Chapter 72
Chapter 72:
Abruptly, an unexpected force brought Helena to a standstill. She glimpsed a figure moving in her peripheral vision and was swiftly pulled in another direction.
She found herself pressed against a man’s chest as an arm secured her waist tightly.
The air was thick with dust from the collapsed building, causing Helena to cough violently.
Tears obscured her vision, and a tightness in her throat silenced her.
“Is it necessary to pursue a story at such a risky time p>
Despite the sternness and frustration in Alden’s voice, it sounded wonderfully reassuring to Helena.
“I’m just so glad you’re safe. I was afraid that p>
She stopped mid-sentence, unable to express her fears, and tightened her embrace, needing to feel the reality of Alden’s presence.
Alden remained still for a moment, taken aback by Helena’s intense embrace while she was fully alert.
He softened his tone. “Helena, are you alright p>
The dust had lined Helena’s forehead and cheeks, yet as she looked up, her eyes—glistening with tears—radiated a poignant brightness.
“I heard the broadcast about the disaster here. It mentioned injuries, and that you were unaccounted for p>
Realization dawned on Alden—Helena’s presence wasn’t to report the situation, but to search for him.
He steadied his tone, comforting her. “Don’t cry. I’m here. I’m safe p>
Right as the calamity unfolded, Alden had been exiting the residential building.
While Xavier activated the emergency response plan, Alden had been aiding the rescue teams. As a result, both he and Xavier had missed out on the early reports of the injured.
Luckily, they only sustained minor injuries themselves.
With dirt and dust still clinging to his hands, Alden hesitated before touching Helena.
𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺: 𝗀Ɐ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗍𝖊𝗅𝘀﹒ⅽ𝗈𝗺
Helena subtly leaned her head against his dusty hand, her voice gentle yet pained. “I wasn’t crying p>
Her tears continued to fall, gathering in his hand.
That tender moisture soaked into Alden’s heart, leaving him wordless. He quietly bowed his head and tenderly kissed Helena.
As their breaths mingled, Helena relaxed fully into Alden’s embrace, her heart beating not out of fear, but from a profound sense of love.
At that moment, a vague memory emerged.
A young boy, hand in hand with her, ran through a garden filled with yellow roses, turning back to smile at her.
Helena’s expression tightened, and she suddenly swayed slightly.
“What’s going on?” Alden quickly released her.
As they looked at each other, the image of the boy from Helena’s memories began to merge with Alden’s features, something deep and long-forgotten stirring within her.
Helena shook her head, her voice shaky. “Alden, have you ever p>
Just then, a loud voice interrupted her. “Helena, why are you here?” Looking up, Helena saw Dominick approaching, his face coated in dust. Taken aback, she instinctively stepped back from Alden.
Dominick, his face dirty and worn, halted before Helena, but his gaze quickly shifted to Alden next to her.
A smile spread across his face. “Mr. Wilson, good to see you here! Could you share the current casualty status p>
Alden quickly collected himself. “We’re still compiling the information. Right now, our focus is ensuring the injured receive medical attention. I’d appreciate it if the press could avoid circulating rumors to prevent any undue alarm p>
Dominick responded with a nod, “Absolutely, the priority must be to keep the casualties to a minimum p>
Alden had kept his tone measured, offering a polished response, but Dominick hadn’t truly expected him to spill anything in the first place. A crisis of this scale would inevitably shake the Wilson Group’s reputation, and their PR team likely needed time to prepare before saying anything concrete. Shifting his attention, Dominick raised a brow. “Helena, how did you end up with Mr. Wilson p>
Still smudged with tear streaks, Helena’s face turned red as she stumbled over her words, unable to answer cleanly.
There was something in the air between Helena and Alden that didn’t sit right with Dominick.
Alden stepped forward ever so slightly, positioning himself between Helena and Dominick’s line of sight.
“Ms. Ellis came to check on my condition and ask for an exclusive interview about the accident,” Alden replied coldly, his voice steady and controlled.
His eyes met Helena’s briefly, and Helena quickly caught his drift. She nodded at Dominick and said, “I had just wrapped up my exam when I heard about the accident. I rushed over, thinking you might be short-staffed p>
Dominick let out a chuckle. “That’s so kind of you, Helena p>
He reached out to give Helena a light, grateful pat—but before his hand landed, Alden intercepted the gesture with a lifted arm and a sharp glance.
Startled, Dominick pulled back, unsure of what he had done to draw Alden’s sudden disapproval.
At that moment, Xavier walked up. Noticing Alden and Helena standing together, he inadvertently exclaimed, “Mrs. Wilson…” The expressions on all three faces shifted immediately.
Xavier caught sight of Dominick and quickly amended his statement. “Mrs. Wilson has tried to reach me multiple times. Mr. Wilson, she must have been trying to contact you as well. She’s very concerned about you. When I finally returned her calls, I found out she left her phone in a taxi p>
Unseen by the others, Helena instinctively checked for her phone, only to discover it missing from her pocket, nearly causing her to gasp aloud. That explained why she hadn’t received any responses from Xavier—it wasn’t that he and Alden had been injured in the accident; she had simply left her phone in the taxi.
Alden’s gaze sharpened, and a slight smile appeared on his face. “I’ve spoken with her. I told her to keep safe and advised her against coming near the site p>