Chapter 35
“Jason,” I called urgently. “We need to talk.”
“Give me five minutes,” he replied, focused on the file in his hands.
“It’s urgent. We need to talk now.”
“Babe, what’s wrong?” he asked, his voice softening.
“Mama is dead,” I said, my voice catching.
“Mama? Mama? I don’t get it,” he responded, puzzled.
“Mama, my sister’s dog. The one I told you about,” I clarified.
“Oh! I’m sorry,” he said, realizing what I meant.
“That’s not the problem,” I continued.
“What’s the problem, babe?” he asked, his brow furrowing with worry.
“He was stabbed, and a message was written on him. It was the exact statement that woman said to me,” I explained, my voice trembling.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
“You mean the lady at the club?” Jason asked, his eyes narrowing with concern and realization.
“Yeah,” I confirmed, nodding.
“She told me she wouldn’t be nice the next time we met, and that was what was written on Mama,” I said, my voice shaking.
Jason got out of his seat and walked over to me, his expression fierce with determination. “Nothing will happen to you as long as you’re with me,” he promised, pulling me into a protective embrace. “And don’t worry about her. I’m going to find her and bring her to justice myself.”
That same day, Jason tripled the number of security guards around our home. The next day, he had additional CCTV cameras installed, ensuring that every corner of our property was monitored.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he said, his eyes meeting mine with unwavering resolve. “We’ll get through this together.”
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On Thursday morning, when I was sure that I could go back to work, I told Jason about it
“I’m not sure if you should come back to work, at least, not now” he said reluctantly
“House is boring without you”
“You can watch ‘Jessica’ while I’m away”
“But I really want to go”
“Okay, but no hard work or walking up and down the corridor”
“Alright boss”
We left in his car but I was surprised when six other cars followed us, three at our front and three at our back
“What’s going on?” I asked
“Anything for you” he replied
We got to the office and I’ve hardly sat down when Stephanie came into my office
“Hey! Lexi!” She said and hugged me. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Hey Stephanie”
“I’m just glad to see you too,” I said, returning her hug.
“So, how are you feeling? Is everything alright?” Stephanie asked, concern evident in her voice.
“I’m doing much better now, thanks. Just trying to get back into the swing of things,” I replied.
“Good to hear. If you need anything or if it’s too much, just let me know, okay?” she said, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze.
“I will. Thanks, Stephanie.”
“Should I be expecting you at lunch?” She asked
“No thank you”
After she left, I settled into my work, feeling a sense of normalcy. The increased security was a constant reminder of the recent threats, but knowing Jason was doing everything to protect me gave me some peace of mind. Determined to move forward, I focused on my tasks, grateful for the support around me.
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We had just finished a slow, intimate morning together, basking in the lazy Saturday sunshine filtering through the curtains, when Jason’s phone rang.
“WHAT!?” he shouted into the phone, jolting up. “I’m checking it out right now!”
He scrambled out of bed, his urgency palpable, and pulled on his boxers as fast as possible. The sudden shift in his demeanor set my heart racing.
“Babe, what’s going on?” I asked, my voice trembling with concern.
“I don’t know yet. I need to check it out,” he replied, his tone tense and hurried.
“Check what out?” I pressed, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach.
“The news,” he said, his eyes darting around as he tried to focus.
“Who called you just now?” I asked, trying to piece together the fragments of the situation.
“Mom,” he responded curtly.
“What’s going on?” I repeated, my anxiety mounting.
“I don’t know,” he said again, frustration and worry etched across his face.
I quickly followed him into the living room, my legs barely carrying me as I sank onto the couch. My hands were shaking as I grabbed the remote, and my breath caught in my throat when I saw the headline flash across the screen:
**SOFIA SCOTT AND NICOLE JONATHAN ACCUSED OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER OF DOROTEA JAVIER.**
The world seemed to tilt, and I clung to the couch, trying to make sense of the words blaring at me. Jason stood frozen, his eyes glued to the TV, his face a mask of disbelief and horror.
Dorotea Javier, as reported on the news Friday morning when her lifeless body was discovered in her room, was a twenty-six-year-old nurse who had recently begun dating an international musician.
“Fuck!” Jason swore vehemently, still rooted in front of the television.
“Who would have thought Sofia was involved in this murder?” I exclaimed, barely believing the unfolding news. Jason remained fixated on the screen, his expression unreadable.
“Oh my God!” I suddenly cried out when images of Sofia and Nicole flashed across the screen.
“What is it?” Jason asked urgently.
“There she is,” I gasped, pointing at the screen, my voice trembling.
“Who?” Jason asked, his concern deepening.
“The girl I told you about. The girl from the club. Oh my God! This could have been me,” I cried, feeling the weight of the situation settle over me like a suffocating blanket.
“I rebuke it in Jesus’ name,” Jason said firmly, moving to sit beside me on the couch and wrapping his arms around me comfortingly.
“It could have been me,” I repeated, my voice trembling with fear and disbelief.
“I told you, nothing will happen to you as long as I’m alive,” Jason reassured me, his voice steady despite the turmoil of the moment.
But the reality of Sofia’s actions, the proximity of danger, left me shaken to my core. I dialed my sister as soon as I could compose myself enough to speak coherently, recounting the harrowing
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On Sunday morning, Jason planned to take me to his favorite restaurant to celebrate our freedom and the end of a harrowing week. As I finished getting ready, the doorbell rang.
“Are you expecting someone?” I asked him, my curiosity piqued.
“No,” he replied, a puzzled look crossing his face.
He checked the visitors and, upon recognizing them, opened the door. His dad and mom stepped inside, bringing with them an air of tension. His dad brushed past Jason without a word and sat down on the same couch he’d occupied just a week ago, his mom following suit.
“We are on our way out,” Jason said to his dad, his tone clipped.
“Jason,” his mom warned, a note of caution in her voice.
“It’s the truth, Mom,” he insisted, his frustration evident.
“Spare me thirty minutes of your time before you leave,” his dad finally said, breaking his silence. His voice carried a gravity that made it clear he wouldn’t be brushed off.
“This… this better be good,” Jason murmured, reluctantly coming to sit next to me.
“Sofia…” His dad began, but trailed off.
“The billionaire murderess you wanted me to marry,” Jason interjected sarcastically.
“Jason,” his mom warned again, a plea for decorum in her voice.
“Mom, isn’t it true? That girl could have been my Lexi,” Jason retorted, his voice rising with anger and frustration. “I’ve always told you guys that Sofia is an animal in human skin, but you never listened. Sofia this, Sofia that. And now look where we are.”
His dad looked down, clearly troubled, while his mom seemed on the verge of tears. The tension in the room was palpable, and I held Jason’s hand, trying to offer some comfort amidst the storm of emotions.
“I know,” his dad said quietly. “Everything was for you. I just wanted the best for you.”
“The best for me is sitting right here with my baby in her womb,” Jason replied, squeezing my hand.
“I know. Sofia’s actions came as a shock to everybody, even her parents,” his dad continued, his voice heavy with regret.
“The only thing shocking about her is that her hitman was the same person who threatened my girl at a club a few months back and even killed her sister’s dog a week ago,” Jason revealed, his anger barely contained.
“Oh my God!” his mom exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock. “She did that?”
“At the time, we didn’t know it was her. That’s why I tightened my security. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her,” Jason explained, his protective resolve clear.
“I know you deserve to be this angry with me and your mom. And you too, Lexi. I’ve never treated you right since I met you, but I’m ready to accept you as my daughter if you can give me a second chance,” his dad said, his voice tinged with sincerity and regret.
“Stop acting all nice and cool. I know what you’re doing. You’re doing this for your business, for your reputation,” Jason shot back angrily, his eyes blazing with fury.
“Jason,” his mom warned again, trying to calm the escalating tension.
“Mom! You know exactly what he is trying to do. He’s trying to save his reputation, to save his company by using Lexi since some of his business partners know about my relationship with Sofia,” Jason argued, his frustration boiling over.
I felt the weight of his words and the complex web of emotions in the room. Jason’s father looked pained, struggling to maintain his composure.
“I understand your skepticism, Jason. But my intentions are genuine. I made mistakes, and I want to make things right,” his father said, his voice breaking slightly.
“That isn’t true at all,” his dad said slowly. “I’ve been having a change of mind about who Lexi is since she never cashed those checks.”
“And you expect me to believe-” Jason began, but I cut him off.
“I’m ready to give you a second chance,” I said firmly, my voice cutting through the tension.
“What are you saying?” Jason whispered angrily, his disbelief evident. “He treated you like trash,” he said out loud, his anger barely contained.
“I think everybody deserves a second chance,” I replied, my gaze steady.
“A second chance? He’s trying to save his name and his company,” Jason whispered urgently.
“It’s your name and your company too,” I countered, my tone soft but resolute.
“I’m really happy that you think better than Jason,” his dad complimented with a smile, a rare expression on his usually stern face. It looked almost strange, but I could see a flicker of genuine relief in his eyes.