Chapter 283 Thank You

TESSA

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I smiled as I looked at Arden and Cade nestled together on the bed, with Jared by the crib beside them. The moment Arden gave birth, Cade ensured he remained right by bher /bbside/bb. /bbIt /bwas heartwarming to watch him as he bnced his attention–devoted to their newborn bson /bwhile also being extremely attentive to Arden. While most of us were cooing over how adorable Jared was, Cade remained steadfast next to Arden, constantly checking in to make sure she was alright. In a world that often felt imperfect, I genuinely believed they were ba /bperfect couple.

I carefully ced some freshly picked fruits on the side of Arden’s bed, ensuring she would have something delightful to wake up to–especially those berries she had been craving. After all, her capture by Zaria had been linked to those very berries. She deserved to enjoy them again.

With onest fond look at them, I smiled and silently stepped out of their room in the pack clinic. I had advised Rowan to head home with Ca, who genuinely seemed exhausted. I had checked her core earlier and confirmed that it wasn’t broken; her light still shone brightly, but it was evident she had pushed herself to her limits. So, despite Rowan’s insistence on staying with me, I had urged him to go with her.

As I closed the door and began to walk down the hallway, I spotted a familiar figure sitting in one of the chairs. I halted in my tracks and tilted my head.

“Dr. Ingrid?” I called out.

She stood when she heard my voicei, /ia small smile breaking across her lips. The usual serious expression that often clouded her features was absent, and I found myself smiling back at her. She was dressed in the same attire she had worn back in Montrose, which led me to infer that she hade straight here.

“Why did

youe here?” I asked. “You should have rested. You’ve had a long day, just like everyone else.”

She bit her lip, her gaze drifting out towards the door. “Ben is waiting for me,” she murmured. “I just wanted to drop by here for my own peace of mind.”

“Hmm,” I replied thoughtfully, settling into the chair next to her. “I also have some biquestions/i/b.”

Her smile returned as she eased back into her seat beside me. “You can ask baway/bb,/bb” /bshe bsaid /bencouragingly. fn76f2 Read full story at find?novel/fn76f2

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Chapter 283 Thank You

I sighed, ncing down at my fingers, still stained with the remnants of the battle.

“It seems you and Azalea shared a connection.”

A

92

s

A wistful look crossed her eyes before she nodded, leaning against the chair and crossing her arms. It appeared she was going to share a long story; however, much to my surprise, her response was more brief than I expected.

“My mom worked for the Rose family. She despised them, but she believed it was her only chance to give me a better life. I often visited their pce because of that. While we grew up around each other, we were never friends.”

“Azalea doesn’t like those who don’t measure up to her standards.”

“It appears so,” I murmured, allowing silence to settle between us.

“I actually didn’te here for her,” she breathed out. “I’m just d that thest of the Roses are finally dethroned. Azalea annihted her entire family because she perceived them as threats. She consumed their cores, mastering an immense amount of magic, leaving only her son and daughter behind.”

“However, that mastery came at a cost. A body can only handle so much magic, and she was rotting from within, despite her radiant exterior. That’s why she was waiting for Ena to harness the magic of detoxification, hoping it would expel all the rot so she could wield this great power endlessly.”

“But what she failed to realize was that her foresight was not infallible. She clung to her own prophecy for so long that it ultimately led to her downfall.”

“That’s my reason for being here,” she finally stated, turning to me, her gaze piercing into mine. “Since you possessed Ena’s heart when you gave birth, I believe that in some way, the universe has granted Azalea’s power to your daughter.”

I bit my lip. “I had a hunch,” I whispered. “But I’m still grappling with what it all means.”

“When we detoxify someone, we glimpse their heart,” she began thoughtfully. “At least the core of it–whether it is infused with light or shrouded in darkness. This is seen in those endowed with magical power or affected by magic.”

“Did you

notice the difference between Ca and Azalea?”

I nodded slowly. “I couldn’t see anything from either of them, but for entirely different reasons. Azalea’s heart waspletely dark, while I was blinded by Ca’s pure light.”

A smile broke upon her lips. “That’s reassuring,” she murmured. “Your child possesses an

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Chapter 283 Thank You

innocent heart, wielding magic for the purpose of healing rather than destruction.”

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b92 /b

s

“Yes,” I replied softly, a smile creeping onto my own face. “Yet, I worry about how it will unfold in the future.”

“Magic is cultivated by one’s environment,” she said, reaching out to take my hand, squeezing it gently forfort. “Azalea’s family was poisonous from the start; she was raised in a realm of darkness.”

“Your daughter, in contrast, is surrounded by good people.”

“Your friends are invested in her well–being. So are your constituents,” she added with a note of certainty in her voice.

“You have a loving partner who would go to great lengths for both of you. A love like that–it’s one that will inevitably nurture light magic. Still, you must proceed with caution. Ensure that she doesn’t wield it excessively. She will grow up truly unique, but don’t treat her any differently than you would any other child.”

I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. With that, she released my hand and stood, a look of gratitude on her face.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice full of emotion.

I lifted my gaze to meet hers. “For what?”

“For bringing light to Montrose,” she responded earnestly. “I spent the majority of my life in Fenra, but I often think of my home and its people. I can’t shake the feeling that they deserve a chance to improve their lives. Yet that was impossible as long as the Rose n wielded power over the entire country.”

“I used to believe it would remain that way for the rest of my days. The thought still haunts me at night–especially for the children condemned to grow up amidst the ruins.”

“Howeveri, /ibecause iof /iyou and your friends–you young people who possess a strength that our generation could only dream of–Montrose finally has a fighting chance.”

“Thank you again,” she reiterated. “It means everything to witness this change with my own eyes.”

Warmth spread through my chest, my heart thumping a little faster. I hadn’t realized how much others valued our efforts. But in that moment, it became clear why we kept fighting for this cause. We weren’t the only ones deserving of a good life.

“You’re wee,” I replied. “We’ll continue to fight and help from now on.”

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Chapter 284 Utter Warmth