Independence

Cene 0117

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The doctor had just applied some olement. Try to bear with it.”

Sudhary, Himmats and wandered back to college. He remembered Miranda during the fitness www.

She had wasted her wrkle at the started the run but was determined to firash the entire 24/7) feet. By the end, her ankle was so swollen that it

was barely recognizable

Hansel took her to the hospital, where the doctor scolded her for being reckless and nearly damaging her bone. Despite the harsh words, Miranda didn’t make a sound, though her eyes were slightly red.

Hansel called her foolish for not stopping when she got hurt.

But Miranda shot back, “I wouldn’t have graduated if I failed, so I just pushed through it. Besides, I’m already hurting a lot. Why are you still lecturing me?”

“Dear?” Noticing Hansel’s long silence, Ingrid propped herself up and shook his arm. “What’s on your mind?”

“What did you say?” Hansel snapped out of his reverie and glanced

down at her.

“I’ve heard that even the best treatments might not fully prevent scarring. Will my leg look unsightly from now on?”

The thought of having two fang marks on her leg was driving her up the

wall.

Maybe because Ingrid had saved him, Hansel was unusually calm

about it this time. “How could that be? You’ve got to trust in modern medicine. And even if you end up with a scar, there’s always plastic

surgery-

Before he could finish, Ingrid suddenly hugged him, her voice muffled against his chest. “Will you still find me beautiful if I end up with a scar?”

Hansel was taken aback and at a loss for words.

She added with a tender, affectionate tone, “Even if you ever stop finding me beautiful, I’ll never leave you. I love you, and I’ll stay by your side, always and forever.”

A fleeting emotion crossed Hansel’s eyes. He gently ran his fingers

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+25 BONUS

through her long hair, but words eluded him.

After a long pause, he finally said, “Thanks. I would have been bitten by that snake if it weren’t for you. Just let me know what you need, and I’ll do everything I can to make it happen.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” Ingrid said, tilting her he up in his arms. Her eyes were full of sincerity as he looked at him. It was as if he were her whole world.

“I did it because I wanted to,” she continued. “I know you still have feelings for Miranda, and that’s okay. I don’t mind. I believe that one day, you’ll love me with all your heart. You’ll protect Miranda, and I’ll be here to protect you.”