Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law-Chapter 57 The Light Banter_1

Glades Horne chuckled softly as he released her, granting her freedom. This light banter and contest of wills made him even more pleased.

"I have plans to play ball with some friends this afternoon. Do you want to come along?" Glades Horne asked in a warm, deep voice, adding after a moment, "They’re all my close buddies."

"What kind of ball are we playing?"

"If you come, we’ll switch to badminton, and we can team up as partners. If not, we’re planning to play golf."

"Great!"

Julia Bluen agreed cheerfully, as it had been some time since she had last exercised. Only then did Glades Horne, satisfied, help her sit up straight beside him. Then, with his arm around her, he stood up, and they began to walk forward.

He did not ask a single question about the phone call Julia had taken. Pampering her, loving her, and cherishing her naturally meant giving her sufficient personal space.

After Julia had changed her clothes and shoes, the two of them informed Scarlett Taylor and then left the Bluen Family’s villa.

「Not far from the T City Government offices, there was a large yard. Enclosed by walls, this yard housed several buildings, forming a modern-style quadrangle. This was a residential area for government officials, housing units allotted to them by the government.」

Orlando Evans’s parents both held positions within the government and naturally lived there. While the Evans Family could also be considered affluent, Orlando’s parents were not the truly wealthy ones. As government officials with particularly sensitive positions, any display of wealth would likely draw unwelcome scrutiny; an investigation by the Discipline Inspection Commission would spell significant trouble. The one with real wealth was Orlando’s uncle, who owned a Trading Company that profited nearly ten million annually. This uncle was very fond of her and, knowing she was classmates and close friends with Miss Horne, fully supported her pursuit of Glades Horne. A profitable venture, indeed. If his niece became the grand young mistress of the distinguished Horne Family, her uncle’s path in the business world would become even smoother.

「At this moment, the atmosphere in the Evans home was grim; all three family members wore unpleasant expressions. Orlando Evans sat in the living room, her beautiful face dark, her red lips tightly drawn. Her eyes flickered with a mix of indignation and hatred; it was unclear who had provoked her.」

Sitting opposite her was a man in his forties who bore some resemblance to Orlando, especially around the eyes—that was her father, Rylee Evans, the Deputy Head Secretary at the city government. Beside her sat a woman of similar age, from whom Orlando had inherited all her beauty—her mother, who also held a mid-level position within the city government.

"After all these years, for you to be kicked out by Young Master Horne at this crucial time, how incompetent can you be!" Rylee Evans complained. "With your looks and Young Miss Horne’s help, is it really that hard to get into Young Master Horne’s bed? Your mother and I were counting on you to connect with the Horne Family; it would have helped our political careers. But now... Is Glades Horne even a man?"

Orlando Evans had maintained a close friendship with Adele Horne for two main reasons. Firstly, she genuinely loved Glades Horne and aspired to be his wife; even if she could not be his wife, she was willing to be his mistress. Secondly, the Evans Family aimed to elevate their social standing through association with the Horne Family. Although the Evans Family, bolstered by the wealth of Orlando’s uncle, could be considered affluent, they paled in comparison to a truly elite family like the Hornes and could hardly be called prestigious in that context. freēnovelkiss.com

"Dad, I won’t give up just like that!" Orlando Evans bit her lower lip, her voice filled with chilly resolve.

She had endured Adele Horne’s terrible temper for ten years to earn her unwavering trust. How could she willingly give up now? She was determined to re-enter the Horne household, and this time, not as a mere friend of Adele Horne, but as the woman of one of the Horne sons.

"Hmm, not giving up is best. Try harder! There will be some reshuffling in the city leadership next year. If you can successfully establish yourself in the Horne Family, your mother and I might get promoted. The Bluen Family, despite being one of the wealthiest, are still essentially nouveau riche. When dealing with that businessman’s daughter, you need to be especially cautious. Businessmen are always cunning, but Dad believes in you. Oh, and make sure your uncle doesn’t find out about this. If he does, he might stop supporting you, and you can kiss goodbye to this cushy life of a pampered young lady, where everything is handed to you."

Hearing his daughter’s unyielding words, Rylee Evans, far from dissuading her, encouraged her to continue pursuing a life that was not meant for her.

Orlando Evans remained silent. She hadn’t told her parents that the person marrying Glades Horne was no longer Ruby Bluen, but Julia Bluen. Though filled with resentment and fully aware of Glades Horne’s methods, she dared not speak openly to outsiders about the younger sister marrying in place of the elder before the wedding took place.

Upon hearing her father’s final remarks, she nodded firmly.

Outsiders regarded the Evans Family as wealthy mainly because of her uncle. Her father and uncle shared a deep brotherly bond, and they owned a villa in Blue Sky Garden, which was considered the main Evans family residence. The public judged the Evans Family’s status based entirely on this villa. Even Adele Horne wasn’t aware of these details. Glades Horne had never so much as given Orlando a second glance, so he naturally hadn’t investigated her background. This lack of knowledge was why Mila Anderson had been friendly toward her when she appeared at the Horne residence.

"Orlando, dear," her mother began, "you still need to get closer to Miss Horne; her status in the Horne Family is also quite significant. Don’t let this incident make you direct your anger at her. That girl is already completely wrapped around your finger. If things really don’t work out, then..." Orlando’s mother leaned in and whispered a few words into her ear. Orlando listened and then nodded.

Adele Horne had always been a pawn for her to use. From their very first meeting when they were twelve, as soon as Orlando learned of Adele’s status, she had been meticulously manipulating this chess piece.

Perhaps because both her parents were in politics, Orlando Evans was adept at social maneuvering and skilled at feigning weakness. For ten years, Adele Horne had never sensed she was being used.

"Mom, don’t worry," Orlando said. "I know Adele’s personality better than anyone. Even if she can’t help me secure a position in the Horne household, I’ll make sure to get something substantial out of her." That was her worst-case scenario: if she couldn’t win over one of the Horne sons, she would settle for the next best thing—targeting Adele Horne to fleece the Horne Family for a considerable sum of money.

"My daughter is, of course, the most intelligent. Mom trusts that you won’t let yourself be disadvantaged," Orlando’s mother said, her expression filled with pride.

With parents like these, one could only imagine how "kind-hearted" Orlando Evans could truly be.

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