Chapter 85

"Yes, Young Master" The driver drove forward at a steady pace, after all, carrying a car full of people, it's best to minimize the bumps as much as possible. The name Cliff's Edge sounds extremely terrifying and gives a foreboding sense. Melissa feared that she would stumble and fall if she was too tired. Then, her children, Alvin and Alvina, would be left without a mother. Melissa was calculating silently in her heart. She planned to wait in the car with the driver when they reached the tourist spot. She could also catch up on some sleep, which would be wonderful. But when they reached the scenic spot, the situation was not as Melissa had expected. "I'm so tired, I don't want to climb the mountain. I woke up with a crick in my neck last night and my back aches, let me stay in the car with the driver." Melissa said coquettishly, flatly refusing to get off the car. "No, everyone has to participate in group activities." Joseph was indifferent. Melissa was sighing heavily, her eyes barely open. Alvin and Alvina stood at the car door, also trying to persuade Melissa "Mom, come with us!" "Alright then." Under everyone's anticipation, Melissa joined the Cliff's Edge climbing team. After all, even Grandma Julia, who was older than her, was climbing the mountain with everyone, what reason did she have not to? Upon entering the Cliff's Edge area, Melissa was attracted by the stunning scenery. The cliff edges and pine trees growing in rock crevices were all stunning works of nature. If she had been lazy and stayed in the car, she wouldn't have been able to see the beautiful scenery in front of her. "Mom, hurry up! Don't fall behind." Alvina hopped up the steps, excitedly looking up at the misty mountain top. She and Alvin were racing to see who could reach the top first. "Hey, Alvin, Alvina, slow down, watch your steps!” Melissa, carrying a backpack with one shoulder, felt heavy footed. She had a quicker heartbeat due to her restlessness last night. Leaning on the rail beside the stone steps, she climbed up with difficulty. "Melissa, are you alright?" Grandma Julia asked with concern, she was climbing the stone steps behind Melissa, Aunt Sarah helping her to walk steadily. "I'm okay, Grandma, you go slowly." Melissa advised her grandma. Seeing Tony following closely behind Alvin and Alvina, she felt relieved to know their safety was ensured. "Okay, you shouldn't strain yourself either." Grandma Julia agreed, noticing that Melissa was resting on a railing. She called for Joseph "Joseph, quickly take Melissa with you. Just walk ahead, Aunt Sarah and I will follow at a slow pace. After all, we're going to return the same way. Off you go." Grandma Julia waved to Melissa and Joseph, indicating that they should keep moving without waiting for her and Aunt Sarah. Joseph agreed with a nod, grabbed Melissa by her sleeve, and with long strides, started to walk ahead quickly. "Joseph, slow down! We're on a trip, not in a race!" Melissa was pulled along by Joseph, watching them get closer to the children. Upon hearing Melissa's loud complaints, all the co-travelers started watching them, causing Joseph to become more embarrassed. Turning around, he said to Melissa in a deep voice. "Stop shouting, believe it or not, I'll leave you all alone on this mountain." Melissa glared at him indignantly "Huh, if you have the guts, then do it. Who are you to pull me along?" "What did you say?" Joseph abruptly halted, turning around slowly to stare at Melissa, his eyebrows knitting together. Melissa's expression changed rapidly, from a complaining look to a deceitful smile. She flirtatiously chuckled and said "I meant you wouldn't bear to leave me behind." Not wanting to engage in too much conversation with Melissa while mountain-climbing, Joseph once again grabbed Melissa by her sleeve and resumed their challenging ascent. Grandma Julia, halfway up the mountain, had already taken a break with Aunt Sarah. Alvin, Alvina, and Tony were within sight of conquering the final fifth of the climb. "Melissa, why are you moving like a snail, even slower than a turtle?" As Joseph pulled Melissa along, it felt like dragging a heavy bag of rice, slowing him down. Otherwise, he could have been at the top of the mountain by now. Just when Melissa wanted to get angry, she let out a snort of laughter. "Yes, I am a snail, slower than a turtle." Melissa elongated her tone, giggling behind her hands, "because the turtle is pulling the snail up the mountain." "Childish" Joseph coldly retorted, picking up the pace as he continued to walk alongside Melissa. "Slow down...wait for..." After accelerating her pace for over ten minutes, Melissa was exhausted and could hardly stand upright. Her heart was pounding wildly, as if it would leap out of her throat at any moment. "Oh no, I can't carry on. You go ahead by yourself." Melissa, who could not climb any further, was panting heavily. Even her fingers had turned numb due to the rapid heartbeat. She was probably walking too fast thus causing poor blood circulation. "Melissa, can you put in some effort?" Joseph was not good at encouraging others, so he could only provoke Melissa this way. He wanted to say that Melissa was even worse than a five-year-old child. "I really can't, my heart is racing..." Melissa became pale, and even her speech weakened "Try feel my heartbeat if you don’t believe me." Feeling that Melissa was not joking around, Joseph lightly placed his thumb on her wrist pulse, quietly feeling her heartbeat. Indeed, it was beating too fast. He glanced at his watch and roughly estimated that her heart rate had exceeded 120 beats per minute. Joseph could feel the severity of the situation. He was afraid that if something were to happen to Melissa on this mountainside and the lack of an ambulance nearby would make things complicated. "Just sit down and take a rest for a while." Joseph pulled out a foam board from his backpack and put it on the stone steps. He let Melissa sit down to calm her heart. Nodding in agreement, Melissa propped her knees and sat down on the stone steps. The foam board served as a barrier between the cold stone and her, preventing stomach discomfort. "Thanks, you can go ahead. I need to rest for a bit longer." Melissa looked at the path ahead, they were only two-fifths there. Alvin and Alvina were already nearing the top. Observing Melissa's pale face, Joseph, fearing something awkward might happen, decided to stay with her, leaning against the railings nearby. Twenty minutes passed, and Melissa's heartbeat gradually stabilized, and color returned to her cheeks. Joseph seemed indifferent as he surveyed the surroundings while his heart was indeed pounding. Now that Melissa looked much better, he was no longer as worried. Melissa picked up the foam board and stood up, handed the foam board back to Joseph before she continued ascending the stairs. "Let's go on." Melissa, swinging her arms, walked steadily upward step by step. The discomfort that she felt earlier was no longer there.