Chapter 1

Serah's POV

The weather was unbearably cold, biting through my clothes and chilling me to the bone. I wrapped my arms tightly around myself as I walked along the deserted streets, shivering uncontrollably. Each step felt heavier than the last, and the cold seemed to gnaw at my very core. My stomach churned painfully, likely a mix of the freezing temperature and the heaviness in my heart. I just hoped with all my might that I would reach home soon, a warm refuge from this cruel night.

The streets around me were eerily empty. Not a single soul was in sight, no cars, no stray animals—just me alone battling the night and the cold. It was so late; surely everyone was nestled safely in their beds, wrapped in warm blankets and blissfully unaware of the harsh night outside. The piercing cold had driven everyone indoors early tonight, making the silence even more profound and the emptiness of the streets almost haunting.

My phone, tucked safely in my handbag, suddenly vibrated against my thigh. I fumbled to pull it out, hoping desperately that it was Brian. My heart skipped a beat at the thought. Brian—the man I loved more than anything in this world. He was my anchor, my solace, my entire universe. But the memories of what he had said earlier made my eyes sting with tears.

Instead of Brian’s name, I saw it was my elder sister, Mia. My breath caught as I read her message:

“Serah, where are you? It’s getting so late, and I’m starting to worry about you. Please text me back when you get this.”

I quickly slipped the phone back into my purse, unwilling to add more stress to her night. Mia had never approved of Brian. From the very start, she had warned me against him, pleaded with me to stay away. But my love for Brian had always been stronger than her disapproval. I was blinded by my feelings for him, even when I should have seen the warning signs. And now, those feelings were tangled with heartbreak because he had hurt me worse than anyone ever could.

I quickened my pace, the cold now an unbearable weight pressing down on me. My heart pounded painfully in my chest, the ache in my soul matching the sting of the frosty air. Brian’s cruel words echoed relentlessly in my mind, fresh and sharp as if he had spoken them just moments ago.

“It’s over between us, Serah. I’ve found a better woman. You’re dead to me. Get out of my house. I never want to see you again.”

I could barely comprehend how the man I loved could transform into someone so cold, so ruthless. It was like he was a stranger, someone completely unrecognizable. My Brian—the one I had believed in—would never have spoken to me that way, never have thrown me out into the night like trash.

My legs began to tremble uncontrollably, and the world around me started to blur. I felt dizzy, my vision narrowing as weakness overtook me. I wanted to cry out, to scream for help, but no sound came. I prayed silently for a car to pass by, for someone—anyone—to stop and offer me a ride home. I still had a few minutes to go, but I wasn’t sure I could make it.

The cold seemed to seep into my very bones, freezing me in place. My body betrayed me—I lost my balance and tumbled hard onto the unforgiving pavement. Pain shot through my palms as I tried to catch myself, my hands scraping against the rough ground. My bag had fallen to my side, and with trembling fingers, I fumbled to reach inside and pull out my phone.

With shaky hands, I typed a desperate message to Mia:

“Help, sister. I can’t bear this cold anymore. My legs are frozen. I can’t walk.”

I stared at the screen, waiting for a reply that never came. Maybe she had fallen asleep already, the late hour claiming her before she could see my message.

I forced myself to get up, summoning every ounce of strength I had left. But my body was weak and uncooperative. I stumbled again, my foot catching on an uneven stone. I fell hard, the back of my head slamming painfully against the cold concrete. Darkness swept over me, and I lost consciousness, the last thing I felt was the cruel sting of the night air against my face.