James Horne might have fallen for Julia because she had never hurt him, troubled him, or mocked him. The pain that his younger brother carried in his heart was likely something Glades Horne could scarcely comprehend.

Glades Horne slowly squatted down. He saw his brother's handsome face, which bore some resemblance to his own, streaked with tears. His gaze deepened.

"Big brother, is that you?" James Horne, his eyes brimming with tears, drunkenly lifted a powerless hand, trying to touch Glades Horne's face, but he stopped midway. He laughed, a laugh uglier than crying, his slurred words revealing deep affection and pain. "How could it really be you? This is a dream, just a dream. I can't touch you, or you'll disappear... Big brother, what should I do? I love Julia, but I also love you. I'm not normal... I'm a freak... a madman... How could I fall in love with my own big brother... But... I truly do... In this family... only you, Big brother, treat me well... Big brother... I'm in so much pain. The two people I love have become my family. What am I supposed to do?"

Thinking he was dreaming, James Horne recklessly confessed his feelings for Glades Horne and Julia Bluen. It was an emotion he had suppressed for many years, weighing on him like a heavy stone, suffocating him daily. Yet, for the happiness of his brother and sister-in-law, he continued to bear this crushing weight every single day, resigned to being suffocated by it eventually.

He thought there couldn't be another person in the world who suffered as much as he did.

Hearing this, Glades Horne's entire body jolted, and he stared intently at James Horne.

Glades Horne knew James harbored unnatural feelings for him. He had always avoided confronting it, not wanting to destroy James in the process. Now, actually hearing James confess his love, Glades couldn't help but tremble violently.

Being loved was a good thing, but being loved by one's own younger brother as if he were a lover was not.

James's self-control was relatively commendable. After Glades married Julia, James hadn't harmed her out of his love for Glades. If it had been anyone else, they likely would have constantly caused trouble for Julia, much like Adele Horne always did.

But how much self-control, Glades wondered, did James need to manage these feelings of his?

After James Horne poured out his emotions so recklessly, he fell into a deep sleep, as if a great stone had been lifted from him. He no longer cried out Julia's name, nor did he weep. His expression was more relaxed than it had ever been.

Watching his brother fall asleep in an instant, Glades Horne remained stiffly squatting, his gaze fixed on James for a long time.

A large hand reached out, landing on James Horne's handsome face, which in deep sleep had shed all its defenses and icy composure. It was because of their resemblance that Glades had brought him into the Horne family. If Glades hadn't spoken up for him back then, James might never have entered the Horne family's doors, because the grandmother and Mila Anderson doted on Glades and always valued his opinion most.

Over the years, he had genuinely loved this younger brother.

But as they grew older, his kindness toward James had a destructive aspect to it. He knew Pheobe Rogers wanted to ruin their brotherly bond, so he had been particularly kind to James, ensuring James's deep respect for him as an older brother. This served to counteract Pheobe's intentions and also allowed him to use that emotional bond to suppress James's ambitions for the Valence Group.

His objective had been achieved.

But he had never anticipated that his kindness would lead James to fall in love with him. When he sensed something was amiss, he began to treat James with increasing coldness. He wanted to create distance, hoping James would gradually return to normal. He also knew about James's feelings for Julia. The thought that James might still return to normal brought him some relief.

James, brother, I truly didn't want you to end up like this.

James, you must return to normal. Let go of your love for Julia and find your own happiness.

Glades Horne thought these things silently. Then, he rose partially, lifted James Horne from the floor, and helped him onto the bed. He removed James's shoes, socks, and jacket, then covered him with a blanket.

After one last, deep look at James Horne, Glades Horne turned and left James's room, returning to the master bedroom he shared with Julia.

Julia was sleeping soundly. She didn't realize Glades Horne had returned; he moved gently, careful not to disturb her.

Though she was just a few days shy of being one month pregnant, she already found herself feeling drowsy and needing more sleep.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Glades Horne looked at the woman he had cherished for twenty-six years. He had once thought she would be his sister-in-law, but she had instead become the wife he loved. His expression softened, and his heart surged like mighty waves.

She was his weakness, his bottom line.

How could he bear to let any other man lay a finger on her, even if that man was his own brother!

「The night continued.」

The next day was Saturday, so no one had to work. Apart from the grandmother, who rose at her usual time, everyone else mostly lazed in bed, unwilling to leave the warmth of their blankets.

When Julia Bluen woke up, it was already past nine in the morning.

When she opened her sleepy eyes, she was met with Glades Horne's yearning, affectionate gaze. She blinked. He was still there? She had thought he'd already gotten up.

Since her warm pillow was still beside her, she might as well sleep a little longer. There was no work today, anyway.

With this thought, Julia Bluen snuggled back into Glades Horne's embrace, seeking a comfortable position to return to her slumber.

His large hand suddenly covered her lower abdomen, and from above her came Glades Horne's doting chuckle. "What's wrong, don't want to get up, hm? Aren't you hungry? It's past nine. You've missed the best time for breakfast, but you can't skip it. For our baby, you must eat."

"I still want to sleep," Julia murmured in his arms, her voice thick with playful complaint.

Feeling drowsy and constantly wanting to sleep is a common reaction in early pregnancy.

"Eat breakfast first, then you can sleep, alright?" Glades Horne coaxed in a low voice, as if speaking to a child. "Aunt Mei has come upstairs several times on Grandma's orders to hurry us. I couldn't bear to wake you, so you were able to sleep this late."

In this house, the grandmother was the only one who dared to disturb him.

But such disturbances didn't anger him.

He knew the grandmother also meant well for Julia.