Chapter 1

The wind and snow gradually intensified, and the rescue team quickly disappeared into the vast white expanse.

I dragged my exhausted body and began laboriously moving through the thick snow, finding a sheltered slope and digging a snow cave for me to curl up in.

With the snow and cold winds out of the way, my body temperature began to rise once again.

Then I retrieved my satellite phone from the inner pocket of my down jacket and turned it on. The screen lit up, casting a faint glow over my pale face.

The signal was strong at full bars.

The other side picked up as soon as I placed a call to them, and a lazy yet slightly concerned male voice came through.

"Hello, Mr. Wilfred Carson. You've finally thought about me at long last, haven't you? Didn't you say you were going alpine climbing with your family and wouldn't take any of us mere mortals with you?"

It was Zack Fox, a good friend I met after getting into outdoor sports in the past. He was basically a madman who valued life over money, and he also considered me his only friend.

"Zack. I got caught in an avalanche."

Zack's side went silent at once. However, seconds later, I heard the sound of a chair falling over, accompanied by Zack's angry roar.

"What the hell? Where the hell are you now, Wilfred?"

"Chill," I said, calmly reading out my GPS coordinates to him. "I'm safe at the moment, but I need you to come and save me."

"What about the official rescue teams?"

"They took William away," I said indifferently. "And my dad told me to wait for the next team."

There was another bout of silence on the line.

Zack was more aware of the mess that was my family matters more than anyone else.

"The next team? Tell him to wait for his next life then!" Zack blurted out in anger. "I've already looked at the weather forecast. There'll be a huge snowstorm in 12 hours, and all rescue operations will be halted! He's just leaving you there to freeze to death!"

"I know," I replied, still as frighteningly calm as ever.

"Wait for me, Wilfred. I'm going to get you down from that godforsaken place in a fighter jet if I have to!"

After hanging up on the call, I leaned back against the icy walls and closed my eyes to preserve energy.

I bet the world at the foot of the mountain must be bustling with activity right now.

I could imagine my dear father, Michael Carson, facing the media cameras while playing the role of a desperate father grieving the loss of his son while trying to stay strong.

Meanwhile, my dear stepbrother, William Carson, would be lying in a VIP hospital ward, enjoying the best medical care there was to offer while being on the receiving end of everyone's concern and sympathy.

Perhaps, that fiancee of mine, Violet Hathaway, would also be keeping him company at the moment, gently holding his hand in hers and comforting him, telling him not to blame himself for my "disappearance".

After all, these were all exactly what happened in my past life.

I opened the web browser on my satellite phone listlessly. The signal was a little slow, but it was enough to load a number of trending news headlines.

"Carson Group Heir Missing in the Alpine Mountains, Fate Unknown After Saving Stepbrother's Life."

"The Strength of Kinship—Younger Brother Sacrifices Himself to Save Elder Stepbrother, Touching Countless Hearts."

"Michael Carson of Carson Group Speaks In Grief: We Are Still Searching with All Our Might. We'll Never Give Up!"