Chapter 165

Chapter 165

Grace came sprinting up, panic etched across her face, as she called out, “Mr. Curtis, Suzan’s hurt!”

Upon hearing someone was injured, Leanne didn’t hesitate. Her long strides closed the distance as she rushed toward the scene. The instincts of a physician, honed through years of medical school and practice, were ingrained in her very marrow.

Impartial in the face of injury, she would’ve assisted anyone in need – even Curtis, had he been the one wounded.

All those nights spent poring over textbooks, and not once had they suggested turning a blind eye to those in distress.

Pushing past the crowd, Leanne rounded the bend to find Suzan propped up on a large rock, her face contorted with pain.

“What happened?” Leanne inquired..

Suzan bit her lip in agony. “I missed a step and took a tumble. I’m fine, really. You guys should all go on; dawn’s breaking soon.”

Her light-colored jeans were torn, revealing a bleeding wound at her ankle.

Leanne, with her gloved hands, gently lifted Suzan’s ankle to inspect it more closely. “Can you move your foot? Is there pain anywhere else?” she asked.

“It might be sprained; my ankle’s throbbing. Not sure if I can walk on it,” Suzan winced.

Leanne, silent, turned to Curtis to ask for her backpack containing her emergency medical

kit.

Before she could speak, Curtis had already placed the kit in her hands.

Leanne used scissors from the kit to cut away the fabric around the wound, exposing it fully, then carefully rinsed the cut with saline to remove any grit and dirt before disinfecting it.

Curtis stood by, observing her with a downcast gaze. Leanne may have stopped being a doctor, but her calm professionalism as a doctor was unmistakable. Her movements were swift, steady, and methodical.

There was an air of efficiency and a commanding presence about Leanne that inspired confidence.

“It’s not a deep wound. Leave it be, and once you’re back, keep it exposed to air. Clean and dry is the way to go. If your ankle is truly sprained, have it checked out thoroughly at the hospital.”

After repacking her kit, Leanne said, “Someone should take her back.”

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11:30

Chapter 165

With that, she walked away, medical bag in hand.

Suzan looked at Curtis, and all eyes naturally followed, landing on him expectantly.

Curtis, hands casually in his pockets, seemed oblivious to the silent appeal directed at him, his gaze briefly flitting over to Devin.

“You take her,” Curtis said plainly.

Devin pointed to himself in disbelief. “Me?”

The thought of trekking back down after nearly reaching the summit seemed ludicrous.

Curtis tossed him a flashlight. “You’re not busy.”

“I am very busy…” Devin began, glancing around.

Curtis was out of the picture, since he’d just spent a sleepless night and then scaled a mountain to win back his wife.

Skyler was there with his girlfriend; he wouldn’t abandon her for another woman.

Then there was Jeremy, already accompanied by his sister and harboring an obvious crush on Curtis’ wife.

Looking around, Devin realized he truly was the only spare wheel.

With a resigned grit of his teeth, Devin bent down in front of Suzan. “I’ll carry you back

down.”

Clearly, this wasn’t the outcome Suzan had hoped for.

She called out to Curtis, who was already walking away, her voice low. “Devin’s probably looking forward to the sunrise. Look at how reluctant he is; I feel bad for him. Curtis, could you take me back instead?”

Curtis was devoid of any brotherly affection one might expect. “He’s never had it tough; it’s about time he did.”

Devin’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Bro, I’ve always been there for you, and this is how you repay me?”

Curtis patted the back of Devin’s head with a brotherly gesture. “If one of us has to bite the bullet, why not you? I’ve got pressing matters to attend to. Take one for the team.”

“It’s just a sunrise, what’s so pressing?” Suzan’s complexion was pale. “It’s not your first sunrise.”

Curtis paused, turned to cast a casual glance at her, and said with an air of nonchalance, “I’m on the verge of losing my wife. Isn’t that pressing enough for me?”

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