âAnd who might this be, Alice?â Elijah turned to Sean.
âOh! He-Heâs my cousin.â Alyssa quickly made a white lie.
The park rangers were largely oblivious to how things were transpiring in Solana City, given their focus was on the park itself. Naturally, they had no idea of her identity as Alyssa Taylor.
âYour family has quite the genetics. Even your cousin appears to be a fine man!â Elias praised.
Sean blushed happily. He could accept that instead of âboyfriendâ.
âThe weatherâs been peculiar of late, Alice. A storm might spring up on us when we least expect it,â
Elijah said worriedly. âIâm truly glad you could pay me a visit today, but you donât need to come up into the mountains with us.â
âI donât mind. Did you forget? I got a community award for helping people up there before. They even called me a living Mountain Goddess!â Alyssa said proudly, thumping her chest.
âHahaha! How blessed we are to have two great individuals in our midst!â Elijah chuckled fondly.
Alyssa cocked her head. âOh? Is there someone else I should know about?â
âYes! His name is Jasper Beckett, from the Beckett Group!â Elias cried excitedly.
Alyssa and fellow âcousinâ Sean shot one another a look. âWhat?â
âMr. Beckett from the Beckett Group! Isnât that amazing? What a surprise, right?â
Eliasâ eyes were wide with admiration as he waxed on, âI only knew his true identity two years ago.
Youâd never expect a rich, refined man like him would be able to hike so well!
âWhen he went up the mountains with Mr. Forrest two years ago, he saved two hikers who got off the trail due to a thunderstorm. They were calling him the âMountain Godâ at that time!â
F âThis mountainâs only big enough for one god,â Alyssa grumbled to herself.
âWhatâs that, Alice?â Elijah asked.
âOh, no, nothing. Iâm just admiring Mr. Jasperâs bravado, is all!â Alyssa forced a smile and a thumbs up.
âYeah. He really is brave. He even comes by sometimes to join our hikes and donates occasionally too.â
Elijah bearned at the thought, adding, âIâd love for you two to meet. After all, both of you have made significant contributions to our park here, and both adore the hike. Iâm sure you two would get along very The corner of Alyssaâs lips twitched. âThereâs no need for that, really!â
In the end, Sean was left behind while Alyssa went to the start of the trail with Elijah and Elias.
Alyssa remained distracted throughout their walk, the only thing on her mind being the memory from 13 years ago when Jasper saved her from the pit she had landed in.
Like her, heâd revisited this park all these years.
Surprisingly, neither of them ever met one another during their visits.
Alyssa tightened her grip around her backpack, her lips thinning slightly.
It seemed like they really were never meant to be.
Any fate between them had run out in that incident 13 years ago, and everything else afterward was nothing but a figment of her fervent imagination.
They soon reached the foot of the mountain.
Just then, several park rangers ran over to them, yelling, âMr. Forrest! We just got a signal for help from two hikers! One of their friends is still stuck on the mountain. Weâre just about to go on a search!â