CHAPTER 132: CHAPTER 132 IF HE MARRIED JULIA (1)_1

Emma Wright turned around to face him, tilting her head up. Her heart-shaped face was adorable, her skin fair. Her eyes, double-lidded and rather large, gleamed brightly. She stood nearly one hundred and seventy centimeters tall with a curvy figure. A ponytail was secured at the back of her head, unlike Ruby Bluen’s waist-length flowing hair. Emma presented herself with an easy grace and delicate beauty. She didn’t possess Ruby’s inherent aristocratic air. Emma was more of the girl-next-door type, but her eyes held a certain valiance, perhaps due to her military background. It was this valiance that added a charming allure to her, something Ruby could not match.

"No, I just wanted to see if Ruby is feeling any better," Emma’s face was still a bit flushed.

"She’s asleep," Marcel Horne replied, stepping past Emma to leave.

"Oh." Emma followed him. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped. Watching Marcel’s retreating figure, she asked, "Commander Horne, can we talk?"

Marcel paused, turned to look at her, and saw her large, hopeful eyes fixed on him. Her expression bore some resemblance to Ruby’s, so he silently nodded.

"Let’s go to the rooftop." Seeing him agree to her request, Emma seemed pleased, a smile tugging at her lips. She then turned, her ponytail swinging as she headed up to the rooftop.

Marcel followed her with measured steps.

Once on the rooftop, the biting cold wind made Emma shrink back, but she bravely faced the wind and snow. She pulled her heavy military coat closer around her; after three years in Tibet, she had grown accustomed to the temperatures.

"It’s too windy and snowy outside; don’t go out there," Marcel said heavily. He stood in the stairwell, not venturing out, and looked down the winding staircase.

Hearing his words, which she took as concern, Emma turned back. Her eyes curved into crescents, and a hint of a joyous smile touched her lips; she felt Marcel had spoken out of consideration for her, not wanting her to get chilly. Yet, her smile faded within a minute as she recalled the scene she had just witnessed—Marcel did have feelings for Ruby; he wasn’t as indifferent and unfeeling as they had all perceived.

Back in the Military District, Emma had idolized the stern and reserved Commander Horne because the military leaders had all been eager to introduce him to potential girlfriends. Hearing their conversations had sparked Emma’s admiration for him. She had often thought that if she ever got the chance to work in Marcel’s military camp, she would definitely win over this commander known as ’The Devil.’ To her surprise, her wish came true. For the first time ever, Marcel made a special request to the military leaders for an additional medic to be assigned to the camp, and they chose her.

In this special and significant military camp, Marcel had always been gentle towards her. In just a few short days, her heart had truly fallen for him. Although she retained her reason, she was resolute in pursuing Marcel. But the scene she had just witnessed posed a great threat to her aspirations.

"What did you want to talk about?" Marcel looked sideways at her, his eyes as dark and deep as Glades Horne’s, like bottomless pits. Under his gaze, Emma couldn’t help but blush again, her heart thumping erratically like a startled rabbit.

"Do you like Ruby Bluen?" Biting her lip, Emma went straight to the point.

At her question, Marcel was taken aback for a second, probably not expecting this particular query. Then, he calmly averted his gaze and answered heavily, "Ruby and I grew up together. Our families are long-standing friends."

He didn’t answer Emma’s question directly, but his response effectively told her that he and Ruby shared a close relationship.

"You’re not suited for each other." Emma’s eyes dimmed for a moment before she directly addressed the crux of the issue. "You’re a soldier, and she’s clearly a pampered young lady. She won’t be able to endure the hardships of military life. Even if you leave Tibet and get transferred back, she still won’t fit into your world. Unless you leave the army—but would you really want to do that?"

Emma’s words were piercing, revealing her keen insight. In just a few days, she had seen through the issues between Marcel and Ruby.

Marcel turned his head and fixed his gaze on her for a full minute. Then, he looked away and said with cool indifference, "Go ahead. Say what you really want to say."

The issues Emma spoke of were ones he and Ruby could overcome. What Emma didn’t understand was that their real problem wasn’t enduring hardship; it was that Ruby was his older brother’s fiancée, who had run away from her engagement to find him here. They would have to confront both the Horne and Bluen families—their parents, relatives, and the entire Upper Class Society. They might not care about outsiders’ opinions, but they couldn’t ignore their families’. He had just detected his mother’s strong disapproval of Ruby in her tone.

"I really like you," Emma, true to her military roots, didn’t beat around the bush. If she liked someone, she would say it, bold enough to make her feelings known. Still, she cleverly left herself an out. She didn’t say she loved Marcel, merely stating she had strong feelings for him. This implied that if Marcel were willing to pursue a relationship and give her a chance, she could fall in love with him.

To Emma’s surprise, Marcel actually said, "There are plenty of women who like me." His words left her momentarily speechless.

His words were true; many women were indeed interested in him.

"You’ve just been transferred here from the Military District. Life here is much tougher compared to there, and I’m worried you all won’t be able to adapt," Marcel continued heavily. His words were filled with concern for his new comrades, devoid of any romantic sentiment. This clearly indicated to Emma that his kindness towards her and Tiffany Alvarez stemmed purely from camaraderie.

A shadow of sadness crossed Emma’s delicate features, but then she smiled. "I know, but I won’t give up."

Marcel simply glanced at her and said nothing more.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll head downstairs. It’s quite cold, and some of the soldiers are starting to catch colds. I’ll go check on them." Emma flashed a sweet smile at Marcel, showing no embarrassment at his rejection, then headed downstairs first.