Chapter 1890


    The moment the branch snapped, Yasmine''s heart skipped a beat as if she were plummeting down


    a cliffside. But in that brief instant, she felt an odd sense of relief.


    Atst, she could shake off Boyd and Serana, those two thorns in her side. Now, she could breathe


    easy, no longer needing to trouble her mind over their drama. It had been quite the headache


    dealing with them both.


    Boyd would be pleased. Serana, the apple of his eye, was safe and Yasmine, the heartless one,


    wouldn''t be a sore sight for him anymore.


    She wasn''t a fool though. She wouldn''t gamble with her life just to y matchmaker for them. In this


    moment, she was determined to survive at all costs.


    Thankfully, it wasn''t a sheer cliff she was dealing with.


    However, the fall from the tree to the mountain''s side was significant, and when shended, the


    impact sent a jolt through her body as if every organ had been shattered. The pain was so intense,


    she couldn''t pinpoint where it hurt the most.d2


    As she slid down the mountain, the thick underbrush and brambles tore at her clothes, now muddy


    and ripped. Instinctively, she reached for anything to steady herself.


    At first, her descent was too rapid, and each grasp at stability only led to more sliding. After several


    attempts, she managed to slow down.


    Finally, gripping a protruding rock, she steadied herself, but the rain had loosened the stones, and


    before she could catch her breath, the rock split, sending her sliding down once again.


    Rain washed soil down the mountainside, forming streams of mud that cascaded over her. Twigs


    snapped and pebbles pelted her from above. Thorns scratched her face, and her clothes were a


    mess, revealing legs and arms littered with cuts of all sizes.


    Initially, she had the strength to struggle, to fight for her life, but as the cold rain numbed her pain,


    her strength waned. Though her speed had lessened, even grasping for a handhold became too


    much effort.


    Yasmine sighed, a bitterugh escaping her lips in the midst of the downpour.


    The irony wasn''t lost on her. Risking her life to save the very person she despised, it sounded like a


    heroic tale of self-sacrifice.


    But when had she ever been the saintly type?


    Yasmine mused ruefully. Well, if this was to be her end, at least she’d leave behind a noble


    reputation.


    Darkness enveloped her, punctuated only by asional shes of lightning. And then, just when


    she felt her body hanging in mid-air, she plummeted once more.


    She braced for death''s embrace, but it was only a moment before she hit the ground again, her


    body wracked with the same excruciating pain as before, her organs aching.


    This time, a metallic taste filled her mouth.


    A bolt of lightning illuminated her surroundings, revealing she hadnded on a t stretch ofnd—


    likely the base of the mountain. Exhausted and in pain, shey there for a while, moving her limbs


    feebly before finally settling down.


    Using the lightning''s sh, she surveyed the area. The rain stung her face, and she could barely


    open her eyes.


    She raised her hand to shield them, lying silently in the downpour, wondering if she''d ever walk or


    use her hands again.


    She was drained, hurting, and struggling seemed futile.


    Bryson wouldn’t give up on her. Nor would the cops. They lived by the rule: no body, no case. The


    question was whether she''d live to see their rescue.


    After what felt like an eternity, a light suddenly swept her way, followed by a voice she recognized.


    "Yasmine?!"


    She weakly moved her arm, "I''m here..."


    Her voice was faint, but the person heard her. Yasmine could sense someone closing in until the


    light finally settled on her.


    "It''s me, Ava!" Ava rushed over, shocked by Yasmine''s battered state. The young girl was visibly


    shaken as she helped Yasmine to her feet. "Oh my God, did you really fall from the top?"


    Yasmine slumped against her, "More like flew down."


    Ava wiped the mud from her face, "You''re one luckydy."


    "I didn''t expect you to be the one toe."


    Ava brushed Yasmine''s hair back, "Did you forget? This mountain is my stomping ground. No one


    knows it better than me. If you fell from the top, this is the worst ce you could end up."


    Yasmine managed a weak smile, "Truly the worst."


    "Stop talking. Save your strength. The police and Bryson are looking for you. And hey, there''s a


    cave nearby, hidden away. Let me take you there. This rain is too heavy."


    "I can''t walk..."


    Ava helped Yasmine sit up and handed her a shlight. Then she turned, kneeling in front of her,


    "Climb on my back."


    Yasmine looked at Ava''s slender, fragile silhouette, feeling a mix of pain, vulnerability, and gratitude.


    Hot tears flowed down her rain-chilled cheeks. "You can''t carry me."


    Ava turned, grabbing Yasmine''s arm and draping it over her shoulder. "I could carry a sack of flour


    up the mountain when I was five. I bundle all the firewood for my family. You''re lighter than a load of


    logs."


    As she spoke, she steadied Yasmine and slowly rose to her feet.


    The cave wasn''t far, and behind its vine-covered entrancey a stockpile of firewood. Ava settled


    Yasmine next to some dry straw.


    Then, seeing the wounds on Yasmine''s body, Ava hesitated, not wanting to cause more pain. She


    tried to clean the mud without touching the injuries, eventually suggesting, "You should probably


    take off those clothes. You''d be warmer naked than in those wet rags."


    Yasmine nced at her soiled attire and frowned but shook her head. Ava, however, began helping


    her undress without another word.


    "I shouldn''t have asked you," she muttered while helping Yasmine out of her clothes. "I''ve got no fire


    in me. You hide in the haystack for a bit, and I''ll go outside to look for them."


    Right now, Yasmine was as helpless as a fish on a cutting board, barely able to do anything but let


    Ava strip her bare.


    "Oh my God, Look at your injuries. You must hurt like hell."Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Yasmine gave a slight shake of her head, "Doesn''t hurt."


    Ava rolled her eyes. "Why you gotta be so tough? It''s clear as day you''re hurting, yet you won''t


    admit it. You shouldn''t be like that, you know. People can get the wrong idea."


    "It''s really not painful," Yasmine insisted. "I just feel really cold."


    Ava thought for a moment and nodded. "I guess that makes sense. I remember once in winter, I fell


    while gathering firewood and scraped my knee. Didn''t feel much at the time, but once I got home


    and warmed up, boy did it hurt. It''s probably the same for you now."


    Yasmine nodded, her face pale and her lips nearly colorless. She stared off into the distance with a


    vacant gaze, perhaps lost in thought.


    Ava stood andid a bundle of straw over her. "Stay here for a bit, I''ll go have a look outside."


    "Don''t go," Yasmine suddenly said.


    "I have to. This cave is hidden. They won''t find it easily without help."


    Yasmine slowly brought her gaze back and looked at the withered straw on her body, her fingers


    twitching ever so slightly. "It''s probably for the best they don''t find me."


    "What?" Ava was baffled. "What are you thinking? You need to get to a hospital."


    "Let’s just avoid them, and then you can tell Bryson to help me down the mountain."


    Ava was silent for a while before sitting down slowly. "But why do it this way?"


    "I just want some peace. It would be best if they all thought I was dead. They''d be relieved, and I''d


    get my peace and quiet."


    "Do you hate them that much?"


    Yasmine shook her head. "Hate''s not the word. But getting tangled up with them is just annoying. I


    don''t have the time to mess with them."


    She certainly didn''t want to see Boyd with that guilt-ridden, self-reproachful look on his face after


    this ordeal. And then there would be another endless entanglement.


    She needed to stop this.


    "I''m really tired now. Just do as I say, and only tell Bryson when it''s time."


    Ava nodded. She was used to following Yasmine''s requests without question.


    Yasmine closed her eyes, fell silent for a while, and then suddenly asked, "Do you have my


    bracelets with you?"


    Ava shook her head. "Those things are way too valuable for me to carry around. They''re locked up


    in the cab at home."


    After another pause, Yasmine spoke again, "Then never mind."


    And she didn''t speak again.


    --


    Boyd couldn''t believe what the officer was saying and chased after him. "What''s really going on?


    Yasmine despises Serana. How could she possibly..."


    "If you say it''s impossible, then it must be," the officer replied, too indifferent to bother with a kid''s


    concerns.


    Seeing his dismissive attitude, Boyd''s panic escted. "What actually happened?"


    "I don''t know. We were already investigating this matter. Aren''t you concerned about that young girl


    who knows what happened? Let her rest, and we can inquire tomorrow. It''s not toote."