"You've run away from the marriage," Marcel Horne stated, not as a question, but as an affirmation.
Ruby Bluen raised her face, meeting the cold, angry glare of Marcel Horne as she responded, "I don't want to marry someone I don't love."
"Damn it! Aren't you afraid that my big brother, in a fit of rage, would destroy your Bluen Family?" Marcel Horne was infuriated by her answer, on the verge of exploding. Although it would pain him to see her marry his brother, if she angered him, the entire Bluen Family could be ruined, and he did not wish to see that happen. "You're already twenty-eight, how can you be so capricious? Your wedding date with my brother was already set, and yet you..."
His roaring voice abruptly stopped when he saw Ruby Bluen's face grow increasingly pale.
"What's wrong with you?" He finally stepped forward quickly, supporting Ruby Bluen.
Ruby Bluen responded weakly, "Cold... dizzy..."
"Commander, she's got altitude sickness," the young soldier finally found an opportunity to interject.
Marcel Horne's brows furrowed. He bent over, picked up Ruby Bluen, and headed towards the Military Camp, casually ordering, "Have the medic take a look at her."
Most people who go to high altitudes experience altitude sickness, especially someone like Ruby Bluen, a pampered heiress from a wealthy family.
Now that it was autumn, the weather was unpredictable and could snow at any moment. How could she withstand it?
Marcel Horne could never have imagined that Ruby Bluen would run away from her marriage for his sake.
He was relieved she hadn't become his sister-in-law, but he worried about how they would face their families. The Horne Family was an illustrious clan. His brother, Glades, was the CEO who controlled Valence; how could Glades tolerate his own fiancée running away—and for Marcel, of all people? As he carried Ruby Bluen inside, the thought of all this nearly made Marcel Horne's head explode. Even if he immediately informed his family and had his brother come take Ruby Bluen back, they would still learn the truth. Besides, this young woman dared to escape marriage once; she would dare to do it again.
Sigh!
For the first time, Marcel Horne felt that romance was truly bothersome.
「Meanwhile, in T City.」
Julia Bluen, who had just registered her marriage with Glades Horne, returned to the Bluen family villa. There, she unexpectedly saw Adele Horne and her shameless friend Orlando Evans—who was desperate to be with Glades Horne—in front of her house.
They leaned against Adele Horne's BMW, one on each side, arms folded across their chests, looking like they were about to interrogate her, and it seemed they were there for Julia.
Julia Bluen stopped her car but didn't immediately get out. She rolled down the window and said to Adele Horne, "Adele, you're here. Why don't you come in and sit down?"
Adele Horne unfolded her arms and strode over to Julia Bluen's car. Resting her hands on the car window frame, she leaned in, her face close to Julia's, and scoffed, "No need. I'm just here to warn you!"
When Adele found out Ruby Bluen had run away from her wedding, she was first outraged, then wildly elated. It meant her good friend could now openly and legitimately pursue her big brother. However, Adele didn't overlook Julia Bluen's existence. Like her mother, she couldn't understand why her beloved big brother had a special fondness for the Bluen sisters. Sure, she admitted the Bluen sisters were beautiful, but plenty of women were just as beautiful, if not more so. Oh, I'm getting sidetracked. Adele worried Julia's presence would divert Glades Horne's attention. She wanted to use Ruby's escape to sever the friendly ties between the Horne and Bluen families, to keep Julia out of Glades's sight. She rationalized her thoughts: Don't blame me, Adele Horne. Everyone is selfish. She was close to Orlando Evans, and in her eyes, Orlando was the best woman in the world, the most worthy to be her sister-in-law.
"A warning?"
Julia Bluen couldn't help but laugh, her sparkling almond eyes looking at the face that bore a distinct resemblance to Glades Horne. Her retort was gentle, yet each word carried a barb, "May I ask, Miss Adele, have I stolen your boyfriend or your money? What exactly are you warning me about? In my twenty-six years of memory, although we've met often, we've hardly had any real interactions—too few to count on one hand."
She then glanced at Orlando Evans, who had walked up behind Adele Horne. Her tone changed as she chuckled with disdain, "Your close friend here is incredibly thick-skinned. A cleaver through bone wouldn't leave a mark on her."
Orlando Evans was indeed incredibly thick-skinned; no wonder they say the shameless are invincible.
"What are you implying?" Adele Horne snapped, a mix of anger and embarrassment in her voice, while Orlando, standing behind her, looked wronged but said nothing.
Noticing Orlando's reaction, Julia Bluen scoffed internally. Oh, Adele, my dear sister-in-law, you're nothing but a pawn for your 'good friend.' Although her marriage to Glades Horne had been sudden, she was ready to face reality. The marriage certificate was registered; legally, she was Glades Horne's wife. Regardless of what the future held for her and Glades, no one else would lay a finger on her husband!
"Plain English," Julia Bluen uttered coolly, her nonchalant and unconcerned expression enough to make the family-spoiled Adele Horne jump in fury. "You know, Adele, you still haven't stated your purpose. What exactly do you want to warn me about?"
"Stay away from my big brother! And don't you dare set foot in our Horne household again! Your sister has shamed our Horne family! From now on, the Bluen family is our enemy!" Young and naïve, Adele thought that Ruby Bluen's escape would turn the Horne and Bluen families against each other and lead her brother to hold a grudge against the Bluens. She had no idea… If she knew that Julia Bluen had already become her sister-in-law, how would she react?
"Oh, got it," Julia Bluen responded very cooperatively.
"Good that you understand. Julia Bluen, let me tell you, in my heart, my only sister-in-law is Orlando Evans. Neither you nor your sister should even dream about it. It's a good thing your sister had the sense to run. Otherwise, if they had married, just wait and see how I would have dealt with her!" Adele Horne, thinking her warning had worked, seemed rather smug.
Julia Bluen looked steadily at the smug Adele Horne. She desperately wanted to tell Adele that she had just come from the Civil Affairs Office with Glades Horne. Right at that moment, her LV purse held a little red book—her marriage certificate, with the words "Marriage Certificate" printed clearly on it. But as the words reached her lips, she swallowed them.