Beside her, Julian Zhou seemed more at ease than the invited guest herself. "If you feel uncomfortable, we can leave early."

The corners of Clara’s mouth twitched with effort. She lowered her eyes, her tone bitter. "No, I’m fine. I’m just... a little curious."

Curious about how he would walk into marriage, curious about how he would look today, and curious about what the life she once dreamed of would actually look like.

With a click, the lights dimmed and music began to play softly.

Ethan was in a suit, tall and upright, with a rare smile on his face.

He stood at the end of the aisle, looking affectionately at Summer, who was in a white wedding gown at the other end.

The atmosphere reached a crescendo as they stood facing each other on the stage.

The officiant read the vows aloud: "Ethan Shaw, whether in poverty or hardship... do you take Summer Sheng to be your wife?"

Listening to him say "I do" without hesitation, Clara watched him without blinking. Her heart was breaking into pieces, throbbing with pain, yet like a masochist, she refused to look away.

"Does anyone here object?" the host asked jokingly, and for a split second, Clara’s lips moved.

But she said nothing.

Just as Summer and Ethan’s mother had begged, she truly should let go—let Ethan have his certain happiness, even if it had nothing to do with her.

In the ensuing seconds of silence, Clara waited in agony for the final ceremony to proceed.

Suddenly, a voice broke the quiet tension.

"Captain Shaw! Major earthquake in the neighboring city. Emergency rescue mission!"

On stage, Ethan’s pupils contracted. He instinctively took a step toward the exit.

Summer grabbed his hand. "Ethan, the wedding..."

Anxiety surged within her. An indiscernible feeling told her that if he didn't stay today, everything would be over.

However, Ethan’s eyes were firm. He used some force to pry Summer’s hand away.

"I’m sorry, Summer. We’ll talk about the wedding when I get back."

A commotion broke out in the audience as everyone watched the groom’s retreating back.

Hearing the words "emergency mission," Clara also followed Ethan out of the banquet hall. Just as she stepped out, she received a dispatch call from the hospital.

"Clara, emergency mission. Because of your prior rescue experience, you’ve been assigned to the disaster relief in the neighboring city!"

Clara didn't refuse. She instinctively hurried out.

A familiar vehicle was parked in front of the hotel entrance. Ethan lowered the window, his gaze toward Clara cold and solemn.

"Clara Tang, surgeon from the Third Hospital, you are transferred to the 739 Rescue Team. Welcome back."

Chapter 8

The atmosphere in the car was nearly stagnant. Clara gripped her seatbelt nervously.

"This is a heavy mission. I hope Miss Tang can set aside her personal feelings and focus entirely on the disaster relief," Ethan said, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, but his words were clearly a warning.

Clara withdrew her gaze, suppressing the stinging in her nose. "I know," she replied solemnly.

When the country is in crisis, personal romance is a trivial matter.

The neighboring city was in shambles. They had to enter the epicenter on foot.

The D.C. rescue forces were the first group to go deep into the earthquake center after the military. Looking at the devastation before them, the group couldn't help but feel a sharp pain in their hearts.

The team moved quickly. Both Clara and Ethan threw themselves completely into the rescue work.

"We need medical staff here!" Ethan’s voice was as steady as ever.

Hearing him, Clara, who had just finished treating an injured victim, hurried forward with her medical kit. She nearly crawled on the ground, reaching into a narrow space to give glucose and medicine to a survivor trapped underneath.

"Syringe, tape..." Clara called out, and Ethan handed them to her with a wordless understanding, coordinating perfectly just as they had years ago.

Other team members supporting the structure nearby were stunned by the sight. Even Ethan himself froze for a second; his actions were clearly faster than his thoughts. Coordinating with her had become his instinct.

Clara didn't notice this at all.

Sensing the survivor was in a bad state, her expression turned serious. "The medication won't sustain him for long. He needs surgery! Please get him out as soon as possible."

With that, Clara turned and hurried to the next rescue point without looking back.

The woman was covered in mud, but her back was straight, and she didn't seem to care about her disheveled appearance.

In the deep darkness of the night, she looked like a beam of light.

For three whole days, the non-stop rescue work continued until a relief team arrived in the evening to take over the shift, giving them a chance to breathe.

"This patient needs close observation. Do not administer medication lightly..."

Clara was handing over her work to the new medical staff, her face filled with the exhaustion of heavy pressure.

Just then, someone lifted the tent flap.

Ethan poked his head in and called, "Clara Tang, come here for a moment."

Clara’s fingertips curled slightly, but she pretended to be calm, finished her instructions to the nurse, and walked out.

Outside the tent, the man stood against the light.

Clara intentionally looked away, speaking first. "What is it?"

Ethan pursed his lips. "The team said you haven't eaten. Why?"

"I’m not hungry. I don't want to eat," Clara replied quickly.

But Ethan stared her down, his voice turning cold. "Clara Tang, I told you not to bring personal emotions here. This is a rescue site."

"If you faint from exhaustion during a rescue, who will take the responsibility?!"

Ethan’s words were harsh. Clara, who was already physically exhausted, felt a surge of emotions as she stood there being lectured.

The heartache of facing death, the powerlessness of dealing with the injured, the physical pain of pushing her body to the limit, and the emotions she had been suppressing all came rushing up at once.

Clara’s eyes turned red instantly. "Ethan Shaw, eating and drinking less during a mission is my habit. I am a doctor; I know my own physical limits. You are the one who forgot!"

Clara’s pointed retort made Ethan’s body stiffen. He frowned deeply. "Clara Tang, I told you not to mention the past—"

Before he could finish, an aftershock struck. The entire ground began to shake.

Ethan instinctively grabbed Clara and pulled her into his protection.

The ten-second tremor left everyone shaken. Before Clara could pull out of Ethan’s embrace, a force suddenly grabbed her by the hair and yanked her backward.

In the next instant—slap!

A hard hand struck Clara across the face.

Chapter 9

Clara felt a surge of sharp pain, and her vision went black for a moment. She staggered a few steps before steadying herself.

The next thing she heard was Summer Sheng’s shrill accusation: "What are you two doing?"

Clara instinctively covered her face and looked up.

Ethan stood to the side, seemingly shocked as well. He frowned at Summer and said sternly, "Summer! Do you realize what you’ve done?"

Summer seemed to be triggered, becoming even more irrational. Her eyes were bloodshot. "The two of you are here hugging and holding each other—where does that leave me? Ethan Shaw, you swore to me that you would never contact her again!"

Hearing this, Ethan’s face immediately showed a hint of urgency.

"Summer, it's not what you think."

But Summer pulled her hand away from him.

Crystalline tears slid down her face. She gave Clara a hateful look, turned, and ran away.

Ethan instinctively moved to chase her. After a few steps, he remembered Clara, who had been left behind.

He paused, turned to look at her, and said stiffly, "I’m sorry."

Then he turned and left anyway.

Clara stood frozen on the spot. Her face still stung, but it was nothing compared to the hollow ache in her chest.

It turned out that someone who wasn't cherished would never be chosen.

Fine rain fell over the muddy ruins, and the chill grew heavier.

"Dr. Tang, the patient has a fever..." The nurse’s urgent call snapped Clara back to reality.

Clara numbly wiped away her tears, put on her mask, and ran toward the call.

She had no right to indulge in her own sorrow here; her duty and mission could not be compromised.

It wasn't until nightfall that Clara managed to get away from her busy medical tasks.

She had just returned to her simple rest tent when she found a familiar figure standing inside.

"What are you doing here?" Clara stopped in her tracks, refusing to move closer.

Summer’s eyes were slightly red, but she forced a smile. "Cece, I was impulsive when I hit you earlier. Ethan has already explained it to me. Please don't be angry; I didn't mean it..."

Clara felt utterly exhausted. She interrupted Summer’s endless chatter. "What exactly are you trying to say?"