Outside the window, the slanting sunlight heralded the approach of evening, signaling that his workday was over.
To go ho, or to wander? To face it, or to evade?
Suddenly, the low strains of "Secret Love Letter" began to play.
Jas Horne took out his phone and saw the caller ID: his mother.
Holding a cigarette in one hand, he pressed the answer key with the other, his voice deep, "Mom."
"Jas, it's been so long since you've co ho for a al with . Co ho for dinner tonight; Mom will make your favorite dishes," Pheobe Rogers's voice ca through, filled with profound care for her only son.
When a woman becos a mother, regardless of her status or social position, her love for her children is always heartfelt.
"Mom, I have a social engagent tonight; I won't be coming ho for dinner," Jas said flatly. As he lied, his handso face betrayed not a hint of guilt.
"Alright then. Take care of yourself, okay? Don't drink too much at your social engagent; it's bad for your health," Pheobe Rogers said, her tone unable to hide her disappointnt.
Jas responded faintly, reminded his mother of a few things, and then ended the call.
He extinguished his cigarette, grabbed his car keys from the desk, turned, and strode out of the office.
Although there was still an hour left in the workday, as the General Manager, no one would dare question when he left the company.
Not long after, his Audi pulled out of the Jas Horne Kitchenware Company and onto the main road, heading towards Golden Kirin Garden.
「Half an hour later」
Jas returned to the Horne family villa.
After giving his family a cool greeting, he headed upstairs.
He had only taken a few steps when he suddenly stopped; he saw Glades Horne, who was just about to co downstairs.
Glades had already changed. He was now wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, straight black trousers, and a black leather belt. The hem of his shirt was neatly tucked into his trousers, outlining his solid waist. His lustrous black hair was combed ticulously. The expression on his handso face was coolly detached, his dark eyes twinkled with intelligence. His full lips were pressed into a thin line, making him look very cool.
"Big brother," Jas instinctively smiled. In his elder brother's presence, he was at his most insincere. But he had no regrets about this insincerity towards his brother, because only his brother had ever offered him warmth. His smile was sothing he willingly showed for his big brother.
"You're back." Glades Horne steadied himself. His deep eyes landed on Jas Horne's smiling face, which bore a seventy percent resemblance to his own. His gaze, sharp as a knife, slid inch by inch across Jas' face. Even soone as composed and cool-headed as Jas felt his scalp tingle under that gaze.
"Hmm, just got back. I figured it wasn't ti for dinner yet, so I thought I'd go upstairs and take a shower first." Jas stepped aside to let Glades descend. As Glades took a step down, Jas also turned and headed downstairs.
"No social engagent tonight?" Glades turned his head to glance at him again, his tone neutral.
"Entertaining every day is tiring. I thought I'd take a break," Jas replied.
"Make sure to balance work and rest; don't tire yourself out. If you really can't handle it, hire an assistant," Glades said, his deep voice laced with subtle concern for Jas. This made Jas' smile widen even more. He felt that refusing to dine with his mother and declining social engagents had all been worth it.
"I'd like to, but I can't find an assistant as capable as Ruiz." The brothers had already walked into the main hall, but Glades didn't wish to sit there. Instead, he turned into the side hall next to it.
The side hall's decor was much like the main hall's, only the space was a bit narrower.
Sitting on the sofa, Glades picked up the TV remote, pointed it at the wall-mounted television, and turned it on. He then leaned back into the sofa. "If you dared to use Ruiz, I could let you have him."
Jas quickly raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, smiling. "I don't have the ability to handle that smiling tiger. I'm afraid one day he'll outsmart , and I won't even know how I died."
Glades smiled faintly. To Jas, he was like a god; a single smile could captivate the world. Jas was becoming obsessed, but he didn't dare show it, only gazing at Glades with hidden longing.
"What about Julia?" After retracting his infatuated gaze, Jas turned the topic to Julia Bluen.
Glades glanced at him, his tone unfathomable. "Jas, although Julia is two years younger than you, she is your sister-in-law. From now on, call her 'Sister-in-law'."
Jas felt a chill in his heart, a nagging feeling that Glades had perceived sothing. He returned Glades' gaze with a composed smile. "I've gotten used to calling her by her na. It's a bit awkward to change suddenly."
Yet, bitterness welled in his heart; his brother wasn't leaving him even a sliver of lingering hope. Calling Julia 'Sister-in-law'—the mont that title left his lips, it would be a constant reminder that Julia Bluen was now his sister-in-law, no longer soone he could covet. His brother was always so shrewd, always acting so subtly.
Actually, he should be grateful that he and Glades were true brothers. As long as he wouldn't harm Glades, Glades would absolutely not harm him; their fraternal bond would always exist. If he were anyone else still harboring such improper desires for Julia Bluen, given Glades' dominant nature, would he even still be alive?
"You'll have to get used to it. In this family, aside from Adele, Julia is the youngest. But she married , and I am the eldest among you. If you don't call her Sister-in-law, she'll feel you're disrespecting her, bullying her because she's young. Jas, Julia is now the most important person to . I want her to live happily by my side, without anything making her unhappy." Glades' words, while laced with doting affection for Julia Bluen, were also subtly extinguishing any lingering hope Jas might have for her.
"Big brother is really good to her," Jas said, smiling to mask the ache in his heart.
"She's my wife. Who else would I treat well if not her?" Glades replied, then stood up. "It's ti for dinner. I'll go upstairs to get Julia. After dinner, we'll spend the night at our villa in Golden Kirin Garden." That place belonged only to him and Julia Bluen. There, they could be completely at ease, and it truly felt like ho.
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