Chapter 1213

Neera observed the indirect sunlight appearing on the horizon, breathing heavily while muttering to herself.

Darcel glanced at her, a slight smile forming at the corner of his mouth.

“After all, our efforts were not in vain. We survived a great disaster and were able to rise again. We’re truly fortunate.”

Neera agreed. “Exactly, when the mountain collapsed, I thought it was the end for me. I wondered what would happen to my family if I died here. Thankfully, you were there, Darcel. Thank you for protecting me. We’ve truly experienced life and death together. If you ever need anything in the future, don’t hesitate to ask. I will definitely repay your kindness.”

Darcel didn’t look at her, his gaze fixed on the gradually brightening sky, a hint of restrained tenderness flickering in his eyes.

“I can ask for anything?” he suddenly asked.

Neera, despite her exhaustion, nodded firmly. “Anything you want.”

With the great kindness Darcel had shown her, she felt it was only right to repay him with all her might.

However, something seemed to cross Darcel’s mind, deepening the curve of his smile.

After a short rest, the two of them regained their strength.

Neera sat up, still concerned about Darcel’s injured hands.

“Darcel, your hands are injured. Let me clean them up and bandage them for you.”

Darcel also stood up, his gaze falling on her hands full of wounds. His drooping eyelashes concealed the pain in his eyes.

“Why do you always take care of others? You’re the one who’s injured. I can handle it. Let’s take care of your wounds first.”

After speaking, he took Neera’s medicine without hesitation, grabbed one of her hands, and began tending to her wounds.

Neera couldn’t refuse, feeling somewhat helpless.

In her current state, she was unable to help others. She couldn’t even worry about maintaining a distance from the opposite gender. Now, she had no choice but to let him assist her.

When the medicinal powder scattered on her hand, she couldn’t help but wince in pain and recoil.

Darcel held her back, not allowing her to dodge. He lowered his head and gently blew on her wound with utmost care.

“It will feel better this way. Just bear with it a little longer, and it will be over soon.”

Neera looked at him, momentarily lost in a daze as the image of that man resurfaced in her mind.

Seeing her silence, Darcel glanced up and noticed she was staring at him. He asked softly, “What’s the matter?”

11:09 Thu, 9 Nov 82.

Neera snapped out of her thoughts, smiling apologetically as she shook her head. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking of someone.”

Darcel’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “Who is it?”

Neera didn’t explicitly say his name, she simply replied, “Someone very important.”

Darcel’s heart raced, but he didn’t press for more information. He continued to tend to her wounds, bowing his head.

During the following process, neither of them spoke again.

Once they had finished bandaging each other’s wounds, they couldn’t help but laugh as they looked at the gauze wrapped around their hands.

“Darcel, we’re truly su friends now.”

With a slight smile, Darcel didn’t say anything but helped her to her feet.

At that moment, they realized that the place before them was not the valley they had fallen into, and they couldn’t see their original campsite.

“Where are we?” Neera was completely lost in the mountains, unable to determine directions or recognize any paths.

Darcel looked around, but he wasn’t very sure either.

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. All we need to do is head towards the mountaintop”

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at her. His gaze was deep and serene, radiating a comforting strength.

“We may encounter other forces along this journey, but you don’t need to worry. I will protect you. Just stay close to me.”

After everything they had been through, Neera had come to trust him deeply.

In that moment, her eyes curved into a smile.

“Yes, I feel at ease with you, Darcel. You remind me of someone I know. I even thought you might be him at first.”

Darcel’s eyelid twitched, and he asked calmly, “Oh, who is it?”

Neera didn’t explicitly mention his name, she simply said, “A very important person.”

Darcel’s jealousy seeped into his words, though he tried to hide it. “Is that the person you mentioned earlier, the one you consider your fiancé?”

Neera was initially taken aback, then couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course not, he’s not my fiancé.”

Darcel knowingly asked, “Is that so? But currently, the whole of Phison is buzzing with the news that you two are engaged. The Cox family has even acknowledged you as their future daughter-in-law and defended you to the Gordon family.”

Although he concealed it well, a hint of jealousy slipped into his words.

Neera, however, didn’t catch on as her mind was focused on clearing up the misunderstanding.

“No, it’s true that there was a marriage arrangement between the Cox and Gong families, but I never wanted this union. The marriage was never finalized, so Mr. Cox and I are completely free. We are not engaged. Mr. Cox initially used this pretext to help me gain a foothold in the Gordon family.”

After hearing her explanation, the jealousy in Darcel’s heart subsided a bit. He continued to feign ignorance, coaxing her to share more.

“I see. So, is there someone else who is your fiancé?”

Neera nodded slightly, her eyes and brows warming at the thought of that man, a radiant smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

“My fiancé is the only man in my heart…”

With his head slightly lowered, Darcel responded nonchalantly with a simple “Hmm.” However, the amusement in his eyes was almost impossible to hide…