Love Unspoken

Chapter 1204

When Quinn got back, Alexander was already up, sitting by the fire and staring hard at the cave entrance. "Where'd you go?" he asked.

Quinn glanced at the perilla in her arms and plopped down in front of him. "Feelin' any better?"

"Still kickin'," he said, his eyes roaming over her bare shoulders, checking her out from top to bottom.

Quinn caught his look and grabbed a coat from him to cover up, blocking his view.

Alexander chuckled. "You think I can do anything to you in this state?"

Quinn paused for a sec, ignored his comment, and started crushing the perilla to slap it on his wound.

He was still a bit feverish, and after she applied the stuff, sweat beaded on his forehead.

Quinn said, "You need to rest up. We'll talk when you're better."

Alexander suddenly hugged her. "You goin' out to hunt to feed me?"

Quinn was a bit taken aback. She could barely hunt; she was more likely to end up as some wild animal's dinner. "I'll figure something out. Just let go of me first," she said.

"I'm cold," Alexander said, tightening his grip.

Quinn tried to take off the coat she was wearing, but he stopped her. "Don't take it off, or I'll get turned on."

"Things are so messed up right now, and you can still get turned on?" Quinn said, feeling a bit speechless.

"If you keep your clothes on, I won't get turned on," Alexander remarked.

In the end, Quinn didn't take it off. She was afraid that before Alexander did anything, she wouldn't be able to handle it herself, especially since the medicine's effects hadn't worn off yet. After a while, she pushed Alexander away, stood up, and said, "I'll go collect some firewood. Rest up."

She walked out of the cave and started gathering firewood nearby to avoid running out like the previous night. She piled several stacks at the cave entrance.

Meanwhile, Walter had been in the village for two whole days without making any moves.

Sean had gone out and returned to find him still sitting at the entrance, sipping tea like he had all the time in the world. Sean couldn't help but step forward and ask, "Didn't you say you were gonna find Alistair? Why are you still sittin' here?"

Walter glanced at him and smiled faintly. "What's the rush? Alexander ain't coming out anytime soon. Why are you all so antsy?"

Sean sneered. Of course, he was anxious. He wanted to find Alistair ASAP, partly to stop him from escaping and partly 'cause he feared Alexander might not wanna come out after staying in the forest too long. "It's none of your business. If you're not gonna find him, then don't stay here," Sean said irritably.

"In that case, I won't stay here," Walter said slowly.

Then he patted the wrinkles on his pants, stood up leisurely, walked past Sean, and got into his car without looking back.

Sean stared blankly at the car. Did he really leave?

The others exchanged puzzled looks, not quite getting what Walter was up to.

After a moment, Sean realized what was happening and quickly ran to his car. "Follow him."

The car drove on the bumpy road, followed by several other cars. Walter turned his head slightly and looked through the rearview mirror.

He chuckled.

Sean kept following him, from the dirt road to the paved road, and then along the paved road for a long time.

As they approached the bustling area, Sean got a message on his phone.

He opened it and saw it was from an unknown number: [You bringing so many people 'cause you're afraid Alistair won't notice you?]

Sean was stunned and instinctively looked at the car in front of him.

He had been bringing a lot of people these days, but they never managed to catch Alistair, partly because of this reason. However, if he didn't bring enough people, he was worried they wouldn't be able to handle Alistair and his crew.

So it was a bit of a dilemma. Bringing people could easily alert Alistair, but not bringing enough people could mean they couldn't win a fight.

He thought for a while and finally decided to send everyone back. But before he could give the order, another message from Walter arrived.

Walter: [Have them split up and act separately. Don't stay together.]

Chapter 1203

After a short walk, the fire in her hand fizzled out, leaving just some glowing embers. It was still tough to see, but hey, better than pitch black.

She crouched down, using the faint light to scrounge up some dry branches. While gathering firewood, she accidentally brushed against a few bugs, which totally freaked her out. She patted her chest, taking deep breaths. Even though she was scared, she kept searching for firewood under the trees. There wasn't much else around, but there were plenty of dry branches. She quickly bundled them up and hurried back. Once inside the cave, she felt a bit more at ease.

She let out a long breath, dropped the firewood on the ground, and noticed a few centipedes and some other creepy crawlies in the pile. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed a stone and smashed the centipedes that crawled out, then tossed the other bugs straight into the fire. While burning them, she kept glancing over, worried her noise would wake Alexander.

But honestly, she wasn't being quiet, and Alexander didn't wake up.

Usually, he'd wake up at the slightest noise, but now he was out cold.

Quinn hesitated for a sec, then carefully walked over to him, squatting down and reaching out a finger to check his breath. He was still alive.

She let out a sigh of relief, but before she could pull her hand back, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Looking up, she saw Alexander still had his eyes closed, just holding her hand.

A force pulled her wrist, and she fell into his arms, where he held her tight.

"Cold, let me hold you for a while," he croaked.

Quinn stayed still, pressing against his chest and listening to his steady heartbeat.

The fire beside them crackled, and she could smell the bugs burning.

The fire was about to die out again, so Quinn had to break free and toss in more firewood.

She glanced back at Alexander, his brows furrowed, and his forehead still sweaty.

Quinn walked back, reached out to touch his forehead, and found it still burning hot.

But he said he was cold.

She gritted her teeth and took off her clothes to cover him. She still had a dress underneath, though it was pretty torn up.

Since there was no one else around, she took off one sleeve and tied the torn dress into a few knots, barely covering her chest.

The firewood she had collected burned out, and it started to get light outside, making it barely possible to see.

Quinn grabbed a dagger and headed out again.

Finding food was a no-go; she was on the hunt for herbs. Besides mugwort, she didn't recognize much else. She pulled up a lot of mugwort and found a cluster of perilla on her way back. Quinn was kinda excited; perilla seemed useful and maybe better than mugwort.

She dropped the mugwort and ran over, cutting a big bunch of perilla with her dagger. She even thought about taking the whole cluster back.

But as she pulled aside the vines, a black-and-white snake coiled in the grass, making her face go pale. She dropped the vines and stumbled back.

She tripped over something and fell to the ground.

She watched the snake slither out of the grass, her limbs weak. The perilla she had picked fell, and she didn't dare move, instinctively gripping the dagger.

Quinn was ready for a life-and-death showdown with the snake, but to her surprise, the snake ignored her and slithered away.

She let out a sigh of relief, trembling as she got up from the ground. She then picked up the fallen perilla and, not daring to take more, hurried back with what she had.

Chapter 1202

By the flickering firelight, Quinn finally noticed how pale Alexander looked-way paler than he had been earlier.

Alexander grabbed her hand and pulled it away from his forehead. "I'm good. Just gotta sweat it out."

His voice was weak, and even his coughs sounded feeble.

Quinn squatted down to check his wound.

In this weather, it probably wasn't a cold; more likely, his wound was infected and causing a fever. If that was the case, they were in deep trouble.

She untied the cloth strips on his body. The wound on his arm looked the same, but there was a swollen area on his back, the deepest part of the wound, showing signs of pus. "Your wound's infected," Quinn said, worried, glancing at him. "What do we do? Got any disinfectant in your pocket?"

Alexander shook his head, a bit amused. "Nope, you really think I carry everything in my pockets, huh?"

"So, what now?" Quinn asked.

"I won't die," he said, looking at her again. "Are you worried about me, or worried you won't get out?"

Quinn opened her mouth, ready to say the latter, but when she saw the serious look in his deep eyes, she held back.

Unlike his usual teasing, this time he was dead serious.

So she swallowed her words.

Alexander stared at her for a long time, and when he didn't get an answer, he looked away and tossed some firewood into the fire.

"Don't worry. I won't die that easily. Even if I do, I'll make sure you get out first," he said calmly.

Quinn's eyes flickered. She lowered her head and was silent for a moment before suddenly getting up and heading out.

Before she could leave, Alexander grabbed her wrist. "Where you going?"

"I'm going to get some water to boil. You got salt, right? We can use saltwater to clean your wound." She added, "I'll be right outside, not going far." It was late, and she didn't dare go far.

Alexander let go of her.

Quinn went outside, dug some soil near the spring, and made a makeshift pot. There were a few banana leaves in the cave, almost dry but still usable. After cleaning them, she lined the pot with the leaves, filled it with spring water, and brought it back to boil over the fire.

She tore a piece of the bedsheet, washed it in the water, and then poured the remaining half bottle of salt into the boiling water.

"You used it all up. What are we gonna eat?" Alexander asked.

"Who cares about eating when your life's on the line?" Quinn soaked the cloth in the water for two minutes, then took it out to clean his wound. He seemed really weak now, sitting quietly without his usual teasing.

Quinn cleaned his wound over and over until the water was completely cool, then she put down the cloth.

She asked Alexander, "Feeling any better?"

Alexander smirked. "It's not that quick."

Quinn pressed her lips together and draped the remaining piece of the bedsheet over him. "Then rest for a while. I'll tend the fire."

Alexander leaned against the cave wall, watching her with lowered eyes.

"And you say you don't care about me," he said.

threw more wood into the fire, not wanting to talk to

glanced back at Alexander, who had

the fever or the heat

make him feel

pitch dark, and she couldn't see anything. She started to get nervous as soon as she stepped out. But the fire was almost out. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, grabbed a match, and ran

Chapter 1201

shot up, touched her face, and sighed in relief when

to be

confusion, she started looking for

coming from

some banana leaves, fruits,

walked into the clearing, dropped his haul, and

and glanced at the stuff on the ground. "Aren't we

direction

the cave was better than

way better than a bloody one. They had cooked a lot of

cleanup, they packed the

ran into a bunch of unfamiliar creatures, and even

realizing it. When the forest darkened, Quinn finally saw the familiar

ground, exhausted. After two days away, the cave

Alexander lit a fire inside the cave. Quinn looked at the sky outside,

ask Alexander, "Can we

at Quinn, and said, "After we get out, will

"Why are

another question. After we get

Quinn fell silent.

it made her seem ungrateful, she couldn't bring

won't get

"What

after we get out, why should

indeed seen how dangerous it was; his injuries were

her lip, thought for a moment, but

was also

a tiring day, she leaned against the

nightfall, she was suddenly awakened by a bout of coughing. Quinn opened her eyes and saw Alexander

and sat up straight. "What's wrong

Quinn could feel the heat. Yet he said he was cold, which was clearly not normal. She quickly got up, came to his side, and reached out to touch his

fever?"

Chapter 155

gum, utterly shameless. "What kind of fortune did our village

or payouts! The people in our village work hard and earn their living honestly, unlike your family, who just got lucky and picked up a

was referring to how the family had

returned to her biological family. Before that, they had already discussed

their feelings towards Shawn's family were hardly positive. They

received 50 million dollars. It's nothing close

implication was clear-he would extort even more if

he said. "What did you

"N-Nothing."

After all, he had already made a deal with Kayla. Once he got rid of Felicia, the wealth of the

time when these villagers who looked down on him would beg for his

Meanwhile, the others in the village were unwilling to deal with such

for his grandson and instructed, "Lucas, go find Felicia. Tell her Shawn is back in the village and making a scene. She

"Got it!"

abandoned his toy car and sprinted toward

long been abandoned. Since Felicia had cut ties with

been living

from the still-warm hearth. These were left over from breakfast, and Macey had tossed them in, knowing Felicia

potatoes was darkened from the heat, but once peeled, they released steam and smelled wonderfully sweet. "Felicia!" Lucas

often got to eat sweet potatoes, he still felt hungry when he saw them in

him. "Here, this is for you. Be careful, it's

his grandfather's instructions and reported, "Felicia, my

did your

also said that brat

help but

being chased for debts and had already lost a couple of fingers. He was likely desperate, clinging to Kayla

wonder why Shawn would return

Chapter 154

However, when the car door swung open and a flamboyant figure stepped out, the onlookers exchanged glances and promptly turned to leave as if trying to avoid something filthy. The figure was

reputation for petty theft and mischief. He was caught harassing young ladies and married women by the river multiple times, often leading to confrontations. Yet Howell and Tabitha, his parents, were utterly shameless. They not only failed to get any justice but

name became synonymous with disgrace. Naturally, the villagers preferred to keep

were quick to steer

village in a high-profile manner, flaunting a rented sports car to show off his former wealth. He believed that his status had risen above that of the villagers, whom he looked down upon as

the villager scoffed. "Make sure to take good care of that rented car. Otherwise, you might not get your

flushed with

the car was

Fuller family, he bought a sports car, but Lance seized it to cover

en

in a well, you

him a cold glance and retorted, "What status? What's the status of a debtor with missing fingers? That sounds

observed with keen interest as Shawn's hand was wrapped in thick bandages.

twisted with rage. "Did Felicia tell you

one responded

mind, that was the only possibility. His expression darkened further as he spat

time before slapping Shawn across the face. "You bastard! Just start behaving like a decent person already,

the slap, his eyes glinting with malice. Just as he was about to retaliate,

looked furious. His expression was a mix of anger and

ready to explode,

I.ne

the village. Behind the village lay fields abundant with. crops and further ahead were

to have lifted, and every household had repaired their homes. There were even numerous construction projects underway, depicting a scene of vibrant prosperity. Shawn stood there, dumbfounded. Was this still the impoverished village

Chapter 153

eyes turned red, and she dug her nails deep into her palms as she suppressed the almost frenzied and twisted emotions threatening to erupt. She managed to hold back her anger, though just barely. "Arnie, my

get here;

ultimately did not refuse. He examined her foot and found nothing wrong with it, yet Kayla insisted that

once and after being terrified all night, her face was pale and pitiful. It made it hard for Arnold to

offering, "Get on my back.

joy evident as she jumped

gazes, Arnold carried

for the villagers since they didn't know them, but the students participating in the training program couldn't help but make a few teasing remarks about their apparent intimacy. Kayla

village, Arnold originally intended to have the village head find another family for Kayla to stay with. However, with all the other families' houses already full and Kayla stubbornly refusing to be separated from him, he

there was only one empty room

you rest well," Arnold said after the college doctor checked Kayla's foot and confirmed it wasn't serious. Feeling relieved, he placed her on the bed

en

you going? Are you really going to leave me here alone? I'm not familiar with this place, and I'm scared..." Arnold had been planning to find a separate place to stay. After all, it would be scandalous

a pitiful facade as her shoulders trembled and her eyes

some rest. I'll be in the living room. If you need anything, just call me." With that, he stepped out of the

eyes, giving way to a burgeoning anger that threatened to explode! "Felicia!" she hissed through gritted teeth, her sense of crisis

Felicia, the thorn in her side, at

voice low as she snapped, "Why haven't you arrived yet? It's been two days! Have you gotten everything prepared? Don't you want

sounded distant on the other end as if he were driving. "It's all set! I'll be at Alverton in no

felt

all, the money she had invested was considerable. As long

Chapter 152

and Felicia didn't bother to find out who

back to reality from the shock of the night before. Clinging tightly to Arnold's waist, she looked up at

"This slope isn't high; it's not as dangerous as you think." However, the words were caught in his throat, and he ultimately

night's events must have scared Kayla terribly-just like when he first arrived at the scene panic-stricken. It was only after Felicia scolded him that he realized his concern was causing him to lose focus. The terrain looked frightening, but there was

late to say

would disappear. Her pitiful appearance made it

then, a group of students who had heard about the incident rushed over to see the commotion and caught sight of Arnold and Kayla

She must have rushed over

wasn't on the list for this training program. She had only gotten wind of the situation because her good friend, Olivia, had informed her to come quickly to

Olivia couldn't help but smirk. Although she felt some resentment toward Kayla after yesterday's events, her hatred for Felicia was

who could make Felicia's life miserable was welcome in her

and said, "Kayla, what terrible duck you had, getting into a

hear it. He shot her a glance, but Olivia merely scoffed and

initially feeling scared. She began to pick

better than she did, and it was clear that something had happened over the past few days. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so distant and lost in thought

was taken aback to find

few days. You even hung up on me yesterday. Do you know I almost died? I was wondering if I'd ever see you

seemed to tune her

she managed a pained smile and asked, "Arnie, who are you

drew an unexpected reaction from Arnold. He immediately denied it, his voice filled with

unmasked. While Kayla initially wanted to laugh, the

verbally claimed not to like

Chapter 151

Ruben, she asked, "Ruben,

was one of the Fuller family's dedicated drivers. He was always on standby and had years of driving experience, so it was unusual for such an accident

to drive her to Alverton. I wasn't familiar with the road and mistakenly followed the wrong route according to the navigation. Ms.

out her frustration on him by kicking his seat

mountain roads were already challenging, and his attention had been distracted by her kicking him. Fatigued from driving all day, he lost focus for just a moment, causing the car to veer off the road and get stuck on the edge of the slope. From their perspective inside the vehicle, it felt like they were hanging over a precipice, so they didn't dare to move. Even when their

he became. If it hadn't been

things. She declared that he wasn't fit to be a driver for the Fuller family and that she

been for his reason, he would have wanted to take Kayla down with

on this, he tightened his grip on the memory

the dashcam. If Kayla pushed him too

Felicia didn't pry further.

villagers felt relieved and began to

tried to leave but was stopped by Felicia. "Mr. Gibbs,

She walked

to Arnold and saw

up to

was

was crying.

they had

to hold back,

finally released Kayla and turned his attention to Felicia. "What

even more impatient. Her tone was cold as she stated, "You

gently tugged at

could she

Felicia stood her ground.

was studying in another city. Any daughter would be upset

she was asking for

had regained his composure. Regardless of the circumstances,