Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law

His heart, however, was seriously biased towards Pheobe Rogers.

"Gian Horne!" Mila Anderson was so angry her chest ached.

"Dad." Julia Bluen stepped in front of Mila Anderson. She puffed out her chest and stood straight, her tall, slender frame seeming to tower over Gian Horne, as if she were even taller than him. Her face took on a stern expression. A fiery anger tinged her almond-shaped eyes as she looked at Gian Horne and smiled faintly, a beautiful smile dripping with irony. "Dad, who do you think loses face when a wife encounters the mistress? Who has the right to be angry? Who doesn't? Who has the right to reprimand? You say she's losing face; may I ask how Mom lost face?"

This was a problem between her parents-in-law, and she hadn't wanted to interfere, but her father-in-law's blatant bias made her unable to stop herself from speaking up for her mother-in-law.

Being a woman herself, she naturally sympathized more with her mother-in-law. After all, the relationship between her parents-in-law was legitimate, while the one between her father-in-law and Pheobe Rogers was not.

At this moment, Julia Bluen saw Gian Horne not as her father-in-law, but as a man defending his infidelity.

"Julia, this is between your mother and me. Don't interfere."

Shame colored Gian Horne's aged face.

Julia Bluen's sarcastic smile felt like slaps landing on his face, making him wish he could find a hole to crawl into.

"Julia, that's your father!" James Horne, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, his voice cold.

Regardless of his mother's status, a son always protects his own mother.

Julia Bluen laughed, her smile still full of irony. She looked at James Horne, her gaze sharp yet clear, making him avert his eyes slightly.

"Yes, 'father' is a grand word. Paternal love is like a mountain, always deeply moving. Fathers are always the best in their children's eyes." Julia Bluen said only this, but Gian Horne's face turned pale. She didn't continue, merely turning to support Mila Anderson and leading a fuming Adele Horne away. With her head held high and chest out, she walked past the ridiculous trio, saying, "Mom, let's go shopping."

He was her father-in-law, so she couldn't be too harsh. But that one implicit remark was enough for Gian Horne to deeply understand its meaning. He didn't deserve the title of 'father'; he had only brought pain to his children—whether Glades Horne and his sister, or James Horne—all of whom suffered greatly due to his emotional infidelity.

"What kind of daughter-in-law is she? Daring to criticize her own father-in-law! She has no upbringing whatsoever." Seeing Mila Anderson leave, Pheobe Rogers began to pick at Julia Bluen in front of Gian Horne. It wasn't that she disliked Julia Bluen; she hated Julia Bluen's identity as Glades Horne's wife.

Pheobe Rogers feared Glades Horne but harbored the deepest hatred for him because he had taken the entire Horne Family legacy, leaving her son with nothing.

"Mom!" James Horne called out coldly, displeased with his mother's accusations against Julia Bluen.

"What 'Mom'? Am I wrong?" Pheobe Rogers retorted irritably. She didn't like how her son seemed to side with Glades Horne, as if she, his own mother, mattered little to him.

"I have something to do. I'm leaving." James Horne thrust the items he was carrying for his mother back into her hands and strode away, not wanting to stay a moment longer.

Julia Bluen siding with Mila Anderson was somewhat depressing to him, but he understood it was quite normal. Mila Anderson had endured so many years of loneliness. Even he could sympathize with her now and felt no resentment, so Julia Bluen's support for her was even more understandable.

No matter what, Julia Bluen was Mila Anderson's dear daughter-in-law and would never support his mother in this situation.

"Pheobe, I'm feeling a bit unwell. I think I need to go home and rest," Gian Horne said, having also lost the mood to accompany Pheobe Rogers. That one sentence from Julia Bluen had shaken his heart profoundly, prompting him to reflect: how much care had he shown Glades Horne and his sister when they were young?

Even if he truly loved Glades Horne and his sister, in his heart, he loved James Horne more. Only after Glades Horne became his pride did he begin to tilt the scales in Glades Horne's favor.

With those words, Gian Horne also departed.

In a moment, Pheobe Rogers was left standing there alone, so furious that she violently threw the expensive things she had just bought onto the ground.

This was infuriating!

Mila Anderson now had a daughter-in-law to speak for her. But what about her? Her own son barely stood up for her, let alone a daughter-in-law who was nowhere in sight.

Julia Bluen accompanied Mila Anderson shopping, but they didn't stay out long before heading back. The unexpected encounter with her old rival, Pheobe Rogers, had long since spoiled Mila Anderson's mood for shopping.

Upon returning home, she saw Gian Horne sitting silently on the sofa in the living room. She merely glanced at him before heading upstairs, clearly unwilling to deal with him. She wanted some quiet for herself.

Her room was her haven, comforting a heart that had been wounded for nearly thirty years.

Adele Horne had veered off halfway home to blow off steam with Orlando Evans.

After Mila Anderson went upstairs, Julia Bluen left the living room to accompany the old lady in the Courtyard.

Glades Horne hadn't returned yet, and she didn't know where he had gone.

When Julia Bluen called him, he said he was out dealing with some matters and would only return in the evening. He asked her to wait for him at home, as he had plans for a date with her that night.

After chatting with the old lady for a good while, the old lady said she was tired and wanted to return to her room.

Julia Bluen then left the grand Horne estate and made a trip to her parents' house.

Her sister, Ruby Bluen, was off work today as well, but she wasn't at home; instead, she had gone to the army base to see Marcel Horne. Her parents were home, though. Julia Bluen sat at her parents' house for half an hour, then, thinking Glades Horne would be returning soon, she left and went back to the Horne estate.

She felt this kind of life was utterly boring. No wonder her mother-in-law always wanted to play cards; staying at home was simply too idle. Fortunately, she had insisted on working. Otherwise, she would have followed in her mother-in-law's footsteps, doing nothing but wait for her husband day after day.

She went up to the rooftop of the Main House and sat by the swimming pool, absent-mindedly gazing up at the darkening sky.

The sun had already set.