บททั้งหมดของ The Last Guests of Winter: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

"My parents are coming over in three days. We'll settle the terms with your father. You'd better be ready to meet our demands."I stared at the bright red lips opening and closing in front of me, then glanced up at the blazing sun overhead. A rush of excitement hit me so hard that it felt like I had slapped myself across the face.Jasmine Baker, the girl I used to treat like a goddess, rolled her eyes in disgust."Are you crazy, Carson? Don't think acting like an idiot will get you out of meeting our terms."Her words yanked me out of the dizzy joy of being reborn. I looked her up and down carefully.I spent five years pursuing her, from college until then.I thought that would be enough time for anyone to change.I was wrong. She was pregnant with another man's child and still had the audacity to ask me for three million dollars to prove I was serious about marrying her.When the storm came in my previous life, she and her entire family took over my home, drove my family out i

To humiliate me on purpose, Jasmine did not even start the negotiation right away. Instead, she ordered me to serve a drink for every elder in the room, treating me like a servant.By the time I finished, she seemed to run out of ideas. Only then did she wave her hand dismissively and let me sit.Her whole family sprawled across the biggest sofa, while I dragged over a small stool and sat on the other side of the table.The divide between us could not have been clearer.In three days, we would be separated by life and death. The thought made the corner of my mouth lift into an involuntary smile.Jasmine's paternal aunt, Ruby, snapped me out of it with her sharp voice. "Look at him. Just imagining he gets to marry Jas, and he's already grinning like that."Jasmine's maternal uncle, Nevin, let out a mocking laugh. "The so-called only heir of the Lewis Group? Doesn't look like much to me."For you to be worthy of our Jas, that's already reaching way above your level."'Right, righ

After the meal, Ruby told the housekeeper to bring over a few plastic bags. I quickly stopped her."What are you doing? You…"Nevin set his wine glass down with a thud and cut me off immediately."We barely had a few bites. What's wrong with packing some food to go?"Don't think giving each of us a car and a villa is enough to brush us off. Let me tell you, if we, the uncles and aunts, don't approve, you and Jas aren't getting married."Hearing that, I felt a quiet surge of satisfaction.So the aunts and uncles thought the terms were not being divided fairly and wanted to stir things up. Perfect."Don't misunderstand me," I said with a calm smile. "I'm not saying you can't take anything. I'm saying, if you like it here, why not stay a few more days?"The moment I said that, Ruby's face lit up with a wide grin.Kelly's expression stiffened. Her tone turned sharp."Oh, Carson. People who know you may say you're being hospitable. People who don't may think you're the one calling

With my promise secured, they finally dispersed, each drifting back to their rooms.Jasmine still carried that superior attitude. She tilted her chin toward the door."Well? What are you waiting for? Get out. You're blocking my view."I opened my mouth, but no words came out.After all, that was the woman I had loved for five years in my previous life.Thinking back on everything, all the bitterness and pain, I lowered my head and let out a quiet, helpless laugh.I lived an entire life for nothing, only to die at the hands of her family.It was not just me.There were also my parents and William.'This time, I'm collecting every debt,' I thought.Seeing that I did not move, Jasmine slammed the door shut with a loud bang.With that sound, I knew something for certain.That would be the last time I would ever see her in this life.I walked around outside the villa and got into each of the three cars one by one, checking the fuel levels.The driver had done his job well. Jus

At noon the next day, in the middle of June, snow began to fall.It came out of nowhere.Everyone else was caught up in the strange excitement of summer snowfall. Only the employees of the Lewis Group stayed home, just like they had been told, with heating equipment and food prepared in advance.That same day, Jasmine finally got what she wanted.She spent the afternoon in my bed with that balding man.Afterward, still not satisfied, she called me and asked when the money would be ready.I smiled and soothed her, telling her it would be transferred to Rhett's account on time the next day.Jasmine ran downstairs in excitement and shared the good news with her parents.The moment Kelly heard it, she jumped to her feet and started scolding Jasmine for not thinking things through.Why not split it into two payments? That was 1.5 million dollars in each parent's account.Ruby and Nevin sat off to the side, rolling their eyes again and again. In their minds, they were also part of