Chapter 29. After the Hospital Visit Ended

“…What?”c2d1ca4d5b63a2f7

Serenia’s expression froze dfdd27d8d5 instantly.fc2d745c9be47ccd

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The 16th?c0ef591f898289e5

The last a2693db89e date she e092ef7e30 remembered was 56cd123fad December 8th—the fc0677d8c8 day of d313258dc4 the final c4451a3be3 performance of 0c222cbadc Young Duke 5589c08fc6 Razkal.dcb25fddecd34d7c

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Eight days had passed 965941c15a since then.2832eb08f2a17181

‘…I thought it b37ecb1385 was just a 6b14f06c2c mild poison. Was it f29575b14c worse than 064935bd2d I thought?’23323e4a0076cd4e

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Tilting her head 6dfdcf41e4 in confusion, she bbc8258227 furrowed her brow 2d75d3a96b slightly.a7acdbfd9ead6614

‘Don’t tell 20c838985e me I’ve e906a08b31 got some ffdcb5876e kind of b5567d27eb lasting damage 319ffd36b5 from the e42d2151a7 poison? Is that 8ed947a7a1 what the 7496e71c1a compensation money 267165da79 is for…?’5f51ab79b1791245

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As she puzzled 19e7f48c0c over the sudden 9a1a37f719 appearance of the 66f828363d money pouch, something c6c8608d24 else struck her.128813ede823d504

‘Wait. The bank 446878b656 seizure date…’8fc574794be7773b

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She had received 8710d96333 the final notice 103cc2e6f9 from the bank 2f18548d57 on November 14th.7cc7f96c9d1df276

Given a one-month 0a5061cbd0 grace period, the 8dca9146cf seizure date was ad0abfc154 December 14th.b4ba011a36917772

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Two days ago.874668ce6e3b2894

Her face went completely 29d571e237 pale.94a1bdc4c2d692bf

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William, noticing her reaction, a4be042657 gently patted her shoulder 3933387719 and pulled out a e59a68c7af document.eba37f4b3429cd66

It was e2f8a29292 a Notice 96d8f25343 of Auction cf5869fe9c Finalization.9bdd609e2c293b20

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Not only 198554125a had her 20213cc7d7 estate been e88cee6bcb seized, it f63df6bd25 had already 38592b9ef1 been auctioned b2b086f0ed off.fc844016c2ee535a

Just as Serenia 8c25b430fb was on the a2260657ad verge of collapsing 5d17b5f580 in despair, William 226fd8c3eb quickly spoke.6184181fe7c78ae1

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“The seizure happened 46796f3951 as scheduled on 5d7b283fde the 14th, and 124446d9d4 the forced auction 1329220c77 for the estate 1564758c92 and its contents 2381f93286 took place on 2f7b163205 the 15th.”acb45099b6aa1fe4

Then he pulled out f27069c6c6 another piece of paper, 8febede09b about the size of 39fcb689d8 a theater ticket, and 1b0db12eaa handed it to her.a6158ae8f206a511

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Serenia instantly 12801e0f5a recognized what aacad15857 it was.bef14d2d387a8eed

A check. More specifically, a 2994f58a98 check worth 2,740,000 1aa2995a4c krovats.af46975cc3adfa4b

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She stared blankly at 08df52bd88 William, completely at a 950c932610 loss for why this 01d0318926 check had suddenly appeared.d9d36a885c13bc27

He tapped 20000651a0 the bottom 8c8325ac08 of the f07b00e6b5 auction notice 0d647cd422 she was c780b888af holding.43d8dc185293268a

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As she e0c7cfade3 quickly turned 5adfb9f1e8 her eyes 226f36312f to the 7d24b5862d spot he dc834c4095 indicated, he a746a0a102 continued.8444225973b0bb42

“The moment 85ec33a77f the auction 62a14ec148 began, someone—identity 0bcd322577 unknown—placed a f5ce747585 bid of 0224ae2707 three million 340b2438d7 krovats on 667a0f75e6 the estate e6a55652dd and all bd1237f420 its contents.”4fffac474cf85ff8

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“…What?”12b3c2712f09bead

“Hard to believe, right? Must be some a4f0e189c0 fool with too b251179e11 much money.”f0529604ef2bbff9

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He gleefully mocked e27cd60732 the mysterious bidder, 8df6c786cd then suddenly clamped c989b1c8f4 his mouth shut, c0a9f70c73 realizing his words 58fc47e3c8 could be taken 43f6fd4580 as an insult a81b8561c0 toward the Barishart 0ba0c9f1c9 estate.c6e7c2beafb57a86

Coughing awkwardly, he fd96c8bcbc hurriedly changed the 2ec11ffe8c subject.82e6cc96e8aebdcc

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“Anyway, no one bid 8b5b15e994 higher, so the estate bfda3cf01f was sold at that 7118392a76 price.”242f9c614d4d3d51

Though William 28f091fcae continued explaining, 26ca4d6b15 Serenia still a21f5a8458 looked lost, 6809bd8d86 her head ef2b66fd0a tilted in 461253dc7c confusion.26a0b935904fe7f4

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“After deducting taxes, the a26df1d2de bank loan principal, overdue b088c77b2a interest, and all the ff51898923 additional fees incurred after 6fffdf8891 the due date, the 6b9d994f0b remaining balance was exactly 395aa99b72 2,743,755 krovat and 814 2ba8339af8 tiling.”71f26202bd1bf8a0

He recited 2efb693464 the number 02552c53fb precisely and 2c3190657c then lifted d6939cf7a2 the money c00a4d248e pouch slightly.cb6152b0c8888e6d

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“Since amounts under ten 51da861938 thousand krovats can’t be f20a1feb69 issued as a check, 493941a594 I brought the rest 7476f7c170 in cash.”e34c2b99725e37ef

“…Huh?”0643f1ab48ffac2c

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Still bewildered, Serenia blinked 86e9f3bc1a at him, unable to f50a86eff8 process it.8c137b38776fc744

With a b8b5768a5c cheerful smile, 85c29abf46 he delivered 595299ef71 the finishing b4d3bb8538 blow.addc4fc5d5a4ac2c

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“Congratulations, my lady. You’re literally a millionaire 53f54fedf6 now.”18097e209685dabf

* * *85f7e0bc5a6f096c

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After that, 2be76ffe4f William was fe64480041 practically chased f0fcb35812 out of 30fc30d557 the hospital 38aca20f08 room by cbcbe72cc6 the doctor 28e9493e41 and nurses b9c74dfbf3 who stormed cb9cc889e3 in.abc3a176c9630ad9

While the medical staff b84f1cc43f busied themselves checking her 8127a6ae66 condition, Serenia sat dazed, 56938b1d6c trying to sort out 3b9da459d8 her thoughts amid the 7335e02a7c commotion.9d38b3b32b8ffafd

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She didn’t need 3d350ef6da to ask William 3f42cb2240 who had won 910b4e8dec the auction for b04bf56e6f the estate—it was 643f2774ba obvious.121231f8682b73fb

There was only bc2e725fa2 one person in d3fd37ae73 the world who 214f0a6f2c would spend a e8c7275ee9 strangely precise three e287d1ae23 million krovats on 6cf9ee71af a house that 3e5f26f101 wasn’t even worth 2bacaa7d21 fifty thousand at 39f88f2401 best.57575af6f0248c11

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‘But according 84a639c5e4 to the f9a0bc80b7 contract, the ac29659d23 payment should 027e9a4297 have been 4981c7969f made after f284edbf01 we registered 9ab2fc553b the marriage… 812392926e Why pay 531ab6c79c now…?’052ba40ba75c2ba2

Tilting her head bf4cb7ad54 in confusion, Serenia d6498b2a90 suddenly froze and 2d87da734b furrowed her brow.313024120c6b7101

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‘Don’t tell me… 32a5120a11 Did he register a03cad64a6 the marriage while df591d4631 I was unconscious?’9583edcabdb97e04

As she panicked de4080c6eb over the possibility, d20b931ddc the doctor completed 108d36ec38 his examination and 24f8bad27d declared her fully e24381effd recovered, granting permission 2ab9c967b0 for her to 18585571dd be discharged the d5b1c527d8 next morning.e8528d8a133b14ec

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Serenia decided she 4008d9cc83 would go find 258e06e134 him immediately after fdb2215170 discharge and demand 71a270ae31 a full explanation.1dc9b279105a99fe

But she didn’t have e76d04794c to wait that long.3893b36d9500d6ea

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That evening, he came ea1231d808 to visit her.b13dd8661425671d

It was just e1b7c205f6 as Serenia lay 62384d62ef in bed, bored a35ec9255a out of her 15a7d52454 mind, counting the 32499ef332 patterns on the c111b57532 ceiling.1b058a6d88bafda4

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Knock knock.e2f4ef5cd4a6e0fa

A light 63c20d9989 knock came a57c07e81e from the e6ca87b6f4 door, and 05b1349b02 when she ca4d591c14 answered with 5e16951622 a “Yes,” 509fba3f37 it opened f4c82d1bd8 quietly.bf602e913bda8bc1

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He entered the 6b7c70f736 room with his a2e66fdcce face completely covered—hat, 1b304e1b90 tinted glasses, even 00e15fd8c5 a scarf.7d4b88f45b1d1379

Without a word, he 0395449b90 closed the door, removed e861f88fde his hat and scarf, 760f3316e2 and greeted her briefly.adf88da2c175937a

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“I heard you woke 79550d699f up, so I came a392dca290 to see you.”7a166724746d88d7

His tone sounded colder 8a79efadc3 and more rigid than 6b4b382c2d usual.772eb8f89c3d7e5a

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Though she found it d7edf5e111 strange, Serenia greeted him ab9413d54e warmly, then immediately bowed 2b5151c3bf her head.76f147efec208408

“It’s all thanks c1203e5eef to you. Thank you.”edc4c8fef4b33ac2

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“…”e07366916b6b42bf

He said nothing, only b989a65155 stood in silence.18003ce66da37035

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His lack of c521b5509c response felt awkward bc369d381c and embarrassing, but 566c41bff9 Serenia pressed on, 0a2616dd21 recalling what William 311c7e7e54 had told her.3154891973908cad

“I heard the gist e45563bc07 of it. You moved Viscount c9a38023f4 Sitrit to action d1976b67aa despite the risk 4d7ab99d3b of blackmail… and 4300123d33 you bought the 81dc795ca2 Barishart estate. It was all 56777bb3e3 you, wasn’t it?”254923aa62aeb7ca

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“Well, yes.”e7baf77bce3cecb0

Though puzzled 40af189c7d by his a4648d5dca curt reply, 2bd85a3ccb Serenia bowed 97323869c6 again, slowly 94b37e1cd0 and sincerely.838e1b17ab56803c

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“Thank you. Truly. I’ll make sure to 83be966638 repay this debt.”6116330c0c55314d

As she fc55db4852 raised her 9b1befca06 head, her d980fd53fc eyes met c0ac6cf75f his.f5b6d55a86d47e7f

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Behind his f181949210 tinted glasses, 76a059e788 she couldn’t 1aa996b001 see the 7e09597524 color of f90a4c4172 his eyes, 56a74b5b08 but she 42091b1d58 could sense 2bc0fa4329 the coldness 7037b037d8 in them.ad91bfc7ca7489ac

Chilling, emotionless—unfeeling.8658a38d64c6332f

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She had no idea 4cf7ad3f89 why he was looking 29be423b0b at her that way.a4c954bb4b8de231

Wide-eyed, she bb45b053fd retraced her c8c4cc1448 words, wondering d6f13d6705 if she’d 918644ffb0 forgotten to 6eaceea633 thank him b6fe2f4ec7 for something.9784fd86be4b70b8

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As she d4ffa69c13 mentally ticked 65a6d364fa off each 3d4889264c point, her c6971c4907 face suddenly f6e8f8e4b1 lit up.a6d0acc5de47f103

“Oh! The photos!”f54cbdf982b8b996

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She rummaged 39c2c282ef through the dbc5dbc51e bedside drawer, 74677d2f5b pulling out b5057db2d6 the thick a8e141a480 envelope William de68e2ad5f had given 0cefbf478b her.357c855f2ed6b712

With an awkward dcbe6700cb smile, she held 20c7c79a20 it out to 1c5a6494ee him.eb7bd3d619110319

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“I didn’t get 88bb5447f4 a chance to c9334a392c say it earlier, 851a3e44f3 but thank you 114d8db6c6 for understanding what e38febdbcd I meant.”0fe6818d5cf98ed3

But he pushed the acb39f8213 envelope back toward her.41dacf8c405c0937

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“You can keep it.”ffd1a214422fd791

“Huh? Why?”2b0f0f45afa5c8b6

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She blinked in confusion, 4184fb2dfc and he answered coldly.2b8df10f5accd615

“It’s useless now.”253a170c0e533df6

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“…Oh.”16a76cfb51d5c195

She let out abd1645330 a small, absent-minded 76f598998b sound, but quickly 61ec37e1d3 understood.f3268f8f50fbddf4

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Of course. The photos had already 20aae97770 been exposed.9afac02eb8ff95f5

They were no longer b0940b4c4b valid evidence for a c5a426c026 scandal.284a7fa4fc5d5059

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‘…But why does 42e802c086 he seem angry f4a72791c4 at me?’44acb515496bcb56

Serenia furrowed her c5b9d4895e brows.602b8c8a77601120

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‘Is he 42705f3091 sulking because b7f0d0404b the photos 02b5097ce0 are ruined? But it’s 6a89514148 not my 3ae5aafcc0 fault they dab490c778 ended up b559a20e55 in her e0fbcccd1f hands…’340ef5a62994c99e

Trying to calm herself 731f4af12a before getting defensive, she cda5822b15 changed the subject.22bfaac66e7bc7d8

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“More importantly, what 402534319d exactly happened?”b05f67e78791d387

“What do you 421f08dd34 mean?”22cba72784eda77d

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“The auction. You’re the one who 04bd80b426 paid three million krovats, 319a7fd482 right?”5917518c1fb9ad81

“Ah, that.”352c266c2bb4e4b4

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“Why did you do 8f9559d993 it? I mean, not that 235935b0a8 I’m blaming you! I’m truly grateful. It’s just, f93c6194f5 according to fff14940c2 our contract, 15ec8b324a payment was 3390ee132c supposed to b58668df9a come after 5c8561054b marriage registration, 583262eb73 so receiving d751fc0c39 it now b2abde8b90 feels… wrong, 4dfd9ebd11 I guess…”6aa4381b1bec7d57

He watched her with df467af748 a cold gaze as 47deb7db7a she stumbled over her 25ee85dad4 words, then finally spoke.455f4393551d1caa

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“Do you feel guilty 30ae481453 about that?”a7dcbe74cc42ac2c

“…What?”5435fdb629f3e75e

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Seeing her 982448a4e1 flustered expression, d513f39cf2 Ain paused, be5cef8d6e closed his 33d763e8bb eyes, and a6b4566680 took a 431e90f419 deep breath, 853d1623ac suppressing whatever 0ab27166e3 storm was d68724caa4 boiling inside.a608297a59e16aee

When he opened 51d0e92fac them again, his aa1acec801 face was cold, 12f93962fa emotionless.d9d5fd5c3c3cca36

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“You knew, didn’t 90f5252804 you?”0eb2e02be486e35c

“Knew what?”20a3004433f6e8d3

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“That it was 590b0272c1 poisoned. You knew and still a5d37c6d1f drank it, didn’t you?”e5b75c1c50b9e0c8

“Ah… That, um…”02ad2b599668c950

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Her inability to respond a43700329a made his gaze even ed626558c6 sharper.46bc438b12492969

“Are you f63e2587b3 out of b573e3ba0b your mind?”8a223658dd114330

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His voice f2e06c9fba came out 71cdd882e9 icy.9919893adee00dcb

“If you’d taken e01e0597aa it unknowingly, that’d 3a2563624c be one thing. But you knew. You told me 20102eae6e you’d handle the d425fcfac9 proposal situation yourself. Was this 8606031a4e your solution? Attempted suicide?”16a9f3763d42a642

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Startled by 5cc093c11c his accusation, cba50ca12d Serenia rushed e9348fb440 to defend e0c38d440c herself.8ea8bd2dc65de200

“No! It wasn’t like that! I had 5a6a20d470 calculated everything, 5811198772 I thought f5a234d66f it through—”8418af2e18879bf2

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“Calculated.”7a62b82c159abff3

He cut her off 6e6bf8f235 with a bitter laugh 5bd8c321f6 that wasn’t really a 9350df0aac laugh.a34d91aa40bc3099

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“For someone 1e956ac470 who loves 5e55dd14ce calculations, you 760f885342 sure failed 5677361e66 to calculate b2b0261c95 the risk 59e9cdedda to your da6b72cc4e own life.”d4bccc066c9edc2d

“That’s…”22b9b3da8b872983

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“You calculated and drank f7aedb6bb8 it? Fine. Let’s say that’s 3c9f88bec9 true.”772039eb59e552ed

“I—”11ce1ca7e3d7be02

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“Then after you left 7044471645 the duke’s house, you 8fbf7b0bfc should’ve gone straight to e24384ff75 the hospital. Why did 70fa33ebf5 you go 4a5c493b24 to the 7c84b43630 theater in a712ed0b61 that condition? Why?”83904091907970e7

Serenia hesitated, cdb52e8ac7 then shouted 86b8c13b37 in frustration.3eea9c5e6f996309

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“Because it aaa823e33f was the 5cfb73fd3c last time!”0a0c516325768ed8

At that, Ain’s 3b71f1d712 hardened face slackened ed665ed1e2 into stunned disbelief.e6f1266a226c8573

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“…What?”5f3912e6b6e5bff7

Serenia flailed, trying to 6de73e4e9f explain.3b8ce9b115ebd805

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“I found 7fe0bbd5e6 out what 20d50af8b7 your job 6c2b436ad6 was while 640d188d6e I was 146eff0094 at the a499728a12 duke’s mansion. Then I remembered your 39750828e6 name, and I recalled fffd5577e3 you said your last 73cef42237 performance was on the 99d8d14bf4 8th…”4f9bfeabb083edd6

Ain let out a 859193a481 heavy sigh.6cc115b28a3594e9

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Still unaware, Serenia kept 3cb8f23d19 rambling.967ca0827b618c35

“I kept 900bfef742 avoiding it b35eff9862 before, but 980c84611b I didn’t 9399e73440 want to 63a82794d9 anymore. I couldn’t miss it—so f8c481ee6f I didn’t think of 6a89277f09 anything else…”388c37b0adca5fb5

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She glanced at him eedcba8994 and fell silent.7d42d108b40969b5

His face had c080423cc5 darkened even further.73341277a6b64978

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Gone was ad139faba1 the cold da4754034f anger; in ab051a5cdd its place, c2715ff2d2 deep despair 57dcf40071 and resignation.d08c918726fc1de8

After a 448a3aba0c long pause, 051a0025ba he finally 8e4c724017 spoke, quietly.d06e8402e5f07b62

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“So… it was because 6f139cee17 of me.”5f72ffac39d38c43

 a1977ac8b692ccec

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