Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law
Chapter 33 Pre-marital Guidance_1

Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Pre-marital Guidance_1

Throughout history, the complex web of in-law relationships—with her mother-in-law, her husband’s sisters, and the wives of her husband’s brothers—would confront a daughter step by step as she married.

This is a problem no one can evade, and it is the most realistic issue in today’s society.

"If you don’t do well, people won’t blame you; they will say we, as parents, haven’t taught our daughter properly. Your sister has already made us feel ashamed before the Horne Family; you can’t deepen our sense of guilt. Glades is a good man, the kind that’s hard to find even with a lantern. Many women out there want to get involved with him. You must trust him, don’t be suspicious without reason, as it will affect your marital relationship. No matter his attitude towards you, you are already legally married. Just do your best, and he will treat you well. Besides, he has always cared about you, ever since you were born. Dad thinks that perhaps he doesn’t love you for now, and marrying you was a matter of expediency, but he will definitely fall in love with you..." Chris Bluen earnestly advised her.

Julia Bluen listened quietly.

A sense of heaviness welled up in her heart; her father’s words were all too real. Considering Adele Horne’s attitude and the complex family dynamics of the Horne Family, she knew that once she stepped into the Horne household in six days, it would be like waging a war without smoke.

It’s not easy to be the wife of a prominent family.

Two cups of hot tea were gently placed before the father and daughter.

Scarlett Taylor stood before them, sighing softly and restraining her feigned jubilation. How could parents not worry?

She slowly continued her husband’s words, "Julia, your mother-in-law is quite angry about your sister’s actions, and she might take her frustration out on you. You must learn to protect yourself." Scarlett Taylor had experienced the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law struggle. She also hadn’t overlooked Mila Anderson’s anger after Ruby Bluen’s elopement. Her biggest worry was that Mila would vent her frustration on Julia.

Looking at her parents, who were speaking earnestly and seemed somewhat worried, Julia couldn’t help but chuckle. She gently took Scarlett’s hand and stood up. Tall and slender, she made Scarlett seem rather petite in comparison. With a low smile, Julia consoled her mother, "Mom, you and Dad are overthinking things. You might not believe in me, but you must believe in Glades. If he is willing to marry me, it means he will grant me a lifetime of peace."

Chris and Scarlett Bluen looked at each other.

It wasn’t that they didn’t trust Glades Horne; they were most worried that Glades might see Julia as a substitute for Ruby.

"Mom, Dad, just let things take their course. Don’t worry about me! I was..." Julia hurriedly stopped herself. Her romance with Nicholas Coldwell was a secret from her parents, and she preferred them not to know she had been abandoned. After all, the word ’weak’ was not in her dictionary—she had always been very strong!

In the prime commercial district of T City stood a building that soared into the clouds, like a ladder reaching for the sky. It was majestic, massive, and imposing. This was the Office Building of the Valence Group, boasting sixty-eight stories. From the sixtieth floor upwards, it housed the group’s core figures. The first to the fifty-ninth floors were offices for the senior management of all its subsidiaries within the main company, with each floor representing one subsidiary. This alone demonstrated the enormity and wealth of the Valence Group.

Glades Horne’s CEO’s Office was on the sixty-eighth floor, right at the top. He enjoyed being high above, overlooking everything below.

He wasn’t like other CEOs who arrived at the company at nine o’clock sharp every day. He was very casual about his working hours; sometimes he would spend the whole day at the company, sometimes he wouldn’t return for days, and other times he’d come back in the afternoon for a while. But no matter how irregular his hours were, he had firm control over the empire-like Valence Group, unshakable by anyone.

Because of this elusive working style, apart from a few important core figures who could contact him at any time, it was very difficult for others in the company to see him unless they had an appointment.

The Valence Group was extremely strict about access. Except for the core figures on the sixtieth floor and above, other employees were not allowed to enter the Office Building outside of working hours. If a core figure wanted to see the CEO, they first had to inform the Secretarial Division. The Division would then notify the CEO’s Chief Secretary’s Office, and the Chief Secretary would personally ask Glades for his decision. Only then would an ordinary secretary arrange a time for the person to visit the sixty-eighth floor.

Of course, when Glades Horne wanted to see someone, the situation was different; at his command, that person would appear before him in the shortest possible time.

Sunlight streamed through the vast floor-to-ceiling windows, scattering light on the polished floors, yet it was unable to warm the spacious office. The air conditioning pumped out cool air constantly, vying with the sunlight penetrating the windows and consistently gaining the upper hand.

Glades Horne leaned back on the sofa, appearing somewhat languid, a glass of wine in hand. His usually sharp eyes were tinged with a hint of mirth as he watched the stern-faced police officer sitting across from him. After taking a light sip of his wine, he pointed to the glass in front of the officer and chuckled, "That’s red wine in your glass, not high in alcohol content. Why don’t you dare to drink it?"

"I drove here. I can’t drink, not even a drop," Benjamin Robinson replied, his face straight.

"You’re a police officer, the head of the criminal investigation unit, yet you’re afraid of the traffic police checking you?" Glades teased.

"Precisely because I’m a police officer, I cannot knowingly commit an offense," Benjamin maintained his stern expression. This was perhaps due to his policing background, as he was accustomed to being stern. Despite his striking appearance, his stern face meant few paid attention to his handsomeness; instead, they felt intimidated by his seriousness and the police uniform he wore.

Benjamin Robinson and Glades Horne were classmates and best friends. Besides being the head of the criminal investigation unit at the city’s Police Station, he was the genuine progeny of high-ranking officialdom. Shunning the privileges associated with his background, he had worked his way up from a humble patrol officer to his current position entirely on his own merit.

"You’re in your thirties and still wearing that stern face all day long. If you keep this up, you’re going to be a lifelong bachelor. How about I introduce you to a few ladies from prominent families?" Glades continued to banter with his best friend.

"Instead of having the leisure to tease me, you’d be better off worrying about your beloved wife’s best friend’s situation," Benjamin retorted, giving Glades an irritated glare. He was here not to be made fun of by his friend, but because of the robbery case that had occurred that morning.