Chapter 3

When I arrived at the cabin, my father's wooden sign had already split in two.

The foreman recognized me and hurriedly explained, "Ms. Zane said to clear all the old things. We didn't know it was yours."

I crouched down to pick it up. The wooden thorns pierced into the palm of my hand, oozing tiny drops of blood.

When my father handed the inn over to me, he had written a sentence on the back of the sign: [Come and stay for one night when you're tired, Myles.]

The handwriting had been washed away by the rain, but I still recognized each stroke.

Liam followed and stood outside the door without entering. "Myles, don't blame Lindsay. It was I who wanted a place to paint snow scenes. She thought this place was suitable and had someone tidy it up."

"Get out."

"I can move elsewhere," he suggested while sweeping his gaze over the newly replaced easels and carpets in the room. "It's just that Lindsay had paid a year's renovation fee in advance for me. The money will go to waste if we stop now."

Lindsay walked in. "How's your hand?"

I pulled away from her touch. "Call off the crew."

"Myles, don't take your anger out on the house."

"It's not just a house. It's the home my father left me."

Lindsay glanced at the broken wooden sign and instructed the foreman, "Make a new one."

"What about the original lettering?"

"Carve it the same way."

"It won't be his handwriting."

Her patience ran out. "It's just an old piece of wood. If you don't like the renovation, I'll have it restored to the way it was after Liam's winter exhibition."

She wanted me to wait again.

I had to wait for the party to end to reclaim my watch.

I had to wait for the art exhibition to end to reclaim my wooden cabin.

I always came last after everything else was over.

The manager of the manor, Eddie Romaine, hurried over. "Ms. Zane, there are reporters outside asking if the police are investigating you for abandoning your husband."

Liam turned pale. "Someone must have leaked this on purpose. My art exhibition was just announced. I can't have news like this."

Lindsay looked at me. "Did you contact the media?"

"No."

"No one else knew the details about the road closure."

"The police knew, the doctors knew, and the people who rescued me knew."

Liam muttered, "Lindsay, let it go. Myles feels aggrieved. It's only natural he'd want to embarrass me for once."

"He's not like that," Lindsay retorted without hesitation.

My fingertips curled slightly.

The very next second, she instructed Eddie, "Have him speak up as a family member. Say it was a marital dispute and Liam had nothing to do with it."

She trusted that I would not harm anyone. She was also certain I would continue to clean up her mess for her.

Reporters were crowding the lobby.

The elders of the Zane family had arrived as well.

Lindsay's father, Arthur Zane, pulled me aside and scolded me with a frown. "It was indeed improper for Lindsay to leave you there, but didn't you make it back safely? Liam's sister saved her life; what's the harm in yielding to him a little?"

"Why should I have to give up my watch and cabin too?"

"You've married with Lindsay. What could you possibly lack? Liam is all alone. How can he be compared to you?"

I looked at Lindsay.

She did not speak up for me; she simply placed a glass of warm water beside me.

"Let's handle the reporters first. We can talk about it when we get home."

The glass felt warm against my hand.

When my father passed away seven years ago, I was shivering with cold outside the funeral home; she had shoved a cup of warm water into my hands just like this and sat with me until dawn.

For a fleeting moment, I almost wanted to trust her again.

Liam suddenly emerged from the restroom; his wrist was bare.

"Where's the watch?" I asked.

He touched his wrist. "Lindsay took it just now; she said she wanted to put it in the manor's display case."

"What display case?"

He did not answer.

Just then, Eddie walked by carrying an exhibition setup list.

At the very top was written the theme of Liam's winter art exhibition—'Return to the Stars.'

In the deion of the exhibits, my Seven-Star Watch was labeled as a keepsake left behind by Liam's older sister. In the 'Provider' field was Lindsay's name.

I placed the setup list in front of Lindsay. "Explain this."

She glanced at it. "We're just borrowing the watch as an exhibit for the opening showcase. Liam's sister was named Starley, so the theme fits perfectly."

"You know full well whose keepsake that is."

"I didn't change its ownership status. I'll return it to you after the exhibition ends."

"But the deion says it's Starley's keepsake."