"I'm just an ordinary person," Allison said nonchalantly.

Kellan, despite knowing he had just ingested poison, remained calm. His lack of anger or threats only piqued Allison's curiosity. He spoke with a frankness befitting the gravity of their situation.

"We're both pretty smart, so let's just pretend none of this ever happened."

The rain drummed steadily against the leaves, creating an almost hypnotic rhythm. The air grew colder and more humid. Allison finished her sentence, wrapped her jacket around herself, and walked to the fire for warmth.

Kellan realized he was still wearing damp clothes, which brought back memories of their night together and stirred an uneasy feeling.

"Of course, I'll just act like nothing happened," he muttered, his tone a mix of irritation and resignation. He expected her to mention their encounter, but her unfazed demeanor made him think of the tip he'd left on the nightstand. Her nonchalant attitude was infuriating.

Kellan's expression darkened as he opened his mouth to speak, but Allison had already fallen asleep, her body slumped against the stone wall.

His sleep was restless, probably due to adrenaline or the cold. He relived a harrowing escape from assassins in his teens.

Instinctively curling up, as if trapped in a nightmare, Allison soon felt a warm presence beside her. It was comforting and familiar, calming her frayed nerves. She moved closer, her forehead relaxing as she drifted into a deeper sleep.

At dawn, the first rays of sunlight gently woke her. Allison opened her groggy eyes, taking in her surroundings. As she moved, something fell to the ground: Kellan's jacket. He sat near the cave mouth, his broad back shielding her from the wind. Allison couldn't understand his feelings; they were a confusing tangle.

The rain had stopped, and as she quietly stood to call for help, she noticed Kellan's flushed face and stopped.

"You have a fever," she said, trying to wake him.

Kellan, still injured and cold, had a high fever. Infection was a serious concern.

"Probably," he muttered hoarsely, his skin burning to the touch as he slowly opened his eyes, revealing streaks of red in the whites.

Allison frowned, considering getting water to cool him. But before she could move, a voice echoed: Emanuel.

"There! There's a cave! I see Allison!"

Emanuel, though older, was still quick-witted. He ran toward them, nearly tripping over thorns. When he saw them safe, tears filled his eyes.

"Thank goodness you're okay! When you didn't come back last night, I immediately sent out a search party, and all we found was blood!" Emanuel's voice wavered, relief and anger mixing. His frustration grew. "The police arrested an armed suspect, but that scum escaped! How can someone attack innocent people for no reason?"

Allison remained silent, not wanting to add to his worries. Seeing him discreetly wiping away tears, she quickly changed the subject.

"I'm sorry. I've lost all the bamboo shoots you worked so hard to dry."

Kellan immediately took responsibility, his tone serious.

"This is my fault. I got Allison into this. I'll fix it…"

"Forget it, wheel boy!" Emanuel interrupted, pulling them both into a tight hug, his eyes brimming with tears at their injuries. "Forget about the bamboo shoots. I'm just thankful you're alive."