CHAPTER 94: CHAPTER 94 LOVE, HEAVY AS A MOUNTAIN (2)_1

"Andrew, you drive!" Marcel Horne commanded in a deep voice.

"Okay," Andrew Carter immediately responded.

The vehicle quickly left the military camp and headed for the Military District Hospital. The Military District Hospital was quite far. At the earliest, they would only arrive around eight or nine o’clock in the evening. It was only early afternoon. At this time, in T City, the sun was beginning to soften, making for a very comfortable afternoon. However, in Tibet, the afternoon temperature was starting to drop again.

Throughout the journey, Marcel Horne’s face was tightly drawn, his gaze glued to Ruby Bluen’s face. Besides the day she arrived when she experienced altitude sickness and he had carried her, today was the second time he had been this close to her.

If only she weren’t his brother’s fiancée, how perfect that would be.

Even now, though she had run away from the wedding and declared her love for him, he still couldn’t get his brother out of his mind. What would his brother’s reaction be when he found out she loved him?

In truth, he wasn’t a coward in love; he was just overly concerned about her and didn’t want her to get hurt. If Marcel Horne were to call Glades Horne and come clean about everything, perhaps he would discover that the person Glades truly loved was Julia Bluen, not Ruby Bluen, and that he was already married to Julia. Then, he and Ruby wouldn’t have to endure such pain and struggle with a love they were afraid to pursue.

In fact, he was indeed a coward when it came to love. He was always afraid that if their affair came to light, the Horne family, in a fit of rage, would harm her. His own parents would be especially embarrassed and then take it out on her, refusing to accept her. It was due to all these reasons and worries that he had always been afraid to call Glades Horne. He didn’t know that sometimes overthinking could lead to much suffering later on.

"RING RING RING..." Marcel Horne’s phone suddenly sounded.

He quickly freed a hand to grab his phone. It was a call from the camp.

"What’s the matter?" he pressed the answer button and asked directly.

"Commander, we’ve received a distress call. A severe sandstorm has hit the west side, and nearly ten civilians have lost their way and are requesting assistance," a hurried voice came from the other end of the line.

Marcel Horne’s hand holding the phone tensed. He immediately ordered, "Proceed to the rescue right away, and arrange a vehicle to pick me up." After giving the order, he instructed Andrew Carter, "Andrew, stop the car!"

Andrew Carter had heard Marcel Horne’s conversation and quickly brought the car to a stop.

On the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, sandstorms are a common occurrence due to the geographical environment. Although they tend to decrease after autumn, it doesn’t mean they won’t happen.

"Commander, your sister-in-law is still running a high fever," Andrew Carter advised after stopping the car. He turned to look at Ruby Bluen, whom Marcel Horne had laid on the rear seat. "You can assign personnel for the rescue; it’s not necessary for you to go personally."

"She..." Marcel Horne looked deeply at Ruby Bluen, who was still unconscious, and said solemnly, "Her fever has already begun to subside, and nothing will happen for now. You take her to the hospital first. I’ll come to the hospital after I return." After speaking, he got out of the car, closed the door, and waved at Andrew Carter to drive away.

"Commander, if your sister-in-law wakes up and doesn’t see you, I fear she will be very sad and upset." Andrew Carter persisted, not giving up. People who are ill can be very sensitive.

"Andrew Carter, follow orders!" Marcel Horne’s face hardened.

"Yes!" Andrew Carter dared not persuade further. He promptly acknowledged the order, then drove away, continuing towards the hospital.

And though they called Ruby Bluen ’sister-in-law,’ Marcel Horne had never corrected them.

Before long, the military vehicle sent for Marcel Horne arrived to pick him up. He swiftly boarded it and ordered them to head towards the area hit by the sandstorm. As the vehicle started moving, he cast a deep, reluctant glance in the direction of the Military District Hospital.

By the time Andrew Carter brought Ruby Bluen to the Military District Hospital, it was already past nine in the evening. Ruby Bluen had woken from her stupor, but her fever had not completely subsided, only reducing to 38.5 degrees Celsius. However, she was much more lucid, yet still very tired. After a high fever, one feels particularly exhausted even after it subsides.

Seeing that only Andrew Carter had brought her to the hospital, Ruby Bluen thought, Marcel Horne doesn’t care about me. Her heart immediately sank, and she believed the scenes she had witnessed before falling unconscious were merely illusions.

He has always been distant and aloof towards me; how could he possibly treat me with the same tenderness as Glades does? I must have been delirious with fever and seen things wrongly.

After a doctor examined her, they arranged for her to be put on an IV drip and temporarily admitted her for observation, as she had a severe cold with both chills and inflammation.

Ruby Bluen barely spoke; Andrew Carter made the decisions for her. Her mood was at an all-time low, and she had no objections to being hospitalized or put on a drip.

Andrew Carter was a perceptive and considerate young man. Seeing Ruby Bluen’s sullen and pained expression, he knew it was because she had woken up without seeing Marcel Horne. He quickly comforted her, "Sister-in-law, our camp received a distress call. Civilians were caught in a sandstorm and lost their way. The Commander went to lead the rescue. He told me to take you to the hospital first and said he will come immediately upon his return. Sister-in-law, you have no idea. When you fell ill, our Commander was beside himself with worry."

"Really?" Ruby Bluen looked at Andrew Carter, his words filling her with hope. Was he truly anxious? Truly concerned about me? Did he not personally bring me to the hospital because of an emergency? Ruby Bluen’s mood instantly brightened.

"Is a sandstorm dangerous? Could Marcel be in danger?"

"Sister-in-law, don’t worry," he reassured her. "We’ve been living here for several years and have grown accustomed to how quickly the weather can change. We’ve all experienced sandstorms before; the Commander will be fine."

Ruby Bluen finally relaxed, her pretty, round face blushing slightly. She said bashfully, "Andrew, you all call me sister-in-law, but Marcel is so cold towards me. Does he not like me? Could he be scolding you all in private for calling me that?"

Andrew Carter scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. "Sister-in-law, it’s hard to see the picture when you’re in the frame. We all think the Commander is very good to you. He’s someone who’s cool on the outside but warm on the inside."