of it.

    We then went to the swimming pool area and started drinking the liquor I bought.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t been sober ever since you became my friend.¡± I giggled.

    Lara opened another bottle of tequ and poured it into our shot sses.

    ¡°Now, just to make sure I got everything processed in my head, Chase¡¯s father asked you to divorce his son for seven million dors?¡± she asked, and thenughed out loud before she finished her drink in one shot.

    I rolled my eyes at her. She noticed that my expression went serious, so she held herughter.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I didn¡¯t expect it to happen. I thought highly of him, Lara.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it actually happened either.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I thought he had already epted you as his daughter-inw.¡±

    That¡¯s what I thought too¡­

    ¡°He¡¯s so upset with me and Reese¡¯s family. He thinks that I¡¯m not a better fit to be Chase¡¯s wife even though I¡¯m trying my best.¡± I finished my drink and Lara poured my ss again. ¡°He told me that Chase is losing millions of dors because of Reese¡¯s parents. Apparently, the investors didn¡¯t like it. That¡¯s why they are pulling out their shares¡­ I don¡¯t know what to think, Lara. He¡¯s offering me millions of dors just to leave his son. I only saw that scenario in f*cking soap opera!¡±

    ¡°That only means he¡¯s a d*ck!¡± She stood up and opened a bottle of whiskey and drank it. ¡°You know what? How about we celebrate that insane offer?¡±

    I shook my head. She looked at me and wiggled her eyebrows. This girl was already drunk.

    ¡°Just ept the money offer and then step out of that family¡­ It¡¯s as simple as that, and you¡¯ll be stress-free, Olivia! This is your big day. Your jackpot! If I were you, I¡¯d take it and leave them alone!¡±

    We continued to drink while talking about how much of a douchebag Ernest was. I lost count of how many bottles of liquor we had. Drinking was the only thing I could think of that would relieve the heavy feeling in my chest.

    I thought about Lara¡¯s advice. Even though she wasn¡¯t in her right mind because of her tipsiness, I couldn¡¯t deny that she had a point.

    Lara wrapped her arm around my shoulder and stared at me with her chinky eyes.

    ¡°Hear my advice, Liv. I¡¯m after your well-being. Take the offer and go somewhere else. Have some stic surgery and move on. With that huge amount of money, you can have a boyfriend every month!¡±

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible? How about Chase? If I left him, I¡¯d feel bad for the rest of my life. He¡¯s so caring, lovable, and thoughtful. Not to add that he¡¯s handsome, has nice abs, is a good kisser, and great in bed. I mean-¡±

    ¡°Liv, do you hear yourself?¡± She hissed. ¡°Wake up! Chase Maxwell is a billionaire. He can easily move on and find a new wife! Just divorce him and that¡¯s it. Run away from him and don¡¯t ever look back!¡±

    I let out a huge sigh. Hearing that I was receable brought a pain inside my chest. But, Lara made sense. Perhaps it was a harsh truth that I needed to hear.

    Chase, indeed, had a name to protect. If I didn¡¯t take that offer from Ernest, then Chase would live his life in misery because of me and Reese¡¯s parents.

    ¡°For the record, he doesn¡¯t love you for who you are. You have to face the fact that he needs the real Reese. Whatever happened to them, I guess that isn¡¯t your problem anymore. At the end of the day, you just need his money. It¡¯s time for you to stop loving him, because you¡¯re the only one who will suffer in the end. Do you get me?¡±

    I nodded. I recalled the conversation I had with Ernest. Some of his statements actually gave me a hunch that he probably knew what happened to Reese Jones.

    ¡°It¡¯s really odd. Something¡¯s off with Ernest, Lara. The way he delivered his statement earlier, and told me stories about Reese Jones, telling me that she didn¡¯t like his son from the start and that she only agreed because it was what her parents wanted her to do, it was clear that he only made it up.¡±

    ¡°Come on, Olivia. I¡¯m not drunk yet!¡± She then leaned her head on the sun lounger. ¡°So¡­ you mean Ernest has something to do with Reese Jones¡¯ disappearance?¡±

    I rolled my eyes as Lara was already so wasted. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I just had a feeling that Ernest was only doing this because he doesn¡¯t like Reese at all.¡±

    Lara giggled. ¡°And he probably kidnapped and killed her, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. What the hell are you blurting out, Lara?¡±

    Luckily, Chase wasn¡¯t here and there were no other staff or helpers around in this house, because I¡¯d be screwed if we got seen like this¡­

    ¡°Or, Reese, was kidnapped by Ernest, then he put her on an isted ind so she can no longer go back here,¡± she added and chuckled.

    ¡°Ernest doesn¡¯t like Reese Jones. That¡¯s a probability based on the tone of his voice earlier, but kidnapping or killing? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible. If he had done that then he should¡¯ve done something bad to me.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right, smarty pants! Of course, he wouldn¡¯t do that. But it doesn¡¯t matter to us. Whatever happened to Reese Jones or their family feud, it would be safe for us not to involve ourselves anymore in that matter. Ernest doesn¡¯t like Reese Jones, period. Take his offer and leave. Do you understand?¡±

    She then fell off her seat and the ss that she was holding broke on the floor.

    Lara was right.

    That night, we both slept on the floor. I had a dream that I broke up with Chase, took his father¡¯s money, and we flew to Hawaii. I changed my name to Taylor, hadplete face surgery, and then I had three ex-boyfriends who kept chasing me.

    The next day, I woke up with a terrible headache and I saw Lara, who was still unconscious on the floor.

    I tried to call the school to inform them that I¡¯d be absent for today because I had a very awful headache, but I ended up calling Ernest.

    ¡°Hello Reese, this is Ernest¡­ I guess you¡¯re calling the wrong number.¡±

    My headache just disappeared in an instant, and I suddenly thought of excuses for me to respond.

    ¡°Hi, Dad. I¡¯m sorry¡­ I contacted you by ident. We¡¯ll talk soon about your offer¡­¡±

    ¡°No rush, Reese. Actually, I want you to forget about it. The truth is, I was just upset and emotional¡­ I¡¯m so sorry.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t able to process what he was trying to convey. He ended up hanging up the phone because he told me he would attend a meeting.

    I guess he was ying a trick on me. But I was sure that Ernest was serious yesterday. His eyes couldn¡¯t lie. It was furious as hell. His words were also menacing. The fact that he went into detail about Reese Jones¡¯s past rtionship, her parents¡¯ business, and discussing Chase¡¯s failures in his business, it became clearer that he had probably known where Reese Jones went.

    Whatever it was, I needed to be careful. I had toy out a perfect n for me to escape, and I was afraid that whatever happened to Reese Jones, would also happen to me.

    It appeared that Ernest Maxwell was someone I should protect myself from.

 CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

    OLIVIA

    TO SAY that I was relieved that Ernest Maxwell had taken back what he had offered was an understatement. Torn between beingpletely at ease and worrying about what would happen next, I huffed in frustration.

    I understood that he was emotional because of the fact that his son was slowly losing his business. What I didn¡¯t understand was why he¡¯d gone to that extent. He made me feel like I wasn¡¯t fit to be Chase¡¯s wife and made me doubt him.

    Now, he turned the tables, thinking that my emotions would be flipped back in an instant.

    Lara went home as soon as she¡¯d woken up. I decided not to tell her about my conversation with Ernest as I knew she wouldn¡¯t stop preaching to me.

    I didn¡¯t want to stress myself over the conversation I had with him either, and so I decided to attend school even though I could feel the throbbing pain in my head. It was bearable, though. I¡¯ve taken medicine to help me function at school for the day.

    The buzz could be heard everywhere, which means students only have five more minutes to rush into their respective ssrooms before the sses begin. I didn¡¯t waste much time and headed to the first ss. However, when I was near the ssroom, I saw Mia standing with her arms crossed, and leaning her back against the railing.

    She noticed my presence. Her eyes sparked a bit, then her expression turned a bit reluctant. I recalled how I scolded her in the cafeteria yesterday after telling Chase that I wasn¡¯t alright. Sighing, I couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty that I released my frustrations at her. I knew she was only concerned and trying to be of help.

    ¡°Mia,¡± I said as I walked in her direction.

    ¡°Reese, I¡¯ve been waiting for you,¡± she said carefully, and looked at me as if she was trying to gauge my mood. ¡°Look, I¡¯m so sorry about what happened yesterday. I didn¡¯t mean to interfere that way. I was only concerned about you since you were not telling me anything. I hope you can forgive me.¡±

    I offered her my sincerest smile and tapped her shoulder.

    ¡°I should apologize to you too, Mia. It wasn¡¯t my intention to scold you publicly. It was my high emotions that took over. I¡¯m sorry,¡± I stated.

    ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t need to apologize. I was being nosy and I deserved that.¡±

    ¡°No, you didn¡¯t. Thank you for being a good friend, Mia.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re considering me as your good friend,¡± she said shyly, and then we hugged each other.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    I saw the professor walking her way to our ssroom. I immediately tapped Mia¡¯s back and told her we needed to go inside. We bothughed as we were like high school teenagers reuniting after a petty fight.

    The ss turned out to be good, except for the fact that I couldn¡¯t give my entire attention to the professor. I¡¯ve spent the majority of my time thinking about my next n, and I came up with a decision to continue with my studies, and once I got sessful, I¡¯d tell Chase the truth.

    There¡¯s no way I could hide it from him forever. With all the strange things that have happened in the past few days, I think fate might have been trying to warn me that every bad motive begets major consequences. In my case, my karma started to knock on my door, haunting me every day.

    Charles joined us in the second ss. He seemed to be starting to change ever since he started his rtionship with Mia. She was like an angel radiating good influence, and it was infectious as Charles was trying to behave.

    I felt extremely weird being around them though. I was like a third wheel who was pitying herself for not having her boyfriend. I let out a heavy sigh, realizing how much I miss my husband so much. I wished the days would pass quickly so he could go home soon.

    I rested one of my elbows on my desk, then took my phone from my bag and typed a text message for Chase.

    I miss you, love. ??

    ***

    LUNCH BREAK came, and thankfully, Charles had decided to give me and Mia some girly time of our own. Instead of having lunch in the cafeteria, we went out of the university and dined at an Italian restaurant nearby.

    ¡°Charles seemed to be changing,¡± Imented right after ordering our food.

    Mia¡¯s face lit up. Grinning from ear to ear, she replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t it sweet? He¡¯s trying his best to be a better man.¡±

    I nodded and smiled. ¡°I love that he¡¯s treating you right.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a good man, Reese. A lot like Chase.¡±

    ¡°He has to be. Otherwise, I¡¯m going to kick him in the face,¡± I said andughed.

    Mia chuckled and slightly hit my forearm. ¡°Thanks to you, I can finally say that I¡¯m happy with my life.¡±

    ¡°No need to thank me, Mia. I¡¯m d to be a matchmaker.¡± I winked at her.

    The food arrived in less than a minute. We were both eating and discussing topics regarding thest ss we attended when I noticed my phone lighting up. I took a glimpse at the notification and saw that I had received an email. I was about to ignore it. However, as I read the sender¡¯s name, my eyes widened.

    ¡°Ellie Steward!¡± I eximed and quickly covered my mouth as I realized that my voice was loud.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Mia asked curiously and leaned forward to look at my phone too.

    ¡°Ellie is inviting me to work with her for a certain fashion brand she¡¯s currently funding,¡± I told her. My eyes went teary as I couldn¡¯t exin my happiness.

    ¡°Holy cow! It sounds like a big opportunity, Reese! Grab it!¡± Mia eximed.

    ¡°Oh my gosh! My hands are sweating¡­ Do you think it¡¯s right to ept it? I don¡¯t think I¡¯m capable of working in the said field.¡±

    Mia rolled her eyes at me. ¡°How would you know you¡¯re capable if you¡¯re not going to give it a try? Do not be ashamed of trying, Reese. That¡¯s how sess starts!¡±

    I inhaled sharply and nodded in agreement. Mia was definitely right. I replied to Ellis¡¯s email, telling her that I¡¯d love to work with her. She responded quickly, requesting that we meet formally so she could exin everything in detail.

    I was over the moon and couldn¡¯t process it yet as it happened all of a sudden. I asked Mia to join me in this project, and she felt so ecstatic, wanting to be my assistant.

    After our final ss for the day, we went to the office address Ellie sent me to meet her. I could have sworn that my heart was racing fast because of both excitement and nervousness. Mia couldn¡¯t hide her excitement either, as it was her first time meeting people who were known in the fashion industry.

    The cab stopped in front of a two-story grand boutique. Mia kept shaking my arm,pletely perplexed by seeing Ellie¡¯s headquarters.

    ¡°This is it, Reese! My heart is beating so fast!¡± she said happily.

    ¡°Alright, calm down a bit, Mia. We have to impress Ellie Steward,¡± I reminded her, giving her a stare.

    She nodded her head quickly and raised her head with the utmost confidence.

    ¡°Of course! As your assistant, I¡¯ll make sure to impress them!¡± Then she turned to me. ¡°But, given myck of fashion knowledge, I¡¯m not sure how to go about it.¡±

    Iughed. Shaking my head, I said, ¡°We¡¯re just the same, but remember what you said to me earlier? We can try to see what we¡¯re capable of.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s go,¡± I said.

    She clung to me as we walked to the boutique. The security guard let us in after I told him that we were invited by Ellie. As soon as we entered the ce, my eyes were greeted with numerous sets of luxurious clothes. Each corner of the spacious ce had shoe and bag shelves. The walls were painted with white and a little bit of brown toplement the main color. There were abstract portraits everywhere, and the ambiance was really customer friendly.

    A staff member approached us politely, and then guided us to the second floor. My eyes didn¡¯t stop roaming around. This was the kind of office I wanted to have!

    ¡°Reese!¡± I heard the familiar voice of Ellie Steward.

    I turned to the other side and saw her walking towards us. She greeted me, kissed my cheek, and shook hands with Mia.

    ¡°So, this is Mia. I n to make her my assistant in this partnership,¡± I told Ellie.

    She nced between us with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s perfect, Reese. I¡¯m excited to work with both of you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Ms. Ellie. It¡¯s truly an honor.¡± Mia sped her hands together. She looked as if she was stunned by Ellie¡¯s elegance and beauty.

    ¡°Likewise, Mia.¡± Ellie smiled at her. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m going to introduce you first to our designers. Come with me.¡±

    Ellie spun around and walked towards a hallway, which would lead us to the other side of this floor, which could be her main office. Mia and I followed her until we entered what seemed like a conference room where there were three people brainstorming some ideas .

    Their eyesnded on us. I offered them a thin smile and slightly lowered my head.

    ¡°Guys, I would like you to meet Reese Jones-Maxwell and Mia Brown. They will be working with us on the new project we will be working on.¡± Then Ellie nced at us. ¡°So we have Sam, Eunice, and Elizabeth here. They are the fashion designers who would join us while working on the brand.¡±

    The designers, whose names were Sam and Eunice, introduced themselves to us. I had to admit that they looked very young and had a great fashion statement. They looked kind and approachable. The nervousness I felt washed away. I guess, I didn¡¯t have to worry that much given that Ellie¡¯s team seemed to be friendly.

    Except for the third fashion designer, whose name was Elizabeth.

    She looked at us with obvious hate, which I didn¡¯t know where it came from. She stood up from her swivel chair and walked towards me.

    ¡°H-Hi there! My name is Reese Jones-Maxwell. I am pleased to meet you,¡± I said, and extended my hand for a hand shake.

    However, she didn¡¯t offer her hand to me. Instead, she crossed her arms against her chest and raised one of her eyebrows.

    ¡°I never thought that I¡¯d see you again.¡± she said, her words dripping off disgust.

    My forehead creased. The way she stared and talked to me, it appeared that she had a connection with Reese.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but¡­ do we know each other?¡± I asked, trying to be more careful as I didn¡¯t want to sound rude to her.

    She smirked while shooting me a re. ¡°Of course. Who would know such a wicked woman?¡±

    A palm struck my cheek, which made me gasp.

    ¡°Reese f*cking Jones¡­ you should be dead already! Why did you have toe back?¡± She asked as she raised her voice on me.

    ¡°I apologize, but I can¡¯t-¡±

    ¡°You stole Chase from me!¡± She cut my words off. ¡°And how dare you pretend that you didn¡¯t know me? I am Elizabeth Risto, the woman who you messed with and stole a guy from!¡±

 CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

    OLIVIA

    A PANG of anxiety went through me as I gazed at Elizabeth¡¯s pair of almond eyes, radiating hate for me. Her statement confused the sh*t in me, and I becamepletely dumbfounded in front of everyone here in the conference room.

    What exactly did she mean?

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t understand what you are talking about,¡± I said as I struggled to collect my thoughts.

    My eyes nced between the people who were frowning and looking at us, and I kind of felt ashamed that this thing happened during the supposed meet and greet with Ellie¡¯s team. I looked at Elizabeth again. Her chest went up and down, seemingly trying to take her emotions under control.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that I¡¯m breathing the same air that you breathe.¡± She shook her head and turned to Ellie, who gave her a wide-eyed look.

    ¡°Elizabeth, please remember that they are my guests, and you should not have acted so abruptly. Why did you p her?¡± Ellie¡¯s voice sounded so pissed off.

    ¡°Guess what, Ellie? I don¡¯t want to work with her and if it means I have to resign from this project, then I¡¯m willing to send my resignation through an email.¡± Elizabeth then turned her gaze on me. ¡°I can¡¯t work with someone who has taken part in ruining my life in the past.¡±

    ¡°Elizabeth, can you please calm down and let¡¯s talk properly!¡± Ellie said.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about. I¡¯m going to leave.¡±

    Elizabeth shot me a re. She bumped my shoulder as she walked past me and left the conference room in silence.

    I could feel the lump in my throat at this moment. I was confused and hurt at the same time. The vibrating feeling on my cheek was still fresh after that woman pped me so hard. However, the mere fact that she knew Reese and seemed to have loathed her intrigued me more. I didn¡¯t know that Reese¡¯s connections were so wide that wherever I went, I could still encounter a part of her past.

    ¡°I apologize for what happened, Reese.¡± Ellie rushed up on me and inspected my cheek with worry. ¡°Does it hurt? Would you like me to call a doctor?¡±

    I immediately shook my head and offered her one thin and awkward smile. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to do that, Ellie. I¡­¡± I paused, inhaled heavily, and nced at the two fashion designers behind her. ¡°I would like to apologize for what happened. I didn¡¯t mean to cause trouble here at all.¡±

    ¡°Do you know that girl, Reese?¡± Mia asked curiously while trying to console me by patting my shoulder.

    ¡°I actually don¡¯t remember her,¡± I said and clicked my tongue. ¡°I¡¯m suffering from amnesia and I can¡¯t remember everything in my past.¡±

    Everyone gasped after hearing my statement.

    ¡°We¡¯re sorry to hear that, Reese. But I assure you that Elizabeth will not be a problem. In fact, with the behavior she showed us a while ago, I can go ahead and terminate her contract and find someone great with a pleasing personality to rece her.¡± Ellie shook her head and turned to Sam and Eunice. ¡°Have you seen how she acted so unprofessionally? Help me find a better one to take her position as soon as possible.¡±

    Sam nodded at Ellie, then she checked something on her phone. ¡°I¡¯ve made a shortlist of great fashion designers avable. I can surely help you, Ellie.¡±

    ¡°Good Lord, that¡¯s great, Sam!¡±

    ¡°Uhm¡­ Isn¡¯t it a bit of an impulse decision to rece Elizabeth right away?¡± I asked hesitantly. All of them nced my way. ¡°I mean, she acted like that because of me. I was the one who¡¯s at fault here, so¡­ I feel guilty that you¡¯re going to rece her.¡±

    ¡°She really has an attitude problem, Reese,¡± Eunice added, and Sam nodded in agreement.

    I licked my lower lip and tried toe up with a solution. I just felt that it wasn¡¯t right for her to lose this project just because of Reese.

    ¡°How about I try to talk to her? Since I am the reason she acted that way, I need to take responsibility and fix what happened. If she still wants to resign after I talk to her, then I think you can find a new one to rece her.¡±

    ¡°Are you insane, Reese? Have you seen how mad her eyes were?¡± Mia hissed at me.

    ¡°I want to understand why she¡¯s so mad at me, and if I could resolve it, then there¡¯s no need to rece her.¡± I then looked at Ellie, who was staring at me confusedly. ¡°Will that work for you, Ellie?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see any problem with that, but I¡¯m afraid she will just hurt you more. To be honest with you, Elizabeth isn¡¯t a calm woman.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in my mind, Ellie. Would you be able to give me Elizabeth¡¯s home address?¡±

    Ellie was still hesitant about my n, but I persuaded her to let me first speak with Elizabeth. I wanted to know where her anger wasing from, and the only way for me to figure it out was to talk to her personally.

    I just couldn¡¯t let it slide. How many women are mad at Reese Jones? There was Chandria, Nathalie, and now Elizabeth Risto¡­ It was all because Reese was involved in a rtionship with Chase.

    And if ever I start working with Ellie and her people, I¡¯d like to clear Reese¡¯s name.

    I don¡¯t want to be named as a woman who stole someone else¡¯s boyfriend¡­

    ***

    ¡°ARE YOU sure about this, Reese?¡± Mia asked worriedly.

    ¡°A hundred percent sure, Mia. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m only going to talk to her,¡± I said, and gave her an assuring smile.

    Ellie gave me Elizabeth¡¯s home address, despite being reluctant about my n. It didn¡¯t matter to me whether that woman would attack me. I just want to know what happened in the past that made her so mad at Reese.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Mia and I hopped into the car immediately. Imanded Mathias to send us to the address, and while we were on the road, Mia couldn¡¯t stop herself from giving me advice. She thought I was doing something insane, but I didn¡¯t see it that way.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget how that woman pped you in front of people who you will work with eventually. What if she tries to do it next time?¡± Mia scoffed.

    ¡°I can¡¯t ignore the fact that she¡¯s somehow rted to me, Mia. I want to find out what happened in the past and how severe it was for her to p my face,¡± I rebutted.

    Mia rolled her eyes. I couldn¡¯t convince her, either. But I still wanted to do this for myself. The more I avoided people who were rted to Reese, the more I¡¯d get myself into trouble-so I realized I had to face them with confidence. In fact, there¡¯s no harm in asking.

    It only took almost an hour before we arrived at an extravagant vige. My eyes roamed around while Mathias was driving his way to the parking lot. I could see beautiful three-story houses on both sides of the wide road, and from the looks of the vige, it was obvious that only rich people could live here.

    ¡°We finally arrived, Madame,¡± Mathis announced as he stopped the car in front of an elegant white house.

    I opened the window next to me and looked at the house. It was a Greek-styled three-story house withrge ss windows on its second and third floor. It had an annex area for a spacious balcony and nts.

    ¡°Reese, do you think this will really work?¡± Mia asked hesitantly.

    ¡°Believe in me, Mia. I can handle this situation. Don¡¯t worry! Just stay here and wait for me.¡± I looked at Mathias and instructed him to take care of Mia while I tried to speak with Elizabeth.

    I got out of the car and tried to peek through the gate. I saw a car parked in the garage. It might be hers, so I rang the doorbell.

    While waiting for someone to open the gate for me, all I did was take several deep breaths and collect my thoughts. I didn¡¯t exactly know where to begin, but I hoped Elizabeth would talk to me in a calm way.

    A maid opened the gate for me.

    ¡°How may I help you?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Hi, I¡¯m looking for Elizabeth Risto. Is she here?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Miss. May I know your name?¡±

    ¡°My name is Reese Jones, and I want to talk to her about something.¡±

    The maid nodded, closed the gate and probably informed Elizabeth of my arrival. My heart raced so fast as I waited. After a few minutes, the gate opened again and I saw Elizabeth herself.

    She was crossing her arms, brows furrowed, and jaw clenching while she looked at me.

    ¡°What brings you here?¡± she asked coldly.

    ¡°Uhm¡­¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°I¡­ I want to talk to you, Elizabeth.¡±

    ¡°What for, Reese?¡± She clicked her tongue and shook her head. ¡°If you¡¯re here just to humiliate me, then save it. I¡¯m not up to any of your games.¡±

    ¡°No, please, listen to me¡­¡± I said, trying to stop her when she was about to close the gate. ¡°When I said that I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about earlier, I meant it. I have amnesia and I can¡¯t remember you, Elizabeth. I came here to talk, and understand what happened between us in the past¡­ and apologize if I ever hurt you.¡±

    Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me. It was as if she was trying to read my mind and see if I was lying.

    ¡°I don¡¯t get it¡­¡±

    ¡°I just want to know what happened in the past¡­ and correct every mistake I made,¡± I said bravely.

    She sighed heavily and, in the end, nodded.

    The side of my lips curled up into a smile. ¡°Thank you, Elizabeth!¡±

    Her expression didn¡¯t change at all. She looked mad and kept her guard up. But I was fine with that, as long as I could clear things out between us.

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. You¡¯re creeping me out,¡± she said and rolled her eyes. ¡°Come in.¡±

    She walked inside, and then I followed her. We went into the living room of her house. My eyes wandered, totally fascinated as to how her house was professionally designed in an elegant way.

    ¡°Have a seat,¡± she ordered, still with her voice so cold.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± I simply said, and sat on the long couch.

    ¡°You have amnesia?¡± she asked.

    I nodded. Clearing my throat, I gazed at her and spoke, ¡°I do. I can¡¯t remember anything that happened in the past. I don¡¯t remember people whom I previously encountered. And I came here because I wanted to say sorry¡­¡± I huffed and swallowed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I hurt you in the past. I may not be able to recall what really happened, but I don¡¯t want to live my life having so many enemies because of the wrongdoings I had in the past.¡±

    ¡°So you don¡¯t remember how you stole Chase away from me?¡±

    I bit my lower lip, and shook my head.

    ¡°Before you and Nathalie Smith came into the picture, I was the only person Chase had years ago. We were best friends, and I loved him more than thebel we had. His father wanted us to arrange for a convenience marriage and both sides had decided to go through it until you and Nathalie happened when we stepped into college. You drove him away from me. The only man who ever treated me as a woman became so different when you came into his life, and in just an instant he tossed me aside¡­¡±

    A sting of pain struck my chest upon hearing her statement. I didn¡¯t expect Chase to have so many women in the past. Let alone Reese taking part and hurting them¡­

    ¡°You don¡¯t remember how you humiliated me in front of my batch mates?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t, but I¡¯m sorry¡­ I really do, Elizabeth¡­¡± I inhaled sharply. ¡°Please, don¡¯t make an abrupt decision. You don¡¯t have to resign as Ellie¡¯s designer. You can ignore me all you want, and I promise not to do anything that will hurt or piss you off¡­¡±

    ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± she asked with her furrowed brows. ¡°What¡¯s the sense of acting as an angel when all the damage has been done?¡±

    I fisted my hand. Perhaps she was right about it, but I am not Reese Jones¡­ I couldn¡¯t live a life with so many enemies waiting for my downfall.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to change my life, Elizabeth, and if it means I have to apologize to all the people I wronged in the past, I will do so because I want to start anew and do good things I will live by,¡± I said bravely.

    She smirked. ¡°You¡¯re funny.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m dead serious, Elizabeth. I¡¯m sorry for what happened between us in the past, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I¡¯m already suffering, you see¡­ Having this amnesia makes me feel lost every single day, and even though I don¡¯t remember anything, I want to be a better person that I can be proud of¡­¡±

    She stared at me intently. There she was trying to read my mind and find sincerity in my expression. After a few seconds, all she did was sigh and then look away.

    I didn¡¯t know how I could persuade her, but I thought I¡¯d done my part, at the very least.

    ¡°Well then, I will talk to Ellie over the phone and see if she will still reconsider me after what I¡¯ve done back in her headquarters,¡± she finally said.

    My eyes widened, and no matter how I tried to suppress my smile, I couldn¡¯t do it.

    ¡°I apologize¡­ for pping you.¡± She inhaled heavily and stood up. ¡°You know the way out, right?¡±

    I nodded. ¡°Thanks, Elizabeth!¡±

    She rolled her eyes and then left me in the living room, feeling so happy that she agreed to work with me.

    Way to go, Olivia!

 CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

    OLIVIA

    ELIZABETH¡¯s story stayed in my mind after our conversation. I was convinced that she was one of the unfortunate women who got smitten by Chase, who had a difficult time winning his heart because of Reese¡¯s presence.

    I wondered if there were other women, aside from Nathalie and Elizabeth, who held grudges against the ever-missing Reese Jones. Admittedly, meeting these women always puts me in a bad situation. But what more could I do other than be prepared for what would happen next?

    I would not be surprised if a woman appeared out of nowhere and imed she was Chase¡¯s ex-girlfriend¡­

    The next day, I woke up with a great feeling. I was so encouraged by my coboration with Ellie and Elizabeth¡¯s agreement to stay on with the project. Mia and I nned to visit Ellie¡¯s boutique after ss as she would discuss the project thoroughly with us.

    I took a bath, ate my breakfast, and prepared for school. Wearing a simple red tank top and cream-colored wide-leg pants, I could not help but smile as I checked my reflection in the mirror. I grabbed my bag and made sure all my books were there, and quickly checked my phone too.

    ¡°It¡¯s odd. He hasn¡¯t updated me,¡± I said to myself when I noticed that Chase hadn¡¯t texted or called me. ¡°What a busy bee¡­¡±

    I shrugged my shoulders and quickened my pace. I went out of the house, and Mathias greeted me right away. We went to the car and then drove to school.

    ¡°Is there any update about Chase?¡± I curiously asked him while sittingfortably in the passenger seat.

    Mathias looked at me through the rearview mirror. ¡°He calledst night to check on you, Madame. He¡¯s still busy with some stuff in Singapore.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t he call me?¡± My forehead creased.

    ¡°He didn¡¯t want to disturb you, Madame. It was around two o¡¯clock in the morning when he called, and he said he still had a lot of things to work on,¡± Mathias exined.

    I went silent. I understood Chase was so busy because of what hispany was facing at the moment, but would it hurt him to spare even five minutes of his time to call me? I crossed my arms against my chest, feeling a bit pissed off.

    I thought he¡¯d be home in two days.

    That was the only thing thatforted me.

    I shoved all the negative ideas aside as I didn¡¯t want to ruin my day so early. After almost an hour¡¯s drive, we arrived at the university.

    I fell in line with other students entering the main gate. While doing so, I decided to check my phone again, hoping to see any texts from my husband. There was a new text message, which lightened my mood a bit, but realizing that it came from Lara, my shoulders sagged immediately.

    From: Lara

    Have you seen the news? It has spread online and on TV!

    My brows furrowed, confused at what she had texted me. Did she mistakenly send this one?

    I replied, ¡®What are you talking about?¡±, and then walked to the gate as the line was slowly moving.

    I could not help but look around. There were lots of studentsing to the university, and this was the first time I¡¯ve seen a long line at the entrance.

    I noticed some stares from the students and how they whispered something to their peers afterward, but I ignored it. Most people here talk about me because I¡¯m the wife of a well-known Chase Maxwell, and I¡¯ve grown ustomed to it.

    Upon entering, I got more attention than usual. Every person I walked past gave me malicious stares, which I did not like. The whispers continued, and it made me very ufortable.

    What¡¯s going on?

    My forehead creased as I walked, trying to ignore them, but wasn¡¯t able to do so when I heard a loud whisper from a group of students that was not far away from me.

    ¡°It¡¯s pretty obvious why Chase Maxwell has a mistress. Look at her. She looks like a wanna be¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true. Have you seen the woman he is with in Singapore? God, I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s dating a top notch model!¡±

    ¡°They look good together¡­¡±

    I stiffened at those words I¡¯ve heard. What did they say?

    I mustered the courage to spin around and look at the three girls talking behind my back. They noticed my stare, and they looked away.

    ¡°What the hell were you talking about?¡± I asked them firmly, but they never answered me.

    Instead, they walked past me as if I had never asked them anything at all. I took several deep breaths. I was all too aware that a lot of students were still looking at me and talking behind my back¡­ Was it because of the thing those girls talked about?

    My phone chimed. I bit my lower lip in frustration, and checked the text message from Lara.

    From: Lara

    So you haven¡¯t seen it? God, Olivia! Chase is all over the headlines. He was caught going into a hotel with a woman! Look at the pic I will send you right now!

    My breath hitched upon reading her text. I stayed speechless and couldn¡¯t seem to process the situation she just told me.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    There was no way Chase would go into a hotel with another girl. He wasn¡¯t that kind of a man. He loves me- Reese¡­ He would never do such things that would only ruin his marriage.

    I felt a throbbing pain inside my chest as soon as I received the picture Lara had sent me. Chase had clearly seen an open elevator with none other than¡­

    Nathalie Smith

    I felt as if a pail of cold water was poured into me, which made me tremble. Both of my knees went jelly and my chest tightened. It was as if there was a big stone blocking my lungs, and at this point I wasn¡¯t able to breathe properly.

    So the reason why he didn¡¯t contact me yesterday was that he was busy with another woman. Was this the work¡± he meant when he fled to Singapore?

    I gasped heavily, trying to collect my thoughts and hold my tears as I didn¡¯t want to cry in front of so many people who were ready to judge me as a pitiful and ignorant wife. My hands were shaking so badly when I turned off my phone and put it back in my bag.

    I gathered all my strength and walked towards the building for my first ss, not minding all the people who gossiped about me. I swallowed hard and reminded myself that I needed to focus my attention on my studies. Whatever it was that Chase wanted to do in Singapore, it was his call.

    I entered the ssroom and saw my ssmates circling in the corner and talking about an obvious topic. They stopped when they saw me walking in and sitting at my desk. I leaned my back against the backrest of my chair and took my book out of my bag.

    I tried to advance my reading, but I didn¡¯t understand even a single thing. The picture of Chase and Nathalie stayed on my mind as if it was trying to mock the sh*t in me. Hot tears formed on both sides of my eyes, but I blinked them away when I heard the familiar voice of Mia, who had just entered the room.

    ¡°Reese!¡± She called me and sat in the chair next to me. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± I replied quickly, my gaze fixed on her. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡±

    She frowned and looked at me with such worry behind her eyes. That made me aware that she had learned about the news regarding my husband. I looked away and focused on the book on my desk.

    ¡°Have you¡­ uhm, have you seen the news?¡± She asked me carefully.

    I smirked inwardly. Why would everyone ask me the same question?

    ¡°What news?¡± I asked and flipped to the next page.

    ¡°I mean, about Chase¡­ Did he call you to clear things up? I had a feeling that the news articles circting aren¡¯t true¡­¡±

    I inhaled heavily and looked at her again.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really have time to worry about the news regarding my husband, Mia. I trust him,¡± I said, not only trying to convince Mia but myself that I should trust Chase no matter what the situation was.

    ¡°But did he call to exin himself?¡±

    ¡°He will call, Mia. That¡¯s for sure,¡± I replied, and gazed back at my book again.

    At the back of my head, a big part of me was already screaming and couldn¡¯t ept the fact that Chase hadn¡¯t even tried to call to clear his name.

    I¡¯m going crazy¡­ Why would he go into the hotel with Nathalie?

    Did they share a room?

    What else did they do there?

    Even though I didn¡¯t want to, I couldn¡¯t help but be disappointed in his actions. And if the news were true that Nathalie was his mistress, then my heart would be crushed into pieces.

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright?¡± Mia asked me once again.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mia.¡± I didn¡¯t mean to sound irritated, but it came off that way.

    She was about to say something, but then the professor came in. I was thankful that the ss had finally started, and they stopped talking about me and Chase¡­

    ***

    THE RUMORS about Chase having a mistress did not stop even after the entire ss for the day. I could have sworn I was so sick of hearing how people favored Nathalie Smith instead of Reese Jones and seemingly liked the idea of infidelity.

    I swallowed every word they made me hear, as obviously they didn¡¯t like me.

    Chase not trying to contact me added to the anger I felt. I was on the verge of exploding inside, but I made sure I looked calm outside.

    ¡°Would you like to reschedule our meeting with Ellie?¡± Mia asked as we walked our way towards the main gate.

    ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I think it¡¯s not going to take that long, so we should attend.¡±

    Mia stared at me with a worried look on her face. She tried to talk to me about the rumors, but I never spared a minute to talk about it. The only person I wanted to talk to regarding it was Chase. He was the only one who could give me answers to all the freaking questions whirling around my mind.

    And if there was one person who could see me exploding, it was him.

    Mathias was waiting in the parking lot. I let out a huge sigh as we approached the car. When he noticed me, his gaze suddenly lowered.

    ¡°We¡¯ll go to Ellie¡¯s boutique,¡± I said coldly.

    ¡°Got it, Madame.¡± He got up right away and opened the door for the passenger seat.

    Mia hopped in while I remained standing next to the car, staring at him.

    ¡°Please get in, Madame.¡±

    ¡°Are you aware that your boss¡¯s name is all over the news?¡± I asked.

    I noticed him swallowing so hard. He nced at me but quickly looked away.

    ¡°You are,¡± I said, stating the obvious. ¡°Did he contact you while I was in ss?¡±

    ¡°No, he didn¡¯t, Madame.¡±

    I grinned and shook my head.

    ¡°Cool¡­¡± I said, my voice sounding sarcastic.

    I got into the passenger seat to join Mia. Mathias closed the door and went to the driver¡¯s seat. He became ufortable around me, and all I could do was shake my head. I wasn¡¯t sure why I had this feeling that he knew something about my husband, while I remained so f*cking ignorant.

    Whatever it is Chase is doing behind my back, I swear I need some answers directly from him. I couldn¡¯t wait for him to go home, and so I could let out all these emotions that had been eating me up.

 CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

    OLIVIA

    WHEN WE arrived at Ellie¡¯s boutique, we were weed by one of her polite staff. We went to her office on the second floor, and we were greeted by the familiar faces we saw yesterday.

    Ellie was all smiles when she walked up to me and gave me a hug.

    ¡°It is good to see you here, Reese. I thought you would not be able toe because of the news,¡± she said, and then released me. The way her eyes stared at me made me feel her concern about my situation. ¡°How are you holding up? I hope everything is well.¡±

    I offered her a thin smile and I nodded. ¡°I am alright, Ellie. Thank you for your concern. Rest assured that whatever it is that¡¯s showing on the news won¡¯t affect my task for the project that we will work on.¡±

    Ellie let out a sigh and smiled at me. ¡°You are such a brave woman. I admire how well-spirited you are, Reese.¡±

    Even Sam and Eunice had greeted me and Mia. I looked around and did not find Elizabeth anywhere. My brows furrowed as I nced at Ellie.

    ¡°Where is Elizabeth?¡± I asked curiously.

    Ellie shook her head while she crossed her arms against her chest.

    ¡°She said she would be here any minute. I swear I wanted to terminate her contract because she showed unprofessionalism at work yesterday. If not for your request, Reese, I would have hired someone to rece her,¡± she exined.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mind what happened yesterday. We already talked and I assure you that we can work together without killing each other,¡± I assured them.

    All of themughed. I chuckled a bit, and admittedly, the sour feeling I had inside of me because of the rumor regarding Chase had finally subsided. It would be really helpful if I kept myself busy at this point¡­ My anxiety would not have a chance to get through to me.

    ¡°We can wait for Elizabeth for fifteen minutes, and then after that, with or without her, we will start,¡± Ellie announced.

    All of them nodded. We settled ourselves on the long table and had a chit-chat for a bit. Sam and Eunice shared some of their clothing designs with me and Mia. I was totally amazed at how people could draw stunning designs by using their creative minds. Hands down to those who brainstorm and exert a lot of effort to deliver amazing output. Not all people are born with such talents.

    I kept checking my phone while interacting with them. Mia noticed it, and so she held my arm and squeezed it lightly. She smiled at me afterwards. It wasforting to have a friend on whom I could rely. Even though she did not say a word, I knew that she was soothing me in the best way she could.

    ¡°So everyone is here, I see,¡± said by the familiar voice of a woman who entered the conference room.

    I nced at Elizabeth, who was wearing a grim expression as she approached the seat next to Mia. After settling herself, she nced at everyone, including me.

    ¡°I apologize for beingte. I was caught in a traffic jam,¡± she said.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright, Elizabeth.¡± Ellie¡¯s voice was a bit cold towards her.

    ¡°That¡¯s so kind of you, Ellie¡­¡±

    I wasn¡¯t sure if Elizabeth was trying to piss off Ellie, but her tone sounded so provocative. Ellie did not mind it and went ahead to introduce the project to us.

    ¡°This new project aims for us to start a smallpany, with a new brand and products that wille from the fashion designers we have that are incorporated into the aesthetic vision of the brand¡­¡±

    All of us were listening carefully to Ellie as she discussed everything she had in mind for how to carry out the new project. I was amazed as to how she shared her vision for it, and her optimism was definitely infectious. Mia and I nced at each other, wearing satisfied smiles on our faces as we did not see any issues with Ellie¡¯s proposed ns.

    Even Sam and Eunice shared their thoughts and had alreadye up with ideas regarding the branding they wanted to incorporate with the designs they would create.

    ¡°So as for the Fashion Creative Director, I would like Reese Jones-Maxwell to have the honor of filling this position as I believe she has the ability and capability to handle the project and supervise the fashion house in a proper way. Given that she has a unique fashion sense, I have high hopes that she could be a great leader to handle the team.¡±

    My handsnded in my mouth as I gasped,pletely taken by surprise with Ellie¡¯s announcement. Mia, Sam, and Eunice apuded, seemingly so happy about the role that was given to me.

    ¡°Congrattions, Reese!¡± Mia eximed.

    ¡°We are looking forward to working with you, Director!¡± Sam teased me.

    ¡°Oh my goodness¡­ Are you sure about this, Ellie?¡± I asked Ellie in disbelief.

    I never expected myself to be a leader of this project at all. I thought I was going to work with them and familiarize myself with how business works in this field. My hands were both sweating because of excitement and fear. Despite being so ignorant about how to handle a team, I knew that I would do my best to lead them and be part of the project¡¯s growth.

    ¡°I am confident in your capability, Reese. Believe me when I tell you I¡¯ve seen potential in you.¡± Ellie smiled at me and then sped her hands together. ¡°And for the Assistant Director role, I would give it to Elizabeth Risto.¡±

    We apuded and nced at Elizabeth. My brows instantly furrowed when I noticed that she did not look very interested in the discussion. Her face turned grim even more as she looked at Ellie.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°I don¡¯t seem to understand why you would give the director role to someone who hasn¡¯t worked in this field in her entire life,¡± shemented.

    Her statement made Mia gasp. I was taken aback too, but I tried to control my emotions. The entire room was engulfed by silence. For a brief moment, I wanted to talk, but I wasn¡¯t sure what to say, and so I decided to remain quiet.

    I thought Elizabeth and I were already in a civil rtionship, at the very least¡­ But I guess there were some wounds that were not meant to heal so fast.

    ¡°Like I mentioned earlier, I¡¯ve seen potential in Reese and I know that her determination and willingness will drive the team to do better, even if it¡¯s just starting out,¡± Ellie exined to her.

    Elizabeth sighed. Shaking her head, she said, ¡°It¡¯s not always about determination and willingness, Ellie. Reese must have the talent and creativity to lead the team. Do you think it¡¯s fair for me, who has experience in the field for four years now, to be given an assistant role for the director who doesn¡¯t know a thing about fashion?¡± She clicked her tongue and jerked her head to the left. ¡°I apologize, but I can¡¯t seem to get a grasp and badly want to understand what criteria you have considered.¡±

    ¡°Elizabeth, for once, can you please shut-¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s alright, Eunice. As I mentioned, I¡¯ve seen something in Reese and I want her to lead this project as I believe she is capable enough to get all of these started up,¡± Ellie exined.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think it is a big p for me who worked so hard to get into this project? Look, I am trying to be kind enough to hear your thoughts, Ellie. Please don¡¯t fail my expectations.¡±

    ¡°If it hasn¡¯t sunk in, I will tell you that behavior has a great impact when ites to leadership, Elizabeth.¡± Ellie let out a huge sigh as she stared at Elizabeth. ¡°You may have the knowledge of the technical stuff in the field, but you might want to reflect and check your behavior first.¡±

    ¡°Ellie, that¡¯s fine with me,¡± I interfered.

    Their eyes went to me. I sighed heavily before I spoke, ¡°Elizabeth is right. I have no clear knowledge of the field, and I am afraid I would only cause an issue in the future. I think it would be best if we changed roles, Ellie. Having a leader who knows everything about fashion is way more productive than settling with someone who hasn¡¯t had a deeper understanding of the work.¡±

    ¡°Stop belittling yourself. We are not here to downy your ability,¡± Mia said in hushed tones.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright,¡± I said to her.

    ¡°Are you trying to mock me, Reese?¡± Elizabeth raised her voice.

    Everyone was shocked at her sudden reaction. I stared at her intently. Her expression turned even more cruel. It was as if she was ready to burn me alive. I didn¡¯t know why my mere existence pissed her off. I really thought we already had a mutual agreement towards this partnership.

    But then again, I was wrong¡­

    I couldn¡¯t help but question why some people disappoint me when I least expect them to be¡­

    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, Elizabeth. I was only trying to agree with you because you¡¯re right. I have no experience yet and it¡¯s appropriate if you¡¯ll be the one who will supervise the team, ¡± I exined.

    She looked at me as if she was totally confused about what I said.

    ¡°Whatever it is that hit your head, it literally changed you into someone who gave me the creeps,¡± she said, standing up and then walking away.

    ¡°Elizabeth, hold on!¡± I stood up and followed her.

    Sh*t! I must convince her!

    She was already exiting out of the boutique when I grabbed her arm to try to stop her. She spun around and shot me a re as she shoved my hand away.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± she asked, sounding so pissed at me.

    ¡°I should be the one asking you that, Elizabeth. I thought we had already agreed to work with each other? I don¡¯t understand why you are disliking my idea of switching roles with you,¡± I said.

    She smirked and crossed her arms against her chest.

    ¡°Are you trying to mock me right now? Let me tell you this,¡± she paused and walked up to me. ¡°You can have the director role for as long as you want. I don¡¯t give a damn about you or this project.¡±

    ¡°At least help me understand why you are acting this way. I can¡¯t figure out why it is so hard for you to ept my offer. I want you to be the director of the-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t make meugh, Reese!¡± She said as she cut me off. ¡°You are never a kind person. Do you think I¡¯d fall for that act? No¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re acting as if you are a different person. It¡¯s sickening.¡±

    I inhaled sharply. She continued to re at me as if I was a total viin in her life. Was she acting this way in front of me because she had never won Chase¡¯s heart?

    Was it really a good enough reason for her to throw away this opportunity that came her way?

    ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t get why you have the energy to work right now given your husband is facing a top-rated rumor,¡± she said. ¡°Aren¡¯t you bothered that he is with Nathalie right now? Aren¡¯t you supposed to go ballistic and throw a fit? Your husband is cheating.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but swallow so hard because of her statement. I looked away as I fisted my hand. She didn¡¯t have the slightest idea how the rumor slowly wrenched my heart until I was breathless. But what more could I do other than keep going on?

    Sure, the rumor made me angry as hell. The fact that Chase hadn¡¯t contacted me added to the anxiety I was feeling. With the picture Lara had sent me, I knew I was close to believing that Chase and Nathalie really did something in Singapore together¡­ but I still need to talk about it with my husband once he gets home.

    I needed to hear everything from him, and from that point, I¡¯d decide whether I¡¯d go ballistic or not. For now, the least thing I could do was wait and keep going.

    ¡°See?¡± She grinned from ear to ear. ¡°Did it already sink in that your husband is cheating?¡±

    ¡°My marriage has nothing to do with our work, Elizabeth,¡± I said firmly. ¡°The only thing I want to do right now is to convince you to work with us. Like I said, I am willing to change roles with you. Why don¡¯t you reconsider?¡±

    ¡°Why are you putting so much effort into convincing me, Reese? What¡¯s in it for you? Tell me.¡±

    ¡°Because I know you are more capable than I am. Regardless of what happened in the past, I wanted to start anew and bury all the bad memories. I wouldn¡¯t be able to do that if I knew someone was holding a grudge against me. I want to end this, Elizabeth. I hope you find it in your heart to believe me.¡±

    Elizabeth clenched her jaw. She looked at me as if she was trying to read my mind. After almost a minute, she spoke.

    ¡°Fine.¡± She rolled her eyes and went back inside the boutique.

 CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

    OLIVIA

    IT WAS already evening when I went home. I sighed as I embraced myself while walking near theke just beside our house. The cold night breeze blew my hair as it kissed my skin, and I inhaled sharply while I nced at the beauty of theke.

    I knew Mathias was only a few steps away from me, and the rest of my bodyguards were scattered to ensure my safety while my husband was away.

    I checked my phone a hundred times and did not find anything interesting in my inbox. Chase never contacted me. I had a feeling that he was trying to avoid me because of the rumors circting in the country, and I could not get a grasp why he was letting me experience this all along.

    ¡°Mathias, have you heard anything from Chase?¡±

    He cleared his throat before he answered, ¡°Nothing yet, Madame.¡±

    I caught my breath. It felt as if there was a lump in my throat. I bit my lower lip, and I wished this was just a nightmare I would wake up from.

    ¡°Do you think the news about him is true?¡± I asked while I continued to gaze at theke. ¡°Do you think Chase can really cheat on me, Mathias?¡±

    ¡°Madame, I don¡¯t think Mr. Maxwell could do that,¡± he replied, sounding confident about his answer.

    ¡°What made you say that?¡± I spun around and looked at him. ¡°The pictures clearly show it was him with Nathalie. They went into the hotel, and God knows what they did there¡­¡±

    ¡°Mr. Maxwell isn¡¯t the type of man who will hurt you, Madame. If there is one thing I am sure of, that is the fact that he¡¯s head over heels in love with you,¡± he exined.

    ¡°I actually don¡¯t know what to feel at this moment. The situation makes me uneasy¡­¡±

    ¡°Madame, please trust Mr. Maxwell. He will never hurt you, let alone cheat on you,¡± Mathias assured me. ¡°Don¡¯t believe a one-sided rumor. It will only ruin your marriage.¡±

    I sighed in defeat. Mathias had a point.

    After a few minutes of pondering, I decided not to dwell on the negative thoughts I had in mind, as it would be best to trust Chase at this crucial time¡­

    He was undeniably in love with Reese.

    ***

    TWO DAYS had passed¡­

    I started nning my day and excused myself from a few of my sses because I wanted to surprise Chase at the airport. He¡¯d being home today and I was excited to talk to him regarding some matters.

    I nced at my face in the mirror multiple times to make sure that I hadn¡¯t overdone my make-up. I even called Lara at that time, early in the morning, so that I could get her opinion.

    ¡°Come on, Liv! Seriously? The rooster in my neighborhood isn¡¯t even up yet, and there you are, calling me already!¡±

    I rolled my eyes at her as a response. ¡°Hey, look at me for a sec. Did I look pretty? Do you think I overdid it a little bit?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re pretty. Now let me go back to sleep.¡± She yawned.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t even bother to look at your phone screen!¡± I hissed.

    I sighed and ended the video chat. I once again nced at the mirror, and I couldn¡¯t help but giggle. The thought of Chaseing home made me so energetic. He¡¯d been away for a week and I missed him already.

    I went to the car and saw that Mathias was still sleepy.

    ¡°Good day to you, Madame. I¡¯m sure Mr. Maxwell would be surprised.¡± He then cleared his throat. ¡°You look pretty in your outfit today. Are you nning to go to a fancy breakfast or lunchter?

    I was confused about his response to me for a little bit before I could answer. ¡°We¡¯ll go straight to the university since I¡¯ll catch up on some sses. Do you think I overdid my outfit?¡±

    Mathias¡¯s jaw dropped for a second, which made my brows furrow.

    ¡°You look great, Ms. Maxwell. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re excited to see him. Let¡¯s go to the car, shall we?¡±

    I then went inside and I could tell that the response alone indicated that I was over dressed and ncing at Matthias judging looks in the mirror could add up to that. The humiliation inside of me was building up. Hopefully, Chase wouldn¡¯t mind seeing me like this¡­

    Do I really look like someone who¡¯d go to a fancy diner?

    I then sent a photo of myself to Lara via chat, and I received a lot ofughing emoji reactions to my photo.

    ¡°Are you sure that you¡¯re going to the airport, Liv? You¡¯re like going into a candlelit dinner, but it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m sure Chase wouldn¡¯t mind though!¡±

    Lara¡¯s message confirmed it and I closed our chat in frustration.

    While we were heading to the airport, I checked the emails I received from Ellie that indicated the tasks I would be doing for the next couple of days. There were some training videos that I needed to watch and study.

    I huffed. There is a lot going on in my life right now that I don¡¯t know where to even start.

    First, my school project that is due next week; then now I¡¯m the creative director of Ellie Steward¡¯s newpany- as Elizabeth finally agreed to work as my assistant; and finally, being the wife of Chase Maxwell.

    Admittedly, it was getting tougher and tougher that it bothered me. I was questioning myself whether I could still tell the truth to Chase or just stick with it forever.

    My conscience struck me. However, I would regret it if I didn¡¯t grab this opportunity. To be able to study in an international school, to be a boss in apany-working as a creative director is a good start by managing people, and then to have a God-like husband like Chase Maxwell- the only man who makes me wet in my pants whenever he¡¯s half naked and kissing me.

    This was the life that I was only imagining when I was in that nightclub.

    I sighed. I missed Chase so much, to the extent that I had a lot of wet dreams because I¡¯d been thinking about him a lot. I couldn¡¯t even help but imagine his lower torso, and how it felt whenever he was on top of me.

    ¡°Madame, are you hungry? We can take a stop at that burger chain for a drive through,¡± Mathias asked concernedly.

    I came back to my senses, and I nced at the car window and saw the burger chain that serves breakfast. I immediately wiped my mouth with my handkerchief as I didn¡¯t notice I was drooling. Sh*t!

    ¡°Yes, I am starving, thinking about burgers and those meats that I like inside of my mouth makes me drool,¡± I said, trying to defend myself.

    Mathias nced at me through the rearview mirror with a confused look. I guess that came out in a weird way.

    ¡°Sure, Madame, let¡¯s go for a quick drive-through.¡±

    After ordering some breakfast meals, I then kept them on the side and decided not to eat them since it would ruin my make-up. I then just made some excuses to Mathias that I had lost my appetite.

    We arrived at the airport after almost an hour. All eyes were on me when I stepped out. Everyone was wearing a jacket because it was so cold, while here I was, wearing a backless ck dress.

    I waited outside in the arrival area and I waited for Chase. Even though I mustered the act of not giving a damn about the gossip that was spreading about Chase having an affair in Singapore, part of me was still worried that he might have done it as well given that Nathalie Smith was undeniably beautiful.

    I sighed and tossed the negative thoughts aside as I knew it would never help me.

    My phone rang, which ripped my thoughts out, and I picked it up as soon as I saw Lara on the caller ID.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°Listen, Liv. I checked the writer of the entertainment website and it was familiar. I knew that person, so I contacted him. I¡¯ve worked with him before. He¡¯s one of those paid writers that are known for writing juicy scoops on celebrities in exchange for money¡­¡±

    I furrowed my eyebrows, and I didn¡¯t know what to say to Lara at this point. My eyes widened as I saw Chase approaching with his luggage. He was smiling from ear to ear.

    ¡°Let¡¯s talkter. Chase is here!¡±

    I ended the phone call, and he immediately gave me a hug.

    His staff also arrived. They helped and brought his luggage back to the car.

    While inside the car, I could sense in Chase that he was a bit uptight and different. He was probably tired and I didn¡¯t want to bother him. That would add to his stress. Especially regarding what transpired with me and his father, and also with his aunt, who already had a bad impression on me.

    ¡°Reese, I just received a call from my aunt yesterday.¡±

    I nced at Chase and I was nervous about what he was about to say. Did her aunt talk about my bad behavior towards her? Before the anxiety kicked into my system, Chase then said something that I was taken aback by.

    ¡°She said she was happy to meet you and she alsoplimented you a lot. Like, I was very lucky to have you.¡±

    My mouth partly opened and I exhaled deeply. I was already on the edge of my seat. Why didn¡¯t she tell Chase? Everything was a tant lie.

    ¡°Is that true? Your Aunt was really a joker. Anyway, I¡¯m ttered. Tell her that I appreciate it and that it¡¯s my honor to meet her.¡±

    Chase smiled, and he went to his phone to check some emails. He then immediately received a phone call that he didn¡¯t answer. I was looking at him, and he was a bit nervous.

    He was shaking while he was turning off his phone. I was worried about him because it was my first time seeing him like this.

    When we arrived at home, I gathered all my courage to ask him if there was anything wrong. He said there was nothing. Then I could feel that he was changing the topic, and he switched to the rumor that was circting online.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, by the way, Reese. I bet you heard the news about me in Singapore,¡± he said.

    He went up to me closely and touched my face.

    ¡°It¡¯s not all true. I don¡¯t know where it came from, but all I can say is that it¡¯s not true. I know you¡¯re upset about it¡­¡±

    I shook my head and touched his hand.

    ¡°I trust you, Chase. I know that you¡¯re busy. You don¡¯t have time to do that type of stuff. Even though I lost my old memories with you, I know that you¡¯re a responsible husband and you¡¯re doing your very best for our future, especially helping me and my family.¡±

    While saying those words, Chase¡¯s face went nk. His eyes looked at the ground and the long sigh from him gave me such a negative vibe that I said something wrong.

    I probably shouldn¡¯t have mentioned Reese family¡¯s involvement in his business right now.

    ¡°Is there something wrong with what I said, Chase? You¡¯ve been acting strange the whole time. ¡±

    ¡°Reese, actually¡­¡± He licked his lower lip and gazed at me. ¡°I wanted to tell you¡­¡± He then smiled. ¡°¡­ That we made it! I¡¯m just acting so that there¡¯s a surprise! But let me tell you what happened in Singapore. It was a sess. I spoke to a venture capitalist and he is willing to invest in the winery business that I bought from your parents. They offer 10 million dors!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s so awesome to hear, Chase!¡± I was teary-eyed and embraced him tightly.

    I was so d that Chase made it. I was very scared to hear some awful news from his father and a strange deal to file an annulment in exchange for seven million dors.

    I know it was a lot of money, but I was hoping that I could leave Chase with dignity.

    Somehow, I could tell him that I truly love him, not just because of his money but because he was indeed a great person. Even though I¡¯m not able to tell him any piece of information about what happened at hisst wedding.

    However, I could not just remove from the back of my head what his father told me, and it made me somehow think of his involvement in Reese Jones¡¯ disappearance.

    ¡°We would celebrate this, alright? I¡¯ll n a trip for our vacation!¡±

    ¡°Okay, but Chase, I want you to also surprise you¡­¡± I said.

    His face lit up and he was excited to hear the next words that I was trying to say.

    ¡°I¡¯m the creative director of Ellie Steward¡¯s new luxury clothing business. I¡¯m managing a team now, isn¡¯t it great? I actually have a job now and will start earning money. I also have great stock options with herpany!¡±

    I saw Chase¡¯s reaction swiftly, and he then smiled at me and apuded his hands.

    ¡°Congrattions, you deserve it! This is a double celebration! ¡±

    He hugged me tight and I was wondering why the smile on his face was different. Was he expecting different news?

    OLIVIA

    I WAS packing up my work documents and checking my schedule for today when I called Lara as I remembered that she knew who was the tabloid writer that was spreading the fake news about Chase hooking up or being with someone in Singapore.

    I just made sure that Chase was not around and I ensured he was in his office room. I went to the guest room, and from there I contacted Lara.

    ¡°Hey, Lara. I¡¯m calling to confirm the person that you talked about earlier. The one who spread fake news about Chase.¡±

    ¡°Liv, I¡¯m checking it with my sources if this is true, because I know this writer and they¡¯re now deleting the article from their cheap websites. But some screenshots of the article are spread on some social media sites. I saw some hatefulments that it was normal for a billionaire like him to find girls outside of the country¡­ what the heck!¡±

    I exhaled deeply and went to the social media sites to check the circting articles online.

    It seems that there were fewer people that were interested because there were no photos and the source also came from a fake news entertainment website. So I was relieved to see that fewer people were biting on this topic.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t ruin Chase¡¯s reputation, doesn¡¯t it, Lara?¡±

    ¡°Of course not, he¡¯s a billionaire but¡­¡±

    ¡°But what?¡±

    ¡°Nothing¡­ I just saw some other news about him. About the winery business that he bought for your family, I mean to the Reese Jones family.¡±

    ¡°He said it was a sess, and we would celebrate it. He found someone that would happily invest in him. It was a whopping 10 million dors!¡±

    ¡°Oh shit, no way! That¡¯s good to hear. Because thest few days, I¡¯ve been hearing some bad news about it from the media and also, of course, when we were talking about itst time, about Ernest giving you an option to break up with him.¡±

    ¡°I know Lara, it was tough for Chase to recover, but he is truly great at negotiating and making business. But I want you to know that we should be careful about his father, Ernest.

    I have negative vibes about him. I hope I¡¯m wrong. I wish I was wrong in thinking about him being involved in Reese¡¯s disappearance.¡±

    ¡°We must devise an escape strategy. By the way, I need some ten thousand dors, Liv. Can I borrow it? It¡¯s for my son¡¯s project.¡±

    ¡°What the? That¡¯s such an expensive project, I bet 90% would be in your pocket!¡± I exhaled deeply and just went to my bank ount app, and then when I tried to open it, it asked for a location. Something then popped up in my head.

    ¡°I just received it, Liv! Thank you!¡±

    ¡°By the way Lara, is it possible that you can ask your source if they can trace the location of the one that posted the article? I bet they can check it, especially the technology these days. I¡¯m not great atputers but maybe it¡¯s possible? I was just curious.¡±

    ¡°Sure, let me go back to my source and ask if it¡¯s possible, you evil genius!¡±

    I shook my head and I gasped when I heard someone. I peeked at the door and saw Chase went out to his office and proceeded downstairs.

    ***

    DURING our ss, I finished my presentation, and everyone was impressed, especially my professor. I saw Mia and Charles were smiling and showing their tablets with messages saying, ¡°Good Job!¡±

    It was cringe of them doing these things, but I appreciate their efforts.

    The ss was over, and our professor told me to stay in the room for a second as she wanted to say something. I was nervous and I asked Mia and Charles to wait for me outside.

    ¡°Mrs. Maxwell, I saw your progress in your ss. I want you to know that I¡¯ll be inviting you to an invite-only seminar that will be held in France. Let me know if you¡¯re interested. The date was tentative but the school will let us know when it will be held.¡±

    ¡°Is that true, MS. Williams? It¡¯s such an honor to be there! I¡¯m interested!¡±

    My heart was pounding fast and a sense of joy and excitement was making me shake. I was nervous at first. Why was I staying in the ssroom, thinking that I wasn¡¯t doing great in school, but here I was getting an invitation to a seminar in France?

    ¡°Please poke me, Ms. Williams¡­ this must be a dream!¡±

    I wasn¡¯t expecting that she indeed poked me in the cheeks. I couldn¡¯t help but giggle.

    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Williams. I don¡¯t know what you see in me, but I want you to know that I¡¯ll make you proud.¡±

    ¡°You already make me proud, Mrs. Maxwell. I bet you didn¡¯t remember me. We had a rough history before. When you vanished during your first wedding with Chase, I¡¯m a professor at the school where you studied in college before I was also admitted to teach her in this university. I must say that we have had some altercations and disagreements together.¡±

    ¡°In short, I was a pain in the ass before. I¡¯m a terrible student?¡± I chuckled.

    ¡°Yes, to put it in your words, yeah, you were. But when I see the new you, you¡¯re apletely different person. I like the new you.¡±

    She then handed me the small envelope with the invitation, and she left the ssroom.

    ¡°That should be it, Olivia.¡±

    My jaw dropped when I heard my real name, and my eyes widened. I wasn¡¯t able to react right away.

    ¡°Sorry, I just remembered someone and said the wrong name. I am truly aging by now. Bye now, Mrs. Maxwell!¡± She then left and closed the door.

    Mia and Charles entered the room while I was still dumbfounded by what had just happened. Did she just call me by my real name?

    ¡°What¡¯s that? Oh my gosh! You¡¯re representing our school in France to attend a business seminar?¡± Mia eximed as she grabbed the invitation in my hands.

    ¡°That¡¯s big news. Can you bring some friends there? Reese, please!¡±

    Charles was pleading, and I suddenly realized that we needed to get to our next ss.

    ¡°I¡¯ll check first with Ms. Williams, alright?¡±

    They both nodded and grinned from ear to ear. I palmed my face because these lovebirds are just too annoying sometimes. Then part of me was so confused about what just happened earlier, I was holding myself not to react when Ms. Williams called me by my real name. It came out to her very naturally that I almost answered back.

    We went to our next ss and I suddenly received a text message from Lara while the instructor was teaching. I excused myself to the ss that I¡±ll be calling someone.

    Good thing Mr. Mendez was so kind as to allow me to go outside for a bit.

    I didn¡¯t waste any minute and called Lara.

    ¡°The text that you sent to me, was that true?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Liv, based on my source, we traced the location of the writer then when my agent went there, the writer refused first to tell who¡¯s the person who¡¯s paying him up to write that cheap ass article, then in exchange of thousand dors, he spilled the tea and it was the name of Elizabeth Risto.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Liv?¡±

    I ended up with the phone call and I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist. But I should remain calm as I still have my ss ongoing. I went back immediately and I was furious to hear about Elizabeth¡¯s involvement in this scandal.

    ***

    AFTER OUR CLASS, we head on to the new office Ellie prepared for us to get some work done with my team. Mathias escorted me to our building. I was still in school uniform so Mia was my assistant carrying the clothes that I¡¯ll be wearing for that day.

    I went to the washroom, then went to some of the cubicles when I heard some gossip about Chase.

    ¡°Did you see some articles about Chase Maxwelltely?¡±

    ¡°Wait, the young billionaire who married Reese Jones? That¡¯s our creative director, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I wondered if that¡¯s true or not that Chase really cheated on her.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s normal, right? I bet Reese also hangs out with some other rich men out there. I bet she is just pretending she has amnesia. I heard some rumors that even before she liked some employee in a business that her family was managing and she got pregnant by that employee.¡±

    ¡°Oh really?¡±

    ¡°I guess so, why was she missing for a long time right? I don¡¯t know if that was true though, but who knows, at the end of the day, Reese got benefited from marrying Chase Maxwell. She¡¯s the real winner of marrying him. She has now connections.¡±

    ¡°I know right! She can now easily be in top position because of herst name.¡±

    ¡°Fuck this life, I wish I can date some billionaire so I no longer work my ass off.¡±

    They both giggled and went outside of the washroom.

    ¡°They¡¯re just jealous of you Reese, don¡¯t listen to them.¡±

    ¡°I totally agree with you, let¡¯s go, Mia. We have some tasks to aplish. Let¡¯s get things done.¡±

    Mia and I went to our office while I were checking my emails. I saw Elizabeth emailed me and she said she would be runningte. She also submitted the attachments that I was asking her to bepleted.

    I can¡¯t help but focus on reviewing my works while thinking about what Elizabeth did to Chase. She kept ruining Reese Jones¡¯s reputation but she was dragging Chase with it. It was such a distasteful act that I ended up breaking my pen. I crumpled pieces of paper and threw them violently in the trash can.

    Mia then saw me at the next table and I asked her to pull down the roller blinds of my office so our officemates wouldn¡¯t see my furious and angry face.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Reese?¡±

    ¡°Please lock the door first Mia, and put up the don¡¯t disturb sign on the front door of my office, thank you.¡±

    Before she left I also asked her to bring me a cup of coffee. She just gave me a smile as a response.

    I massaged the temple of my nose and I began typing Reese Jones rumors on the search site on myputer. I saw an article that the Reese Jones family paid a lot of money to cover and removed all content about their daughter. Now, I was wondering what¡¯s the truth about Reese Jones.

    I then remembered Ms. Williams, I decided to send her an email for us to talk in private. I hope she did reply since I need to know the truth about her.

    I was scrolling and trying to find any rumors on her but it was just all her achievements as a swimmer and her being married to Chase Maxwell.

    Mia then went inside and locked the door with my coffee.

    ¡°Here you go, Reese, I hope you liked this. I bought you some coffee from our caf¨¦, and I also bought you some pastries.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mia, I appreciate your gesture, I¡¯m so sorry about what you saw earlier.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s okay, I¡¯m also upset and wanted to scream back at them but I know it wouldn¡¯t help.¡±

    I went on to drink the coffee and ate the pastries which were so delicious that made me calm at that moment. I was then able to finish my task that time. After two hours of our work, I went to a quick meeting with some Project Managers and then also presented the current theme of our brand. I then noticed that Elizabeth¡¯s chair was empty but she went inside the meeting room.

    ¡°You¡¯rete, Elizabeth. Where have you been? I know you emailed me that you¡¯ll be runningte for thirty minutes but this is an important meeting.¡±

    I can¡¯t help but raise my voice at her but I ended up changing up the mood to lighten up a bit.

    ¡°Grab some coffee and donuts after this, it was from Mia¡¯s coffee shop. They¡¯re delicious, anyway, sit down now, and let¡¯s move on,¡±

    She smiled and went to her seat and I proceeded with my presentation.

    After that meeting, I saw that everyone was impressed based on their facial reactions. I saw Elizabeth not getting any pastries or coffee and she just left the room.

    ¡°That arrogant bitch.¡±

    I then asked Mia for us to chat and I know for sure that office gossip was a terrible idea and I shouldn¡¯t be involved in this such thing but I can¡¯t help but spill the tea to Mia because I was so frustrated with Elizabeth¡¯s actions.

    ¡°Mia, can I trust you?¡±

    ¡°Of course, Reese, what¡¯s up? Does it have something to do with those people in the washroom?¡±

    ¡°No, technically it¡¯s different. It¡¯s about Elizabeth.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m listening and I¡¯ll promise it¡¯s just about you and me.¡± She then gestured her hand while zipping her mouth.

    ¡°Alright, she actually paid a writer to write that article about Chase meeting someone in Singapore, and I was so upset on how she went that far to ruin Chase if she truly loves him.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean she loves him, Reese?¡±

    ¡°She said that we¡¯re rivals, she said that she loves Chase. I certainly do that¡¯s why I was trying my best to establish myself and to be independent because I was tired of being used of just being a leech of Chase¡¯s money and that I was only using him to save our family business. I was so tired of hearing that bullshit.¡±

    Mia then massaged my back and I felt the heat was engulfing my face.

    ¡°So she still has not moved on? She still loved Chase?¡±

    ¡°Mia, listen, if she loves Chase, she wouldn¡¯t do that reckless act. It was just so stupid. You know what, let me just go to her office,¡±

    Mia was stopping me and grabbing me on my elbow. ¡°Get off me, Mia, she needs to know how stupid she was, I no longer care about separatingpany and personal issues, she also waste for our important meeting,¡±

    I stormed out of my office and I ran to Elizabeth¡¯s cubicle. I then saw her standing talking to someone over the phone.

    ¡°How dare you bitch!¡±

    I pped her hard on the face then tackled her down on the ground and pulled her out.

    ¡°You think I was dumb? Do you think that I didn¡¯t know what you did? You think that you ruined me? Or our rtionship, hell no! You bitch. You ruined Chase¡¯s name. He was working so hard out there but you¡¯re stupid writer make he was a total jerk¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±

    Ellie Steward then came in and I immediately rose up to my feet. While Elizabeth was still on the ground aching in pain.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Ellie.¡±

    ¡°You two are suspended for two days, this is your first warning, I don¡¯t tolerate violence in thispany.¡±

    She then left us and everyone around us was inplete silence.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to work,¡± I said out loud and they then went to their cubicles. I then saw Elizabeth standing up and when I tried to help her, she pped my hands.

    I rolled my eyes at her and I exhaled deeply, this was such a terrible way of dealing with things. I regret pping her in the face because it turns out to be the main topic in thispany.

    Before I head home and our work is done. I went back to Elizabeth¡¯s office to apologize. I was nervous at first but I decided to gather my thoughts to say that I regret what I had just done.

    I knocked a few times and I opened the door as soon as I heard Elizabeth¡¯s voice for me toe in. She then immediately stood up from her swivel chair and grabbed a flower vase.

    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t here to fight you or what. Put it down.¡±

    She then put down the small flower vase but I can sense that she was still worried that I would smack her.

    ¡°Listen, I¡¯m here to apologize. I was wrong and I promise not to do anything like that ever again.¡±

    Before I left she then stopped me as she spoke, ¡°I¡¯m the one to me, it¡¯s natural for you to get mad, knowing that I did such a horrendous act. Even me, I can¡¯t forgive myself. I was fucking stupid. I just realized that I became so obsessed with putting you down. So that was pped earlier. I deserved it and you don¡¯t need to say sorry.¡±

    She burst out crying and I felt so sorry also for her.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I waste earlier than Reese because I was not in the right mind to go to the office. I felt so bad hearing gossip in the cafeteria, in the washroom in the cubicles about Chase. He didn¡¯t deserve it. I so love him but I ended up doing bad things for him¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re doing fine Elizabeth. Chase¡¯s trip was sessful and he said that he would celebrate it with me. So, cheer up. I¡¯m going to leave you now. See you in two days.¡±

    I went out to her office and I saw Mia waiting on me.

    Mia then told me to chin up because I had so many blessings flowing. First, me being a creative director, the sessful meeting we had earlier for our brand, then also me being a representative of our school in France for the business summit that I¡¯ll be attending and of course the news that Chase¡¯s business trip in Singapore was a sess and I no longer need to be worried about the winery business that he bought from Reese Parents.

    ¡°Thank you so much, Mia, I appreciate you and I apologized that I pushed you away earlier. I was hoping that I listened to you and I let you stop me from doing such a terrible act. Now, it would be remembered in this office that I pped someone.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Reese, remember that you¡¯re one of the directors here. It now gave them a warning that they can¡¯t mess up, especially to you. No one can be messing around, they saw how terrifying you are.¡±

    She said then chortled while tapping on my shoulders.

    ¡°Oh, well, let¡¯s just say it was a good thing then, I hope it would work as an advantage for me.¡±

    I then kissed her on the cheek and I went to the car to go back home.

 CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

    OLIVIA

    NEEDLESS to say, it was fun starting up apany from the ground up. Sure, it was tiring and very time-consuming; a lot of times I found myself squeezing the creative juices of my brain. It was fulfilling to end the day knowing that all my tasks were done ordingly.

    I rode a cab that would send me home. I could not help but smile as I looked at the side streets we passed by. It wasforting. The sun was already setting and any moment I would be able to see Chase again.

    How funny that I have been having such roller coaster emotions for the past couple of days and here I was¡­ I overcame everything in no time. I wasn¡¯t sure how I was able to handle those bad things that happened, but I was d that I was still living the life I wanted, and I got to pursue the career that I could say I was working hard for.

    After almost an hour, the cab turned to the familiar vige. I paid the driver when the vehicle stopped in front of our house, and as soon as I got out, my attention was drawn by the big trucks that were lined up across the street.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± My forehead creased as I noticed many men who were putting some familiar, expensive cars inside the trucks.

    As I looked at it more, I realized those cars were the ones owned by my husband.

    ¡°W-Wait!¡± I went into an instant panic and ran towards those men.

    One of them turned to me with a confused expression on his face.

    ¡°Those are my husband¡¯s cars! Where are you taking those? Did you trespass in our residence without our consent? What¡¯s going on?¡± I asked them as anxiety went through me instantly.

    ¡°Oh, these cars were sold to their new owners, Madame. We are here to pick them up,¡± one of them answered me.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    My eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Sold? What are you talking about? Why would we sell them?¡±

    ¡°I believe the only person who can provide a clear answer for you is Mr. Maxwell. I apologize, but we are only here because we were told to have them picked up,¡± he said politely.

    I shook my head in disagreement. There was no way Chase would have sold his expensive collections. These cars were limited edition and they loved them!

    My hands were trembling, still trying to process this situation that was happening before my eyes. I immediately picked up my phone from my bag and dialed Chase¡¯s phone number. I heard a few rings, but after that, the call ended. He didn¡¯t pick it up.

    I tried calling him once more, but to no avail.

    ¡°Damn it,¡± I cursed under my breath and palmed my face.

    I watched the men who picked up another car from the garage. Shaking my head, I decided to walk into the house. There I saw Mathias, who was bossing some of his men around.

    I quickly walked towards him.

    ¡°Good evening, Madame,¡± he said formally, slightly lowering his head.

    ¡°Can you tell me what the hell is going on here, Mathias? My husband isn¡¯t picking up my calls and these men are here, telling me that they were told to pick up some of our cars! I don¡¯t understand what¡¯s going on!¡± I said hysterically.

    Mathias cleared his throat before he answered, ¡°There is nothing to be worried about, Madame. I was the one who ordered them to pick up some of Mr. Maxwell¡¯s cars. These were sold earlier, and we need to transfer them to their new owners.¡±

    ¡°Is this for real?¡± I asked him in disbelief.

    ¡°Yes, Madame. Mr. Maxwell has sold them already.¡±

    ¡°Why would he do that?¡± I asked in panic.

    Mathias only lowered his head and did not respond.

    I huffed and ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. I nced at those cars they were putting inside the trucks again, and looked away to proceed to go inside the house. I then texted Chase regarding this to know why he¡¯d done such actions and why he didn¡¯t tell me about it beforehand.

    My head was filled with so many thoughts and Chase¡¯s not answering my calls wasn¡¯t helping me. I settled in the kitchen and drank some cold water to calm myself a bit.

    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether we were running out of money. Was it the reason why he sold those expensive cars? Was he lying when he mentioned that he had gotten a 10-million dor deal from his business meeting in Singapore? Was he hiding something from me?

    Those questions in my head made my chest tighten. I decided to rush into his office in our house and search for something that would give me answers. I locked the door as soon as I got in and quickened my pace to check every folder and envelope sitting on his desk.

    I scanned them one by one and figured out they were the project proposals for hispany. My eyesnded on the cabs below his desk and opened them too.

    I was down to thest cab and saw a ck envelope inside. I took it and nced at the door to ensure no one was approaching.

    I knew I would be in trouble once Chase found out that I looked into his things, but I couldn¡¯t be at ease any longer.

    Something was really off¡­

    I checked the papers from the inside of the envelope and read them. I was taken aback when I realized that I was holding papers for filing bankruptcy, a financial summary of hispany, and some papers drafted by hiswyer.

    ¡°Chase¡­ why did you¡­¡± I was left speechless, thinking that he had lied to me and didn¡¯t tell me the real status of hispany.

    My heart raced violently and I could have sworn my mind went ck, thinking that it was Reese and her parents who had brought Chase Maxwell¡¯s downfall upon himself.

    My hands were quivering and the papers slipped down to the desk. I gasped and took several deep breaths, trying to gather my thoughts and calm my chest a little.

    ¡°He should have told me¡­ Why did he hide it from me?¡± I said to myself as I swallowed hard.

    Shock filled my entire head, to the extent that I just stood there, staring nkly at the documents.

    I have to talk to him. As his wife, I should have known this situation beforehand, and the fact that he hid it from me made me a little disappointed.

    I heard some footsteps from the outside. Panic went through me, thinking it was Chase, who had already arrived home. I instantly collected all the papers that I had taken and put them inside the envelope. My heart hitched when I saw that the doorknob moved.

    My eyes widened, and my next response to the situation was to hide myself under the desk. I could hear the loud beating of my heart while covering my mouth to ensure Chase wouldn¡¯t hear me.

    ¡°Have you contacted the buyers and alerted them that the cars will be delivered tonight?¡± I heard the familiar and deep voice of my husband.

    He must be speaking with Mathias¡­

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Maxwell. All has been done ording to yourmand,¡± Mathias answered.

    ¡°Have you seen my wife?¡± Chase asked.

    ¡°Mrs. Maxwell already arrived home and was surprised to see the trucks outside. She panicked at the thought of you selling your expensive cars¡­¡±

    Chase let out a sigh. I waited to see how he would respond to that, but he only replied, ¡°That¡¯s fine. I appreciate you taking care of this for me, Mathias. A lot of things are happening in thepanytely, and so I need a trusted man to do some things like this on my behalf.¡±

    ¡°I am d to be of assistance, Mr. Maxwell.¡±

    ¡°Could you please help me encash some checks first thing tomorrow morning?¡±

    ¡°Sure thing, Mr. Maxwell.¡±

    ¡°Hold on, let me write some checks here,¡± Chase said.

    My heart pounded even more when I heard him approaching his desk. Bullet sweats have formed on my forehead seeing Chase¡¯s legs in front of me. I swear I stopped even breathing as I was afraid that he would find me here¡­

    I was praying they woulde out of the office already so I could sneak out and go somewhere else. However, my entire body turned pale when the pen he¡¯d been using for his checks identally dropped on the floor and rolled into my direction.

    I cursed in my mind and covered my face as I knew he would crouch down and get it, but then his phone rang, which made him stop midway. I was clutching my chest and biting my lower lip when he answered the phone call.

    ¡°Yes, Dad. I already got it. Yes, it has been worked on¡­¡±

    This was the moment when I wanted to thank his father for calling him! He walked away from his desk and continued to talk to his father over the phone.

    ¡®Please get out. Both of you¡­¡¯ I said in my mind.

    ¡°Mathias, I will just give you the check in the morning. I have to take this call,¡± he said, then spoke with his father again.

    ¡°No problem, Mr. Maxwell.¡±

    After a few seconds, I heard some footsteps and then the door closing.

    I let out a huge sigh of relief.

    ¡°F*ck, Olivia¡­¡± I cursed under my breath as I got out of where I was hiding.

    My knees were trembling as I took several deep breaths. I wiped the sweat on my forehead and ran on my tiptoes towards the door.

    I waited for another minute before I opened it and checked every corner to ensure no one would see me going out of Chase¡¯s office. When the area was cleared, I finally left the office and went upstairs.

    I walked in front of our bedroom. From where I was standing, I could hear Chase¡¯s voice, who was still speaking to his father. I tried to eavesdrop but I wasn¡¯t able to understand a word of their conversation.

    He answered another call after that, and I realized that he was talking to a hotel staff member and seemed to be trying to book us a luxury suite. It might be for our supposed celebration because he closed a 10-million dor deal and I became the Creative Director of a new brand under Ellie Steward¡¯s project.

    My hands clenched, thinking that he lied to me about that 10-million dor deal when, in reality, he was clearly facing bankruptcy. I couldn¡¯t understand the reason for his course of actions, but one thing was for sure, I waspletely disappointed.

    He lied to me¡­ and he wasn¡¯t even guilty of it.

    I entered our bedroom with a neutral expression. Chase turned to me and offered me a sweet smile. He just ended the call he had with a hotel staff member, walked towards me, and kissed me on my lips.

    My heart was aching for the lie he made that I couldn¡¯t get the willingness to respond to his kiss.

    ¡°Mathias said you arrived before I did. Where did you go?¡± he asked curiously.

    ¡°I went to the swimming pool area because Lara called,¡± I said.

    ¡°I see.¡± He nodded and then smiled widely. ¡°Get dressed, baby. We will celebrate tonight in one of the expensive hotels. I just booked a VIP suite-¡±

    ¡°Can we cancel it for now?¡± I cut him off, thinking that he was still trying to spend some money on petty things when we were now facing bankruptcy.

    ¡°Why?¡± He asked, a little surprised.

    ¡°I¡¯m so exhausted dealing with the project. I just want to rest for tonight and call it a day,¡± I exined and walked past him.

    I went to the walk-in closet and grabbed some pajamas. Chase followed me and hugged me from behind. He buried his face in my neck and traced circles on my belly button. I inhaled heavily and just removed the clothes from their hangers.

    ¡°Were you shocked to see my cars being picked up?¡± he asked softly.

    I rolled my eyes. ¡°Kind of. You never told me that you nned to sell your cars, and I don¡¯t know why you decided to sell them in the first ce.¡±

    I didn¡¯t mean to sound so offended, but my voice came off that way. I swore I wouldn¡¯t want to see him be so stressed about me. However, the mere fact that he was lying in my face and continuously doing it made me feel less like his wife.

    I guess he couldn¡¯t trust me.

    ¡°I am sorry if I didn¡¯t tell you about it. I am selling them before I no longer need them. One car is enough for me, and I need to liquidate them so I can fund the next big project in my winery business. I will buy some new cars once my favorite brands release new models,¡± he exined.

    I shook my head, trying to believe what he said, but was having a hard time doing so because of the bankruptcy papers that I saw on his office desk. I wondered if he ever considered telling me about it, or if he would keep me in the dark about his financial situation.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad at me. Those are just cars. We can have new onester on,¡± Chase said.

    That wasn¡¯t even the issue¡­

    The issue here was that he lied to me¡­

    And he didn¡¯t seem to have the conscience to tell me that we were going into bankruptcy.

 CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

    OLIVIA

    I TOOK a deep breath and finally stood up after fixing my hair. I took a few steps away from the mirror to observe my overall look. I just arrived home from the university and office but had to prepare to leave once again this evening because Chase asked me to visit his Aunt Melissa to drop off some food and souvenirs he bought for her when he was in Singapore.

    I couldn¡¯t figure out why Chase had asked me to do this instead of him, but I guess it was part of my job as his wife. Even though I was still mad at him for continuously lying to me, I still needed to treat him right and pretend that I didn¡¯t see a thing in his office.

    ¡°It won¡¯t take that long, Liv. Just drop off the things and have a little chit-chat, then go home,¡± I said to myself while still looking at my reflection in the mirror.

    I grabbed my sling bag and the big paper bag where Chase put the food and souvenirs for his aunt.

    I huffed, and even though I¡¯d been trying topose myself, I was unable to do so because I recalled how I behaved in front of Melissa when I visited Chase¡¯s father.

    ¡°Damn it,¡± I said and winced.

    You can do this, Liv.

    I went out of the house and Mathias approached me right away. He took the paper bag in my hand and carried it himself when we were walking towards the car.

    ¡°Do you know what time Chase will be home?¡± I asked him curiously.

    ¡°He did not tell me about me, Madame.¡±

    ¡°Fine¡­¡± I sighed, thinking how Chase and I were slowly drifting apart.

    He was so busy with his sinkingpany and lying to me, while I couldn¡¯t look him in the eye knowing that he¡¯d been lying to me all this time and keeping me in the dark.

    At some point, I came to understand what he would feel once he learned that I¡¯d been lying to him too; that I kept him in the dark and used his resources for my own benefits; that I pretended to be Reese Jones and used his love towards that woman.

    I cleared my throat and shook my head. I tossed the negative thoughts aside as I knew I needed to focus on visiting his aunt.

    Mathias sent me to Melissa¡¯s home and walked me to the main entrance. He rang the doorbell, and a maid weed us. My eyes roamed around the elegant house of Chase¡¯s aunt. Compared to Maxwell¡¯s residence, I thought this one was way bigger. I had to say it was like a modern hotel.

    It felt as if there was a big lump in my throat when I saw Melissa, who was descending the stairs. She was wearing an apple green colored coordinate dress with a headband in her hair. She dressed like a normal teenager, and despite being old, I had to admit that her beauty was truly evident.

    ¡°Good evening, A-Aunt Melissa,¡± I greeted her and, damn it, I just stuttered!

    ¡°Good evening, Reese.¡± She offered me a thin smile as she approached me.

    Her aura was so powerful that my heart was racing so fast simply by looking at her.

    I inhaled sharply and showed her the paper bag in my hand.

    ¡°Uhm¡­ I¡­ I came here because Chase wanted me to personally deliver his gifts to you, Aunt Melissa¡­¡± I said, shyly.

    ¡°I know, sweetheart. Chase called me earlier and told me you would be dropping by,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the living room so we can talk.¡± Then she turned to her maid. ¡°Bring us some tea and cake, Jill.¡±

    She led the way in her living room, and with every step I made, I kept breathing heavily. There was something in her aura that sent me something like a warning. I didn¡¯t know if it was just me, but I felt like she was not someone I could hang out with¡­

    Or maybe I was just so ashamed that I treated her badly in Chase¡¯s father¡¯s office?

    ¡°How are you doing, Reese?¡± she asked when we settled into her enormous living room, where there was a firece across the couches.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Aunt. Thanks for asking.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good. Chase seemed very happy after he married you. He always smiles whenever I meet him. Thanks to you.¡±

    The maid served the tea and cake as requested by her. Melissa handed me the tea, and I thanked her. I sipped on it and I liked its taste.

    ¡°It¡¯s one of the most famous teas in China,¡± she said.

    ¡°It tastes great. Thank you¡­¡±

    ¡°I heard from Chase that you¡¯re pursuing a career in the fashion industry. Is that true?¡±

    I nodded shyly in response.

    ¡°That¡¯s nice. Having a business of your own is really important. Women weren¡¯t born to depend on men, Reese. We have to pave our way to sess without anyone¡¯s help.¡±

    My expression softened when she said those encouraging words. It was like she had an idea about what I¡¯d been going through. Truly, her words caught my heart.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°I wonder what you and my brother talked about when you visited him in his office. You seemed perplexed when I saw you exiting out of his office.¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± My eyes widened. I recalled what happened that day, and I wasn¡¯t sure if I had the guts to tell her what exactly we talked about. ¡°I was just so pressured at that moment, Aunt Melissa. I am juggling between studying hard, starting up a business and being a great wife to my husband, and there are times that I can no longer handle everything all at once.¡±

    She nodded as if she understood what I said. ¡°Well, life can truly be hard if you carry everything all at once, sweetheart.¡±

    ¡°I know¡­¡± I offered her a thin smile.

    ¡°I want to be true to you, Reese.¡± She inhaled sharply and looked at me intently. ¡°The first time I saw you, I already disliked you and your family.¡±

    I stiffened. It was as if I was pped in the face, and I stayed speechless after that.

    ¡°I still think my nephew deserves someone even better than settling with a woman who left him hanging at their supposed wedding, let alone brought shame into his family. But I had no choice because Chase loves you so much¡­¡±

    Hot tears formed on both sides of my eyes and my chest started tightening as I heard those words from her. I knew I made a mistake when I first saw her in Ernest¡¯s office, but I didn¡¯t know that she really disliked Reese even before I came into the picture.

    Why didn¡¯t everyone want Reese to be with Chase?

    Even though their words were meant for the real Reese Jones, I found it difficult to ignore everything because I was currently ying her role in Chase¡¯s life, and because I love him, I couldn¡¯t help but feel affected whenever his family spoke ill of me or Reese.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry if you feel that way, Aunt. I assure you, I am trying my best to be enough for Chase. I want to be a great wife whom he can rely on during the hardest times of his life, and I want to be independent too, which is why I am starting my own career¡­¡± I bit my lower lip and lowered my head as I held back my tears. ¡°If there is something that Ick, I will work hard to fill the gap. In that way, when the right timees, you will start to like me¡­ but I understand it is not something I can force¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry as I¡¯m not going to y the viin role here. I am also a woman, and it¡¯s difficult when people dislike me too. I just hope you can change my impression of you and good luck on the career path you are taking.¡±

    ¡°T¨CThank you, Aunt¡­¡±

    ¡°Keep in mind that you are already bearing our family name, even though we don¡¯t want to. Be mindful of your actions and I hope you can always consider my nephew in every decision you make. After all, you are nothing without him,¡± she said.

    A pang of anxiety went through me as I heard those words. That, out of all of them, made me feel worse.

    ¡°I understand, Aunt Melissa.¡± I blinked my tears away and finally stood up. ¡°I¡­ I should leave now. Chase will go home anytime and I must prepare dinner for him.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead. Treat my nephew better, Reese. Have a good evening,¡± she said.

    I only nodded in response and then walked away.

    I sucked in a breath as I walked to the main door of the house. My lips were quivering and my tears were on the verge of streaming down, but I kept my emotions at bay as I knew it would only cause trouble if anyone saw me crying because of her.

    Chase would only get mad at his aunt once he found out about this, and I didn¡¯t want that to happen.

    ¡°Mathias, let¡¯s go,¡± I told Mathias as he waited for me in the lobby.

    My tears fell, but I wiped them immediately and pretended as if nothing really happened here.

 CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

    OLIVIA

    I EXITED the car, as we finally arrived home. After visiting Aunt Melissa, I felt awful. I exhaled heavily upon entering the gate. I observed that it was overly dim. I then questioned Mathew, who was parking the vehicle, as to why the lights were off.

    ¡°Mr. Maxwell¡¯s ount probably failed to pay the bills on time and we got no electricity,¡± he said.

    I frowned. ¡°Oh my gosh! It can¡¯t be!¡±

    I took my phone out of my pocket and turned on its shlight. I checked every step that I took as I entered the house. I began to think that we were already out of money and that Chase could not even longer afford to pay the bills.

    I almost stumbled, if not for one of Chase¡¯s men who assisted me and turned on some shlights that would guide me as I walked in.

    ¡°Can you guys tell me, did Chase¡¯s ountant really forget to pay our dues?¡±

    ¡°I guess so, Madame, but I heard that Mr. Maxwell has already been working on it for a while and he is really upset.¡±

    I was so worried to hear it from one of his staff. My heart felt so heavy. I didn¡¯t want this to happen to Chase. He didn¡¯t deserve to suffer like this. First, he sold all his cars. Then, next was thete payment of our electricity dues.

    One of the staff opened the door for me, and I was startled when I heard a loud noise.

    The lights opened suddenly and it showed floating pink and white balloons on the ceiling and some tiny ones on the floor. There were confetti all over my head. Then, from there, I saw a huge banner saying, ¡°Congrattions, Reese!¡±

    I came back to my senses when everyone was pping around me.

    ¡°What the hell was going on here?¡±

    ¡°Congrattions, Ms. Reese. We¡¯re so happy for what you¡¯ve aplished. Well done!¡±

    I had no idea why they were pping and telling me how great I was. Chase was thening down the stairs. He looked nice in his ck tuxedo, ck cks, and ck bow tie. After that, his staff left us and walked out of the house.

    ¡°What is going on, Chase? Why are there balloons, and why were they congratting me? What did I do?¡± I drew in a breath as my eyes roamed around the entire set up ¡°I thought that we weren¡¯t able to pay our bills and that there was no electricity.¡±

    ¡°It was just a setup, baby. I asked you to go to my aunt. It was part of my n to prepare for this. I asked Lara and Mia¡¯s help to prepare all of this, by the way. So thanks to them as well, they were down to make this possible.¡±

    I gasped. ¡°So, it means they knew this in advance? Mia and Lara? They knew about this surprise thing you did for me?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, two days. I sent them a text message and they both agreed. I was actually nning to book a night at a five-star hotel, but I knew you were busy knowing that you¡¯re now a creative director and also aplishing great work in school. I¡¯m just so proud of you,¡± he said and offered me a smile.

    My heart was so happy to hear it all from Chase. My hard work truly paid off with all the sacrifices that I made; making connections to some business owners and also meeting Ellie Steward.

    I exhaled when I remembered that she caught me getting violent with Elizabeth which made me a little bit frustrated.

    Anyway, I know that in the future, Chase might be mad at me if he caught me that I was not the real Reese Jones, so I need to make sure to create an escape n before that happens.

    I¡¯m just thinking about what would be the best route to go down before I leave him, and hopefully, I can admit to myself if I have feelings for him or not.

    ¡°Reese, baby, let¡¯s go and have some dinner. I prepared a candle-lit dinner for us. I ordered great food from one of the finest restaurants and also your favorite pastries from Mia¡¯s coffee shop.¡± He sighed deeply. ¡°I remember that I have something to show you but I guess after our dinner. I have a gift for you.¡±

    I¡¯m shocked that Chase was still giving me gifts. He didn¡¯t have to. But I needed to show him that I was happy but eventually, I¡¯d have to convince him to stop giving me expensive gifts from now on.

    While we were having our dinner, I felt the urge to ask him about what truly happened in Singapore. If he was saying the truth that he was able to get someone to invest in the winery business, given that I saw those bankruptcy papers in his office thest time, then the fact that he sold his luxury cars, which was already strong evidence that he failed to do so.

    ¡°Is it bad that you¡¯re not touching your food? I swear, I asked the chef to make sure to choose quality meats.¡± Chase¡¯s voice sounded so worried when he asked me that.

    ¡°No, Chase, it was good. I may not have a great appetite right now. But it doesn¡±t mean the food was not great. I truly love it!¡± I said, trying to cheer him up.

    ¡°Alright, let me just get something real quick. Wait a sec. Just stay right there, okay?¡±

    He then smiled at me. Then he stood up from his seat. While I was eating the food, I then felt something in my neck. I nced at my chest and I saw a diamond dangling. It was sparkling through my eyes. It was so mesmerizing- a teardrop shape and perfectly carved with those fine edges. When I turned around to face Chase, I felt as if he had kissed my brow.

    ¡°This ne is a symbol of my love for you. Don¡¯t lose it, okay?¡±

    He whispered those three words, ¡°I love you,¡± without any name¡­ just those words thatpletely took me away and swept me off my feet.

    It wasn¡¯t the diamond ne, but those simple gestures from him that made me feel the warmth inside. At the same time, I couldn¡¯t help but be scared, knowing that I was falling for him even more every single day¡­

    ***

    I THOUGHT the night would end with me hearing stories from Chase about what he did in Singapore, what he ate before he pitched to his investors, his adventures when he forgot his keys from his hotel room, then he had to get them all by himself because he didn¡¯t have an assistant with him and he chose not to have one as he wanted to challenge himself, yet he was still able to forget things, but I wasn¡¯t able to follow the rest of the story as it was already my seventh or eighth bottle of beer.

    ¡°You¡¯re so goddamn sexy, you know that, don¡¯t you?¡± I blurted it out while he was in mid-sentence, telling another story of his. He was caught off guard by my statement.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± He chuckled, rubbing his nose.

    I found him so cute. He couldn¡¯t handlepliments very well.

    ¡°I¡¯m not drunk, so I could tell that you¡¯re sexy¡­ So, I want you to kiss me right now with your lips,¡± I said, my voice sounded so turned on and enticing.

    I then pped him lightly when he tried to kiss me. Then I pulled him towards me and kissed him on his lips tenderly.

    ¡°Every night, all I want is your taste. I¡¯m missing the pleasure of my husband¡­¡± I murmured.

    ¡°I even miss your sultry lips, baby, especially this one.¡± I gasped when he shoved his hands and grabbed me in my crotch.

    Rubbing his fingers on top of it, he then removed the button of my jeans and removed my pants. Then his hands went to my undies and his fingers gently rubbed them while kissing me on my lips.

    ¡°You are wet already? I miss this slutty sex of yours baby¡­ This is what I also missed, putting my dick in you and fucking your insides¡­¡±

    His whispers sent shivers to my spine and I looked at him in his eyes. I was sitting on the barstool and I whispered at him to go to the bed as I wanted his length to go inside of my sex. He carried me from my seat then instead of going upstairs we used our elevator for the first time.

    ¡°So we had an elevator all along?¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t notice it?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t until tonight!¡± I hissed.

    ¡°It serves its purpose, baby, especially this kind of night.¡± He smirked.

    He was still carrying me at this point like a baby while we were in the elevator. He was kissing my lips, and could hardly break it when the door opened.

    Few more kisses and then we went outside and approached our room.

    I was thrown into the bed. He removed his shirt and I gulped when I saw his v-shaped torso and his abs that were dripping in sweat. It was oozing of sexiness that I couldn¡¯t help but nce at them, I even licked my lower lip, imagining he was on top of me.

    ¡°You miss this view, don¡¯t you?¡±

    I smiled and nodded then I went straight to his pants and removed his ck belt. I helped him to remove his pants then finally saw his huge bulge that I couldn¡¯t help but kiss and rub it in my face.

    ¡°Fuck, you¡±re so gorgeous, Reese¡­¡±

    His bulge was growing even more and I could feel that it was throbbing in my face while I was gently rubbing it through my face and kissing it.

    ¡°Stop teasing me, Reese, shit, you slutty wh*re.¡±

    I giggled a bit when he wasn¡¯t able to wait and removed his boxer shorts.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°Here, open your filthy mouth,¡± he demanded, his voice deep.

    I swear that I haven ¡®t seen his shaft grow that long and bigger than before. It was so long that it pped my face all the way to the back of my head.

    ¡°You¡¯ve grown so¡­ so big, Chase,¡± I remarked.

    I then grabbed it with my two hands, kissing and licking it slowly. I began sucking it like a candy and I was moving so fast as if I was eating a melted ice cream. The taste of it was like a bar of dark chocte. It was bitter but tasty, and the sweet at the end was like his precum.

    He has absolutely turned on that he was already massaging the back of my head. I was gripping tightly to his waist. I could feel his body contract with every blow I made.

    ¡°Reese, your mouth is so fucking amazing,¡± he said and moaned softly.

    I swirl my tongue to his length and I couldn¡¯t even breathe properly since it was already hitting the back of my throat. Only half of it was inside of my mouth. I was so adventurous that I decided to put it all on inside and I was so close to puke but I inhaled deeply and then put everything inside of my mouth.

    Chase¡¯s sex was throbbing and I couldn¡¯t take it anymore and removed it from my mouth. I was spitting a lot of saliva from my mouth and catching my breath. I coughed a lot and I saw he was brushing his sex to my lips.

    I grabbed his hard shaft and I did a hand job that made him groan so hard that made me turn on as well.

    ¡°Fuck, Reese, I¡¯m cumming, baby, I¡¯m putting this now to your mouth,¡± he groaned.

    When I saw he was about to cum, I put his length inside of my mouth and swallowed his warm fluids.

    He then instructed me toy down on the bed then he slowly removed my wet panties then he began touching and groping my thighs with hisrge hands.

    The way he looked at my sex gave me so much arousal. His head then went straight to my slit, kissing it gently and licking the folds between my thighs. My arousal hit the highest level when he began gently swirling his tongue to my spot.

    My hips went upwards and I grind my hips towards his warm mouth. His lips brushing on my sex made me moan and caught my breath at the same time.

    ¡°Baby, you¡¯re so good, I¡¯m so wet right now,¡± I cried out loud then I could feel his fingers slide into my cunt.

    He then jerked his fingers and I weed it by thrusting my hips. I rolled back and pulled his hair when he began licking my clit while fingering my cunt.

    ¡°I¡¯ve waited on this for so long, please make me squirt baby,¡± I moaned and cried out with so much pain and pleasure. I felt so alive when Chase kissed my slit, the feeling was so great when I looked down, I can¡¯t believe this Greek God type of man was giving me such delight and giving me such amazing oral sex.

    ¡°You like this baby? You¡¯re so wet now,¡±

    ¡°Chase, I¡¯m about to blow up, fuck, fuck, fuck!¡± I was catching my breath in every thrust of his fingers, rubbing my insides, I was grabbing the sheets of the mattress and holding onto it.

    I then switched to grabbing his head into my cunt when I squirted a lot of fluid into his face.

    ¡°Chase, fuck, I¡¯m so wet now, give me some more, put your cock inside me, please¡­¡± I pleaded to him like a small kid.

    His handsome face was so wet with the fluiding from my slit. He was kissing my inner thighs and then groping my buttocks. I was catching my breath while he was busy gently massaging my thighs.

    He then instructed me to stand up, he then carried me and I was facing the ss window while he was still behind me massaging my breast and slit. My naked body was exposed to the neighbors. Even though no one can really see us since the houses in this neighborhood are so far away from each other. I was still embarrassed that someone could catch us like Mathias or his staff.

    ¡°We have a CCTV camera in this spot, I want to see your body and especially your face as I will check the recordingter.¡± He chuckled then he suddenly put his cock inside me.

    I left a soft moan as he began pounding my slit roughly.

    ¡°Fuck, Chase. I want more¡­¡± I begged at him like I was indeed his whore, I wasn¡¯t in the right mind when Chase began making love of me. I didn¡¯t even have a shame to say all this to him.

    ¡°Ughh, shit! Your pussy was so wet and tight, it was gripping into my length so well.¡±

    I was panting and my breath was fogging up the ss. I couldn¡¯t help but to touch my clit and rubbed it with my fingers while he was pounding me so hard.

    ¡°So fucking good, baby.¡±

    My knees were shaking, my groin was aching in pain and my vision was no longer clear. I fell to the ground but he didn¡¯t stop.

    ¡°Fucking open your legs, wider!¡±

    ¡°C¨CChase, baby, I can no longer feel my legs¡­¡± I said as I caught my breath.

    He opened my legs wide enough and he slid his cock inside my wet sex. His length was so hard and throbbing inside of my slit and I was crying already in pain.

    ¡°You want this, right? Now, I¡¯m going to put it all in.¡±

    I moaned and panted, catching my breath.

    ¡°Yes baby, fuck me hard, please, ugh! Your cock is twitching inside of me. It feels so good!¡±

    My saliva was already running down to my chin since my mouth was wide open, shouting to fuck me hard. I joined his tempo and all I could hear was his grunt and the sound of our hips snapping. Our inner thighs pped and smashed in each thrust and my hips rolled towards him to wee each jerk he was doing.

    ¡°You are so beautiful, especially in this view¡­¡± He then grabbed my nipples with both hands.

    ¡°Yes, baby, I¡¯m about to finish, I¡¯m reaching it, ugh, fuck, fuck, me more¡­¡±

    He went so hard and crushed my body against his and he grunt so hard.

    ¡°Baby, I¡¯m about to cum, I¡¯m putting it in your slutty pussy.¡±

    ¡°Yes, put your seed in me, make me pregnant, fuck me.¡±

    I caught my breath and I almost passed out and my vision went blurry. I knew that I already reached my orgasm. I reached my limit. My body ached and I felt the warm liquid between my thighs. I shut my eyes off because I was so tired and decided to sleep.

 Chapter 70: Confrontation

    OLIVIA

    I woke up to the sound of an rm. Scratching my hair, I turned off my phone¡¯s rm and noticed Chase was sleeping soundly beside me.

    I shifted my position and stared at the ceiling. I wasn¡¯t able toprehend what happenedst night, as we were both wasted. There were beers surrounding us on the floor, and the whole room was clearly a mess.

    When I tried to get up, I instantly felt the sourness in the spot between my legs. Even my lower belly ached, which made me whimper a bit. I took several deep breaths, realizing the pain and weakness in my body. I couldn¡¯t move, not even for a single bit.

    I cursed under my breath. I noticed some movement beside me, and when I looked at Chase, I saw that he had finally woken up. His eyes were sparkling as he gazed up at me, and his hands automatically went to my waist as he embraced me.

    Our smell of musk lingered in my nostrils. Both of us were dripping in sweat too, because of the heat.

    ¡°Good morning, my wife,¡± he whispered in my ear, and then he kissed my forehead.

    His hand traveled to my breast. He chuckled when I shoved it away.

    ¡°Chase, stop¡­¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± His voice sounded like he was teasing me.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sweaty, and I still fear sour,¡± I said, fighting the urge to roll my eyes because he continued to chuckle like a child.

    ¡°You look even sexier when you act so grumpy,¡± he said huskily.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to buy that¡­¡± A ghost of a smile escaped my lips.

    I gathered all my strength and finally stood up. Even though I was really tired and I wanted to rest, I knew I had to go to my sses.

    ¡°Come on, Chase. Get up now. I need to go to school,¡± I said to him.

    I also remembered that I needed to go to my doctor¡¯s appointment and then proceed to the office to finalize some work with my team today.

    ¡°Alright, one more minute,¡± he said, and then yawned.

    ¡°Chase!¡±

    ¡°Fine, I am getting up now.¡±

    Chase, with his bedroom look, was really appealing. I couldn¡¯t help but admire his messy hair and his husky voice that sent me morning shivers. He assisted in every moment I did as my head throbbed in pain, thanks to the hangover fromst night¡¯s drinking.

    ¡°Are you alright, Reese? I¡¯m not sure if I can let you leave in that state,¡± Chase asked me as I prepared my school stuff.

    ¡°I¡¯m OK. This is just a hangover, and I¡¯ll take medicine to be relieved,¡± I answered, and smiled at him to assure him I could manage.

    ¡°No, you look terribly pale. It¡¯s not just about a hangover,¡± he said worriedly as he walked towards me and checked my temperature by putting the back of his hand onto my forehead. ¡°Let me prepare some food so you can eat, then I¡¯ll excuse you to your ss, okay?¡±

    Perhaps Chase was right, as I was starting to really feel under the weather at this point. I was about to respond, but his phone rang. He motioned for me to wait, and then he picked up the call.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m listening¡­¡± He said to the phone and stepped back. ¡°Hmm, OK, what about it? Yes, I¡¯m working on the funds¡­ Sure, not a problem. Alright, bye!¡±

    I sighed in frustration. I recalled the papers that I found in his home office. Hispany was facing bankruptcy, and he was trying to start a winery business by selling some of his property. Firstly, he sold his cars¡­ I wondered what else he would sell just for us to get back on track?

    And when was he going to tell me about it?

    During our breakfast, I stayed speechless, pondering whether I would ask him about the papers I saw or just turn a blind eye and let him handle it. I waspletely confused and still hurt that he hadn¡¯t told me about it and he was acting like he didn¡¯t have the intention of opening it up even though I was his wife.

    Would Reese feel the same just like what I¡¯ve been feeling all this time?

    Would she also feel that she was betrayed and lied to?

    ¡°You¡¯re not eating your food. Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Chase looked worriedly at me.

    I stared at him nkly. His eyes didn¡¯t radiate any guilt for lying to me. All I saw was the sincere worry behind them, which made me feel worse.

    ¡°Reese¡­¡± he called, trying to get my attention.

    ¡°When do you n to tell me everything, Chase,¡± I said.

    My statement left him confused, based on how his brows furrowed as he stared down at me.

    ¡°Tell you what, Reese?¡± he asked.

    I let out a harsh sigh and gathered all the right words in my mind before I spoke.

    ¡°About thepany that¡¯s going bankrupt,¡± I told him firmly, and I kept looking at him intently. ¡°I saw the bankruptcy papers you are hiding in your home office, and I don¡¯t understand why you are not telling me about it.¡±

    Chase¡¯s expression turned grim. His eyes widened as if he couldn¡¯t believe what I just said at the moment. I pressed my lips together and didn¡¯t back down. I waited for him to give me some answers I had been dying to hear.

    After all, I was his wife, and I had the right to know everything that was happening.

    ¡°You went to my office without my permission, Reese?¡± he asked in disbelief. His voice sounded so disappointed.

    I sucked in a breath. ¡°That¡¯s because you are not telling me anything, Chase. I don¡¯t want to be blind to your current business problems anymore. I know something is happening. That¡¯s why I looked for answers myself. And I am right, we¡¯re having financial issues¡­¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Reese, this isn¡¯t your problem¨C¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why it isn¡¯t my problem, Chase.¡± I cut him off. ¡°Obviously, I am your wife and have every right to know what¡¯s happening with you and yourpany!¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but raise my voice. I was totally pissed off that he still acted like it was nothing when it was a serious matter. I couldn¡¯t get a grasp on why he had to leave me in the darkness.

    ¡°I¡¯m not that dumb to not feel that something is up, Chase.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it when you invade my office, Reese. Don¡¯t do it next-¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not even the main issue here!¡± I almost yelled.

    I avoided his gaze as I palmed my face. My head throbbed even more, and that doubled the anxiety I was feeling right now. I could only curse under my breath.

    ¡°You are making me feel that I have no right to stick my nose into your business¡­¡± I said, my voice sounded so hurt¡­ offended and dismayed. ¡°I am your wife.¡±

    Chase¡¯s face softened when I looked at him. I noticed how he swallowed so hard, and for a split second, I saw the fear behind his ocean blue eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, baby¡­¡± he shut his eyes and uttered a curse, then opened them and reached for my hand that was resting on the table. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to snap on you.¡±

    I bit my lower lip. ¡°Fuck. You¡¯re getting on my nerves¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry¡­¡± He stood up and then went to me, kneeling on the side of my chair as he held my hand tightly. ¡°Look, it is not my intention to hide it from you.¡±

    ¡°Then, what?¡±

    ¡°Thepany is not facing any bankruptcy, Reese. I assure you of that. Please, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    My forehead creased in confusion. What did he mean by that? The papers clearly told me that hispany was going through bankruptcy¡­

    ¡°Are you lying to me?¡± I asked in disbelief.

    ¡°No. I am not lying to you.¡± He looked at me intently. ¡°I am telling you the truth. I am not facing any bankruptcy.¡±

    ¡°Then what about those papers I¡¯ve seen from your office?¡±

    ¡°Those are the papers that mywyer prepared just in case I wouldn¡¯t be able to fund my winery business in time.¡± He let out a sigh before he continued. ¡°I already have an investor in this business I am trying to start up, but it is not enough to support it, which is why I ended up selling my cars. I didn¡¯t use them that often anyway.¡±

    My jaw dropped at what he said. I recalled the conversation I had with his father, and how that old man clearly told me that Reese and her family dragged Chase¡¯s reputation into vain¡­ Was he lying?

    ¡°You¡¯re really not facing bankruptcy?¡± I asked, still confused.

    He shook his head, taking my hand in his lips, and kissed my knuckles.

    ¡°We are not facing bankruptcy, Reese,¡± he said firmly. ¡°I am sorry¡­ I should¡¯ve exined it better why I sold my cars. I just didn¡¯t want you to worry because everything is being handled ording to my n¡­¡±

    It was as if a pail of relief had just washed over me. The thorn in my chest had just been removed, and I waspletely at ease now that he rified things.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I snapped at you too¡­¡± I said and bit my lower lip. ¡°My mind was clouded with spection, and since I never heard from you, I thought you were lying to me¡­ I¡¯m sorry. Chase¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not at fault, baby.¡± He took a deep breath and kissed my lips. ¡°I¡¯ll never lie to you. I promise.¡±

    I smiled thinly, thinking that I¡¯d never be able to promise the same thing to him because I was only lying the whole time¡­

 Chapter 71

    OLIVIA

    FINALLY, I am back in the office after my two-day suspension for the incident involving me hitting Elizabeth in the face.

    I was preparing some documents and checking emails all at the same time. Recalling how Elizabeth pped me on the face, I found myself crumpling the paper in anger.

    She was suspended too, given the behavior she had shown, which had enraged Ellie.

    Sighing, I received a cold-blooded email from Ellie, telling me to write an exnation about my recent behavior that put me in a bad position given that I was in front of some of our top executives when it happened.

    I cursed under my breath and pulled my hair a bit, and then I typed my response, ending up hitting backspace after a while as I stared at the ceiling.

    ¡°Fuck¡­¡±

    My unhappy thoughts were ripped out when my phone rang. I checked it and realized Lara was calling me.

    ¡°Hey, devil. What¡¯s up? Are you free this weekend? I got a big payout and I want to treat you for once,¡± she said.

    Lara wasn¡¯t the generous type, and this was one of the moments I usually wanted to ssh a holy water over her for being strange. Too bad, I had to decline.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to, but I forgot to mention that I¡¯ll be busy this weekend for my presentation. I also need to meet someone regarding Reese Jones¡­¡±

    ¡°What a busy bee you¡¯ve be!¡± She giggled. ¡°No biggie, we can catch up next time, devil. I¡¯ll hang up now!¡±

    I sighed heavily and decided to chat with Mia instead, seeking help to write an exnation email that I had to send to Ellie. An email came into my inbox shortly. I thought it was her who sent me a sample, but I was surprised to see that it was Ms. Williams.

    She said she¡¯d be happy to see me thising weekend! Along with the address info she gave was my flight details to France, which was scheduled for next Monday. I¡¯d be representing the university to attend the business seminar that would be held in Paris.

    ¡°France, France¡­ I can¡¯t wait to-¡°Oh, shoot! My passport!

    I began to panic, realizing that I had no passport for Reese. I immediately called Chase, and thank goodness he answered his phone right away.

    ¡°Reese, baby, what¡¯s wrong? Is there an emergency?¡±

    ¡°My flight will be on Monday. I don¡¯t even have a passport.¡±

    ¡°You have one, remember?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I think I lost it.¡± I palmed my face.

    ¡°I will ask someone to check it in the house.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Yes, baby. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll take care of it. I have to end this call now.¡±

    ***

    RIGHT after work, I left the office immediately to go straight home as I felt dizzy for some reason. I badly wanted to throw up, but I had no time even for that. The stress consumed me since there were a lot of things I needed to attend to with my work as a creative director, and at the same time I had to be a great student and prepare for my uing flight to France on Monday.

    I pulled my hair out and yelled in frustration. Mathias was shocked, taking a peek through the rear-view mirror.

    ¡°Are you okay, Madame?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not okay. Stop asking me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Madame, for asking you that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fucking stressed, so please, I don¡¯t want to hear any noise,¡± I said and inhaled sharply. ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, Madame?¡±

    I covered my nostrils with my finger. ¡°Your smell, Mathias. Haven¡¯t you taken a bath? Gosh, the smell of your armpits, I can¡¯t stand it!¡±

    Mathias¡¯ face reddened in shame. ¡°Madame, I take a shower every day. Let me spray some perfume.¡±

    I scoffed. ¡°No need. I will tell Chase to give you a better soap or whatever.¡±

    Silence filled the car. As I gazed through the window, my emotions started to pick up and my tears fell, as if I was a child. Too much pressure got into my nerves, and I couldn¡¯t handle it anymore.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°Tell me, Mathias. Should I just give up?¡±

    ¡°Madame, are you crying? Did something happen at your work today?¡±

    ¡°Yes, a lot has been happening, and I can¡¯t contain it.¡±

    I bit my bottom lip as I shook my head.

    When we arrived at our house, I immediately went to the bathroom to pee, and then I felt a sudden pain as I urinated.

    ¡°Freaking UTI¡­¡± I murmured.

    I waited for Chase toe home to help me find Reese¡¯s passport, but he was not home yet and it was already eight o¡¯clock in the evening.

    ¡°He should be home around seven.¡±

    I talked to Mathias, and he told me Chase¡¯s staff couldn¡¯t find my passport and that he would leave the office early. But he hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and I was thinking that he had gone somewhere else to see some girls¡­

    I became so paranoid that I contacted his phone numerous times. Finally, he picked up the phone after three attempts of ignoring it.

    ¡°Hey, where are you right now?¡±

    ¡°Baby, I¡¯m extending a few hours. We do have important work to do.¡±

    ¡°Important? My passport is missing. That¡¯s also important. Your staff didn¡¯t find it here. So what am I supposed to do now?¡± I asked, irritated.

    He sighed on the other line. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to youter, Reese, okay?¡±

    ¡°If you hang up on me, then don¡¯t talk to me for the rest of your life, or I might just move into a different ce. You¡¯ll never see me again. How¡¯s that sound?¡±

    ¡°What the heck, Reese?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not kidding.¡±

    ¡°Okay, sure. I will not end the call. I¡¯ll put you on speaker phone until I arrive home. Sounds good?¡±

    ¡°Come home, please!¡± I nagged.

    I waited for a few seconds, then he responded with a long sigh.

    ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯lle home and find your passport.¡±

    ¡°Okay, see you.¡±

    I ended the phone call with a smile from ear to ear.

    I could not wait for Chase to go home.

    One of the staff then went to me and said they found my passport in the storage room. They gave me my passport and I immediately looked at it.

    ¡°Wow, Reese Jones, look at you,¡± I mumbled to myself when I opened the passport and checked her photo. I was extremely happy and I kissed it.

    In less than thirty minutes, Chase finally arrived. He then went inside the house and looked so pale.

    ¡°Reese, let me find your passport, alright? I¡¯m sorry if you can¡¯t count on our staff. I will look for it on my own.¡±

    ¡°Sure baby, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll go to the storage room. It¡¯s probably there¡­¡±

    I showed him the passport. ¡°Ta-da! I got my passport now!¡±

    He sighed. ¡°You did?¡±

    ¡°Yes, your staff did find it in the storage room,¡± I said with a wink.

    I saw the frustration in his eyes, but he didn¡¯t say anything. He shook his head and massaged the temple of his nose.

    ¡°That¡¯s great, but please next time, before you call, make sure that¡­ never mind. I¡¯ll go ahead and change my clothes.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Chase.¡± I frowned.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±

    I didn¡¯t like the expression on his face so much that it made me cry. My emotions were high at that time, seeing Chase¡¯s disappointment in me.

    ¡°Baby, what¡¯s the matter? I said it¡¯s totally fine. It¡¯s okay, hush now¡­¡± He cupped my face and wiped my tears.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    I then stopped crying and smiled at him.

    ¡°Alright, I want a vani ice cream. Please buy it for me.¡±

    ¡°Oh.. Sure.¡± His brow furrowed. ¡°That¡¯s out of nowhere, but as you wish.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, my love!¡± I said and kissed him on his cheek.

 Chapter 72

    OLIVIA

    The next day, I found myself spacing out in the ss. Mia had to literally poke me in the forehead using her pen. I was just about to ignore it, but then my thoughts were ripped out when I noticed that the professor was now standing in front of me.

    ¡°Ms. Reese Jones Maxwell, are you with us right now?¡± she asked, her face grim. ¡°I¡¯ve been calling your attention to read page fifty-six of the book.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I-I¡¯m sorry!¡± I went into an instant panic and quickly opened the book.

    The professor snorted. ¡°I know that you¡¯re working now as a creative director for Ellie¡¯s luxury brands, and you have so many things to do that make you really exhausted, but you¡¯re here in my ss to study, not to idle.¡±

    ¡°I apologize, Professor. It won¡¯t happen again¡­¡± I bit my lower lip and carefully looked at her. ¡°What page do I need to read? I¡¯m sorry, I just forgot.¡±

    Mia then was quick to rescue me in an awkward situation. She volunteered to read the book on my behalf and reasoned that I wasn¡¯t feeling well and could not focus at the moment.

    She was right, though.

    I¡¯ve been feeling under the weather, and my headache was terrible. I thought I could handle it, but after less than an hour, my head throbbed in a pain that was beyond bearable. I whimpered in pain and called for the attention of our professor.

    ¡°I-I need to go to the clinic¡­¡± I said and immediately stood up.

    I no longer waited for the professor¡¯s response and dashed into the door and opened it. I quickened my pace and went straight to the clinic as I felt like passing out at any moment.

    ¡°I need some meds for a headache, please,¡± I told the nurse as soon as I entered the clinic.

    The nurse was kind enough to assist me inying down on one of the beds, and then asked me a series of questions about my condition before she gave me an Advil.

    I was just right there lying and waiting for the medicine to kick in so my headache would go away when Mia stormed into the clinic and immediately found me.

    ¡°Reese!¡±

    ¡°Mia, what are you doing here? The ss is still ongoing,¡± I asked in my faint voice.

    ¡°Scrap it, Reese. I am your friend, remember?¡± She let out a sigh and continued to stare down at me as if I was a child. ¡°I know you¡¯re handling a lot of things right now and your mind is conflicted already. Let me help you, alright?¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but smile, seeing how she was concerned about me. In the end, I just nodded and said how thankful I was that she was here with me.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about the lessons you¡¯re going to miss. I will take notes for you and, of course, do the admin task in the office.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mia. I appreciate it.¡±

    ¡°By the way, your flight will be on Monday next week. Have you packed your things?¡±

    ¡°No I haven¡¯t. I¡¯m still working on something in the office and also focusing on the exams¡­¡±

    She frowned. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. I¡¯ll take care of your admin task for the meantime. Then go home and pack your things, okay?¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mia. I¡¯ll send an email to Ellie to inform her that I¡¯ll be giving some of my tasks to you. Please check Elizabeth as well for me if she¡¯s doing her job.¡±

    ¡°Sure thing, Reese. I¡¯ll do that even if she¡¯s very intimidating.¡± She rolled her eyes.

    I giggled and let out a sigh. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine, Mia. She¡¯s not going to bite.¡±

    ***

    It was already eight o¡¯clock in the evening when Chase arrived home. He entered our bedroom, and saw me packing my things for my flight to France.

    He went to me and pressed his lips to my forehead, then asked, ¡°How many days will you be in France?¡±

    ¡°Just five days, baby.¡± I looked back at him and smiled. ¡°The seminar would take two days. I¡¯d be preparing a short speech to introduce the school in my free time.¡±

    He nodded and offered me a smile. ¡°Are you excited?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m worried, to be honest. I¡¯m not sure if I could pull this off properly. There are times I wish I could still decline, to save myself from any humiliation¡­¡± I said, biting my lower lip.

    He tucked my hair behind my ear and hugged me from behind. ¡°You can do everything as long as you put your heart and soul into it, baby.¡± He chuckled and continued, ¡°You always win in the past. When I first met you, you were full of courage and determination, sexy and smart.¡±

    But it wasn¡¯t me¡­ It was the real Reese Jones.

    ¡°Now, I¡¯m not all of that,¡± I answered bitterly. Do you think I should take advantage of this opportunity? I heard that some people out there do not speak English.¡±

    We bothughed at my own argument.

    ¡°My brain will blow up if they don¡¯t speak English to me¡­¡±

    ¡°Come on. It is only an event that would be held in France.¡± He spun me around to meet his gaze. ¡°You don¡¯t need to speak theirnguage, Reese.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe I am just pressured and scared, especially since you¡¯re not going to be there.¡±

    ¡°I have connections in France. I¡¯ll make sure that you¡¯re safe in there. I can send bodyguards to check up on you from time to time.¡±

    I was kind of hoping that he¡¯d offer toe with me to France. But he seemed unable to read between the lines. Irritation welled up inside me and so I avoided his gaze.

    ¡°You¡¯re not even listening to me¡­¡± I whispered.

    ¡°Were you saying something?¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡± My voice became cold. ¡°I¡¯ll just go ahead and sleep.¡±

    ¡°Reese¡­¡±

    I crawled onto the bed, and tucked myself under the nket. Sighing, I couldn¡¯t help but be teary because I felt Chase was not trying his best to understand me.

    He could hardly see that my anxiety was picking up now that my trip was getting near. I knew I had to do stuff like this as it would bring such an honor to me. However, I was terribly scared¡­ no, anxious with each passing day.

    And it saddened me that Chase, of all people, could not see that.

    It was around two o¡¯clock in the morning when I slowly got up from the bed and stepped out of the bedroom. I went to the bathroom and dialed Lara¡¯s phone number.

    ¡°Come on. Pick up the phone, Lara¡­¡± I said, as I paced back and forth while biting my lips.

    ¡°What the hell, Liv?!¡± She snarled from the other line. ¡°It¡¯s two in the morning. Why are you calling?¡±

    ¡°Tone down your voice, will you?¡±

    ¡°Go straight to the point!¡±

    ¡°Shh, listen to me.¡± I craned my neck as I checked the door before I continued, ¡°I¡¯m scared to fly alone in France. Would you like toe with me?¡±

    ¡°What? Are you fucking serious, Olivia?¡±

    I breathed hard and nodded. ¡°Yes, I wanted you to pleasee with me on that trip.¡±

    ¡°What about Chase? He should be the one toe with you. Not me!¡±

    My lips formed a thin line. That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯ve been thinking about. However, Chase couldn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°Forget Chase. I hate him.¡± I huffed in frustration. ¡°He¡¯s not listening to me. I bet he doesn¡¯t give a damn anymore because he probably finds me annoying.¡±

    ¡°Holy cow! Is this a lovers¡¯ quarrel?¡±

    ¡°No, there are no lovers to begin with.¡± I rolled my eyes and shoved her idea away.

    ¡°Right, he just loved the illusion of Reese Jones.¡±

    ¡°Stop rubbing it in my face, Lara. Or else I¡¯ll go there and strangle you.¡±

    She chuckled, more like teasing me more. ¡°Don¡¯t be so violent, Liv. You see, that¡¯s the reason why you got suspended from your work. You¡¯re not controlling your emotions.¡±

    I groaned, and I realized that I should not have done that, as Chase might wake up. My heart was pounding fast when I went outside of the bathroom and dashed out of the bedroom so I could continue talking to Lara.

    ¡°Come on, I need you there. Please!¡±

    ¡°For how many days, Liv?¡±

    ¡°It will only be for five days,¡± I replied.

    ¡°What the fuck? I can¡¯t leave my son for five days! To whom should I entrust Mikhael?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you can leave him in this house. Chase would look out for him. If he¡¯s in the office, his staff would check up on him, and we also have Matthias here. He likes kids. He¡¯s a very good guy.¡±

    Lara fell silent on the other line. After a minute, she finally spoke.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Alright, fine. You owe me ten thousand dors for this request, Liv. I¡¯m sacrificing a lot of opportunities because of you.¡±

    ¡°What? Are you serious? That¡¯s huge amount of money!¡±

    ¡°Then, make it five thousand, deal?¡±

    ¡°Shit, fine!¡± I rolled my eyes and cursed once more when I heard the bedroom door open.

    Chase shot me a nce that sent shivers down my spine. He furrowed his brows and breathed hard.

    ¡°Who are you talking to at this hour, Reese?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Lara¡­¡± I simply answered and then ended the call.

    ¡°Why? It¡¯s already the wee hour, Reese. You guys need to rest.¡±

    I walked up to him and caressed his arm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It was urgent. Anyway, Mikhael will be staying here for the next week, so I want you to look out for him. Lara wille with me to France. Is that alright?¡±

    He nodded and grabbed me by the waist. ¡°Sure, I can ask someone to check on him while I¡¯m out working.¡±

    I smiled inwardly. ¡°Great. Thanks, Chase!¡±

    He leaned down and was about to kiss me, but I felt so sleepy that I slightly shoved his face.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m sleepy. Come on, let¡¯s get back to bed,¡± I said and walked past him.

 Chapter 73 Final Chapter

    OLIVIA

    I went to the hospital for my check-up because I didn¡¯t feel well, the next day. For some reason, my appetite has been strangetely. I was craving some hot and spicy food, but would end up vomiting and experiencing abdominal cramps.

    I thought that my life had be more stressful. My body started to gain weight too, and I couldn¡¯t help but hate it.

    ¡°I¡¯ll send you the result of yourb test as soon as possible, Mrs. Maxwell,¡± the doctor said.

    I offered her a thin smile. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    After all theprehensive tests that they¡¯ve done on me to further check what was causing me to be sick, I finally left the hospital.

    While inside the car, I texted Lara to make sure she would be early for tomorrow¡¯s flight. Luckily, my best friend didn¡¯t seem to change her mind abouting with me.

    As the car drove our way home, many memories shed through my eyes. Those memories when I was a kid made me so emotional all of a sudden.

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡± I blinked my tears away and wiped them away, then sucked in a breath.

    I thought about Chase. There was no doubt that I was still mad at him. However, I came to realize that I shouldn¡¯t really force myself on him, because at the end of the day, I was a fraud.

    I am not Reese Jones.

    Without even thinking carefully, I took my notebook and pen from my bag, and started writing him a letter-a letter that wasn¡¯t from Reese Jones, but from Olivia Marie Miller.

    At the spur of the moment, I finished writing the letter. When I went home, I put it on his office table and surveyed his office. I felt very emotional about the fact that I wouldn¡¯t be able to see him for days and he was justpletely fine with it.

    I called Mia and asked her to drive me to Lara¡¯s house. She then helped me carry my luggage for tomorrow¡¯s flight. Because of my pride, instead of asking Chase to watch out for Lara¡¯s son in his house, I asked Mia for that favor, which she epted without any issues.

    ¡°Here is your luggage. I¡¯ll make sure that Lara¡¯s son will be in good hands while you girls are away,¡± Mia said as we both got out of her car. I thanked her and gave her a warm embrace.

    I immediately went to Lara¡¯s apartment, and she was very shocked to see me.

    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look,¡± I warned her as I stormed into the living room.

    ¡°Our flight will be tomorrow. Not today, Liv!¡± she hissed as she followed me.

    ¡°I know that.¡± I inhaled sharply and folded my arms against my chest. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to see Chase before I leave. I just left him a letter.¡±

    Lara frowned. She quickly sat on the couch and dragged me to sit with her.

    ¡°What letter is that, Liv?¡± she asked suspiciously.

    I swallowed hard and avoided her gaze.

    ¡°It¡¯s a farewell letter,¡± I answered.

    Her eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re kidding!¡±

    Laraughed, and all at the same time, she was telling me that I couldn¡¯t leave Chase that way.

    I fell silent and just smiled at her. But deep within me, I felt that it was about time for me to reveal myself. I couldn¡¯t keep telling him lies, deceiving him and convincing him that I was the person he loved the most. I am not Reese Jones¡­

    I had to say goodbye to him and free myself from my illusion that he¡¯d love me for the way I am. He wouldn¡¯t. He would never¡­

    This would be the best for us.

    I have enough money now and once I finish my seminar in France, I¡¯ll probably stay there for a longer time¡­ change my identity until all the people here forget about me.

    Until Chase forgets about me and the lies I made.

    I sharp pain shot me through my heart. It felt as though I was being stabbed just by thinking about leaving the only man I have ever loved. However, even though my insides felt like dying because of this decision, I would still go through with this hard path.

    I should be the one to end this misery, for I didn¡¯t want to live with all these lies I made up anymore.

    ***

    The day has finallye. I¡¯d be leaving the United States.

    ¡°Are you excited?¡± Lara shrieked beside me. We were both seated in the passenger¡¯s seat on our way to the airport.

    ¡°Very much so¡­¡± I answered after permanently blocking Chase¡¯s number on my phone.

    I started breathing heavily. The sides of my eyes were getting teary, and I just had to blink them several times as I didn¡¯t want Lara to be suspicious of me or ask me a series of questions that I wouldn¡¯t be able to answer.

    My emotions welled up inside me, making me fall silent for a brief moment while Lara was talking about her to-do list once wended in France.

    As I leaned my back against the leather chair, I noticed a ck sedan that was following us. My heart pounded fast inside my chest as I recalled how Chase would order his men to follow me all the way to France.

    ¡°Sir, can you please drive fast? A car is following us. I think they are after me,¡± I said, going into an instant panic as I nced between the ck sedan at the back and the driver.

    Lara¡¯s mouth fell open as she nced at the car I was referring to.

    ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Liv?¡± she asked.

    ¡°We need to get rid of them. They¡¯re going to follow us all the way to France, Lara, and I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t¡­¡± My tears streamed down my face.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    Lara seemed to have understood where I wasing from, so she kept shouting to the driver to speed up and try to lose them. At the same time, she was soothing me by patting my back.

    ¡°They are no following us, Ma¡¯am¡­¡± the driver dered.

    I knew it was supposed to be a relief, but it only doubled the pain engulfing my heart.

    When we finally arrived at the airport, we stepped out of the car wearing shades and a face mask. I had already briefed Lara about my n on our way. It saddened her that I decided to cut ties with Chase in this way, but she respected my decision and supported it fully.

    We joined the sea of people entering the airport. It was done at thest minute, but we decided to fly in economy even though we had business ss tickets. I knew Chase might have assigned someone to assist us in the ne, and I didn¡¯t want anyone to see me there.

    After all the hiding and craning of necks during the initial check-in process, we finally got to board the ne. I sighed with relief after going through all the gates sessfully. It only meant one thing, I¡¯d be free from him.

    ¡°Finally¡­¡± I mumbled under my breath as soon as I settled into my seat.

    Lara was in a different seat. Even if I wanted to, we wouldn¡¯t be sitting next to each other given that we booked the economy tickets at thest minute.

    I rose from my seat and noticed Lara sitting on the other side of the ne window. She saw me looking over at her and she waved her hand.

    ¡°Are you fine right there?¡± I smiled and waved back at her.

    She only smiled. She seemed nervous because it was her first time flying on the ne.

    But before I sat, my phone vibrated from my pocket. That¡¯s when I realized I hadn¡¯t turned it off yet. Since the ne wasn¡¯t taking off yet, I checked the notification and figured out that my doctor had sent me an email.

    I quickly looked over the files attached to my doctor¡¯s email and froze in my chair when I saw the summary of what she thought was wrong with me.

    All of a sudden, my chest tightened in such a way that I could hardly breathe properly. My heart rate picked up and I felt my veins pulse widely. Tears pooled in my eyes, and as I let out a loud gasp, I just found myself trembling terribly.

    Crying, I began clutching my abdomen.

    ¡°No way¡­¡± I said in my faint voice. I shook my head and held on to the hem of my sweater as if that was the only thing that I could hold on to in order to live.

    And then I whimpered.

    I¡¯m pregnant¡­

    I¡¯m bearing Chase¡¯s baby¡­

    I sucked in a long breath and fisted my hand.

    We¡¯re having a baby¡­

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, please fasten your seatbelt,¡± A flight attendant said to me.

    However, my mind was clouded with this news. I couldn¡¯t think straight and all I wanted to do was cry. Shaking, I rose to my feet and shoved the flight attendant. I was starting to feel dizzy and breathless, and I knew that I¡¯d be having another panic attack.

    ¡°Shit¡­ shit¡­ please, not here¡­¡± I cried and quickly ran to the restroom.

    As soon as I locked the door, I started vomiting on the sink as I sobbed in despair.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be having a baby¡­ how am I supposed to live with this,¡± I asked myself, quivering.

    I released all the emotions that had eaten me up inside, and I only washed my face when I heard someone knocking behind the door loudly.

    ¡°H-Hold on, please¡­¡± I shouted back, and drew a long breath.

    When I stepped out of the restroom, my dizziness doubled as I realized that the ne had finally taken off. I looked around and noticed a woman who was wearing a hooded jacket standing behind me.

    I swallowed hard and mustered my courage to step forward and walk past her.

    ¡°It looks like you¡¯re in trouble,¡± the woman said in her soft, sweet voice.

    I stopped, spun around, and looked at her in confusion.

    ¡°Are you¡­ talking to me?¡±

    She was facing the floor, and even though I peeped, I couldn¡¯t see her face.

    All I could see was her red lips, which curled into a smirk.

    My eyes narrowed. The way she smirked was so familiar. I knew I¡¯d seen it before.

    ¡°D-Do I know you?¡± I asked carefully.

    She then chuckled, and then her hand removed the hoodie on her head that was hiding her face. The moment our gazes locked, a dreadful feeling started to course through my body.

    In front of me was the woman who had my face¡­ and was looking at me ruthlessly.

    ¡°I think you already knew me so well, Olivia Miller.¡± She cocked her head and shot me a terrifying stare. ¡°After all, you¡¯ve lived my life as if it was damn yours¡­¡±

    ¡°R-Reese¡­¡± I stepped back, shaking my head.

    It was at that very moment that I felt my abdomen being wrenched. I tried to scream, but no voice wasing out of my mouth until I fell on the floor, and everything went dark¡­

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!