Chapter 1

My fiancé left me stranded on a snowy mountain for a full week. When the rescue team finally found me, I was barely alive.

In front of everyone, he stood tall and cold, saying, "Zoria is so kind. You nearly killed her on that mountain, yet she still spoke up for you. If she hadn't pleaded for you, I'd have left you up there for another week. Our engagement is postponed until she's fully recovered."

He expected me to throw a fit. He knew how much I'd been looking forward to the engagement.

But all I said was, "Alright."

Surprised, he went on. "This is what you owe Zoria. Once she's well, we'll get engaged. Don't cause trouble—"

"Alan, I'd like to rest," I cut him off and closed my eyes, exhausted.

He didn't know that the moment he left me alone on the mountain, I'd already made my choice—if I survived the avalanche, I'd walk away from him forever.

*****

When I woke up that day, I was the only one left on the snowy mountains.

My fiancé, Alan Dudley had left me up here, leaving behind only a note he had written. [Lea, stay here and reflect on yourself. I'll pick you up in a week.]

At first, I imagined Alan suddenly appearing to bring me home. After all, he was always most worried about my safety.

But life seemed set against me. Before Alan came, there was an avalanche.

I started running, the cold wind rushing into my throat as I fled.

My lungs constricted violently. Gradually, I could only hear the pounding of my own heart.‍

My numb legs ran onward mechanically. Eventually, I stumbled and fell to the ground.

A roaring sound came from behind. I watched in despair as the avalanche swallowed me.

Before I lost consciousness, I decided that if I survived this, I'd walk away from Alan.

Fortunately, I survived, but barely. I held on until the rescue team arrived.

Lying in the hospital bed, I quietly listened to the doctor's conclusion after he examined me.

Due to prolonged time in the snowy mountains, my vision had severely deteriorated, my vocal cords were damaged, and various organs showed different degrees of failure. I would only live up to 30 years old at most.

Alan couldn't help but grab the doctor's collar, his eyes bloodshot. "Isn't medicine quite advanced now? What do you mean she can only live to 30?

"Lea's only 24 now. Are you telling me she can only live for 6 more years? She only stayed up in the mountains for a week. Why is it so serious?"

The doctor was visibly flustered, stammering, "Given M-Miss Novak's condition, this is what it is."

Zoria Madden, in a hospital gown, put her hands on Alan's wrist, gently comforting him. "Alan, the hospital here doesn't do thorough checks.

"Why don't we send Lea to my hospital for a check-up? You know how serious my condition was before. But look at me now. I can not only walk, but also come with you to visit Lea."

Alan let go of the doctor's collar, turning to look closely at Zoria. His expression grew joyful. "Yes, Lea will definitely be cured if she goes to your hospital."

I lowered my gaze, knowing that my body could no longer be cured.

Alan soon transferred me to the hospital where Zoria was staying. Her attending doctor told Alan that I had only been frightened. Other than that, there was nothing wrong with me.

Zoria gasped in surprise. "No way. The previous doctor said Lea's condition was very serious."

Alan repeatedly confirmed with the doctor, who insisted that I was fine, and just looked a bit weak.

He flew into a rage. "Lea, I can't believe you haven't changed your ways. Do you know how worried I was about you? How could you conspire with the previous doctor to exaggerate your condition? Is this your way of getting my attention?

"Fine. Since that's the case, even if Zoria recovers, let's not get engaged anymore. We'll wait until you realize your mistake."

Zoria suddenly spoke up. "Alan, don't be angry. Lea is just childish. You know how much she wants to marry you."

Alan retorted, "She should learn a lesson. This time, she forced you to undress in the mountains. If I hadn't found you in time, you would have frozen to death.

"If Lea continues to be so unreasonable, the engagement will be postponed indefinitely."

Alan carefully helped Zoria out of the ward, giving me a deep glance before leaving.

I caught the fleeting look of disappointment in his eyes.

What was he disappointed about?

That I was still unreasonable and hadn't changed my ways?

But it was Alan who once held my hand and told me repeatedly, "Lea, you should be a little more willful. With me, you'll always have the right to throw a tantrum."

I did as he had said, but now that Zoria had returned, he changed his tune. "Lea, stop being so overbearing. You don't have the right to act out anymore."

Was he disappointed because he thought I had tried to hurt Zoria out of jealousy?

But it was Zoria who sneered at me first then, "So what if you and Alan are engaged? You're just an orphan. You should be alone. Alan will always be mine."

Then she suddenly stripped off her clothes and collapsed in the snow. Eyes red, she desperately pleaded with me not to make her take off any more clothes.

She had framed me, making everyone assume I had bullied her.

I was abandoned once more, just as I had been left at the orphanage entrance in the winter eighteen years ago.

The Dudley family had adopted me because a fortune teller said I would bring good luck to Alan.

For the next eighteen years, Alan pampered and spoiled me.

But still, Zoria's words about me being an 'orphan' had hurt me.

Zoria wanted to compete with me for Alan, but I was too tired of fighting.

I won't fight for him anymore. If Zoria wanted him, she could have him.