?Chapter 3053:


    Emma looked down at the two hands reaching out before her. For a heartbeat, she hesitated, then wrapped her fingers around Ernest’s. “Mr. Flynn, thank you!”


    At once, she turned toward Steven and instructed, “Pull Elissa up! Be careful not to hurt her!”


    “Got it!” he replied, his tone filled with urgency. Realizing one hand might not be enough, he reached out with both arms, stretching as far as he could toward the trembling figure below. “Elissa, grab my hands! Don’t worry! You’re safe now!”


    “Okay…” Elissa did not dare to look in Ernest’s direction. Instead, she nodded faintly and reached for Steven’s hands. “Thank you.”


    Nearby, Ernest watched with narrowed eyes.


    Elissa was slipping farther away, inch by inch, and he could do nothing but stand there and feel the distance stretch.


    His jaw tensed. Without a word, he tightened his grip around Emma’s hand and pulled her up in one swift motion.


    At that very moment, Steven tugged on Elissa’s arms.


    “Ah!”


    A cry escaped her lips as she wobbled forward. Steven had misjudged his own strength, and Elissa, unsteady on her injured ankle, lost her footing. She stumbled helplessly, pitching toward him before she could catch herself.


    “Careful!”


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    Steven quickly steadied her, both hands instinctively catching her by the waist before she could fall again.


    Elissa drew in quick breaths as she tried to regain her bnce. The close call left her trembling.


    Stevenughed nervously, trying to ease the tension that hung between them. “You’re safe now.”


    A few steps away, Ernest stood still, his expressionposed, almost cold. But beneath that calm surface, jealousy and frustration churned. His eyes fixed on Steven’s hands resting on Elissa’s waist, and the sight made his blood thrum with anger. Every instinct screamed for him to intervene, to tear Steven away from her, and to throw him as far as possible.


    Actually, he was going to do exactly that.


    Without thinking, he let go of Emma’s hand and took a step forward.


    But before he could move any farther, Emma gasped sharply.


    Ernest froze mid-step and turned to her at once. “Miss Carrillo, did you get hurt?”


    “Yes,” Emma replied with a wry smile. “I twisted my ankle.”


    Meanwhile, Steven, who still had an arm around Elissa, looked over with rm. “Elissa? What about you? Are you hurt?”


    “Yeah.” Elissa winced as the pain shot up her leg. “I twisted my ankle too.”


    “Then sit down.”


    It was almost ironic. Both women were limping, both grimacing in pain. Emma lowered herself beside Elissa with some difficulty, her injured foot stretched out awkwardly.


    Steven crouched in front of them and rummaged through his backpack. “I have some spray. Which foot? Or did you sprain both?”


    “Left foot.” Elissa pointed to it.


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