Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law

Julia Bluen nodded and turned to go into the dining room for her meal.

A little while later, as she emerged from the dining room with a full stomach, she suddenly heard a baby's laughter—very clear and sweet.

"Sweetie, smile again! Oh, you're so adorable!" Mila Anderson's voice, filled with envy, drifted over.

There was another woman in the living room, a young married woman. Judging by her full figure, she had likely given birth only a few months ago. Julia didn't recognize her and guessed she might be a neighbor.

"Julia, come quickly! Look at this little treasure—such a beautiful, adorable baby!" Mila Anderson called out with a smile as soon as she saw Julia emerge.

Mila Anderson was holding a baby boy, likely just four months old. The child was beautiful, with a chubby, rosy complexion, so adorable that one wouldn't want to let go once holding him. Mila yearned for grandchildren. At that moment, holding another family's grandchild, she wished the baby were her own. Her face radiated affection, and her smile was very gentle as she continuously played with the child. The baby was also playful, laughing at every playful tease and occasionally waving his arms and kicking his legs in excitement.

"Mom." Julia sat down next to Mila Anderson and was instantly captivated by the beautiful baby. Women are naturally endowed with maternal love. She couldn't help but reach out her hand and say, "Mom, whose baby is this? He's so cute and pretty. Let me hold him, can I?"

Mila Anderson, with a knowing smile, gently placed the baby into her arms, saying, "You should get used to holding a baby."

Julia understood the implication in her words but didn't mind, and awkwardly took the baby into her arms.

The moment the baby was in her embrace, he looked at her and giggled, making her heart lighten with joy.

"Mom, he's laughing! He's laughing! He's so adorable!" Julia exclaimed. Although her hold was a bit clumsy, she was completely smitten with the baby and didn't want to let go.

"This is my card buddy's daughter-in-law, Calista Ward. Her husband is younger than Glades, so technically, she should call you 'sister-in-law'," Mila Anderson introduced the young woman to Julia. "Look, even someone whose husband is junior to yours is already a mother." Julia smiled at the other woman and, this time, didn't internally plead to be spared such remarks.

Mila Anderson's determination to persuade her to have children sooner rather than later had never waned. It had progressed from direct conversations to making her take traditional Chinese medicine, and now, to bringing over an adorable baby to awaken her maternal instincts.

Mila Anderson only made that one comment and didn't press the issue further, instead continuing to play with the baby. The baby wasn't shy at all, clearly enjoying himself with the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, frequently smiling at them both.

But just as Julia was becoming quite attached to holding him, Calista Ward said she had been out with the baby for too long and needed to go home. With that, she gently took the baby from Julia's arms.

"Stay a little longer! The baby is too cute; I really can't bear for him to go," Julia also stood up, earnestly trying to persuade Calista Ward to stay. Her gaze was fixed on the baby's adorable face, her heart stirring with a wave of emotion.

Married for over a month, this was the first time she'd felt such a deep yearning to have a child.

Seeing Julia's reluctance to let the baby go, Mila Anderson secretly exchanged a satisfied glance with Calista Ward. This strategy is the most effective, Mila thought.

"No, the baby needs to rest too," Calista Ward said. Catching Mila Anderson's eye, she firmly declined to stay any longer and, with Julia seeing them off, left the Horne residence holding her baby.

Watching Calista Ward walk further away, cradling the adorable baby, Julia Bluen couldn't help but rest her hand on her own flat stomach. With all of Glades Horne's efforts, she wondered, is there a beautiful, lovely baby growing inside me right now?

Mila Anderson walked up behind Julia Bluen. Seeing Julia's affection for the baby and the unconscious gesture of touching her stomach, satisfaction filled Mila's eyes. From Julia's reaction, it seems I can relax a little, she thought. She does like children, after all, and isn't against having them. Perhaps I've just been too anxious.

"Glades is a man who really likes children," Mila Anderson said softly.

Julia Bluen pursed her lips. I know, she thought. If he didn't like children, he wouldn't be putting in so much effort. If he didn't like children, he would have insisted on contraception instead of letting nature take its course.

Turning around, she asked softly, "Mom, has Glades gone out?"

Today is only Sunday, and we both have the day off, she thought. I'm still at home, so where could he have gone?

Mila Anderson turned and walked back to the sofa to sit down. A cup of tea still sat on the coffee table. She elegantly picked up the cup and took a small sip. The bitter taste made her frown slightly. In this household, Mila Anderson was the only one who enjoyed drinking tea.

"Men always have their places to go." She placed the teacup back on the coffee table gently, speaking calmly, though her gaze drifted, as if she were concocting a lie. "Men from families like ours, when they're not working, either sleep in at home or go out to relax with friends. Or else," Mila Anderson added, her voice tightening and her teeth clenching as she spoke the last part, "they're like your father—spending time with their mistresses!"

Gian Horne used to be exactly like that. On his days off, he wouldn't spend the night at home or even return during the day; he would stay with Pheobe Rogers all day and night.

Thinking about this still pained Mila Anderson's heart. Even though she remained the Lady of the Horne Family, her husband's heart no longer belonged to her. Even now, at her age, it still mattered greatly to her.

If one day she stopped caring, it would mean she no longer loved Gian Horne.

Julia Bluen remained silent, simply gazing at her mother-in-law with her bright, almond-shaped eyes. Her mother-in-law's words seem intended to mislead me, she thought, as if she's implying Glades has another woman.

Considering how obsessed and possessive that man is with me, if *he* had another woman, then there truly wouldn't be a faithful man left in this world.

And seeing her mother-in-law grinding her teeth while speaking of her father-in-law filled Julia with a pang of sadness.

Unable to resist, she reached out and gently, thoughtfully took Mila Anderson's hand. "Mom, let's go out for a walk," she said comfortingly. Her mother-in-law can be so unpredictable, even a bit extreme at times, Julia mused. It's all because of the emotional betrayal she suffered, all because of the loneliness.