Oliver's Substitute Bride (Oliver and Jessica) novel Chapter 16

When she arrived, she only wore a windbreaker with a striped shirt and jeans inside. The temperature in the mountains was a few degrees lower than outside, and the night was colder, which made her shiver.

Jessica was cold and hungry. Looking out at the blinking stars, she prayed that someone could appear and help her.

Oliver wanted her to go home early tonight. She could only hope that he would come and find her. It was easy for him.

She had no idea when it was, and she only saw the moon gradually drifting away and hiding in the clouds.

The storage room became darker, and Jessica was more afraid.

She used her last strength to knock on the door and cry.

Lambert had been sketching near Fox Mountain for the past few days. Huang Gongwang of the Yuan dynasty was his favorite painter. Especially, "His Dwelling in the Fox Mountain" had always been known as "king in the painting."

Many of the later painters followed this master's footsteps and came here to create their own works. Lambert was one of them.

The Williams Group's hotel happened to be built here, so he became the first guest.

After painting at night, he came out and walked in the yard, just to hear the crying.

Lambert followed the sound and came to the backyard. As the sobbing became less and less, he couldn't tell where it came from.

He knocked on a lot of doors but did not receive an answer. Then He repeatedly knocked on the door of the storage room. "Is there anyone inside?"

There was still no response. He was a little suspicious that if he had misheard.

Lambert was about to turn around and leave when he heard a sound like something falling to the ground, coming from the storage room.

He twisted the doorknob, but it seemed to be locked down. When he was sure that there was someone inside, he couldn't find better solutions instantly and directly kicked the door open.

The light was off in the room. He turned on the flashlight in his phone and found a woman lying on the ground with a pale face. It was Jessica.

He shouted, "Jessica!"

Jessica said in a weak voice, "Lambert."

Lambert picked up Jessica and walked to his room.

Jessica's thin and cold body trembled a little, and her lips turned livid with cold.

"Lie down and have a rest."

After saying that, Lambert rolled up his sleeves and walked into the kitchen. He poured the mineral water into the kettle and placed it on the induction cooker.

The water soon boiled.

Jessica sat up from the sofa and took the glass that Lambert handed her. The warm temperature spread through the edge of the glass to her mouth, making her come to her senses.

"Mr. Williams, do you have anything to eat here?" Jessica was so hungry that she couldn't care less about anything else.

Lambert stored a few bags of instant noodles in his room for convenience. It was a basic need for people who often sketched outside.

"Yes, I'll make noodles for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Williams."

There was still some boiling water, so the instant noodles were quickly cooked. The whole room was filled with the delicious smell of noodles. Jessica swallowed just when she smelled it.

When Lambert brought a bowl of noodles out, her stomach growled.

"You must be starving. Eat it up."

Lambert didn't ask her why she was here. She didn't have time to explain and just lowered her head to eat the noodles.

"Shall I call a doctor to take a look at you? I think you're very weak." Lambert asked with concern.

"No." Jessica picked up the tissue on the table and wiped the soup off her mouth. "Mr. Williams, what time is it?"

"A quarter to eleven."

"Mr. Williams, thank you for saving me. I don't know how to thank you. I owe you so much."

"We are family. You're welcome."

Jessica picked up the dishes and was about to stand up when Lambert snatched them away, "I'll do the dishes. Have a good rest."

"Mr. Williams, I need to go back to Birmingham now. I can't stay here any longer."

She was leaving.

She knew that there was still staff at reception. She would ask the staff there to call a taxi for her later. If she went back now, she might be able to get home before Oliver. She didn't want to cause any more trouble.

"It's too late. Are you going back? I'll book a room for you. You can rest for a night and go back tomorrow morning."

"No, I have to go back today."

Lambert knew Oliver's character. He was overbearing and ruthless, so Lambert no longer persuaded her.

"I'll take you back."

"No, Mr. Williams. I've caused so much trouble to you. I'll just take a taxi."

"It's so late. It's not safe for you to take a taxi alone."

To be honest, Jessica was indeed a little scared. She often dreamed of being kidnapped. Now that Lambert said so, she really didn't dare to take a taxi back alone.

Lambert asked Jessica to pack up. He went to pick up the car.

Jessica went to the reception desk to wait for him. She asked the staff to find her phone and mail it back to Birmingham.

After she got into Lambert's car, Lambert asked why she was there.

She said briefly that she came here for a business trip with her colleagues. She was accidentally locked in the storage room, and her phone was lost. She screamed helplessly inside, and then Lambert saw her lying on the ground.

"Does Oliver know you're here on a business trip?"

"No."

"If you meet any trouble in the company, you can tell him. You are his wife. He won't ignore it."

"He's too busy every day. I don't want to disturb him."

Jessica thought that Oliver would probably be happy to see her being like this and let her shrink back from difficulties. Then she might be willing to stay in the GrandVille Apartments as a nominal wife. When the contract expiration came, he would chase her out. However, she would not let him succeed.

"If you are unhappy in the company, you can do the work you like. Oliver is not a mean person. If you discuss it with him properly, he will understand."

Jessica looked embarrassed, "Okay."

"You can also tell grandpa if you have some problems. Oliver still listens to grandpa."

Jessica remembered what Sally had told her about Lambert helping her secretly. She was afraid that Lambert would tell grandpa, and then things would become more complicated, so she quickly refused, "I just went over and haven't adjusted myself to it yet. I like the company's atmosphere. And I can get closer to Oliver so that I might be able to help him. He works very hard every day. As his wife, I should share his worries."

She did not know why she had said such a thing to show that she and Oliver were a harmonious couple. When she said this nonsense, she blushed.

...

GrandVille Apartments.

Oliver came back a little earlier than he usually did. Seeing that Jessica was not in the room, he guessed that she had probably gone to the hospital.

However, after he waited for a long time, she still didn't come back. He just told her to go home early yesterday, but she didn't take his words seriously.

Oliver wouldn't take the initiative to call that woman. He asked Simon, who was still working in the study, to contact Jessica.

Simon dialed the number. At first, no one answered it. He could only continue to make calls, but he actually heard an electronic voice saying that her phone had been turned off.

"Mr. Williams, madam didn't answer the phone."

Lambert snorted coldly.

Oliver had no other orders, so Simon left the study.

Jessica talked to Lambert in the car for a while. Because she was too tired and it was a little hot in the car, she quickly fell asleep.

Lambert looked at Jessica, who was sleeping soundly in the passenger seat and picked up his suit jacket to cover on her.

The road was especially unobstructed at night. It took more than two hours by car during the day, but now they were back in the GrandVille Apartments in less than two hours.

The GrandVille Apartments was the home where Daniel and Maggie lived together.

Lambert had only come to the GrandVille Apartments with his grandfather once, when Oliver's mother, Maggie, died.

He vaguely remembered the way to the house. Fortunately, the villas here were so far apart that it was easy to find the GrandVille.

Lambert said his name and Butler Shank immediately opened the door.

Oliver stood by the window of the study with a livid face and his falcon-like eyes were fixed on the SUV driving in.

Lambert got out of the car, walked to the passenger seat, and woke Jessica up.

Jessica opened her sleepy eyes and looked around, only to see the familiar house. She didn't expect it to be here so soon.

She got out of the car, still wearing Lambert's clothes. She quickly took it off, handed it to him, and said, "Thank you, Mr. Williams. You should go back soon to have a rest. It's too late. Drive safely."|

Butler Shank sent Lambert away and nodded at Jessica, "Madam, you're back."

"Is Oliver home?" There was obvious uneasiness in her tone.|

"Mr. Williams came back earlier than usual today."