"Master Glades, I've found out what you asked me to investigate. Miss Bluen went to Tibet; she's at Second Young Master Horne's military camp. Here are the photos. Miss Bluen is safe and sound," Jonathan Allen said. He glanced at Julia Bluen, who was sitting next to Glades Horne and looking at him with a puzzled expression, then hurriedly handed Glades Horne the photographs his subordinates had taken, packaged in an extra-large photo bag, into the car.

Upon hearing this, Glades Horne's handsome face darkened.

Julia Bluen was also astonished. "My sister went to Tibet? To Brother Marcel's military camp?"

She reached for the photo packet Jonathan Allen was passing over, but Glades Horne snatched it first.

"Master Glades, I've taken care of that for you. I have other things to attend to, so I'll be going now," said Jonathan Allen, and true to his word, he slipped away as slickly as if he'd stepped on a watermelon rind.

Glades Horne rolled up the car window, opened the photo bag, and took out a stack of photographs. Jonathan Allen had been thorough; there weren't just one or two photos but dozens. Each one captured Ruby Bluen, detailing her entire day's activities.

Looking at each photograph, Glades Horne's expression grew more and more inscrutable.

Julia Bluen took the photographs from his hand, furrowing her brows as she looked through them.

Only after seeing all the photographs did she realize how inscrutable her husband's expression had become. She immediately said to Glades Horne with concern, "Glades, my sister... she..." From everything she saw in the photos, she could be sure of one thing. My sister's elopement definitely has something to do with Marcel Horne.

Glades Horne pursed his lips and remained silent, simply turning his head to look deeply at her. She couldn't begin to fathom his inscrutable gaze.

The next moment, he fiercely pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.

"Glades, please don't be angry with my sister. Is she... okay?" Julia Bluen struggled to tilt her face upward in his embrace, her almond-shaped eyes pleading as she looked at him.

Glades Horne glanced down at her briefly, then looked ahead, offering Julia Bluen only a view of his resolute jawline. His lips remained tightly sealed; he didn't utter a single word.

Looking at his stern and resolute jawline, Julia Bluen raised her hand and softly caressed it. Her touch made him pause for a few seconds. He then looked down at her again, his eyes still unfathomable but now holding a clear tenderness for her.

"I don't like it when you purse your lips like that; it makes you unreadable," Julia Bluen said, gazing at him. She had to divert his attention to stop him from being angry with her sister. Even though she had married him, and he had said they should both forget the past, accept their current lives, and face life's trials together, the news that her sister had eloped because of Marcel Horne was a heavy blow, at least for both the Horne and Bluen families.

If her sister had eloped with any other man, people might have understood. But for that man to be Marcel Horne...

Although the five young masters of the Horne family weren't born of the same mother and usually seemed to keep to themselves, they were, in fact, very close as brothers. Her sister had been engaged to Glades Horne. Not only did the Horne and Bluen families know, but everyone in T City was aware of it. For her to stand Glades up at the registry office and elope with Marcel to Tibet—wasn't that deliberately trying to create friction between the brothers?

Even though the situation had changed, a man as proud as Glades Horne would still hold some resentment in his heart, wouldn't he? Besides, the Horne family already strongly disapproved of her sister. What kind of storm would brew within the Horne family if my sister were to actually marry into the family? Marcel's father and stepmother were influential in politics. While the stepmother appeared more approachable and tolerant than Mila Anderson on the surface, in reality, both she and the Third Mistress were formidable women.

If it hadn't been for Ruby's elopement, the Horne family would have had no issue with her. After all, they had watched her grow up and knew her well. It would have been a good thing for the two families, already friends, to become in-laws. But the elopement had severely damaged Ruby's image in the Horne household.

Julia Bluen knew very well that the main reason the Horne family was so angry was their deep affection for Glades Horne. He was currently pursing his lips, his expression unreadable, yet he still held her tightly. They felt that Glades Horne, whom they had cherished and doted on, should never suffer any distress. Yet, Ruby had made him taste the bitterness of betrayal.

The arm around her waist tightened again, pressing her soft body so hard against his that she felt they might merge.

Glades, you'll break my waist! Julia Bluen sighed inwardly. It's so unfair. I can never figure out what he's thinking, but he always knows what's on my mind.

Julia Bluen grumbled resentfully in her heart.

The grip on her waist immediately loosened by half, allowing her to nestle comfortably in his embrace. His large hand then moved to her head, gently ruffling her short hair.

Julia Bluen was glad her hair was short; no amount of ruffling could turn it into a bird's nest.

His ruffling of her short hair was filled with immense affection. Julia Bluen's worried heart began to settle as he continued this action. Glades Horne would never put my sister in a difficult position. His ruffling my hair like this is telling me that as long as I'm here, he'll never harm a single hair on my family, she felt.

Inevitably, a warm current flowed through her heart.

The Horne family already knew Glades Horne and Julia Bluen were returning today; otherwise, the two bodyguards wouldn't have gone to the airport to pick them up. In fact, accompanying them were four additional bodyguards Glades Horne had hired to secretly protect Julia Bluen during their honeymoon. Glades Horne's usual two bodyguards hadn't accompanied them on the honeymoon, but these four covert bodyguards protecting Julia had, unbeknownst to her. Glades Horne knew but said nothing. This was the kind of loyalty he wanted from his bodyguards—they wouldn't neglect their duties for the sake of their master's romance.

The Rolls-Royce had just pulled into the driveway of the grand Horne family villa when Uncle Ying rushed out excitedly to greet them. Aunt Mei, who had been eagerly watching from the doorway of the Main House, smiled and turned to go inside, presumably to inform the Old Madam that the couple had returned.

"Returning from a honeymoon as if she were a queen visiting her maternal home—is all this anticipation really necessary?" scoffed Adele Horne, who was sitting on the sofa playing with her phone.