?Chapter 3055:


    Ernest’s jaw tightened in frustration. He drew in a deep breath and turned to Emma. “Can you walk?”


    “I-I’ll try.” Emma braced herself and took a cautious step forward.


    “Argh…”


    Her bnce faltered, and her knee buckled from the pain. Ernest caught her before she could fall.


    Emma let out an uneasyugh. “Thanks… Mr. Flynn, could you help me?”


    It was clear now she couldn’t take another step on her own.


    Ernest’s brows furrowed as he looked at her. Why did they have to climb a mountain in the middle of the night just to catch a sunrise anyway?


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    He exhaled slowly, crouched down in front of her, and said in a low voice, “Hop on.”


    “Oh. Okay…” Emma blinked in surprise, then a grateful smile curved her lips. She slid her arms around his shoulders and climbed onto his back. “Thank you. And sorry for the trouble.”


    “It’s fine.” Ernest adjusted his grip under her legs and quickly caught up with the others.


    He couldn’t take his eyes off Elissa, who looked so vulnerable on Steven’s back. All at once, a bitter sting of jealousy twisted deep in his heart.


    He quickened his steps, then slipped past them without a word.


    Perched on Steven’s back, Elissa adjusted the shlight in her hand. When she saw Ernest and Emma pass by, her lips curled into a pout. She turned her head away, pretending the sight didn’t bother her at all.


    The four of them made their way back to the hotel. Once there, Steven led them straight to his car and drove toward the nearest hospital.


    Unlike in Srixby, where such medical emergencies were usually handled right away, here even urgent cases had to wait for their turn.


    Emma was called first. Knowing his way around the area, Steven stood up and followed her into the consultation room. Before disappearing behind the door, he turned to Elissa and said, “I’lle back for you soon.”


    “Okay. Thank you,” Elissa said with a smile.


    When the door closed behind him, she was left sitting alone in the waiting area.


    Ernest was not with her. He had gone to the nurse’s station to ask for an ice pack.


    Meanwhile, Elissa watched him from a distance as he spoke to the nurse.


    When their brief exchange ended, he remained there, waiting.


    Just then, her throat felt tight. She blinked once, forcing back the tears gathering in her eyes. That was when it hit her. She was feeling down.


    But why? Why did her chest ache like that?


    At the nurse’s station, the nurse handed Ernest an ice pack wrapped neatly in a thin towel.


    “Thank you.” Ernest took it and started back toward the waiting area.


    From afar, he saw the redness in her eyes. They looked swollen, as if she had been crying for a while.


    “Elissa?” Ernest crouched in front of her at once, his face tightening with concern. “Does it hurt so much? Let me take a look at it.”


    Elissa froze.


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