Chapter 7

I gave him the name of a downtown hotel chain, my voice still a little shaky. "Yeah, thanks."

As the taxi pulled away from the airport, the scenery outside was a whole new world, the real Northgate winter, nothing like anything I'd ever seen.

The roadside trees stood bare, their branches coated in sparkling frost. In the distance, endless snowy fields and small houses blanketed in white stretched out beneath a sky that was clear and pale blue, with sunlight that felt cold and remote.

It was beautiful, a majestic yet desolate kind of beauty.

A far cry from the gentle, polished vibe of southern cities, just like my mood at this moment.

The driver was a real chatterbox, telling me all about Northgate's highlights, the old-world buildings on Central Avenue, the pigeons at Starlight Church, the ice and snow festival on the river, and the must-try dishes like crispy pork and ice cream.

I listened, occasionally nodding or making small talk, but my mind was elsewhere.

My body shivered in the unfamiliar cold, but inside, it felt like a chunk of my heart had been hollowed out, leaving nothing but a cold, aching emptiness.

What were Michael and Lily doing right now?

Had they already checked into that beachfront hotel in Cyvera?

Was Lily over there putting on her helpless act again, blaming everything on me for being 'immature' and 'difficult,' while Michael just sat there comforting her with his usual gentle voice?

My stomach twisted. I couldn't even tell if it was the cold or just how sick this whole thing made me feel.

When I finally got to the hotel, I checked in.

The room was warm, and I threw myself onto the soft bed, sprawled out, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Exhaustion crashed over me like a wave, not just physical, but a deep, soul-deep weariness.

No clue how long I lay there, until my stomach suddenly growled, jerking me back to reality. Had I really gone all day without eating?

I struggled to get up, threw on the thick bathrobe from the hotel, but the cold still clung to me.

Remembering what the driver said, I decided to tackle the warmth problem first.

At a mall near the hotel, I picked up a long, heavy down coat, a fluffy hat, scarf, gloves, and snow boots, fully suited up for the freezing weather, like I was prepping for a polar expedition.

Looking in the mirror, bundled up like a giant snowball, I suddenly felt like a stranger to myself.

My face was ghostly pale, with dark circles under my eyes, but my expression was steady, almost with a hint of fierce determination, like I'd finally made up my mind.

After buying the clothes, I finally felt that hollow, desperate kind of hunger, the kind that only a real meal could fill.

Following the signs in the mall, I found a Northgate restaurant that looked super popular.

As I pushed open the door, a wave of warmth and the mouthwatering smell of food washed over me. The place was packed, noisy, and had that cozy, down-to-earth vibe you only get in real local spots.

Since I was alone, the waiter led me to a small table by the wall.

I ordered some crispy pork, a plate of stir-fried trio of veggies, and a bowl of pasta.

While waiting for my food, I pulled out my phone. The screen was packed with dozens of missed calls and tons of messages, mostly from Michael, plus a few from my mom and Kaiya, Michael's mother.

I opened Michael's chat. The last message came right after I landed; he was clearly pissed off, basically threatening me.

Michael: [Claire, if you've got the guts, just don't come back! Lily and I are already in Cyvera. Stay in Northgate as long as you want! If you're thinking about divorce, you better think twice about the consequences.]

Divorce?