Is their Battalion Commander a ghost? How did he vanish without a trace in the blink of an eye? What about those two military vehicles? I certainly don't have divine powers to drive both of them back. Forget it, I won't go for now. I'll park the cars at the Military District, wait for the Commander's good news, and also let those gossiping leaders give up. From now on, they won't try to play matchmaker for Marcel Horne anymore.

After Ruby Bluen arrived at the airport, it was already ten o'clock at night. There happened to be a late flight to T City, so she immediately bought a ticket. Luckily, not many people were going to T City, and tickets were still available; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to return home right away.

She boarded the plane in a hurry, her heart feeling empty. Sitting in her seat, her expression became somewhat dull. Tears no longer flowed, but her heart still ached.

Quickly, the airplane soared into the black sky, carrying her away from Tibet, where she had stayed for a month, toward T City—the city that had birthed her, raised her, and always welcomed her.

It always seemed that fate enjoyed jesting by the smallest of margins.

Just by that small margin, Marcel Horne had almost made it. However, by the time he reached the airport, the plane carrying Ruby Bluen had already soared into the black night sky. The time difference was only one minute; it was just that tiny gap.

Learning that Ruby Bluen had boarded and the plane had taken off, Marcel Horne suddenly felt drained. He slumped into a chair in the waiting area, still panting heavily. He had run so fast, not daring to pause for even a second, but in the end, he still hadn't caught up.

"Ruby... I'm sorry!" Marcel Horne murmured.

One is supposed to turn off their phone on the plane, so I have no way to call Ruby Bluen. After I hurt her so deeply, she probably won't answer my calls anymore, will she?

「The next day.」

「In the afternoon.」

Under the clear blue sky, a passenger plane arriving from Switzerland slowly landed at T City's largest airport.

After the plane came to a complete stop, passengers gradually disembarked.

Among the crowd, the most noticeable was a couple radiating happiness and sweetness. The man was tall and handsome. Though his features were somewhat austere, his deep eyes couldn't hide his tenderness and indulgence for the woman beside him. She possessed a tall, slim figure, glossy short black hair, and a beautiful oval face with a healthy, rosy complexion. Her lovely, expressive almond-shaped eyes seemed to flicker with life, and her lips, soft and red like juicy cherries, were an enticement to any man. A shy yet blissful smile adorned her face.

Needless to say, these two were Glades Horne and Julia Bluen.

With Glades Horne's wealth, he could easily have chartered a private jet. However, Julia Bluen preferred a more ordinary life, so he indulged her, humored her, and accompanied her back on a regular commercial flight with everyone else.

Two of Glades Horne's bodyguards were already waiting at the airport. Seeing the couple disembark, they immediately stepped forward. "Young Master," they addressed him respectfully, then turned to Julia Bluen with even greater reverence, "Young Mistress."

"Hi, long time no see." Julia Bluen greeted the two bodyguards cheerfully, having clearly come to terms with her change in status. After being... 'pressed' by Glades Horne every night, how could she not be at ease?

"Here are the luggage claim tickets," Glades Horne said in a deep voice, handing them to Wade Coleman.

Wade Coleman took the tickets and went to collect their luggage.

"Julia, let's go," Glades Horne said gently, putting an arm around Julia Bluen.

Julia Bluen nodded, allowing him to lead her out of the airport.

Glades Horne's Rolls-Royce was parked outside the airport.

As the couple stepped out, Wade Coleman had already retrieved their luggage and was loading it into the trunk of a black sedan parked behind the Rolls-Royce.

The other bodyguard opened the Rolls-Royce's doors for them. Once Glades and Julia were settled inside, the bodyguard slipped into the driver's seat, started the engine, and drove them toward Golden Kirin Garden.

「Grand Court Garden. The Bluen Family Villa.」

In the Side Hall, Scarlett Taylor sat silently on the sofa, gazing at a photo of Ruby Bluen, her expression unable to hide her worry.

A whole month had passed—an entire month since her eldest daughter left home—and she still had no idea where Ruby was.

Is it because those people are incompetent? she wondered. Or is finding someone in the vastness of Syrena truly as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack? There's been no word for so long. Even Glades Horne hasn't sent any news. I might distrust others, but I can't doubt Glades Horne's capabilities. If even the people he arranged to find Ruby haven't located her, then it's hopeless for anyone else.

"Ruby, my poor child, where are you? How could you be so heartless? Don't you miss your mother at all? How could you just walk away like this? What happened between you and Glades? If you really didn't want to marry Glades, why didn't you tell us? Why did you choose to run away?"

Scarlett Taylor muttered to herself. She had forgotten how much she had initially wanted Ruby Bluen to marry Glades Horne, and how angry she herself had been when her daughter first fled the wedding. But as time passed, being a mother, her anger had given way to endless worry.

Ruby Bluen hadn't run away from the wedding solely because she wanted to pursue her own happiness; the pressure from both families was also a significant factor. If the two families hadn't always treated them as a couple, preparing everything and just waiting for them to register and hold the wedding, this might not have happened.

Furthermore, the Horne family's power also contributed to Ruby Bluen's decision to flee rather than reveal that the one she truly loved was Marcel Horne. Just as Marcel feared Glades might harm her, she was equally afraid that Glades might harm Marcel.

Chris Bluen entered from the main hall. Seeing Scarlett Taylor looking at Ruby Bluen's photo, he said immediately, "Scarlett, why are you looking at that unfilial daughter's picture again? Julia and Glades are returning from Switzerland today. You'd better not let Glades see you like this. He might seem okay with one sister stepping in for the other, and he's very good to Julia, but the pain and loss Ruby caused him still exist. If he sees you always looking at Ruby's photos, he might become unhappy, and that could affect his relationship with Julia."