Scarlett Taylor picked up the little red book. When she saw the words "Marriage Certificate," she obviously froze. As she opened the booklet and saw the photo of Glades Horne and Julia Bluen, she instantly became a stone statue.
Glades Horne took the marriage certificate back from Scarlett Taylor's hands without offering her an explanation and took Julia Bluen by the hand. While pulling her up to stand, he said to the still-petrified Scarlett Taylor, "Mom, I'm taking Julia out to eat."
"Oh, okay."
Beyond replying absentmindedly, Scarlett Taylor couldn't think of anything. The shock was too great, preventing her from pondering why things had turned out this way.
Having received Scarlett Taylor's response, Glades Horne walked outside with Julia Bluen.
Once they had left the Main House, they saw the sun hanging high in the sky, already scorchingly hot. Julia Bluen then realized that, unknowingly, it had reached midday.
Turning her head and looking down, she saw the strong hand gripping hers and could feel the warmth from Glades Horne's large palm. Julia Bluen had wanted to pull her hand away but then thought of something and let Glades keep holding it.
Glades Horne guided Julia Bluen into the back seat of his car, and he too climbed in. Two Bodyguards took their places, one as the driver and the other in the front passenger seat.
Once the car door closed, Glades Horne's powerful build pressed Julia Bluen against the car door.
"Glades?"
Julia Bluen raised an eyebrow. What is he planning to do?
Glades Horne leaned down, looking at Julia Bluen with a commanding presence, his tone unusually serious. "Julia, we need to talk."
A talk is fine, but does he need to pin me down?
Julia Bluen shifted her confined body and looked up at Glades Horne's unfathomable eyes. She tried to see into the depth of those dark pools. Alas, his gaze was as bottomless as a deep well, and her skills were insufficient to gauge its depths.
"Glades, go ahead. I'm all ears."
Glades Horne's head lowered even further, closing the gap between them. His gaze deepened further, yet it couldn't hide the burning intensity within. His sensuous lips parted. His words came out sounding gentle but were, in fact, very serious and laced with an undeniable authority; the haughty aura he was born with peaked as he began to speak, "First, we're married, and you were the one who proposed. Second, don't call me by that old term anymore. I'm not your 'brother,' but your husband. 'Glades' is fine."
Julia Bluen blinked. Wow, this was the first time she realized just how domineering the man in front of her could be.
Regarding Glades Horne's words, she had no grounds for objection.
Because, the issue of marriage, was proposed, well, more or less by her.
Alcohol, the cause of all troubles!
The term of address… it's a habit, hard to break, isn't it?
"Do you have any objections?" Glades Horne relaxed his grip, allowing Julia Bluen to slide out from his embrace. He took her place, while she moved to his former seat.
"No."
What objections could she have?
He spoke nothing but the truth.
"Still upset?"
Glades Horne's handsome face suddenly drew close to Julia Bluen's again. "Still upset?" he asked in a deep voice.
"Is he worth my continued distress?" Julia Bluen countered with her own question.
Locking eyes with her, Glades Horne solemnly uttered, "Not worth it!"
"My sister..."
"She asked me not to seek her out, for the sake of our shared upbringing. Julia, unless she comes back, you won't get any news of her from me." Mentioning his fiancée—no, ex-fiancée—Glades Horne's expression subtly changed, unable to mask his dejection.
Julia Bluen fell silent.
A brief silence filled the back seat of the car.
Suddenly, a long, powerful hand reached out, lifting Julia Bluen's chin with a gentle yet irresistible force. She passively looked up at the stunningly handsome face before her.
Glades Horne gazed deeply at her, as if he had never truly known her before. His long, strong fingers gently brushed across Julia Bluen's face, his touch sending an unexpected flutter through her heart.
He really is uncommonly handsome! Julia Bluen thought to herself.
She had once described him as a perfect flower, one that naturally attracted many insects.
Indeed, there were plenty. This included not only the shameless and persistent Orlando Evans, who sought to enter the Horne Family through Adele Horne, but also many women outside. Any woman who had seen him became completely infatuated; those desiring to be his wife could form a line all the way to Beijing.
His handsome face drew closer. A shadow fell over her vision as he pulled her into his embrace. Glades Horne then gently tousled her short hair and spoke in a deep voice, "Julia, life is long. We both need to try to adapt to one another, and to this transformation of our relationship."
Since he had chosen to marry her, he must forget Ruby Bluen. Starting today, he had to make room for Julia Bluen in his heart. She, too, could no longer regard him as her brother-in-law, nor could she cling to the memory of that damned Nicholas Coldwell. Many rush into marriage. Those who manage not to rush to divorce afterward are the ones who accept reality. They give each other the opportunity to understand and accept one another, preventing their story from turning into one of hasty marriages followed by hasty divorces.