Chapter 1035: You've Never Made Me Feel Safe

The sound of an explosion echoed. Besse watched, frozen, as two figures lay a few yards away. One stirred, twisting slightly in pain before sitting up.

"Oscar!" he called.

Theodore had pushed him clear of the exploding car. Oscar's back was horrifically burned; his face was bloodied and barely recognizable.

"Oscar!" Theodore cried, his voice laced with fear. He couldn't let Oscar die. Not after everything they'd been through.

Besse heard Theodore's fear. She bit her lip, watching Oscar silently.

"Oscar, Oscar, wake up!" Theodore pleaded.

There was no response. Theodore quickly grabbed Oscar's arm, helped him up, and rushed him toward the hospital.

"Theodore," Oscar rasped, his voice surprisingly strong. After a pause, he added, "Don't touch me, I'm fine."

"You're covered in blood!" Theodore exclaimed.

"I'm not dead," Oscar insisted.

"I'll take you to the hospital!" Theodore insisted, helping Oscar to his feet.

"I'll get up myself," Oscar said, opening his eyes, blood streaming down his face.

"Forget your dignity!" Theodore exclaimed, speechless at the severity of Oscar's injuries. The explosion wasn't his only wound; he'd been injured earlier, burned, and choked by smoke. Oscar, however, seemed oblivious to his own pain. He stood, more blood welling from his back, his tall figure unwavering. His eyes flickered to Besse, who sat shivering on the ground, clutching herself, her body scratched and pale.

He walked toward her, blood staining his ragged clothes. He crouched, his gaze intense. "It's okay, I'll take you to the hospital." He reached out a bloody hand to help her up.

"Doyle..." Besse whispered, her first words invoking another man's name.

Oscar's lips tightened slightly. "We've already sent people to rescue him. Don't worry, he'll be fine." He'd mobilized everyone to save Doyle, leaving only himself and Theodore to rescue Besse.

"I don't believe you," Besse said coldly. "You can't save anyone, and you've never made me feel safe."

Oscar remained silent, stung by her words. Besse struggled to stand, pain shooting through her leg. Oscar caught her as she almost fell, and she instinctively grasped his arm, her hands staining with his blood, before recoiling as if touching something unclean. He saw her rejection.

He pulled out his blood-stained phone. It still worked.

"What's the situation?" he asked, his voice cold and firm, betraying no weakness.

"Commander, we have surrounded them and are preparing to rescue them. Any updates will be reported immediately," a voice replied.

"Use caution. Don't make any rash moves with hostages involved. I'll be there soon."

"Roger that."

Oscar hung up and turned to Theodore. "Go to the scene now."

"But your condition..." Theodore hesitated. Their eyes met, and Theodore relented.

"Do you want to come too?" Oscar asked Besse.

Besse nodded. It was inevitable.

"Theodore, carry her to the car."

"Thanks for your help, Mr. Wold," Besse said quietly, acknowledging her inability to walk.

Theodore lifted her into his arms, while Oscar opened the passenger door and slid in. Besse saw his wounds, but said nothing.