In Ethan's sight, a slim silhouette broke through the sea of white, the crimson flower in her hand burning like a tiny flame.

Grace went into the car, shaking the snow from her hair before pulling the door shut.

She immediately held out the magnolia to him.

Ethan didn't reach for it. His gaze stayed locked on the petals, on the snow melting slowly there.

Grace thought he hesitated because of the cold and leaned in to brush the snow away, only to be stopped by his question.

"What if this tree belonged to someone else?"

Without missing a beat, she answered, "When I pick them, they become yours."

Just as Ethan reached out, her words caught him off guard. His hand curled into a fist, and the veins on the back became rigid.

Grace, noticing his strange reaction, quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

He ducked his head and hummed quietly before taking the magnolia carefully.

"Thank you," he added in a soft voice.

Grace could tell that his mood had brightened.

She scrambled to the driver's seat, starting the car with quick, nervous moments, afraid he would change his mind and ask for something else.

As the car kicked into gear, the soft fragrance of magnolias from the back seat brushed against her senses.

"Do you like magnolias, Mr. Henderson? How special. Most people just see the winter's blank whiteness, but hidden inside... there's this bold flash of red, like..."

Realizing her words might be stepping over a line, she clamped her mouth shut. Ethan was a lot like winter itself. On the surface, he was cold and unapproachable -yet the moment he fell sick, he asked for flowers.

The contrast was almost ridiculous.

softly. "No one's ever

now, and Grace was glad she

he seemed more

faintly and floored

Druville and have them send a helicopter. With the roads blocked, there's no way out.

you worried about

Her smile faltered.

about him right now—not bad, just...

You brought me here, Mr. Henderson. I can't just

realized they had absolutely nothing to show for the trip. Her fingers tightened around

place was nothing but ruins. If you

the way out here while

his nose,

"I didn't know."

Grace went silent immediately.

blame someone for what they didn't know. Perhaps he had only passed by that spot once,

glanced into the rearview

swinging it

want to say?"

boyfriend once when we were kids, we got trapped inside. Some things happened. Just now, bits of that ald conversation came back think... I

patchy, she

would have to

closed his eyes, his Adam's apple

appreciate magnolias. Your boyfriend had

sidelong look, a soft laugh

of

almost snap the stem- before he

Grace then that what she had just said might have sounded wrong. She rushed to add, "I mean,

lowered his gaze, running a light fingertip

you should stay with him and

said nothing, eyes locked

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255