Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

That night, no one in Greenfield Village slept.

After the major earthquake, rescue teams and supplies quickly arrived from surrounding areas. Greenfield Village had suffered extensively-many old houses had collapsed, landslides blocked roads near the mountains, and the once-clear river now ran red with mud.

The peaceful village had transformed into a scene of devastation. No one knew how many lives lay buried beneath the rubble.

When the house collapsed, Lacey was struck and knocked unconscious. When she finally opened her eyes, her eyelashes felt heavy with dust, and she couldn't move at all.

Remembering Jason, she frantically looked around, but could see nothing in the pitch darkness surrounding her.

"Jason," she called out, her voice hoarse from either weakness or fear.

"Jason!" she called again, her voice trembling now.

"I'm here!" came Jason's faint reply from somewhere in the darkness.

She strained her eyes toward the sound. His voice was weak, and though worried about him, she could see nothing. She reached out blindly, her hands searching. "Are you hurt?" she asked.

A large hand grasped hers in the darkness.

"I'm okay. How about you?"

"I'm fine too."

In truth, Lacey was far from fine. Her legs were pinned under a concrete slab, and she had no idea if she would ever walk again.

Unable to see each other, they clung to their joined hands, the only tangible proof of each other's existence. They had no way of knowing if it was day or night outside, or whether anyone would come to rescue them. Death felt just a breath away.

"I'm sorry," Lacey whispered. "I should have listened to you. I was foolish to think the aftershock wouldn't come so quickly, or that the house would withstand it. Now we're trapped, and it's my fault for dragging you into this."

After a moment, Jason sighed softly and tightened his grip on her hand. "It's not your fault."

Lacey's lips curved in a bitter smile. "Natural disasters like earthquakes are merciless. They don't care who you are they destroy everything in their path. That's how my dad died, you know."noveldrama

"I've always been terrified of earthquakes. They're so merciless-they don't care if you're good or bad. They just take lives without warning. That's how Benjamin died, you know."

"Save your strength," Jason cautioned. "Someone will come for us."

Tears welled in Lacey's eyes. "I just want to talk while I still can. I'm afraid we might not have another chance."

"We will," Jason insisted.

"Do you think it's day or night right now?" Lacey asked.

After a pause, Jason replied, "Probably night. If it were daytime, some light would filter through, no matter how deep we're buried."

"So we haven't been trapped that long?"

"That's why you need to keep hoping. Don't give up."

When morning came, faint light seeped through the cracks between stones-just

enough for them to see each other. They were both filthy and disheveled.

When the concrete slab had fallen, Lacey had pushed Jason aside. He had landed in a triangular pocket of safety, while she was pinned beneath the concrete.

Lacey had been quiet for some time, feeling numb as her strength ebbed away.

Jason cleared away some rubble to move closer to her. Seeing her legs trapped and her lips blue with cold, he removed his jacket and draped it over her. "Hold on, Lacey."

After a night on the freezing floor, Lacey had developed a chill, her voice raspy. "I'm okay. I'll keep hoping, just like you said."

But the day darkened and brightened again with no sign of rescuers.

After two days without water, Lacey's lips were cracked and dry.

It felt as if winter had arrived early-it was so cold.

Jason lay beside her, holding her close, sharing his body heat.

"Don't give up. The disaster area must be huge, with too many collapsed buildings. Rescuers are coming-we just need to wait," he said.

Lacey rested against his shoulder, barely able to lift her eyelids. "I won't give up."

As time dragged on and darkness fell again, hope seemed increasingly distant.

Now Lacey understood why Jason had emphasized conserving strength. They had barely spoken for hours, just waiting in silence.

In the darkness, unable to hear him, she grew anxious. Slowly, she raised her hand to touch his face.

"Are you okay?" she whispered, her voice threadlike.

Jason took her hand in his. "I'm fine."

But Lacey was struggling to hold on. She boldly wrapped her arms around his waist, clinging to him.

Treating this moment as if it might be their last, she couldn't bear to let him go.

"If only we had a bottle of water... just one bottle, and we could hold on for a few more

days."

Jason heard her exhaustion, her desperation, her reluctance to leave him.

He wanted to answer, but his throat constricted.

He knew she shouldn't have had to endure this-all of it had come through him. Now they were both trapped, and as a man, he desperately wanted to spare her this suffering, but found himself utterly powerless.

So Jason bent down, cradled Lacey's face, and kissed her lips.

Lacey's eyes widened slowly, as if in an unreal dream.

But his lips moistened hers, the softness undeniably real.

She gave in to the moment, even though she knew the kiss wasn't romantic-Jason was just trying to moisten her dry lips.

Despite this knowledge, she couldn't help but lose herself in this moment of intimacy. Both were nearly spent. Though they spoke of not giving up, despair rose like a tide, gradually submerging them.

As the kiss ended, Jason held her face, brushing away sand and smoothing her hair. "I'm sorry I brought you to Greenfield Village."

Enjoying the book? Don't forget to visit nov L5s.com for the full experience. You won't find the next chapter anywhere else. Happy reading!

His remorse was genuine remorse for all the physical and emotional hardship he'd caused her.

She had always given silently to him, though he had rarely noticed. Now, he could no longer ignore her presence.

"I love you," Lacey said, her voice hoarse but heartfelt.

Jason held her close and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry. If we make it out alive, I'll marry you."

Tears immediately spilled down Lacey's cheeks as she felt the sincerity in his words.

Once, she had almost married him.

Jason felt the wetness on her face in the darkness and gently wiped it away. "Don't cry. We're already dehydrated."

But Lacey couldn't stop her tears.

"Why are you crying? Aren't you happy?" he asked.

Lacey shook her head, overwhelmed with sadness. "I am happy, but this moment came too late. I think I'm crippled now."

Jason held her close, and after a moment, declared firmly, "Then I'll carry you into the church on my back."

Lacey pressed her face against Jason's chest, clutching his shirt, tears flowing freely.

It was perhaps the most beautiful thing anyone had ever said to her.

"But I don't think we'll get that chance," she whispered.

Jason didn't respond, just held her tightly, sharing what might be their final moments

of warmth.

As dawn approached, they finally heard movement outside.

The rescuers had come at last.

But Lacey could barely keep her eyes open.

"Stay awake. We're saved," Jason urged, trying to keep her conscious.

"That's wonderful," Lacey murmured weakly, her eyelids impossibly heavy.

As the slabs above them were removed one by one, light flooded in.

Lacey kept her eyes closed, but tears streamed down her face.

She knew they were truly saved.

Even as they were carried out, Lacey still clutched the photograph tightly.

David rushed over, looking frantically between Jason and Lacey.

Lacey forced her eyes open and handed him the photograph. "I finally returned Wendy

to you."

David took the photo and burst into tears. "Hang in there!"

Enjoying the book? Don't forget to visit novi L5s.com for the full experience. You won't

find the next chapter anywhere else. Happy reading!

Lacey gazed at the bright blue sky and, as she lost consciousness, smiled with contentment.

Lacey's injuries were severe, and she was rushed to a hospital in Greenfield Village. Fortunately, the roads had been cleared, allowing for quick transport.

Lacey slept a long, restless sleep, caught between dreams and waking, unable to distinguish between the two.

When she finally regained consciousness a day later, she saw Jason sitting beside her

bed, clean and well-dressed, holding her hand as if he had been waiting for her to wake up.

Uncertain of her condition, wanting to know yet afraid to learn the truth, she stared at Jason, her eyes revealing everything she couldn't say.

Seeing her awake, Jason smiled with relief and adjusted her blankets.

"I meant what I said. If you lost your legs, I would carry you into the church."

Hearing his words, Lacey's heart sank.

She had anticipated this possibility and tried to prepare herself, wanting to smile bravely to ease his guilt and concern, but found she couldn't.

Jason smiled at her and slowly finished what he had begun to say: "But it looks like I

won't get that chance you'll have to walk in yourself."

Lacey stared at him, dumbfounded.

Jason explained with a smile, "Your legs are fine. Your biggest problem was starvation.

I've made you something to eat."

He raised the head of her bed and opened a container, spooning soup for her.

Lacey gazed at him, his handsome face blurring through her tears.

She ate and wept while Jason fed her and wiped her tears.

He told her that once she was discharged, he would cook many delicious meals for her.

She asked how long he would cook for her, and he answered: for a lifetime.

It was often said that the hardships one endured were God's way of testing them, and

those who persevered would be rewarded.

After the earthquake, David truly remembered Jason and everything from the past.

If the earthquake was a test, then David's recovery and Jason's lifetime promise were surely God's rewards for Lacey.

While cooking, Jason thought of Emily-the girl who used to sit behind him with

swinging feet, the kind-hearted girl who cried easily, the fragile yet strong Emily, so unfortunate yet blessed by heaven...

Emily had always been like a fish swimming in a small sea within his heart. One day,

she swam beyond that sea, attracted by the wider world outside, and gradually drifted further away.

For years, Jason had clung to something that was increasingly distant.

Though reluctant and sorrowful, he had no choice.

When God closed a door, He opened a window.

Everything happened for a reason.

He couldn't let go before, but now it was time to turn around.

A woman who loved him with all her heart was waiting for him.