After Rebirth, I Accept The Arranged Marriage-Chapter 164: "You must be really looking forward to the baby in your belly, right?
"Jessie." As Jessie Sterling approached, Ivan Hudson greeted her.
Jessie Sterling nodded. "President Hudson."
’She didn’t think they were that close.’
"I’d meant to invite the two of you to get together in Aethelburg before the holidays, but the timing was never right. Let’s meet up when we’re back in the city and have some free time," Ivan Hudson said.
Jessie Sterling didn’t respond. She’d leave that sort of thing up to Victor Morgan. Besides, even if Victor agreed, no one could say anything if she decided not to go later.
With one arm around Jessie Sterling’s slender waist and a champagne flute in the other, Victor Morgan clinked his glass against Ivan Hudson’s. "See you around."
The words were a clear signal to end the conversation. Ivan Hudson had no desire to be a third wheel, so he quickly took his leave.
"What were you two talking about?" Jessie Sterling asked.
"Some business over in Australia," Victor Morgan said. "Ivan Hudson wants to partner on it."
Jessie Sterling wasn’t particularly interested. "Oh," she said. "Is that all?"
"He also asked about Lynn Jennings," Victor Morgan said. "But I don’t really know the details, so there wasn’t much for me to say."
Jessie Sterling laughed.
’It was true that Victor Morgan hadn’t had much contact with Lynn Jennings, but it would be ridiculous to think he didn’t understand the hidden meaning behind Ivan Hudson’s question.’
’After all, Brianna Hudson was Ivan Hudson’s sister. With her marrying Jared Jennings, even if he hadn’t cared about how the Jennings family’s assets were divided before, he was surely paying close attention now.’
’After all, if Jared Jennings managed to get his hands on everything the Jennings family owned, it would be quite beneficial for the Hudson family as well.’
’What else was this but a marriage alliance between powerful families?’ 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
’Interests were shifting. Someone who was once a mere bystander was now intricately entangled in the situation.’
The island was very windy, so the main wedding reception was held in the grand banquet hall.
Jessie Sterling wasn’t one of Brianna Hudson’s close friends, so she hadn’t gone backstage to keep the bride company.
Only when the bride appeared at the end of the aisle did Jessie Sterling turn her head to look.
Everyone at their table was an acquaintance. After a quick glance at Brianna Hudson, Jessie Sterling whispered to Quincy Sterling, who was sitting beside her, "Brianna Hudson doesn’t look very happy, does she?"
She was very perceptive when it came to people’s emotions and expressions. Though Brianna Hudson wore a smile, it looked forced from every angle.
Quincy Sterling didn’t like to go looking for gossip, but she somehow always ended up hearing much more of it than Jessie Sterling did.
At this, Quincy Sterling lowered her voice. "She’s getting married only to immediately become a stepmother. It’d be a miracle if she were happy. I just heard Jared Jennings’s son is making a scene backstage. A child throwing a tantrum is pretty irritating."
Although they tried to keep the child a secret, it was an open secret within their social circle.
"Lynn told me the boy is apparently the son of Jared Jennings’s first love," Jessie Sterling said, sharing the piece of gossip she’d just heard.
’She’d never heard about this before.’
"Apparently, the Jennings family wouldn’t approve of Jared Jennings marrying his first love. The woman settled abroad a long time ago and even got married recently. The child has always stayed with the Jennings family, and Jared treats him like the apple of his eye," Jessie Sterling said.
Quincy Sterling scoffed. "If the boy wasn’t the apple of his eye, he wouldn’t have brought him to the wedding today, would he? Brianna Hudson really drew the short straw, ending up with such a piece of trash."
’He wasn’t showing Brianna Hudson a shred of respect.’
’No wonder Brianna Hudson looked so miserable. This was supposed to be the wedding she’d long been waiting for. Even if the groom wasn’t exactly Prince Charming, bringing his child to make a scene at the wedding was just going too far.’
Jessie Sterling turned to look at the Hudson family’s table. Sure enough, not a single one of them was smiling.
’This wasn’t just humiliating for Brianna Hudson; it reflected on her entire family.’
Jessie Sterling pursed her lips. "That’s typical of their family."
"The Jennings family has always favored sons over daughters. If Jared Jennings’s first love had given birth to a girl, none of this would be happening today."
"He might be illegitimate, but because he’s a boy, in the Jennings family, that’s like winning the genetic lottery. Even though Mr. and Mrs. Jennings disliked Jared’s first love, they’re still treating their grandson like the apple of their eye, aren’t they?"
"I wonder what the Hudson family will be thinking after today. If they’re the least bit unhappy about this, it could actually be an opportunity for Lynn Jennings," Quincy Sterling said.
Jessie Sterling thought about it for a moment. ’Quincy had a point.’
After the afternoon reception ended, Jessie Sterling and Victor Morgan said their goodbyes.
She walked to the parking garage and had just settled into the passenger seat when she saw a familiar figure walk past the front of their car.
It was Cheryl Stuart.
Of course, Cheryl Stuart couldn’t attend an event like this on Mr. Hudson’s arm; that would be a complete breach of etiquette.
But to see her now in the parking garage—and a moment later, to watch as Mr. Hudson himself emerged from the banquet hall and took her hand—made Jessie’s jaw nearly drop.
She couldn’t help but tug on Victor Morgan’s arm.
Victor Morgan thought something important had happened, but when he followed Jessie Sterling’s gaze, he looked away, nonplussed.
"You enjoy this sort of spectacle?" Victor Morgan asked with a hint of resignation.
"I’m just surprised Cheryl Stuart is this good," Jessie Sterling said.
’Even if she couldn’t get into the reception hall, getting Port Caldoria’s jewelry tycoon to slip away from his own daughter’s wedding just to be with her... that was definitely impressive.’
Victor Morgan didn’t comment on the matter. He looked down on the practice of men keeping mistresses. He knew that polygamy had only been abolished in Port Caldoria a few decades ago, but bringing so many women into one’s home was just asking for trouble—it was like deliberately raising vipers or opening a fighting ring in your own house. It was bound to become a toxic mess.
He found it especially revolting when old men took mistresses who were the same age as their own daughters.
However, Victor Morgan knew Jessie Sterling had a project with Cheryl Stuart. "Since you know she’s full of tricks, do you want me to have Keegan Sanders come and assist you for a couple of days?"
Keegan Sanders had been with him for many years. He might not understand the film and television business, but his mind was every bit as sharp as anyone in the entertainment circle.
He’d feel much more at ease with Keegan Sanders helping Jessie Sterling than with her current assistant.
Jessie Sterling couldn’t help but laugh at his words.
She shook her head. "I can handle it."
’Besides, if she actually agreed, Keegan Sanders would probably want to cry for real.’
’The esteemed assistant to the president of the Morgan Group suddenly becoming her errand boy... it would be a complete waste of his talents.’
Victor Morgan was only making a suggestion, so when Jessie Sterling refused, he didn’t press the issue.
The two of them drove to a department store.
Jessie Sterling hadn’t actually planned on buying much before they arrived. But once she stepped inside the store, she was captivated. She had never been to a maternity and baby boutique before and had no idea how unbelievably adorable baby things were.
The tiny clothes were so small, they looked no bigger than the palm of her hand.
And the tiny shoes and socks were all impossibly cute.
It was as if everything in the world became overwhelmingly cute when miniaturized.
And so, Jessie Sterling got a little carried away, filling the entire shopping cart she was pushing.
The sales associate beside her was grinning from ear to ear. "Ma’am, you must be so excited for your baby. I can tell you and your husband are going to be wonderful, loving parents."
Jessie Sterling, who had been unable to stop herself from grabbing one adorable baby item after another, suddenly froze when she heard this.
