Chapter 6

"You!" He was momentarily stunned, then his anger shot up even more. "I told you, it was an accident! Lily just messed up and clicked the wrong thing. Are you seriously going to keep bringing this up? Northgate?

"Why the hell are you even there? It's freezing and nothing but snow. What's supposed to be fun about that? You're just doing this to get under my skin, aren't you?"

"I'm not trying to mess with you," I replied, watching the snow-covered runway get closer outside the window. "I want to check out the ice sculptures, eat some crispy pork, and chow down on some giant BBQ skewers.

"The tickets are already paid for, so why not make the most of it?"

"Claire!" He practically growled my name through gritted teeth. "Stop making a scene! Get the next flight to Cyvera, right now! Or else..."

"Or else what?" I cut him off, my tone still calm. "Or else you and Lily go on your honeymoon? Sure, knock yourself out. Hope you two have a blast. Anything else? I'm about to get off the plane."

"Don't you dare hang up on me!" Michael snapped. In the background, Lily's voice came through, soft and tearful, trying to calm him down. "Mike, please don't be mad. Just talk to Claire nicely, okay? It's all my fault"

"Claire, I'm warning you, don't you—"

I didn't listen any further, just hit the red button to end the call.

And just like that, the world went quiet.

I quickly put my phone on silent and shoved it into the deepest pocket of my backpack.

The plane touched down smoothly and started taxiing down the runway.

Upbeat music filled the cabin as the flight attendants reminded everyone to gather their belongings.

I took a deep breath, already feeling the cold, dry air of Northgate; even though I was still inside the plane, that biting chill was already seeping in.

But that coldness only made me feel more awake, more clear-headed than ever.

The woman next to me, packing up her things, smiled and asked, "Traveling solo to Northgate, huh?"

I turned to her and gave her the first real smile I'd managed since I set foot here, still tired, but finally feeling light and free.

"Yeah, just me. Came to check out the winter wonderland," I said.

As I stepped out of the plane and onto the jet bridge, the -4°F wind slammed into me, sharp as a knife across my face.

I hugged my thin jacket tighter, shivering, but I didn't flinch. Instead, I squared my shoulders, faced the wind, and drew in a lungful of that freezing, bone-chilling air.

My lungs burned from the cold, but my mind felt crystal clear.

Goodbye, Michael.

Goodbye to the old Claire, the one who always bent over backwards, always waiting for someone to throw her a crumb of affection.

From now on, I was living for myself.

As for that train wreck of a marriage and those two soaking up the sun in Cyvera on their so-called honeymoon? Let them go their own way.

The cold in Northgate was dry, razor-sharp, and bone-deep; it cut right through you.

Stepping out of the airport, the wind slammed into me like a thousand tiny ice needles, stabbing straight through the thin coat I'd brought, thinking I'd be in Cyvera. It offered zero protection.

I shivered so hard my teeth started chattering uncontrollably.

My phone kept buzzing insistently in my backpack. I didn't even have to check. I knew it was Michael. I ignored it and flagged down a taxi.

The friendly driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his thick Northgate accent ringing out. "Girl, you're not dressed for this! It's like twenty below out here!

"You must be from the south, huh? Better grab yourself a down jacket first, or you'll freeze your butt off."