Traces in Snow When Strangers Meet Again

For the next few days, Julian cleared his schedule and stayed by Ivy's side the whole time. He cooked and cleaned and tended her wounds, but she remained indifferent.

To lift her mood, he suggested they go on a date.

At the café, he ordered her favorite latte and tiramisu, saying gently, "You've been feeling down lately, so take a break from your part-time jobs. Just get some rest and relax for a while."

Ivy said nothing and quietly stirred her coffee.

Just then, Sophia walked in and sat by the window. She elegantly picked up her mug of hot chocolate and "accidentally" spilled it over her hand before letting out a dramatic cry of pain.

Julian's attention immediately snapped toward her, and he frowned.

"I need to take a call," he said, offering Ivy a quick explanation before walking off. But instead of heading toward the exit to take the call, he went straight to the pharmacy across the street.

Ivy watched him leave, smiling bitterly.

Sophia shot her a smug glance before getting up to approach her table. Waving her red, swollen hand, she said, "See that? He can't bear for me to be even a little hurt."

Ivy looked at her and calmly said, "So?"

"So, you should understand that I'm the one he loves the most. You're poor and ordinary; what do you even have to compete with me?" she leaned down, whispering into Ivy's ear.

Ivy was about to reply when she caught a whiff of something overly sweet in the air. The next second, her consciousness slipped into darkness.

…

When Ivy woke up, the pungent smell of gasoline choked her and made her cough uncontrollably.

She realized she was tied to a pillar with Sophia bound beside her. What was even more terrifying was that bombs were strapped to their chests, the red countdown ticking ominously in the dark. It was a timer slowly ticking and counting down from five minutes.

Ivy struggled desperately, but the thick ropes didn't budge.

The warehouse doors were kicked open with a loud crash. Julian rushed in with a pale face. "Ivy! Sophia!"

Time was running out, and he had to choose between saving either of them.

When Ivy looked up at him, her heart felt as if it were gripped by an invisible, crushing force. Who would he choose?

The next second, he bolted toward Sophia.

"Hang on, Ivy! I'll come back for you right after this!" he shouted over his shoulder while frantically untying Sophia's ropes.

Ivy watched him anxiously fuss over Sophia and burst out laughing. Sure enough, she would never be his first choice. Once the ropes came loose, he scooped Sophia into his arms and ran out, never once looking back.

Ivy bit down hard on her lip and forced herself to stay calm. Groping for the rope's knot, she began to free herself.

Richard had taught her emergency escape techniques when she was a child.

At the 30-second mark, she finally broke free and sprinted toward the exit with everything she had.

A deafening explosion erupted behind her as the searing blast wave flung her through the air and slammed her into the ground. At the last moment, she saw a flash of memory from four years ago. Julian was standing under her apartment, appearing to be full of hope as he shouted, "Ivy, I like you! Let's date!"

Now, he was carrying another woman as he ran away, never once sparing her a single glance.

…

It was raining when Ivy woke up at the hospital. The raindrops tapped gently against the hospital window, pricking her heart like needles.

Sitting by her bed, Julian immediately leaned in when he saw her open her eyes. The dark circles under his eyes made it clear he hadn't slept all night.

"Ivy, you're finally awake."

He reached out to touch her face, but she turned away. His finger froze in midair, and his voice was hoarse as he said, "Ivy, you know I've always owed Ms. Lane. If something had happened to her, I would've had to pay a heavier price. That's why I saved her first."

Ivy smiled with tears shimmering in her eyes. Even now, he was still lying to her. Again and again, he always chose Sophia yet stubbornly refused to break up with Ivy. What did he want? Was he still playing some kind of game to get back at Sophia?

"I'll stay with you these next few days. Don't be upset, alright?" he said softly as if he were coaxing a child. And true to his word, he did stay.

In the days that followed, he rarely left her side.

When feeding her soup, he carefully blew on each spoonful to cool it down. When wiping her face, his touch was gentle as if she were made of glass. When she woke up from nightmares, he was already there beside her.

He handled everything himself as though trying to make up for all the wrongs he had done, but it all stopped the moment he received a phone call.