Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Baggage

Dressed in a pink ski suit, Brianna Hudson walked straight over the moment she saw Jessie Sterling.

“I’m joining you guys today. Do you know how to ski?” Brianna Hudson asked, not bothering with pleasantries.

Jessie Sterling nodded. “I do. Aren’t they with you?”

Out of the corner of her eye, Jessie Sterling spotted Nina Walsh and Cheryl Stuart behind Brianna Hudson—and even Arya Thorne. She had no idea how this group of people had ended up together.

’They all seemed completely unrelated to one another.’

Brianna Hudson rolled her eyes. “I’m not close with them. You’re the only one I really know here. I don’t know how to ski, so you can teach me.”

Jessie Sterling: “???”

It took her a moment to process that. Then, she asked frankly, “Are we that close?”

’That’s news to me.’

Brianna Hudson was speechless for a moment. “…I gave you my shares in Sanctum, and you have the nerve to say we’re not close? Jessie Sterling, you’re a heartless woman!”

Jessie Sterling asked, “Didn’t I win them?”

Brianna Hudson: “…”

’Jessie’s words were colder than the sub-zero temperatures out in The Aridlands.’

“So are you going to let me come with you or not?” Brianna decided to throw caution to the wind. If Jessie refused, she would just shamelessly tag along behind her anyway. It wasn’t like Jessie’s family owned the ski resort. As long as she had a ticket, she could go inside.

Jessie Sterling: “…”

When Victor Morgan saw Brianna Hudson show up behind his wife, his expression soured.

Victor couldn’t believe it. He had only been gone long enough to bring the car around, and someone had already latched onto Jessie.

Yesterday, Jessie had spent most of the afternoon ski jumping with Lynn Jennings and Xavier Warren, leaving him with almost no time alone with her.

He had planned for them to get to the ski resort right when it opened so it would just be the two of them. But who would have thought Brianna Hudson would pop up out of nowhere? And from the looks of it, her entourage was coming along, too.

“Your husband looks so intimidating,” Brianna Hudson remarked. She had, of course, heard of Victor Morgan. After all, Jessie Sterling had once been a highly sought-after bride for arranged marriages in both Southaven and Port Caldoria. When Brianna heard that the Sterling family was arranging a marriage with the Morgan family from all the way in Aethelburg, she had been surprised for quite some time and even looked up just who this Victor Morgan was.

Jessie Sterling pulled open the front passenger door. She glanced back at Brianna Hudson with a smirk. “Then maybe you shouldn’t get in?”

Brianna Hudson: “…You’re intimidating too.”

Despite her grumbling, she still followed Jessie and slid into the back seat.

“This is Brianna Hudson. You haven’t met her, but you’ve probably heard of her.” Jessie shrugged at the man beside her, her expression one of resignation.

Brianna was just about to say, “Hi,” when Victor Morgan’s cold voice cut in.

“Yeah, I know of her. The one who fell off a horse and broke her leg.”

Brianna Hudson: “…”

’What is wrong with this couple? Is a civil conversation too much to ask?’

Jessie almost burst out laughing. She shot the man beside her a glare, but she didn’t realize her eyes were still twinkling with amusement. Instead of being intimidating, the look acted like a little hook, capturing the man in the driver’s seat and making his imagination run wild.

“You didn’t mention yesterday that you were bringing three tag-alongs,” Jessie said, turning to Brianna.

Brianna sighed in exasperation. “You think I wanted to? I was texting you yesterday when that Cheryl Stuart had the nerve to look over my shoulder at my phone. Then she just declared she was coming skiing with me.”

“Weren’t you at home yesterday?”

Brianna understood Jessie’s implication. Since it was the holiday, Cheryl Stuart—even as her scumbag father’s mistress—shouldn’t have dared to set foot in their family home.

“My daddy gave her an endorsement deal,” Brianna said. “Then her boss actually came over in person for the signing. He’s that really tall guy you just saw.”

That explained why Arya Thorne was with them.

Jessie clicked her tongue. ’What a tangled mess.’

“Arya Thorne,” Jessie stated.

“Yes, that’s her name! You know her?” Brianna asked, surprised.

Jessie made a noncommittal sound. “Not really. How did she end up with Nina Walsh?”

“I don’t know the one she was with. They were all together, and since she was with Cheryl Stuart, I just brought everyone along,” Brianna said.

Jessie Sterling: “…”

’This girl is unbelievably carefree.’

「At the ski resort」

Jessie hopped out of the car while Victor got their gear from the trunk.

Jessie went over to him.

“Are you planning on letting her tag along all day?” Victor asked. He hadn’t wanted to say anything in front of Brianna in the car.

Jessie kicked at a patch of slush on the ground. “She’s already following me, isn’t she?”

Victor didn’t say anything, his lips just tightening into a thin line.

Jessie glanced over at Brianna, who had run off to try and build a snowman after getting out of the car. Then, when Victor wasn’t looking, she suddenly sidled up close to him.

Victor had given her a thorough inspection before they left the house, so she was now bundled up from head to toe, with only her eyes showing.

“Are you upset?” Jessie asked.

Victor Morgan: “…”

’Was it that obvious?’

Jessie studied his expression, then declared with certainty, “Victor Morgan, you’re jealous!”

The words were barely out of her mouth when a large hand came down on her head, pushing her beanie down until it nearly covered her eyes.

“Nonsense.”

Jessie couldn’t help but smile under her mask. She pushed the man beside her away, then turned and pulled up Brianna, who was still on the ground trying to build a snowman. “Come on,” she said cheerfully, “I’ll take you skiing!”

Standing behind them, Victor couldn’t help but clench his fists.

「Ten minutes later.」

Brianna Hudson stared at Jessie in disbelief, her gaze shifting to the man standing next to her. He was as big as a grizzly bear and had an instructor’s pass hanging on his chest. “Jessie! You said you were taking me skiing!”

Jessie nodded. “That’s right. I brought you here, didn’t I?”

“You got me an instructor?”

“Yup. You said you don’t know how to ski, right? I found a professional to teach you. I even paid for the lesson fee for you.”

Brianna Hudson: “…”

’This wasn’t how she had imagined things at all.’

She had come with Jessie because she wanted Jessie to be the one to teach her. Otherwise, what was the difference between this and just coming on her own? It wasn’t like she couldn’t afford her own ride!

“Jessie, you liar!” Brianna said indignantly.

’Back in Port Caldoria, no one would dare mess with her like Jessie was doing!’

Jessie Sterling: “How did I lie to you?”

’She’d never said she would personally teach Brianna how to ski.’

“Besides,” Jessie said, “with my skill level, I’m the one who needs lessons. Do you know which business does the best around here?”

Brianna Hudson: “Huh?”

“The orthopedic hospital,” Jessie said bluntly. “What if you learn from me, I can’t catch you in time, and you break another bone?”

Brianna had already broken a bone once before, the last time they’d gone horse racing.

The color drained from Brianna’s face at the mention of this.

“So, you see, I’m doing this for your own good.” Jessie walked over to Brianna and patted her shoulder with an air of profound sincerity. She then pointed toward the instructor in the distance. “Go on now. I hired a gold-medal instructor for you! His hourly rate is hundreds more than a regular one!”

Brianna Hudson: “…”

Listening to Jessie’s explanation, Brianna felt that maybe she really was looking out for her, but at the same time, something felt off.

As Brianna followed the instructor toward the ski and boot rental area, she glanced back. She saw Jessie happily skipping over to the man in the black ski suit standing in the lobby, and it all suddenly clicked.

’It felt like she was a piece of baggage that Jessie had just managed to unload!’

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