"It’s snake venom, but it doesn’t quite seem like it. The onset is too fast."
"His pupils are starting to dilate, and his breathing is very weak. I’m afraid..."
"Prepare for the worst."
The mood in the tent instantly hit rock bottom.
Wren Wynter squeezed in, squatted down, and pried open the boy’s eyelids to take a look. She then carefully sniffed the air around his mouth and nose.
It was a strange, sweet fragrance mixed with the raw, earthy sll of soil.
A flash of inspiration struck her. She imdiately said to the nurse beside her, "It’s not snake venom. It’s a plant toxin. He can be saved!"
Everyone froze.
"Dr. Wynter, are you sure?" Director Archer had also rushed over, his expression grim.
"I’m sure." Wren Wynter stood up, her tone decisive. "This toxin requires a specific herb for an antidote. Its sap can neutralize the poison. I happened to see so when I was surveying the nearby mountains with a local guide a couple of days ago."
’The boy must have been starving and accidentally ate so wild plant, which led to the poisoning.’
"In the mountains?" Director Archer’s brow furrowed even more deeply. "The situation on the ground is unclear. The mountains are too dangerous. They’re full of traps and landmines they’ve laid."
"But it’s the only way." Wren Wynter looked at the boy on the stretcher, his life force fading. "I can find the herb. Let go."
"I’ll go with you!" Shaun Quinn stepped forward.
But Director Archer vetoed it. "No, Shaun. You’re a surgeon. The camp can’t be without you."
Shaun Quinn started to argue, but a look from Wren Wynter silenced him.
’They can’t lose Shaun Quinn here.’
"Shaun, I can do this on my own."
’She wasn’t the sa Wren who had just arrived.’
As Director Archer hesitated, a resonant voice cut in.
"I’ll go with her."
Everyone turned their heads. The one who had spoken was Kaden Xavier.
He had approached the back of the crowd at so point and was now walking out slowly. His resolute gaze and commanding presence left no room for argunt.
"I will protect her."
Director Archer looked Kaden Xavier up and down. Recalling his well-trained bodyguards and decisive way of doing things, he nodded.
"Alright, Mr. Xavier. With you accompanying her, we’ll be more at ease. Go quickly and co back safely!"
Wren Wynter wanted to object, but seeing the boy on the verge of death, her rational mind decided to put all personal matters aside for now.
Wren Wynter quickly gathered her personal tools, then led Kaden Xavier and the local guide toward the mountain forest behind the camp.
The mountain path was rugged. Blasted trees lay toppled everywhere, and the air was filled with a strange sll—a mixture of gunpowder and humus.
The two of them walked in silence.
When they reached a point where the path was gone, Kaden Xavier took the lead, pushing aside thorns to clear a way.
’He was a prestigious CEO. When would he have ever done sothing like this?’
Wren Wynter stared at his tall, straight back, a mix of complicated feelings stirring inside her.
’Why does he have to go this far?’
’There’s nothing between us anymore.’
"What are you staring at for? Watch your step!"
Kaden Xavier suddenly stopped and turned back to remind her.
Wren Wynter mumbled an "mhm" and lowered her head, stepping around a loose rock.
The atmosphere was awkward and delicate.
They walked for about another hour.
The guide pointed to a steep slope surrounded by rubble ahead and said, "Dr. Wynter, I rember now. The herb you ntioned is just below that rock face."
Wren Wynter’s spirits lifted, and she quickened her pace.
Sure enough, in a crevice on the rock face, she saw a cluster of strangely shaped plants with dark red edges on their leaves.
It was the target of their trip.
But the plant was growing in a tricky spot. She would have to climb the rock face to get it.
"I’ll do it." Kaden Xavier stepped forward without a second word.
"Don’t!" Wren Wynter called out nervously, stopping him.
’Kaden Xavier had already risked so much by coming this far with her; she didn’t want him to take any more risks.’
"I’m lighter than you, and I know how to pick it to preserve its dicinal properties. Don’t argue with ."
As she spoke, Wren Wynter handed him her backpack, then carefully began to climb, stepping on the protruding rocks.
She reached out, her fingertips about to touch the leaves.
Just a little more. She stood on her tiptoes to get closer.
Finally, she grabbed the plant and pulled it out, roots and all.
Wren Wynter gripped the plant happily. She was just about to give Kaden Xavier a reassuring smile when the unexpected happened in a flash.
The rock she was using for support ca loose and slipped. She instantly lost her footing and, a second later, her balance, and began to fall!
In that split second, Kaden Xavier’s pupils constricted. He lunged forward without a mont’s hesitation.
He grabbed her and, as they fell, maneuvered his body to cushion her from the impact.
THUD!
With a heavy, muffled thud, the two of them fell hard into a deep pit cleverly hidden by vegetation.
It was a trap.
Wren Wynter’s head was spinning from the fall, but because Kaden Xavier had acted as a human cushion, she only had so scrapes and was otherwise unhard.
The pit was dim and filled with the damp sll of earth.
She struggled to sit up, her first instinct to check on the man beneath her.
"Kaden Xavier, are you okay?"
In the dim light, Wren Wynter fumbled to check Kaden Xavier’s back. She saw that his clothes were torn to shreds, revealing a bloody ss. His entire back was a mangled ruin of flesh, too grueso to look at.
"Wren, you... you shouldn’t look."
"Why shouldn’t I look? I’m a doctor!"
But she had left in a hurry and hadn’t brought any dical supplies, not even the simplest gauze. All she could do was lean in and gently blow on the wounds on his back.
HISS—
Kaden Xavier sucked in a sharp breath, and Wren Wynter quickly pulled back.
"Did I hurt you?"
"It’s fine. Keep going."
Kaden Xavier’s face was pale, and beads of sweat dotted his temples. He brought his arm to his mouth and bit down on it.
Wren Wynter slowed her movents and began to pick out the embedded fragnts of rock and gravel from his back, piece by piece.
She saw his body trembling as he endured the pain, and a soft spot in her heart ached along with him.
After a quick clean-up, Wren Wynter moved back around to Kaden Xavier’s front and was stunned by the sight before her.
She saw Kaden Xavier biting his own arm, his face ghastly pale.
No wonder he hadn’t made a sound. He had been biting himself, forcing himself to stay quiet, and had even passed out from the pain.
’So stupid.’
Wren Wynter felt an inexplicable stinging in her nose.
’If only Kaden Xavier’s affection had co sooner, they wouldn’t have ended up like this.’
’Everything he was doing for her now was touching, but it was also a burden.’
’But now wasn’t the ti to be sentintal. She had to find a way out quickly so they could treat his wounds.’
’Otherwise, such extensive injuries, left untreated, could easily lead to infection and fever. In the worst case, his life would be in danger.’
Wren Wynter looked up at the mouth of the trap, trying to figure out how to get out.
It was pitch-dark all around. She felt her way around the periter; it was all sand and stone, with no way out.
Left with no other choice, Wren Wynter resorted to the most primitive thod. She tilted her head back and shouted toward the opening above, "Is anyone there?! Hello!"
’Hopefully, the people Kaden Xavier brought, or the guide, would be able to find them.’
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