But... Hehe... I will successfully win over my mother-in-law and sister-in-law!

Glades Horne had been quiet all along, but at this moment, he gestured to his two bodyguards. They immediately understood and brought one suitcase before everyone, while the other was taken upstairs. The suitcase brought before everyone was filled with gifts the couple had prepared for the family.

"Grandma, Dad, Mom, this suitcase contains all the gifts Julia has prepared for you. There is something for everyone, and Julia has thoughtfully and considerately stuck names on each gift. You only need to look for your own based on the name tags. I'll first take Julia inside to have something to eat. She must be starving," Glades finished speaking and pulled Julia Bluen away from the elderly lady, leading her towards the dining room.

On the plane, whether it was due to her eagerness to return home or some other reason, Julia Bluen hadn't eaten much.

The day was already more than halfway through; it would be strange if his beloved wife wasn't hungry.

"Hehe, Glades is so considerate," the elderly lady chuckled, her eyes already darting towards the suitcase filled with gifts. Indeed, the older people get, the more childlike they become. Their curiosity is immense, and they are especially happy when they receive gifts from someone.

Gian Horne and his wife, Mila Anderson, were also quite curious; everyone crowded around like children to take a look.

The elderly lady's gift was placed first, followed by those for Gian Horne and Mila Anderson.

Julia Bluen had indeed written names on each person's gift package; everyone received one—even the servants.

「Meanwhile, in the dining room」

Julia Bluen looked at the pasta with a lack of interest. The joyful smile she had worn earlier had faded, and she gazed at Glades Horne with her bright, almond-shaped eyes.

Glades Horne's handsome face remained unfathomable, his gaze as deep as a bottomless pit.

"Why aren't you eating? Aren't you the one who loves noodles the most?" Glades Horne stood opposite her, leaning over slightly with his hands braced on the table, his bottomless eyes gazing deeply at her pretty face.

"You know why," Julia Bluen said, not beating around the bush. Right now, she just wanted to tell her parents about her sister's whereabouts and show them the photos Jonathan Allen had taken of her sister. Regardless of her sister running away from her wedding for Marcel Horne, Julia felt it was necessary to let her parents know that her sister was completely safe. Moreover, she was eager to find out what Glades Horne was thinking—was he still angry at her sister?

Glades Horne pursed his lips again, his gaze growing more profound, like an eagle's, locking onto Julia Bluen. She met his gaze, and the two of them locked eyes.

A few minutes later, Glades Horne turned and walked away.

Julia Bluen raised an eyebrow. What is he doing? Is he that angry? No, that can't be it. His eyes, although unfathomable, don't betray the slightest hint of anger. He isn't mad, so why did he walk away? Forget it, no point in guessing. I should eat something first.

Julia Bluen put aside her speculations, picked up the chopsticks, and looked at the bowl of delicious-looking pasta, yet she still couldn't muster up the appetite to eat.

She sat there, staring dazedly at the bowl of pasta, feeling worse than she had ever felt before—even more so than during a heartbreak.

"What's wrong, Young Madam?" a servant named Mei Jie walked in. She had originally come to clear the table but, upon seeing Julia Bluen staring blankly at her bowl of pasta, which appeared untouched, she immediately asked with concern.

"It's nothing," Julia Bluen smiled, deciding not to let everyone know about her sister's situation so soon. Unless Glades Horne spoke up, she would absolutely not reveal it, even though she knew her sister would eventually have to face the Horne family.

"Are you troubled, Young Madam?" Mei Jie was an astute woman in her thirties. Having worked for the Horne family for several years, she had learned to read people's emotions through observation. Although Julia Bluen was still smiling, the smile was clearly forced, and Mei Jie could tell she was worried.

"What troubles could I possibly have? Maybe it's because I was on a plane for half the day, so I don't feel like eating right now," Julia Bluen said and stood up, intending to leave the dining room.

Outside, everyone was still joyful over the gifts she had prepared for them, unaware of the unease she was experiencing at that moment.

She had just stood up when Glades Horne returned.

He strode over to her, holding something in his hand, which Julia Bluen hadn't had a chance to see clearly. He gently placed the object before her and said, "I looked all over the kitchen for a long time but couldn't find any condiment that would make you want to eat this bowl of noodles right now. Then I went to the servants' kitchen and stumbled upon this bottle of 'Lao Gan Ma chili sauce.' It was just purchased by Gardener Lin; he hasn't even tried it himself. He is from Lingen, enjoys this kind of chili sauce, and mentioned it tastes good and isn't very spicy. Adding a little to the noodles could bring a different flavor. Give it a try. Whether it tastes good or not, it can at least change your usual palate. But don't add too much. Even if it's not very spicy, it's still chili, and eating too much could cause you to get 'heaty.' We Southerners can't compare to people like Gardener Lin; they eat chili every day without issue."

Southern cuisine tends to be light, with a preference for soups. Most people are not fond of spicy food, fearing it will make them feel 'heaty'—in other words, they generally can't handle it well.

Julia Bluen looked at him.

So, that was why he had turned and left just now—to find a condiment that would whet my appetite.

This man... he's always so attentive, so considerate, and so doting towards me. In his presence, I always feel like a princess, carefully cherished and held in the palm of his hand.

Glades Horne sat down opposite her, unscrewed the cap of the Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, then picked up some chopsticks and added a little of it to her bowl of pasta. After gently stirring it, he motioned for her to take the chopsticks.

Julia Bluen quickly took the chopsticks. Concerns about her sister temporarily dissipated under Glades Horne's tender care. She tentatively picked up some noodles with the added chili sauce and put them in her mouth. The noodles really tasted different with the Lao Gan Ma—somewhat spicy but not excessively so, and within her tolerance.

After one bite, she found the taste indeed good, different from what she was used to, and so she went for a second bite.

Seeing that she had finally started eating, Glades Horne's deep eyes at last curved into a shallow smile.