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.

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

he turned to her. "Come here. I need to clean and bandage

wasn't one to make a fuss. The pain had subsided somewhat, so she

brush off small injuries. A lot of big

reluctantly sat on the edge

expected Jason to wait for her, and she felt suddenly self-conscious about her bare legs in her

hand while cleaning, treating, and bandaging the wound with the other.

the first

tell he

think I did something foolish today,

Jason nodded solemnly. "Yes."

Lacey was momentarily speechless.

worth risking your life for,"

studied his handsome profile and asked softly, "Am I important

a long moment before finally raising

response made all the sacrifices she had made

you, why not make it official? She's one in a million,"

in the doorway, though

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

Jason. Under their hopeful gazes, his previously clear eyes clouded with

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be home soon. I

muttering, David hurried

held onto the doorframe, watching

stood dejectedly in the middle of the room. Hiding

dish and that you love

Not all his memories were happy ones. Remembering everything might only

the temperature dropped

suddenly, powerful enough to blow

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

Shortly after falling asleep,

storm, rocking dangerously. When she woke, she realized the

was happening, she threw off her covers and rushed out,

they both dashed to David's room, roused the sleeping man, and quickly helped him downstairs, out of the yard, and

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

injured, and Jason immediately went to examine them, his doctor's instincts

night had been shattered by the

suddenly remembered something and tried to run

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,

the yard, tears streaming

wanted to retrieve

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

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