Chapter 3
Unfortunately, his wish was not destined to come true. The three of them, who grew up with me as childhood sweethearts, did not want to marry me at all now. Just as I was plunged into memories, a message suddenly popped up on my cell phone. [Emergency notice: According to the provincial meteorological station, the city will have heavy rainfall to extra heavy rainfall tonight. Citizens are advised to avoid forested mountains, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other dangerous areas.] My heart jumped to my throat. Dolomites Mountain was located on the eastern outskirts of the city. The mountain was treacherous. The viewing platform to see the sunrise was halfway up the mountain. If once the flash flood breaks out, no one can escape. I hurriedly called the Innsbruck Rescue Team. The captain was my friend. He promised to immediately set off to the rescue. He also told me to keep contacting Scholastic and the other two and not to give up. I called until my cell phone was burning hot. But Scholastica and the other two still did not turn on their phones. Thunderclouds rolled in the sky outside the window. I was really worried. I looked back at my father who was wearing an oxygen mask on the bed and resolutely left the hospital. On the way to Dolomites Mountain, the rainstorm suddenly poured, hitting the front glass and snapping. Warning signs flashed from time to time along the way, reminding me of the dangers of rainy days, but I turned a blind eye. I didn’t know how long it took, but I finally arrived at Dolomites Mountain. The Innsbruck Rescue Team was already planning a rescue route. I insisted on joining the rescue team despite the captain’s obstruction. As a young master who grew up with no worries about food and clothing, my physical strength was far less than that of the members of the rescue team, but I still gritted my teeth and pushed on. The rain was getting heavier and heavier. But unfortunately, there was no flash flood for the time being. After tossing and turning all night, the rain finally stopped. I fell and hurt my arms and legs. Several team members also suffered different degrees of injuries. The whole rescue team was almost exhausted, but we didn’t even see a sign of Scholastica or the others. The captain contacted more rescue teams and even called in a helicopter to help. Just then, my cell phone suddenly rang. I took it out and saw that it was Scholastica calling. I hurriedly answered it. A familiar soft and cold voice came from the microphone, “Lorenzo, have you had enough of the trouble?” “You turned off your phone for one night and there were dozens of missed calls. What do you want?” I was stunned like a stone man. Meanwhile, Gedeon’s playful laughter came from the side. “Scholastica, I’ve changed into my swimsuit. Let’s go down to the hot springs. Don’t worry about that stingy Lorenzo.” “Okay.” Scholastica impatiently said, “I told you we are going to the hospital today. Don’t call us again to annoy us. That’s it.” After the phone hung up, my tightly wound heart finally shattered into countless dust particles. The captain asked me with a face full of tension, “What’s going on? Is it them?” I nodded and turned my head to look at the fish-belly white colour rising in the sky and suddenly laughed. That laugh was like a dull knife, bitter and stiff. *** Limping back to the hospital, I ran to meet the old butler. As soon as he saw me, he complained, “Mr. Lorenzo, you know that your father is seriously ill. Why did you still go out?” Seeing the tear tracks at the corner of his eyes, my heart thumped. Hurriedly, I pushed open the ward door just in time to see the nurse putting a white cloth over my father’s face. “Dad!” I jumped on the bedside and cried loudly. When the old butler wanted to ask again, the rescue team member who came with me to the hospital to heal my wounds hurriedly explained everything. After hearing this, the old butler’s face was gloomy and anger was burning in his eyes. But in the end, he didn’t get angry. He let out a long sigh and patted my shoulder. “Mr. Lorenzo, I’m sorry for your loss.” “Before he passed, your father kept calling out the names of you, Scholastica and the others. No matter what, they were all raised by him.”