CHAPTER 130: CHAPTER 130 STRONG DEEP LOVE (5)_1

He tried to return to his former, dull and tasteless life, but no matter how hard he tried, it was no use. Ruby Bluen had deeply entrenched herself in his mind; he always found himself stealthily, almost imperceptibly, watching her every move. Seeing her vie with Emma Wright for his attention, yet strive to appear harmonious with Emma, he desperately wanted to tell her that he loved her and she had nothing to worry about.

Every time the words reached his lips, he would think of his eldest brother, Glades Horne.

"Marcel, wait for me!" Ruby Bluen’s voice called out from behind him.

Marcel Horne didn’t stop, pretending not to hear, though he did slow his pace slightly.

"Marcel!"

Out of breath, Ruby Bluen caught up, running in front to block his path. One hand clutched her stomach as she gasped, "Wait for me!"

The cold air outside made Ruby Bluen’s lips turn an even deeper shade of purple.

Her stomach wasn’t strong to begin with, and she had just eaten lunch. After running all this way, it was now aching painfully.

Marcel Horne gazed at her intently. Seeing her clutching her stomach, lips pursed, he said coldly, "Your stomach is weak; why are you running around like this? It’s windy and snowy out here. Why did you come out? Go back!" Then, turning his head, he saw Emma Wright and Tiffany Alvarez approaching and said in a softer voice, "Emma, her stomach isn’t very good. Take her to the infirmary, have someone look at her, and get some medicine prescribed."

Emma Wright gave him a sweet smile and agreed, "Okay." With that, she stepped forward to support Ruby Bluen, saying with concern, "Ruby, come, I’ll help you back. After a meal, you should take a gentle walk, not run like this. It’s the worst thing for your stomach."

Ruby Bluen didn’t want to go back, but her stomach was genuinely feeling worse. She looked deeply at Marcel Horne, hoping he would go back with her, but she was disappointed.

After giving instructions to Emma Wright, Marcel Horne walked away, his face stern.

At that moment, Ruby Bluen felt like crying.

But she stubbornly bit her lower lip, refusing to let herself cry. He still cares about me, she told herself. At least he knows my stomach has always been weak.

She couldn’t follow him now, and neither could Emma Wright.

With this thought, Ruby Bluen’s mood brightened a little.

Emma Wright and Tiffany Alvarez helped Ruby Bluen back to the Military Camp.

Only after their figures disappeared into the Military Camp did Marcel Horne stop walking. He turned and stood still, gazing deeply in the direction of the Military Camp.

Ruby, I’m sorry!

What else could he say besides sorry?

RING, RING, RING... Suddenly, his cell phone rang.

He hurriedly took out his phone. Upon seeing the caller ID, he felt a flicker of nervousness—it was his mother.

Pressing the answer button, he softened his tone and said, his voice deep, "Mom."

"Marcel, are you cold? It must be freezing in Tibet now, right? Do you have enough winter clothes? Shall I send you some more?" His mother, Sovia Morris, asked, her voice full of care and worry, as soon as the call connected.

"Mom, I have enough. I’m used to it. Don’t worry about me. How have you and Dad been lately?"

"We’re fine, just missing you. Marcel, your father mentioned trying to pull some strings to get you transferred back again. Would you like to come back? Look, you’re our only child, and you’ve gone so far away, barely returning even once a year. We’re getting older, and we can’t even see you. While your father still has some influence and people still give him some face, you should listen to him and come back," Sovia Morris said, shifting to another topic.

For so many years, General Horne had tried to get Marcel Horne transferred back, but Marcel always refused, leaving them completely puzzled. Could it really be just out of patriotism?

"Mom, I like it here," Marcel Horne responded in a low voice, indirectly declining to leave Tibet.

"You child! Are you planning to stay there for your entire life? You still have family. You’re the Second Young Master of the Horne Family... SIGH. How did I end up with such a stubborn son?" Sovia Morris lamented, starting to weep on the other end of the line.

This was a common tactic among women.

Marcel Horne remained silent.

After a long pause, he cautiously asked, "Mom, what about Big Brother and Miss Bluen’s wedding...?"

"It’s off! That Ruby Bluen, I don’t know what possessed her, but she ran away from the wedding! She fled just before the registration, and your brother is nearly driven mad. Your brother treated her so well, they knew each other inside out, and had been in love for so many years. Then, just when it was time to register, she just up and left! She’s utterly humiliated your brother. Never mind your brother being angry; we were all livid when we heard! What does she take our Horne Family for? A joke? And your brother? Someone to be toyed with? If it weren’t for Julia, we would have dealt with the Bluen Family long ago for daring to disgrace the Horne Family like this!" As soon as Sovia Morris mentioned Ruby Bluen, her tone turned sharp, making Marcel Horne listen with growing apprehension.

It seemed Ruby Bluen’s flight from the wedding had made the entire Horne Family resent her deeply.

And indeed, the Horne Family was T City’s foremost family, immensely wealthy, yet Ruby Bluen had dared...

"Marcel, I’m begging you, just this once, listen to your father and come back. Your grandmother misses you too," Sovia Morris pleaded, returning to the topic of convincing Marcel Horne to come home after her tirade against Ruby Bluen.

"Mom, I’ll think about it. I have some things to attend to, so I’ll hang up now. You and Dad take care of yourselves." Marcel Horne had long since lost any desire to continue the conversation with his mother.

He hadn’t really registered his mother’s next words.

If it weren’t for Julia...

What he had registered was his mother’s prejudice and resentment toward Ruby Bluen.

He wondered, even if his brother found true love again, would his own parents ever accept him and Ruby Bluen?

If his parents couldn’t accept them, what would he do? How could he face such a situation?

After hearing his mother’s words, Marcel Horne’s mood instantly plunged into a deep abyss, foreshadowing the hardships he was destined to endure.

Gazing up at the vast, white expanse of the sky, Marcel Horne lost all desire for a walk. His heart clenched again at the thought of Ruby Bluen’s stomach-ache. He turned and headed back.

No matter what the future held, she was by his side now, and he couldn’t let anything happen to her.