Ethan stepped out of the Head Ace's office, a file tucked under his arm. Spotting Sergeant Harris nearby, he approached him.
"Where's Officer Becky?I needed to give her this file and discuss a few important matters."
"She's at the training ground with the cadets," Sergeant Harris replied.
Ethan nodded and hurried in that direction.
Forty minutes had passed since all the cadets had left the tubs, and worry etched every line on Ellena's face. She could no longer stay put.
"I'm going to talk to Officer Becky," she said, determination tightening her voice.
She had barely taken a few steps when a voice cut through the air.
"Officer Becky—"
Ethan's voice.
He was walking toward Becky, but the moment his eyes fell on Bella—still, upright, submerged in freezing water—his steps faltered. His jaw tightened in disbelief. Without hesitation, he broke into a run toward her.
"When did this training session start?" he demanded as he reached Becky.
"Forty minutes ago," Becky replied, her tone casual.
"What was the target time?"
"Forty minutes maximum," she said lightly.
Ethan's gaze snapped to Becky
Becky's thin smile carried sarcasm. "Her maximum endurance is one hour."
Ethan's face drained of color. "Are you insane?"
He didn't wait for an answer. Sprinting forward, he knelt beside Bella.
"Bella!" He grasped her shoulders gently, shaking her slightly.
Her eyelids fluttered open, but her gaze was unfocused, glazed with confusion. Her lips were blue, her body trembling violently, frozen to the core.
Ellena and the others rushed to his side. Harry thrust a towel into Ethan's hands, and he wrapped it around Bella before lifting her from the tub. Water soaked his clothes instantly, but he didn't notice. He carried her to the bench, settling her against his chest, cradling her for warmth.
"Bella… Bella," he murmured, lightly tapping her cheeks, trying to pull her back to awareness.
She remained semi-conscious, barely responding. Ethan rubbed her hands urgently while Ellena and Harry worked on her feet, desperately trying to restore circulation.
Not wasting another second, Ethan swept Bella into a full bridal carry to take her into his office.
Ellena sprinted toward the cadet residential building to fetch a change of clothes.
Around the training ground, cadets and officers stared—some in shock, others in disbelief—but Ethan didn't care. Every ounce of his focus was on the freezing girl in his arms.
Behind him, Officer Becky's eyes burned with a growing, silent anger.
In his office, Ethan carefully laid Bella down on the couch, lifting her head to slide a cushion beneath it. He pulled the blanket draped over the side and tucked it around her trembling body. Crossing the room, he switched the air conditioner to warm mode, waiting as a soft, comforting heat began to fill the space.
Yet even as the warmth spread, Bella's hands remained ice-cold. Ethan rubbed them patiently, trying to coax back color and feeling.
After a few minutes, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Ethan called.
Ellena, Harry, Derek, and Norah stepped inside. Ellena carried a bundle of clothes. Ethan leaned closer to Bella, giving her a gentle nudge.
"Bella… you need to change," he said softly.
She gave a weak nod.
Ethan turned toward Ellena and Norah. "Cadet Ellena, Cadet Norah—help her," he instructed. Without another word, he stepped out of the office with Harry and Derek, giving Bella privacy.
The three waited silently in the hallway, the tension thick and unbroken. A few minutes later, Ellena emerged, holding Bella's wet clothes.
"Officer Ethan, you may go in now," she said.
Ethan nodded and reentered the office.
Norah sat beside Bella, still rubbing her hands, doing her best to coax warmth back into them. Bella now wore dry, warm clothes, but exhaustion lingered in her eyes, a heavy, weighty fatigue that made her slump slightly against the couch.
Harry soon entered, carrying a cup of steaming milk. "They gave this outside for you, Officer Ethan," he said.
Ethan took the cup with a nod and moved to sit beside Bella. "Bella… are you alright?"
She gave a faint, fragile nod.
"This is hot milk. Drink it." He held it carefully to her lips. She shook her head weakly.
Ethan's eyes narrowed, a mix of frustration and concern. "Why are you so stubborn?" he muttered, then gently brought the cup to her lips again. "Drink."
This time, Bella obeyed silently, sipping the milk.
At the doorway, Norah, Harry, Derek, and Ellena exchanged stunned glances. They had never seen Officer Ethan like this—gentle, worried, protective. Without a word, they quietly slipped out of the office, leaving the two alone.