The doting and tender affection her dearest older brother, Glades Horne, showed towards Julia Bluen fueled Adele Horne's deep dissatisfaction. When she heard her brother's icy words, she screamed, "Brother, I am your sister, yet you dare to strike me for this vixen?"
In her heart, the Bluen sisters were nothing but vixens who had ensnared her brother's soul to the point where he no longer cherished his own sister.
Glades Horne had only intended to scare her. But she remained unrepentant and insulted Julia Bluen as a vixen once more. His expression immediately darkened, a surge of rage sweeping over him. He took a few large strides forward, raised his hand, and swung it to slap her.
Adele Horne was terrified, suddenly realizing she had once again provoked her brother's ire. She squeezed her eyes shut and wrapped her arms around her head, fearing Glades Horne's slap might fracture her skull.
However, the pain she anticipated never came.
