Independence

Chapter 0118

“I love you the same way you pine for Miranda. You’re chasing a dream you can’t catch, and I’m here longing for you, knowing I’m not the one you’ll pick. If you’re asking what I want, it’s just to be near you,” Ingrid said, her voice soft, her eyes earnest and filled with a raw, humble truth.

Hansel felt a deep stir in his heart, like a “entle strum on a lonesome guitar string. “Don’t worry, I’ll look out fou from here on out. I

promise you won’t get hurt on my watch.”

Ingrid smiled, settling comfortably against his chest, her arm wrapping snugly around his waist. Her voice was smooth and sweet. “I know. I’ve always trusted that.”

Hansel pulled her closer, but a strange weight pressed down on his heart.

The mishap at the event was severe, and the hotel crew hurried to manage the fallout. Given it was a safety concern, the manager wasted no time in calling the police.

That evening, the police showed up to grill everyone involved. As expected, they didn’t turn up anything worthwhile, and ultimately, they had to write it off as an unfortunate mishap. After all, this was the tropics, and with the thick woods just beyond the hotel, seeing snakes wasn’t out of the ordinary.

“But venomous snakes aren’t exactly a dime a dozen around here, are they?” Winter asked sharply.

“Well…”

“And for one to turn up in a packed spot on the beach? Now, that’s mighty peculiar, don’t you think?”

+25 BONUS

The police shared uneasy glances while the hotel manager was speechless.

Winter scoffed. “This is the second time my friend’s been in danger on this island. I’m telling you–this isn’t the end of it! Mimi, let’s get out of here!”

She took Miranda’s hand and walked off with determination.

Once they were clear of the crowd, Miranda tried to soothe her. “Alright, drop it. It’s not worth getting riled up about.”

“You were almost hurt, and you’re this cool about it? Seems like I’m more worked up than you!”

Miranda cracked a slight smile. “Winning or losing isn’t settled in one

1. go.

“What’s that supposed to mean? You got some kind of plan?”

Miranda shook her head. “No.”

Winter was at a loss for words. “You’ve been dodging bullets left and right. Mimi, it’s got me worried. What if… something worse happens?”

“I’ve got a plan for that,” Miranda said.

“What’s that?” Winter blinked.

“Take a guess.”

Miranda and Winter had barely touched their food. After all the uproar and the fright they’d endured, their appetites were finally kicking in. They made a beeline for the restaurant and tucked into a robust meal.

Once they were done, Winter got a call. Grinning from ear to ear, she

headed out for a date.

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195N

Miranda didn’t go back to her room. Instead, she strolled north along the beach after leaving the restaurant

After about five minutes of walking, a line of brigh

inkling lights

appeared in the distance. A rich, savory smell drifted over from afar- almost like some garlic–roasted lamb

She wondered if the folks from Marvedis also enjoyed this sort of thing.

Drawn by the mouthwatering scent, Miranda ended up in front of a shop. She glanced up and saw “The Scented Treasure” emblazoned in bold Hebranian script above the entrance. She pondered if Hebranians ran the place.

Miranda pushed the door open, thinking she was entering a restaurant, but to her surprise, she found herself in an antique shop.

The owner of the shop was whipping up some garlic roasted lamb, which explained the delicious aroma. The place was cozy, with shelves along the walls. Only the shelf by the door held antiques. The others were filled with a mix of quirky and unusual trinkets,

Suddenly, a small, somewhat stern yet charming figurine grabbed Miranda’s attention. It was no larger than the palm of her hand, but the craftsmanship was outstanding. Every detail was finely crafted, from the wrinkles on its shirt to the delicate gold–rimmed glasses sitting on its nose.