Chapter 3

"She's been in the quicksand too long—severe dehydration and oxygen deprivation! If the helicopter doesn't come soon, it'll be too late!"

"Quick! Check the communications equipment! Make contact again! We need the helicopter here as soon as possible!"

"Who's coordinating with the rescue team when they arrive?"

Team members' shouts rang in my ears.

I felt multiple hands trying to pull me up, but my body sank even deeper instead.

Ethan raised his hand.

"I'm her boyfriend and the expedition team leader. I'll sign when the rescue team gets here."

But as soon as he walked into the temporary tent, he immediately sat down next to Aria, not even bothering to spare me a glance. He pulled the still-sobbing Aria into his arms, letting her lean against his chest.

Aria trembled in his embrace.

"Ethan, I'm so scared. Quinn... will she make it until the helicopter arrives? If something happens to her, will it be my fault? Will the team punish me?"

Ethan patted her back sympathetically, brow furrowed.

"Don't talk nonsense. This has nothing to do with you. It's her own carelessness. She knows the desert is dangerous but runs around everywhere, always trying to show off."

A team member, while fitting me with a simple oxygen mask, turned to ask Ethan:

"Does she have any medical history? Can she hold on until the helicopter arrives?"

Ethan didn't even look up, his eyes still fixed on Aria in his arms.

"I don't know, I'm not really sure. She's usually perfectly healthy. She never had problems like this on previous polar expeditions."

I desperately tried to open my mouth to tell the team member that Aria did it on purpose. He'd always known I had trauma about soft sand. That year on our first expedition together, I accidentally sank into shallow quicksand. He'd used all his strength to pull me out, holding me and saying: "From now on, I'll always watch over you. I'll never let you face this kind of danger again."

A careful team member finally discovered the communications anomaly and dug out the connection cable from the sand pile.

"Something's wrong! Someone unplugged the satellite phone!"

He looked up, questioning Ethan and Aria.

"Who was near the communications equipment just now? Who did this?"

Only then did Ethan look over, his face blank and innocent.

"What cable? I don't know. We didn't go near there."

Aria immediately lifted her head from his arms, jumping to explain.

"I was with Ethan the whole time. I didn't go over there. Could it have been blown loose by the wind? The weather in the desert is so harsh."

As she spoke, tears fell from her eyes again.

"It's all my fault. If I'd paid more attention earlier, maybe I would have noticed in time."

Ethan immediately defended her.

"How could this be your fault? This kind of thing is common in the desert. Stop crying, Aria, or your face will get all blotchy."

The team members urgently repaired communications and dialed the rescue number again.

I felt my life slipping away.

And my boyfriend was less than two meters away from me. He pulled out his phone, browsing through desert landscape photos he'd taken earlier, showing them to Aria.

"Look at this one I just took of the sand dunes. Isn't it beautiful?"

A team member was administering saline and monitoring my breathing and pulse.

And my boyfriend was fussing over another woman.

Just then, Aria suddenly sat up straight, gently tugging on Ethan's sleeve.

"Ethan, the desert sun is so intense. My arms are getting sunburned."

She pulled out sunscreen from her bag and held it out to Ethan.

"Can you help me apply it? I can't spread it evenly by myself."

Ethan immediately took the sunscreen, expertly squeezing an appropriate amount into his palm.

"Sure, I'll help you. I guarantee it'll be even and you won't get burned."

He carefully applied it to Aria's neck, his tone so gentle it could drip honey.

"Is this enough? Should I put on a thicker layer?"

Aria smiled and leaned on his shoulder.

"Ethan, you apply it so well. It feels so good."

Several team members who were close to me clenched their fists in anger at his attitude but could only glare at them fiercely before turning back to care for me.

"Could you show some consideration for others? Quinn isn't out of danger yet!"

Ethan looked up indifferently.

"We're not interfering with you saving her. What's wrong with applying sunscreen?"

In the distance, the roar of helicopter rotors finally sounded, rapidly approaching.

Team members quickly sent out signals, waiting for the helicopter to land.

The rotor wash kicked up a sandstorm, and I heard Aria say sweetly to Ethan:

"Ethan, the helicopter is blowing sand everywhere. Can you shield me from it?"

Ethan immediately nodded in agreement.

"Sure, no problem. I'll shield you the whole time, won't let any sand blow on you. Don't worry."