Chapter 2

The moment Aria finished speaking, Ethan put away his phone, his brow furrowed as he looked at me.

"Quinn, what are you doing fooling around in the desert?"

His voice was laced with impatience.

"Don't scare Aria. This is her first time in the desert."

I shook my head desperately, forcing out a hoarse gasp from my throat. I raised my hand, pointing to the sky, making gestures for the helicopter rescue call.

I'd sunk too deep now—only a professional rescue team could save me.

Ethan misunderstood my gesture, his expression darkening.

"What the hell are you trying to do? You're stuck in the sand and still won't stay still, just waving your arms around."

A few team members close to Ethan gradually gathered around, pointing and whispering about me.

"Look, what's wrong with Quinn?"

"She's sinking deeper and deeper. We might need to call in a helicopter!"

"Only a professional rescue team in the desert can bring equipment to save someone!"

Amid the murmuring, Aria suddenly burst into tears. She threw herself into Ethan's arms, her shoulders shaking.

"Ethan, did I do something wrong? Am I relying on you too much? Is that why Quinn is upset? Does she think I deliberately didn't save her when she first sank in?"

Ethan immediately held her tightly, patting her back.

"This has nothing to do with you, Aria. You didn't do anything wrong."

He turned his head, glaring at me with reproachful eyes.

"She's just wild, not at all stable, trying to waste resources to get attention. Ignore her. We won't bother with her."

My vision began to darken in waves, consciousness rapidly slipping away. I used my last bit of strength to struggle and point toward the sky again.

Just as my arm was about to give out, a hiking boot covered in sand stomped hard on the back of my hand. Pain shot through my hand, but I couldn't even scream.

He looked down at me from above.

"Quinn, haven't you had enough? Do you need the whole team to call in a helicopter so everyone revolves around you before you're satisfied?"

Aria peeked out from behind him, tears on her face but triumph and malice in her eyes. She leaned in closer, speaking in a voice only we could hear, soft and gentle.

"Quinn, how does the quicksand feel? I discovered that area was dangerous yesterday. I didn't report it—I led you there on purpose today."

My pupils contracted sharply. I used all my strength to raise my other hand, pointing at the innocent-looking Aria, trying to tell Ethan the truth.

Seeing my movement, Ethan's face darkened, and instead he pushed me away forcefully.

"You want to hit her now? Quinn, don't you dare bully Aria! She's timid, this is her first time in the desert—she can't handle being scared!"

The few team members who sucked up to Ethan immediately chimed in, condemning me.

"Yeah, Quinn, that's way too much."

"Calling a helicopter is such a hassle. If you can save yourself, don't waste resources."

"Ethan, your girlfriend is way too demanding. You really need to control her."

My breathing grew weaker and weaker, my vision completely blurring.

I'd been with Ethan for three years. He'd always thought I was just an ordinary research team member. This desert expedition was supposed to be my final test before deciding to marry him.

In the last fragments of light and shadow, I saw Ethan supporting the tearful Aria, gently wiping the sand from her cheeks.

Finally, someone in the crowd noticed something was wrong.

"She's sunk to her chest! Her face is turning blue! We have to call a helicopter!"

"Quick! Activate the emergency satellite phone! Contact the rescue helicopter!"

In the chaos, someone finally thought to dial the rescue hotline.

I sank down heavily another level, my body beginning to shake uncontrollably.

While everyone's attention was on me, Aria quietly circled around to the communications equipment. She discreetly unplugged the satellite phone connection cable and shoved it into a pile of sand.

No one noticed this detail.

Ethan crouched down, making a show of reaching out his hand, his tone impatient.

"Quinn, stop pretending, enough already. Everyone's already calling the helicopter for you. What more do you want?"

My consciousness sank into endless darkness.

Around me, the team members' anxious shouts gradually blurred.

Ethan was still talking to Aria in his arms, his voice full of indulgence.

"Don't be scared. She's fine, she just likes to make a big deal out of everything."