"Where are you going?" Julia Bluen asked, her concern instinctive despite her casual tone. "Are you going to see Orlando Evans's brother?"

"Mind your own business. Even my mom doesn't ask where I'm going, so why are you being such a busybody?" After tucking away the money, Adele Horne's face darkened upon hearing Julia Bluen's question. She responded irritably, refusing to tell Julia Bluen she was going to see Orlando Evans. "You better go drink your milk. That stuff tastes terrible, and you're the one who has to endure it." Adele Horne seemed almost gleeful at Julia Bluen's discomfort.

She disliked drinking milk herself and naturally considered it a form of suffering.

"I'm off. I'll be the star at tonight's Wine Party at home, so don't you dare steal my limelight," Adele Horne said, dropping the statement before turning to leave once more.

Julia Bluen stood where she was, watching her sister-in-law walk away, a smile playing on her lips.

Her sister-in-law still had a sharp tongue, but her attitude towards Julia Bluen had softened somewhat.

It's probably because I'm pregnant.

Heh, it seems being pregnant really does give one an advantage.

The Horne Family's decision to host a Wine Party that evening had been presented as a matter for discussion, but in reality, Glades Horne had made the final call, and the others merely agreed.

The true purpose of the Wine Party, as everyone well understood, was for James Horne to select a fiancée.

Henry Horne and Harry Horne, the twin brothers, were somewhat confused as to why their eldest brother was suddenly targeting James Horne. They worried about being paraded around like items for sale themselves. After the Wine Party was confirmed, the twins started looking for excuses to avoid it.

"Eldest Brother, I have an important gathering tonight, so I might not be able to help at home. Anyway, James is the main event, so it won't matter if I'm not there," Henry Horne said, trying to get out of it first.

"Eldest Brother, I also have urgent matters to handle, so I won't be coming back either," Harry Horne quickly added, not wanting to be outdone and also looking for an excuse.

Glades Horne glanced at the twins and said with a humorless smile, "It doesn't matter. However, tomorrow night, we'll organize one for you two, and you'll be the main attractions."

"Eldest Brother, I'm free! I can skip that gathering. After all, our family's Wine Party is more important, right? Heh heh." Henry Horne immediately changed his tune.

"Exactly! Our family's Wine Party is more important. Don't worry, Eldest Brother, I'll definitely ease your burdens. I'll make sure to introduce all the eligible young ladies from prestigious families to James. That way, you can relax and spend more time with our Sister Julia," Harry Horne chimed in, even more skilled at flattery.

The two brothers continued in this vein, showering Glades Horne with flattering words.

At the bend of the second-floor staircase, however, someone stood frozen, as if turned to stone.

James Horne, who had been drunk, had just woken up. He found himself on his large bed but couldn't recall what had happened the night before. It seemed like I saw Eldest Brother in a dream, but it also felt real. Was it a dream, or did it actually happen? I can't tell. Frantically, he phoned Halton Hillraise. He learned from Halton that while drunk, he had blurted out his deepest, repressed feelings—he had been calling out Julia Bluen's name repeatedly. What terrified him even more was that the person who had come to take him home was his eldest brother. So, Eldest Brother knows about my feelings for Julia now? Last night wasn't a dream? Eldest Brother was really there, in front of me?

I said so many things... It seems...

Now, listening to his brothers' discussion, he understood: his eldest brother intended to sever his feelings for Julia Bluen.

The sounds of discussion from downstairs still echoed, but James Horne could no longer focus on them.

His body rigid, he turned and trudged back up the stairs to his room. He flung himself onto his large bed, staring at the ceiling, fists clenched tightly, his eyes filled with agony.

I would rather Eldest Brother lash out at me in fury than push me towards other women.

If Eldest Brother is afraid I'll steal Julia, I can leave this family. I'll never appear before him and Julia again. My love for Julia is no less than his. With feelings this deep, how could I possibly be with another woman?

My heart... it aches!

It truly, truly aches!

The two people I love most... are also the ones causing me the most pain.

Closing his eyes in anguish, he knew that in the end, he would still have to be with a strange woman. Otherwise, his eldest brother wouldn't let the matter rest.

It's all alcohol's fault.

If I hadn't gotten drunk, I wouldn't have confessed my true feelings. If I hadn't confessed, Eldest Brother wouldn't be rushing to organize this matchmaking Wine Party at home, so eager to push me away.

But what's done is done. There's no use regretting it now.

After lying there for a while, James Horne finally went downstairs.

He couldn't stay in bed all day.

By the time he came downstairs again, Glades Horne was no longer home; he had taken Julia Bluen out for a drive to help her relax.

I'm a bit disappointed, yet also relieved.

Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to face Julia, how to face Eldest Brother.

Halton Hillraise had said he'd called Julia Bluen's phone, and Julia Bluen herself had answered. She knew he had called her name while drunk. With her intelligence, she must have guessed the truth. He worried that this incident might cause a misunderstanding between his eldest brother and Sister Julia.

With Eldest Brother's domineering personality, if he misunderstands Julia, she'll be the one to suffer.

Thinking of this, James Horne silently cursed himself again for drinking.

He swore that from now on, he would never have more than three glasses of alcohol, lest he make reckless comments while drunk again.

Meanwhile, Glades Horne was out for a drive with his beloved wife. Julia Bluen wasn't the type to stay cooped up at home; besides, it wasn't good for a pregnant woman to always be indoors.

Her menstrual period was due, but it hadn't arrived.

Dr. Lei's diagnosis had been completely accurate.

On a Saturday, the streets were bustling with cars and people. The shops lining both sides of the road were doing at least double their usual business.

Glades Horne was driving, with Julia Bluen in the passenger seat. They hadn't brought any Bodyguards; it was just the two of them.

"Where would you like to go?"

Glades Horne drove at a leisurely pace. Julia Bluen had said she wanted to see the street scenery, so he slowed the car down. His Rolls-Royce moved at a snail's pace, drawing curious glances from passing vehicles. Glades Horne didn't mind, as long as he wasn't obstructing traffic. His wife wanted to enjoy the view, so of course, he had to slow down. After all, what could they see if they just sped past?