Filed To Story: Finding the Secret Daddy for My Baby Novel
After the door closed, Josephine sat at Ethan’s desk and looked at the computer. The documents on the side had his signature on them. She gently picked up the pen he had used, holding it in her palm as tears uncontrollably streamed down her face. The quieter and more alone she was, the harder it was to let her fragility show.
The news of Ethan’s accident had been kept under wraps, and the outside world was still unaware of it. There would be a significant impact on the stock of the Quarles Group otherwise. Speculation from the public could cause the stock price to potentially plummet. Ethan was the sole heir of the Quarles Family. If something happened to him, the shareholders. of the Quarles Group might start having other thoughts.
Edward was also arranged to stay at the base overnight because the Arctic temperatures at night were unbearable for the human body, and precautions had to be taken to prevent hypothermia.
The rescue teams were ensuring safety and maintaining the temperature inside the mine. At this moment, six rescue teams had entered the mine, advancing through six different tunnels that potentially connected to Ethan’s location.
Ethan and his team had been trapped in the cave for over a hundred hours by now. As for their supplies, resources were not an issue as long as they were still alive.
However, the crucial outcome the rescue teams needed to determine was whether the people inside the cave were still alive. There would be hope for a successful rescue only if they were alive.
The six rescue teams kept close communication, reporting their positions and sharing any relevant information. Deep inside the cave, Ethan and his team were also trying to find a way toward the main mine tunnel, as their retreat had been blocked.
Instead of a natural one, Ethan suspected that the initial earthquake was caused by someone detonating explosives at the entrance behind them, which resulted in the entire cave shaking.
He recalled the unidentified signal King had reported to him about, but he didn’t want to add to his team’s anxiety at this moment. He instructed his team to only move forward and not backward to avoid encountering the mercenary group that might be behind them.
After analyzing the situation, Ethan deduced that the mercenaries had indeed intended to: seal off the entrance, burying them all inside the cave. However, they hadn’t anticipated that the explosion would trigger a massive avalanche, burying themselves as well under meters of snow, leaving them with no chance of survival.
On the other hand, although some members were injured by falling rocks, at least no lives were lost. With Ethan and his team’s retreat blocked, they had no choice but to proceed forward since they had entered the cave.
“Mr. Ethan, please take a look at this.” One of the bodyguards called out to Ethan. Hearing that, Ethan took a flashlight and approached the bodyguard who then asked him to reach his hand into a small hole. As Ethan reached out, he felt a cold gust of wind rushing out from the hole. His face lit up with joy in that instant. This indicated a ventilation opening. If they could clear this passage, they might be able to go deeper into the mine
“Please organize the manpower to dig this hole. It just needs to be wide enough for one person to pass through,” Ethan commanded. After three hours of effort, a hole wide enough for everyone to go through was finally opened. In the darkness, they could only see at bottomless cave. Ethan led the way, with his team following behind. At that moment, the confidence of the rescue team grew stronger. Ethan was like an alpha wolf, becoming everyone’s hope and reliance.
They didn’t know how far they had walked in the darkness when they encountered another obstacle. However, according to the distance measured by the engineers, they were no more than 100 yards away from the mine where the trapped employees were. It meant that they were highly likely to reunite with the trapped workers inside the cave.
“Trust me, everyone. I will lead you out of here, back to the surface, and reunite you with your loved ones. Each person will receive a reward of one hundred thousand. You must have faith.” Ethan’s voice echoed in the darkness like a ray of light, giving everyone hope.
With the will to survive and wealth to motivate them, their confidence was boosted, and everyone was even more determined to get out. At that moment, another team was heading toward Ethan. They, too, discovered various ventilated caves and carved out a passage, delving deeper into the other end.
In the darkness, the two groups kept getting closer and closer. Finally, one of the reconnaissance team members exclaimed with excitement, “Movement ahead! The instruments are showing significant fluctuations in sound waves.” “Could it be animals?”
‘No, it’s unlikely for animals to survive in these underground tunnels.” “Wait, the sound waves are regular. It’s human- generated sounds. It’s coming from the front, less than fifty yards away from us.”
“Quick, dig forward! The rescue team captain was overjoyed. They had finally found the missing team members. It was an unprecedented piece of good news.
Finally, at about ten yards from each other, the engineers on Ethan’s side also heard the sound. “Hush, everyone, listen. There’s sound ahead,” he demanded, Everyone fell silent, holding their breath and listening intently. True enough, they heard rhythmic tapping, a sort of signal.
“It’s Morse code! It’s us! We’re going to be rescued! exclaimed one of the engineers, filled with joy. Everyone relaxed at once, finally obtaining a glimmer of hope. In the darkness, Ethan’s. forehead was covered in a layer of sweat, but ultimately, he, too, breathed a sigh of relief.
With that, the engineers on this side responded with the same Morse code. The rescue team received the signal and erupted in joy. Finally, there was news, and it was a definite one. However, due to being deep inside the cave, they couldn’t relay the message. They could only concentrate all their efforts on the rescue.
The rescue team immediately gathered other members and started digging a pathway together. At this moment, among the team: members with Ethan, two engineers had been injured by falling rocks but had persisted until now. However, they were beginning to experience hypothermia due to the cold weather, and they needed rescue as soon as possible, as their lives were at stake.
Ethan comforted his team members while taking the digging tools from his subordinates and continued to dig forward. In front of them lay a completely obstructed pathway. Even though they were only a dozen meters away. from the rescue team on the other side, at significant amount of excavation work was still required.
After continuous efforts from both sides, finally, after six hours of excavation, they were able to communicate through a hole. “Are you injured, Mr. Quarles?”
“I’m fine, but three of my employees are. Please rescue them as soon as possible,” Ethan said anxiously, not losing focus
“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. It was Ethan! He appeared, supporting a bodyguard whose head and face were bleeding. He was covered in dirt, with bloodstains on his forehead. However, everyone heard a sound.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.