Oliver's Substitute Bride (Oliver and Jessica) novel Chapter 21

In the evening, the night was clear and there were few stars, dazzling

In the courtyard, the hotel staff had already completed the layout of the reception. A variety of freshly baked snacks, cookies, and wine were served.

Most of the guests drove to the opening ceremony.

Jessica saw a familiar figure in the crowd. It was her SISTER. Tina was wearing a bright red low-cut evening dress with a shiny diamond necklace. She was beautiful, but it didn't match the atmosphere here. Tina also saw her standing at the door in charge of receiving guests. She did not expect that Jessica would do the work of welcoming guests as Mrs. Williams after being a servant in the White Family.

Tina saw a staff member of the Williams Group and asked, "Hello, is the lady in charge of reception over there your staff?"

"Hello, miss. She's our office assistant, Jessica. Do you have anything to talk to her?"

"No, thank you."

It seemed that they didn't know Jessica's real identity. Oliver actually let her be an inconspicuous assistant. It seemed that she had almost miscalculated before.

'It turns out that Jessica doesn't have much status in Oliver's world. It is such good news.'

Tina walked to the reception desk and handed the invitation.

Jessica was afraid of her big mouth. It would be bad if her identity was exposed. But she didn't expect that Tina was only sneering, pretending not to know her.

That was good. Jessica handed her the pen. "Hello, please sign your name."

Tina wrote her name very casually. "Thank you."

Jessica was a little worried that something might happen. According to Tina's usual temperament, she would rather drink in a bar than go to a painting exhibition. Perhaps she had thought too much. As long as Tina didn't disturb her, just let her be.

She was sorting out the membership list for tonight when a man's voice came from above. "There are no guests now. You can go in and rest."

"Lambert, there you are."

Lambert came late. Tonight, he was the artist's representative.

"Do you want me to help you?"

"I'm fine. You can go in first."

The opening ceremony of the art exhibition was going on in the hall. Looking at Oliver who was speaking on the stage, Tina felt regretful. Why did she take the initiative to regret her marriage? She didn't even meet Oliver officially. Now she even wanted to strangle those socialites.

Oliver only returned home six months ago. He had been living in the United States before, and not many people in the country really knew him.

After Oliver finished his speech, he came out of the hall and saw Lambert helping Jessica sort out her things.

He walked over and shouted at Jessica, "Who told you to stay here? Leave, now!"

Jessica left with an indifferent face and entered the hall. She was a little immune. She was like a machine without feelings. Feelings had already shattered in her heart.

Lambert looked embarrassed and said to Oliver, "Oliver, if it's because of me, you don't have to be so mean to your wife."

"You don't have the right to care about my woman," Oliver said.

"Since you still know she's your woman, treat her better."

"What? Do you want to hook up with your own brother's wife? Are you as fond of stealing other people's things as your mother?"

Lambert's look went solemn. "Oliver, don't go too far."

"If I see you around that woman like a fly anymore in the future, I'm not done with you."

When Catherine saw Jessica enter the hall, she arranged a new task for her.

Jessica had been busy all night before she saw Catherine. She was wearing a long strapless dress with a long silk shawl over her shoulders. It seemed that she had been carefully dressed, but she didn't look like a staff member. Instead, she looked like a guest.

Catherine said, "When the people in the hall go to the reception outside, you will be responsible for guarding the hall so that the guests can get a response in time if they have any problems."

"Catherine, are you off work since you are dressing like this?" Jessica asked.

"Are you envious? Then work hard and teach me a lesson when you are qualified."

Jessica really looked down on her as she was such a snob, but she still had to do what she was told to do. Her rank was lower than Catherine's anyway.

Jessica stood in the hall and occasionally looked out into the yard. The neon lights flickered and there was an extraordinary bustle. People came and went, holding wine glasses and exchanging pleasantries.

She was familiar with such a scene.

At that time, her mother was still alive and would invite guests to have a party in the back garden of the villa of the White Family. The adults would drink and dance, and the children would play together. She knew Vincent just back then.

Vincent was an illegitimate child. He was ostracized by the children around him. Jessica took the initiative to play with him.

At that time, Vincent told her he would marry her when they grew up.

But in the end, the man who hurt her the most was the one she had always trusted. Now, she always remembered the night in Amsterdam. The memory was clear and her hate was absolute.

Vincent crushed her love, totally.

Like Oliver, Jessica also deeply believed that she wouldn't fall in love with anyone.

Oliver went out to welcome Martin and Carl who had just returned from the United States.

Good friends couldn't help but tease each other when they met.

Carl patted Oliver on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Come on, I have always thought you are gay. After so long in the United States, you hadn't dated any girlfriends. I heard from Martin that you would be laughed at if you didn't show the real you that night."

Martin had just signaled Carl to shut up.

Carl was in a good mood, completely ignoring the two men next to him. "Let's go. Take us to your wife."

"She's busy."

Martin said, "No way. She just married into such a big family and she began to help you entertain your guests as the hostess. You really have a good wife."

Oliver ignored his two "bad" friends' teasing and said. "I have something to talk to you about. Let's go in first."

In the exhibition hall, Jessica tried to control her tears and not let them slide down. She reminded herself that she was here to work but not to get sad. She had to work hard and win back what belonged to her.

She stood at the work table at the door, tidying up the albums she should give the guests when they left, and looked up to see Catherine lead a few well-dressed women in.

Jessica recognized at a glance that the beautiful lady in the sky blue evening dress was Alice, the only daughter of Bruce, the president of the Zamani Group. They were childhood playmates and had learned drawing together. After Alice left the country, they had never met again. She didn't expect to meet her here today.

She wanted to lower her head and pretended not to see her, but she didn't expect to be stopped by Catherine. "Jessica, come over and give Miss Zamani and the others a tour."

As a secretary, Catherine had long developed the habit of observing people. These rich ladies had never taken her seriously before, but today they were very enthusiastic about her because they knew that she was Oliver's secretary and wanted to get some information about Oliver from her.

Now her chance was here, and she thought Jessica would be screwed this time.