?


    Ian caught the tie clip with a confused expression. "Mr. Salvador, what''s this?"


    Justin closed his eyes for a brief rest, loosening the knot of his tie, yet he still felt its stifling weight.


    "Something from rice."


    "Oh! Some random trash from that woman? No thanks!" Ian scoffed, tossing it away immediately. "I''ve got a girlfriend. I don''t need misunderstandings."


    "A girlfriend?" Justin asked, eyes still closed, brows slightly furrowed.


    "Yeah, Rachel."


    Justin frowned. "She''s of age now?"


    Ianughed, exasperated. "She''s a college student, Mr. Salvador. Do you really think I''m a monster?"


    Justin''s mind drifted back to the time he and Be had helped save a girl named Rachel Meads. Fragments of that memory shed in his mind, but thenn''s voice broke through his thoughts.


    "Mr. Salvador, look!"


    Justin opened his eyes wearily, but the sight before him made his heart skip a beat.


    Be stood alone in front of the car, surrounded by a flurry of snowkes. In the intense white light, her dark hair whipped around in the wind, as if it might carry her away with it.


    Justin''s chest rose and fell heavily. He opened the car door and walked toward her, one step at a time.


    "Mr. Salvador." Be greeted him with a faint smile, calm and distant.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    He noticed her cheeks were flushed from the cold. She must have been waiting outside for quite some time.


    His lips parted, but he found himself unable to utter a single word. He remembered she hated the cold. Whenever it got chilly, she would always nestle into his arms, using his hands as her personal heater.


    "Mr. Salvador, may I have a word?" Be''s voice was soft,cking any expectation of his concern. She did not seem to mind his silence and just quietly waited for his response.


    Justin''s lips pressed together. "We can talk in the car."


    "Thank you," Be replied politely, keeping a slight distance that felt respectful yet unsettling to him.


    Ian tactfully exited the car to give the former lovers some privacy.


    "Tomorrow''s your birthday." Be broke the silence.


    "Yes," Justin replied, ncing at her from the corner of his eye, his throat tightening.


    Just as he was about to say, "I don''t need a gift," Be spoke again, catching him by surprise.


    "You remember what you promised me, don''t you?"


    Justin froze, his voice low. "Of course."


    "It''s time to keep that promise."


    Be clenched her icy fingers, her gaze smoldering with intensity. "Tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., I want you to meet me for a hike."


    Justin was taken aback. "A hike? Where?"


    "Mount Jaglee. Do you remember it?" Her voice wavered slightly, but sheughed softly." Many years ago, you rescued a girl there, pulling her out of a storm. That was the beginning of it all."


    His heart skipped a beat, and his hand curled tightly into a fist. He had not forgotten. Of course, he remembered.


    "All I want is for you toe hiking with me tomorrow."


    "That''s all?"


    She scoffed, crossing her arms and tilting her chin up arrogantly, reminiscent of her former self, the poised and proud young heiress. "What, did you think I''d ask you to marry me?


    Well, just answer me-yes or no?"


    "Yes," Justin replied without hesitation.


    "Good. Pinky swear."


    Before he could react, Be grabbed his warm hand, linking her own small, cold pinky frozen and stiff-around his.


    For a moment, Justin''s pupils contracted. He felt the faint tremor of her little finger, and a jolt of electricity shot through his heart.