Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law-Chapter 578: Mila Anderson Officially Files for Divorce (1)_1
In the blackness of night, Julia stood on the balcony of her room. The room behind her was pitch black as she stared in silence at the courtyard and the villa's gate, hoping to see the familiar Rolls-Royce immediately appear at the entrance.
In the afternoon, Glades Horne had received a call from Hansen Ruiz. She didn't know what had been said, but Glades told her he needed to return to the office, and now, at one in the morning, he still hadn't come back.
She called Glades, and he said he was busy and asked her not to worry about him, assuring her that he would be back soon. What business at Valence Group could be so important that it required his attention until now? She called Rachel Bailey and learned that Hansen Ruiz had already gone home and nothing unexpected had happened at the company. If so, Glades's busyness wasn't about company affairs.
Personal matters? What personal matters was he busy with? Why couldn't he even tell her? She didn't mind not knowing; her primary concern was for his safety.
The courtyard was silent, everyone asleep, with only the cold streetlamp standing watch.
Bowing her head, she looked at her swollen belly. The baby inside was also asleep, very peaceful. She gently touched her stomach, then withdrew her gaze from the courtyard and turned back into the room, switching on the lamp by the bed. It wasn't very bright, but it let her see everything inside the room clearly.
Lying on the soft bed, she reached for Glades's pillow, tucked her chin on it, and inhaled his lingering scent before closing her eyes.
With him not by her side, she could only embrace his pillow as she fell asleep. She hoped that when she awoke, Glades Horne would be there before her. She especially hoped that Glades would come back unexpectedly as he did last night, bringing her endless surprise.
Julia's hopes were not fulfilled.
It was three days later that Glades finally returned home.
When he came back, he didn't tell Julia where he had been, and she didn't ask. She knew whatever had occupied him must have been significant.
「The Hughes Family.」
Dressed in comfortable sportswear, Rebecca Hughes grabbed her car keys and headed out.
Uriel Hughes sat on the sofa, his handsome face tense as ever, a man known for his reticence, although he was considerably fond and caring toward his only sister. When he saw Rebecca heading out in her sportswear, his eyebrows raised ever so slightly as he asked coolly, "Rebecca, are you going out?"
"Yeah, I'm going out. I want to play table tennis," Rebecca replied with a smile. As she passed by Uriel, a thought crossed her mind, and she sat down beside him, asking with genuine curiosity, "Big brother, aren't you going to work today?"
"Can't I take a break for once?" Uriel retorted, though his gaze lingered on his sister's charming face.
"You should rest more considering how hard you work. Well, big brother, you take care. I'm heading out. James Horne doesn't like to be kept waiting."
After speaking, Rebecca stood up with her car keys, turned, and walked away. "Rebecca, you and James Horne have been quite close lately. Are you two dating?" Uriel asked in his characteristic cold tone.
He was aware of his sister's burgeoning closeness with James and just wanted to confirm whether they were involved romantically. He had taken his sister to James Horne's matchmaking banquet before. He would naturally be happy if his sister and James could develop a relationship now. Still, Rebecca's personality compelled him to inquire further out of concern.
"We're just friends," Rebecca stopped in her tracks, turning her head to smile in response to her brother's question. As she stated that she and James were merely friends, her mind involuntarily conjured up James's stern face. She rarely saw him smile; he was usually indifferent towards her. Sometimes he might act slightly nicer, while other times he could be colder than her brother. However, she knew he wasn't truly heartless—his preference for red cars was a giveaway. Additionally, she had personally witnessed how tender he could be towards Julia Bluen, so she was certain James had a warm heart beneath his cool exterior. She enjoyed his company; at least when she chattered endlessly, he wouldn't scowl and tell her to shut up.
"He's a good man. Despite being illegitimate, if you like him, you might consider starting a romance. A twenty-nine-year-old successful businessman who has never dated or been involved in scandals indicates a level of fidelity to love. He's a man worth entrusting your heart to," Uriel continued in his chill tone. It was clear he wished for his sister to pursue a romantic relationship with James.
"I'm not worried about that; let's let nature take its course," Rebecca laughed merrily, turning again to leave. She was young and wouldn't force herself into any romantic entanglements. As long as she and James were enjoying each other's company, whether they would become lovers was something to leave to fate.
Lately, James's mood had been consistently downcast, ever since his mother had caused a scene at the Horne Family home. His father had rarely visited the Coastal District to see his mother since, and even when James did go to his mother's apartment, he would often turn back before entering. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
Within the Horne Family, he had become even more silent than usual.
After the matriarch had shown him the will, he'd talked to his mother, urging her not to persist since it was pointless and would only lead to more resentment and hatred towards her. However, his mother lashed out hysterically, "Are you even my son? Why do you always side with outsiders against your mom? Can a billion yuan buy you off? Have you not thought about how much wealth Valence Group has? How many billions does the Horne Family have? You think I would give up for a mere billion? James, I desire to be the matriarch of the Horne Family, to fight for your position as CEO of Valence Group! Look at Glades Horne; being the CEO of Valence Group, how prestigious he is. In front of him, we are but ants; he could flick you into the Pacific Ocean with a single finger! I wish for you to be imposing, for the entire T City to revere you as they do Glades..."
The mismatch in viewpoints and aspirations between mother and son had made it impossible for them to communicate further.
Lately, though his mother had been quiet and calm at home, not crying or making any fusses, he knew she hadn't given up. All he could do now was to refrain from giving her money, to prevent her from having more financial means to cause harm.
