Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law-Chapter 733 - 732: Minor Interlude (2)_1

Noah Reyes sat in the car, his face marked with distinct fingerprints, his eyes a mixture of confusion and complexity.

Growing up, this was the first time he had been slapped, and by a woman no less! Fortunately, his subordinates were not present; otherwise, they would have been furious and risen up in retaliation. As the leader, anyone who dared to hit him was an enemy of the Flame Sect! Even if she had given birth to Jimmy Horne, this slap meant that she could never enter the Reyes Family’s door or become the wife of the Flame Sect’s leader. So, while he was very angry, he was more relieved that only he witnessed the scene, with no third party to see it.

「At another location.」

The old matriarch had only strolled around the first floor of Valence Group and then asked Julia to take her home.

"Grandma, don’t you want to see Glades’s office?" Julia supported the old lady as they walked slowly. When the old lady requested to go home, Julia asked her gently.

Although Glades Horne had been sent away by the old matriarch and couldn’t accompany her, he stayed in the company’s monitoring room, keeping an eye on his beloved wife and grandmother. Hansen Ruiz was also watching alongside.

"It seems the old lady’s spirits have improved somewhat," Hansen Ruiz remarked, glancing at his boss and good friend, who was frowning as if deep in thought.

Glades Horne withdrew his gaze from the monitors. Pursing his lips, he took a long moment before speaking. "Grandma said some words this morning that sounded like a final testament. Now, she suddenly asked Julia to bring her to the company. She hasn’t been back here for many years since she stepped down. I’m worried..." He couldn’t bring himself to say the words ’a final flare before death,’ so Glades Horne didn’t finish his thought. He was worried that the old matriarch’s days were truly numbered.

Hansen Ruiz patted his shoulder and said no more.

Glades Horne gripped Hansen’s comforting hand and turned back to the monitors, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Downstairs, the old matriarch smiled wearily, saying, "No need to look further. I’m tired, let’s go home."

Julia couldn’t insist against the elder’s wishes. She obediently helped her out of the office building, assisted her into the car, made a phone call to Glades, and then drove the old lady home.

By the time they reached the Horne Family, it was almost noon, and lunch was ready.

The Horne Family’s lunch was usually not attended by many.

Julia had taken the day off to be with the old matriarch. Aunt Mei had instructed the kitchen to prepare many of Julia’s favorite dishes. After Julia had lunch with the old matriarch and sat with her for another ten minutes, the old lady anxiously announced she wanted to take her afternoon nap. Aunt Mei then helped her into her room to rest.

When Julia was the only one left in the spacious and luxurious hall, she looked around, a little dazed.

This home had many people, yet usually, only the old matriarch was there. At that moment, Julia deeply felt the old lady’s solitude; she longed to have someone to talk to but couldn’t.

Standing up, she walked out to the courtyard. The sun outside was fierce and hot, so she could only walk along the shaded path.

Despite the heat, at least there was a breeze.

Reaching the shade, she sat on a long wooden bench, quietly enjoying the breeze and silently observing the beautiful scenery of the backyard.

She didn’t take an afternoon nap or find someone to chat with. She just sat alone under the shade of a tree for the entire afternoon.

Around four o’clock in the afternoon, she finally left the backyard, ready to pick up her children from school. Today was Friday, so the children would be dismissed a bit earlier than usual.

Tomorrow was the weekend, so neither she nor Glades would go to the company for work. Weekends were their time for family and their children.

This week, she planned to take the kids to the beach for a swim.

The boys were four years old now, a little taller, and could wear swimsuits and use floaties to swim.

In summer, the beach was everyone’s favorite destination. Every year at this time, the sandy shores would be dotted with sun umbrellas and crowded with tourists.

Julia drove to the school. Various types of vehicles were parked outside. It was a prestigious Noble School, catering to all educational stages from preschool to high school. Consequently, there were many students and just as many parents picking them up daily.

Julia found a parking spot. With her sunglasses on, her hair down instead of in a high bun, and dressed in casual clothes, she was not immediately recognizable as the young mistress of the Horne Family.

Most people here had a certain status. Unless they were particularly close, they generally treated each other as strangers and refrained from intruding without good reason.

Currently, only the preschool children were being dismissed. They were all ready to go home, just waiting for their parents to pick them up.

Armed with her ID, Julia walked into the school and soon picked up Ivan Horne and Jimmy Horne. Camila Ruiz was picked up by Rachel Bailey and Mrs. Ruiz.

When the two friends met, Julia had intended to invite Rachel to take Camila and go strolling or shopping. However, seeing Mrs. Ruiz there as well, Julia felt it wasn’t appropriate to invite Rachel along. So, after exchanging greetings and a few words, they each got into their respective cars with their children and left the school.

Once in the car, Julia couldn’t help but sigh internally. Even the closest of friends saw each other less and less after getting married and having children, because they each had their own families to tend to.

"Mommy, I want Häagen-Dazs ice cream!" Ivan Horne exclaimed from the backseat as their car passed a Häagen-Dazs store. He couldn’t resist his craving and immediately made his request to Julia.

Julia glanced at the store. "Sure," she said with a faint smile. She then parked in front of the store and led the two little boys inside, where they each got an ice cream platter.

The two boys ate with great joy.

In the sweltering summer, cool ice cream was everyone’s favorite treat.

「The Horne Family.」

Glades Horne returned home around four-thirty in the afternoon.

Knowing Julia had gone to pick up the children, he sat in the living room, idly flipping through the newspaper while waiting for his beloved wife and children to return.

The old matriarch had just woken from her nap; her afternoon rests were now several hours longer than before.

"Grandma." As soon as Glades saw the old matriarch emerge with her cane, he quickly stood up and went to her side. He carefully supported her to the sofa where he had been sitting. His actions were just as solicitous as Ivan’s had been that morning, which greatly comforted the old matriarch.

"Finished with work so early today?" the old matriarch asked with a kind smile after sitting down. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Yes, there wasn’t much to do today."

Glades poured a glass of warm water for the old matriarch. She took a few sips and then asked with a smile, "Haven’t Julia and the children returned yet?"

Glades checked the time. It was already five o’clock. Normally, Julia would have returned with the children by now. Since they hadn’t, they were probably out shopping, he thought. He responded gently, "Don’t worry, Grandma. Julia has probably taken the children shopping."