Winter had hit Beicheng hard this year. It was only November but already snowing under a dull grey sky.

Perfect weather to see an ex.

Nicole Harris stepped out of the car, holding an A4-sized box with one arm. She slammed the door shut behind her and headed straight into a private room at the back of Ting Lounge.

She pushed the door open. Ethan Black was already there.

He looked pretty much the same—loose white sweater, warm lights in the room softening his edges, making him seem gentler than he probably deserved.

Hard to believe someone who looks this gentle could just walk away like that.

Ethan stood up, his eyes lingering on her for a moment. “Long time.”

Nicole walked over without responding.

“I can get you something to drink, I—” His voice was slightly hoarse.

Nicole cut him off. “I’m just here to return your stuff.”

She placed the box on the table—not too rough, not too soft.

He’d left so suddenly back then, not even bothering to settle the things that were still owed.

Ethan’s gaze landed on the yellow box. It was probably full of gifts he had given her.

“I can explain what happened back then…”

“No need,” Nicole met his eyes. “I’m married now.”

Their eyes locked. Something sharp flashed behind the warmth in Ethan’s gaze.

“So what?” he said, like it didn't matter at all.

Nicole kept her voice calm. “I came out this time to make things clear. Please don’t contact me again, or my husband won’t be too happy about it.”

There was a brief silence.

“Is he good to you?” Ethan asked quietly.

“He is.”

“Really?” Ethan’s eyes seemed to look right through her.

Nicole didn’t want to waste another word. She turned to leave.

But he grabbed her wrist.

“You don’t love him.”

Ethan stepped in front of her, voice low and raspy. “Nicole, we’ve been together for so long. Don’t lie to me.”

Nicole froze just for a second.

Ethan was her first love. They’d been together all through college.

Too bad her family was against it after graduation.

He had nothing back then—just a broke student. Her family had already lined up a marriage with someone “more suitable”: Ryan Edwards, heir to the Edwards Group.

Nicole had really loved Ethan once. So much that she’d even fallen out with her family to run away with him.

She waited at the airport all day, from morning ’til late at night.

He never showed.

No calls. His phone was dead the whole time.

When snow started falling, she stood outside the terminal, shivering, hugging herself, completely lost—until Ryan showed up.

“He flew to the States.”

“He chose ten million over you.”

Not long after that, the Harris family’s real estate business hit a major cash flow issue. The Edwards Group bailed them out, just enough to keep them afloat.

And Nicole married Ryan as expected.

Four years later, Ethan was back from the U.S., wildly successful, CEO of a billion-dollar company, and had messaged her three days ago asking to meet.She knew she shouldn't have come.

When she married Ryan Edwards, he had made it clear—he wouldn’t dig into her past, but from that moment on, she was his. That was the deal with the Harris family.

Yet for some reason, she just couldn’t let go of that wordless goodbye all those years ago.

It was like watching a movie that suddenly cuts off before the ending—you can’t help but wonder how it was supposed to end.

Maybe women are just wired that way, always needing proper closure.

This time, she brought everything he had given her and gave it back—completely cutting ties.

What she didn’t expect, was the nerve he still had to say something like that.

Nicole Harris yanked her hand out of his coldly. “Love or not, he’s still my husband. And I didn’t sneak around seeing you—I’ve got nothing to hide.”

Ethan Black stared at her closely, trying to catch any flicker of emotion on her face.

“If you’re really that open, then why don’t you tell Ryan you saw me today?”

Nicole didn’t answer.

She turned on her heel, pulled open the door, and walked out without a hint of hesitation.

Up in the hallway corner, a red light on the surveillance camera blinked on and off.

·

Outside, the snow was falling harder.

Back in her car, Nicole got a call from her dad.

“Xixi, when’s Ryan back from his trip? Bring him home for a meal, it's been ages since you two came by.”

“The day after tomorrow.” Nicole started the engine, her tone flat. “I’ll ask when he’s free.”

David Harris rambled on over the phone, “Xixi, make sure you take care of Ryan. Try to get him to travel less. You two should really think about having a baby.”

He’d been repeating the same thing for four years. Nicole had heard it so many times it barely registered now. She just mumbled a reply and hung up.

Whether or not they had a kid—wasn't something she could decide. That was in Ryan's hands.

It was getting late, and the snow outside had thickened into a curtain.

Nicole suddenly thought of the night four years ago when Ryan brought her home from the airport. It had been snowing like this too.

When she got back to their place at Emerald Bay, she opened the door into darkness.

But something felt off—a faint smell of tobacco hung in the air.

Startled, she looked up.

Through the dimness, she caught sight of a glowing cherry-red tip from a cigarette, flickering faintly.

And then, the lights came on.

Ryan Edwards stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, dressed in a deep navy suit. His wire-rimmed glasses reflected the light, and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone. The cigarette between his fingers had a long ash hanging from the tip.

He glanced at her. “You look surprised. What, did something happen you don't want me to know about?”

His voice was low, calm, hard to read—like he could be joking, or deadly serious.

Nicole’s heart thudded in her chest. “No. I just didn’t expect anyone home. Your assistant said you’d be back the day after tomorrow.”

“I was supposed to.” Ryan stepped forward and bent down to stub the cigarette out on the coffee table, then dropped into the sofa and leaned back casually. “Come here.”

He didn’t say why he showed up early—and she knew better than to ask.

In this marriage, her role was simple—stay pleasant, play obedient, and keep the Harris family respectable.

She dropped her keys and was about to take off her shoes when his voice stopped her, icy and sharp.

“Leave them on.”

She pressed her lips together and, still wearing her heels, walked over to the sofa.As soon as he reached out, he pulled her straight into his arms, making her sit on his lap.

The strong smell of smoke clung to him—God knows how many cigarettes he'd gone through.

Instinctively, she glanced at the ashtray on the coffee table. It was a mess—cigarette butts all over, at least a dozen.

“Were you… in a bad mood?”

She’d never seen Ryan Edwards chain-smoke like this.

He didn’t answer, and she immediately regretted asking.

Ryan lifted her chin lightly with his hand.

Yeah, his wife was ridiculously pretty—classic bold features, flawless skin like fine jade, and those eyes, damn, like a sly little fox, sneaky attractive without even trying.

He asked, “Where’d you go?”

Nicole Harris could feel her heart pounding, “Met up with an old classmate.”

“Guy or girl?” he pressed.

Nicole forced herself to stay calm. “Obviously a girl.”

They’d been married for four years. She might not know Ryan inside out, but one thing she was dead sure of—he was possessive as hell. There was no way she’d tell him she met with Ethan Black.

His voice was flat. “Yeah?”

He let out a short, unreadable laugh. Then, with a hand around her waist, he effortlessly pulled her up to kneel on the couch. He brushed her hair aside, fingers grazing her skin—cool to the touch.

Nicole had only one condition: lights off.

She knew—it was crystal clear—Ryan didn’t love her.

Every single time, she felt humiliated.

At least he liked her body. That much he didn’t bother pretending about.

Tonight, maybe because something was eating away at him, he was especially rough.

Afterward, Ryan switched on the floor lamp by the sofa and tossed a burgundy blanket over her before walking off.

He still had most of his clothes on, just missing his suit jacket.

Nicole, on the other hand, was basically stripped bare, sprawled out on the couch. Her bony shoulders exposed to the cold air, legs dangling off the edge, pale and shapely.

She was exhausted, completely drained, covered in sweat and feeling like crap.

At one point, it had gotten uncomfortable, but she just gritted her teeth and pushed through.

Turning her head, her gaze caught the mess on the floor.

There was no way they’d have a kid—Ryan was always careful.

She figured that was probably his best quality—at least he handled that part right.

Saved her from needing to take anything.

Ryan came out of the bathroom, freshly showered, and flipped on the chandelier.

Nicole was still lying on the couch.

He glanced over at her, voice cool as ever. “Not gonna shower yet?”

Nicole had no choice but to throw the blanket around herself and get up.

Such a cold bastard. He couldn’t even let her rest a minute.

As she walked toward the bathroom, her movements looked stiff.

Ryan suddenly seemed to notice. When she passed by him, he reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist.

His long eyes narrowed slightly. “Did I hurt you?”

Nicole bit her lip. Like, seriously? What did he think?

Still, she forced a neutral tone. “It’s fine.”

Without warning, Ryan scooped her up in his arms.

Nicole froze slightly.

Ryan said indifferently, “I’ll carry you to the shower.”