Chapter 77 A Different Kind of Romance (1)_1
Mila Anderson remained silent. Even though she was the legitimate wife, in a large family like this, she sometimes didn’t have the final say. How could she willingly allow the mistress’s son to be brought back? How could she bear to see him every day? Or watch the mistress use visiting her son as an excuse to constantly come to the Horne family home, while she remained helpless? The old matriarch insisted that James Horne was of Horne blood. The old woman valued lineage immensely. Despite siding with me and not accepting Pheobe Rogers, she was willing to accept James Horne. What could I possibly say?
Besides, when Glades Horne was just a few years old, the first time he saw James Horne, who looked so much like him, he declared that his younger brother should grow up by his side. Pheobe Rogers also promised that James Horne would only hold the title of Fourth Young Master of the Horne family and wouldn’t touch any of the family inheritance. Utterly helpless, I had no choice but to agree to legitimize James Horne.
It had been over twenty years. Every time I saw James Horne, I was reminded of my husband’s betrayal, and my heart ached as if it were being pierced. Under such circumstances, how could I be kind to James Horne? I’m not a saint. I’m just an ordinary woman, deeply in love with my husband, a woman who, like any other, is unwilling to share her man. Barely accepting his illegitimate son was already my limit. I was cold towards James Horne, but at least I never mistreated him.
Seeing that Mila Anderson wasn’t speaking, Adele Horne belatedly realized she had brought up her mother’s painful memories and hastily changed the subject to something more festive.
"The wedding is the day after tomorrow, and then I’ll have to see Julia Bluen every day. Mom, I really dislike her," Adele Horne said, looking around the newly redecorated, more luxurious, and festive bridal chamber, clinging to Mila Anderson’s arm and speaking coquettishly.
"Don’t say that in front of your brother." Mila turned and lightly flicked her daughter’s nose. She glanced around the bridal chamber without saying anything, then left with Adele supporting her. "No matter what, she’s already your sister-in-law."
"I will never acknowledge her as my sister-in-law; my only sister-in-law is Orlando Evans! Mom, you don’t know, I saw Orlando today. She’s lost so much weight! My brother treated her so badly, she’s lost all her dignity. She’s heartbroken and devastated; she loved my brother for so many years," Adele Horne complained on behalf of her friend again.
These past few days, whenever she visited Orlando Evans, Orlando had been quiet and rarely smiled. Her heart ached for Orlando, and every time Adele saw Orlando’s sorrowful and aggrieved expression, her dissatisfaction with Julia Bluen grew.
"Is it that exaggerated?" Mila Anderson laughed incredulously. If Orlando could lose that much weight in just two days, she could film a weight-loss commercial.
"Mom," Adele Horne whined.