?Chapter 1618:


    Neville stepped in instead. He steadied her by the shoulders and guided her toward a fallen log. Once she was seated, he walked away to join Ethan and scanned the area for any lingering danger.


    Brenna, crouched beside the first-aid kit, didn’t miss the flicker of disappointment that crossed Gracie’s face. She knew Gracie wanted Ethan’s attention.


    Honestly, she believed Gracie was pathetic. Twice married and still chasing after Ethan like some lovesick teenager?


    It was absurd.


    “I’m a doctor. No one in this crew’s better suited than me to fix you up,” Brenna said to Gracie.


    Gracie didn’t bother to respond. As Brenna worked, Gracie’s gaze kept drifting toward Ethan. She swore silently that she would find a way to get Brenna out of the picture for good this time.


    Before long, Brenna tied off the bandage neatly. The bleeding had stopped, and the pain had dulled to a faint throb. Gracie felt a lot better.


    Brenna handed Gracie a small packet of food and a bottle of water. Though it was only six in the evening, the dense canopy overhead swallowed most of the light. The jungle already felt like it was sinking into the night.


    A few meters away, Thiago and his team were busy gathering dry branches and stacking them neatly to build a fire pit, circled with stones.


    Ethan, Neville, and Rex had used up their food, water, and ammo in the fight before. Brenna and the others shared what they had left with them until everyone had just enough to make it through the night.


    At around eight in the evening, Brenna stood up, then slipped away into the trees for a moment of privacy. Gracie’s eyes followed her. She believed this was her chance to kill Brenna.


    Catching onto Brenna’s n, Gracie still called out, “Hey, Brenna, where are you off to?”


    Brenna didn’t break stride. “Just need to pee,” she said over her shoulder, her face unreadable. “Youing with?”


    With only two women in the mix, nobody thought twice about them heading out together. Gracie nodded and stood up.


    Ethan, who’d been sitting right next to Brenna, stood up, too. “I’ming with you, Brenna.”


    New chapt3rs rele@sed at g??lnovels.??????


    That made Gracie pause. She shot him a look. “Seriously, Ethan? Isn’t it a bit weird for a guy like you to tag along?”


    Ethan was unfazed. He wasn’t worried about etiquette; he was concerned about Brenna’s safety. “You can’t fight, Gracie. If something goes wrong, Brenna’s the one who’d have to protect you. I need toe along and help her.” He might as well have said he only cared about Brenna.


    Gracie’s heart sank when she heard that.


    Still, she tried to argue, her voice tight. “We’re not going far; it’ll be quick. It’s just awkward with you tagging along. That’s all,” she said. How was she supposed to make a move with Ethan breathing down her neck?


    Ethan met her gaze, looking calm. “Brenna and I are getting married soon, Gracie. What’s awkward about it? If you’re notfortable, you can wait and goter.”


    The rest of the group exchanged looks but wisely kept their mouths shut.


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