Chapter 453 Top of the Trending List
Since Juniper had agreed to marry Samuel, he wasn't about to let that slip away. The very next day, he jumped on the chance and bugged his agent to blast their engagement all over Facebook, making sure Juniper's social media was updated too.
Juniper was cool with it all.
As soon as the news hit, it skyrocketed to the top of the trending list in just three hours.
Suddenly, Samuel and Juniper's Facebook pages were swamped with comments from fans. Sure, there were a few haters who weren't into Juniper, but most folks were sending their congrats. Everyone knew Samuel was head over heels for her.
Even the TV media couldn't resist, covering Samuel and Juniper's engagement like it was the hottest scoop. Samuel was a big deal, so naturally, this was front-page stuff in the entertainment sections.
Meanwhile, Alden had gone back to the mountains to keep teaching. The new classrooms were way better than before, but it was obvious to everyone that Alden wasn't his usual upbeat self. He kept to himself a lot, and nobody really knew what was going on in his head.
In the teachers' dorm, a TV was blaring entertainment news, showing Samuel and Juniper's faces and announcing their engagement.
Alden sat there, glued to the TV, feeling a deep ache in his heart as he looked at Juniper's picture.
He still hadn't been able to marry the woman he loved.
The more Alden watched the news, the more restless he got. He grabbed a can of beer nearby and took a long swig. Ever since he and Juniper split, he'd turned to drinking. It was the only thing that dulled the pain enough to forget.
"Alden." A woman's voice came from outside the door. It was Lily Martin, a fellow teacher in the mountains.
Lily knocked a few times, noticing the door was slightly open. Hearing some noise inside, she gently pushed the door open and saw Alden sitting on the bed, drinking heavily, with the TV still showing Samuel and Juniper's news.
"Alden, what's up?" Lily asked, concerned as she walked over, tentatively placing a hand on his shoulder.
Seeing the news on TV, she quickly got the picture and instinctively looked down, hiding the brief sadness in her eyes.
Lily had come to the mountains after Alden. She'd developed feelings for him over time, but everyone knew Alden had a girlfriend in the city, so she kept her feelings to herself.
After Alden returned, she heard from others that he and his girlfriend had broken up.
Seeing Alden like this now, Lily felt a tightness in her chest. This wasn't the polite and cheerful Alden she remembered.
She bit her lip and sat down beside him, gently patting his back. "Alden, don't be down. I... I think she must still care about you. Maybe she's hurting too."
Lily tried to say something comforting, but her words got all tangled up. Alden, whether sober or drunk, just shook his head with a sad smile. "It's alright. I was the one who let her go in the first place. Seeing her happy is enough for me. But, but..."
He gripped the edge of the table, "It just hurts so much inside."
Alden, a grown man, spoke with a voice tinged with tears, his eyes red, whether from the alcohol or deep sorrow.
The TV kept playing, and Alden, overwhelmed by emotion, tossed the beer can to the floor. But soon after, he winced, letting out a low groan as his right leg, which had healed, flared up in pain, turning red.
When Alden's leg was treated, Pryce had warned him that the injury could resurface if he drank or ate spicy food. But he had ignored the advice.
Lily was startled by Alden's pain but more worried than anything. She quickly bent down, asking urgently, "Alden, what's wrong?"
Seeing the redness on Alden's leg, Lily was shocked. She wanted to call for help, but Alden needed someone with him, and the villagers went to bed early. So she supported Alden, draping his arm over her shoulder, and helped him out of the dorm.
They struggled to the mountain clinic, Lily's footsteps echoing in the empty hallway as she knocked hard on the duty room door.
"Doctor, doctor!"
The light in the duty room flicked on, and a doctor in his forties, wearing a white coat, opened the door, looking curiously at Lily and Alden. Lily quickly ushered them inside, saying, "Doctor, please check his leg."
The doctor helped Lily get Alden seated, gently pressing on the swollen area of his leg. Alden grimaced, trying to suppress his cries.
"Has his right leg been injured before?"
Hearing the doctor's question, Lily nodded hesitantly, "Yes, there was an earthquake in the mountains before. His leg was crushed, and it was a miracle he was saved. Doctor, how is his leg? Can it be treated?"
The doctor pondered for a moment, shaking his head. "It seems like an old injury has flared up. Unfortunately, the treatment facilities here are limited. The clinic can't treat his leg properly. If possible, you should take him to a city hospital for comprehensive treatment. I can apply some topical medication and bandage it for now."
Lily glanced at Alden with concern, knowing how tough the conditions were in the mountains. Reluctantly, she nodded, "Okay, thank you."
Ravenford.
"Juniper, don't worry. The check-up is easy." Juniper was now three or four months pregnant. Madeline was worried about her being uncomfortable at the Hall Villa, so she moved in to keep her company and was with her for the check-up today.
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