He guessed those compromising photos were the result of Orlando Evans offending someone else, who had then taken the photos by force. Offending the Horne Family's Eldest Young Master was a death sentence, let alone having an unknown enemy in the shadows. Even if he had the courage of a lion, he wouldn't be able to protect Orlando Evans—not that he dared to anyway.

At this moment, even if Orlando were his own niece, offending the Horne Family's crown prince meant he had to sever ties. Especially now that he had no blood relation to Orlando whatsoever, he had even more reason to cut her off. Fearing he'd be implicated, he had taken the initiative to come to Glades Horne to apologize. He also wanted to make it clear he had no connection whatsoever to Orlando, hoping Glades would be magnanimous and not swallow the company he had built over many years.

He felt just as uneasy as Uncle Ying, who had just left.

He didn't know how long he had waited when the internal phone in the security room finally rang.

A security guard hurried to answer the call.

It was an ordinary secretary, calling the security room after being instructed by Secretary Yang.

"Tell CEO Evans that the CEO is busy and not seeing visitors."

The security guard complied, then hung up the phone and stepped out to relay the message to Alvin Evans.

Glades Horne was clearly in the company, yet he refused to see him. Alvin Evans knew what that meant. His plump face began to change, turning a ghastly white. He refused to give up, repeatedly pleading with the security guards to call upstairs again on his behalf. He truly had an urgent matter to discuss with Glades Horne; it concerned the very survival of the Evans family.

"CEO Evans, I'm sorry, but we can't help you," the security guards replied, politely yet apologetically.

They all understood the CEO's temperament. When the CEO said he wouldn't see someone, he meant it. If anyone dared to call again, the CEO would have them thrown directly into the Pacific Ocean.

"Eldest Young Master Horne! Eldest Young Master!" When Alvin Evans couldn't get the security guards to help, he resorted to shouting at the sixty-eight-story building.

No matter how loudly he shouted, Glades Horne couldn't hear him from such a height; it was all for naught.

After shouting for a while, his throat nearly raw, Alvin Evans knew he wouldn't see Glades Horne that day. But he dared not leave. He returned to his car, deciding to wait outside the company entrance for Glades to emerge.

For the sake of the entire Evans Family not being consumed by Glades Horne's fury, he could not leave.

No matter how inscrutable Glades Horne was, he was still human, right? And being human, he must have some humanity.

Alvin Evans comforted himself inwardly.

Humanity?

Suddenly, Alvin Evans realized something. Wasn't Glades Horne very kind to his own wife? Why not beg Lady Horne to plead with Glades on his behalf?

This thought struck him like a ray of light in a world of darkness. He became incredibly excited and immediately drove off, intending to find Julia Bluen and ask for her help in pleading his case.

A drowning man clutches at straws. In his panic, Alvin Evans had completely forgotten that his own niece had incited Adele Horne to harm Julia. Would Julia really be magnanimous enough to overlook past grievances and help him?

High up on the sixty-eighth floor, by an enormous floor-to-ceiling window, Glades Horne stood like Satan himself, holding a pair of binoculars. From his high vantage point, he occasionally enjoyed surveying the scene below; naturally, his office was equipped with binoculars.

He had seen Alvin Evans's arrival clearly, even the license plate number on Evans's car.

Seeing Alvin Evans depart, a slight, cold smile touched his lips. Want to seek Julia's help to plead with him?

His beloved wife—was she someone just anyone could meet as they pleased?

Putting down the binoculars, he took out his phone and called Hansen Ruiz. His voice was low and ice-cold as he ordered, "Ruiz, there's a black Audi, license plate XXX82. The owner wants to see my Julia. Whatever methods you use, do not let my Julia see that car's owner. However, don't hurt anyone." He had no intention of committing a crime just for the sake of revenge.

"Okay," Hansen Ruiz agreed.

His tone, however, carried a hint of weariness.

He was still agonizing over his own romantic troubles.

Rachel Bailey had vanished today. She wasn't at her rented apartment, nor was she out doing business, and her phone was off. He was currently using his connections to find her. Now, with Glades Horne's call, he was even busier.

"You sound troubled," Glades Horne suddenly asked in a heavy tone.

"It's nothing, it won't affect my work," Hansen Ruiz responded, holding his phone and rubbing his forehead.

"I'll have my Julia talk to that ugly woman of yours."

Ugly woman?

Hansen Ruiz couldn't help but retort, "In my eyes, she's more beautiful than your Julia. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

"You're even more henpecked than I am. You're in for it in the future," Glades Horne said with a light, teasing laugh.

Not to be outdone, Hansen Ruiz replied, "With a boss like you, it's only natural to have subordinates like me. Are you feeling the strain now? Shall I tell Lady Horne that you're completely under her thumb?"

"If you dare say that, I guarantee you'll never get your ugly girl!" Glades Horne's tone instantly turned icy, making Hansen Ruiz shudder. He quickly surrendered, "Alright, I give in. I'm doomed to be your slave for life, having fallen into your hands. However, Mr. CEO, please show some mercy! My little woman is quite headstrong, you know. I'm already vexed enough; please don't make things harder for me. Get Julia... get Lady Horne to help out, to talk to Rachel, okay? If this works out, I'll gladly be your slave for life."

"Deal," Glades Horne agreed. How could he refuse such a good offer that had landed right on his doorstep?

He was genuinely afraid Hansen Ruiz might leave Valence Group. Now, with Ruiz's pledge, he would, of course, do everything in his power to help the man pursue that little woman—someone so ordinary in his eyes that, even now, he couldn't quite recall her appearance.

Ending the call, Glades Horne retracted the chilling aura he exuded. He turned back to his desk, replaced the binoculars in their original spot, and then headed out of his office. He planned to go to Valence now and wait for his dear wife to finish work.

After a few steps, his eyes fell upon the snack cabinet. He casually strolled over and selected a few of Julia Bluen's favorite snacks—the kind she never tired of—then took them and left the office.

When he reached the ground floor, just as he was approaching the main entrance of the building, he paused. His gaze instantly sharpened, turning icy as he stared at the red Audi slowly pulling up to the company's main entrance. It was his younger brother, James Horne's, car.