Oliver's Substitute Bride (Oliver and Jessica)
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 thereception. A variety of freshly baked snacks, cookies, and wine wereserved.

Most of the guests drove to the opening ceremony.

Jessica saw a familiar figure in the crowd. It was her SISTER. Tina waswearing a bright red low-cut evening dress with a shiny diamondnecklace. 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 guestsas Mrs. Williams after being a servant in the White Family.

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

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

"No, thank you."

It seemed that they didn't know Jessica's real identity. Oliver actually lether be an inconspicuous assistant. It seemed that she had almostmiscalculated before.

It turns out that Jessica doesn't have much status in Oliver's world. It issuch 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 wasexposed. But she didn't expect that Tina was only sneering, pretendingnot to know her.

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

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

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

She was sorting out the membership list for tonight when a man's voicecame 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 evenmeet Oliver officially. Now she even wanted to strangle those socialites.Oliver only returned home six months ago. He had been living in theUnited States before, and not many people in the country really knewhim.

After Oliver finished his speech, he came out of the hall and sawLambert 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 littleimmune. She was like a machine without feelings. Feelings had alreadyshattered in her heart.

Lambert looked embarrassed and said to Oliver, "Oliver, if it's becauseof 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 youas 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 notdone with you."

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

Jessica had been busy all night before she saw Catherine. She waswearing 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 astaff member. Instead, she looked like a guest.

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

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

"Are you envious? Then work hard and teach me a lesson when you arequalified.”

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

Jessica stood in the hall and occasionally looked out into the yard. Theneon lights flickered and there was an extraordinary bustle. Peoplecame 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 havea party in the back garden of the villa of the White Family. The adultswould drink and dance, and the children would play together. She knewVincent just back then.

Vincent was an illegitimate child. He was ostracized by the childrenaround 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 hadalways 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 lovewith anyone.

Oliver went out to welcome Martin and Carl who had just returned fromthe 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, Ihave 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 belaughed 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 tohim. "Let's go. Take us to your wife."

"She's busy.”

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

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

In the exhibition hall, Jessica tried to control her tears and not let themslide down. She reminded herself that she was here to work but not toget 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 sheshould give the guests when they left, and looked up to see Catherinelead a few well-dressed women in.

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

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

As a secretary, Catherine had long developed the habit of observingpeople. These rich ladies had never taken her seriously before, buttoday they were very enthusiastic about her because they knew thatshe was Oliver's secretary and wanted to get some information aboutOliver from her.

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