Never Too Far Novel

“You guys move back a little. We’ll dig a rescue passage.”

After analyzing the situation, they discovered a boulder blocking their way, and forcefully breaking it could potentially cause a collapse. It was then that a rescue member announced some shocking news. “Their breathing is weak. We need to send them out, else they won’t make it. Also, we’re facing an issue, Mr. Quarles. There’s a rock ahead that can only be blasted open with a small explosive, but we’re concerned about the risk of collapse. If we use other methods, it may take us three more hours.”

Ethan contemplated the situation. With the lives of three individuals slipping away, he quickly decided, “No, three of my men are unconscious, and their lives are at stake right now.”

“But if we forcefully detonate the explosives, you will all be at risk, Mr. Quarles. We can’t take the risk, and your status—”

“Quit it with the status thing. Here, everyone’s life is equally important. There is no distinction of rank.” Ethan interjected.

“Alright.” The rescue team captain nodded after coming to himself. “I’ll select the best blasting position. Give me ten minutes.”

“Thank you,” said Ethan before stepping back to the side of his subordinates.

The blasting work began intensely, and everyone held their breath and listened to the work unfolding on the other side. They were eager to be rescued but also worried about encountering further danger.

One of the team members delivered this news to the communication team, and it quickly reached Edward, who let out a heavy sigh of relief after the call. His only son was still alive. It was the greatest blessing from above to him.

As for Josephine, she hadn’t received any news yet, for only a few people knew about this information. It was done to avoid disrupting the rescue operation and to protect the news.

After all, Ethan’s current predicament was likely orchestrated by someone with ill intentions. With the complex crowd of rescue personnel, controlling the spread of information was another way to protect Ethan.

In the dark cave, with a loud explosion, the previously obstructing rock could be heard breaking into heavy fragments, and a hole big enough for one person to pass through appeared.

“Quickly, carry the injured out,” Ethan immediately commanded his subordinates to transport the wounded first.

The rescue personnel on the other side were ready to receive them outside. Soon, the three injured individuals were brought out, followed by the departure of the staff one by one.

“Mr. Ethan, please leave!” one of Ethan’s bodyguards urged him to leave first, but Ethan looked at his frightened subordinates beside him. He didn’t leave immediately but stayed behind to calm them down.

“Go out one by one in an orderly manner. Don’t rush. We will all make it out safely,” Ethan reassured them.

One young engineer covered his face and burst into tears. The joy of being rescued and the fear suppressed within him overwhelmed his emotions.

“Mr. Ethan!” However, the bodyguards hoped Ethan would prioritize his own escape.

“Let them go first,” Ethan ordered firmly. His departure would only increase the employees’ fear.

Soon, more than twenty employees left one after another, and Ethan instructed his bodyguards to assist the employees who were weak in their legs. However, just as the last employee left, a loud rumbling sound could be heard, accompanied by a muffled groaning in the air, as if something couldn’t withstand the pressure.

“Mr. Ethan, hurry! This place is about to collapse,” the remaining two bodyguards exclaimed.

“Get out quickly. It’s collapsing!” The rescue team members also started to panic. They could clearly feel vibrations under their feet, indicating the possibility of a large-scale collapse.

Ethan crouched and crawled out of the hole. Just as his two bodyguards emerged, ready to leave, they heard a thunderous noise behind them.

“Run!” Ethan shouted, leading the bodyguards to sprint toward the exit.

Everything happened too quickly. The collapse behind them was like a devil that followed them closely. Just as Ethan ran out, he saw an employee, scared and supporting himself at the edge of the hole, panting. He had just been knocked down by the chaotic crowd. Now, hearing the rumbling behind him, he was terrified.

“Run!” Ethan grabbed him and pulled him forward, but the employee was too shocked to move his leaden legs.

Ethan had no choice but to lift him up and sprint ahead. His bodyguard also came to help. As if they were running away from death itself, Ethan and the bodyguard carried the engineer and dashed through the passage with intense falling rocks.

The main group ahead had already reached a stable area. The rescue team captain urged everyone to leave at once while he stayed behind to cover their retreat. When he looked back and saw the bodyguard carrying two people, he shouted, “Where is Mr. Quarles? Is he still inside?”

The entrance was still shaking, with debris constantly falling. If someone was inside, they would likely be buried alive.

“Mr. Ethan!” The four bodyguards put down the people they were carrying and ran toward the entrance.

“Come back!” The rescue team captain immediately stopped them. “Going in there would be suicide.”

“But Mr. Ethan and my comrades are still inside!” one bodyguard roared worriedly. At this moment, their sense of duty and their bond with their comrades pushed them to defy life and death.

Fortunately, the sound of footsteps came from inside the tunnel, and they saw someone rushing out amidst the falling rocks.

It was a bodyguard carrying a young man. Their heads were injured to varying degrees.

“Where is Mr. Ethan?”

“He’s behind. Deo is injured, and Mr. Ethan is supporting him!” The bloodied bodyguard with a broken head was still shaken.

The rescue team captain also caught his breath. He had been given the order to prioritize Ethan’s rescue. However, his target was still trapped inside the tunnel right then while everyone else had come out safely.

Just then, footsteps were heard again, and everyone’s hearts tightened.

were bleeding. He was covered in dirt, with bloodstains on his forehead. However, everyone heard

tunnel. Ethan had never felt despair in his

The tunnel completely collapsed behind them, with huge rocks

Ethan felt hopeless, several hands appeared to take over the bodyguard from his hands. But just as he reached out, a stone fell from above, and darkness enveloped his vision. He

Josephine, I’m

last thought

“Mr. Ethan…”

and several rescue vehicles were parked nearby, receiving the injured.

carrying a stretcher and rushing toward an ambulance. After opening the back door, the

could it be Mr. Quarles? Why is he

“Quick, save him.”

wound and cleaning the severe abrasions on Ethan’s body

came to an end as the vehicles headed toward the base. Everyone returned to the base, exhausted, and rested. The crisis

brought to the medical room when Edward received the news, and the latter

turned pale with fear,

so serious? Wasn’t he unharmed?” Edward turned to the bodyguards. Despite also being injured, they were more concerned

was injured while saving us. When we were escaping, he was hit by a stone and lost consciousness on the spot,” the bodyguard

staggered, and his vision blurred for a moment. He had a hard time accepting the

room was still lit. Under the operating lights, the wound at the back of Ethan’s head was being cleaned and stitched up. His hair was shaved off, and his

until late at night out of worry, was awakened by the light outside the window. She checked the time. Seeing it was 6.30AM, she quickly got up, changed her clothes, and came out. She felt a sense of urgency in

back. Everyone is over

has returned. That means the rescued people have also

toward the floor where the medical room was located. However, along the way, she noticed many people wearing grave expressions, making her heart skip a beat. Just as she rushed out of the elevator, she saw Jacques walking to the

called to

he saw how anxious Josephine looked, he quickly reassured her, saying,

spun, caught off guard by Jacques’ words. She grabbed him and asked,

hit on the head by a rock. He’s currently in the operating room

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. Ethan had returned,

were gathered in the medical room for treatment. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, so

saw Jacques entering with a young girl, his gaze softened with

the language was superb and easy

Edward’s voice. She greeted him, saying, “Hello, Mr. Quarles. Has

a moment ago. Ethan’s vital signs are stable, but he is still unconscious. Don’t worry

from his wife that this girl was the love of Ethan’s life and was

unusual silence. Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the two sky-blue doors, eagerly

finally opened. An assistant doctor and nurse wheeled a stretcher out, and there lay Ethan quietly on it. His shaved

beads of a broken string. She covered her mouth to keep her sobs from

engaged in a serious conversation with Edward, who listened attentively, and only then did Josephine approach the bedside. She looked at the man in front of her. He appeared to be sleeping,

she called out to

reached out to hold his hand that

take the patient to the ICU,” the nurse said to Josephine

away. Josephine broke free from Jacques’ grasp. Her mind was blank, and all she wanted to do was follow

As the door closed in front of her, she moved to the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the nurses work, observing as Ethan was put on a ventilator and had needles inserted into his arm for IV fluids. Her heart ached so painfully that it was suffocating

at his unconscious son lying on the hospital

not affected the central region of his brain, which meant it wouldn’t impact his intelligence. However, it was highly likely that it had damaged the

Jacobson. Ethan will be

something to eat, Miss Jacobson?” Jacques kindly

she could see Ethan. She watched the nurses perform various examinations on him,

time Jacques returned from his rest. When he stepped out of the elevator, he found Josephine sitting there like

snack with him and handed it to her, feeling bad for the woman. “Please eat something, Miss Jacobson. Mr. Ethan will scold me if he wakes up

really hope he wakes up soon.” Josephine felt as if she had been living in a dream these past

blink of an eye. The rescue team had departed, and the Quarles were preparing to take Ethan back to the family hospital for

as Josephine wished to see him, she could only spend a brief ten minutes with

arrived at the Quarles Residence, and Ethan was immediately taken to the ICU

and swollen eyes. Her heart was shattered, and when she saw Josephine, she went up and hugged the young

deeply moved by Josephine’s affection for her son. She saw Josephine’s sacrifices and dedication, even braving the harsh

want Ethan to wake up. It would make everything

patted her and took the tissue from her assistant before handing it to Josephine. “You’re exhausted too.

I want to

and finds you collapsed? What would we do

plane, Miss Jacobson, and have been drinking

and urged the young woman at once, “No more staying up, Josephine. I

That’s right, his family is here! They have the best

to rest while Donna approached the ward and noticed her husband standing there, exhausted. She hugged

be fine.” Donna nodded

update them on her situation. She continued to lie to them, saying she was on a trip, and she sent them the photos Ethan had taken

young!” Heidi sounded happy for her on

go get some rest.” Josephine couldn’t

Have fun and take good care of

up the phone, Josephine looked at the photos she had sent to her mother. One of them was a selfie taken by Ethan. He had a radiant smile,

so fragile. She wanted to be strong, but she couldn’t. She missed him

However, without the assistance of medication, she truly