Chapter 20

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 playing 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 plastered 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 our company."

"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 glad 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 our company."

"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 very complicated 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 explained.

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 glanced 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 exclaimed and laughed.

"Mom, we just got married two days ago. You can't expect a child that quick!" I hissed but then I laughed 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!"

"I can go by the second. Chase should know it first once it happens!"

We shared more laughter 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 the company building, I was greeted by the employees. Days after we got married, the news started circulating 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 to come 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 my compact 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 welcomed 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 glanced 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 glanced 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 place. In an instance, I felt the rage building up inside of me, especially when the woman gazed over at me and smirked.