"Glades, let me give it a try," Julia Bluen said, tugging at his hand when she saw Glades Horne was about to say more. She knew this man was protective of her, but sometimes, the more protective he was, the more his mother and sister would dislike her.

Disapproval flashed in Glades Horne's eyes.

Yet Julia responded with a reassuring gaze, and he could only offer a smile, releasing his firm grip on Julia's hand.

Adele Horne sat beside Mila Anderson; her card-playing skills were exceptional. Mila would not allow Adele to take her place but instead let Julia represent her, clearly aiming to embarrass Julia.

"Well, Mrs. Horne, isn't Miss Julia Young Master Glades's wife's younger sister?" a few ladies asked. It was unclear if they truly didn't know or were deliberately trying to embarrass Julia.

With a swift motion, Glades Horne pulled Julia, who was about to sit down, back into his embrace. A smile lifted his handsome face. Yet, in the eyes of the several distinguished ladies, it carried a hint of coldness that sent chills down their spines. This was especially true as his sharp, deep eyes held not a trace of mirth. "Julia is my wife. Do any of you aunts have an issue with that?"

He had defended Julia during the wedding, preventing her from being questioned and criticized by others; after the wedding, he would not allow anyone to question or criticize her either.

The ladies were briefly startled, then smiled awkwardly. Mrs. Wang, who was particularly eloquent, chimed in, "The Young Master and Miss Julia are truly a match made in heaven—so talented and beautiful! It's absolutely enviable. If my daughter could marry a man as outstanding as the Young Master, I'd die laughing in my dreams."

Julia merely smiled without any hint of discomfort on her face. She was ready for the criticism.

Gently, she pried open Glades's hand and took her seat where Mila had been.

Once Julia sat down, Adele scurried away, making it clear she didn't wish to be near Julia.

Glades patted Julia's shoulder and then turned to leave the Side Hall, returning to the sofa to sit and chat with the elderly matriarch.

James Horne also returned at this moment. His eyes flickered with surprise at seeing Glades, but he maintained his composure, seated himself opposite Glades, and joined the conversation with the elderly matriarch.

The atmosphere in the room became somewhat relaxed.

Indeed, Julia was not good at cards and kept losing.

The ladies who were winning money had their eyes crinkled into slits with laughter.

Adele ran over, and seeing Julia continuously lose, she couldn't help saying, "Sister-in-law, step aside! Let me take them down." Only after she spoke did she realize she had spontaneously called Julia 'sister-in-law,' which stirred a trace of unhappiness in her heart. Unceremoniously, she pulled Julia up from her seat and took her place, deciding to battle it out with the ladies herself.

Julia couldn't wait to be free from the situation.

Just as she was about to turn and leave, Mila Anderson stood in front of her, tugged at her clothes, and said in a low voice, "Julia, come upstairs with Mom. I have something to talk to you about."

After speaking, Mila turned and exited the Side Hall, heading upstairs.

Julia followed her.

Seeing his mother take Julia upstairs, Glades Horne's brows furrowed slightly, but he stayed silent.

In the Side Hall on the second floor, Mila gestured for Julia to sit, and she herself took a seat on the sofa as well.

"Julia, Mom wants to have a word with you," Mila Anderson said, her face stern as she looked at Julia Bluen, her tone indifferent.

Julia Bluen smiled faintly. "Mom, whatever you want to say, please go ahead." Yet, in her heart, she lamented—is my mother-in-law about to launch an offensive?

"Did you go to the company?"

Mila Anderson's tone remained cold. With her son not present, her attitude towards Julia Bluen was like night and day.

"Yes, I just went to take a look. I'll start work tomorrow," Julia Bluen replied, seeing no issue with her visiting the company.

"You've just been married for a month; there's no need to rush back to work. Our family doesn't lack food or necessities for you." Mila Anderson's face grew even tighter as she heard that Julia was going to work the following day, and her tone carried a note of dissatisfaction.

"Mom?" Julia Bluen found it a bit amusing. So what if she was newly married? Did that mean she shouldn't work?

"A woman, especially a married woman, should stay at home, respect her parents-in-law, support her husband, and raise the children. Why strive to be a career woman? Grandma is getting old and would like some company. She's very fond of you, so you should spend more time with her. You are not allowed to go to work tomorrow; stay home. Those companies won't collapse even if you're not there to manage them." Mila Anderson's voice grew more assertive.

She herself had never worked a day in her life.

In her mind, a woman who married into a wealthy family should just enjoy life. Going out to work would be embarrassing and unbefitting of her status.

This was the first time she had asserted her authority as a mother-in-law when speaking to Julia Bluen.

Julia Bluen raised an eyebrow. Why was her mother-in-law suddenly making such a fuss about her working?

When Glades Horne had presented the betrothal gifts again, he had made it crystal clear: those companies, once transferred to her name, would no longer belong to the Valence Group. He would let her manage them herself, essentially promising that she wouldn't be forced to be a bored, stay-at-home young mistress after marriage.

Her mother-in-law had been present at the time, yet now she was making an issue out of it.

It seemed that communication between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was truly challenging.

"You are now the Young Mistress of the Horne Family, a lady of noble standing. Just be a good young mistress at home; don't always be showing your face in public. You and Glades have been married for a month now. How are things? Any news yet? Have a child soon so we can all enjoy the happiness of family life." While saying this, Mila Anderson glanced at Julia Bluen's flat belly.

Goodness! Julia Bluen practically broke out in a cold sweat.

She had only been married for a month; how could she possibly be pregnant? Not to mention, she had already had her period. Even if her period hadn't arrived and she were truly pregnant, it would still be too soon for any signs.

Her face flushed, and Julia Bluen smiled awkwardly. "Mom, I... I've already had my monthly visitor," she said, implying she wasn't pregnant.

Her mother-in-law was certainly direct and bold with her questions.

"Then you must try harder. Don't go to work. Stay at home, take good care of your health, and prepare to be a mother." Upon hearing Julia Bluen was not pregnant, Mila Anderson's expression darkened further. "Your father-in-law and I conceived Glades right after our honeymoon. You need to put in more effort. Isn't it a woman's duty to bear and raise children for her husband? Especially for a woman married into a wealthy family, it's like in the ancient imperial courts—a mother's status is elevated by her son. Glades dotes on you, but you still need to have a child soon. It would be best if the first child is a boy. Although they say boys and girls are the same, I still prefer a grandson. If your first child is a boy, it sets everyone's mind at ease, and your position in this family will be secured. After that, if you have more children, it won't matter if they are boys or girls."