Chapter 64

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 classes. 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 upcoming 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 glad 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 classes 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 him later. That bastard won't attend the first class, tsk."

I stared at Mia, who was shaking her head. She seemed annoyed that Charles wouldn't attend the first class, 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 classroom for our first class, 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 classmates 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 classes, 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 relationship."

"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 available time for the demons to twist our minds, so we would end up being so paranoid about the whole situation..." I explained.

"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 will commit. 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 relationship. Have you felt this kind of emotion when you started your relationship with Chase?"

Her question made me cough. How would I even know how it felt when I wasn't the one who started the relationship 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 accepted his love was worthwhile," I lied.

I sipped on my cafe latte 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," I commented.

"I hope everyone thinks that way." She rolled her eyes and looked around. "Ever since we decided to go public with our relationship, I always sense women throwing daggers at me."

"That's what you get for having a popular 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.

"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 becoming 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 playing 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 claimed what was deemed hers. Don't you think? Why would she try to play 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 planning 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.