Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law

With the sun gone, the wind felt cold.

A suit jacket, fragrant with cologne, was gently draped around her from behind, shielding her from the cold wind. A low, husky voice said, "Why aren't you wearing more? You'll be cold sitting here."

Hearing the familiar, low voice, Julia turned and saw Glades Horne standing behind her, his face full of tenderness as he gazed deeply at her.

She didn't stand up immediately, just met his gaze steadily. After a moment, she said softly, "You're back."

Glades Horne moved to stand before her and crouched down, saying softly, "I'm back."

He reached out his large hand, placed it on her small face, and caressed it gently, as if her face were fragile glass that would shatter with the slightest excess pressure. An unusual light shone in his deep eyes, enveloping her completely. "Just now, when I returned, Dad said a few things to me."

Julia stiffened. Had her father-in-law complained to Glades Horne?

Seeing her reaction, Glades Horne chuckled softly, then pulled her to her feet and sat down where she had been.

Glades Horne returned to the topic. "Dad just apologized to me. He said he was sorry to me and Adele, and even more so to Mom. Julia, tell me honestly, what happened in the few hours I wasn't home? Dad... it's the first time he's ever admitted he was wrong."

"Nothing much." Julia didn't want to gossip.

She leaned completely into Glades Horne's embrace. The image of Calista Ward's adorable baby flashed through her mind, and a tender smile touched her lips. She suddenly laughed, a soft, gentle laugh brimming with maternal affection—a warmth Glades Horne could sense even from behind her.

A thought struck him, and with a surge of overwhelming joy, he carefully moved his large hand to her abdomen. His voice was husky with anticipation. "Julia, here... is my son here already?"

"No."

Not yet.

Her period had only ended ten days ago; even if she were pregnant, she wouldn't know yet.

However, hearing Glades Horne's words, she couldn't help but chuckle. "How do you know it's definitely a son? Can't it be a daughter? Hey, Glades, you don't have that old-fashioned preference for sons over daughters, do you?"

"Do you think I'm that kind of person?" Glades Horne brought his handsome face close to hers, gazing deeply at her as he answered her question with one of his own.

Julia smiled but didn't answer.

"You're not feeling dizzy anymore, are you?" He changed the subject.

"Remember what you promised me last night."

"What did I promise?"

Julia's tone was filled with curiosity. She'd been so dizzy from drinking last night; had she actually promised him something?

"Hire a secretary, one with an excellent alcohol tolerance. That way, when you go to social functions, you can take the secretary along, and they'll block the drinks for you. With your tolerance for alcohol, I really can't rest easy."

Did I agree to that? Julia thought to herself. Why does she always agree to things when she's drunk? Thankfully, he always considers what's best for her, and these things he asks are beneficial and harmless.

"Mhm."

"I'll have the Administrative Department help me hire a secretary tomorrow. Women generally can't hold their liquor as well as men..."

"Don't even think about hiring a male secretary!" Glades Horne's domineering growl interrupted before she could finish.

Julia laughed mischievously, an innocent look on her face, and said good-naturedly, "Didn't you tell me to hire a secretary? One with excellent alcohol tolerance. No matter how well a woman can drink, she probably can't match a man, right? Isn't it trendy to hire male secretaries now? Many large companies have them."

"I don't care! In any case, you can't hire a male secretary!" The 'great man' was stewing in baseless jealousy.

"I'm the one hiring a secretary, not you. Besides, you promised you wouldn't interfere in my work matters," Julia teased, a playful urge to provoke Glades Horne rising within her.

A dark line seemed to appear on Glades Horne's face; he loathed how he'd spoken so definitively back then. Now she always used his own words to shut him up.

"Julia, how about I take you to the Playground to ride the merry-go-round?" Glades Horne suddenly coaxed, as if speaking to a child.

"Hee hee..."

Julia grinned even more mischievously.

This man was quite entertaining when teased.

He couldn't win an argument against her, so now he was resorting to conciliatory tactics.

Ride a merry-go-round?

She wasn't a child anymore.

She'd rather wait until she had her own baby and take them to the Playground then.

"Glades, I'm twenty-six years old."

"Then, how about we go for a walk in the park? It's a great place for a date." A hint of awkwardness flickered across Glades Horne's handsome face before he quickly changed the subject again.

"There's nothing much to see in the park either."

"Where do you want to go then? I'll accompany you anywhere. Julia, our relationship developed so quickly, we didn't really have a courtship phase. I'll make it up to you with a romantic one. Where would you like to go for a date?"

"Really?"

Julia's almond eyes sparkled, and she looked at him with a radiant smile.