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.

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

the door open, he turned to her. "Come here. I need to

to make a fuss. The pain had subsided somewhat, so she smiled and said, "It's

seriousness. "Don't brush off small injuries. A lot of big issues

his earnest expression, Lacey reluctantly sat

she felt suddenly self-conscious about her bare legs in her nightgown as

treating, and bandaging the wound with the other. Throughout the process, his focus remained

the first aid

Lacey could tell he had

thoughts. "You think

Jason nodded solemnly. "Yes."

Lacey was momentarily speechless.

photograph isn't worth risking

studied his handsome profile and asked softly, "Am

long moment before finally raising his

eyes. Jason's response made

that much to you, why not make it official? She's one in a million," came a sudden voice that made both Jason and Lacey

in the doorway, though

jumped up and limped over to him, gripping his arm excitedly. "Are you better?

at her, then at Jason. Under their hopeful gazes, his previously

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

hurried toward

watching his retreating

who stood dejectedly in the middle of the

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

ruefully. "Perhaps forgetting isn't such a bad thing. Not all his memories were happy ones. Remembering

days later, the temperature dropped

enough to blow a

darkening sky that threatened rain, Lacey hurried to close all the doors and windows

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

violent storm, rocking dangerously. When she woke, she realized the rocking wasn't a dream-her bed was shaking, the ceiling lamp was

happening, she threw off her covers and rushed out, not even

emerging from his room at the same moment. Their eyes met briefly before they both dashed to David's room, roused the sleeping man, and quickly helped him downstairs, out of the yard, and onto the

to the street-hair disheveled, hastily pulling on clothes, some shouting, others crying or

injured, and Jason immediately went to examine

peaceful rural night had been shattered

David suddenly remembered something and tried to run back toward the house, calling Wendy's

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 likely, returning was out of the

out toward the yard, tears streaming down his

understood he wanted to

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to David and made her decision." Please stay

ran toward the yard, and just as she entered, she heard Jason calling her name from