After Rebirth, I Accept The Arranged Marriage-Chapter 96: Newcomer Award

It wasn’t the time of day she would normally wake up on her own.

Jessie Sterling felt like the sky hadn’t even started to brighten, but the sensation from behind was unmistakable. Victor Morgan’s slightly heavy breathing was right by her ear, making her face flush red.

"You..."

Jessie Sterling had just started to speak, but after a single word, her voice was shattered, leaving only a broken, low moan.

Sensing she was awake, Victor Morgan no longer held back. He rolled her over, lowered his head, and lifted Jessie’s nightgown.

Half an hour later, Victor Morgan got out of bed. He glanced at Jessie, who was still a disheveled mess on the bed with a flushed face. He leaned down and asked, "Want to go wash up first?"

Jessie was so exhausted she couldn’t lift a finger. Her first instinct upon hearing Victor’s words was to shake her head, but she was covered in sweat and couldn’t possibly fall back asleep like this.

"Mmm..." Jessie nodded, then held her hands out to Victor.

She didn’t have an ounce of strength left in her.

Seeing this, Victor couldn’t help but chuckle softly. He bent down and scooped her into his arms.

Once they were in the bathroom, Jessie regretted it.

Her small hands left a trail of wet marks on the bathroom wall, but they were soon covered by steam, vanishing as if they had never been there at all.

In the bathroom, over the SPLASHING of the water, a woman’s soft sobs could be heard.

When they emerged from the bathroom, Jessie seemed to have passed out in Victor’s arms, completely senseless.

Victor Morgan changed the bedding before carrying her from the sofa back to the bed.

By the time he was done, the morning was well underway.

He gazed at his little wife, her face still flushed scarlet against the fresh linens. Unable to resist, he leaned over and kissed her soft lips again. "Good morning."

He wondered if Jessie could even hear him.

Victor Morgan arrived at the office early, looking refreshed and in high spirits. It wasn’t just his secretary, Keegan Sanders, who could sense his good mood; even employees who saw him from a distance could tell.

But in stark contrast to Victor’s refreshed state, Jessie, who didn’t wake up until nearly noon, was not feeling nearly as energetic.

Jessie sat up in bed, her expression complicated as she looked at the silk sheets, completely different from the ones last night.

Her lower abdomen still felt a little sore. ’Thinking about the timing,’ she suspected, ’Victor must have timed this perfectly, luring me back to Aethelburg right as my period was ending.’

Jessie shook her head and quickly scrambled out of bed.

She was afraid that if she stayed in this room any longer, her mind would be completely filled with the memory of those strong, powerful arms wrapped around her chest this morning.

But the moment she stepped into the bathroom, the lingering scent of passion in the air made the tips of her ears turn red.

This morning, when she was barely awake, Victor had been in here, lifting her up and pressing her against the wall.

Jessie: "..."

Though her entire body was still sore, Jessie didn’t ask the housekeeper to bring her brunch to the room.

She felt she couldn’t stay in Jubilee Courtyard another moment, so she went to the front hall for lunch first.

The Jubilee Courtyard complex consisted of the two-story main residence and an auxiliary building.

When Jessie was choosing a room that afternoon, she didn’t pick one in the auxiliary building of Jubilee Courtyard. Instead, she chose the floor above the front reception hall.

The new space was still sparsely furnished. She decided to use the second floor as her art studio.

It was still empty, but Jessie didn’t mind. She had plenty of time to gradually fill the space and decorate it just the way she liked.

Besides, another reason she’d chosen this particular second-floor space was the century-old tree in the courtyard below: a Michelia champaca.

The fragrance of the Michelia champaca could instantly transport Jessie back to her childhood. Back then, every midsummer, you could always find old women outside the school or in the surrounding alleyways. They’d be carrying hand-woven bamboo baskets, a small floral cloth draped over the top, concealing freshly picked Michelia blossoms underneath.

Jessie had always been a bit vain, even as a little girl. Whenever she came across the blossoms in the summer, she would have to buy two. She’d pin them to her shirt, and their sweet fragrance would follow her all day.

Just like the bedroom in Jubilee Courtyard, this second-floor space had enormous, transparent, floor-to-ceiling windows. They let in an abundance of light, making the room bright and airy. The view of the courtyard outside was like a painting; just sitting in the room doing nothing felt wonderfully serene.

Jessie had someone move the armchair she’d bought back in Chelsea upstairs, then sank into its cushions.

Cradling her tablet, she’d only made a couple of strokes when her phone chimed. DING-DONG, DING-DONG.

Jessie picked it up. It was Zoe Marx.

Zoe had been thrilled ever since Jessie agreed yesterday to attend Manhui’s year-end annual meeting.

Zoe was messaging now to ask if Jessie had booked her plane ticket yet.

[Zoe Marx: If you’re feeling shy, I can come pick you up! This year’s annual meeting is combined with the new talent awards, so it’s going to be a huge event.]

Zoe was worried that if Jessie hadn’t booked her ticket yet, she might change her mind and decide not to come.

Jessie hugged her phone, lounging lazily in the armchair. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she typed out a reply.

[Jessie Sterling: No need for a ticket. I’m already in Aethelburg.] 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

[Zoe Marx: Huh? Really? What a coincidence! Did you see the e-vite I sent you yesterday for the meeting? Our site’s big boss really went all out this time. He booked The Sanctum Hotel for all the authors, and the event is being held at the Sanctum too.]

Jessie couldn’t help but laugh out loud when she saw the message.

’Talk about a coincidence.’

There was only one Sanctum in the capital, located about three kilometers from the Imperial Palace. By that measure, it wasn’t far from Jubilee Courtyard at all.

Zoe was still typing. She explained that since the annual meeting, new talent awards, and networking events were spread out over about three days, Jessie could still stay at the Sanctum even though she was in Aethelburg. It would be a good chance to mingle with everyone.

But Zoe’s underlying message was clear: it was a five-star hotel, and it would be a waste not to stay. After all, it was on the boss’s dime.

Jessie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But as nice as the hotel sounded, she would much rather sleep in her own home.

After politely declining her editor’s kind offer, Jessie promised she would be at the entrance of the Sanctum on time on the morning of Christmas Eve to meet up with the group.

After confirming the time, Jessie set her tablet aside. She suddenly remembered that her walk-in closet on the second floor of Jubilee Courtyard was still completely empty. She picked up her phone and dialed the managers of several boutiques she’d frequented at the IFC Mall back in Southaven.

She was new to Aethelburg and didn’t know anyone yet.

The managers of luxury boutiques all have their own networks. Not long after Jessie finished her calls, stylists began arriving for at-home consultations.

「A few days later, it was Christmas Eve.」