Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law-Chapter 536 My Heart Belongs to Someone (1)_1
The spacious office suddenly became very quiet, so quiet that Glades Horne could hear Hansen Ruiz's breathing.
Hansen Ruiz stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, maintaining the same overlooking posture as Glades Horne. Both men naturally possessed an air of leadership. Wherever they went, they could carve out their own domains and control their own worlds. Perhaps their similar natures made them both enjoy standing high above to look down, a vantage that gave them a sense of superiority born from their achievements.
Beyond the window, aside from the sky, they could see the surrounding buildings, which were all much shorter than the Valence Group's office building. Because of this, the Valence Group stood out like a crane among chickens, attracting everyone's attention.
The sheer size of the Valence Group, its wealth, its legend, and its stature in the city were unparalleled, not even by the Bluen Family consortium.
"Haven't you been accompanying your wife, Julia, lately?" Hansen Ruiz suddenly asked, turning his head slightly with a low chuckle and a smile.
He, too, doted on his wife, Rachel Bailey, but compared to Glades Horne, Glades's way of spoiling his wife was truly unique. These past few days, he had noticed Glades was rarely at home with his wife. Instead, Glades had been inexplicably coming to the office to work every day, something equally unprecedented. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
Glades was highly capable. He didn't need to be in the office every day like those of his grandfather's generation. His work hours were flexible, and he only occasionally made an appearance, yet the vast empire of the Valence Group, from its subsidiaries to its chain stores, remained firmly under his control.
"She's been busy socializing with those ladies from the Upper Class Society lately." At the mention of his beloved wife, Glades's expression immediately softened. The chilling aura that had emanated from him when he spoke of Pheobe Rogers vanished in an instant. Even his icy eyes became exceptionally gentle, so soft they seemed to brim with affection.
A faint smile touched his lips, one that radiated contentment and happiness.
Hansen Ruiz also felt his married life with Rachel Bailey was quite blissful and filled with happiness. Of course, it would be even more wonderful if his stubborn, tyrannical, and domineering mother wouldn't come to cause trouble. But seeing the natural expression of contentment on Glades's face, he suddenly envied Glades. He envied the harmonious and fulfilling life Glades shared with Julia Bluen, and even felt a pang of jealousy that Glades's married life seemed richer and happier than his own.
"Didn't she used to dislike excessive socializing with those people?" Hansen Ruiz asked, somewhat curious. As Glades's most capable assistant, as well as his close friend and confidant, he knew very well how much Glades cared for the Bluen sisters. Thus, he was also quite familiar with Julia Bluen's past.
A young lady born with a golden spoon, she preferred independence, concealed her privileged identity, found her own jobs, and worked for others. Moreover, to blend in with ordinary people, she kept a low profile and seldom attended Upper Class Society banquets or parties, and the like. The outside world knew the Bluen Family had two daughters, but few knew the true appearance of the most favored younger daughter.
Hansen Ruiz was actually very grateful for Julia Bluen's self-reliance. Without it, he would never have met Rachel Bailey. And if Julia hadn't known Rachel, how could he, Hansen Ruiz, ever have married Rachel?
Glades merely offered a faint smile, his eyes reflecting an understanding of Julia's actions, but he didn't explain everything to Hansen Ruiz.
His mother was opening a beauty salon. The location was already selected, and the previous tenants had completely vacated the premises, so his mother's salon was ready to begin renovations. Once it opened, it would need the support of those ladies from high society. Of course, the beauty salon would also need many beauty professionals, but that wouldn't be difficult for his mother to arrange. As long as she offered high enough salaries, she could hire the best employees. His wife, Julia, had been busy attending various parties lately, networking within the Upper Class Society and meeting countless affluent ladies—undoubtedly all for his mother's beauty salon.
He understood his wife.
She wouldn't expend so much effort on something, especially attending parties she'd always disliked, unless there was a clear benefit.
Heh, that was his wife, all right—never one to engage in unprofitable ventures.
"You and your wife haven't had a disagreement, have you?" Seeing Glades only smile faintly without answering, Hansen Ruiz asked teasingly.
Glades turned his head, shot Ruiz a look, then returned to his desk and sat down. He spun his imposing black CEO chair back and forth, replying irritably, "You and your wife might have disagreements, but Julia and I don't. Julia and I place great importance on emotional connection and communication. When we're together, we deal with things rationally and don't make a fuss over nothing. If I'm in the right, she understands and defers to my judgment. If she's in the right, I understand and yield to her. Ruiz, that's why I want to give her all the best things in the world, why I yearn to pamper her to the heavens—because she's an excellent woman, and she never becomes arrogant or takes my affection for granted, no matter how well I treat her."
Many say that women shouldn't be spoiled too much; once doted on excessively, they become unmanageable. But his Julia, no matter how much he pampered her, would always be herself, never deviating from her inherent nature or her way of doing things.
Could any other woman, cherished so boundlessly by such an extraordinary man, remain as level-headed as his Julia?
Hansen Ruiz also turned from the window and sat down opposite Glades. Hearing Glades's words and finding them reasonable, he felt that he and Rachel Bailey hadn't yet reached the same level of understanding as Glades and Julia Bluen. He realized he needed to work harder at it.
Of course, his Rachel Bailey wouldn't be unreasonable either.
Rachel Bailey had always been sharp-tongued, never sparing anyone with her words. Before their marriage, she had often been at loggerheads with his mother, but after they wed, Rachel's sharp tongue seemed to have softened. He knew it was for his sake that Rachel had begun to treat his mother as her own mother-in-law, consciously restraining herself.
So, yes, Hansen Ruiz thought, with a touch of bias, his Rachel Bailey was wonderful too.
"I'll learn from you in the future," Hansen Ruiz said with heartfelt sincerity.
The man before him was, by nature, someone he should learn from and follow. When he first arrived in T City, no one had managed to command his deep respect—until he met Glades Horne. Only then did he truly believe the saying: beyond every heaven, there is another heaven, and beyond every person, there is someone greater.
