Twenty minutes earlier, Oliver, after hearing Hayden’s words, rushed to the prison with a team, feeling anxious.
On the way, he met his grandfather Channing, who had also come to rescue someone. As soon as the old man saw him, his brow furrowed deeply, and he urged, “Oliver, leave saving your parents to me.”
“It’s dangerous there, and you’re just a kid. You should go back and wait for me,” he continued.
“Grandpa, I’m not a kid anymore. Didn’t I blow up the power plant and capture the bad guys all by myself earlier?” Oliver replied firmly.
Despite his usual reticence, Oliver’s character was quite stubborn, and once he decided on something, no one could change his mind. This trait seemed to be inherited from the Lucas family.
“Alright, then come with me,” Channing conceded. “Take ten people with you and set off in a wooden boat.”
Because the prison was in a low-lying area, he had observed through binoculars that it was now submerged in water. Taking a wooden boat and fewer people would expedite the rescue.
Fortunately, they arrived just in time. Using the small boat Oliver had used to communicate with Cheyenne earlier, they located the position of the laboratory.
“Grandpa, the gate is closed, but I have a feeling that my parents must be inside,” Oliver said.
Relying solely on intuition seemed a bit rash. However, Channing, desperate to find his daughter, was willing to grasp even a one in a million chance.
“Blast the door open!” he commanded.
“Yes, sir,” Oliver replied.
They tied all the ammunition they had brought to the boat and then ignited it. The raging fire ignited the explosives, causing them to explode as the boat crashed into the gate, with flames shooting everywhere.
The gate shattered, and at the same time, the rushing water from outside poured in, forming a spectacular waterfall with swift currents. Amidst the majestic flow of water, a figure drifted out.
Sharp-eyed Oliver immediately recognized the figure as his father, Kelvin, and he shouted, “Grandpa, Grandpa… hurry, hurry, save him, that’s Dad!”
“Where?” Channing followed his pointing finger and indeed saw a black figure amidst the whirlpool of floating debris. On closer inspection, it was his long-sought son-in-law, Kelvin.
“Hurry, save him!”
Cheyenne was awakened by a sudden flash of light. In a daze, she seemed to hear voices talking.
“Uncle Channing, is she okay?”
As the son-in-law of the Edwards family, Channing had picked up some medical skills over time. He briefly checked Cheyenne’s pulse and shone a flashlight into her eyes.
He remained silent for a long time, leaving Omari, who was waiting anxiously beside him, extremely worried.
“What’s the matter, Uncle Channing, please speak!” If it weren’t for his lack of medical skills, Omari would have taken matters into his own hands.
Channing turned his head and glanced at him faintly, then gave a guilty smile. “Well… I’ve just started learning, so… I’m not quite sure, but she should be fine.”
“…”
Old Bray, irritated, pushed him away. “Get away, what’s the point of you being here? If you don’t know medicine, why are you hogging the spotlight? Let me check on Cheyenne.”
“Old Bray, I won’t agree with that. How could you call my daughter a spotlight hog?”
Cheyenne woke up just in time to hear this, her eyebrows furrowing instantly.
“Hmm?”
“What are you guys talking about?” Upon hearing Cheyenne’s voice, the three of them immediately fell silent and gathered around with concern.
“Cheyenne, are you okay?” Omari asked. “Daughter, how are you feeling now?” Gregory added. “You sound full of energy in your speech, which makes me relieved,” Old Bray commented.
Cheyenne looked at them quietly. Their concern warmed her heart, but when she looked around and didn’t see Kelvin, she became nervous.
“And, where’s Kelvin? Where is he?” Excitedly, she grabbed Channing’s hand, her veins standing out prominently on the back of her hand.
Channing hurriedly patted her shoulder to comfort her. “Cheyenne, don’t get too excited. You’ve just woken up, and your body is still weak.”
Images of the desperate scene just before she lost consciousness flashed through Cheyenne’s mind. His departing figure was so lonely and desolate.
“No, I have to find him. Don’t stop me,” she said, ignoring everyone’s opposition, and lifted the blanket, barefoot, and ran out of the room.
Omari and Channing followed closely behind, chasing after her frantically.
“Cheyenne, don’t run around, you haven’t put on your shoes yet.”
The bustling hospital room suddenly became quiet, leaving only Old Bray behind. Unable to move vigorously due to his leg injury, he could only wait here obediently.
The old man glanced thoughtfully in the direction of the door, muttering quietly, “What’s the rush? Just tell her that Kelvin is staying safely in the next ward.”
Meanwhile, Cheyenne, unaware that Kelvin was staying in the next ward, ran barefoot down the corridor. The cold wind lifted her clothes and hair, attracting curious glances from many people for this beautiful woman.
Channing, out of breath, gasped, “Cheyenne, don’t, don’t run… be careful not to catch a cold. Your husband is in the next ward.”
Squeak…
Cheyenne immediately stopped at his words. Omari finally caught up with her and handed her slippers.
“I know you’re worried about Kelvin, but if you get sick, we’ll all worry more. Please put on your shoes first, okay?”
“I…” Upon hearing the news that Kelvin was alive, Cheyenne felt ecstatic. The boulder hanging over her heart finally settled. She obediently bent down and put on her slippers.
“I want to see Kelvin.” Omari felt a pang in his heart. At the moment when the prison collapsed, he had thought he could have Cheyenne. The ending was a blessing from heaven. Kelvin didn’t die, and he and Cheyenne were fine. Perhaps this was the best outcome; fantasies and infatuation were still a long way off. It was time for him to wake up.
“Alright, I’ll take you to see him now.”
Finally, Cheyenne saw Kelvin. He lay on the bed, pale and motionless, his face noticeably thinner with prominent cheekbones. His eyes were bruised, and there was no trace of his former vigor.
Oliver stood on a small stool, wiping his father’s face with a towel, completely oblivious to the arrival of others, absorbed in talking to his unconscious father.
“Dad, do you know? I really wish you could love me as much as you love Cierra,” he said, pouring out his heart to his father. “Every time you hug her, I can only envy you from behind.”
But Oliver and Kelvin had exactly the same character when they were young-proud, reserved, saying one thing but meaning another, pretending to be indifferent when they actually cared deeply. They were both wearing masks of composure.