Chapter 61

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 the last 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 relationship a chance... Well, our fake relationship and marriage.

I needed to rediscover my motivation to role-play a great wife.

"Reese, are you alright? You're spacing out."

His voice made me come back to reality. I glanced 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 nervous laugh came out of my mouth.

No matter how I tried to act normally in front of him, it would never be the same after that last 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 glanced 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 island. 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 staff coming 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 was completely 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 villa, and then we headed to the shore, where I noticed red rose petals scattered across the glass 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 played by a violinist, and I couldn't deny that it was relaxing.

"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 place 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 blame here. You might not remember this, but I was always an asshole in our relationship, 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 declared.

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 swimming competition 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 relaxed. 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 accept 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 accepting 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 display suddenly showed up in the sky.

I glanced at the sky and it was such a beautiful sight. My eyes widened when I realized it was a customized fireworks display. Reese Jones's name could be seen inside a heart shape.

"It's beautiful, Chase! Thank you!"