Chapter 3Gone in the Snow

Lisa never liked to act on impulse, always staying calm and rational.

But in her dream, she was hysterical as she argued with James.

"When you said you're tired of traveling, I said I could make the trip instead. But you refused and got upset about me, telling me that I shouldn't doubt your love.

"You complained that I went abroad, but this is where we end up after talking about it! You said I should lead a life that's more than just about love, and I promised to stick with you after graduation and never leave."

"I could see that you were tired and I had asked why. You were the one who wouldn't tell me and kept changing the subject, just because you said you didn't want me to worry."

Her questions were maddening, but just like in real life, they parted ways unhappily.

Waking up the next morning with a splitting headache, she soon found herself staring into James' eyes.

There was a brief silence, and James sighed at her deathly pale face. "Let's just get along and stop fighting, okay?"

He looked sharp in his black trench coat as he dropped to a crouch, helping her put on a pair of warm socks.

His handsome cheek did not change much from his younger self, but Lisa's heart wasn't racing.

If anything, it swelled with coldness and bitterness.

That was when James said, "Tina and I are just colleagues. Come to the hospital if you don't believe me—I'll show you."

"Sure," Lisa agreed, pausing before adding lightly, "There's something we should talk about anyway."

Last night, she had made up her mind to further her studies at another university and booked a flight due to depart in a week.

It was no petty tantrum—if anything, she had thought about a great many things.

It didn't matter if James had said what he said last night in the heat of the moment, as those words were shrapnel that pierced her flesh and kept digging further—a pain that she couldn't ignore.

She only ever wanted pure, untainted love. If not, she would rather endure the pain of loss than tolerate it.

But out of respect to James, she would tell him about it so that their separation would be amicable.

However, even the drive to the hospital was silent.

When they arrived, James got a call, and Lisa vaguely heard a woman crying.

She couldn't hear the woman, but as James hung up, he promptly turned and said, "It's urgent. Just wait for me at my office."

Lisa blurted, "But I don't know the way…"

Bang!

The car door was slammed shut in her face, and she could only watch as he sped off, leaving her alone in the spacious but eerily empty parking lot.

The hospital was huge, and it took Lisa some time to find her bearings.

Arriving at the tenth floor by elevator, Lisa headed to the nurses' station, intent on asking where James' office was.

Instead, she heard a nurse exclaiming excitedly, "I told you! As soon as Tina got upset when the patient lectured her, it's Mr. Sachs to the rescue with just one call!"

Lisa froze.

So that was what James thought was important, and he didn't hesitate to leave her hanging.

"The way I see it, Mr. Sachs spoils her like an actual girlfriend!

"Whether it's consultation, surgery or hands-on teaching, the man does it all! There was a patient who teased them that they should get married soon!"

One of them asked just then, "But isn't Mr. Sachs engaged?"

Another nurse clicked her tongue. "His fiancee is way too far from home, isn't she? How would she compare to our sweet, sweet Tina? One little smile, and the man's heart has melted!"

Lisa smiled as she stood there, feeling the irony of it all devouring her.

She turned just then and noticed James and Tina standing at the end of the hallway.

She immediately recognized the coat on Tina's shoulders—she had bought it for James as an anniversary.

He never wore it, and when she asked, he told him it was too precious to him so he simply sealed it away.

To think that it was a lie too.

Heaven knew how many other sweet lies he had told her over the last three years. Like the threads of a spider web, she would only realize that she was caught in it after the fact.

Meanwhile, Tina was still sobbing miserably, while James gently wiped her tears, the tenderness in his eyes overflowing. "Don't cry. I got one back for you, didn't I? No one gets to bully you as long as I'm around."

With the warm assurance of the man with the highest authority, Tina finally smiled, but she was suddenly pouting as she asked, "Then can you tell me who was that woman on the phone with you last night?"

James was silent for just seconds, but it felt like a century to Lisa when he finally said quietly, "Just a friend. We're not that close anyway."