Chapter 13
Darkness enveloped everything, the only sound the soft rustle of snow falling around him.
The ring had been flung away by the violent tremor. Despite the searing pain, Peter forced himself to move.
“Kim, where are you?
Kim…”
He couldn’t die yet. Not after finally bringing Kim to witness the Golden Mountain Sunrise. He couldn’t lose her again.
As he gritted through the agony searching for the ring, a faint rustling reached his ears.
The snow covering him was gently brushed aside. A slender figure reached out against the light-
“Peter, wake up. Don’t sleep…”
Seeing the familiar silhouette, Peter’s eyes suddenly reddened.
“Kim, you came for me?”
He tentatively offered his hand. Feeling the warmth in her palm, a single tear traced down his cheek.
“I knew it. I knew you weren’t dead.”
Kim yanked him free from the snowdrift.
“Who said I was dead?
I just found the Alps so beautiful, I decided to stay.”
She led him to a high overlook.
“See? Isn’t it stunning?”
Peter followed her gesture into a vast white world.
Mountains meeting the sky took his breath away.
“Beautiful.”
Every angle begged to be photographed.
After Peter spoke, Kim pointed to a nearby lodge.
“I thought so too. That’s why I opened this inn. What do you think?”
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Chapter 13
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“An inn?”
Before he could process it, she pulled him inside.
The rustic log cabin design immersed guests in nature’s embrace.
“From your window here, you’ll see Alpine Mountain Range’s Golden Mountain Sunrise, sunsets, and the Milky Way.”
“Later, I’ll plant a cedar outside with prayer scarves hanging from it. Sounds good?”
Peter just stared intently at Kim’s face. “Yes!”
Seeing her alive felt like crossing lifetimes.
Everyone declared Kim dead-only he refused to believe.
And now at Alpine Mountain Range, he’d finally found her.
Kim turned with a smile. “So you should head back now.”
Peter’s expression froze.
Everything was perfect moments ago. Why send him away?
“No. I won’t leave. I searched so hard to find you. I’m staying.”
Kim shook her head, gazing at the mountain vista.
“I brought you here to show you I’m happy now. I don’t need your company.”
“People are waiting for you below. Don’t linger here.”
Peter insisted, “No one’s waiting. I came specifically for you.”
Kim drew a sharp breath. “For me?
What about Samantha?
What becomes of her?”
“We broke up. I was only with her because I mistook her for you.”
“Everything’s sorted now. I can stay here with you forever.”
Peter explained everything that had happened.
The more he spoke, the paler Kim grew.
“But she’s carrying your child. You should take responsibility.”
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Chapter 13
Peter’s eyes flickered: “I had her terminate the pregnancy. From now on, there’s only you.” He moved to embrace her, but the moment his hands touched her arms, she dodged away. She shook her head, retreating into the distance.
“Go home!
Don’t come back.”
Peter tried to follow, yet invisible forces clamped down on his legs, rooting him in place.
“Kim… Kim, come back…”
As Kim vanished, the entire scene receded like the tide.
Darkness swallowed his vision once more.
