Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law

Julia Bluen looked up, meeting his gaze steadily, her lips pursed, not saying a word. Her eyes grew somber. What on earth is wrong with her? Had he really done something wrong?

An inexplicable wave of panic washed over Glades Horne again. This man, who feared nothing in the world, was actually unsettled by his wife's silence.

"Julia," Glades's tone became even gentler as he coaxed her face back toward him.

He gently turned Julia Bluen's head to face him. Their gazes locked, and he detected a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes.

Dissatisfaction?

Glades frowned slightly. After a moment of deep thought, he cautiously asked, "Julia, do you know?" Has the covert bodyguard situation been exposed? Did those two bodyguards reveal their identities? Dammit!

Seeing the fleeting sharpness in his eyes, Julia finally spoke. She didn't answer Glades's question but countered with her own, "What do I know?"

Heh, this girl wants me to confess without being pressed, Glades thought.

A light smile flickered across Glades's eyes, making his expression even gentler. He pulled Julia into his embrace, leaning back against the chair, and said in a low, husky voice, "Julia, tell me what you've found." He didn't clarify directly. If her discovery wasn't enough to prove everything, he wouldn't tell her about the covert bodyguards.

He didn't want her to misunderstand that he had people watching her. In fact, he didn't know her whereabouts at all. If he had asked the bodyguards to watch her as well, why would he have needed to call Ruiz to find her location just now? He simply wanted to protect her. In fact, his protection had already proven effective. When she was nearly harassed by Nicholas Coldwell at the hospital, hadn't those two bodyguards appeared just in time to rescue her? She had mentioned this incident to him before.

In his embrace, Julia lifted her head, looking steadily at his handsome face as it lowered towards her. Seeing a trace of panic in his eyes, she knew her earlier silence had worried him. The dissatisfaction in her heart lessened slightly. He had told her long ago about hiring bodyguards for her protection, but she had refused, saying she didn't like being followed. For nearly two months, she had moved about freely, unaware of being watched. However, the coincidences involving those two men were too suspicious, compelling her to consider that possibility.

She wouldn't argue with him; she just wanted to communicate with him once more.

"The two men who stopped the kidnappers just now, I've encountered them three times. The first time was at the hospital, which I told you about. That could have been a coincidence, but even then, it was an incredibly unlikely one. They weren't there for treatment, so how did they just happen to pass by and rescue me? The second time was on my first day back at work; Rachel and I went to Serendipity Cafe for coffee, and I left my bag there. Again, it was those two men who returned my bag to me; they even knew where I was. I could call that a coincidence too. And this time, they stopped the kidnappers, which, again, could supposedly be a mere coincidence. Glades, once could be a coincidence, twice might be chance, but three times points to something deliberate. Glades, it's been three times now. I suspect that if anything else happens to me, they'll undoubtedly appear just in time again. Are you still going to make me believe it's a coincidence?"

Glades's expression remained calm, but inwardly, he admired his wife's cleverness.

He affectionately ruffled Julia's short hair, noticing it had grown considerably. "Julia," he said, "why don't you grow your hair long? Like when you were little. You look even more beautiful with long hair."

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his waist and let out a low cry, quickly grabbing the small hand pinching him. His eyes crinkled with laughter, devoid of anger, only full of indulgence. If we had a child, this man would surely become the most doting father in the world, Julia thought. "Julia, are you trying to murder your own husband?"

"Don't change the subject. Are you trying to dodge the issue? Tell me, when did it start?" Julia wouldn't give him a chance to divert the topic, deliberately putting on a stern expression, though a cunning gleam flashed in her eyes. "If you don't confess honestly today, I'll start ignoring you. If you can do things behind my back today that involve me without my knowledge, then tomorrow you might keep a mistress or have an affair..."

"You're not allowed to ignore me! I've said it before, I will never keep a mistress or have an affair. I absolutely will not let my wife endure the pain my mother did!"

His father keeping a mistress and having illegitimate children was something he couldn't prevent. But he could control his own life. He would never betray her, not physically, not even emotionally.

He dreaded that scenario: lights blazing in the house until dawn, the bedroom door unlatched, a woman clutching a pillow on the bed, silently waiting for her husband to return home.

This was the scene he had witnessed since childhood. His mother had endured several years like that, right up until she became pregnant with Adele. Therefore, he would not follow his father's path.

Realizing her words had struck a raw nerve, Julia quietly wrapped her arms around him. Catching her breath, she softly apologized, "I'm sorry, Glades. I shouldn't have said those things."

Glades held her tightly, as if she would fly away if he loosened his grip.

After countless twists and turns, countless mistakes, they had finally found their way back to the right path. She was the only woman he loved. In this lifetime, he would love only her, spoil only her. If there were a next life, he would still love her, still spoil her.