Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Wishful Thinking

Over half the artists attending the annual convention weren’t from Aethelburg. Coupled with the fact that it was Christmas Eve, the streets were bound to be lively, so not many people refused the suggestion to go out.

“Jessie, are you going?” Mochi knew Jessie Sterling had originally planned to go home, so she turned to ask her specifically.

Jessie Sterling thought for a moment, looking at the group of vibrant young women before her, then picturing Victor Morgan’s face, which looked stern and cold when he wasn’t smiling. ’Hesitating for even a second longer would be an insult to my aesthetic sensibilities!’

“I’m in!” Jessie said without much hesitation. Instead of spending a cloyingly sweet Christmas Eve with Victor Morgan—who probably didn’t even remember it was Christmas Eve, and even if he did, he likely wouldn’t care about a “Western holiday”—she would, of course, choose to hit the streets with her new, like-minded friends!

Just as Jessie Sterling decisively kicked Victor Morgan out of her head, Victor was answering a frantic call from his childhood friend, Xavier Warren.

Xavier was trying to organize a get-together in their friends’ group chat. It was the weekend and almost the end of the year. Because of Victor’s wedding, the group of them hadn’t had a private gathering in a long time.

Unexpectedly, while everyone else in the group had already RSVP’d yes, Victor Morgan alone claimed he was busy.

“What could you possibly be busy with? Aren’t all of us guys waiting for you? You got married without a peep, so what? You’re a hermit now that you’re married?” Xavier’s booming voice came through the instant Victor answered the call.

Victor Morgan said, “I really do have something today.”

“What are you doing? Did the old man call you home for dinner?”

“Picking someone up,” Victor replied, too proud to lie.

The person on the other end of the line seemed to take a moment to process the unexpected answer.

“Huh? Picking someone up? You? What about Uncle Carter?” Xavier felt like he had heard something unbelievable, firing off three questions in a row.

Victor Morgan said, “I’m picking up my wife. Uncle Carter has the day off.”

Xavier Warren: “…”

He was so stunned he didn’t know what to say.

“You see your wife every day, and you still can’t get enough of her? The guys haven’t gotten together in ages! Victor Morgan, you’re being a bad friend!” Xavier really wanted to accuse him of choosing his wife over his buddies.

Victor Morgan said, “Next time.”

Xavier was speechless, but he and Victor had been thick as thieves since they were kids. He knew better than anyone that Victor was a man of his word.

Knowing that further persuasion would be useless, Xavier didn’t bother saying any more.

“Alright then. Just give us a shout in the group chat next time you’re free. I’ll meet up with Roman Lynch and the others tonight. That’s all, I’m hanging up.”

It was right after hanging up that Victor Morgan received Jessie Sterling’s message.

Jessie Sterling hadn’t even bothered to call him.

[Jessie Sterling: I’m going to a get-together with friends tonight, so you don’t have to come pick me up!]

Looking at the message on his phone screen, Victor Morgan guessed that her so-called friends were people she had met at the website’s annual event today.

For a moment, Victor felt genuinely conflicted.

Just a minute ago, he had turned down his group of friends for her.

And now, it turned out he wasn’t even in Jessie Sterling’s considerations.

’So it was all just wishful thinking on his part.’

He remembered that tonight was Christmas Eve.

Victor replied with an “Okay,” then sent another message to Jessie.

[Victor Morgan: Call me when you want to come back. I’ll come get you.]

He was worried that since Jessie was new to Aethelburg, she might feel insecure in an unfamiliar city.

Besides, it would be late. He couldn’t just let her be out by herself.

Little did he know, Jessie was currently in a heated chat with her newfound companions. They had all bonded over their mutual love for the same author; from her debut to her current masterpiece, Jessie and Bella’s opinions were almost completely identical.

Caught up in the excitement of the conversation, how could Jessie possibly have had time to notice Victor’s message?

Victor waited at home for quite a while, but no reply came from Jessie. Looking at the golden fallen leaves outside his window, he could only offer a helpless smile.

Xavier Warren had actually met up with Roman Lynch earlier that afternoon. Both of them rarely had free time, so they had scheduled a game of tennis after lunch.

When Xavier received Victor Morgan’s call, he was a little surprised. Hadn’t they just spoken?

He gestured for a mid-game break, sat down on a bench, and answered the phone.

“Hello? This ain’t your wife. You better not have the wrong number,” Xavier unleashed a verbal torrent before the person on the other end could even say a word.

He was clearly resentful, and not just a little bit!

Roman Lynch, who had just walked over to get a drink, had just unscrewed the cap of his electrolyte water when he heard his friend’s jilted-wife tone and nearly choked.

Back in his study, Victor Morgan was silent for a long moment.

“…Where are you guys tonight?” Victor got straight to the point.

Xavier couldn’t help but be sarcastic. “Oh? And why would Your Lordship care to ask? Don’t tell me you’re actually planning to come?”

Victor Morgan: “…”

For a split second, he truly wanted to hang up.

“Yeah.” In the end, Victor just gave a faint affirmation.

Xavier seemed surprised. “For real?” This time, he didn’t say anything weird.

“The location? Or where are you guys now? I’ll come find you,” Victor said.

Xavier said, “Not picking up your wife anymore? I heard your wife is quite the big shot in Southaven. A high-society girl, has an entourage wherever she goes. You sure you’re not going?”

Although he was annoyed that his friend was prioritizing a woman over him, Xavier had no intention of ruining their marital bliss.

After all, it wasn’t every day a tough nut like their Old Man Morgan cracked. In all these years, she was the only one.

Victor Morgan didn’t hide it from Xavier and the others, stating plainly, “She has plans tonight.”

After hearing this, Xavier took a couple of seconds to process it, then burst out laughing.

“HAHAHA—”

Roman Lynch, drinking water nearby, raised an eyebrow and looked at his friend in confusion.

One second he was a jilted wife, the next he’d gone completely mad.

“You had it coming!” Xavier said with a huge laugh. Perhaps hearing that Victor had been rejected put him in a great mood, because he quickly told Victor the location of the tennis court where he and Roman were.

After ending the call, the smile never left Xavier’s face.

Roman Lynch asked, “Old Man Morgan is coming?”

“Yup,” Xavier nodded with a grin. “Guess why he suddenly changed his mind?”

“His wife wants to come hang out?” Roman ventured a guess.

Xavier roared with laughter. “Hahaha, of course not! It’s because his wife ditched him tonight! He’s all alone at home, hahaha! Serves him right!”

Roman Lynch: “…”

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