Chapter 620 Baby, Don't Cry
"Is there enough rescue rope?" asked Oliver, his expression composed.
It was clear that the rope was insufficient for both of them to descend.
Too deep a chasm meant Oliver's rope was several pieces joined together, leaving no extra length for a second person to descend into the sinkhole.
Jacob, the bodyguard, suggested, "Sir, we might not even need a rope; there are vines and some vegetation on the rock face that we could use to climb down."
The only concern was the absence of safety guarantees.
"Possible?" Oliver's gaze was icy. "So that Natalie can come after me for recklessness?"
The bodyguard fell silent, suddenly remembering the caring and kind woman that the Mrs. was.
"Mr. Windsor..." The operatives from their organization tried to continue their pleas but were halted by the bodyguards.
One shook his head at the speaker.
He knew what the boss was standing firm on—his woman, needing to save her himself, and he couldn't wait a moment longer here.
After being secured with the rescue rope and handed a lightweight first-aid kit by a bodyguard, Oliver heard their pleas, "Sir, please be careful."
"Don't worry," Oliver nodded, and then he gave another instruction, "Contact Richard; tell him to send people and a helicopter with all the necessary gear."
Oliver's physical condition was on par with anyone else's present. He was not only skilled in combat, but also his climbing and wilderness survival skills matched those of any professional bodyguard. In his twenties, Oliver had even had a passion for extreme sports.
The operatives of the Well Organization exchanged shocked glances. Due to Lucas's involvement, they had done their homework on Oliver, but nobody was aware of his connections with Richard, a top player in the southwest. Even if aiding Oliver meant owing Richard a favor, not just anyone could afford to be in debt to someone of his caliber.
Sometimes, owing favors was a matter of equal standing.
The slope was nearly vertical. Oliver hadn't engaged in rock climbing or rappelling for the past three or four years, so picking it up again felt somewhat unfamiliar. Fortunately, it took less than a minute for muscle memory to kick back in.
The bodyguards and Well operatives watched as Oliver rapidly descended the steep walls of the sinkhole with agile and powerful movements, soon disappearing into the dense vegetation.
Pain.
His body ached as if it had been crushed.
His head throbbed.
He was also extremely thirsty.
His mouth felt parched.
His body was cold to the bone, sending waves of chills through him.
In a dazed state, Natalie instinctively moved towards a source of warmth. After a while, she could hear someone tirelessly repeating her name, accompanied by a gentle patting。
"Natalie."
"Natalie."
"Natalie, wake up!"
"Natalie, can you hear me speaking?"
"Natalie…"
Natalie slowly opened her eyes, struggling to focus, and saw a blurry yet incredibly familiar face. Squinting with effort, she shut her eyes again, then re-opened them to finally recognize the man before her.
"Oliver... is that you?" she croaked, her voice hoarse and her gaze bewildered.
Oliver sat on the ground, holding Natalie in a semi-embrace, joy surfacing in his deep eyes in an instant.
He instinctively pulled the awakening woman into his arms, holding her tightly yet carefully to avoid causing any pain. Natalie could feel his strong yet gentle hold, sensing the care behind his restrained movements.
"Am I dead?" Natalie asked, confused and a little vacant.
Oliver frowned, loosening his grip slightly and holding her shoulders, looking into her eyes earnestly as he assured her, "Of course not."
"Then am I... dreaming?"
"No, not that either."
Natalie had tumbled down the slope and lost consciousness, not having moved from where she fell. Oliver had easily found her upon his descent. While she was unconscious, he had quickly checked her for injuries, finding no wounds on her head.
"Did you... hit your head?" Oliver's expression turned solemn.
Natalie paused, a beat too slow, and reached out to pinch Oliver's cheek—feeling the very real texture of his skin.
It wasn't a dream.
"Are you trying to say I fell on my head and went dumb?" Natalie's face changed as she caught on to the implication.
She wasn't dead, nor dreaming—it was Oliver who had come to find her.
Looking around, Natalie saw nothing but a lush expanse of unfamiliar greenery and flowers, with a single circle of sky above casting a sparing glow.
It was a hidden paradise, an uninhabited wilderness.
The very spot she'd tumbled into.
"It's a sinkhole," Oliver explained, reading Natalie's thoughts.
"How did you get down here?" Natalie scanned the area, seeing no sign of anyone else.
Her eyes suddenly focused as she brushed aside the hair on Oliver's forehead, revealing a hidden wound.
She grabbed his arm and saw the scrape, the blood that had been wiped away.
Her heart tightened, and tears welled up in her eyes instantly.
"What's wrong?" Oliver asked, his voice shaken, "Did the wound start hurting?"
"I asked you how you got down here!" Natalie yelled.
"I rappelled down; the bodyguards are still up top," Oliver quickly answered.
"With the ropes? Then why are you all banged up?" Natalie was skeptical.
In that moment, Oliver realized his wife's intelligence and extensive knowledge made it impossible to fool her.
He had to tell the truth. "The rope wasn't long enough; I had to jump the last bit."
Natalie, who had rolled down herself, knew that the so-called 'jump' was out of the question.
If the distance to the ground were short enough to jump, there would be no scrapes on the forehead and arms; otherwise, it meant tumbling down just like she had.
Natalie was lucky—her roll had been cushioned by vegetation, which slowed her fall, and she had landed on a grassy spot without serious injury.
Tears overcame Natalie as she looked at his wounds, unable to restrain them.
"Sweetheart, don't cry," Oliver said tenderly, cupping Natalie's face and gently wiping away her tears.
Natalie glared at him. "Do you even know first aid? Do you know anything about rescue? What if something happened to you coming down here alone? Couldn't you wait for the professionals? You shouldn't have come."
"I didn't want anyone else to save you," Oliver replied.
Natalie froze, tears caught in her lashes.
"I wasn't there the moment you needed me," Oliver whispered as he tucked a stray lock of Natalie's hair behind her ear. "Natalie, do you have any idea how much it kills me to know that Roger got to you first?"
"...Jealous of what?"
"Jealous that he saved you before I had the chance to."
Oliver chuckled ruefully. "You're my girl, and the thought of not being there to protect you when you were in danger drives me mad. I couldn't stand the idea of another man reaching you first, of having to take my wife back from a rival."
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