Today, the two families gathered to discuss various aspects of the wedding preparations and, incidentally, delivered a sky-high betrothal gift to the Bluen Family. On the coffee table lay exquisite gift boxes. These contained valuable jewelry, the keys to a red Ferrari sports car, and deeds to a five-hundred-ping mansion in the luxurious Victory Garden. Additionally, three subsidiary companies and twelve chain stores in the city, all belonging to the Valence Group, were included as part of the betrothal gifts for Ruby Bluen.
Not everyone among them was filled with joy and ecstasy.
The Horne Family's spoiled and mischievous young mistress, Adele Horne, was particularly unhappy. She and Glades Horne were full siblings, and as the only daughter in the Horne Family, she was doted upon, which made her proud and unruly.
Sitting next to her, Orlando Evans, who had been reluctantly brought along by Adele, was extremely upset. Orlando had been a classmate of Adele's for ten years and was her best friend. Coming from a family with high-ranking government officials for parents, although unable to compete with the Horne Family, she was still from a wealthy household. The first time she stepped into the opulent Horne Family mansion and laid eyes on Glades Horne, she fell deeply in love with him.
Seeing her best friend fall for her brother and believing that her friend was a match for him, Adele hoped her friend could become her sister-in-law and therefore created countless opportunities for Orlando. However, years passed, and from the age of fourteen to now twenty-two, Orlando still had not gained the love of Glades Horne.
Now that Glades Horne was about to marry Ruby Bluen, how could these two conniving women be happy?
"I need to step outside," unable to bear the collective joy, Orlando gave Adele a look, then apologized and nodded elegantly to everyone before rising and walking outside.
As she passed by Glades Horne, she gave him a deep look, taking in his anxious expression as he eagerly awaited Ruby Bluen's return home. Her captivating eyes flickered, and without saying a word, Orlando walked past Glades Horne.
A moment later, Adele too left the hall.
A few minutes later, Orlando returned, but she didn't enter the house. Instead, she quickly said something to Glades Horne at the doorway, after which he hurried off with her, followed by the two Bodyguards.
What's going on?
What are those two women up to?
Julia Bluen couldn't help but speculate. She had no fondness for either Adele or Orlando. This was especially true for Orlando. Glades Horne was her soon-to-be brother-in-law and, in just ten days, would officially hold that title. Yet, Orlando was still unabashedly trying to sabotage her sister's happiness.
After placing the chocolates beneath the coffee table, Julia stood up and walked outside as well.
Her own love had been stolen away in the early morning; now, she would not allow anyone to take her sister's love.
Glades Horne hurried toward the Main House's backyard garden. Orlando had told him that, inexplicably, his sister had climbed up one of the trees in the back garden. His sister had a fear of heights. How could she possibly climb a tree?
What a fearlessly naughty troublemaker!
Only when he reached the backyard did a pair of delicate hands wrap around his sturdy waist. The scent of perfume invaded his nostrils as Orlando's soft voice said, "Glades, I love you so much! I really do—I love you so much I could die! Glades, please, don't marry Ruby, will you?"
It was a trap!
Glades Horne's handsome face instantly turned as dark as ink. He had not expected his own sister to collude with an outsider to deceive him at such a critical moment!
Forcefully prying Orlando's hands away, Glades Horne turned around, his tall figure radiating anger. His face was cold and dark, his eyes sharp as swords, cutting into the shorter Orlando as he spoke icily, "Miss Evans, my patience has its limits."
This young girl kept using her friendship with his sister, Adele, to get close to him, employing various means to seduce him. How could he possibly like this immature girl?
If it weren't for his sister's sake, how could he have tolerated her presence any longer?
Seeing Glades Horne's anger, Orlando was obviously frightened, but she still boldly threw herself into his arms again, desperately clinging to him.
The two Bodyguards, who had seen it all before, pretended not to notice unless Glades Horne spoke. They knew that if they acted against Miss Evans, their young mistress, Adele, would have their ears for it.
"I've seen shameless women, but never one so shameless as to throw herself at another woman's fiancé in his own family's home!"
A crisp voice, tinged with both anger and mockery, came from not too far away. Julia Bluen stood there, arms crossed.
"Julia," As soon as Glades Horne saw Julia Bluen, he quickly walked over to her, explaining anxiously, "Julia, it's not what you saw. Please don't tell your sister; it would break her heart."
Orlando, sprawled disheveled on the ground, immediately changed her expression upon hearing Julia's voice. Seeing Glades Horne's anxious explanations to Julia, her jealousy intensified. There were plenty of women in the world better than the Bluen sisters, yet Glades Horne only showed kindness to them.
Getting up, Orlando covered her face and ran away crying.
Adele, hiding in the shadows, also stamped her foot in anger at this outcome. She had colluded with Orlando to scheme against her brother and wreck his marriage with Ruby Bluen.
"Glades, you'd better save your explanations for my sister," Julia suppressed her anger and said disgruntledly, "Men like you are like prize flowers—always attracting pests!"
Glades Horne's face fell; Julia Bluen was actually comparing him to a flower!
His expression darkened further, and his eyes stared at Julia Bluen with great displeasure.
Julia returned his gaze, just as displeased, stating what she believed was an obvious fact. To her, men like him—with good looks, a prominent family background, and the power to command the wind and summon the rain—were like prize flowers, attracting pests that would cling until they devoured him whole.
Suddenly, the sound of a familiar car reached their ears.
Their eyes locked as the same answer occurred to both of them.