Chapter 303

chapter303

As a doctor, Emmanuel was accustomed to maintaining a professional detachment, but that didn't mean he was immune to the awkwardness of the current situation. After their narrow escape, the immediate priority was drying their clothes to prevent hypothermia.

“S—Sorry!” Claudette quickly turned her head away, her face flushing. She had always wondered why some of her acquaintances became so easily flustered by a charming presence, but now, with her heart racing, she began to understand the intensity of genuine attraction. It was a feeling she found difficult to suppress.

Emmanuel, focused on the task at hand, paid little attention to her reaction. They were trapped in a desolate valley with no way of knowing how long they would have to survive before a rescue team arrived. Survival was the only thing on his mind.

After a while, once Emmanuel had dried and put his clothes back on, he turned back to the fire. Claudette had also taken the opportunity to dry her outer garments by the flames. The flickering light cast a warm glow over the scene, and for a moment, the atmosphere felt unexpectedly quiet and still.

The sudden visual of her sitting by the fire, looking far more vulnerable than her usual composed self, caught Emmanuel off guard. For a moment, he found himself struck by her natural grace.

Claudette caught his gaze before he could look away. A brief silence hung between them, slightly awkward but not unkind. To break the tension, Claudette offered a small, tentative smile. “Is the fire helping, Dr. Lowe?”

“Umm... yes,” Emmanuel replied, recovering his composure. “It’s essential for staying warm in this damp environment. You’re doing the right thing by drying off quickly.”

“Thank you,” she replied softly, appreciative of his practical concern.

“You’re welcome.” Emmanuel turned back toward the edge of their small camp, trying to keep his tone natural. “You finish drying your things, Ms. Lenoir. I’ll scout the immediate area to see if I can find any edible plants or a source of clean water.”

“Sure...” Claudette nodded, a small smile appearing on her face.

They were far from any help, and the river had carried them quite a distance from the initial fall. The valley was uninhabited and rugged; they would need to rely on each other’s strength to make it through the night.

Emmanuel took a few steps, then paused and looked back. “By the way, Ms. Lenoir, try to get your gear back on as soon as you’re dry. The temperature will drop quickly once the sun is fully down, and we don’t know what kind of wildlife might be active in this area.”

Claudette felt a spark of warmth at his words. She appreciated the protective tone in his voice. “I will. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

“Good. I’ll stay within earshot. Just call out if you need anything.”

“Okay, I understand!”

Claudette followed his instructions readily. Emmanuel noted her resilience; many in her position would have been overwhelmed by the circumstances. Despite the unusual situation, he remained acutely aware of his own commitments and maintained a respectful, professional distance.

As night fell, the mood elsewhere was far more frantic. Atop the cliff, Roselynn waited anxiously for any news from the search and rescue teams.

In contrast to her worry, Hubert was struggling to hide his dark anticipation. To him, every passing hour without news increased the likelihood that his rival was gone for good.

“Gautier, I have news!” Hubert said into his phone, his voice hushed but excited. “It’s been hours. The chances of survival from that height are slim. With him out of the way, the path is clear!”

“Is that so?” Gautier responded coldly, his voice lacking Hubert’s excitement. As the heir of the Verkade Group, he had larger concerns. The Quillen family had recently cost them a fortune in potential profits, and he viewed this entire situation through the lens of corporate warfare.

“If the Quillen family loses their momentum now, they’ll no longer be a threat to our interests,” Gautier muttered to himself after hanging up, his eyes narrowing as he contemplated the future of the market.