Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law

Chapter 392 392: Affectionate (1)_1

Adele Horne rested her head on Julia Bluen's shoulder and wept unrestrainedly, crying her heart out. Julia, like a gentle mother, softly patted her back. This small gesture deeply touched Adele. Even her own mother had rarely consoled her this way.

In the past, acting on behalf of Orlando Evans, she had constantly looked down on Julia Bluen. From the moment she learned Julia was with her elder brother, she had taken it upon herself to warn Julia, as if her brother needed her approval to marry. After Julia married into the family, Adele had treated her coldly, often mocking her and picking fights. She had also instigated their mother more than once, trying to make her dislike Julia.

She believed she would never accept Julia and even thought she would one day drive Julia back to the Bluen Family. It wasn't until her elder brother furiously defended Julia that she realized she could never break them apart.

Later, when Julia's pregnancy was announced, her attitude towards Julia softened slightly, but her heart still favored Orlando Evans. Now, she finally understood that only her own family genuinely cared for her. They rarely had time to spend with her and often let her do as she pleased, but their concern for her had always been present. Even her fourth brother, whom she had bullied and mocked countless times since childhood, held a deep-seated care for her.

Concern from outsiders might sometimes be genuine, but it often came with ulterior motives.

Through this ordeal, she had finally seen things clearly.

Though her heart ached and it was difficult, she had learned her lesson. From now on, she would be more discerning when judging people. She also knew her arrogant, condescending attitude had to change.

She no longer wanted to be that detested, spoiled young lady.

After crying for a while, Adele Horne's mood gradually calmed.

"Pleasant Goat..." Julia's cell phone rang.

Hearing the children's song "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf," Adele couldn't help but laugh through her tears. She said to Julia in a hoarse voice, "Julia, you're about to become a mother. Are you still using this song as your ringtone? You're even more childish than I am."

Seeing her sister-in-law laugh and even joke about herself, Julia felt less worried. While answering the phone, she said, "That's because my heart is pure and innocent."

"I know my wife's heart has always been pure and innocent," Glades Horne's deep voice came through the phone. Upon hearing it, Julia called out his name. Without waiting for him to ask, she quickly told him everything to put his mind at ease.

Adele sat up straight and took a tissue from the box on the dashboard to wipe away her tears. Listening to Julia's phone conversation with her elder brother and seeing Julia radiating happiness made her envious. Remembering her own plight, she became downcast again, wondering if she could still find happiness after losing her innocence.

After the call with Glades, Julia consoled Adele a few more times, then drove her back to the Horne family villa.

「Coastal District」

Phoebe Rogers slammed her cell phone onto the floor in frustration, then slumped onto the couch, her face seething with anger.

"So, the old man is like that, which is one thing, but the son too? What kind of world is this where my own flesh and blood doesn't side with me! Glades Horne, what kind of magic do you possess that you can steal away even my own son? Despicable!"

Phoebe kept cursing incessantly.

She knew the Horne family had held a matchmaking wine party for her son, but as his biological mother, she couldn't attend. She was used to being excluded by the Horne family. Though it angered her, she waited quietly. Thinking of the attendees as people from the Upper Class Society, she believed that if her son took a liking to one of the heiresses, it would greatly benefit him. Once her son married and settled down, she could finally rest easy.

Just now, she had excitedly called Gian Horne to ask about James Horne's matchmaking. Gian, however, said he didn't know his son's preferences or thoughts. This infuriated her, and she berated him over the phone. She accused Gian of now focusing all his attention on Mila Anderson and the children Mila had borne, showing no concern for the son she herself had borne. He wasn't even aware of his own son's preferences or thoughts.

She also railed against Gian's recent coldness towards her, complaining that he hadn't visited or spent time with her.

Unexpectedly, Gian retorted, "You harpy, always making a scene over nothing!" and then hung up.

She was stunned, as if doused with a bucket of cold water—chilly to the bone. Then her heart raced, became unsettled, and ached. She thought about her thirty years with Gian. She had been officially nameless and unrecognized, yet she had borne him a son. Gian had always claimed to love her more than Mila and had been very tolerant and doting. That was why she had tormented Mila daily. To be insulted like that now—how could her heart not panic, not be in disarray, not ache?

She feared being abandoned now in her old age. Having battled Mila Anderson all her life, she didn't want to end up like this.

When she tried calling Gian's cell phone again, it was turned off. Anxiously, she called her son to ask about the matchmaking. He, however, replied coolly, "Mom, this is my own business. I can handle it myself. You don't need to interfere." Then he also hung up.

Both father and son treated her this way.

Was she so despicable?

Why would both father and son treat her this way?

This was infuriating!

Glades had frozen Gian's bank cards. When the day came for Gian to provide her living expenses, he didn't send her any money. Now, she was depleting her own savings. Her son had never paid much attention to her. Even though he might protect her in front of others, he wouldn't care about her living situation unless she was so destitute she had to beg for a living.

The son of her old rival was treated so well, but her own son treated her this way. Was this retribution?

Unconsciously, tears welled up in her eyes.

For the first time in thirty years, Phoebe Rogers shed tears over matters of the heart. In the past, she had always been the victor, always the one to laugh last.

Because of Adele's situation, Julia's day off was disrupted. She couldn't go out for a romantic day with Glades as planned. Time slipped by unnoticed, and soon, the sun had once again set into the sea.