"No need, I'll go by myself," Julia Bluen refused his kind offer of accompaniment.

Glades Horne then pursed his lips and said no more.

The car left their small home, heading back to the Horne family villa.

Julia Bluen's car was still at the Horne family villa.

Glades Horne had not forgotten that he needed Adele Horne to return to the company to work today. He knew that if he did not personally come to ask, Adele Horne definitely would not go.

By the time he returned to the Horne family villa, it was already half past eight.

Apart from the old lady sitting in the courtyard enjoying the sun, Adele Horne was listlessly seated in the living room. The others had not yet risen.

Adele Horne kept sneezing. In fact, she had just gotten up, feeling heavy-headed and light-footed, with a runny nose and a fever. Orlando Evans's method had been very effective; a single night with the air conditioning on full blast had given her a severe cold—something she rarely experienced, having been healthy since childhood.

Now, to avoid going back to work at the company, I have to ruin my own health.

It was all the Bluen sisters' fault! This thought, filled with resentment, returned to Adele Horne's mind.

When she saw Glades Horne come in, she immediately sneezed again, quickly reaching for a tissue to wipe her nose.

Having a cold is truly miserable. My nose is constantly running and it's starting to ache.

"Brother," Adele Horne called out softly, her voice considerably weak, as if she were critically ill. Her pretty face, bearing some resemblance to Glades Horne but looking much more like Mila Anderson, was flushed red from the fever. She had secretly taken her temperature just moments before; it was thirty-nine degrees Celsius.

She had not gone to the hospital yet, waiting for her dear brother to return.

"Brother, I'm ready. I'll go with you to the company. Oh, where's my sister-in-law? Surely she isn't still sleeping?" Adele Horne rose from the sofa, picked up her LV bag, and walked towards Glades Horne. As she reached him, she couldn't help but sneeze again.

That was on purpose.

Glades Horne stopped. His nearly one-hundred-ninety-centimeter height exuded an oppressive aura, making Adele Horne feel like meat on a chopping block, entirely at her brother's mercy. It couldn't be helped; whoever held the financial reins was the boss. His sharp eyebrows knitted together. He fixed Adele Horne with a steady gaze from his dark, profound eyes, his lips drawn into a tight line. His entire being radiated a frigid aura. Even though he was her brother, Adele Horne was intimidated by the chill he radiated. Glades Horne was an unpredictable man, and he rarely exuded such a cold aura unless he was in a towering rage.

"You're twenty-two, an adult! In three months, it'll be the New Year, and then you'll be twenty-three. You catch a cold and don't even know to call Dr. Lei? We have a medicine cabinet at home; can't you find some fever-reducing medicine yourself? Who are you putting on this act for? For me, your brother? Just to avoid going to the office? If you don't work, do you have any idea where money comes from? You spend all day fooling around with Orlando Evans, spending money like water. What is there left for me to say to you?" Glades Horne's cold lips parted slightly as a string of accusations flew out, harsh and filled with disappointment, striking Adele Horne's face.

"Brother!" Adele Horne's face darkened. She was already sick, yet her brother was still treating her so sternly. He doesn't love me at all, she thought. In his eyes and heart, there are only the Bluen sisters. People with colds are often emotionally fragile, and Adele Horne was no exception. She ranted at Glades Horne, upset, "Brother doesn't love Adele anymore! Brother's heart is only for the Bluen sisters! When Adele hits people, isn't it for you, Brother? Outside, you're all-powerful, so high and mighty that people get sore necks just looking up to you, yet you were abandoned by Ruby Bluen! You can stop being angry now, you can stop caring, but I'm still angry! I still care! You're my dear brother! When you're hurt, it's like I'm hurt too! But Brother, your heart is biased! You only punish Adele and side with them! What's so good about them anyway?"

As Adele Horne finished her tirade, aggrieved tears streamed down her face.

She was indeed willful, unreasonable, and had a terrible temper, yet she truly respected her brother deeply. There was a ten-year age gap between the siblings, so they had rarely played together. My brother doesn't know, she thought, but I always hoped he would treat me the way he treats the Bluen sisters, that he would at least play with me sometimes. But that wish was never fulfilled. In his eyes, I'm still just that little brat who cries and throws tantrums whenever things don't go her way. Everything I do is for my brother's sake! Orlando Evans is better than the Bluen sisters. At least Orlando understands my loneliness and was willing to be with me as I grew up. Did the Bluen sisters ever spend time with me? I just wanted a sister-in-law who would be good to me; that's why I helped Orlando pursue my brother. And when I hit Ruby Bluen, it was to vent his anger! But...

Adele Horne felt extremely aggrieved. My dear brother doesn't understand me at all! He only treats me harshly!

"What's the matter?" Hearing Adele Horne's shouts, Julia Bluen, who had been chatting with the old lady outside, quickly helped her in. She saw the siblings standing face-to-face. Glades Horne radiated an incredibly severe chill, while Adele Horne, her face flushed and tear-streaked, looked utterly aggrieved. She was continuously pulling tissues from a pack in her hand to wipe her eyes and nose, sneezing constantly.

"Adele, have you caught a cold?" Julia Bluen walked over and extended her hand to touch Adele Horne's forehead, recoiling as she did so, exclaiming, "It's so hot! You're burning up! We should call Dr. Lei to come take a look, or better yet, let's go to the hospital. Come on, I'll take you to see a doctor." Dr. Lei was the Horne family's physician, and for minor illnesses, they usually asked Dr. Lei to take a look. Julia Bluen assumed Adele Horne didn't want Dr. Lei to treat her, so after speaking, she tried to pull her towards the door.

"Stop your fake concern! Get lost!" Adele Horne was overwhelmed with grievance, and Julia Bluen had always been a thorn in her side. She immediately and unceremoniously shook off Julia's hand, speaking harshly, her eyes glaring as if she wished Julia Bluen dead.

Receiving such a hateful glare, Julia Bluen arched an eyebrow. It seems my sister-in-law doesn't just have issues with me; this is pure hatred, she realized.

Julia Bluen sighed. Of course, she thought, Adele's resentment stems from me becoming Glades Horne's wife. Adele always hoped Orlando Evans would become the young mistress of the Horne family. In the past, Adele overtly and covertly vied for Glades Horne's attention, but Ruby Bluen never seemed to care much. Perhaps she trusted Glades too much, or perhaps, she simply didn't love him at all.