James Horne had come to find him! Was there something important?

Glades Horne did harbor brotherly feelings for James, but outwardly, he had become less caring than before, displaying a distant and icy demeanor. At this moment, he paused, his handsome face set in a stern expression, his eyebrows furrowed, lips pursed, not uttering a single word. He still headed towards his car. The two bodyguards also saw James's car. Since Glades remained silent, they dared not speak either.

After Glades got into his car, they drove out of the company premises.

As they passed James's vehicle, James rolled down his window and called out to Glades, "Brother, I have something to tell you. It's about your wife."

Glades, who initially had no intention of engaging with him, immediately ordered Wade Coleman to stop the car upon hearing this.

"Reverse the car!" Glades commanded Wade Coleman in a deep voice.

Wade Coleman hurriedly reversed. Through the rearview mirror, he saw the Eldest Young Master in the back seat, his handsome face growing increasingly stern due to the Fourth Young Master's words. A dark expression settled on his features. His eagle-like eyes, which only softened in Julia's presence, were otherwise deep and inscrutable. Every blink emanated an unfathomable gaze, making him seem exceptionally cold and unconsciously instilling fear in others.

Everyone in the Horne Family, including their employees, knew that the Eldest Young Master was actually quite fond of the Fourth Young Master. However, the Fourth Young Master's mother was shameless and as thick-skinned as a cutting board. She would visit the Horne household almost daily just to provoke Glades's mother. The Eldest Young Master only became colder towards James after learning about this, as, in his heart, he always sided with his own mother.

The atmosphere in the car became suffocating due to Glades's brooding presence, but the two bodyguards were accustomed to this aura.

The wind howled. Because James had rolled down his car window, the cold outside air forcefully surged into his vehicle, making him shiver.

Seeing Glades's car reversing back towards the company, James also drove his car onto the company grounds. The security guards didn't dare to stop him because Glades hadn't told them to intercept James.

The two cars, one silver and one red, were exceptionally eye-catching.

Every time Glades saw his brother's glaringly red car, his lips would press even tighter together.

Outwardly indifferent, yet he likes a red car—is he trying to tell the world that he's actually passionate?

"It's really cold today."

James got out of his car first, rushing to open Glades's car door. His handsome face naturally brimmed with a gentle smile as he tried to strike up a conversation about the weather.

Glades, without a word, stepped out of the car and headed straight to the Office Building, making it clear he had no interest in idle chatter.

His steps were steady, yet tinged with a hint of tension.

He was afraid James was going to confess his love for Julia. He dreaded that this matter of affection might cause them to turn against one another as brothers.

Flashes of Julia's pleas crossed his mind. Julia had said that even if he were out to discipline their father and Pheobe Rogers, he shouldn't hurt James, because James was the most innocent of all.

James himself surely never wished for a mother who was a mistress. As her son, he had no choice in the matter. He probably felt more anguish than anyone. He recalled James being brought to the Horne household at a tender age. Apart from their father, grandmother, and his elder brother, everyone else looked down on him. They went out of their way to give him the cold shoulder, torment him, make things difficult, bully him, and mock him. For over twenty years, James had endured suffering that most people could not bear.

It was Julia, understanding everything from an outsider's perspective, who had made such a request.

Glades actually understood Julia's words.

He had a bottom line regarding his biological brother. As long as James didn't attempt to lay a hand on Julia, he wouldn't harm him. But if James dared to challenge him, he would ruthlessly strip James of everything and banish him from the Horne family.

"Bro, where were you planning to go?" James kept up with Glades's pace, continuing to seek conversation. The two bodyguards automatically stayed outside, not following them as the brothers went inside.

It was still working hours, and all the staff were busy with their tasks.

James kept a smile on his face—a genuinely friendly and slightly endearing one—regardless of whether Glades paid him any attention. He had never smiled so carelessly, so unreservedly, even in front of Julia.

In front of Glades, he hoped to present his most harmless side to win even a sliver of brotherly affection from him. Materially, James was wealthy, but spiritually, he was impoverished, desperately starved for any kind of affection.

"Since when must I inform you of my whereabouts?" Standing by the elevator, Glades turned around, gave James a sharp look, and asked coldly.

James pressed the elevator button. Hearing his brother's icy question, he quickly forced a smile and said, "Bro, I was just asking casually."

Glades's eyes darkened and his chest tightened with irritation when he saw James's sheepish yet still ingratiating smile. "Get in," he said curtly. "And keep quiet if you don't want me to throw you out." He then walked into the elevator first.

James hurriedly followed him into the elevator. In the confined space, it was just the two of them, their very presences seeming to mingle. James couldn't help but gaze admiringly at Glades's handsome and distinctive face. It was his brother's personality he admired most, not just his looks: his decisiveness in handling matters, his powerful and commanding aura. In short, he admired all of Glades's strengths and weaknesses.

Being stared at so intensely by his own younger brother, Glades couldn't help but shudder slightly. Goosebumps crawled all over his skin, though outwardly, he maintained his cool demeanor.

"Do you have a mirror on you?" he suddenly asked coldly, turning his head to gaze intently at James.

A mirror? James's face suddenly flushed red. He quickly averted his gaze, internally scolding himself for his lapse in composure. If Glades knew about his unnatural feelings, he would be thrown out of the Horne family.

Glades knew James understood the underlying meaning of his words. His gaze darkened further as he delivered a cold warning, "If there's a next time, I'll gouge your eyes out!"