Chapter 46:

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“I’m just an ordinary person,” Allison said, her voice carrying an air of nonchalance.

Kellan, despite knowing full well that he had just ingested poison, maintained his calm demeanor. His lack of anger or threats only piqued Allison’s curiosity further. She spoke with a straightforwardness that matched the gravity of their situation. “We’re both sharp as tacks, so let’s just pretend none of this ever happened.”

The rain outside drummed steadily against the leaves, creating an almost hypnotic rhythm. The air grew colder and damper. After finishing her sentence, Allison wrapped her jacket tightly around herself and moved closer to the fire, seeking warmth.

Kellan noticed she was still wearing damp clothes, which brought back memories of their night together and stirred an unsettling feeling within him. “Of course, I’ll act like nothing happened,” he muttered, his tone reflecting a mix of irritation and resignation.

He had expected her to bring up their previous encounter, but her untroubled demeanor made him think again about the tip she had left on the nightstand. Her casual attitude toward the incident was infuriating. Kellan’s expression darkened as he opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, he realized Allison had already fallen asleep, her body slumped against the stone wall.

Her sleep was restless, likely a result of the adrenaline from their close call or the biting cold. In her dreams, she relived a harrowing escape from assassins in her teenage years.

Curled up instinctively, as though trapped in a nightmare, Allison soon felt a warm presence beside her. It was comforting and familiar, soothing her frayed nerves. She moved closer to the warmth, her brow relaxing as she sank into a deeper sleep.

By dawn, the first rays of sunlight gently woke her. Allison opened her eyes groggily, taking in her surroundings. As she shifted, something fell to the ground—it was a jacket. She recognized it as Kellan’s.

Kellan himself was seated near the cave entrance, his broad back shielding her from the wind. Allison couldn’t quite put a finger on her feelings; they were a tangled mess of confusion.

The rain had ceased, and as she stood up quietly, intending to call for help, she noticed Kellan’s flushed face and paused.

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“You’ve got a fever,” she said, reaching out to rouse him.

Kellan, still injured and chilled from the previous night, was now running a high fever. Infections were a serious concern for him. “Probably,” he murmured, his voice hoarse and his skin burning to the touch as he slowly opened his eyes, revealing red streaks in the whites.

Allison frowned, planning to step outside to gather water to cool him down. But before she could move, a loud voice echoed in the distance—it was Emanuel.

“Over there! There’s a cave! I see Allison!”

Emanuel, though older, was still as sharp-eyed and quick as ever. He rushed toward them, nearly tripping over thorns in his path. When he finally saw Allison and Kellan safe and sound, tears welled up in his eyes. “Thank goodness you’re okay! When you didn’t return last night, I sent out a search party right away, and all we found was blood!” Emanuel’s voice wavered, relief and anger mixing in his words.

His frustration grew as he spoke. “The police caught a suspect with a gun, but that scumbag managed to escape! How can someone attack innocent people for no reason?”

Allison stayed silent, not wanting to add to Emanuel’s worries. Watching him discreetly wipe away his tears, she quickly shifted the topic. “I’m sorry. I lost all the bamboo shoots you worked so hard to dry.”

Kellan immediately took responsibility, his tone serious. “This is my fault. I dragged Allison into this. I’ll make it right…”

“Just forget it, wheel guy!” Emanuel interrupted, pulling them both into a tight hug, his eyes brimming with tears as he took in their injuries. “Forget the bamboo shoots. I’m just thankful you’re both alive!”

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