Justin, about your parents…" Jenny stared at the sensible child in front of him as she struggled to explain the death of his parents. Compared to her, he was more forthright on the topic. "I know that Mommy and Daddy went to heaven. They became stars and will look after Lilian and me from the sky."She was taken aback. "Stars?""Yes, Alec told me that." The five-year-old nodded. He was too young to grasp the concept of death."Does Alec have a soft side to him?" Jenny wondered. Right then, Alec walked into the tent, and they looked at each other. She asked, "Has the rescue ended?""Yes, for now." He nodded. "Without more advanced detectors, we can't tell where the buried victims are. We can only wait for the rescue team to arrive."After a day's hard work, everyone was tired to the bone. It was counterproductive to request that they blindly search for victims. The best thing everyone could do was to wait.The fact weighed heavily on her heart. She understood that Alec was stati
In Jenny's eyes, Alec was never a kind and merciful person. He went silent because he understood what she was implying. "I'll turn in the evidence proving she had hired the assassin, but the Blooms will definitely help her out. I assume that she won't go to jail.""You have the capability to drag someone down if you put your mind to it." She chuckled, thinking that Alec was making excuses."Jenny, I probably haven't told you stories from my childhood. Are you interested?" He suddenly changed the topic and looked at her as he took a trip down memory lane.She was confused by the random mention and thought he deliberately wanted to change the topic. She felt infuriated but didn't refuse to listen because she was interested in his past.A long time ago, Alec's dad and Max's mom eloped, leaving Alec and his mom behind. He was a young child then, but he was acutely aware of the changes in his family. Despite that, he was sensible enough not to ask questions. Instead, he gave his best in
Jenny was ready to retort by clarifying that she backed down because it was impossible to take action on Yvonne, who had married into the Blooms. She didn't show Yvonne mercy for Alec's sake.However, she was interrupted by a villager who hurried over. "We heard crying from Clearwater Elementary! Some kids are still trapped under the school! The village chief wants me to inform you, Dr. Walter.""Alright. I'll head over." She snapped back to reality and quickly packed her first-aid supplies. Similarly, Alec was pulled back to reality, but he didn't complain about the interruption because rescuing victims was the priority."I'll hold that for you." He reached out to take the bag from her when she was about to put it on. Since she was focused on the rescue, she didn't refuse his help. After the initial earthquake, Jenny had once rushed to Clearwater Elementary and saved a few children. Since the villagers didn't hear any other response from below the rubble, they left to help the ot
"Why are you standing there? Save him!" the village chief roared at the onlookers, and everyone immediately went to work. Still, the collapsed classroom was further buried under the rubble after falling rocks from the aftershock piled onto it. The villagers could not move the rocks by hand and would require the help of larger machinery.Even when the villagers had stopped digging, Jenny continued working on the rocks until her fingers bled. She went on as though she couldn't feel the pain at all."Dr. Walter, you…" The village chief went up to comfort her but was at a loss for words."He'll be fine," she muttered while digging. How could anything happen to the invincible Alec Faust? "That won't happen. That's impossible," she thought.The village chief felt sorry for her and attempted to hold her back. "Dr. Walter, please don't go on. The chances of survival are very slim given this situation."Even if they assumed that the victims in the rubble were not crushed by the rocks, with
The professional rescue team moved fast to remove the rocks and rubbles, revealing a semblance of the original look of the school."He's here!" someone shrieked, and everyone flocked over to the location, including Jenny. She soon realized that she couldn't be of help and could only wait silently on the side, watching as people brought Alec out from the rubble."Miss Walter!" Vincent shouted in great panic when he saw Alec unconscious. Jenny hurriedly went over and instructed, "Move him somewhere spacious."Alec had been moved to the side. To everyone's surprise, a few kids were discovered along with him, and they were all safe."A man protected us," the kids claimed. Everyone felt conflicted after learning about Alec's heroic actions. Jenny was surprised by his action because she had always thought he wasn't the type to sacrifice himself for others. The situation clearly proved her wrong, and she was lost. "Have I misunderstood him all along?" she wondered.Despite having man
Startled, Jenny had no words."Didn't you say that if I come out alive, you'll give me a chance to pursue you? Is that still the case?" he asked. Her cheeks instantly reddened, and she dodged his gaze. He seemed disappointed at her silence. "I thought you were serious, but it looks like you were fooling with me."She could tell he was disheartened, and she felt sorry for him. "I am serious.""Really?""Yeah, but I'll only give you a chance. I've never agreed to a relationship. What's so exciting about that?" she replied, but she had no idea if she was addressing him or herself. He was unbothered by her statement. Regardless of the outcome, as long as he bagged a chance to date her, it was proof she didn't dislike him as much as she used to. That was a marked improvement for him."Were you watching over me these few days?" He overheard her conversation with Vincent and was secretly over the moon. As usual, she denied it and shook her head. "Why would I do that? I have many pati
When Jenny told the village chief about Alec's proposal, he was so elated and grateful that he almost knelt down before her."You and Mr. Faust are both good people, Dr. Walter!" His hands trembled, and he was at a loss for how to express his gratitude.Jenny helped to hold him up. "You don't have to thank me. It's all thanks to Mr. Faust."All the credit belonged to Alec, and she didn't want to take credit for his hard work. "No, no. Of course we're grateful for Mr. Faust's help in rebuilding the village, but we are also grateful for what you've done for us during the earthquake," the village chief said.He proceeded to utter a long thank you speech, but Jenny couldn't register most of his words. The words Alec had said to her as she left the tent echoed in her mind."I'll do anything as long as it makes you happy."It always confused her that Alec liked her. After all, she didn't think she was particularly charming enough to attract him."Dr. Walter, I'm going to talk to the
At night, the village chief headed to Alec's tent. Jenny figured that the villager's discussion had come to fruition. She was a little curious whether the villagers would choose to leave or stay.The village chief and Alec chatted for two hours before he finally came out of the tent. Seeing the wide smile on the village chief's face, Jenny knew he was delighted with the outcome. After some hesitation, she entered Alec's tent."I knew you would come," Alec said, grinning when she walked in. He appeared to have expected her arrival.Instead of beating around the bush, Jenny asked directly, "What did they choose?""They chose to stay here during the reconstruction," Alec replied. "The village chief said that the villagers have lived here for generations, so they don't want to leave."Jenny was not surprised by the result. "Well, it's their hometown, after all. It'd be difficult for them to leave it behind just like that.""Vincent will monitor the construction here, so don't worry a