Chapter 3

After learning that Elliot was the billionaire's son and that he could very likely get everyone out alive, the entire group began fawning over him. They gave up the cleanest, most comfortable spot in the cave for him without hesitation.

When we climbed the mountain, Elliot had said he liked to travel light, so aside from his trekking pole, he hadn't brought anything with him.

The moment he mentioned being thirsty or hungry, everyone rushed to offer him their water bottles and chocolate. As he ate and drank without restraint, he promised generously, "When we get out, I'll pay you back ten times over."

Food and water could still be spared, but when night fell, no one was willing to give up their sleeping bags. Going without food or water for a few days was survivable, but spending a subzero night without a sleeping bag was a death sentence.

No matter how much money Elliot offered, not a single person was willing to hand theirs over.

He frowned and turned to Clover. "Clover, what should I do? I'm going to freeze to death."

She whispered a few words to calm him, then turned and looked around. When her gaze fell on me, Clover walked over.

"Rowan, give him your sleeping bag," she said flatly.

I refused without a second thought. "No."

She reached out and tried to grab it anyway.

I panicked. "Clover, are you insane? If you give him my sleeping bag, what am I supposed to sleep in?"

"Can't you just endure it?" she snapped. "Everyone's counting on Elliot to survive. Stop being childish."

Fearing Clover would target them next, the others quickly joined in. "Rowan, don't be selfish. You brought plenty of gear. Wrap yourself in a jacket and lean against someone. You'll survive the night."

Clover was stronger than most men. That was what had drawn me to her in the first place, especially after I saw her drop a grown man with a single punch.

No one helped me. Before long, my sleeping bag was ripped away.

After taking it, Elliot walked over and thanked me. "Thanks for lending me your sleeping bag. If not, we could even share this one."

That wasn't lending at all. He had taken it by force, and the sleeping bag was only meant for one person.

I replied coldly, "No need."

Then I pulled a down jacket and a windbreaker from my pack.

Luckily, I was an outdoor enthusiast and always came prepared. When Elliot saw the extra clothes, his eyes darkened. After putting them on, I closed my eyes to conserve my strength.

Before long, Elliot spoke again. "Clover, I don't feel well."

There was a rustling sound, followed by Clover's anxious voice. "Elliot, you have a mild fever."

"I'm so cold," Elliot said weakly. "Can you find me another jacket?"

I opened my eyes. As expected, Elliot was staring straight at me.

I was speechless.

Clover walked over and held out her hand. "Give me your windbreaker."

I clenched my teeth. "I'm not taking it off. If he wants clothes, why don't you give him yours?"

Clover dropped the chatter and went straight for my windbreaker.

I forced down the urge to hit her. "Clover, if you give him my clothes today, I will never forgive you."

Clover hesitated for just a second, then immediately tugged at my windbreaker. "Whether you forgive me or not, I don't care."

In no time, she had yanked my windbreaker from me and placed it on Elliot.

Even then, he still shivered and complained about the cold. Clover reached for my winter coat next.

I snapped at Elliot, "Are you doing this on purpose? You're not even cold. You just want me dead!"

Elliot said softly, "Clover, forget it. I'll just endure the cold."

The harder he insisted, the more forcefully Clover pulled. Without thinking, I bit down hard on her hand.

Clover cried out and slapped me across the face. "Rowan, don't push your luck. You should consider it an honor that the billionaire's son wears your clothes."

I shouted, "He's not the billionaire's son. The real billionaire's son is—"

Before I could finish my sentence, Elliot interrupted, "Don't just stand there. Help Clover! Are you seriously going to let a man bully a woman?"

My colleagues had intended to stay neutral, yet seeing how he behaved, they knew he was deliberately picking on me.

One of them finally couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up for me. "Mr. West, that's enough. If you take his clothes, he'll freeze to death."

Elliot looked at him coolly. "Either he freezes, or I do. Neither of us gets out."

With that, their hesitation crumbled, and they closed in together.

I felt my clothes being pulled off, and the biting wind cut through me, leaving me trembling from head to toe.

Someone muttered an apology as they handed the clothes to Elliot. Within seconds, my skin was turning blue from the cold. I glared at them. "I'm the real billionaire's son. You'll all regret this."

"Nonsense! When has my father ever had a son like you?"

Elliot's gaze fell on the watch, and he yanked it from my wrist. "You really went all out to impersonate me. He's clearly out of his mind. Someone needs to snap him out of this."

A few of them caught on immediately. "Let's dump him into the snow and let him cool off."

"No! You can't do this to me!" I yelled in desperation.

Memories of dying from the cold in my last life surged back. At this temperature, I could lose consciousness in a minute.

I called out desperately for Clover, but she didn't even flinch. She gestured to a few others, and they lifted me, throwing me into the snow inside the cave.

At that moment, a deafening crash echoed from the entrance as a wall of snow was shoved aside. A team of men in black shell jackets stepped through.

"Sir, we're here to bring you home."