Chapter 21

Carl threw his hands up in resignation. "Stop! I'm just a geological surveyor."Then, he paused, his voice quieter with embarrassment. "Also... did I accidentally let something slip just now?"Anna paused, her eyes twinkling in the dark. "You mean how you were aware of Neil's kidnapping?"Carl gulped, but he nodded with much determination. "Yes, I knew about you and him even before you came—that you're the youngest engineer at Central but volunteered to come here."I didn't understand why, so I checked out of curiosity… And let's just say I was a little opinionated until I saw you in the sandstorm. The wind was level seven and visibility was thirty feet at best, but you shielded the specimen bag with such determination."Anna lowered her gaze at the calluses on her fingers—traces of working outdoors.She then remembered how Carl was always around when she felt like she would be overwhelmed, bringing her bottles of water or was just 'passing by' to help her carry crates of heavy e

Chapter 22

The convoy left punctually at 6 am the next day.Carl leaped off his vehicle, shoving a steaming hot pocket into her palms. "Eat while it's hot. It's a bumpy ride."Along the way, Carl told her about the geological structures, reaching for her map to further illustrate her points when he got excited.His palms were warm, and Anna would blush as she withdrew from his touch.Arriving for the afternoon expedition, Carl helped her put on the safety harness, his breath brushing against her ear, "I know the place. Stay close."Neil wanted to join them, but the team leader had him explore the other side.During their break, Carl pulled out a container of fruit from his backpack."Fresh vitamins are a luxury out here in the desert."He speared a piece of honey with a fruit fork and held it up to Anna's lips, his eyes sparkling with expectation.After a brief hesitation, she lowered her head and took a bite.Neil's grip on his water bottle tightened.He walked over, his voice straine

Chapter 23

Neil's voice was soft from blood loss. "Why did you save me?"Carl helped him into his car, and turned to smile at Anna as he answered quietly, "I won't let Anna owe you one."Seeing Carl's bleeding arm and Neil, deathly pale as he lay in the car, Anna quietly got in, riding shotgun.The car was dead silent on the way to the hospital—Carl was focused on driving, while Anna saw Neil close his eyes through the rearview mirror.While the doctors tended to Neil's injury, she waited outside in the hallway.Carl was looking at her, leaning on the opposite wall.Anna went to get a medical kit. "Let me help you with that."Carl withdrew his hand but soon obediently held it out, wincing as she applied iodine to the injury."Does it hurt?" Anna asked, trying to be gentle.Carl shook his head, his eyes still glued to her face.After she disinfected the cut and packed the kit, he suddenly asked softly, "Anna, if you changed your mind, I can—"Anna laughed, seeing how worried he was and

Chapter 24

When Anna opened the door, Neil was staring blankly out the window, his profile gaunt and pale in the morning light. "Sit," he rasped, gesturing at the chair beside his bed. A moment of silence followed, the rustling of the poplar trees in the desert breeze audible from outside. "After that kidnapping, I kept dreaming of you lying in a pool of blood," Neil suddenly said. "I'd sit up awake, and could only breathe again when I saw you sleeping peacefully next to me." Anna raised a brow—that was the first time she had ever heard of this. So there were actual insecurities under that cold, hard exterior? Turning to hold her gaze, Neil then continued, "Unfortunately for me, I was just too dumb. I thought just keeping you around was enough to make up for everything." Anna handed him a glass of warm water. "That's all in the past now." Neil took the glass, his fingertips tracing the rim. "The thesis… I submitted a revised version, with you as the sole author." "It doesn't mat

All Chapters of Petals Shed in the Night: Chapter 21 - Chapter 24

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24