She thought he loved her too.

She believed that one day, he would take her hand, lift her chin, gaze deeply into her eyes, and say to her, "Ruby, I love you. Marry me, will you?"

She thought that lovers were destined to become spouses in the end.

Who would have thought that it was all just wishful thinking on her part?

The care he showed her, the attention he paid her, were all for Glades Horne's sake because, in his heart, she was just his sister-in-law.

That day would never come. The day when he would take a woman's hand, lift a woman's chin, gaze deeply into a woman's eyes, and speak those heartfelt words. Sadly, he would not be saying them to her; he was saying them to Emma Wright. He had fallen in love with Emma Wright at first sight!

Love at first sight!

At twenty-eight, she had always believed in love that grew over time, never in love at first sight. Yet now, those words described the man she loved most.

No wonder he was so gentle with Emma Wright.

The more she thought about it, the more Ruby Bluen's heart ached.

Tears streaked down her pretty face as she bit her lower lip tightly, holding back sobs. Her face was still pale, and her eyes were red and swollen from the ceaseless tears.

"Sister-in-law," Andrew Carter said upon seeing her like this, feeling extremely distressed himself.

From the moment Ruby Bluen arrived at the Military Camp, everyone had treated her as Marcel Horne's wife, addressing her as "Sister-in-law." Although they were not yet married and Marcel Horne always seemed cold to Ruby Bluen, everyone could see that his gaze actually followed her. They had all thought that eventually, their calling her "Sister-in-law" would be justified. Who knew that things would change in an instant? Ruby Bluen was leaving, and with tears, no less. Seeing her like this, Andrew Carter knew it was their captain who had deeply hurt Ruby Bluen.

"Andrew, please, can you drive a bit faster?" Ruby Bluen finally turned her head. She lifted her red and swollen eyes to glance at Andrew Carter, her voice choked with tears, aching the heart of anyone who heard it and evoking their pity.

Andrew Carter let out a silent sigh then floored the accelerator. The car surged forward as if in flight.

Ruby Bluen turned her head back to the window, her hands clutching each other tightly in pain.

Heading home.

She wanted to go back home immediately.

Only family could soothe her heart, wounded by love.

As Andrew Carter drove faster, Marcel Horne found it even harder to catch up. He was driving as fast as he could, as if in a desperate car chase, but Andrew Carter's vehicle had left a good ten minutes earlier, and the distance between them had already widened considerably.

Ruby, wait for me!

Marcel Horne gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, anxiously repeating in his mind.

If only he had known it would come to this. He should have called home sooner; he should have informed his older brother, Glades Horne, about Ruby Bluen's arrival here much earlier. Then, he wouldn't have suffered through a month of agonizing indecision, and Ruby Bluen wouldn't be rushing away now, so deeply hurt.

It was all his fault!

He had been too anxious, thinking only of protecting her. He hadn't realized that his anxiety had become a burden, his protection a source of harm.

Marcel Horne's heart twisted into a knot. A piercing pain assailed him, making his entire body ache.

The car flew along the road, yet he still wished it could go faster.

But it was no use. He had already floored the gas pedal.

The wind WHOOSHED.

Time also flowed away ceaselessly with the strong wind.

In the evening, Andrew Carter had delivered Ruby Bluen to the Military District.

"Sister-in-law, do you really have to go?" Andrew Carter asked one last time. He saw Ruby Bluen take her simple luggage and get out of the car, and he couldn't help but follow her out.

This young man regarded Ruby Bluen as his sister-in-law, as an older sister, and he cared for her more than the other soldiers did.

"Andrew, thank you," Ruby Bluen said bitterly. "I'm leaving now. It's getting dark. You should stay here overnight and head back in the morning." After speaking, she cast one last look back at the road they had traveled—a look full of longing, reluctance, and despair. Then, she turned, hailed a taxi, and hurried to the airport, despite the encroaching darkness.

Watching Ruby Bluen get into the taxi—her expression a mixture of sadness, pain, despair, and reluctant farewell—as it sped away, Andrew Carter couldn't help but ask himself: What exactly is love? Why do some find joy in it, while others find only sorrow?

Only when the taxi had disappeared from view did Andrew Carter get back into his vehicle. He turned around and started heading back; even though it was evening, he still had to rush back to the Military Camp.

He had been driving for only two minutes when he encountered Marcel Horne head-on.

Marcel Horne recognized the military vehicle Andrew Carter was driving as one from their camp and immediately stopped his own car.

Andrew Carter also stopped.

Seeing that Marcel Horne had indeed pursued them, Andrew Carter breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Marcel Horne still loved Ruby Bluen. But before his relief could fully settle, anxiety gripped him again—Ruby Bluen had already taken a taxi to the airport.

"Captain, why are you only arriving now? Why didn't you come sooner? Sister-in-law has already taken a taxi to the airport!" Andrew Carter exclaimed, getting out of his car and rushing towards Marcel Horne.

When Marcel Horne saw Andrew Carter's vehicle, his heart leaped with joy. Ruby Bluen might still be inside! She might have changed her mind and decided not to leave! As he got out of his car, his sharp eyes scanned the interior of Andrew Carter's vehicle. But when Andrew Carter's words reached his ears, he felt as if struck by lightning, utterly devastated.

He was still one step too late!

She had left!

She had really left!

She had left with resentment for him, with love for him, with misunderstandings... just like that.

How he wished this was all a lie. She was so confident; how could she have been defeated by him? How could she just leave like this?

What should he do?

"Captain, if we rush to the airport now, I don't know if we can still stop Sister-in-law," Andrew Carter said quickly, noticing the ashen look on Marcel Horne's face and growing anxious himself.

The next moment, Marcel Horne had vanished from his sight.

Andrew Carter was left speechless.