Ashes of Our Affection

When I woke up, I found myself alone on a snowy mountain.

Cole Hartness had abandoned me there, leaving only a note with a sharp message he'd scrawled. "Isabel, stay where you are and reflect on the things you've done. I'll come get you in a week."

At first, I kept imagining him suddenly showing up to take me away. After all, no one worried about my safety more than he did.

But it was as if fate were determined to go against me. Instead of Cole coming to get me, an avalanche arrived first.

I ran. The icy wind knifed down my throat in greedy bursts. My lungs burned with every gasp. As time passed, all I could hear was the pounding of my own heartbeat.

My numb legs moved on autopilot. Then, I stumbled and crashed to the ground. The roar behind me grew louder and louder. I watched helplessly as the wall of snow swallowed me whole.

Right before I blacked out, I told myself that if I somehow survived this, I would be done with Cole. I wouldn't want him anymore.

Somehow, against all odds, I did survive. Then, I clung to life until a rescue team found me.

I lay on a hospital bed, listening quietly as a doctor delivered his verdict.

Because I'd been trapped on the mountain for too long, my eyesight had deteriorated sharply, my vocal cords were damaged, and almost all my organs showed different degrees of failure. At most, I would only live until 30.

Upon hearing that, Cole grabbed the doctor by the collar. His eyes were bloodshot as he barked, "Isn't modern medicine supposed to be advanced? What do you mean she can only live to 30?

"She's only 24, and you're telling me she only has six years left? She was just stuck on a mountain for a week. How can things be so bad?"

The doctor was clearly terrified. He stammered, "T-That's what Ms. Cavendish's test results show."

Rachel Lancaster, dressed in a hospital gown, rested her hands lightly on Cole's wrists.

"Cole, maybe this hospital's not very good," she said soothingly. "Why don't we transfer Izzy to my hospital? You know how bad I was before, but look at me now. I can walk, and I can even come here with you to visit Izzy."

Cole abruptly released the doctor and turned to look at Rachel. His face lit up. "You're right. If we go to your hospital, the doctors there will definitely be able to cure Izzy."

I lowered my eyes. The damage was already done. These aftereffects weren't something that could be cured.

Very quickly, Cole transferred me to the hospital where Rachel was staying. There, her attending physician told Cole that I'd only been badly frightened. Aside from that, there was nothing wrong with me.

Rachel feigned surprise as she gasped. "How can this be? The previous tests said things were really bad."

Cole kept pressing the doctor on my situation. The doctor insisted I was fine and that I just looked a little weak.

Cole flew off the handle. "You're unbelievable, Isabel! Do you have any idea how worried I've been? And you went and colluded with a doctor to exaggerate your condition just to get my attention!"