Chapter 16

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– 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, comforted 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 are completely 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 the last 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 glanced 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 manipulate and use you for her own benefit, perhaps to save their sinking company 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 relationship? 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 glare.

"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 she laid 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– 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 the last time Chandria will be able to come 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 played.

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 was coming from.

"Chase Maxwell, do you take Reese Jones, to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort 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 plan. But then, when I heard Lara's whispers, telling me to come 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 internet but despite it, he seemed very happy and satisfied.

"Chase, you may now kiss the bride . . ."

When the judge announced it being the last 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.

"Congratulations, 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 clarified. "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 playfully and kissed my cheek.

I shook my head. Lara really loved to speculate. 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 plan.

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 black.

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 . . .