Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law-Chapter 638_1

On the surface, the matriarch of the Horne Family seemed to be Mila Anderson, but in reality, Julia was now the one in charge.

"Silvia Baxter came to see me."

Julia spoke softly as she entered their cozy home.

Silvia Baxter appeared as soon as Glades left, which Julia found too coincidental.

Glades Horne’s brows furrowed, then he looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

She pulled him down to sit on the sofa, then leaned her hands on the back of it, trapping him in her embrace. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes met his. The couple hadn’t been this intimate in a long time. Julia scanned Glades’s face carefully before continuing, "You had just left when she showed up, almost as if she knew you would be gone. She brought me flowers, which I didn’t accept. She invited me to meals, which I refused, and she offered me other gifts that I also didn’t take."

Finally, Julia said gravely, "Glades, I don’t think Silvia Baxter is only interested in my looks."

Glades Horne’s expression grew somber as he held her, inhaling her faint, sweet scent.

"Don’t worry, I’ll find out the truth."

While they were speaking, Glades Horne’s cellphone rang. It was his bodyguard, whom he had instructed to follow "Old Seven."

After taking the call from the bodyguard, a cold, sinister, and terrifying smile suddenly played on Glades Horne’s lips.

The bodyguard tailing "Old Seven" discovered that he was indeed one of Silvia Baxter’s people.

Silvia Baxter had used the "lure the tiger away from the mountain" stratagem on him.

Silvia Baxter dared to meddle with his woman? Not a chance!

「By the seaside.」

James Horne sat on the beach, his head still spinning, staring at the dark, vast sea. Despite having drunk too much, the ocean breeze did nothing to sober him.

He didn’t know where to go. He had been driving aimlessly and, without realizing it, had ended up at the seaside.

Sitting on the soft sand, he seemed to have no thoughts at all. His mind felt empty, as if something was fluctuating within. Yet, whenever he tried to grasp it, it dissolved into a vast expanse of nothingness.

Apart from the relentless roar of the waves, he was completely alone.

The red Audi was parked not far away on the shore.

On the vast, quiet beach, there was only one man and one car.

Their only companion was the endless, indifferent sea.

After some time, a slender, elegant figure sat down beside him. Rebecca Hughes’s crisp, cheerful voice reached him. "James Horne, why are you sitting here moping all by yourself? I had a hard time finding you. You didn’t even answer my calls."

James Horne turned his head to look at her.

His lips pursed, but he didn’t respond.

"If you wanted to enjoy the sea breeze, you should have invited me. That wasn’t very friendly of you. You’re bored, and so am I," Rebecca chuckled mischievously. James realized that ever since he had known her, she was always smiling. She was an optimistic girl. Even though she didn’t have many friends and the Upper Class Society considered her an oddity, she nevertheless faced life with a smile, indifferent to others’ opinions. She only wanted to do what she liked—except for becoming a doctor, which Uriel Hughes strictly forbade.

Suddenly, James felt an intense wave of envy. He envied her carefree life, her constant happiness, as if she knew nothing of worldly sorrows.

"Stop appearing in front of me!"

James growled suddenly.

He was dying of jealousy!

Why could she be so optimistic, always laughing so happily? It was so hard for him to share that optimism, to smile like her. He carried the label of ’illegitimate child.’ He harbored an unrequited love for his elder brother’s wife. He lived under the shadow of his mother. He could never laugh as carefreely as Rebecca.

Rebecca was startled, looking at him in bewilderment, as if she didn’t recognize him.

"James Horne, have you been drinking? You smell of alcohol. Really, if you wanted to drink, why didn’t you call me? I could have kept you company until the end of time," Rebecca laughed again, not taking James’s sudden anger seriously.

"Leave! Stop bothering me! I get irritated just looking at you. Just go!" James particularly detested Rebecca’s laugh at that moment. What he yearned for was Julia’s laughter, not Rebecca’s.

Yet, Julia’s laughter would always be for his elder brother.

"James, are you upset? What happened? Tell me, I can help you with your troubles. Is it still about your mother...?"

"Shut up! Don’t talk about that woman in front of me! I hate her! I hate her so much! How could she do this? She didn’t consider my feelings as her son at all. She kept saying she loved me, loved me as much as her own life, but her love was filled with manipulation. She was using me. All she wanted was to be the matriarch of the Horne Family and the head of the Valence Group, so she could revel in that power. She knew how much I cared about my elder brother and Julia, yet she still wanted to hurt Jimmy..."

James seemed to be breaking down, the frustration he had pent up for nearly a month bursting out like a flood from a breached dam.

A pair of soft hands reached out, pulling him into an embrace. It was warm, without any cunning or manipulation—so pure, so clear.

He suddenly stiffened.

Rebecca gently held him, as if he were a crying infant starved of a mother’s love.

For the first time, someone gave him a motherly hug.

His muddled mind began to clear a little.

"James, I know you’re hurting. Tell the sea whatever is bothering you. Letting it out will make you feel better," Rebecca said, unaware of the deep affection lacing her words.

"It’s none of your business! Leave, stop bothering me!"

James suddenly pushed her away, stood up, pointed into the distance, and growled at Rebecca.

"James Horne..." Rebecca also stood up. How could he change his attitude so quickly?

Ignoring her, James staggered off into the distance.

Seeing his unsteady steps, Rebecca worriedly hurried after him. She shouldn’t take the words of a drunk man too seriously.