Chapter 300: Chapter 300 I am glad you are safe
Rose had no idea who had taken her, whether they were still nearby, or if they were watching her even now.
All she knew was that she had to run.
Even the smallest chance of survival was worth chasing.
The lingering effects of the sevoflurane, however, made every step feel impossible. Her legs were weak and unsteady, as though all the strength had been wrung out of them. With her arms bound behind her back, she couldn’t even balance herself properly.
She stumbled again and again.
Each time she fell, she forced herself back up.
She bit down so hard on her lower lip that she tasted blood, using the sharp pain to keep herself conscious.
Run.
Just keep running.
Only after putting a considerable distance between herself and the abandoned vehicle did she finally stop to catch her breath.
The mountain wilderness was nothing like the brightly lit city.
As darkness settled over the forest, visibility disappeared almost completely.
She could tell only one thing—she was somewhere high in the mountains.
While staggering forward, she twisted her wrists, desperately trying to loosen the ropes binding them.
Fortunately, whoever had tied her up had underestimated her. Assuming she was only a woman with no means of escape, they hadn’t secured the knots very tightly.
Nearly ten exhausting minutes later, the rope finally slipped free.
Rose threw it aside, inhaled deeply, and forced her aching body onward.
Her phone was gone.
No way to call for help.
No one even knew where she was.
Right now, the only person who could save her... was herself.
She quickly assessed her condition.
The amount of sevoflurane she’d inhaled was far beyond what should have been used. Every few steps, black spots crowded her vision, threatening to pull her back into unconsciousness.
She had no choice but to stop beside a tree, bracing herself against the rough bark while taking slow, deep breaths.
Night had completely fallen.
The mountain paths were barely visible.
And somewhere behind her...
The kidnappers could return at any moment.
Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself forward again.
Then—
Her foot slipped.
The ground beneath her vanished.
Beside the narrow trail was a steep slope. She had no idea how far it dropped—or whether it ended at a cliff.
Her heart stopped.
Her body pitched forward, tumbling helplessly into the darkness.
A frightened scream escaped her lips.
At that exact moment...
The wind suddenly swept through the trees.
Leaves rustled violently.
And beneath the sound...
She vaguely heard hurried footsteps racing toward her.
The next second—
Someone grabbed her wrist.
Warm fingers wrapped tightly around it.
But the momentum of her fall was too strong.
Instead of pulling her back up, the other person was dragged down with her.
Just before Rose lost consciousness again, she felt herself pulled firmly into someone’s embrace.
Strong arms shielded her completely.
The two of them rolled down the hillside together.
*****
When Rose opened her eyes again, bright white light flooded her vision.
She instinctively raised a hand to shield her eyes.
Only then did she notice the IV needle taped to the back of her hand.
She was in a hospital.
"You’re awake."
Trevor’s familiar voice came from beside the bed.
"Does anything hurt?"
Rose slowly turned her stiff neck.
Trevor was sitting beside her.
Judging by the fatigue in his face, he had clearly been watching over her for quite some time.
The moment he saw her awake, an unmistakable look of relief appeared in his eyes.
"How long was I unconscious?" Rose asked hoarsely.
Trevor glanced at his watch.
"One hour and forty minutes."
"The doctor said the large amount of anesthetic caused a temporary coma."
Rose slowly sat up.
"It was medical anesthesia."
The numbness throughout her body had finally faded, and her thoughts were beginning to clear.
She realized she wasn’t in the emergency room anymore.
They had admitted her to a hospital room.
The first thought that crossed her mind made her heart tighten.
"Ariel?"
Trevor quietly placed another pillow behind her back.
"She’s safe."
"Someone is with her."
"The kidnappers only took you."
Only then did Rose finally exhale.
If Trevor said Ariel was safe...
Then she believed him.
Trevor poured her a glass of warm water and handed it to her.
"We still haven’t found the kidnappers."
"They used a large amount of sevoflurane. It temporarily paralyzed your nervous system."
"Most of it’s been metabolized now, but the doctor still wants you to rest."
Rose accepted the cup.
"They still haven’t found them?"
Trevor nodded.
"They planned everything carefully."
"The phone number that sent the ransom message was an unregistered burner."
"The bank account was overseas."
"The vehicle used cloned license plates."
"They deliberately avoided surveillance cameras the entire time."
"They warned us not to contact the police."
He paused before continuing.
"And honestly... even if we had, the investigation would’ve followed standard procedure."
"The same information the police can uncover..."
"So can they."
"This won’t be solved overnight."
Rose frowned.
"Then whoever planned this is experienced."
"They covered every trace."
She looked down at the cup in her hands.
"But..."
"If they were professionals..."
"Why did they leave me alive?"
"It almost felt like..."
"They wanted me to escape."
Trevor studied her quietly.
"What do you think happened?"
Rose tightened her grip on the cup.
"They left me alone in a deserted mountain area."
"The terrain was steep."
"Nothing but narrow trails."
"I’d inhaled enough anesthetic that at any moment I could’ve blacked out again..."
She slowly lifted her eyes.
"If I lost consciousness while trying to escape..."
"I could’ve wandered off a cliff by myself."
Trevor remained silent.
Rose continued.
"If that had happened..."
"Even if someone found my body..."
"The anesthetic would’ve already been metabolized."
"There’d be no evidence left."
"No signs of foul play."
"They’d probably conclude I slipped..."
"Or committed suicide."
The more she analyzed it...
The more plausible it seemed.
Trevor understood immediately.
His expression darkened.
"Then this probably wasn’t random."
"It was deliberate."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"Who have you offended?"
Rose fell silent.
She had always been careful in her dealings with people.
She rarely made enemies.
But...
If there was anyone who might truly hold a grudge against her...
Several faces quietly surfaced in her mind.
Trevor spoke again.
"Reporting it won’t accomplish much."
"Right now there’s almost no evidence."
"Even if you suspect someone..."
"The law needs proof."
"Without it..."
"Nothing can be done."
Rose knew he was right.
Whoever had done this had erased nearly every trace.
The police had almost nothing to work with.
She unconsciously frowned.
Trevor watched her for a long moment.
"Fortunately..."
"You weren’t seriously hurt."
"Aside from the anesthesia..."
"You’re fine."
He hesitated.
"Except for one bruise."
"On your left forearm."
Rose immediately rolled up her sleeve.
A large bluish bruise marked the inside of her forearm.
Years of medical training made her recognize it instantly.
It looked exactly like...
A bruise left behind after an injection site hadn’t been properly compressed.
But that made no sense.
Sevoflurane was an inhaled anesthetic.
It didn’t require an injection.
She stared blankly at the bruise.
Something wasn’t right.
Trevor looked at her for a long time before quietly calling her name.
"Rose."
She finally looked up.
"Hm?"
Before she could react—
Trevor suddenly stood.
He leaned forward and gently pulled her into his arms.
It was the closest they had ever been.
His voice was low.
Filled with relief that he could no longer hide.
"I’m just glad you’re safe."
Rose froze.
Outside the hospital room...
A tall figure stopped beside the glass window.
Silently watching everything inside.
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