CHAPTER 354: CHAPTER 354 NATIONAL TREASURES AREN’T EASY TO BE (3)_1

This... But she was genuinely hungry.

She had only drunk less than half a small tureen of soup, not nearly enough to feel full.

So, Julia Bluen sat down again and quickly ate the better part of a bowl of rice. Though her mother’s cooking skills couldn’t compare to hers, the dishes were all her favorites.

"Eat more slowly, be careful not to choke," Glades Horne said, his heart practically leaping out of his chest as he watched her eat. He hurriedly advised her.

Julia didn’t respond. After finishing the better part of the rice and feeling somewhat full, she and Glades said goodbye to her mother. They left the Bluen family home, laden with her mother’s many reminders and admonitions.

On the way back to the Horne residence, Julia kept staring intently at Glades beside her.

It used to be Julia who was afraid of Glades’s intense gaze, feeling his eyes could be bewitching. But today, it was Glades who was afraid of her stare because, behind her back, he, um, had revealed a few things...

That was what happened after he had taken Julia back to the company that morning...

"Eldest Aunt, I’m going to be a dad! I’m so happy!" He couldn’t suppress the ecstasy of impending fatherhood any longer. Hidden away in the CEO’s Office, he was grinning from ear to ear as he called his eldest aunt to share the good news.

Glades Horne was usually the most composed and mature of men, always calm and collected regardless of the situation. This was why he had become the CEO of Valence Group, wielding significant financial power within the Horne family. However, whenever it concerned Julia, he would transform, becoming either ecstatic or furiously angry.

He had longed to be a father; he was particularly fond of children. Though his exterior seemed inscrutable, he possessed a deeply tender side.

When Dr. Lei confirmed Julia’s pregnancy, he had managed to remain outwardly composed, not fully betraying his ecstatic joy.

But once back in his office, he couldn’t contain himself any longer.

After calling his eldest aunt, he immediately called his younger aunt, saying the same thing.

Then, he called the rest of the Horne family.

It was as if he couldn’t wait to tell the entire world he was going to be a father.

That was why, at this very moment, the members of the Horne family had all gathered at the Mansion.

Gifts and nourishing tonics were, of course, to be expected.

After all, it had been twenty-two years since Adele Horne’s birth, and the Horne family hadn’t welcomed a new addition in a long time.

As Glades Horne was the eldest grandson, the news that he was to become a father made everyone ecstatic, as if they themselves were about to become fathers.

Embarrassed by Julia’s stare, Glades feigned ignorance. "Julia, what’s wrong?" he asked.

Julia brought her face close to his, blinking her apricot eyes, and asked with a mischievous smile, "Glades, did you do something that’s a bit ridiculous for you?"

Glades looked at her, his expression calm, still feigning innocence. "Do you think I, your husband, am the type to do ridiculous things?" he asked in a low voice.

Julia laughed, a sly, cunning sound. She placed her hand on Glades’s chest; even through his clothes, her touch made his entire body tense. He was utterly defenseless against her.

"Julia." Glades quickly grabbed her hands and pulled her into his embrace. Smiling faintly, he said, "You know, your eyes really are getting sharper. Alright, I admit it; I did do something rather ridiculous for me. I told my family about your pregnancy. Julia, I’m just so incredibly happy, truly. I wish I could share this joy with the entire world."

She hadn’t expected it to be him!

Julia laughed helplessly but didn’t blame Glades.

She understood his feelings.

"When we get home, if there are several tureens of nourishing soup waiting, like the ones Mom made, you have to help me run interference, okay? I’m not a pig; I can’t drink that much soup all at once!" Julia grumbled softly, nestling in his arms.

She could already imagine how many nourishing soups and tonics would be presented to her when they returned to the Horne estate.

Given the deep affection and concern the entire family showered on Glades, could she, as his wife, possibly escape their loving attentions?

"Mhm, I wouldn’t mind drinking it for you, but I’m afraid they won’t agree." Glades’s low voice was full of teasing laughter. "Even if I didn’t want you to drink soup all day, I couldn’t just drink it for you in front of the elders. If they saw that, they’d yell at me, ’Glades Horne, who exactly is pregnant here, you or Julia?’ That would ruin my lifelong reputation!"

"This is all your fault," Julia said, poking his chest with her finger.

Glades laughed and held her even tighter.

Alright, it really was his fault.

Since it was his fault, he decided he would strictly instruct the family later not to brew so much nourishing soup for her every day. He would take on the task himself.

However, the thought of his own less-than-stellar cooking skills made him blush with shame.

For his beloved wife, his darling daughter—well, he wanted a daughter first; daughters were a bit cuter—he resolved to secretly learn cooking in his spare time. Of course, this had to be done in secret, without letting anyone know. He wanted to surprise his beloved wife.

「At the Horne Estate.」

It was like a family assembly; everyone had returned.

Except for Marcel Horne, who was in the armed forces, the other three young masters were present. Even Adele Horne, who had been unfriendly to Julia, was there. Her usual demeanor had changed; her face was full of joy. She was holding a very large doll, her favorite childhood toy. She had kept it in excellent condition; after more than a decade, it still looked new. She had decided to give this doll, with its decade-plus history, to her unborn nephew.

Nephew?

When Adele Horne thought of the word, she suddenly chuckled.

Boys didn’t usually like dolls; why had she prepared such a gift?

But she had no money at the moment and couldn’t prepare another gift. She could only pray silently that her sister-in-law—the one who had meddled the previous night, dragging her back to her room to advise her on being more discerning about people—would give birth to twins: a boy and a girl. That way, she would have both a nephew and a niece, and the doll would be a fitting gift.

James Horne hadn’t prepared any gifts.