CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 78 A DIFFERENT KIND OF ROMANCE (2)_1

Julia Bluen wriggled free from Glades Horne’s embrace, pulled out her mobile phone, and was about to answer the call when she saw that it was Nicholas Coldwell calling. She paused for a moment, and just as she was about to hang up, Glades’s inscrutable voice came from above her head, "Why don’t you answer?"

Julia looked up at him. "Do you want me to keep in touch with him?"

"Facing things squarely is the real way to let go," Glades’s voice grew deeper, his gaze intense as he watched Julia, his words pointed. She was about to become his wife in truth. He would not allow her heart to harbor anyone else, not even past sorrows. She claimed to be strong, but three years of feelings couldn’t be dropped easily. And only by facing them squarely could she genuinely let go.

"Pleasant Goat, Beauty Goat... Big Grey Wolf, Red Wolf..."

The ringtone kept playing.

Glades continued to watch Julia intently, an encouraging and supportive look in his eyes that suddenly made her feel calm. Her love and hatred for Nicholas vanished in an instant. She pressed the green button and brought the phone to her ear, speaking flatly, "This is Julia Bluen."

"Julia, it’s Nicholas." Nicholas’s gentle voice came through, with a touch of richness. But to Julia, it sounded excruciatingly insincere.

"Is there something you need?" Julia asked, her tone back to usual.

"Well..." Nicholas suddenly hesitated.

Julia didn’t press him, just held the phone, waiting for him to speak.

"Julia, can I plead with your brother-in-law? I know I wronged you, but it really has nothing to do with the company. It’s our personal problem. Taking personal grievances public isn’t right, is it? If you truly hate me, when I return home, I’ll let you hit me, let you scold me." After a moment of hesitation, Nicholas began to plead softly, begging Julia to persuade Glades Horne to stop retaliating against Cosmos Group.

"Mr. Coldwell, you are mistaken. I never hated you. Nor have I asked anyone to retaliate against you. As for Cosmos’s issues, that’s your company’s business and has nothing to do with me. The person you need to appeal to isn’t me, but Glades. This is about your business cooperation, not me seeking personal revenge. You’re still on your honeymoon, aren’t you? This is an international call. We’re nothing to each other anymore, so it’s best we don’t talk for too long, lest your wife becomes unhappy."

"Oh, right," Julia suddenly laughed happily, adding, "I’m married. Too bad you’re abroad; I can’t invite you for a celebratory drink."

"You’re married?" Nicholas’s shocked voice burst out, "Julia, how could you do this? You used to love..." He stopped himself, as though realizing something, and hurriedly held back from saying more.

The one who first betrayed their relationship was him, yet he dared to accuse her!

Julia laughed instead of getting angry. "Nicholas, it seems you’ve forgotten. Wasn’t it you who married first? I even attended your wedding in a special capacity, remember? Your memory isn’t that short, is it?"

Nicholas immediately suppressed the pain and care in his heart, saying softly, "Julia, you’re just trying to trick me, aren’t you? I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I actually..."

"Nicholas, I’m busy and don’t have much time for small talk. As for what you’re asking of me, please forgive my inability; I can’t change Glades’s decisions. You’d better hurry back to your wife. Be careful she doesn’t discover this and pinch your ear. You really can’t afford for things to fall apart now. I’m hanging up. International calls are pretty expensive, you know." Julia’s words, laden with barbs, struck Nicholas so hard, even through the phone, that his expression changed drastically.

Without waiting for his response, Julia ended the call.

After hanging up, she turned to Glades and explained, "That was Nicholas Coldwell. Your Valence Group has stopped cooperating with Cosmos Group, and Dio Powell panicked. He called me earlier, asking me to plead with you to be lenient. I refused him directly. Now Nicholas called. He probably assumed I’m still in love with him and thought that if he, Nicholas, pleaded, I would help them."

Glades stretched out his hands and gently cradled her face, articulating each word with emphasis, "They dared to hurt you; they deserve to be punished. Julia, I’ve watched you grow up for twenty-six years. Even I couldn’t bear to hurt you in the slightest; how dare anyone else!"

"When I was bullied and hurt, you stood up for me. But when my sister hurt you, I couldn’t help you."

Glades chuckled, his fingers caressing her face as he spoke softly, "Haven’t you helped me? You took your sister’s place and married me, resolving the crisis of me having no bride at my wedding. Julia, truly, thank you so much for marrying me." Glades’s words carried a deeper, affectionate meaning.

"Then, let the two of us, who have both been hurt, live well from now on and never be hurt by anyone again." Julia, not catching his hidden meaning, smiled and reassured him.

Glades pressed his lips together. Disregarding the fact that they were on a public road, he gently pulled her into his embrace.

In the distance, an Audi approached and stopped. The man inside watched the embracing couple, his handsome face contorting with a hint of ferocity. His large hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, as if he wanted to rip it off.

Thirty seconds later, he reversed the car and disappeared silently.

"Let’s go," Glades said, pulling Julia toward his car.

"What about my car?" Julia asked, concerned about her Mercedes as he ushered her into his car.

Glades took out his phone, dialed a number, and once it was answered, he instructed in a deep voice, "Henry, bring Harry and drive out towards the city center. When you see a black Mercedes parked by the road, drive it back to the Bluen Family home. That’s Julia’s car. I’ll leave the car key under its front tire." After giving the instructions, he took the car key from Julia, walked over to the Mercedes, and indeed placed the key under the front tire.

Julia wanted to say something but ultimately decided against it.

If her car were stolen, with Glades’s capabilities, finding it again would be easier than eating a meal.

After stowing the car key, Glades returned to his car, started the engine, and drove off with Julia, intending to treat her to a romantic date before their wedding.