It was their last vacation day and to be honest, Jessie had never felt more happy than she had during this vacation in Rio with Chase and the twins.Everyday felt amazing, they had gone snorkeling, swimming, surfing, hiking, skateboarding, roller skating, dancing, racing, boating and a whole lot of other activities.Chase had even taught her to build sandcastles. Now Jessie simply felt bad about leaving the next day.It only meant that she had to face her real life in London. Her job at Tasty and most importantly, Lenore's demands for publishing that new gossip article about Chase. That was the scariest part of returning home.Over the past days during their vacation, Chris and Crystal had formed a stronger bond with Jessie. She was so glad that they didn't feel the need to hide their identity in front of her anymore.It was very nice to have them treat her like a mother to them. Chase had been so nice and Jessie felt like she belonged to their family even more than she did with her p
Jessie walked into Tasty Magazine with a huge smile plastered on her beautiful face. She was so happy about returning to her office, but she still missed her time in Rio.As she made her way to her office on the top floor, everyone greeted her after receiving the gifts she brought with her as souvenirs from Rio.Her mood went from a hundred down to twenty-seven the minute she saw Lenore seated on her desk in one of her expensive outfits, looking stunning as usual."Why are you in my office?" Jessie frowned with her hands on her curvy hips."I believe that's no way to talk to your boss after returning from a paid leave. You know why I'm here. I need you to make the final editing on that article. It will be published tomorrow," Lenore replied sternly."Alright. I'll mail it over to you this afternoon," she replied calmly."That's surprising. How could you just agree? I assumed you'd try to oppose that.""Well, I'm not opposing you. I'm finally able to see things from your side. My Whisp
Jessie woke up the next morning to the sound of her phone ringing. It was Chanel calling."Jessie have you seen it yet?" Chanel asked the moment she answered the call."Seen what?" Jessie queried rubbing her eyes sleepily.It was only a few minutes past six and she couldn't understand what Chanel was talking about."The article. It was you, right? I didn't know you were going to take it that far," she yelled."Take what far? I simply talked about Chase's twins, that was all. I haven't seen it myself," she replied."Well, you better look it up. There are lots of pictures of the kids scattered everywhere. The article is a bit too detailed, it describes Chase negatively as some sort of negligent parent.""I never wrote such things. What pictures are you talking about. I never sent her any pictures of them. I hope Lenore didn't tweak a little too much. What if Chase finds out that it was me?"Just as she said the final statement, Mary walked into the room without knocking."You know what?
"I guess you haven't seen the article yet. I was tempted to sue, but after finding out who's behind this, I changed my mind.""What do you mean? Who's behind it? Can I see it?" Jessie asked in a shaky voice.As she read the article, pretending as though she was only seeing it for the first time, she wondered if Chase had somehow found out already about her role in the publication of that article."Remember Cesare? His wife Lenore is the owner of the Tasty Magazine. It's the company that published the article.""Oh my! Why would she do something like that?" Jessie feigned ignorance."I don't know," he replied with a deep sigh."So what are you going to do about it?""I want to hold a press conference. I'll have to finally introduce Chris and Crystal as my kids.""Are you sure that's a good idea? Are they ready to face the media with their questions and all?" Jessie queried.It hurt her deeply to know that she put such a beautiful family in such a difficult situation."I've talked to th
"Can I have your attention, everyone?" Chase asked, as he took the stage.All the guests and members of the press, fixed their eyes on him, expectantly."I want to address the recent article concerning I and my family which appeared on this week's publication of The Whispers Column of Tasty Magazine. I'm sure you're all curious as to whether those things printed are true or not. I'm going to explain everything now.""Mr Reed, does this mean that the information in that article holds some truth?" One reporter asked in a loud voice."Yes, Sir. Tell us, were you ever an addict?" "Is it true that you are a womaniser? It it also true that you neglect the children rumoured to be adopted by you?" The questions kept coming from the reporters.The hall was filled with tension and whispering from the guests present. Chase calmed them down with a wave of his hand."Relax everyone. I would tell you this, I have never abused any drug. I was only very stressed towards the end of my career and then
Two Months Later...CHASE'S POVI smiled to myself as I looked at the little grey box in my hand. Today was almost surreal to me.On this day, I'd finally get what I've wanted for a long time now. I adjusted my tuxedo with shaking hands.I couldn't believe how nervous I felt. This was going to be a very private matter with only close friends and family present. Why then was I so impatient and nervous about it at the same time.Nathan walked in, smartly dressed in a similar black tuxedo as mine, he smiled and gave me a pat on the back."I still can't believe you're finally doing this. Remember what you said to me on my wedding day? "I will never make the stupid mistake of getting married. Have fun while it lasts." Those were your exact words, weren't they? How come you're getting married now?" Nathan teased me with a mischievous grin."Nathan you should know that now isn't the time for you to tease me. I'm so nervous and I don't even know why. I keep wondering if Jessie would show up,"
Jessie was confused, she knew something had to be wrong with Chase. He seemed frigid at their wedding reception when he was all smiles and compliments for her during the wedding ceremony.It was time for their first dance as a couple and Chase seemed so stiff and unwilling to go through with it as to moved to the dancefloor."Are you sure you're alright, babe? You seem a bit off since the beginning of the reception," she asked as they glided across the room.The music was one they both chose together. They had danced to it a number of times already and it was Chase's favourite, so it was surprising to her that Chase was so uninterested in dancing to it.After a full minute of not replying, he gave her an icy glare, as he replied, "I'm fine, I just want us to get this over with. I have some questions for you.""Why do you sound and look that way?""What way?" He asked through clenched teeth."Like you're mad or something. You keep clenching and unclenching your teeth. Is something the m
They had just arrived at Chase's father's mansion. They were expected to spend the night there before leaving for Paris the next morning for their honeymoon.When Jessie realised that Paris was their honeymoon destination, she was surprised because it was something Chase had kept a secret. She was very happy to know that he thought of taking her to her hometown.She would have been the happiest woman alive had it not been for the fact that her husband was so mad at her that he barely even looked at her throughout the entire drive from the Cavelli Hotel where the reception was held to his father's mansion.Her husband, did she just think of Chase as her husband, but of course he was her husband after all. They had only been married for hours, but it felt so natural to think of him that way. She was confident that when she explained everything to him, he'd forgive her and they'd once again be happy as they had been before."Now, how was that, Jessica? My acting wasn't too bad, was it? Ev
FOUR MONTHS LATER"Oh my God, it's the Cavelli Hotel!" Jessie exclaimed as she and Chase got out of their car at the hotel's entrance."Yes, my darling. I told you I'll make our time here in Paris, unforgettable. How best to do that than starting right from the beginning? We met here for the first time, remember?" Chase smiled, holding her hand in his.The valet took care of their car as they walked in. They had arrived in Paris the previous night for their two week-long honeymoon and had stayed at Jessie's family house until this morning.Jessie had no clue whatsoever that they were going to spend their honeymoon at Cavelli Hotel.After she was discharged four months ago, Chase had been like a bodyguard, monitoring her every movement and tasting all her meals before she took them. He had done that for a full month, until Jessie made him stop. She needed him to understand that she was safe.Recently, he had gotten very busy with the new restaurant branch in Rio and had flown there on
THE NEXT MORNINGThe police car pulled up at Chase's mansion. Two officers alongside Pierre and Olivier got out of the car and into the house."What is going on Desmond? Why is the police here?" Octavia asked in her heavy Brazilian accent."Is Mary in?" Desmond queried, impatiently."Yes, she's just about leaving for her vacation. Why do you ask? Is Mrs Reed alright now? I was so worried the entire night.""Yes, she's getting better. It turns out that Mary was the one behind Mrs Reed's condition," he replied."Oh my God! That's not possible, Mary is such a sweet girl, she'd never do such a thing," Octavia replied, terrified at the news."Ma'am we do not have all day, we need to get Ms Mary to the station for questioning," the female officer said, impatiently."Okay, her room is on the last floor.""Alright, let's go in. She must have heard our siren. She might try to get away now," the other officer said."Okay, let's go," came Desmond.When they got up to the last floor of the buildin
VANESSA'S POVI called Mary to ask about the task, I gave her and she answered almost immediately."Ms Vanessa, the task was done accurately. Ms Lavigne loves sweet things, she ate the cake and finished the drink without suspecting anything. The smoothie she had this morning also contained peaches.""That's very good. I knew I could trust you. It's so unfortunate, Jessie thought that she could still be with Chase even after he knows what she did. She will be dead, long before Chase even understands what's wrong with her. It would be the worst honeymoon ever," I laughed."It is such a relief to know that Jessie would finally leave the picture. I had tried everything, pushed her into the pool, badmouthed her to Chase, sent her ex, Jacques to keep bugging her, but now, injecting all the food and drinks she had with peach extract is finally going to do the job,""I'm a bit scared Ms Vanessa, what if Mr Reed finds out about my role in all these? Everyone knows that I was the person in charg
They had just arrived at Chase's father's mansion. They were expected to spend the night there before leaving for Paris the next morning for their honeymoon.When Jessie realised that Paris was their honeymoon destination, she was surprised because it was something Chase had kept a secret. She was very happy to know that he thought of taking her to her hometown.She would have been the happiest woman alive had it not been for the fact that her husband was so mad at her that he barely even looked at her throughout the entire drive from the Cavelli Hotel where the reception was held to his father's mansion.Her husband, did she just think of Chase as her husband, but of course he was her husband after all. They had only been married for hours, but it felt so natural to think of him that way. She was confident that when she explained everything to him, he'd forgive her and they'd once again be happy as they had been before."Now, how was that, Jessica? My acting wasn't too bad, was it? Ev
Jessie was confused, she knew something had to be wrong with Chase. He seemed frigid at their wedding reception when he was all smiles and compliments for her during the wedding ceremony.It was time for their first dance as a couple and Chase seemed so stiff and unwilling to go through with it as to moved to the dancefloor."Are you sure you're alright, babe? You seem a bit off since the beginning of the reception," she asked as they glided across the room.The music was one they both chose together. They had danced to it a number of times already and it was Chase's favourite, so it was surprising to her that Chase was so uninterested in dancing to it.After a full minute of not replying, he gave her an icy glare, as he replied, "I'm fine, I just want us to get this over with. I have some questions for you.""Why do you sound and look that way?""What way?" He asked through clenched teeth."Like you're mad or something. You keep clenching and unclenching your teeth. Is something the m
Two Months Later...CHASE'S POVI smiled to myself as I looked at the little grey box in my hand. Today was almost surreal to me.On this day, I'd finally get what I've wanted for a long time now. I adjusted my tuxedo with shaking hands.I couldn't believe how nervous I felt. This was going to be a very private matter with only close friends and family present. Why then was I so impatient and nervous about it at the same time.Nathan walked in, smartly dressed in a similar black tuxedo as mine, he smiled and gave me a pat on the back."I still can't believe you're finally doing this. Remember what you said to me on my wedding day? "I will never make the stupid mistake of getting married. Have fun while it lasts." Those were your exact words, weren't they? How come you're getting married now?" Nathan teased me with a mischievous grin."Nathan you should know that now isn't the time for you to tease me. I'm so nervous and I don't even know why. I keep wondering if Jessie would show up,"
"Can I have your attention, everyone?" Chase asked, as he took the stage.All the guests and members of the press, fixed their eyes on him, expectantly."I want to address the recent article concerning I and my family which appeared on this week's publication of The Whispers Column of Tasty Magazine. I'm sure you're all curious as to whether those things printed are true or not. I'm going to explain everything now.""Mr Reed, does this mean that the information in that article holds some truth?" One reporter asked in a loud voice."Yes, Sir. Tell us, were you ever an addict?" "Is it true that you are a womaniser? It it also true that you neglect the children rumoured to be adopted by you?" The questions kept coming from the reporters.The hall was filled with tension and whispering from the guests present. Chase calmed them down with a wave of his hand."Relax everyone. I would tell you this, I have never abused any drug. I was only very stressed towards the end of my career and then
"I guess you haven't seen the article yet. I was tempted to sue, but after finding out who's behind this, I changed my mind.""What do you mean? Who's behind it? Can I see it?" Jessie asked in a shaky voice.As she read the article, pretending as though she was only seeing it for the first time, she wondered if Chase had somehow found out already about her role in the publication of that article."Remember Cesare? His wife Lenore is the owner of the Tasty Magazine. It's the company that published the article.""Oh my! Why would she do something like that?" Jessie feigned ignorance."I don't know," he replied with a deep sigh."So what are you going to do about it?""I want to hold a press conference. I'll have to finally introduce Chris and Crystal as my kids.""Are you sure that's a good idea? Are they ready to face the media with their questions and all?" Jessie queried.It hurt her deeply to know that she put such a beautiful family in such a difficult situation."I've talked to th
Jessie woke up the next morning to the sound of her phone ringing. It was Chanel calling."Jessie have you seen it yet?" Chanel asked the moment she answered the call."Seen what?" Jessie queried rubbing her eyes sleepily.It was only a few minutes past six and she couldn't understand what Chanel was talking about."The article. It was you, right? I didn't know you were going to take it that far," she yelled."Take what far? I simply talked about Chase's twins, that was all. I haven't seen it myself," she replied."Well, you better look it up. There are lots of pictures of the kids scattered everywhere. The article is a bit too detailed, it describes Chase negatively as some sort of negligent parent.""I never wrote such things. What pictures are you talking about. I never sent her any pictures of them. I hope Lenore didn't tweak a little too much. What if Chase finds out that it was me?"Just as she said the final statement, Mary walked into the room without knocking."You know what?