Chapter 1

Jennifer's POV

Violent winds raged outside as the pouring rain pounded against the windows of a convenience store.

I stumbled through the door, leaving a trail of blood and mud behind me.

Looking horrified, the young store clerk hurried out from behind the counter to help me.

"What happened to you, miss? Were you in a car accident?" she asked.

My face was pale, and my lips were trembling uncontrollably from the cold.

"C-can I borrow a charger for my phone?" I stammered.

"Of course. Here—sit down."

The clerk helped me into a chair before bringing me a clean blanket and a phone charger.

Once my phone powered back on, I checked my social media feed.

The first post that showed up was a photo that my fiance's childhood sweetheart, Sierra Langley, uploaded ten minutes ago.

She had taken a picture of my fiance, William Quentin. Dressed in his orange-colored rescue uniform, he was standing on a stepladder as he repaired the shattered glass on her balcony.

The caption read, "A hurricane is raging outside, and the higher floors are swaying like crazy. Thank you for coming all the way here to check on me, Will. With you by my side, I finally feel safe. I hope this hurricane sticks around for a while longer."

William had left a comment on the post.

"Why would you want the hurricane to stick around?"

"If the hurricane doesn't let up, I can keep you here for a while longer!" Sierra replied.

The exchange was extremely intimate.

I stared at the photo for a moment before I ultimately clicked on the like button.

While my phone was dead, William had called me three times. Now, he was calling me again.

The moment I picked up, I was met with a tirade.

"Jennifer Sutton!" William barked. "You've gotten pretty bold! How dare you ignore my calls? Do you have any idea how bad the weather is outside?"

He continued, "As the captain of a rescue team, I've been rushing from one rescue operation to another all night! Can't you be more sensible? Do you really have to cause problems and go missing on me at a time like this?"

At that moment, an emergency news report was being broadcast on the television.

"The city is currently experiencing record-breaking rainfall. Severe flooding has occurred in several low-lying areas and underground parking garages. Multiple fatalities have already been reported…"

My body shivered from the cold as I stared at the television screen.

"Where are you?" I asked William.

After a brief pause, he answered stiffly, "I'm out on duty, of course! The rain is extremely heavy. My team and I have our hands full with rescue operations. So, I won't be coming home tonight. Stay indoors and don't go anywhere."

"Is helping someone repair their balcony a part of your duties as well?" I asked in return.

Upon hearing this, he immediately grew angry.

"What's with the attitude? Sierra's apartment is more than 30 floors up, and she lives alone. Her floor-to-ceiling window shattered, and her entire apartment is leaking.

"She's the younger sister of a rescue worker who died on duty. I promised her brother I'd look after her. She's so frightened that she nearly had a heart attack.

"Why can't I stop by to help her repair a broken window? Do you really have to give me the silent treatment over this?"

I lowered my head and glanced at my injured calf. My flesh had been torn open by the jagged shards of broken glass from my car window.

Then, I recalled the way Sierra hung up on me when I called William to ask for help. In the end, I only managed to save myself by smashing the car window with an emergency hammer.

"Alright," I said quietly. "You can stay with her then."

"Stop being so sarcastic. My team's rescue vehicle is nearby. I have my hands full tonight. Stop acting like you're competing for my attention. You're in your 20s, Jennifer. Grow up."

Feeling slightly guilty, William hurriedly ended the call.

Afterward, the clerk returned with a first-aid kit. She crouched down in front of me and carefully cleaned the wound on my leg.

When the cotton swab touched the torn flesh, a sharp pain shot through my body.

I clenched my teeth as my tears dripped onto the blanket.

"This cut is too deep, miss," the clerk said with a sigh. "You need to go to the hospital for stitches. Is your boyfriend a rescue worker too? Why isn't he with you at a moment like this?"

I curled up in my chair.

Five years ago, William was seriously injured during a mudslide rescue operation. He broke three ribs and ended up spending three whole days in the ICU.

At that time, I was a resident doctor in the emergency department, and I barely left his bedside.

When he finally regained consciousness, he took my hand and sobbed. Then, he claimed that meeting me was the luckiest thing that ever happened to him.

Now, he was at a high-rise apartment complex less than two miles away. Yet, he was completely unaware that I was injured.

…

By dawn, the rain finally began to ease.

I stood up and folded the blanket before paying the store clerk 300 dollars.

"Miss! You gave me too much!" she called after me.

"Keep it. Thanks for lending me your charger," I said as I limped out of the store.