Marcel Horne felt a sense of danger when he learned his superiors were so concerned about his private life.

If his parents didn't accept Ruby Bluen, and his father privately asked his superiors to intervene, marrying Ruby would become very difficult. Unless he left the military and was no longer a soldier, he had to apply to his superiors to get married.

Since his superiors were still unaware of the true situation, he decided to submit a marriage application first. He hoped to get the marriage certificate with Ruby before the leadership learned the truth.

"What is this?" Ruby Bluen asked curiously as she picked up the document. The bag was transparent, so she didn't need to take out the papers to see the contents clearly—the words "Marriage Application" jumped out at her first.

She paused for a moment, looked up at Marcel, then reached into the bag, took out the marriage application, and read through all of its contents.

When she was in Tibet, she had also seen Marcel's marriage application. The moment she saw Marcel's name signed on it, her heart felt as if it were being cut into pieces. The paper she held turned into a hot potato, burning her hand and causing her to loosen her grip, letting it flutter to the ground. It was also that application that eventually led her to leave Tibet.

Now, she was holding a marriage application again, but this time it was hers and his.

Her heart was filled with ecstasy. She wanted to express her joy, yet she found herself at a loss for words.

Marcel stood up, moved to sit beside her. His large hand, full of pity and love, gently touched her face, wiping something away. "Don't cry!" he said, his deep voice tinged with distress.

Cry? Had she been crying?

Ruby touched her face and indeed found the remnants of tears Marcel had just wiped away.

She had actually shed tears—tears of overwhelming joy.

The waiter brought two cups of Blue Mountain coffee and placed one in front of each of them.

Noticing Ruby crying and Marcel's distressed expression, the waiter glanced at them a few more times. She thought they were having a dispute but didn't ask further and returned to her duties.

The cafe was filling up with more and more customers until almost every seat was taken.

Faint music echoed through the space, soothing the worries from everyone's hearts.

The scent of coffee filled the entire space, merging with the music.

Outside the cafe, the night wind grew stronger.

Passersby instinctively drew their clothes tighter. Some rushed by, while others chatted and laughed with friends.

Othiel Evans drove his blue Porsche 911 through the streets with Adele Horne in the passenger seat.

After forcing himself on Orlando Evans, Othiel confined her in his personal apartment. He severed all phone lines, confiscated her mobile phone, and removed her laptop's network card to ensure she couldn't contact the outside world. Only then, beaming, did he leave the apartment and head to the Horne Family mansion to find Adele.

Adele Horne's bank card had been frozen, and all her cash and jewelry were confiscated. She was now reduced to a poor young lady who could only eat and stay at home. Accustomed to a life of extravagant luxury, the sudden descent into poverty overwhelmed her. She constantly harassed the servants at home. By the time Othiel Evans came to see her, she had already scolded every servant in the house.

One servant was even slapped by her for forgetting to add milk to her coffee.

Frustrated with nowhere to vent, she took out her anger on the servants.

She had also called Orlando Evans, but Orlando didn't answer her calls. Later, Orlando even turned her phone off. Adele had no idea what had become of Orlando, or how her elder brother was treating her. She only hoped that Orlando was alright.

The house had a computer, but she disliked going online; otherwise, she would have learned about Orlando's fate.

Othiel Evans's arrival was like a warm ray of sunshine in the cold winter, instantly giving her new hope.

Othiel Evans didn't enter the Horne Family mansion; he parked his car at the gate and called Adele.

No man had ever visited Adele Horne at the mansion; Othiel Evans was the first. Adele was thrilled, her heart fluttering erratically. Even though Othiel was a year younger, he took great care of her and acted much more mature, making him seem older when they were together.

She had no money, but Othiel Evans did. With him, she could once again do as she pleased.

"It's cold, do you want to go home?" Othiel Evans asked in a deep, gentle voice as he drove. Adele was gazing out at the cityscape, unusually quiet.

A quiet Adele made one realize she was indeed quite a beauty. Her usual petulance and irrationality had masked her attractiveness, so people were only aware of her unreasonable behavior, oblivious to her beauty.

"I don't want to go home." Adele withdrew her gaze from the car window, pursing her lips with a hint of frustration.

Home felt like a cage that would drive her insane. Just one day there, and she already felt she couldn't bear it.

"Where would you like to go?" Othiel Evans asked considerately.

He was very skilled at seducing women, and he was confident he could make Adele fall for him quickly. While with Adele, he also kept up with the Evans family's situation. He knew his father had gone to Valence Group, aiming to plead with Glades Horne, but Glades wouldn't see him. For his family's company, he could imagine his father groveling before Glades Horne like a dog begging for scraps. His heart surged with fury, and sudden resentment towards Glades welled up within him. Since Glades had been unkind to his father, he was determined to make Adele fall in love with him, become utterly devoted, and then infuriate Glades to death. Although Adele was unreasonably capricious, she was inexperienced in love. Once she developed feelings for him, she would surely insist on being with him. He was curious to see how Glades would handle that.

With that thought, Othiel Evans freed one hand and reached over to grasp Adele's. His hand was fair and slender, yet strong.

When their hands touched, Adele reacted as if electrified. A blush spread across her pretty face as she turned and coquettishly reprimanded Othiel Evans, "Are you crazy? Trying to take advantage of your Sister Adele?"

Othiel Evans hurriedly feigned innocence and defended himself, "Sister Adele, you've misunderstood. I saw you were weighed down with worries and just wanted to comfort you. I'm not taking advantage of you. If you think I am, well, my hand is right here. You can hold it too, and then we'll be even."