Chapter 1

The blizzard raged through the night, but inside the luxurious Aspen chalet, it was warm as spring.

Seven months pregnant, I struggled to retrieve a package of Mexican chilies from the fridge. Rubbing my swollen belly, I let out a bitter laugh. "At least let me enjoy a little freedom before you're born."

"What are you doing?"

Frank burst out of his study, financial reports still clutched in his hand, his eyes filled with alarm. The sight of him like this sent a wave of irritation through me.

"Making hot chocolate," I said, waving the chili packet. "The kind with Mexican chili seasoning—your old favorite."

"PUT THAT DOWN!" Frank's voice thundered, making me jump and nearly drop the packet. "The doctor said to absolutely avoid any spicy foods at high altitude—did you forget? Are you trying to hurt the baby?"

My hand froze mid-air as I stared at this man in his custom Thompson Sports loungewear, someone who maintained his "professional image" even at home. Was this really the same Frank I'd pulled from that snowdrift?

"Frank, it's just a little chili powder."

"A little?" He snatched the packet from my hand and threw it straight into the trash. His rough gesture made my anger flare. "Riley, you're pregnant now! Not some show-off rescue worker on the mountain!"

Crash!

I furiously smashed the prepared mug on the floor, shards scattering everywhere.

"Show-off?!" My voice trembled as my chest heaved. "Three years ago when I saved your life, nobody told me women couldn't be brave! When you were buried in that snowdrift, barely alive, I risked an avalanche to dig you out—you never called me a show-off then!"

Frank's face turned dark as storm clouds. He pointed at the broken pieces on the floor. "Look at yourself now! Losing control, throwing tantrums—this is what happens when you don't follow medical advice!"

I felt my blood pressure skyrocket. "Medical advice? Your medical advice is to treat me like a breeding machine? I need your approval for everything I eat now?"

"I'm doing this for you and the baby!" Frank's voice rose higher. "You know what? Madison Pierce's training data today exceeded your pre-pregnancy peak! That's what strict management gets you!"

Hearing that blonde bitch's name felt like an ice pick through my heart. He actually brought her up at a time like this!

"So what? You're saying I'm not as good as some 20-year-old girl?"

"I'm saying discipline and obedience lead to success!" Frank strode to the door and yanked it open. The bitter wind rushed in, making me shiver. "Since you won't listen to reason, go outside and cool off!"

I stared at him in shock. The baby in my belly seemed to sense my fury and began kicking violently. Had this man lost his mind?

"You're making your pregnant wife leave in a blizzard?"

"Didn't you want freedom?" Frank looked at me coldly. "Then go experience real freedom! But remember—it's dangerous out there!"

In that moment, I felt all the blood in my body freeze. This man—this man I'd once snatched from death's jaws—could treat me with such cold brutality.

I grabbed my coat and stumbled toward the door.

"Frank Thompson, you're going to regret this."

The door slammed shut. Frank returned to his study and picked up his financial reports as if nothing had happened.

I stood outside as the bitter wind immediately cut through my coat. Aspen nights were cold as hell.

With trembling hands, I pulled my coat tighter and began trudging through the snow, step by agonizing step. Each footfall felt like walking on knife blades. The baby moved restlessly in my belly. The wind and snow lashed my face, more cutting than Frank's coldness.

I touched my belly as tears blurred my vision. "This isn't what I wanted..."

This child was never supposed to exist. Two years ago, I'd been taking birth control, but Frank kept saying he wanted kids. Later I found those vitamin bottle packages in the trash—he'd secretly replaced my pills!

At the time, I thought it was a sign of love. Now I see it was just the beginning of control.

Street lamps swayed in the wind and snow, casting eerie shadows. Suddenly, a powerful flashback hit me—

Three years ago. The same blizzard night.

"Help! Someone's buried in an avalanche!"

I ignored my teammates' warnings and rushed into the danger zone. With bare hands, I dug through the heavy snow layers and pulled an unconscious Frank back from death's door.

"Thank you... thank you for saving me..." He gripped my hand tightly, tears in his eyes. "I'm Frank Thompson. I want... I want to know you."

Back then, his eyes held starlight.

And now?

I stopped and looked back at the warm light glowing from our distant chalet. Frank was probably calculating Madison's training ROI or planning next season's business partnerships.

"I used to be his hero," I laughed bitterly to myself. "Now I'm his prisoner."

I continued stumbling through the snow until I saw the lights of the 24-hour ski shop at the mountain's base.

I pushed open the door and warm air immediately enveloped me. The shop was dim but cozy, with me as the only customer.

I found a corner to sit in and rubbed my belly, whispering, "Did I do something wrong? How did life become like this?"

"Sometimes love becomes a cage."

A deep voice drifted from the back room.

I looked up to see a silver-haired old man emerge silently from the back. His eyes were an unnatural ice-blue with pupils that seemed to contain swirling snowflakes. His skin was pale as porcelain. Most unsettling of all, his footsteps made no sound.

"Are you the shop owner?"

"I'm the guardian of this place." The old man's gaze fell on my belly. "It seems you need a fresh start."

"A fresh start?" I shook my head in despair. "I'm seven months pregnant. How can I start fresh?"

The old man walked behind the counter and produced an exquisite crystal bottle filled with snowflake-shaped transparent liquid that sparkled under the lights.

"Memory Snow Elixir," he said, stroking the bottle. "It can make someone completely forget a specific person or event. This little life can be forgotten along with everything else."

My heart pounded. "It... it really works?"

"Of course. But," the old man's eyes grew profound, "after taking it, you must go somewhere completely new to restart your life. You can never return here. That's the condition for the elixir to work."

I reached out with a trembling hand, almost touching the bottle—

Bang!

The shop door was roughly shoved open, and a disheveled figure rushed in.

It was Frank! He'd hastily thrown on a coat and snow boots, but his hair was still messy, his face red from the wind and snow, his eyes full of worry.

"Riley! You're here!" He rushed toward me, breathless, then slipped on the smooth floor and fell flat on his face.

Watching this once-arrogant sports agent in such a pitiful state stirred mixed feelings in me.

Part vengeful satisfaction, part fear of the future.

Frank scrambled up, snowflakes still clinging to his eyebrows. "Riley, I... I didn't mean it. Come home. It's too cold out here."

I looked at the Memory Snow Elixir in my hand, then at this humble man before me.

My heart was racing. I didn't know what to say.

Finally, I simply said, "Just taking shelter from the storm."

Frank extended his hand. "Then let's go home."

I took a long look at the old man, whose ice-blue eyes watched me quietly.

"Alright."

As we walked out of the shop, I glanced back.

The mysterious old man still stood there, a meaningful smile playing at his lips.

I knew this was only the beginning.