Seeing Orlando Evans's face turn ugly, Adele Horne couldn't help but call out to Glades Horne's retreating figure, "Brother, I want Orlando Evans to accompany me home."

Upon hearing Adele Horne's call, a look of joy appeared on Orlando Evans's face. Adele Horne was unwell and most in need of company. Perhaps Glades Horne, in his deep love for his sister, would agree to Adele's request and allow her to freely enter and exit the Horne Family residence again. In that case, she could continue to be close to Glades Horne. Even if she couldn't become his woman, just seeing him often would be a satisfaction—the kind that is like quenching one's thirst by looking at plums.

Glades Horne did not pause, leading Julia Bluen to the Rolls-Royce. He opened the rear door and gently ushered Julia Bluen inside, then followed. Regarding his sister's words, his lips remained pressed together without a single response, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

His silence made Adele Horne dare not act rashly. It also extinguished the hope that had just ignited in Orlando Evans's heart, deepening her resentment even more.

The Rolls-Royce started and, in the blink of an eye, disappeared from everyone's sight.

"Orlando Evans, I'm sorry." Adele Horne looked apologetically at Orlando Evans beside her. She had been trying her best to help Orlando Evans, but when her brother stood firm, he was like stone, and there was nothing she could do. "But don't worry," she continued, "I'll definitely try my hardest. One day, I will make it so you can see my brother often, just like before."

Orlando Evans smiled faintly, a smile that was forced and full of grievance. She lowered her eyelids and said painfully, "It's not your fault. Glades doesn't like me; I should have given up long ago. But... Adele, if you ever fall in love with a man, you'll understand how I feel."

To love someone so deeply, only to be treated like air by them—that kind of pain isn't something most people can fathom. Her heart truly ached.

"You should go home and rest. Don't anger your brother for my sake." Orlando Evans put on an extremely magnanimous front, appearing genuinely concerned for Adele Horne. She seemed to have forgotten she had just been instructing Adele Horne on how to frame Julia Bluen and, in doing so, anger Glades Horne.

"Okay." Adele Horne said goodbye to Orlando Evans, and Wade Coleman then drove her to the Horne Family villa.

「In the car」

Julia Bluen turned to look at the man beside her. He was steady as a mountain, his lips tightly sealed. He sat as immovably as a mountain itself, his handsome face taut. Several lines of displeasure were visible, and his thick, strong brows were slightly furrowed, clearly indicating his discontent. Even while seated, his robust physique exuded an almost suffocating, oppressive aura.

Julia Bluen had, of course, heard what Adele Horne said earlier. She also knew why Orlando Evans had been thrown out of the Horne Family residence and forbidden to set foot through their door again. Naturally, she had no fondness for a woman who was always scheming to climb into her man's bed.

"Why didn't you agree to Adele's request?" Julia Bluen asked, her eyes crinkling as she smiled gently, her tone teasing. "Adele is sick right now and really wants someone with her."

Glades Horne turned his head. His dark, bottomless eyes fixed on Julia Bluen, his lips pressing even tighter.

She didn't like it when he always pursed his lips. That thought crossed Julia Bluen's mind again.

Leaning to one side, she practically dived into Glades Horne's embrace, her small hand reaching for his pursed lips as she mumbled, "Stop pursing your lips all the time. When you do that, it makes you seem so gloomy and hard to get along with."

He caught her small hand, pulled it down, and held it tightly. Glades Horne's gaze softened, losing its earlier inscrutability.

"It's a habit." He truly wished he could just roll her into a ball and swallow her whole; that way, she'd always be with him, the object of his constant, deep concern.

"Glades, I have something to tell you." Julia Bluen decided she would tell Glades Horne about Nicholas Coldwell's harassment.

Glades Horne's eyes flickered. This was what he had been waiting for—for her to tell him of her own accord.

Fondly ruffling her short hair, he replied indulgently, "Go on, I'm listening."