"No, no, no, let sit here for a bit, catch my breath—" I waved my hands repeatedly, sitting down stiffly nearby, my kneecap still aching intensely.
People ca up from behind and showed their concern when they saw what happened.
I didn’t want to dampen everyone’s spirits, so I forced a smile and assured them I was fine, urging them to continue climbing without waiting for .
After they all left, I winced, sucking in air through my teeth, carefully pulling up my hiking pants—sure enough, my knee was injured.
Even through the fabric, it was a ss of bruises, and the skin in the middle of my kneecap was broken and bleeding.
Cherry saw tears streaming down my face from the pain and felt guilty and remorseful, "Ms. Lily, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault."
"It’s okay, it was an accident, don’t bla yourself." I quickly consoled her.
Climbing the mountain was definitely out of the question. I sat for a long while, waiting for the pain to subside a little, then leaned on my trekking pole to stand up, "Let’s head down. Don’t alert the others."
Cherry nodded and supported as we slowly descended the mountain.
However, on the way down, we ran into colleagues, and word of my fall spread.
Calvin Yance imdiately called , saying he wanted to co down to see , but I sternly refused.
We struggled back to the campsite and borrowed a first aid kit from the camp owner to bandage the wound.
Afternoon.
In the group chat, the team successfully reached the summit, took a group photo with a banner, and everyone was very happy.
At dusk, the bonfire was lit, neon lights flashed, and fireworks exploded with a bang.
Colleagues started preparing a barbecue, singing and laughing, the atmosphere was lively.
I wanted to join the fun, but as soon as I stood up, my legs trembled from the pain.
I was instantly alard, fearing that my legs might be injured more than just superficially.
I lifted my pant leg again to check, and my knee was swelling more and more, making it impossible to fully straighten my leg, let alone walk.
I called Cherry to co back.
"So... I have to go back. Don’t tell everyone, so they won’t feel down. I won’t take my luggage; please help bring it back to the office tomorrow."
As I instructed my assistant, I grabbed my personal bag and phone.
Cherry looked woeful and was very apologetic: "Ms. Lily, I’ll go back with you. You can’t even walk like this, how can I be at ease?"
"It’s okay. I can manage slowly. Everyone hardly gets a chance to have fun, so relax and enjoy yourself."
After comforting Cherry, I glanced at the ride-hailing app and unexpectedly found no one had accepted the order.
Is it too far, or is it too late?
I was frowning, pondering this, when Calvin Yance ca in.
Upon learning that I was leaving, Calvin imdiately said, "You can’t manage this on your own. It’s too far, and taking a taxi alone isn’t safe. Let borrow a car from the camp owner to drive you back to the city."
Driving back to the city takes a whole hour non-stop, and it takes over two hours for a round trip.
"No, no, that’s not necessary, I can manage on my—" I kept refusing, but he still turned and left.
But soon he returned with car keys in hand.
"Cherry, co on, let’s help President Miller to the car," Calvin instructed, and the two of them supported from each side, struggling to move out the door.
Colleagues ca over with concern, and as I sat in the car, enduring the searing pain, I urged everyone to enjoy themselves and continue having fun.
Cherry insisted on accompanying and climbed into the car as well.
The dusk settled, and with no light pollution in the mountains, it was pitch black.
The car moved along the mountain road, silent and slow.
Just as we were descending, my phone rang—it was lissa Chandler calling.
My heart gave a slight jolt, and after a mont’s hesitation, I picked up, "Hello, lissa."
lissa’s lively and jovial tone ca through, "Lily Miller, I’m coming back to Fallhaven tomorrow. When are you free? I’ll bring friends over to find you."
Thinking about my injured legs and uncertain about the severity and potential work delays, I pondered briefly and asked, "Is your friend in urgent need of that dress?"
"Not necessarily, she just really likes your design style—why, have you been busy recently?"
"Uh... I’m free, but I’ve injured my legs and might have limited mobility for a few days. I don’t want to delay your friend’s plans."
lissa was shocked, "Your legs are injured? Which one? Is it serious?"
"Both knees are injured. I’m on my way back to the city now; I’ll need to get them checked at the hospital to know how bad it is."
"Are you alone?"
"I have colleagues with ."
"Does my brother know?"
Hearing this, I felt a bit troubled inside.
Truthfully, when no ride-hailing service accepted my order earlier, part of considered calling Daniel Carter.
Since he hung up on in the morning, we hadn’t talked all day.
I injured my legs and spent half the day sitting indoors, yet hadn’t found it in to tell him about this.
But now lissa brought it up...
"Your brother is very busy; there’s no need to bother him with this. Please don’t—" I didn’t want to seem like I was using this as a ’pity ploy’ to win Daniel’s sympathy, so I brushed it off lightly.
But before I could finish, lissa quickly interjected, "No matter how busy he is, he should take care of his girlfriend. I’ll tell him!"
"Hey, lissa! Don’t—" I urgently tried to stop her, but it was too late.
As I watched the call disconnect, I promptly dialed back only to hear, "The user you are trying to reach is on another call..."
Great, she’s quite decisive.
I gripped my phone, starting to feel anxious, my emotions were also a bit complicated.
To be honest, I didn’t want to trouble Daniel Carter.
A while ago when my grandma was hospitalized, he helped out, but I had no way to repay him.
Now I’m injured again, having to trouble him once more...
We haven’t defined our relationship, he has no obligation to take care of and my family this way.
But I’m worried, if lissa says sothing and he’s still angry about this morning, ignoring —wouldn’t that be even more awkward and embarrassing for ?
So whether he helps or not, it’s not good.
The best solution is for him to remain unaware.
But it’s too late...
The phone suddenly rang, startling . My gaze focused on the caller ID on the screen, and my heartbeat imdiately went out of rhythm.
I quietly adjusted my emotions, picked up the phone, and put it to my ear, answering, "Hello..."
"lissa said you fell and got hurt, what’s going on?" Daniel Carter sounded anxious, clearly very worried, the morning’s displeasure had vanished.
"It’s just... I went hiking this morning and accidentally fell." I explained, lacking confidence.
"You waited until now?" His tone tightened, his voice rising noticeably at the end.
I inexplicably began to feel scared, like a child being scolded for doing sothing wrong, "I thought... it wasn’t serious, but it seems to be swelling more, so..."
Daniel Carter was silent for a mont, uncertain whether he was angry or speechless, then paused and asked, "Where are you now?"
"Just ca down the mountain, about to get onto Fallhaven Avenue, heading back to the city."
"I’ll co pick you up, keep in touch on the way." He said coldly and authoritatively, giving no chance to refuse, and hung up.
However, I didn’t dare refuse.
No one could stand him when he’s angry.
If I made up excuses and said I didn’t need it, it would only make him angrier and make seem hypocritical and pretentious.
After hanging up, I said to the two people in the car, "President Yance, Cherry, my friend is coming to pick up now, you guys should go back later. It would be a pity to miss out on the fun tonight."
Calvin Yance acknowledged and reminded, "Then President Miller, watch out for the cars on the road, don’t miss your friend."
"Okay."
Cherry, sitting next to , overheard the conversation and asked quietly, "Ms. Lily, is Mr. Carter coming to pick you up?"
I glanced at her but said nothing.
Cherry smiled with clear ambiguity, then shrank her neck, "I get it... We’ll head back with President Yance then."
Her aning was obvious, since Daniel Carter was coming to pick up, she would retreat quickly and not play the third wheel.
I wanted to explain that Daniel Carter and I aren’t like that, at least not right now.
But after opening my mouth, I felt that explaining would be pointless, no one would believe it.
About half an hour later, Daniel Carter called again, and we coordinated a eting spot, so I kept watching the opposite lane.
Even though it was a dark and windy night, and the lights were glaring, when that large vehicle sped past in the opposite lane, I had a telepathic sense that it was him.
I imdiately called him, asking him to find a place to turn around, then instructed Calvin Yance to pull over.
About two or three minutes later, that large vehicle drove towards us, gradually slowing down and stopping behind our car.
Both cars had their ergency lights on.
I pushed open the car door, leaned out, and saw a figure disembark from the imposing and powerful Red Flag SUV, walking towards with a heroic aura like a savior in the apocalypse.
"Ms. Lily, it’s Mr. Carter!"
Cherry stood by the car, excitedly turning her head to shout.
My heart raced, cheeks burning, I responded quietly, then moved down from the backseat.
But because my knees couldn’t stand straight, Calvin Yance and Cherry, afraid I might fall, both supported .
As Daniel Carter approached, his tall and upright figure beca clearer, as did his handso and profound face.
"Lily Miller!" he called once.
"Hmm." I answered, trying to step forward, but the pain was excruciating.
The next second, he quickened his steps, reaching out to stop .
"Is it really that serious? You can’t even walk?"
His voice instinctively commanded reverence.
At least Cherry shivered a bit, probably feeling guilty again.
"It’s nothing, a superficial wound."
I quickly replied, then bravely enduring the pain, moved to his side, looking at Calvin Yance and Cherry, "Alright, you guys go back, you can still make it to the bonfire party."
Calvin Yance glanced at Daniel Carter, his expression slightly complex, as if surprised or admiring.
"Mr. Carter, thank you for the trouble..." Cherry nodded and bowed, being polite to Daniel Carter.
Daniel Carter, holding my arm, slightly nodded, "Thank you for bringing her back."
After speaking, he turned his gaze back to , his brow furrowing tightly, "Can you walk or not?"
"I can..." I braced myself, moving another step, waddling like an old lady, with both knees bent, probably looking very awkward.
"President Miller, let us help you over—" Calvin Yance saw I couldn’t walk, and imdiately stepped forward, ready to help .
Unexpectedly, before he could reach my arm, Daniel Carter’s tall and straight figure suddenly bent down.
Then, I let out a startled cry as my whole body was lifted horizontally.
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