Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law

Even though I've tried to sow discord between her mother and Julia Bluen multiple times, her mother doesn't take it to heart, which infuriates me. Her mother clearly dislikes Julia marrying her older brother too, so why isn't she swayed by my provocations?

Orlando Evans's eyes flickered, hatred resurfacing in their depths.

Julia Bluen's luck is just too good.

"Your brother..." Orlando Evans paused, pain flooding her heart, her voice becoming exceptionally anguished. "He will always be my pain, and your sister-in-law..."

"What sister-in-law?" Adele Horne defensively cut Orlando Evans off. The moment she saw Orlando Evans in pain, Adele Horne started to show favoritism, heavily biased toward Orlando. She took Orlando's hand and insisted, "In my heart, *you* are my sister-in-law. Only you treat me well. Julia Bluen never keeps me company or cares for me. When I'm sick, she even mistreats me. I don't want a sister-in-law like that."

Adele Horne's support is what I need for my schemes to advance step by step.

Orlando Evans was well aware of this. She made every effort to please Adele Horne, feigning subservience and constantly revealing her deep love for Glades Horne as well as her jealousy of Julia Bluen. This made Adele Horne even more critical of Julia, convinced that Julia was the one who had caused her best friend's sorrow. Adele resolved to get revenge on Julia Bluen on her friend's behalf, to make Julia understand that becoming the Young Madam of the Horne Family didn't guarantee happiness.

Adele told Orlando Evans that she would find a way to deal with Julia Bluen, reassuring Orlando.

Orlando Evans feigned concern, pretending to dissuade Adele for fear that Glades Horne might punish her. Orlando claimed her previous comments were merely casual remarks, primarily because she couldn't stand Julia Bluen's condescending attitude toward Adele—always acting as if it was for Adele's own good. This deeply moved Adele, reinforcing her belief that Orlando was indeed the loyal friend she had known for ten years.

As the two women continued their discussion, Othiel Evans, who sat aside, saw Adele Horne for who she truly was. She's just a foolish woman who only knows how to spend money, unenlightened, severely biased, and easily deceived by her cousin. Beautiful on the outside, but lacking a beautiful soul. His interest in Adele Horne shifted to mere amusement. Of course, if Adele is willing to marry me, I'll still marry her—but I'd be marrying the Horne family's dowry. How could the astute Horne family produce such a brainless young lady?

Othiel Evans sneered inwardly.

On the surface, he continued to look after Adele Horne considerately, further improving her new impression of him.

「Elsewhere:」

Marcel Horne was taking Ruby Bluen home—not to the Horne Family Mansion, but to the compound in the Military District where his parents lived.

The Military District where his father was stationed was a good half-day's drive from T City. He and Ruby had set out after breakfast and had already been driving for the better part of the day, yet they were still on the road.

The words of the Horne matriarch, as well as Chris Bluen's persistent opposition even now, had made Marcel Horne decide to inform his own parents first. Regardless of their reaction, he was determined to stand by Ruby Bluen and see things through with her to the very end.

Ruby Bluen sat in the passenger seat, the back of the car packed with gifts she had prepared for Sovia Morris and her husband. She pursed her lips and quietly watched the scenery outside the window as the car sped along the highway, flanked by rapidly passing vehicles and small hills.

I appear composed on the surface, but inside, I'm still quite nervous. Even my own father opposes my relationship with Marcel Horne; will Chief of Staff Horne and his wife agree? I've heard about Sovia Morris's sharp tongue. We've met before, but back then, I was still Glades Horne's fiancée. Out of respect for Glades, Sovia was quite nice to me. But now, I'm no longer Glades's fiancée, and I want to be with Marcel Horne. Will Sovia still be kind to me? Will she be like my father, insisting on her opposition even if Glades tries to persuade her?

I came with Marcel Horne to the Military District compound today to meet Sovia Morris and her husband, all without my parents' knowledge. Otherwise, Father would never have let me leave the house. It's a bit disheartening. Is it really so difficult to pursue the man one truly loves? I'm unmarried, Marcel is single; we're both free. Am I doomed to never marry again just because I was engaged before? In today's society, there are as many divorced people as married ones. Can't those who've divorced remarry? Besides, my engagement with Glades Horne was a huge mistake. Now that he's living happily with my sister, I should have even more right to pursue my own love. I never expected...

I don't blame Glades Horne. I was also at fault for what happened back then. If I had been honest with Glades earlier and firmly ended our relationship, things wouldn't have reached this point. I caused all of this, and I'll bear the consequences myself. As long as Marcel Horne is by my side, I fear nothing, not even if the sky falls.

"Ruby," Marcel Horne said in a low voice. He gripped the steering wheel, the car moving smoothly along the highway under his control. His voice was as deep as Glades's, yet it always seemed to carry a heavier, somber tone, lacking the same richness—perhaps due to his inherently cold nature. He was genuinely aloof, not like Glades, whose moods fluctuated, nor like James Horne, who merely feigned indifference.

"I'm here for you."

He wasn't one for many comforting words, but he could offer Ruby Bluen that reassurance.

We haven't arrived home yet; my parents still don't know anything. No one knows what the outcome will be. But regardless of whether they agree or not, I will marry Ruby Bluen. The emotional burden that might have stopped me from marrying her has finally been lifted.

Ruby Bluen smiled and said, "I'm not scared."

Marcel Horne turned his head to gaze deeply at her, his eyes filled with an unprecedented tenderness that flowed like a warm current through Ruby Bluen's heart.

The atmosphere inside the car brimmed with affection.

By the time they arrived at the Military District compound, it was already three in the afternoon.

Although the sun was soft, its light at least helped to dispel the chill. The weather was quite mild. To Marcel Horne and Ruby Bluen, it certainly felt like a good day. Having both experienced winters in Tibet, they naturally didn't find this weather cold.

At the entrance to the Military District compound stood two armed Servicemen. When they saw a car approaching, they routinely moved to intercept it. They recognized Marcel Horne's car, but at this moment, he was driving Ruby Bluen's Mercedes, which they didn't recognize. Thus, they were stopped at the gate. When Marcel Horne leaned out, revealing his stern, cold face, the two Servicemen immediately straightened their posture, saluted him, and said, "Good afternoon, Chief!"