Let Adele Horne revel in her self-righteous happiness for a few days; it's always better to bring someone down slowly.
That was Julia Bluen's thought, though a chill also ran through her. They say wealthy families are warm on the outside but cold on the inside. Women who marry into such families don't lead lives as noble as they appear on the surface; endless internal strife is inevitable. Wasn't there an old saying? "Marrying into wealth is like diving into an ocean's depths." She herself was born into a wealthy family and knew this all too well. The Horne Family wasn't just wealthy; they were also aristocratic, a family that combined power and riches. From Adele Horne's appearance alone, Julia could already foresee how "interesting" her life with the Horne Family would become.
"Orlando Evans, let's go," Adele Horne said after issuing her warning. Seeing Julia looking suitably chastened again, Adele left the Bluen residence with Orlando Evans, triumphant.
Before leaving, Orlando Evans threw a victorious glance at Julia. Orlando probably still held a grudge because Julia had thwarted her attempt to seduce Glades Horne.
Laugh now, laugh; in a few days, I'll give you a real bomb to taste!
For Julia Bluen is no pushover!
She snickered softly as she drove her car into her family's driveway, too unconcerned to dwell on Adele Horne's warning. Her main worry now was how to explain to her parents that she and Glades Horne were married.
How quickly fortunes change, beyond anyone's control, indeed.
Just the day before yesterday, she had been jilted. Today, she found herself married to another man—her former prospective brother-in-law, no less.
Stepping inside the house, she unsurprisingly saw her mother, Scarlett Taylor, sitting on the sofa. Scarlett Taylor had maintained her youthful beauty well, but just one night of worry had etched lines of exhaustion onto her face.
On the coffee table before her were piles of gift boxes Glades Horne had sent the previous day. The Bluen family had left the expensive jewelry inside untouched. The gifts were displayed on the coffee table, ready for the Horne Family to reclaim these betrothal gifts.
Julia knew her parents—no, the entire Bluen Family—were incensed by her sister's elopement. Their anger was mixed with worry. They worried for her sister's well-being and feared she might have been led astray. They also had to face the Horne Family and all the pressure that entailed. This combination of stressors had left her parents looking utterly worn out after just one night.
For an ordinary family, a bride running away just before the marriage registration would be deeply embarrassing. For prominent families in upper-class society like theirs, it was even more so.
Hearing footsteps, Scarlett Taylor turned. Seeing it was Julia, she immediately stood up and walked over anxiously. "Julia, where did you go with the household registration? Did Mr. Horne find your sister? Did he take her directly to the Civil Affairs Office and ask you to bring the household registration? Is your sister okay? Mr. Horne didn't give her a hard time, did he?"
Hearing her mother repeatedly call Glades Horne "Mr. Horne" pricked Julia's heart. Previously, her parents had affectionately called him Glades. Now, overwhelmed by guilt, they had switched to the more formal "Mr. Horne."
At a loss for how to respond, Julia helped her mother sit back down on the sofa. She consoled her gently, "Mom, Sister... she hasn't been found yet. Don't worry, Glades isn't the type to lash out indiscriminately." Outsiders might revere Glades Horne for his prestigious status, but he also had a tolerant side.
"But your sister... everything was fine, so how could she suddenly run away? Their relationship had always been so good," Scarlett Taylor said, her nerves nearly frayed. Since learning of her eldest daughter's elopement, she had been too afraid to leave the house. She dreaded the inevitable gossip and ridicule, which would imply she had failed in raising her daughter.
"I'm sure Sister had her reasons," Julia said, trusting her sister. If it weren't for some unavoidable hardship, she would never have run away from her wedding.
"Julia, you went out just now. You didn't run into any reporters, did you? I wonder if the Horne Family has canceled the wedding." If the wedding was canceled, the entire T City would know.
"Mom..." Julia started, about to reveal that she had taken her sister's place, when the Housekeeper interrupted.
"Madam, Mr. Horne is here."
Hearing that Glades Horne had arrived, Scarlett Taylor's face clouded with worry. She murmured, "Is he here to vent his anger?" She hadn't forgotten Glades Horne's furious demeanor from the previous day. He hadn't uttered a single curse, yet his silent anger had been terrifying enough.
Before Scarlett Taylor's words had fully settled, Glades Horne entered, his steps firm and assured. His handsome face was expressionless, and he was followed by his two black-clad Bodyguards.
Julia looked up at him, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. He'd only been gone for a moment; why was he back already?
"Mr. Horne, you're here," Scarlett Taylor said, quickly concealing her worry. She stood up hastily and turned to Glades Horne, forcing a smile that looked stiff on her tense face. She felt a knot of unease, uncertain of his intentions.
Glades Horne's lips were pursed, and he didn't respond to Scarlett Taylor immediately. He walked towards her, his sharp gaze sweeping past her to Julia, who stood by the sofa, her gaze averted. As he looked at Julia, his eyes flickered, and the lines of his face softened slightly.
Retracting his gaze from Julia, Glades Horne then spoke to Scarlett Taylor in a gentle tone, "Mom, please don't call me Mr. Horne. It sounds too formal."
Mom?
Startled, Scarlett Taylor looked up at Glades Horne, her eyes wide with confusion.
Hearing Glades Horne call her mother "Mom," Julia also turned to look at him, her expression uncharacteristically stiff.
She knew he was calling her mother "Mom" because of her, not because of her sister.
"Mr. Horne..." After a moment, Scarlett Taylor finally found her voice. "Why... why are you calling me Mom?" Her eldest daughter had run away, hadn't she? They hadn't gotten married. So why was Glades Horne calling her "Mom" now? Was he trying to tell the Bluen Family that he, Glades Horne, would never give up on Ruby Bluen?
"Mom, please call me Glades." He continued, "Come, Mom, please sit down. I have something to show you." As he spoke, he subtly glanced at Julia, who looked visibly uncomfortable.
As he spoke, he gently guided Julia to sit beside him, facing Scarlett Taylor. Then, from an inner pocket of his suit jacket, he took out his marriage certificate, placed it gently in front of Scarlett Taylor, and said softly, "Mom, please take a look at this."