Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 283

Chapter 283 Thank You

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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 her side. It was heartwarming to watch him as he balanced his attention–devoted to their newborn son while 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 a perfect couple.

I carefully placed 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 one last 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 Calla, 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 voice, a 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 had come straight here.

“Why did

you come 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 questions.”

Her smile returned as she eased back into her seat beside me. “You can ask away,” she said encouragingly.

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Chapter 283 Thank You

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

“It seems you and Azalea shared a connection.”

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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 palace 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’t come here for her,” she breathed out. “I’m just glad that the last of the Roses are finally dethroned. Azalea annihilated 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 Ellana 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 Ellana’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 Calla and Azalea?”

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

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