James Horne didn't want to stay in the large mansion anymore after his older brother and sister-in-law went upstairs.

Although he was a part of the Horne Family, and this luxurious villa was technically his home, he had lived here, coming back every day for over twenty years. Yet, it had never truly felt like home. If it weren't for the two people he loved most here, he probably would never return. Now, he had enough ability to live a good life on his own.

After telling his father and the old lady he was going out, he held his head high, his robust body upright, and walked with steady steps toward the exit. He ignored Mila Anderson, who was still sitting in the living room. Mila didn't like him. Even if he greeted her, she wouldn't respond, so he could only treat her as if she were air.

However, Mila's attitude toward him was a bit better today, probably because of Julia Bluen's pregnancy. It's said that joyous events make spirits soar, and Mila had longed to be a grandmother for quite some time. Now that her wish was fulfilled, she was undoubtedly happy. Feeling joyous, the sight of him didn't seem to bother her as much.

"James."

Gian Horne stood up and followed James out of the Main House, calling out to him on the main path of the Courtyard.

The pitch-black sky, like a vast net, enveloped everything beneath it. If not for the streetlights in the Courtyard, it would have been so dark one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face.

James turned around to face Gian and asked indifferently, "Dad, is there anything else?"

Walking up to James, Gian looked at his younger son. Both of his sons were very similar in appearance. Their mothers had been beauties in their youth, and he himself was handsome, so both sons had inherited their parents' good looks. Every time he saw his sons, he felt especially proud, content no matter what the outside world said about him.

Especially since Glades managed the Valence Group so well, significantly raising the Horne Family's status in T City. And this son before him, despite always bearing the status of an illegitimate child, had never disappointed him. Through his own effort, he had started from scratch. At a young age, he now owned a sizable kitchenware company with over two thousand employees and a fortune exceeding a hundred million.

"When you have time, go see your mom. She's been complaining that you haven't visited her for a long time," Gian said affectionately.

James's face turned even colder at the mention of Pheobe Rogers, as if Pheobe Rogers were not his mother.

He already rarely visited Pheobe's apartment. The last time he went was to accompany her and Gian on a stroll down the Pedestrian Street. During that visit, Julia happened to be with Mila. Julia had sarcastically criticized his father for being partial and favoring his mother. She even gave him a chilling look that froze his heart. Since that day, he had not returned to his mother's apartment.

Even when he was working, his mother would call to complain. She would lament that his father hadn't spent time with her lately, among other things. He found it annoying but wouldn't reply. His mother didn't realize his father's bank accounts had been frozen; without money, his father wouldn't go out. Every time his mother called, he would respond coldly before putting the phone on his desk, letting her ramble on while he didn't listen. Perhaps his mother had grown accustomed to his silence. She didn't know he wasn't listening and would continue talking until he picked up the phone, stated he was busy, and then ended the call.

He had feelings for his mother, but they were separated when he was young and hadn't lived together. He grew up under the protection of Glades Horne, and his feelings for Glades were deeper than those for his mother.

Lately, he was even less willing to spend time with his mother.

He was tired of his mother constantly saying that Mila Anderson mistreated her and that Julia, as a junior, was also disrespectful to her.

From Mila Anderson's perspective, he felt his mother shouldn't complain so much. Knowing full well that his father was already married and had an elder son, she shouldn't have intervened. Even if his father truly loved her, since he wasn't willing to divorce, she should have made a clean break. But his mother didn't, which showed that aside from love, she also harbored aspirations to marry up. When you choose your own path, what right do you have to complain about others? As the old saying goes, "If you eat salted fish, you must endure the thirst."

How could any woman give a warm reception to the one who had stolen her husband's love? If his father found yet another mistress, or even more, would his own mother be able to give those newcomers a warm reception?

Over the years, all he had seen was his mother getting angry with Mila Anderson. Mila, on the other hand, aside from not wanting to deal with her, hadn't made any significant retaliatory moves.

As for Julia Bluen... she was someone with a clear sense of love and hate. She was Glades Horne's wife and had fallen in love with him. In her heart, Mila Anderson was her mother-in-law, while his own mother was an unworthy mistress who couldn't be seen in public. Calling his mother "Auntie" was already polite of her. If it had been Adele Horne, she would have directly called her an "old whore."

"Your mother... she actually loves you very much." Seeing his younger son's expression turn even colder at the mention of Pheobe, Gian couldn't help but sigh internally. It was his fault that his younger son felt so distant from his birth mother.

If he hadn't separated them, James wouldn't treat Pheobe this way.

"Dad, it's cold outside. You should go back inside. I'll go see Mom now," James said coldly, not wanting to hear another word from his father.

When Gian heard him say he was going to see his mother right away, he smiled even more affectionately, reminding him, "Then you should go quickly, and be careful on the road. Oh, and James, you're not getting any younger. You should find a woman and get married soon, to put your mind and your mother's at ease."

Winter had begun. Once it ended, a new year would start. After the New Year, James would be twenty-nine—a mature age. Ordinary men would be fathers by then, but James hadn't shown any sign of settling down.

James's expression grew colder. His chilling eyes quickly and imperceptibly glanced towards Glades's room before he turned around silently to leave, unwilling to discuss matters of the heart with Gian.