Chapter 125
Charlotte smiled. “I’ve climbed steeper and tougher mountains than this. I finished all the Five Great Peaks ages ago. North Ridge? Piece of cake.”
Sean looked at her with a soft smile, his eyes full of pride and affection. “My Lottie’s amazing.”
She tilted her chin with a playful little smirk. “Obviously.”
Sean knew all this. Zac, on the other hand, didn’t.
Back when Charlotte was dating Zac, she had suggested hiking together more than once. But Zac either said he was too busy or that hiking was just too tiring. He never really took the time to understand what she liked or to do the things she loved with her.
After walking a while, Zac suddenly stopped at the side of the trail to let others pass. When Sean and Charlotte came by, Zac stretched out a hand toward her.
“Lottie, tired?”
Charlotte gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Not at all.”
Sean gave their tightly clasped hands a little swing. “No need to trouble yourself.”
Zac’s gaze dropped to their hands.
Charlotte’s tone turned sharp. “Step aside. You’re blocking the trail.”
Zac planted himself right in the middle of the trail, clearly not planning to move.
Sean raised an eyebrow and gave him a casual, mocking smile. “What, wanna get a closer look while we hold hands and flirt? Sure. We’ll lead the way, and you can
follow behind and enjoy the view.”
With that, he gave Zac a firm push aside and added with a grin, “Make sure you get our good angles. Take a few pics while you’re at it.”
Zac just stood there, completely stunned.
A short while later, Vivian who clearly wasn’t used to hiking, started whining after just thirty minutes. She slipped off her barely–filled backpack and waited until Sean was near, then thrust it toward him.
“Sean, I’m so tired. This bag’s too heavy. Can you carry it for me?”
Sean tapped the strap of his own pack, his voice flat. “Can’t. I’ve already got one.”
Vivian pouted, dialing up the sweetness. “But I’m seriously exhausted. Just help me for a little bit, okay?”
“Sure,” Sean replied.
Vivian’s face instantly brightened, her lips curling into a pleased smile.
Then he pulled out his phone.
“I’ll call someone to come take you back down. No point pushing yourself if you’re that tired.‘
Vivian’s smile froze mid–bloom. “Wait! You’re sending me back?”
Sean didn’t even look up. “You just said you couldn’t keep going, didn’t you?”
Panicked, Vivian rushed to stop him. “No, no, it’s fine! I rested a bit. I’m good now.”
She slung her bag back over her shoulders in a hurry. “Seriously, I’m fine. Don’t call.”
Sean calmly put his phone away. “Then let’s keep moving.”
Beside him, Charlotte raised an eyebrow and smirked.
She slipped her hand through lus arm and said sweetly, “Let’s go, Sean.”
Vivian and Zac were rendered speechless.
Sean was clearly loving it. The way Charlotte called his name sent a warm rush through him, and he couldn’t stop the smile tugging at his lips.
Soon after, they reached a small stream
Sean held Charlotte’s hand and helped her step across the stones. “Watch your step.”
The final gap between the rock and the far bank was wide enough to make most of the guls hesitate, so they had been helped across one by one.
Charlotte leaned on Sean and made it across easily.
Then suddenly, an unsteady cry from behind
They turned to see Vivian wobbling in the middle of the stream, pale and stuck on a stone.
Chapter 125
“Sean,” she called, “I can’t make it across. Can you come help me?”
