"Ms. Jones, Mr. Thompson is injured. The local clinic can''t handle it, so he''s being transferred to the provincial hospital in Chano. Could you... could youe see


    him?"


    Simon was trying his best to stay calm, but his voice was choked with an


    uncontroble sob.


    Yvonne''s mind went nk for a moment. All she could hear was a loud ringing in her ears, drowning out everything else.


    "Ms. Jones? Ms. Jones, are you there?"


    Simon''s voice finally pulled Yvonne back to reality.


    She forced herself to remain calm. "I understand. I''m on my way."


    After hanging up, Yvonne immediately changed her clothes and rushed out the door.


    "Yvonne, where are you going sote at night?" Helen, who was cleaning the living room, asked in confusion as she saw Yvonne heading out.


    "Helen, I have to go out of town. I''ll be back in a while," Yvonne managed to say before mming the door behind her.


    Bullet, seeing his mistress leave, instinctively tried to follow her out, but the door was already closed.


    He sat by the entrance, whining with a sense of grievance.


    "It''s okay, Bullet. Yvonne will be back soon," Helen said, walking over and stroking his fur tofort him.


    Yvonne drove to the airport, speeding and even running a red light.


    Fortunately, traffic was light at night.


    She had already booked a flight while driving over. Upon arriving at the airport, she went straight to her gate.


    The flight from Istra to Chano was three hours.


    Afternding, Yvonne rushed directly to the provincial hospital. But when she arrived, Bet wasn''t there yet.


    The mission had taken ce in a mountainous region with no airport or train station. Some areas were so remote they were in


    by


    road and could only be reached on foot.


    So, even though Yvonne had already made it to Chano, Bet was still on his way.


    Yvonne stood motionless at the hospital entrance, her gaze fixed on the road, her


    heart feeling like it had stopped beating.


    She didn''t know how severe his injuries were or how long he could hold on.


    The longer it took, the worse his chances became.


    "They''re here! The ambnce is here!" The wail of a siren shattered the quiet night as an ambnce sped toward the entrance.


    Medical staff immediately swarmed around it, methodically transferring the patient from the ambnce and rushing him into the hospital.


    "Ben... Ben," Yvonne''s voice was hoarse, as if something was caught in her throat.


    Her legs felt numb, moving mechanically as she followed the medical team.


    She couldn''t tell where he was


    injured all she could see was


    that he


    was in blood, his eyeser


    tightly shut,pletely lifeless.


    The operating room and surgeons were ready. Bet was wheeled directly into surgery.


    "Ben... Ben!" Tears streamed down Yvonne''s face as she reached for his hand.


    His hand was grimy, stained with dried blood.


    Her fingertips barely grazed the back of his hand. His hands, usually warm and dry, were now as cold as ice.


    Before she could grasp it, the


    operating room doors swung shut in


    her face. The only thing visible was the ringly bright light above the door indicating surgery


    was in


    progress.


    Simon and several other soldiers in camouge were also left outside the closed doors.