Feelings, in truth, are cultivated slowly.
Of course, when nurturing new feelings, the first step is to forget the past. No matter how sweet and happy the past was, what one faces is the present, the future. No one lives a lifetime dwelling on the past.
Glades Horne did have feelings for Ruby Bluen, but Ruby Bluen chose to give up on him, and he had nothing more to say.
Now, the person who would accompany him through the storms of life was the woman in his arms—her name was Julia Bluen!
"The change is too sudden; I'm having trouble adapting," Julia Bluen said, leaning against his sturdy chest. The unfamiliarity was intense, yet the sense of security was equally powerful, making her reluctant to push him away immediately.
He was right. Life is too long; they both had to try to adapt to each other.
Glades Horne said nothing further.
The car sped silently down the highway. The bodyguards dared not turn their heads, pretending not to hear the conversation between the two in the back.
"Young Master, which hotel are we going to?" After the back seat fell silent, the bodyguard who was driving dared to ask.
"Home!" Glades Horne suddenly ordered in a deep voice.
He was accustomed to resolving messy situations decisively. Since he and Julia Bluen had already registered their marriage, he had to let his family know to prevent those with ulterior motives from stirring up trouble.
"'Glades...' The 'brother' part died on her lips under Glades Horne's gaze. Julia Bluen felt a little uncomfortable as she asked, "Are you taking me home to meet your parents?"
She often visited the Horne Estate, but this time, going 'home' meant returning as a daughter-in-law of the Horne Family.
Thinking of Adele Horne's attitude, she could imagine how shocked the Horne family would be when Glades Horne introduced her in her new capacity.
"'An ugly daughter-in-law must eventually meet her in-laws. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything!" Glades Horne saw through her thoughts and tousled her short hair again.
In the Horne family, no one could ever stop him from doing what he wanted. Naturally, no one would dare to bully his wife!
"Young Master," the bodyguard turned his head again and said respectfully, "I just called Uncle Ying. He said that the Master and Madam aren't eating at home. Only Grandmother is there by herself. Do you still want to go home for dinner?"
Glades Horne lowered his head. Julia Bluen raised her eyes, their gazes meeting. Julia Bluen didn't speak, leaving the decision to Glades Horne.
"Emperor." Glades Horne uttered the single word in a low voice.
The bodyguard fell silent. The one driving simply turned the steering wheel, changing direction and heading toward T City's most luxurious Emperor hotel.
"Not going home for dinner?" Julia Bluen asked, though she already knew the answer. She shifted out of Glades Horne's embrace. Although it provided a sense of security, it was still too unfamiliar for her, and she found it difficult to adapt to so suddenly.
She leaned against the car window, her clear, almond-shaped eyes gazing at Glades Horne. No trace of affection for him could be seen in her eyes. She seemed to sigh as she said, "Grandmother must be lonely eating at home by herself. The dining table is so long, so large. It could originally seat more than twenty people, yet only one person sits there. The feeling of loneliness must be overwhelming."
Glades Horne pursed his lips, saying nothing—this was his habit when deep in thought. His dark eyes once again locked onto Julia Bluen, his gaze deepening steadily. After a moment, he reached out and pulled Julia Bluen back into his arms.
"Glades Brother!" Julia Bluen protested, pushing against his firm chest as she exclaimed softly. Why did he pull her into his embrace again?
"Call me Glades. Or, you can call me husband," Glades Horne said huskily, his gaze deepening further. The atmosphere in the back seat instantly became tinged with ambiguity again.
"You..." Julia Bluen's face flushed an unnatural red again. For the first time, she realized that this man, whom she had known since birth, for twenty-six years, was someone she had never truly understood. She didn't know why he had pulled her into his arms again. Could it be that now they were married, he could completely forget her sister, Ruby, altogether? Or perhaps, in his heart, she was merely a substitute for her sister?
"Grandmother will be very happy to know you're so considerate of her. No wonder she dotes on you more than on Adele," Glades Horne said in a low voice. He had clearly seen the suspicion in Julia Bluen's eyes. He didn't explain. After all, a lifetime was very long. He would use that lifetime to prove to her that he had never regarded her as a substitute for Ruby Bluen. She was herself, not a substitute for anyone!
"Call Uncle Ying and tell him we're coming home to have lunch with Grandmother," Glades Horne instructed again.
The two bodyguards remained silent, but surprise flashed in their eyes. The Young Master's decisions were usually unshakeable. He had never been so yielding, not even for Miss Ruby Bluen. Yet today, because of a few thoughtful words from Miss Julia Bluen—oh, no, from Mrs. Horne—he had changed his decision. It seemed the Young Master's feelings for Mrs. Horne weren't new. Perhaps he had loved Mrs. Horne from the very beginning, and everyone had simply been deceived by him.
The car changed direction once more, heading towards Golden Kirin Garden.
Soon after, the car entered Golden Kirin Garden.
The villas within Golden Kirin Garden were recognized as the best and most beautiful in T City. Only those from top-tier prominent families could afford to live here; even the Bluen Family could only purchase villas in the Grand Court Estates.
The Horne family's villa was the largest in Golden Kirin Garden. Besides spacious gardens in both the front and back, the five-story Main House was decorated magnificently, resembling a royal palace in its splendor and dignity.
In the dining room adjacent to the main hall, an array of delicacies covered the long dining table. Grandmother Horne sat alone before it, lacking any appetite despite the sumptuous spread.
Every day, she, an old woman, ate alone. She had a large family with many children and grandchildren, yet none of them made time to accompany her. Though the family was large and prosperous, and there were many people, it felt to her as if she were all alone.
"Grandmother, the Young Master and Miss Julia have returned." Housekeeper Uncle Ying walked in and reported to Grandmother with a smile. He had received a call from the bodyguards earlier and had been busy instructing the kitchen to add more dishes, forgetting to inform her.
Hearing that Glades Horne had returned, Grandmother's aged face immediately lit up with joy. She smiled and asked, "Why does Glades have time to come back? Wait, who did you say he's with? That girl Julia?"