Chapter 4

A torrential downpour triggered a landslide, burying an entire village.

Garrison led the charge at the front, with his childhood friend and comrade Nolan covering the rear.

No one noticed the massive boulder teetering precariously overhead.

"Garrison!"

Nolan's voice pierced through the curtain of rain.

In the split second Garrison was shoved aside, the boulder came crashing down.

"No!"

Garrison lunged towards the rubble like a madman, restrained by three of his teammates.

Back at the rescue team's compound, he knelt in the rain, his entire body shaking, like a wounded beast.

That was the first time I saw him lose control.

Garrison, who was always composed and level-headed, could actually be driven to such depths of despair.

Nolan was Garrison's brother in all but blood. They grew up together, enlisted together, joined the special forces together, and later retired to join the rescue team together. Their bond was closer than that of biological siblings.

When Nolan was pulled out, his heart had already stopped beating.

The doctor said even if they could revive him, he'd need a heart transplant, and the treatment would cost at least five million dollars.

"Please, you have to save him," Garrison pleaded, gripping the doctor's hand, his voice hoarse. "I'll find a way to pay whatever it costs."He had just retired from the military not long ago, and his entire salary was going towards the mortgage.

His buddies chipped in, a thousand here and a grand there, but they only managed to scrape together five hundred grand.

I watched him pacing back and forth in the hospital corridor, his eyes bloodshot as if he hadn't slept in days.

"It should have been me," he kept saying, "Why did he save me?"

In that moment, my heart ached so much I could barely breathe.

I couldn't hold back anymore.

"I can donate my heart," I pushed open the door and walked in, "I'm a perfect match for Captain Lincoln."

Garrison's head snapped up.

"Are you insane?" his voice was hoarse, "You'll die!"

I smiled at him, whispering in his ear: "Trust me, I have superpowers. I won't die."

He still wouldn't agree, but I went ahead with the surgery behind his back.

Not only did I donate my heart, but also my liver and kidneys to a rich man's daughter. The tycoon transferred 5 million dollars into Garrison's account.

Three days later, I woke up.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Garrison keeping vigil by my bedside. He hadn't closed his eyes for three whole days. Dark circles under his eyes, yet he stubbornly refused to leave.

"You're awake," his voice was hoarse as he carefully held my hand, "Does it hurt?"

It was the first time I had ever seen him so gentle.Nolan recovered quickly, and Garrison began visiting me frequently at the hospital.

He would peel apples for me, help me drink water, his gaze so focused it made my heart tremble.

Sometimes when I fell asleep, I'd feel someone gently kissing my forehead.

He started telling me his stories, about the fun times training with Nolan as kids, about the challenging wire tests in the Special Forces, and how much he feared losing people important to him.

When he said these things, his eyes were soft, yet there was something in them I couldn't quite understand.

Later, he proposed to me.

I nodded, tears streaming down my face. He kissed away the tears and held me tight.

After that, I applied to join the rescue team as a contracted nurse, so I could be by his side.

Just then, Krystal was transferred back to headquarters.