Chapter 2

Sarah POV

My mother was critically ill and being resuscitated?

Hearing that shocking news, my vision went black, and I had to hold on to the doorframe to steady myself.

But my transfer order had just been rejected, and leaving my post without permission would have serious consequences.

I was so anxious that I paced in circles, and with no other choice, I went to the phone booth again and dialed the number I knew by heart once more.

This time, Ethan himself answered the phone.

"Ethan!" I begged with a choked voice. "My mom is critically ill and being resuscitated. Please help me find a way, okay? Let me go back and see my mom..."

Back then, my parents had disagreed with my application to go far away to the western desert, but with Ethan's support, I had stubbornly gone ahead and broken their hearts.

At the time, I thought I was only going there for one short year and would not be separated from them for long.

Unexpectedly, once I came here, it lasted eight years.

For a full eight years, I could not go back to visit my parents.

If I could go back, I would apologize to Mom and Dad in person and stay by their side properly.

However, the other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds.

Then Ethan refused me in his usual calm tone. "I already know about your mother's condition. I'll help you contact the best doctors, so just stay there."

"No!" I said in a panicked rush. "Ethan, my mom isn't just sick. She's being resuscitated! This might be the last time I get to see her..."

"I know," Ethan interrupted me with a hint of displeasure. "But under the current circumstances, even if you come back, it won't help. The station needs you more."

My expression froze, as if I had heard something inside my chest shatter completely.

I never imagined that at the critical moment when my mother was critically ill and being resuscitated, he would still be so heartless.

Over the phone, Ethan said softly again, "Sarah, I want you to come back as soon as possible more than anyone. I'll definitely transfer you back next year. But the prerequisite is that you don't abandon your work without permission."

He wanted me to go back as soon as possible more than anyone?

It was as if I had heard the biggest joke in the world, because the person who least wanted me to go back was clearly him, wasn't it?

Next year, and next year again...

Over all these years, he had used eight next years to give me hope again and again, trapping me in this desert like I was a fool and spinning me in circles with his lies.

Now that things had come to this, did he think I would still believe in some so-called next year?

"Ethan," I said with my nerves stretched tight, hearing myself ask him in an unusually calm voice, "what exactly am I to you?"

After a brief silence, his slightly impatient voice came through. "Sarah, stop making trouble. Be good and follow the arrangements. After your transfer request is approved next year, I'll personally go there and bring you back."

I was just about to speak when I suddenly heard a childish voice. "Daddy, you promised to take Mommy and me to the aquarium. When are we leaving?"

"We're going now."

The busy tone sounded, and the call was hung up.

I stood frozen in place, endless cold sinking deep into my bones.

My mother was on the brink of life and death in the emergency room, and he would not even let me go back to see her for the last time, while he himself was going to accompany Mia and their child to the aquarium?

Was this the man I had loved for ten years? Was this my best friend?

Endless disappointment turned into blade after blade, piercing my heart over and over.

At that moment, I could not care about anything else, and a wild thought began to grow in my mind.

I could not just sit there and wait helplessly. I had to go back and see my mother one last time!

I turned and went to the station supervisor's office, placing an application form on his desk.

The station supervisor adjusted his glasses, looked it over, and stood up in shock.

"Application to join the international peacekeeping medical team? Sarah, are you kidding me? Do you know what kind of place that is? It's a conflict zone, the language is different, and there are infectious diseases! Once you go, it's at least two years, and..."

"Supervisor, I heard that team members who voluntarily sign up for the peacekeeping medical team get a half-month family visit leave before departure, and they also receive assistance with urgent family matters. Is that true?"

"Yes, that rule exists, but..."

"No buts." I raised my head, my eyes slightly red, but my gaze was resolute. "My mother is critically ill. This is the only way I can get back to see her as soon as possible. Please approve it."

The station supervisor knew about her relationship with Ethan and hesitated. "Then have you discussed this with Director Bennett?"

"My affairs," I said coldly and firmly, "have nothing to do with him from now on."

That afternoon, the approval document stamped with a red seal came down.

Along with it came a special emergency family visit leave slip and a bus ticket for the fastest route to the provincial train station.

That evening, she boarded the bus leaving the station.