CHAPTER 98: CHAPTER 98 LOVE, HEAVY AS A MOUNTAIN (6)_1

By the time they returned to the Horne Family, the sun had already set, but there was still Hugo Twilight, so the sky hadn’t completely darkened.

"Young Master Glades, Young Madam Julia, you’re back," Aunt Mei greeted them from inside the house, smiling. "The Old Madam has been talking about you, hoping you’d come back soon. It’s as if she’s afraid Young Madam Julia might fly away."

Glades Horne remained silent, while Julia Bluen gave Aunt Mei a smile. The Old Madam truly did care a great deal about her, just as Glades did; it was as if she feared Julia would run off like her sister had. When her sister ran away, the Old Madam hadn’t seemed angry at all. No, the more Julia thought about it, the more she felt the Old Madam was hiding something. She had to coax the secret out of her when she had the chance, because it was related to her.

Once inside the house, Glades suddenly whispered something to Aunt Mei. Aunt Mei glanced at Julia before nodding at Glades and walking away.

What had he said to Aunt Mei?

"Coming back so late? I thought someone had taken the opportunity to flee back to her maiden home again. Talk about history repeating itself," Adele Horne said with a hint of sarcasm upon seeing Julia Bluen.

A fierce glance from Glades, and Adele immediately fell silent, as though struck by frost.

Julia ignored her and took a seat next to Mila Anderson. She tilted her head, batting her innocent almond-shaped eyes at Mila, taking in the strained warmth of Mila’s smile. It seems my mother-in-law really has no fondness for me because of my sister, just as Mother worried, she thought. A faint smile touched her lips as she asked, "Mom, did we come back too late?"

Mila Anderson hadn’t expected Julia Bluen to ask her that question. After a brief pause, she smiled and said, "Not at all. Back in my day, I also returned home around this time." In fact, it really wasn’t late. She then glared at her own daughter, Adele. Mila knew Julia’s question was intended to use her words to rebut Adele’s sarcasm. "Adele," she admonished, "think before you speak in the future. Don’t always make such barbed remarks. Julia is your elder sister-in-law. The saying goes, ’an elder sister-in-law is like a mother.’ You must respect Julia just as you respect me."

Adele Horne was suddenly so angry she nearly leapt to her feet.

Julia Bluen, on the other hand, wore an utterly harmless smile.

Now that she was part of the Horne family, the first person she needed to win over was this sister-in-law of hers who constantly targeted her and picked quarrels.

"Mom!" Adele Horne whined petulantly. Her mother knew very well how much she disliked Julia Bluen, yet she was still siding with Julia to chastise her.

Mila Anderson gave her a stern, reproachful glance. Adele Horne could only pout in frustrated indignation.

Julia Bluen continued to blink her bright, almond-shaped eyes, a gentle smile still playing on her lips.

Glades Horne gave her a look, one that was loaded with meaning.

Julia Bluen sent him a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with confidence. Seeing her playful yet confident smile, Glades Horne chose to be indulgent and stay out of it.

He had to go out every day; it was impossible for him to stay by Julia Bluen’s side at all times. As his wife, Julia would inevitably have to interact with his family. My sister doesn’t approve of Julia. Even though I warned Adele to stay three meters away from her, that was just a threat, a warning. It won’t truly resolve the issues between them. For genuine harmony, it’s up to Julia to make a change. Julia’s playful and confident smile just now was telling me she can handle all these relationships herself. Considering everyone here has known each other since childhood, I’ll let her handle it. I’ll just watch from the sidelines.

Adele Horne glared fiercely at Julia Bluen. Seeing Julia smile so innocuously made Adele want to go crazy. However, as soon as she saw her dear brother’s inscrutable face—a face that became exceptionally gentle when looking at Julia—she had to suppress her volatile temper. Big Brother just got married. If I anger him and he freezes my credit cards in a fit of rage, I’ll lose more than I gain.

Hmph, there’s plenty of time, Adele thought. I have many ways to deal with Julia Bluen. I’m confident that with my methods, it won’t even take a month to make Julia Bluen move out. If Grandma is reluctant to see them move out then, I can still sow discord. In any case, I’m determined to fight this battle! I absolutely will not allow Julia Bluen to thrive in the Horne Family as she did in the Bluen Family!

With that thought, Adele Horne turned her face away, choosing the ’out of sight, out of mind’ approach.

As Adele turned away, a faint, accommodating smile flashed in Julia Bluen’s eyes.

"Julia, come, come to Grandma’s side," the Old Madam chuckled heartily. She had taken in the entire exchange between her granddaughter-in-law and granddaughter without uttering a word of interruption. She knew, just as Glades Horne did, that some relationships indeed required Julia Bluen’s own efforts to change.

Although Julia Bluen had successfully bested Adele Horne in that exchange, there was no malice in her eyes. The Old Madam knew that Julia actually intended to win over Adele step by step.

Julia Bluen stood up from Mila Anderson’s side, walked around the coffee table, and sat next to the Old Madam. The Old Madam took her hand, affectionately patting the back of it. Then, she glanced at Glades Horne and smiled kindly. "Grandma is truly relieved this time."

Here we go again, Julia Bluen thought, the expression flashing quickly in her almond-shaped eyes. She tilted her head and smiled faintly. When she smiled, her lovely eyes curved into crescents, beautiful and captivating. She held the Old Madam’s hand. The Old Madam was over eighty. Even though she lived in good conditions and took great care of herself, she couldn’t escape the relentless march of time, which had left its mark on her hands.

"Grandma," Julia Bluen called out. As the Old Madam nodded, Julia continued, "What exactly is Grandma worried about? Are you worried I’ll run off like my sister did? And why are your words always so cryptic?"

The Old Madam still smiled, her sharp old eyes flashing with mischief. "Julia, you’re a smart girl. In time, you’ll understand everything. Tomorrow, you and Glades are off on your honeymoon. You had dinner at home before coming back, right? Go upstairs with Glades to pack your things and get some rest. Grandma hopes that after your honeymoon, I can be promoted to great-grandmother!"

"Grandma!" Julia Bluen’s face couldn’t help but flush as the others chuckled softly.

Glades Horne also stepped forward and "rescued" Julia Bluen from the Old Madam’s grasp, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He smiled faintly and said, "Grandma, then Julia and I will go upstairs and get to work on making you that great-grandchild."