Unwrap Your Desire

OLIVIA

I went to the hospital for my check-up because I didn’t feel well, the next day. For some reason, my appetite has been strange lately. I was craving some hot and spicy food, but would end up vomiting and experiencing abdominal cramps.

I thought that my life had become more stressful. My body started to gain weight too, and I couldn’t help but hate it.

“I’ll send you the result of your lab test as soon as possible, Mrs. Maxwell,” the doctor said.

I offered her a thin smile. “Thank you.”

After all the comprehensive tests that they’ve done on me to further check what was causing me to be sick, I finally left the hospital.

While inside the car, I texted Lara to make sure she would be early for tomorrow’s flight. Luckily, my best friend didn’t seem to change her mind about coming with me.

As the car drove our way home, many memories flashed through my eyes. Those memories when I was a kid made me so emotional all of a sudden.

“Damn it…” I blinked my tears away and wiped them away, then sucked in a breath.

I thought about Chase. There was no doubt that I was still mad at him. However, I came to realize that I shouldn’t really force myself on him, because at the end of the day, I was a fraud.

I am not Reese Jones.

Without even thinking carefully, I took my notebook and pen from my bag, and started writing him a letter-a letter that wasn’t from Reese Jones, but from Olivia Marie Miller.

At the spur of the moment, I finished writing the letter. When I went home, I put it on his office table and surveyed his office. I felt very emotional about the fact that I wouldn’t be able to see him for days and he was just completely fine with it.

I called Mia and asked her to drive me to Lara’s house. She then helped me carry my luggage for tomorrow’s flight. Because of my pride, instead of asking Chase to watch out for Lara’s son in his house, I asked Mia for that favor, which she accepted without any issues.

“Here is your luggage. I’ll make sure that Lara’s son will be in good hands while you girls are away,” Mia said as we both got out of her car. I thanked her and gave her a warm embrace.

I immediately went to Lara’s apartment, and she was very shocked to see me.

“Don’t give me that look,” I warned her as I stormed into the living room.

“Our flight will be tomorrow. Not today, Liv!” she hissed as she followed me.

“I know that.” I inhaled sharply and folded my arms against my chest. “But I don’t want to see Chase before I leave. I just left him a letter.”

Lara frowned. She quickly sat on the couch and dragged me to sit with her.

“What letter is that, Liv?” she asked suspiciously.

I swallowed hard and avoided her gaze.

“It’s a farewell letter,” I answered.

Her eyes widened. “You’re kidding!”

Lara laughed, and all at the same time, she was telling me that I couldn’t leave Chase that way.

I fell silent and just smiled at her. But deep within me, I felt that it was about time for me to reveal myself. I couldn’t keep telling him lies, deceiving him and convincing him that I was the person he loved the most. I am not Reese Jones…

I had to say goodbye to him and free myself from my illusion that he’d love me for the way I am. He wouldn’t. He would never…

This would be the best for us.

I have enough money now and once I finish my seminar in France, I’ll probably stay there for a longer time… change my identity until all the people here forget about me.

Until Chase forgets about me and the lies I made.

I sharp pain shot me through my heart. It felt as though I was being stabbed just by thinking about leaving the only man I have ever loved. However, even though my insides felt like dying because of this decision, I would still go through with this hard path.

I should be the one to end this misery, for I didn’t want to live with all these lies I made up anymore.

***

The day has finally come. I’d be leaving the United States.

“Are you excited?” Lara shrieked beside me. We were both seated in the passenger’s seat on our way to the airport.

“Very much so…” I answered after permanently blocking Chase’s number on my phone.

I started breathing heavily. The sides of my eyes were getting teary, and I just had to blink them several times as I didn’t want Lara to be suspicious of me or ask me a series of questions that I wouldn’t be able to answer.

My emotions welled up inside me, making me fall silent for a brief moment while Lara was talking about her to-do list once we landed in France.

As I leaned my back against the leather chair, I noticed a black sedan that was following us. My heart pounded fast inside my chest as I recalled how Chase would order his men to follow me all the way to France.

“Sir, can you please drive fast? A car is following us. I think they are after me,” I said, going into an instant panic as I glanced between the black sedan at the back and the driver.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Lara’s mouth fell open as she glanced at the car I was referring to.

“What’s the meaning of this, Liv?” she asked.

“We need to get rid of them. They’re going to follow us all the way to France, Lara, and I can’t… I can’t…” My tears streamed down my face.

Lara seemed to have understood where I was coming from, so she kept shouting to the driver to speed up and try to lose them. At the same time, she was soothing me by patting my back.

“They are no following us, Ma’am…” the driver declared.

I knew it was supposed to be a relief, but it only doubled the pain engulfing my heart.

When we finally arrived at the airport, we stepped out of the car wearing shades and a face mask. I had already briefed Lara about my plan on our way. It saddened her that I decided to cut ties with Chase in this way, but she respected my decision and supported it fully.

We joined the sea of people entering the airport. It was done at the last minute, but we decided to fly in economy even though we had business class tickets. I knew Chase might have assigned someone to assist us in the plane, and I didn’t want anyone to see me there.

After all the hiding and craning of necks during the initial check-in process, we finally got to board the plane. I sighed with relief after going through all the gates successfully. It only meant one thing, I’d be free from him.

“Finally…” I mumbled under my breath as soon as I settled into my seat.

Lara was in a different seat. Even if I wanted to, we wouldn’t be sitting next to each other given that we booked the economy tickets at the last minute.

I rose from my seat and noticed Lara sitting on the other side of the plane window. She saw me looking over at her and she waved her hand.

“Are you fine right there?” I smiled and waved back at her.

She only smiled. She seemed nervous because it was her first time flying on the plane.

But before I sat, my phone vibrated from my pocket. That’s when I realized I hadn’t turned it off yet. Since the plane wasn’t taking off yet, I checked the notification and figured out that my doctor had sent me an email.

I quickly looked over the files attached to my doctor’s email and froze in my chair when I saw the summary of what she thought was wrong with me.

All of a sudden, my chest tightened in such a way that I could hardly breathe properly. My heart rate picked up and I felt my veins pulse widely. Tears pooled in my eyes, and as I let out a loud gasp, I just found myself trembling terribly.

Crying, I began clutching my abdomen.

“No way…” I said in my faint voice. I shook my head and held on to the hem of my sweater as if that was the only thing that I could hold on to in order to live.

And then I whimpered.

I’m pregnant…

I’m bearing Chase’s baby…

I sucked in a long breath and fisted my hand.

We’re having a baby…

“Ma’am, please fasten your seatbelt,” A flight attendant said to me.

However, my mind was clouded with this news. I couldn’t think straight and all I wanted to do was cry. Shaking, I rose to my feet and shoved the flight attendant. I was starting to feel dizzy and breathless, and I knew that I’d be having another panic attack.

“Shit… shit… please, not here…” I cried and quickly ran to the restroom.

As soon as I locked the door, I started vomiting on the sink as I sobbed in despair.

“I’ll be having a baby… how am I supposed to live with this,” I asked myself, quivering.

I released all the emotions that had eaten me up inside, and I only washed my face when I heard someone knocking behind the door loudly.

“H-Hold on, please…” I shouted back, and drew a long breath.

When I stepped out of the restroom, my dizziness doubled as I realized that the plane had finally taken off. I looked around and noticed a woman who was wearing a hooded jacket standing behind me.

I swallowed hard and mustered my courage to step forward and walk past her.

“It looks like you’re in trouble,” the woman said in her soft, sweet voice.

I stopped, spun around, and looked at her in confusion.

“Are you… talking to me?”

She was facing the floor, and even though I peeped, I couldn’t see her face.

All I could see was her red lips, which curled into a smirk.

My eyes narrowed. The way she smirked was so familiar. I knew I’d seen it before.

“D-Do I know you?” I asked carefully.

She then chuckled, and then her hand removed the hoodie on her head that was hiding her face. The moment our gazes locked, a dreadful feeling started to course through my body.

In front of me was the woman who had my face… and was looking at me ruthlessly.

“I think you already knew me so well, Olivia Miller.” She cocked her head and shot me a terrifying stare. “After all, you’ve lived my life as if it was damn yours…”

“R-Reese…” I stepped back, shaking my head.

It was at that very moment that I felt my abdomen being wrenched. I tried to scream, but no voice was coming out of my mouth until I fell on the floor, and everything went dark…