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The day I found out I was pregnant, my boyfriend became my stepbrother. Back in high school, Dominic used to joke and tell me to call him my big brother, saying he would always protect me. I never imagined he would become my brother for real—legally. My mom was the other woman, and his mother died because of it. Dominic hated my mom for what she did, and he couldn't forgive me either. No matter how many times I apologized or explained that I didn't know and would have stopped her if I could, it didn't change anything. That night, I waited for him outside in a summer rainstorm. I stood there all night, soaked to the bone, freezing and almost numb. When he finally showed up, he didn't comfort me. He didn't hesitate. He looked straight at me and said, "Yasmine, I'll forgive you only if you die." ---- At eighteen, Yasmine Gosling's wish was to become Dominic Kennard's wife. At twenty-eight, she attended Dominic's wedding as his stepsister. --- "Yasmine, Nick's wedding is in three days. I've booked your flight back home," Yasmine's mother, Scarlet Dorsey, said on the phone. It was the first time Yasmine had received a call from her mother since leaving for Denmark to study ten years ago. It was also the first time she'd heard any news about Dominic in ages. Dominic, the straight-A student she'd had a secret crush on back in her teens, was now her stepbrother. Her knuckles turned white as she clutched the phone. "He... is getting married?" But Scarlet had already hung up. Yasmine didn't even get the chance to ask who the bride was. She sat on her hospital bed and stared out the window as the soft white snow kept falling. Snow dominated Greenland in every season, making it feel as though spring had forgotten this land forever. Yasmine stopped the doctor making his rounds, wanting to check out of the hospital. "Ms. Gosling, with your advanced stomach cancer, how can you possibly survive outside the hospital? Leaving now is a death sentence!" The doctor's tone was laced with disbelief. Yasmine remained calm. "Well, if I stay for the treatment, will I live to see another spring?" The doctor fell silent right away. Next spring wasn't that far off—just five months away. But she only had three months left to live. Over the past eight years, she'd gotten through hundreds of chemotherapy sessions and more tumor removal surgeries than she could count. Allergic to painkillers, she endured every agonizing night completely sober. Yet fate withheld its kindness, offering her no miracle. Both Yasmine and the doctor knew the truth—everything they did now merely postponed her inevitable death. Yasmine remembered that spring day when she was eighteen, the flowers in bloom, and the words she'd scribbled in her secret diary: "In ten years, I will absolutely be married to Dominic." It had been such a beautiful spring. "I'm going back home to see my crush one last time." Yasmine glanced at the white snow outside, a faint smile tugging at her pale lips. The distance from Greenland to New York was roughly 3,700 kilometers. About six hours later, Yasmine's plane landed in New York. She had measured it on a map. The distance from Greenland to New York was about 3.9 centimeters. On foot, it would take at least 4,200 hours. By bike, it took about 1,050 hours. But it had taken her ten years to actually make it back. Yasmine hadn't expected to run into Dominic at the airport. He was standing at the arrival gate, waiting. He looked tall and imposing, standing 190 cm in a charcoal overcoat. His head was slightly bowed, brown hair casting a shadow over his forehead. A cigarette burned between his fingers, a thin haze of smoke blurring his eyes. All his boyish innocence was gone; he had grown steady and mature. As if sensing her gaze, he suddenly looked up. His eyes cut through the crowd, locking directly onto hers. Every trace of his former gloom had vanished from his eyes, replaced by hollow, complete apathy. Painful memories flooded Yasmine's mind. On that stormy night ten years ago, Dominic had stood outside the hospital morgue and said harshly, "Why did you happen to be her daughter, Yasmine?" Ten years ago, Scarlet became the mistress of Dominic's father, Aaron Kennard, driving Dominic's mother to jump to her death. Then she married Aaron. At the time, Yasmine was eighteen. She apologized to Dominic over and over again, her head hanging low. And Dominic had looked at her with eyes full of despair and grief. "Yasmine, get out of here. I never want to see you again." Yasmine pulled herself out of her thoughts, lowered her head, grabbed her suitcase, and walked up to Dominic, who looked cold and tired. She lifted her eyes to meet his. The pain that once lingered in Dominic's eyes a decade ago had vanished, leaving only calm. A decade was enough to transform someone entirely, grinding everything to dust. Even the love he once held for her had been wiped clean. Yasmine was about to thank Dominic for coming to pick her up when he turned and walked straight to his car. She hurried after him with her suitcase, put it in the trunk, then got into the passenger seat out of habit. "Domi..." She almost blurted out Dominic's name before switching gears at the last second. "It's been a long time... brother." Dominic's icy voice rang out. "Did I say you could get in the car?" ###Chapter 2 Yasmine's face froze. Her fingers tightened on the car door handle until her knuckles turned white. It had been ten years, three thousand six hundred and forty-two days. The man she remembered so vividly was now right before her eyes, but she'd never expected him to be this distant and cold. She and a few of her hospital roommates had spent days talking about what she should say at this long-awaited reunion. Her notebook was filled with scribbled lines, all of it useless now. "Fine," she mumbled awkwardly, pushing open the car door. A gust of cold wind hit her, stinging her nose until it turned red. The moment she stepped out, she noticed a young woman in a pink sweater, cheerfully tapping the hood of the Maybach. "Dominic, didn't we agree you'd stand where I could spot you right away?" she pouted, acting cutesy with him. She had a delicate oval face, with half of her long black hair tied up. She looked vibrant and adorable. Dominic quickly got out of the car, took off the gray cashmere scarf around his neck, and wrapped it around hers. "I'll keep that in mind. But Wini, you can't leave the house without checking the weather forecast. You aren't wearing enough layers. Are you trying to catch a cold?" he said softly. As he spoke, he shrugged off his black overcoat and draped it over her shoulders. That was the very gesture, the very gentle look that Yasmine had clung to in her memories and ached to revive so often. Yasmine took a deep breath, the frigid air filling her lungs with a sharp, stabbing pain. With a click, she stepped out of the car. Dominic's gaze shifted to her. The warmth in them vanished instantly, making him seem like a completely different person. "Who are you?" Winifred Marbury tilted her head in surprise, sizing Yasmine up. Yasmine wanted to say she was a stranger, but she couldn't. She was here for Dominic's wedding. Sooner or later, Winifred would have to find out about her relationship with Dominic. Her dry lips parted a few times before she finally managed a stiff smile. "I'm his..." Before the word "sister" could leave her mouth, Winifred clapped her hands together. "You're Nick's little sister, Yassi! I've seen photos of you and Nick. I'm Nick's fiancée, Winifred Marbury." A picture with Dominic? Had they ever even taken a photo together? A car horn blared suddenly, urging them to move. Before Yasmine could react, Winifred had enthusiastically pushed her into the back seat. The car sped along the airport expressway. "Yassi, you and Nick are the same age, right? Your brother's getting married. When are you planning to settle down?" Winifred asked casually, trying to break the ice. Yasmine was caught off guard for a second. "I... don't have time for dating." She'd been too busy with school and part-time jobs to pay her tuition fees back then, and later she'd been swamped with freelance work to cover her medical bills. All her time had been spent just fighting to survive. Being this busy was exhausting, but that was a blessing. It kept her from thinking about certain people and certain things. "Yassi, why don't you move back from Denmark?" Winifred said, trying to lighten the mood when she saw Yasmine's sad expression. "Then you'd have time to date. And you could be close to family." Suddenly, Yasmine remembered her senior year of high school, when she was binge-watching the show "Revenge". In the story, Emily Thorne's father was killed because of Daniel Grayson's family. In a rage, Emily lashed out with harsh words and ended their relationship. They went their separate ways. "If I were Daniel, I'd have no choice but to leave and go far away..." she'd said through her tears, heartbroken for the characters. "Then I'd be like Emily. I'd stand right where you can see me, waiting for you to come back," Dominic had told her firmly, looking straight into her eyes. He'd said, "Yassi, anytime. Just say the word that you want to come back, and I'd drop everything to be by your side again." Without realizing it, Yasmine spat out, "I do want to come back..." She regretted it the moment she said it. And right at that moment, Dominic suddenly slammed on the brakes, narrowly avoiding a rear-end collision. As Winifred questioned Dominic about why he'd spaced out, Yasmine fumbled to answer a video call from her hospital roommate. Her friend's playful, teasing voice came through the speaker, "Yassi, you must have landed by now, right? "Did you get to see your crush? Did you tell him you came back just to steal him away?" ###Chapter 3 Dead silence filled the car. Yasmine fumbled to end the call, her heart full of regret. This was her punishment for letting greed get the better of her. She'd simply wanted to come back and see him one last time. She should have turned right back to the airport lobby and left immediately after catching a glimpse of him from afar. "It was an upperclassman I dated in Denmark. He's getting married..." she lied guiltily, too cowardly to meet Winifred's confused eyes. Winifred nodded in understanding and was about to ask more, but a cold snort from Dominic cut her off mid-sentence. He didn't say a word, yet he left her feeling breathless. The green light came on right then. Winifred forced an awkward smile, and the topic was dropped. Outside the window, the autumn wind howled, swirling dead leaves around. Everything fell silent once more. The last rays of the sunset fell on the couple in the front seat. Yasmine stared at their intertwined hands. She hung her head and texted her hospital roommate, "I saw my crush. He's happy. That's more than enough." She could see exactly how his happy life unfolded. She imagined that music continued to play in the car as they walked hand in hand on their way home from work at dusk. They picked out each other's favorite foods at the supermarket near their house. They bickered over who would wash the dishes after dinner. And they cuddled up on the couch to watch a horror movie... Those were the happy moments she'd once fantasized about, hoped for, dreamed of sharing with Dominic. And he was about to live that happy life with someone else. He'd moved on without emotional wounds and found true happiness. That was good. --- The car pulled up in front of a standalone villa. "We're here. Get out," Dominic urged Yasmine to get out of the car in a cold voice. Pushing the door open, the cold wind rushed in, filling her chest with a chill. Dominic got out as well, quickly retrieving her suitcase from the trunk. Yasmine wanted to say she was sorry. But his frigid warning sounded, "Yasmine, if you and your mother have even a shred of decency left, don't show your faces at my wedding." The white suitcase thudded heavily on the ground. Yasmine's heart ached at his words. "Okay," she replied softly, forcing a faint smile. She turned around and pulled her suitcase away. Dominic stood still, watching her retreating back without a single glance behind. It reminded him of ten years ago. Ten years ago, she had left just as decisively, as if she didn't care about anything at all. Dominic's breathing grew heavier for no reason. He tore his eyes away, slammed the car door shut, and drove off. Only when his car disappeared at the end of the road did Yasmine finally stop walking. She turned to look back. Her eyes slowly welled up with tears. She tilted her head back to hold back the tears, only to see her mother standing there, adorned in graceful, luxurious attire. --- Inside the villa, Yasmine had barely finished saying "You shouldn't go to Dominic's wedding" when Scarlet slapped her hard across the face, jerking her head to the side. Scarlet's sharp fingernails sliced her cheek, leaving a bright red mark. "Yasmine, are you trying to remind me that I stole his father and drove his mother to her death? That I don't deserve to go to his wedding? "You and I are the same people! If being a mistress is disgusting, what about you screwing Dominic the moment you turned legal, getting pregnant, and having an abortion? Isn't that disgusting?" Yasmine clutched her stinging cheek. Her wig had been knocked off in the slap, revealing her sickly, ashen scalp. Scarlet's eyes widened in shock. Yasmine's throat tightened. The red mark on her face stood out starkly. Each word she spoke sent a stab of pain through her throat. "You're right. We are both disgusting. So now I'm paying the price. "Mom, you have to believe it. What goes around comes around." She finished speaking, suppressed the pain in her eyes, picked up her wig silently, and turned around. She saw Dominic standing at the door, radiating a chilling aura. She had no idea how long he had been there. ###Chapter 4 Dominic's gaze landed on the fresh red mark on her face, then on the wig in her hand, and he paused. Yasmine's breath hitched, her mind going completely blank. Should she admit she had stomach cancer? Or make up another lie to brush it off? But her hesitation was for nothing. Dominic didn't ask a single question. He just tossed her the bag she'd left in his car with a cold look. The bag struck her stomach, sending a sharp jolt through the wound in her abdomen, draining the color from her face. She failed to catch it, and it hit the floor with a dull thud. "Yasmine, will you swear this is the last time we ever see each other?" Dominic said, his eyes completely devoid of emotion. Their eyes locked in stunned silence, the atmosphere turning tense. Yasmine's heart hammered uncontrollably in her chest, a dull ache spreading through it. "Probably not. I don't believe in anything. It's not like you didn't know that already." She forced a smile, fighting back the pain surging inside her. Dominic's expression darkened instantly. She continued, her voice soft yet firm, "But I always keep my word. Don't worry. You'll never have to see me again." "You'd better stick to that," Dominic said in a cold tone. He slammed the door on his way out. Staring at his retreating back, Yasmine dug her fingernails into her palms. She only registered the sting when she felt the dampness of broken skin. She was regretful that she'd left her bag in his car, giving him a chance to see her most vulnerable, broken moment. Scarlet bent down to pick up the bag, and then fixed her eyes on the wig in Yasmine's hand, her voice heavy. "When did this happen?" Yasmine's eyes stung, but her voice was calm. "A long time ago. I can't remember exactly when." At those words, Scarlet's hand tightened sharply around the little bear keychain hanging from the bag. It was a gift she'd given Yasmine for her tenth birthday. The fabric had long since faded to a pale yellow, its stitches were clearly clumsy, and repairs were obvious. Yet Yasmine had never thrown it away. Scarlet muttered, "If they can't cure you, just go for euthanasia. It'll spare you some pain. "Don't worry about the cost. I'll transfer you the money." As she finished speaking, Scarlet tore the little bear charm off the bag. Yasmine's tears fell, sudden and uncontrollable. It felt just as broken as that toy, a pain too sharp to put into words. Her chest tightened, heavy with emotion. She forced out a difficult, twisted smile. "Thank you... Mom." She took her bag and placed it gently on top of her suitcase. "This was the last time I ever called you that." With that, Yasmine pushed the door open and walked away without looking back. --- Yasmine got into a taxi bound for the airport. The cityscape flashed by outside the window, and memories played out in her mind like a movie. She remembered her father, wracked by pain and on the brink of despair, gripping her hand and saying, "Yassi, I will love you properly in the next life." Then he'd turned and jumped out the window. She recalled her eighteenth birthday, when she'd given herself to Dominic as a gift in that cramped, shabby rental room. It only happened once, and that one time was enough to get her pregnant. She'd had no idea what to do, clutching her pregnancy test results and planning to talk to Dominic about it. But that very day, her mother had confronted his family and driven his mother to jump from the rooftop. She hadn't even had time to decide whether to keep the baby or not when she'd suffered a threatened miscarriage and lost it. She remembered begging Scarlet to leave Dominic's father and apologize to his mother. But Scarlet had screamed at her hysterically, "Yasmine, every time I see you, I'm reminded of how miserable my life has been to marry that useless man and give birth to a loser like you!" "I should have strangled you when you were born." Dominic had said harsh words to her as well, "Yasmine, can't you just disappear for good?" Back then, she'd apologized to him over and over, explaining, "Dominic, I'm so sorry. I really didn't know anything. If I had, I would have stopped my mom." She'd asked him, "What do I have to do to make you accept me again?" She'd waited for him all night in that summer downpour, her body going numb with cold. Finally, he came. And he brought an answer colder than the rain. "Yasmine, I'll never forgive you unless my mother comes back to life." At the memory, Yasmine's chest tightened, suffocating, her eyes brimming with tears. She pressed her phone to her chest as the sharp, stabbing pain flared up. The pain was so intense that she broke out in a cold sweat, her back drenched, until she passed out from the agony, only to wake again moments later. She told the driver to turn around immediately. She needed to go to the hospital right now. In Denmark, a non-emergency ambulance transport for non-residents typically incurred a fee of approximately 170 dollars. So, she always toughed it out and took a cab to the hospital instead. She was used to enduring it. But this time, her vision blurred, and she lost consciousness in the backseat of the taxi. When she opened her eyes again, she was already in the hospital. In her daze, she heard Dominic's voice whispering something in her ear. She forced her eyes open and immediately met Dominic's deep gaze, bloodshot and weary. Hadn't they agreed they'd never see each other again? ###Chapter 5 Her voice was hoarse. "Why... are you here?" The hospital room door swung open. William Hathaway, in his white coat for rounds, looked in, surprise washing over his face. "I thought it might be a different person with the same name. But it really is you, Yasmine." Yasmine stared at William's face, baffled. He said, "We joined the drama club in high school. I was your scene partner, William Hathaway." Then it all came flooding back. William was the upperclassman she and Dominic had met in the drama club. At the Drama Club Showcase, the three of them recited Percy Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind" together and won first prize. His line, "If winter comes, can spring be far behind," still echoed in her ears. The warmth in Dominic's eyes turned cold in an instant. She'd said she'd come back to see her crush. Yasmine was lost for words. She opened her mouth to speak, but Dominic cut her off with a sneer, "You listed me as your emergency contact, and now you're asking why I'm here? "Yasmine, I used to think you were just despicable. But now you're truly repulsive..." William frowned, interrupting him, "Dominic, look at her. Is this really the time for that? She's in the late stages of cancer..." Yasmine tried to stop him, but Dominic's scoff silenced her before she could speak. "Oh. Well, it seems there is some justice in the world after all." Every word stabbed at her heart, making it hard to breathe. She clutched her phone tightly, her voice rough. "I set that emergency contact ten years ago. I'll delete it right now." She hung her head. Her eyes dimmed in an instant. On September 21st, 2014, the iPhone 6 was launched with a new emergency contact feature. Dominic had bought it for her right away so that no matter what happened, she could reach him instantly. Back then, she had teased him on purpose, "Dominic, what if we break up? What if you fall in love with someone else?" Dominic had been quiet for a long time, but when he finally spoke, his voice was full of resolve. He said, "Yasmine, no matter what happens, I'll never change this number." He took her hand and pressed it to his warm chest. "And this... won't change either." Now, watching Dominic's resolute back as he walked away, Yasmine felt a lump in her throat so painful she could barely breathe. The day she'd gotten her diagnosis, she'd stood in the hospital hallway, phone in hand, wondering if she should call him. But the thought of him feeling the same panic and fear stopped her. Better to let the boy in the white shirt, so full of youthful brilliance, stay that way forever in her memory. By her bed, William's expression was grim. He was holding her latest test results. But Yasmine was calm. She'd grown numb to scenes like this. "Dr. Hathaway, why the long face? My case is already a medical miracle. I've survived stomach cancer for eight years, you know," she said lightly, even managing a smile. Eight years—she'd never dreamed she could last this long. "Yasmine, this isn't the time for jokes." William took off his glasses, rubbing his temples with pale fingers, looking pained. "Do you realize that if you don't keep up with treatment or get surgery, you could..." He was a doctor, accustomed to life and death. Yet in that moment, he couldn't bring himself to say the cruel word. But her gentle smile softened his tone. "I'm still alright, aren't I? Don't worry. I won't die anytime soon." She had to hold on until she could get back to Denmark. She had no plans to return to where she came from. There was nothing left here to hold her. She had decided long ago to have a priest scatter her ashes at sea, close to that silent snowfield. After ten years in that frozen place, one final glimpse of her hometown before she died would be enough. She had lived fully, and when her time came, she would accept it, dying as quietly as a snowflake meeting the earth. Yasmine tried to lighten her tone. "William, surgery is painful. Nasogastric tubes hurt. Defibrillation is brutal. I've had enough pain. I've tried my best. So, I don't regret giving up treatment at all." William fell silent, his eyes growing red. He shoved his helpless hands into the pockets of his white coat. His fingers brushed against a creamy candy that a little girl from the next ward had given him. He pulled it out and handed it to Yasmine. Yasmine took it, tore off the wrapper, and popped it into her mouth. A rich, creamy sweetness spread across her tongue. She squinted slightly at the fading daylight outside the window, drawing out her words slowly, "So sweet." She would remember that fleeting sweetness for all her remaining days. Her life was short, and it was ending. When Yasmine stirred awake from a muddled sleep, William was gone. The intern nurse who came to change her IV was full of energy. She couldn't help gossiping, her voice full of envy. "Ms. Gosling, was that guy who was here earlier your boyfriend? He's so handsome! And he seemed so devoted. "He quietly waited outside your room for ages while you were asleep." Yasmine's heart skipped a beat. She forced a bitter smile. "You got it wrong. He's... my brother." The nurse's face fell. "Oh no! So, he really is Winifred's boyfriend?" "Winifred?" Yasmine was surprised. The nurse leaned in and whispered, "Don't tell anyone. I'm Winifred's fan. We all thought she liked girls. We're so sad she has a boyfriend now." It was a lot to take in, but once it sank in, Yasmine laughed softly. She was about to say something to comfort the nurse, but her phone suddenly buzzed. It was a long, carefully written email from Dominic. ###Chapter 6 Yasmine's hand trembled, making the bloody IV needle jump and splash a droplet. She soothed the startled nurse. Her pale, trembling finger hovered, then tapped to open the email. The letter began with an opening meant for Yasmine. "Yassi, you're always so insecure, saying you're scared you'll lose me someday. "That's why I set this reply to send ten years from now. "Today is November 19th, 2015, your eighteenth birthday. "We just sent our wish bottles down the river. "You hid it from me, saying your wish had to be heard by the river god. "I fished your wish bottle out secretly. "I want you to know that while a god might not hear your wish, I can. "Your wish was simple. "You hoped we'd have a cute daughter in ten years. "You hoped your mom would love you just a little bit more, and that we'd have a happy home. "I want to tell you that I'll have made all your wishes come true by the time I turn 28. "Let this email be my proof." Yasmine's eyes welled up, and big teardrops splattered onto the screen. In a daze, she could almost see the eighteen-year-old boy—barefoot, chasing along the riverbank with a net, determined to fish it out. Even as his feet turned red with cold, he'd huff warm air on his hands and keep going. She thought, "Dominic, none of my wishes come true. Our baby died ten years ago, and we never got to be together..." She let the tears flow until her eyes stung. Then she opened a new email and started writing a reply. Just like he did, she set it to send later. By the time she finished the email, night had fallen completely. Yasmine bought a ticket for the earliest flight back to Denmark, departing at six the next morning. And tomorrow was Yasmine's birthday. Yasmine checked out of the hospital and headed to a bakery that stayed open late, hoping to buy a cake. She hadn't had a birthday cake in years. If she didn't have one now, she might never get another chance. But the clerk told her all the cakes were sold out. Yasmine turned to leave, disappointed, only to bump right into Winifred. "Yassi, what a coincidence! Are you here to order a cake too at this hour?" Winifred had just come out of the bakery, her fair face dusted with flour. As soon as she finished speaking, Dominic's cold, aloof figure appeared behind her. On the baking table behind him sat a ten-inch cake. Lifting her gaze, she saw his face, already hardening with a familiar chill at the sight of her. Without a word, he brushed past her and walked outside. Winifred invited Yasmine to try the cake she'd just made. With its pink color and the pair of kissing figurines on top, it was unmistakably a wedding cake. But what caught her eye even more was the string of numbers Winifred had scrawled crookedly on it: August 24th, 2015. It was the same day she and Dominic had broken up. Winifred smiled sweetly, explaining, "That's our anniversary, the day we got together." The words "anniversary" hit Yasmine like a physical blow. Her throat tightened. She forced a strained smile. "I wish you a happy tenth anniversary. May you always be happy together." And she meant it, truly. Winifred accepted graciously. "Thank you for the blessing." She was generous with her happiness, eager to share. "We're going to be together forever, you know. Back in middle school, I was bullied really badly. She was the one who stood up for me and gave me warmth..." As Winifred thought of that figure, a soft smile spread across her lips. Yasmine listened quietly, her heart aching, as Winifred recounted all their sweet memories. She stood there until the clock struck midnight. Finally, she couldn't stand it anymore and made an excuse to leave. But her steps faltered when she saw Dominic still standing outside the shop. She told herself she was supposed to pretend they didn't know each other, but she couldn't bring herself to take another step. This goodbye was for real. They would never see each other again. Yasmine bit her lower lip until it hurt. Still, she turned back. Her voice was very soft as she said her final words to him, "Dominic, thank you." ###Chapter 7 I uttered inwardly, "Thank you for being there when Mom called me a burden and I wanted to end my life. "Thank you for standing up for me again and again when I was bullied." "Thank you for getting me a hot dog in the deepest cold, and for assuring me that a hot dog could make anything better." Dominic's hand, hanging by his side, curled into a fist unconsciously. He scoffed coldly, "I still won't forgive you." Every word cut deep. Dominic didn't spare her another glance. He pushed the door open and walked back into the bakery. Yasmine's phone buzzed. It was a transfer notification—150 thousand dollars had just been deposited into her account. Then three messages from Scarlet popped up. "This is the contact number for the euthanasia organization director." "This agency can handle post-death arrangements." "I'm busy. I won't have time for your funeral." A biting wind cut through her, sharpening the ache in her heart. It was midnight in New York. The streets were still crowded with people. No one noticed as a lonely figure slowly vanished into the crowd... A half-moon hung in the night sky, the stars twinkling just as they always had. --- Half a month later, Dominic and Winifred arrived at the Wadden Sea in Denmark. The sky was painted pink and golden. The snow lay thick on the ground. Dominic was wearing a black overcoat, his boots sinking deep into the snow with every step. Winifred followed closely behind, treading in his footprints. "Dominic, Yasmine went straight back to Denmark without even coming to our wedding. Since we're here now, why don't we ask her out for dinner? "She looks like she doesn't eat properly. She's skinnier than me, and I'm supposed to watch my weight as a celebrity." Snowflakes drifted down silently. A vision of that fragile, thin figure flashed across Dominic's mind, and he couldn't shake it off. "I'm here for work," he said coldly. Winifred asked tentatively, "Dominic, is Yasmine that first love you can never forget?" Six months ago, tabloids caught wind of Winifred's relationship with her girlfriend. She'd been scrambling to protect her girlfriend when Dominic approached her. His company was raising funds for an IPO and bidding on projects. He needed the image of a happily married man. Thus, they'd entered into a marriage of convenience, each getting what they needed. Dominic froze in his tracks. "I knew it! No wonder you cut that photo of the two of you from the graduation picture and framed it. "Dominic, your mom would want you to be happy. Besides, your first love didn't do anything wrong in that whole mess." Dominic was silent for a long time before speaking, "I know." Of course, he knew that Yasmine had also been innocent. But knowing and acting on that knowledge were two different things. More than hatred, he felt anger. He was angry that Yasmine hadn't fought harder. She'd run away overseas after he'd said those cruel words and stayed away for ten whole years. For ten years, he never changed his number. He even kept his Skype account active. But she'd never sent him a single message. Not one. He was furious. Years ago, after a car accident, when the doctors issued a critical condition notice, he broke down and called her, and she never answered. She'd ignored his texts, too. Even now, the memory made him kick a clump of snow in frustration. Winifred patted his shoulder, her tone earnest. "Dominic, a relationship isn't a contest. It doesn't matter who gave in first. "Maybe she didn't stop loving you. Maybe she just couldn't face you?" She pulled Dominic's phone out of his coat pocket. "Call her. Talk to her openly. Even if you can't be lovers anymore, you can still be family and friends. After all, you once loved each other deeply. "If you need me to explain anything, just let me know." Snowflakes melted against the cold surface of the phone screen. Dominic stood there, motionless for a long time. Finally, he unlocked the phone and opened the call log. But a notification from his high school alumni group popped up at the top of the screen. "Is there anyone in Denmark? Can someone attend Yasmine's funeral for me?"

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