Chapter 49

OLIVIA

RIGHT AFTER the first class, Mia and I went to the cafeteria to have some lunch. I felt completely dismayed about what happened in the class earlier. I should've stayed in focus. It was embarrassing that the professor made such comments to me in front of my classmates, 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 played 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 class a while ago?" Mia asked worriedly as she ate her glazed 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 bed last 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 you later before I sleep, to remind you about putting all the necessary books in your bag."

"Sounds like a plan." I let out a sigh and chuckled a bit.

"Dig in. Come on, we only have around thirty minutes before the next class," 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 class. 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 popular 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, ladies?" 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 a completely 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'd come," 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 playing hard to get right now, Mrs. Maxwell?" he teased and giggled playfully. "Aren't you up for some fun?"

"I do, but I am quite picky when it comes 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 plan 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 finally landed on Mia, who lowered her head and became quite more uncomfortable 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 to laugh 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 plan."

"What kind of plan?"

"It's a secret for now…" Then I wiggled my eyebrows.

"Holy cow." She clutched her chest. "My heart is racing so fast!"

I laughed a bit. She obviously likes him more than what she just told me. I just hope this plan I came up with will work.

I couldn't wait.

***

MIA WAS totally nervous and curious about the plan I mentioned to her when we were in the cafeteria. Even after our second class, 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 plan 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 class. 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 a complete 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 glanced at her to give her an assuring smile.

But then, Mia's expression turned into a complete 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, later 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 a complete 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 replayed 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…