She tried to 'put on a brave face' [=she tried to appear brave or calm] despite the pain of the injury.
You can refuse to talk to her if you like, but you're just 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'.
They made it on time 'in spite of the fact' that they got a flat tire.
(..) How long have you been with the department? At that time, eight months, And in eight months, you had become a homicide expert, And in spite of Sergeant Baker's years' experience, you felt he was wrong, - Yes, I felt he was wrong, - You became an expert that night? I became aware that (..)1994 The Glass Shield