Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 303 Earthquake

With the impact, Lacey felt as if she'd been knocked senseless.

Seeing the photograph wedged between the rocks about to be swept away by the current, she disregarded her own safety. Struggling to her feet, she lunged forward and clutched the photo in her hand.

The icy river water crashed against her body as she attempted to make her way to shore. The cold had nearly numbed her entire body, and the injury to her foot made it impossible to stand. She stumbled, swallowing several mouthfuls of water.

Just then, she heard a splash.

Turning toward the sound, she saw Jason wading through the water toward her.

He reached her side and pulled her up, but when her foot touched the ground, pain shot through her, making her wince.

"What happened to your foot?" Jason asked.

"I think I stepped on some glass," Lacey replied, still gripping the photograph tightly.

Without hesitation, Jason scooped her into his arms and carried her to shore, setting her down gently on a rock. He examined her foot and discovered a shard of glass deeply embedded in it. His brow furrowed with concern.

Ignoring her own injury, Lacey carefully handed the now-soaked photograph to David. "I got it back," she said softly.

David took it, wiping the water off with his sleeve. Suddenly remembering, he glanced at Lacey's foot. "Are you alright?"

Despite being completely drenched, her hair plastered to her face, Lacey shook her head and forced a smile. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

Before she could say anything more, Jason warned, "This might hurt," and swiftly removed the glass shard from her foot.

She stared at the bloodstained piece of glass in Jason's hand, her face pale from pain.

Without another word, Jason lifted her into his arms again and carried her all the way home.

David, now understanding the severity of the situation, followed quietly, his eyes fixed AT RYOUSTY VTTLacey' s'ihteenting, fort

"Your foot is bleeding," he said worriedly.

Though in considerable pain, Lacey didn't want him to feel guilty. She managed a

strained smile. "Please don't worry. It's just a small cut. I'll be fine."

Back in the house, Jason eyed her soaked clothing with concern. "You need to change before you catch a cold."

Despite his words, he made no move to put her down.

Inexplicably, Lacey felt her face flush.

She quickly jumped from his arms, balancing on one foot while steadying herself against a chair. "I'll go take a shower and change. Your clothes are wet too-you should change as well," she said awkwardly.

Jason watched as she hastily grabbed some clothes and hobbled into the bathroom, keeping her injured foot barely touching the ground.

At that moment, Lacey was grateful she had injured only one foot.

she emerged to find Jason sitting by her bed with a first aid kit on

he turned to her. "Come here. I need

fuss. The pain had subsided somewhat, so she smiled and said, "It's nothing, really.

off small injuries. A lot of

expression, Lacey reluctantly sat on the edge

for her, and she felt suddenly self-conscious about her bare legs in

one hand while cleaning, treating, and bandaging the wound with

packed away the first aid kit but didn't

could tell he had something to

his thoughts. "You think I did something

Jason nodded solemnly. "Yes."

Lacey was momentarily speechless.

worth risking your life for,"

studied his handsome profile and asked softly, "Am

still for a long moment before finally raising

prick her eyes. Jason's response made all the sacrifices she had made

not make it official? She's one in a million," came a sudden voice that made

David standing in the doorway, though neither knew how long he'd been

to him, gripping

looked at her, then at Jason. Under their

friendly reminder that if you're not reading this book on nel5s.com, you might be missing out on the complete story. Head over

should prepare dinner," he murmured. "Wendy will be home soon. I need to

David hurried toward

held onto the doorframe, watching

who stood dejectedly in the

though he hasn't fully recovered, he remembers Wendy's favorite dish and that you love

"Perhaps forgetting isn't such a bad thing. Not all his memories were happy ones. Remembering everything might only bring him more

days later, the temperature

enough to blow a neighbor's bedsheet clean off their

wind and the darkening sky that threatened rain, Lacey hurried to close

went to bed early that night. Shortly after falling asleep, Lacey was jolted

she woke, she realized the rocking wasn't a dream-her bed was shaking, the ceiling lamp was swinging wildly, and cups were sliding across the table. An

threw off her covers and rushed out, not even taking time to

eyes met briefly before they both dashed to David's room, roused

one, neighbors came running to the street-hair disheveled, hastily pulling on clothes, some shouting, others crying

went

rural night had

suddenly remembered something and tried to run

firmly. "We can't go back inside. It's too dangerous." Everyone had felt how strong the earthquake was. Reports were already circulating that several old houses in the village had collapsed, with people trapped inside. Jason's grandfather's house was quite old, and they were lucky to have escaped safely. With aftershocks

yard, tears streaming down his face, his distress

understood he wanted to retrieve

you might be missing

her decision." Please stay here and don't move. I'll get

she entered, she heard Jason calling her