Chapter 2

Callum's tone carried unmistakable admiration. "Getting into Aerospace Research Institute No. 2 at your age is no small feat! Don't be too hard on yourself." The two of them chatted happily, completely unaware that Roxanne was standing silently in the shadows of the living room. Just then, Callum's aide rushed in. "Commander Moreno! There's an emergency! The dam outside the city has collapsed. The floodwaters have broken through, several houses are submerged, and we've been ordered to move out for rescue right away!" Callum's expression hardened. "Gather the troops at once!" "I'm coming with you," Roxanne chimed in. For once, he actually looked at her, slightly surprised. "Every hand counts," she added calmly. Zoey butted in. "I'll come with you, too, Callum! I can help!" With no time to waste, he nodded. "Stay close to me and be careful!" … The rescue site was a mess, with torrents of water rushing everywhere. Like everyone else, Roxanne helped evacuate the people and haul supplies. Her slight figure darted through the mud and rushing water without the slightest regard for her own safety. When the last of the civilians were evacuated to safety, Callum grabbed a towel and an army coat, handing them to Zoey first. His voice was gentler than Roxanne had ever heard. "Here, dry yourself before you catch a cold. You haven't changed a bit—you still put everyone else before yourself." Zoey smiled bashfully. "Don't just praise me. Roxanne worked really hard, too!" That was when he glanced over at Roxanne. Drenched from head to toe, her hair clung to her face, her arms and legs streaked with cuts. She looked far more disheveled than Zoey, but he merely glanced at her and didn't utter a word. Just then, his aide walked over again, asking about post-disaster arrangements, and Callum hurried off with him. Zoey turned to Roxanne. "Everyone's safe now. Should we head back?" Roxanne nodded. However, at that moment, a thunderous roar came from upstream. The second wave of floodwaters came crashing down with even greater force. "Watch out!" someone yelled. In a heartbeat, the torrent engulfed the ground beneath Roxanne and Zoey. The two of them were swept away by the current. Fortunately, they managed to grab hold of a floating log, sparing them from being separated. Still, their situation was still perilous. "Roxanne! Zoey!" Callum spotted them from the shore. The color drained from his face, and he hurriedly rallied the rescue team. However, the current was too strong, and the rescue boat couldn't get close to them. "Commander Moreno! The current's too strong! We can only save one of them at a time, or else we'll lose them both!" Callum looked torn as he stared at the two struggling figures. However, after only a few seconds, he ordered through gritted teeth, "Save Zoey first!" The rescuer froze. "But… Roxanne—" "Do as I say!" Callum barked. "Zoey's a vital researcher. We can't afford to lose her! Roxanne's just a housewife." Those four words pierced right through Roxanne's heart. She watched as he directed the rescuers to pull Zoey onto the boat first. Then, he anxiously checked if she was hurt without sparing so much as a glance at her, who was still struggling in the flood. Nothing could possibly hurt more than that. Drained of all strength, she let go, surrendering to the raging flood. As the freezing water poured into her lungs, her consciousness began to slip away. Clinging to her unyielding will, she braved the current and, by some miracle, caught hold of a fallen tree by the shore. Using the very last of her strength, she dragged herself onto the shore before passing out. … When she came to, she was in a hospital. A nurse was changing her bandages. "You're awake! How are you feeling? Do you have any family? Please ask them to take care of your medical bills." Roxanne shook her head, her voice hoarse. "I don't have any family. I'll pay on my own." Enduring the pain that wracked her body, she dragged herself out of bed and, with the wall as her only support, inched her way to the payment counter. When she passed by a ward, a familiar voice came through the half-open door. It was Callum. He was standing at the sink, washing Zoey's undergarments with his own hands.