Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law

"Julia, you married in your sister's stead. If Glades hadn't been keeping things under control, do you think you could live so comfortably? Our Horne Family accepted this. Since the wedding wasn't canceled, we couldn't very well be without a bride. But your sister... What exactly are you two sisters up to? How can you bully our Horne Family like this? Were you born vixens, specializing in seducing men…?"

A large hand swiftly picked up an apple from the fruit plate on the coffee table and, with lightning speed, stuffed it precisely into Sovia Morris's still-moving mouth, rendering her incapable of coherent speech. She was astounded. As she lifted her eyes, she saw her nephew standing over her like an imposing, cold iceberg. His icy aura enveloped her, and his chilling gaze made her tremble to her core.

She knew this nephew was unpredictable, but she had never imagined he'd use an apple to gag her.

If she weren't his aunt, how would he have treated her?

If Sovia Morris didn't realize by now that Glades Horne was angry because she had also berated Julia Bluen, she would be a fool!

"Aunt, Marcel is thirty years old. He's an adult, capable of independent thought. I hope you'll let him and Ruby develop their relationship freely. They were childhood sweethearts, and now he's single and she's unmarried—why can't they be together? Is it because Ruby was once my fiancée that she no longer deserves happiness? There are so many divorced women in the world; do you think they don't deserve happiness either? Moreover, Ruby has always loved Marcel. It was entirely my fault that she became my fiancée; I used her as a shield against the matchmaking parties you arranged for me. All these years, I was the one using her. She's not at fault! If you must blame someone, blame me!"

Glades Horne spoke coldly. When Sovia Morris removed the apple from her mouth, his gaze turned colder still, and his voice became not just cold, but frosty. "There's one more thing I want to remind you, Aunt. Julia is my wife. I can't even bring myself to utter a single harsh word to her, so naturally, I won't stand by and watch anyone else scold her. Especially not over something that has absolutely nothing to do with her—her only connection is that she and Ruby are blood sisters. I will not spare anyone who bullies Julia!"

The warning was crystal clear. If Sovia Morris dared to take her anger out on Julia Bluen again, he, Glades Horne, would not be lenient, even if she was his aunt!

Sovia Morris's face alternated between pale and livid. She glared at Glades Horne, so enraged that though she repeatedly tried to speak, she couldn't form a coherent sentence. This nephew... Before she even had Marcel, she had cherished Glades as if he were her own son. Even after Marcel was born, she had still doted on him. But now...

Glades Horne was treating her this way for Julia Bluen's sake, and wasn't her own son, Marcel, doing the same to her for Ruby Bluen?

"Glades." When Sovia Morris had accused her of being a vixen, Julia Bluen had wanted to retort, but Glades had acted faster, leaving her astonished. Now, coming to her senses, she realized her husband had been disrespectful to an elder for her sake. She suppressed her unease, quickly stood up, gently pushed Glades aside, and said to Sovia Morris in an embarrassed and apologetic tone, "Aunt, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." While apologizing to Sovia Morris on Glades's behalf, she secretly pinched the back of his hand, signaling him to stop scowling.

She knew he loved and pampered her, but she truly disliked it when he was disrespectful to an elder for her sake; it would make the elders think she was the one to blame.

Glades Horne pursed his lips and remained silent, but his expression was still icy.

He, too, had his own resolve.

In the Horne Family, although Julia Bluen was the eldest young master's wife, if he hadn't protected her and maintained a consistently firm stance, the family wouldn't have treated her kindly. He wasn't oblivious to their opinions of Julia Bluen, even if he didn't ask or say anything. Perhaps things were acceptable before, but ever since Ruby Bluen had run away from the wedding, everyone except for his grandmother and Gian Horne had, to some extent, directed their resentment at Julia Bluen. Only after he took a hard stance, even at the risk of offending the elders, did the family realize Julia Bluen was his absolute limit, someone they dared not offend. This ensured she could live safely within the Horne Family.

All he wanted was for her to be well; he would bear the burden of any unpleasantness, such as offending the elders.

He didn't care.

"Auntie, Glades—well, he was just being impulsive. Please don't be angry with him. I'll have him apologize to you." Sovia Morris's complexion was still ashen. Having been publicly warned and treated this way by Glades Horne, if she could remain calm and unfazed, she'd have to be a saint, or perhaps a ninja turtle. Hearing Julia Bluen's words, she glanced at Glades Horne, who stood arrogantly, watching her coldly. From his stern gaze, she recognized the fierce protectiveness he held for his wife; an apology from him at this moment was clearly out of the question. Turning to Julia Bluen, who was still earnestly apologizing, Sovia thought about how she had just scolded Julia as well. What was Julia's fault in all this? She only married into the Horne Family due to the fallout from Ruby Bluen's actions. Why did I lash out at Julia without considering right or wrong?

A bitter smile touched Sovia Morris's lips as her expression finally softened. She stood up, took Julia Bluen's hand, patted it, and said with that same wry smile, "Julia, Auntie doesn't blame Glades. It was my fault; I shouldn't have scolded you. I was just agitated about your sister and Marcel…" Sovia Morris didn't elaborate, merely picked up her purse, glanced at Ruby Bluen, and turned to leave.

With her nephew present, creating a bigger scene at the Bluen family's home would only infuriate him more. This nephew had doted on Julia Bluen since they were children; if things got out of hand, who knew what lengths he might go to? In the end, she would be the one to lose face.

However, her refraining from making a scene now didn't mean she approved of Marcel Horne and Ruby Bluen.

She could still go to his superiors in the military and ask them to guide him.

"Aunt, if you want to ruin Marcel, feel free to go to his military unit."

As Sovia Morris reached the entrance of the Main House, Glades Horne suddenly spoke in a low voice. His words, like a blast of cold wind, cut into her ears, making her falter. She turned her head to look at Glades Horne one last time, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. Her expression hardened again before she turned and strode away.