Scarlett Taylor secretly pulled Julia Bluen aside into the Side Hall. Julia's female cousins-in-law and aunts also followed them into the Side Hall, where the women gathered around Julia, who was seated on the sofa.
"Julia," Scarlett Taylor said as she sat down, pulling her daughter into her embrace. Her voice was a bit excited but couldn't fully conceal her concern.
"Mom," Julia Bluen hugged her mother back and smiled. "Don't worry, I'm fine. Glades treats me very well, and the people of the Horne Family are also good to me. I'll be okay."
"Julia, is Glades really good to you? He's not just putting on an act, is he?" one of Julia's aunts asked softly, glancing toward the main hall now and then, afraid her words might be overheard by Glades Horne.