Chapter 276

Saying they weren’t from the same world wasn’t wrong.

From the beginning, Indya had always seen herself as an ordinary person, while Blake, who had made it through so much to reach where he was now, was anything but ordinary. She had never even considered someone like him.

Now, because of work, they were connected—but Indya had no intention of getting emotionally entangled.

“Just think it over,” said Jessica as she closed the door and walked inside with Indya. “I’m not trying to pressure you. It’s just… if you meet the right person, it’s okay to think about the rest of your life. Even if you can’t spend a lifetime together, just being with someone you love, even for a day, is worth remembering.”

Chris returned to the previous campsite. Many people had already been loaded into the vehicles. As soon as he arrived, Ashley immediately came over to report the situation.

One person’s condition had turned critical during the night, and Lucas had driven them out in the middle of the night. Aside from that patient, all other injured individuals were stable and no longer in danger.

“According to the original plan, they’ll be sent to the nearest local hospitals. Those needing specialized treatment will be transferred to one of our main hospitals. So far, the number requiring special care is controlled at five.”

Ashley checked the time. “We’ll depart in an hour.”

He glanced behind Chris but only saw him and the rescue team. No one else was with him. But the fact that Chris was standing here so calmly meant Jessica was definitely safe.

“Alright. Have everyone pack up. Coordinate with the other hospitals to do a full inventory of our supplies and damages. After we get back, hand everything over to Francesca. I believe the Wilder Group’s public relations team and Hurricane Media will consolidate their messaging around this rescue.”

That was all business-related—Chris didn’t handle it himself and left it entirely to Francesca.

“I got it.”

A few steps ahead, Jake had just finished changing a blood-soaked bandage for an injured person. After wrapping up, he caught up with them and lowered his voice.

“What’s up with that nurse from the Fourth Infirmary?”

Chris glanced in that direction. It seemed there was a nurse just standing around on the flat ground—not doing any actual work. Things had been chaotic last night, so no one had noticed.

Jake muttered, “That nurse… I don’t know which affluent family she came from, but the first thing she said when she got here was that everything was too dirty. She flat-out refused to get off the platform. Didn’t even look at the patient next to her. Slept through the night like nothing was happening. If I hadn’t gone to check, the patient would’ve bled out.”

Frowning slightly, Chris told Jake not to say too much more. After all, she wasn’t from their hospital, and it wasn’t their place to interfere. But someone like that… if she was really working in a hospital, it would be no good for any patient.

After they returned, the senior staff from all hospitals would be meeting at the Summit Infirmary to go over the losses and report details. If things were really as Jake said, that nurse would definitely be publicly criticized.

On the way back, the weather was sunny—sunlight streamed through the windows, bringing warmth. Chris leaned against the window to rest.

Last night, even lying next to Jessica, he still felt uneasy—waking up almost every hour just to make sure she was safe beside him. He hadn’t really gotten any rest.

And the others fared even worse. The tents were cold and damp, and everyone had to stay alert for the patients. Getting a single hour of sleep was a luxury.

For someone like Jake, still young, probably used to pulling all-nighters—he had likely stayed up the entire night.

Why had Chris kept Jake by his side?

Part of it was their personal bond—but Chris wasn’t someone who placed personal feelings above all else. If Jake hadn’t been up for the job, Chris wouldn’t have kept him around.