Chapter 297: No!

Antony’s eyes flew open at the sound of gunfire. “Claire!” He immediately called out for Claire as memories of what happened before he lost consciousness came rushing back. Claire had been severely injured, and he’d tried to save her, but they both ended up falling from the tree and passing out. “Shit!” He hissed in pain as his movement pulled at his wounds, drawing in a sharp breath.

Relief washed over him when he spotted Claire lying beside him. Antony let out a quiet sigh of relief. Only then did he notice that both his and Claire’s wounds had been cleaned and bandaged. Someone must have rescued them.

Looking around, he saw they were in a thatched hut. Though the facilities were basic, everything appeared clean and orderly. It reminded him of how primitive people might live. Yet the bandages and medicine they’d been treated with suggested modern medical knowledge—drugs, antibiotics, and even slow-release ibuprofen capsules. It was definitely not primitive. Everything they might need was there. But this thatched hut…

Lost in thought, Antony noticed an older man walking in. “You’re awake! Let me check if you have a fever.” He crouched down beside Antony and placed his hand on his forehead. “Leon, is that you?” Antony’s face lit up with joy at the sight of him. He couldn’t believe it was Leon who had saved Claire at Moon Lake.

“Hmm, no fever. Looks like my treatment was timely.” Leon relaxed after confirming Antony had no fever or infection. “How did you end up here?” Antony asked. Leon smiled, “This is my home. My grandfather raised me here. I come back every now and then…”

To Antony, everything still felt like a dream. He had been convinced that he and Claire had died at the bottom of the cliff. He pinched his thigh hard, and the sharp pain convinced him otherwise.

“Her injuries are a bit more severe than yours. Fortunately, when I came here this year, my grandson was worried and sent several people with me, including professional doctors,” Leon explained. “The doctor has examined her. Though you both sustained multiple injuries, none are too deep or severe. When you fell from the cliff, the trees broke your fall, preventing any concussions or head trauma. It’s a blessing in disguise. Her worst injury is where the branch pierced her, but that’s been treated too. Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. Barring any complications, she should wake up tomorrow.”

Antony felt relieved hearing Leon’s words. However, Antony couldn’t fully relax while Claire remained unconscious. That night, Antony fought against his exhaustion and didn’t close his eyes once, keeping constant watch over Claire. It wasn’t until dawn approached the next day that he finally succumbed to sleep, unable to fight it any longer. After all, he had also sustained severe injuries.

In his sleep, Antony dreamed that Claire had awakened. “Claire, you’re finally awake!” He called out excitedly and jolted awake. But when he opened his eyes, he found Claire still lying there unconscious. “Claire! Claire!” Anxious, he called out to her softly, hoping she might hear him. But after just a couple of calls, a familiar voice suddenly came from outside the door. “Is anyone there?”

Antony immediately recognized Caroline’s voice. His face turned ghostly pale! He quickly got up, intending to tell Leon that they absolutely must not let Caroline know they had rescued them. But just as he rose, Leon had already walked out from another room in the courtyard. “Miss, how may I help you?”

Antony’s heart sank. Leon had no idea that Caroline was the one who pushed them off the cliff. If he told him… No!