Chapter 6

A sudden, sharp distress call shattered the quiet trail ahead. Elena paused and listened carefully. Realizing the noise came from the elderly couple she had been following, she immediately rushed toward them.

Reaching the scene, she found one of the companions slumped on the dirt, clutching her chest in agony. Seeing the old woman in distress, Elena instantly dropped to her knees to assess the situation.

Having grown up in a struggling household with chronically ill parents, Elena had volunteered with humanitarian health organizations since her youth—a commitment she maintained to this day. Helping those in medical crises was second nature to her.

A quick evaluation of the woman's vitals pointed toward a sudden cardiac arrest triggered by the strenuous walk. Turning to the panic-stricken husband, she stated urgently, "She seems to have suffered a cardiac arrest from the exertion. We need to start CPR immediately."

The old man stared at her, overwhelmed by shock and unable to form words.

Recognizing his paralysis and knowing that every second counted, Elena pressed on without hesitation: "I'm a certified first-responder volunteer with an international medical NGO. If you give me permission, I can begin resuscitation right now."

Unable to speak, the man nodded fervently.

Relying on years of practical training, Elena positioned herself and began chest compressions paired with rescue breathing. After several intense cycles, the woman gasped, her chest rising as her breathing gradually stabilized.

Seeing his wife regain consciousness, the husband finally found his voice. "Miss, thank you... Thank you so much. You saved her life." he stammered, overwhelmed with gratitude.

Elena felt a bit bashful under his solemn expression. As a trained emergency volunteer, responding to such incidents was simply her duty, so she casually brushed off his thanks with a wave of her hand.

Her modest reaction deeply impressed the old man, who refrained from pushing the matter further.

Elena remained at their side for another ten minutes. Once the woman had recovered enough strength to sit up slowly, Elena prepared to take her leave.

"Please, wait a moment, my dear," the husband called out as he helped his wife stand. "We know you didn't do this for a reward, but please allow us to express our gratitude. At least let us buy you dinner."

Reluctant to refuse such genuine kindness, Elena nevertheless had to decline due to her schedule. "Sir, I'm actually on the final leg of my trip," she explained gently. "My flight back to New York leaves tonight, so I won't be able to join you. I'm truly sorry."

Reading the absolute sincerity in her eyes, the man sighed softly. "Could you at least share your phone number with us? That way, we can host you proper next time."

Realizing that turning him down again would be rude, Elena agreed and took his phone to input her contact details.

As Elena stood with her head bowed, typing into the screen, the recovering woman caught her first clear look at her savior's face.

A jolt of shock ran through her. Trembling, she tightly grasped her husband's wrist. He squeezed her hand back, signaling that he had noticed the exact same thing.

"Could it be Kayla? The resemblance is unbelievable..." the old woman whispered to herself, painful memories surfacing in her mind.

Standing a short distance away, Elena caught only the word "resemblance," though she paid it little mind. Finishing up, she handed the phone back and added, "Please stay put for a short while. I've already alerted the park's medical team, and they are on their way. It's best to get a full evaluation at the hospital." With a warm farewell wave, she turned and headed down the mountain.

The elderly couple stood side-by-side, watching her figure disappear down the trail in stunned silence.

After descending Mount Suthep, Elena returned to her hotel room to finish packing her bags for her evening flight home.

Pleasant escapes always seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Her getaway in Thailand was officially over, and most of the cash she had acquired that fateful night was now spent. Returning to reality was inevitable.

"My academic advisor has been blowing up my phone," Elena muttered to herself while zipping her suitcase. "If I don't report back soon, he's going to lose his mind."

When she had abruptly left the country days ago, her professor had likely caught wind of her messy breakup.

Careful not to push her over the edge, he had called her with a gruff yet caring tone: "Take a couple of days to clear your head, then get your rear back here. There's a mountain of research waiting on your desk, so don't think about slacking off."

Knowing how deeply he invested in her future, Elena wasn't offended by his harsh demeanor. "I understand, Professor. I'll be back soon," she had replied softly.

Reflecting on her advisor, Elena felt a profound sense of gratitude.

He had been instrumental in her academic journey, recognizing her raw talent early on and pushing her to pursue a doctorate when she lacked the confidence to do so herself.

It was his persistence that had convinced her to step up and aim higher in life.

Elena vividly recalled how fiercely Bruno had opposed her continuing her education when she was torn about pursuing advanced studies. Back then, both her boyfriend and her parents pressed her to enter the workforce immediately to start earning money. It was solely through her professor’s persistent interventions with her family that she was able to enroll in a PhD program in Computer Science. Whenever she reflected on that turning point, profound gratitude toward her mentor filled her heart.

After a grueling flight lasting over ten hours, her plane finally touched down in America. Stepping back onto familiar ground, Elena took a deep breath, taking in the nostalgic air. Nothing had changed.

Wheeling her luggage out of the terminal, her eyes landed on Mateo waiting by the entrance.

Pleasantly shocked, she picked up her pace and rushed over to him. "Mateo. Did you come all the way here just to pick me up? How on earth did you know I was landing today?"

"You kept your flight details a secret, but I had a feeling you'd be returning right around now. I decided to drop by the airport on the off chance I'd spot you," Mateo replied, flashing a warm smile.