Love Ends at the First Snowfall

By the time the police found me, I could no longer walk on my own.

The ambulance arrived at the county hospital, and the on-duty doctor cut open my soaked pant legs and asked me where my family was.

I gave Lindsay Zane's number.

The nurse called twice, but no one answered.

The third call finally got through, but it was Liam Stewart on the other end of the line. "Lindsay is taking a bath. Myles Scott, why did you call the police? She just wanted you to calm down. If you keep behaving like this, you'll get her questioned by the police."

The nurse's expression changed slightly. "The patient's body temperature is too low. His family needs to come over immediately."

Liam chuckled softly. "Myles, you know that Lindsay has an important meeting tomorrow. Stop scaring her with your health. You've been married for years. This trick no longer works."

The call was hung up.

I lay on the ER bed, my fingers still curled as I gripped my phone.

The doctor said I might have had cardiac arrhythmia due to severe hypothermia if I had been another half an hour late.

At 3:00 am, Lindsay finally arrived. Her fur coat had a thin layer of snow on the shoulder, and she was holding my clean clothes and a thermos. When she walked to the bedside, she first touched my forehead and then looked at the IV bag. "The police contacted me."

I turned my face toward the window.

She unscrewed the thermos cup and poured out some hot water. "Have a little drink first."

"No thanks."

"Are you still angry?" She put the cup on the bedside table, and her tone was the usual patience when dealing with problems. "I admit, I was wrong to leave you there. But cars pass by that road every day, and you could've stopped one. There was no need to report it and take the matter to the police station."

"That road was closed."

Lindsay paused.

"There was a road closure sign at the intersection. Not a single car drove by today."

She frowned. "I didn't see it."

"You didn't look back."

The ward fell silent.

She pulled out a chair and sat down, pressing her fingertips between her eyebrows. "I shouldn't have handled the watch situation so hastily. Liam's attending a party the day after tomorrow, and he doesn't have the right accessories. Your watch would go perfectly with his suit. He'll only wear it for one night.”

"So you tore it right off my wrist."

Her expression was icy as she hooked her fingers around the watch band and yanked hard. The metal links dug into my skin before the clasp snapped, leaving a ring of blood around my wrist.

My father had crafted the watch himself. Seven star-shaped studs of varying sizes were inlaid on the inside of the case back, while my birthday was engraved on the back of the one in the center.

After my father passed away, I had worn it only on our wedding anniversary and his death anniversary. Lindsay knew that.

Back when she first fastened the watch band for me, she had spent a full half-hour fiddling with it, terrified she might scratch the case. Now, it took her just two seconds to tear it off my wrist.

Lindsay glanced down and saw the injury. She reached out only to pull her hand back. "I'll have the clasp replaced."

"Give it back to me."

"After the party."

"I want it now."

Her expression hardened. "Myles, enough is enough. Liam's sister died on a snow mountain saving me. He spent seven years abroad alone and is penniless now. Do you really have to fight him over a watch?"

"My father left it to me."

"He's just borrowing it."

"His social media post said you gave it to him."

Lindsay fell silent for a moment. "It's just a caption. You know perfectly well I'd never actually give away something that belonged to your father."