Chapter 1

Winter 2023. Columbia University, Professor's Office.

"Professor Miller, I’ve made my decision. I am declining the position of lead intern at the New York architectural firm. Instead, I am applying to the 'Polar Night' research station in Norway to participate in the closed-off design project."

Outside the window, a biting wind howled. Elena stood tall in a thin cashmere coat, a resolute, burning calm visible in her azure eyes.

Professor Miller took off his glasses and looked at her in shock.

"Elena, have you lost your mind? That is the polar region. Once you go in, you will be cut off from the outside world for at least three years. I thought you would stay in Manhattan for Gabriel. I even heard rumors that you intended to yield the firm’s recommendation letter to your cousin. Have you truly thought this through?"

"There is nothing to think about. This is my life."

At the mention of "family," the fingers hanging by Elena's side curled slightly, then quickly relaxed. As long as she left this city, those suffocating chains of moral blackmail could no longer hold her.

It all stemmed from an apartment fire ten years ago. Her uncle had died when a collapsing beam struck him as he carried her out of the blaze. Her parents adopted her surviving cousin, Mia, and instilled a single concept in Elena from a young age: *You owe Mia a life. You must spend your entire existence repaying her.*

To fill that so-called debt, her parents had unreservedly tilted every resource, every ounce of attention, and even their love, toward Mia, which should have been Elena's.

Familial love had been stripped away; now, it was the turn of her love life and her career.

To allow Mia entry into the top architectural circles, her parents were forcing Elena to surrender the authorship rights to her portfolio. Even her fiancé, Gabriel, had hinted that she should give that highly coveted internship opportunity to the "fragile and discouraged" Mia.

Elena had sat on the sofa in her Queens apartment for an entire night, watching the neon lights outside extinguish and relight, until finally, she woke up.

This time, she would no longer be the silent substitute. She chose to vanish completely, to an icy wasteland where their hands could not reach.

The wind on the streets of Manhattan cut to the bone. Elena walked out of the campus gates, her silhouette appearing exceptionally proud and solitary under the gray sky. Inside a roadside café, young couples warmed their hands around hot lattes, the glass windows fogged with cozy condensation.

This bustling metropolis, at this moment, felt like a cold forest of concrete.

A black Range Rover braked sharply beside her, blocking her path.

"Get in!"

The window rolled down, revealing a handsome face marred by anger. Gabriel frowned, his expression one of utter impatience.

"Did you go to Professor Miller to withdraw your application?"

Elena pursed her lips and said nothing.

She had gone to handle matters, but the result was destined to disappoint Gabriel. She hadn't given the opportunity to Mia; instead, she had completely wiped herself off their chessboard of life.

Before Elena could speak, Mia popped her head out from the passenger seat, shaking an exquisite orange gift box in her hand.

"Cousin, look! Gabriel bought me an Hermès scarf, and this new watch! He said if I’m going to intern at a top firm, my outfit has to match the part. I can't embarrass the family."

Elena’s gaze froze on the vintage Cartier watch on Mia’s wrist. Her face went instantly pale. In that moment, she felt as if her blood had congealed, the chill piercing straight to her marrow.

That was the heirloom her grandfather had left her—the very heirloom she had intended to wear at her wedding. It was unbelievable that Gabriel had taken it just to curry favor with Mia.

Gabriel noticed Elena’s stare. A flicker of unnaturalness crossed his expression, but he quickly justified himself with righteous confidence.

"Mia thought the watch was pretty and suited her temperament. It’s just an old watch anyway, not worth much money. For our wedding anniversary, I’ll take you to Fifth Avenue to buy a new one."

Elena felt a wave of nausea roil in her stomach. The watch was indeed an old model, but it carried the family’s memories and love. Tragically, in Gabriel’s eyes, it was just an object to be disposed of at will.

And he was right.

Gabriel didn’t love her, so naturally, he wouldn’t respect her past.

Hearing the words "wedding anniversary," Mia immediately put on a pitiful expression, her eyes rimmed with red.

"Gabriel, is Cousin angry? Is it because I took her recommendation letter? I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I shouldn't have taken her things. A child without a father like me doesn't deserve to have these things."

Gabriel couldn't stand seeing Mia cry. His face darkened, and his gaze stabbed sharply at Elena.

"Mia is already unfortunate enough, having lost her father. You have a healthy body and talent—why must you be so petty over a watch?"

He turned and gently stroked Mia's long hair, comforting her. "Don't overthink it. That internship spot is yours; no one can take it away."

Then, he threw a cold remark at Elena:

"Go back to the apartment and reflect on yourself. When you stop being so selfish, go and apologize to Mia. Otherwise, don't expect me to speak to you again!"

With that, he slammed on the accelerator. The engine roared, and the car sped away, splashing dirty snow from the ground.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Mia shot a glance at Elena through the side mirror—a victor’s look, the corner of her mouth curling into a malicious, mocking smile.

Elena stood by the roadside, coughing as the icy exhaust fumes choked her, physiological tears seeping from the corners of her eyes.

See?

She hadn't fought, hadn't snatched anything, yet in their eyes, her very existence was a mistake.

Elena stood there for a long time, until a withered plane tree leaf fell onto her shoulder. The biting wind penetrated her trench coat. Once, when she had been wounded to the core by her parents' bias, it was Gabriel who had held her and said, "Don't be afraid. From now on, I am your home."

But the man who had sworn before God to protect her had now become the knife stabbing her in the heart.

The sky was gray and heavy, looking as if it might collapse at any moment. Elena wiped away the moisture from the corners of her eyes. She fished a worn guitar pick from her coat pocket, a self-mocking smile touching her lips.

She had carried this pick for five whole years—it was the one Gabriel had used during his first stage performance. He had said that as long as she kept it, no matter where he was, his heart would follow her.

Elena had treasured it, transferring it to whatever bag she carried.

Now, the writing on the pick had worn away, just like Gabriel's promises. It had become nothing but a meaningless piece of plastic trash.

Elena loosened her grip. The guitar pick fell into the roadside gutter, along with her deformed family and her hypocritical fiancé. She no longer needed this garbage to fill her life.