Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law

Because of Glades Horne's tenderness and kindness towards her, both families were lulled into complacency.

Several times, she wanted to lay things out clearly with Glades Horne, but he never gave her the opportunity.

Six years passed by in a blur like this. Eventually, their parents chose a wedding date for her and Glades Horne. When Glades Horne personally came to deliver the betrothal gifts, her anxiety began to rise. She didn't want to marry Glades Horne, even knowing that marrying him would certainly bring her happiness. Anxiety rendered her helpless. On that night, she kept thinking about Marcel Horne. In a moment of madness, she cast aside the mental burden she had carried for six years and fled the wedding.

Now looking back, she realized that she and Glades Horne were actually using each other.

Because of Glades Horne, she was spared the harassment and harm from other men, and because of her, Glades Horne was spared from being pressured into marriage by his family.

Only she knew that every time Glades Horne visited the Bluen Family, if he spent one hour with her, he would spend two hours with her younger sister.

At that time, Julia Bluen was still a college student. Ruby had thought that Glades Horne probably treated Julia as a younger sister, doting on her. Even if she had suspicions, she never confirmed them, which led to an uncontrollable situation later on, ending with her running away from the wedding and Julia taking her place as the bride.

All has become clear now. The person Glades Horne truly loved was her younger sister. And the person she truly loved was Marcel Horne. After going around in circles with Glades, almost marrying him, everything has finally righted itself.

Having listened to Ruby Bluen's confession, Marcel Horne's face turned as dark as a stormy sky. Damn it, he wasn't by her side when she was in danger. When she inexplicably became his brother's girlfriend, he didn't give her the opportunity to explain and just silently disappeared from her world, missing out on so many years.

He didn't blame her for not seeing through her feelings for him back then. She was young at the time. Besides, love is sometimes like that; when faced with several good men at the same time, it's hard to tell who one truly loves.

They say that once you fall into the realm of love, even the smartest person becomes a fool.

Even Glades Horne played the fool once.

The blame could be placed on the fact that all five Horne brothers grew up with the Bluen sisters. They were all kind to the Bluen sisters, and the Bluen sisters treated them all more or less the same. In such an environment, akin to childhood sweethearts and innocent friendships, true feelings indeed became murky and hard to discern.

The old lady was silent for a long time.

She saw that the person Glades Horne truly loved was Julia Bluen, but she never knew that Ruby Bluen loved Marcel Horne. Now it seemed the mistake made by Glades Horne and Ruby wasn't entirely their fault; they both shared the blame. If they hadn't rushed to force Glades Horne into marriage back then, perhaps he wouldn't have gotten together with Ruby under those circumstances. Nor would he have convinced himself, after spending so much time with her, that he had fallen in love with Ruby.

But the mistake was already made, and now they could no longer say "if," because "if" had become past tense, only serving to remind them of their wrongdoings.

Looking at Marcel Horne, and then at Ruby Bluen, the old lady heaved a deep sigh, then stood up and said, "Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. This old lady is getting on in years and doesn't wish to meddle too much anymore. Marcel, Ruby, I wish you good luck. Marcel's mother is not the same as Mila..." The old lady did not continue, staggering toward the outside. Marcel wanted to support her but was refused. She allowed only Meiyi to assist her as she walked toward the Courtyard.

「After her daily noon rest,」

The old lady would always go to the Courtyard to soak up the sun and take a walk.

Marcel Horne stood still, watching his grandmother's faltering figure vanish before his eyes. For the first time, he realized that she had aged a great deal. She was no longer the grandmother he remembered: the one who doted on them, indulged them, sided with them, always accompanied them, and took them out to play. Instead, she had become a lonely elder who still cared for her grandchildren's well-being and worried about everything related to them. Yet, she endured it all, only hoping they would all be happy.

With her statement "Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes," the old lady indicated she would not hinder the union between Marcel Horne and Ruby Bluen, relinquishing her hold and letting the two of them pursue the happiness and time they had missed.

Marcel was very grateful to the old lady. In this family, she still had considerable say. If she insisted, she could turn things upside down. But she didn't wish to be a stubborn and forceful matriarch. She didn't want to be like the matriarchs from other wealthy families, insisting on socially advantageous matches or marriages of convenience. Nor would she forcefully prevent a union due to personal dislike. What she desired was her grandchildren's happiness. Even if she had harbored grievances against Ruby, she was willing to set aside all discontent after understanding the whole story and willingly gave her blessing.

Such open-minded elderly matriarchs were, in fact, not too common in wealthy families.

Turning around, he returned to the sofa, his large hand scooped up Ruby Bluen, bringing her forcefully into his embrace, holding her tightly, not saying a word.

Ruby Bluen also hugged him back. She understood in her heart that if she wanted to walk into the Wedding Chapel with Marcel Horne and receive their relatives' blessings, they still had a lot to endure, a lot to face. Merely being accepted by her future mother-in-law was already a significant issue.

No matter what difficulties lay ahead, she believed she could withstand them all, as long as Marcel no longer avoided her.

「In the Courtyard,」

Meiyi supported the old lady as they slowly walked under the shade of the trees. The old lady did not speak much, and Meiyi hesitated several times to start a conversation. The old lady then glanced at her sideways and said softly with a smile, "Meiyi, just say whatever you want to say."

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Meiyi chuckled, and only after laughing did she ask, "Madam, I'm afraid it won't be easy to get past the second madam. Don't you plan to lend Marcel and Miss Ruby a hand?"

The old lady did not immediately answer. She simply walked to a stone bench by the path, sat down, looked at her own Courtyard with scenery everywhere, and then said slyly, "As a mother-in-law, if I side with a granddaughter-in-law who hasn't even married into the family yet, my daughter-in-law will certainly be displeased. It's difficult to please both sides, so I might as well wash my hands of the matter and stay neutral. Let them have a bit of friction; consider it a test for that boy Marcel. Don't assume that just because he's a soldier, he's as assertive in love as Glades."

"The eldest young master and his wife must already know about this," Meiyi said.

"There's nothing that Glades doesn't know. Isn't he also stepping back? If he were to intervene, would Marcel be able to sit in the living room right now? He'd have been dragged back home by his formidable mother by now. She's an official's wife, after all. And you know the saying, 'an official has two mouths'—Sovia is truly formidable." The old lady sighed, but a cunning smile flickered in the depths of her eyes, clearly looking forward to the unfolding drama.