Five years after I broke up with my childhood sweetheart, Jason Thorne, my ALS progressed to its terminal stage. Since I can't receive any treatment for my disease at all, I decide to fly back to my hometown and wait for my death to come.

Meanwhile, Jason has been dating a woman named Freya Tyler for five years. In fact, they are about to get married. Freya is even pregnant with Jason's child.

We bump into each other in the hospital's garden.

When Jason sees the blanket around my shoulders, he scoffs at me.

"You're already this weak, and yet you're here all alone. It seems that your doctor boyfriend isn't taking good care of you at all. Then again, you did cheat on me with that guy. It only makes sense that your new relationship won't end well at all."

Freya smiles brightly at me. "That's enough, Jason. It's not like everyone is capable of taking care of me very well, just like you do.

"Our wedding will be held at the base of a snow mountain in Selvaria. You simply must attend our wedding, Ms. Moyer."

As I gaze at Jason's cold and arrogant expression, I do my best to suppress my feelings of longing and guilt.

Instead, I reply calmly, "No, thank you. I'm not interested in my ex-boyfriend's life. I'm only staying here for a short while. In the future, I will never come back ever again."

Jason merely huffs before turning on his heel and walking away.

But when I depart from this world, he loses his will to live too.

Janice's POV

Five years ago, I was injured while skiing and was unexpectedly diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. After forcing myself to break up with my childhood sweetheart, Jason Thorne, I went abroad for treatment.

Yet Jason believed that I had fallen for someone else, and his love for me turned into resentment. When we met again, he was about to marry someone else at the foot of the snow-capped mountain where we had skied together countless times.

He clearly hated me to the core, so why did he seem utterly shattered when he learned of my death?

…

"I'll never come back again," I said coldly.

Jason's gaze darkened. "Good. That saves everyone the trouble."

As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed Freya Tyler's hand and walked away without looking back.

If I had known Freya would be at this hospital for her prenatal checkup, I would never have agreed to Zayne Gilmore's suggestion to come here for a retest.

Zayne was my attending physician and had extensive expertise in ALS research. Five years ago, he had been the one who advised me to seek treatment overseas.

"Janice, why are you crying?" Zayne asked.

He strode over, shoved a hand warmer into my hands, and complained, "You were the one who insisted on basking in the sun outside. How did you end up in tears?"

I curled my icy fingers, but I couldn't lift my hand to wipe away my tears, so Zayne gently did it for me.

That was how ALS progressed. It began with total weakness, led to muscle atrophy and the loss of self-care, and ended in a death devoid of dignity.

"I'm fine. I just used you as a shield again," I replied.

After five years of daily contact, Zayne was more than just my doctor. He was also my friend.

Zayne smiled helplessly. "You've used me as an excuse often enough. I'd rather it be more than that to you."

As he spoke, he lifted me into the wheelchair and carefully tucked the blanket around me. I remained still without saying a word, pretending not to understand the implication behind his words.

At that moment, laughter came from behind me.

Freya had returned. "Janice Moyer, you're quite the charmer. Even with a terminal illness, you still managed to captivate your doctor. When you're buried, do you think the funeral home staff will fall for you too?"

If I could move freely, I would have stood up and punched her. "Freya, if you can't say anything decent, you might as well keep your mouth shut."

Zayne stepped in front of me and warned, "Ma'am, if you're here to cause trouble, security will be here shortly."

Freya rolled her eyes dramatically, a sharp contrast to the poised image she maintained in front of Jason. "I'm just going to say a few words and leave, so stop threatening me with security."

She said to me, "Janice, Jason and I are getting married soon. Whether your illness is cured or not, I hope you'll keep your promise from five years ago and stay as far away from him as possible."

…

Five years ago on Christmas Day, Jason and I were injured while skiing in Selvaria. He suffered multiple external injuries and a comminuted fracture of his right arm while trying to save me, whereas I was unexpectedly diagnosed with ALS at the hospital.

Back then, Freya was only Jason's assistant. While Jason was still unconscious, she cornered me outside the hospital room, crying as she spoke, "Ms. Moyer, no matter how busy Mr. Thorne is, he goes skiing with you in Selvaria every Christmas.

"But are you aware that he lost over a hundred million dollars in business this year because of it? Not to mention that he's unconscious right now, the company has no one in charge, and the shareholders are already eyeing his position.

"On top of that, you've been diagnosed with ALS, which can't be cured. Mr. Thorne is loyal and devoted. He will certainly stay by your side for treatment, but you're going to destroy him if you involve him like this.

"I'm begging you. For Mr. Thorne's future, don't tell him about your terminal illness. Otherwise, your condition will drag him down. Ms. Moyer, please leave him."

At first, I was furious at her words. Jason and I grew up together and had long been the most important people in each other's lives. Who was she, a mere assistant, to decide our future?

Yet when I scolded her and tried to gesture for her to leave, I realized my fingers were weak, and I couldn't lift my arm.

Freya looked at me with pity. "Ms. Moyer, you love Mr. Thorne so much. Do you really want to die without dignity in front of him? I feel sorry for you.

"Listen to me. The moment you were diagnosed, you two were no longer a match. Stop exhausting the love between you.

"If you're going to die, don't drag him down with you. Leave with some dignity. I'll take good care of Mr. Thorne from now on."

A mix of emotions swirled inside me, and I fell silent.

My mind was flooded with memories of all the sports I had shared with Jason over the years. We had ridden horses and practiced archery on the plains of Malvorn. We had also gone hiking and exploring through forests and streams.

We shared a passion for sports and travel, living our lives in perfect sync. Yet I would never be able to do those things with him again.

I felt myself plummeting into panic. I didn't know how to face the man I had once thought I would spend my whole life with. Someone as proud as I was couldn't bear to appear so pathetic in front of him. The best choice was to leave him.

I thought I could harden my heart, but when I heard that Jason was awake, my resolve crumbled. I had to see for myself that he was alright, no matter the cost.

Freya stopped me at the door of Jason's hospital room. "Ms. Moyer, remember our agreement. This is no place for you!"

I later learned that Freya told Jason I grew cold because I feared his injuries would cause lasting complications.

By coincidence, Jason came to see me that day and ran into Zayne, who was at my home persuading me to seek treatment abroad. Jason didn't give me a chance to explain. He glanced at me, then turned and walked away.

Even after five years, the cold, hateful, and despairing look in his eyes remained vivid in my memory. But that was different now. When we met again, he had let go and moved on with his life.

My thoughts returned to the present as Freya frowned and demanded my assurance. Five years ago, she still bothered to mask her true self, but now, she had dropped the act entirely, bossing me around as if she were Mrs. Thorne.

I smiled faintly and said calmly, "Your fearful expression is a far cry from the way you acted just moments ago."

Freya's expression shifted instantly. She was clearly angered.

"Don't worry. When I say that I'll never come back, I mean it," I said.

Janice's POV

The test results from the domestic hospital matched those from overseas. I had only one month left.

I wasn't surprised by the outcome, but Zayne looked at me with concern. "Janice, your condition… Are we really still going on the trip?" he asked.

I didn't hesitate and gave a slight nod. With only one month remaining, I needed to say my goodbyes properly.

I took Zayne to the hillside estate where Jason and I used to spend part of every holiday. In addition to the usual estate amenities, the property even had a golf course.

Zayne received a call and stepped away to handle work, leaving me seated by the course to enjoy the sun.

Seeing the familiar scene I hadn't visited in so long, I couldn't help but remember how Jason and I used to compete here on every visit. The loser had to serve as the other's caddie for a day.

Jason was highly skilled at golf, but he always let me win. The man who was decisive and commanding in the outside world always smiled gently before me and indulged my every whim.

A golf ball landed near my feet and snapped me back to the present.

To my surprise, it was Jason who walked over. "My bad. I hit it off target. Why didn't you move? Are you here to sunbathe?"

But how could he have hit it off target? I looked away and didn't respond.

Freya hurried over, linked her arm through Jason's, and smiled brightly at me. "Ms. Moyer, what a coincidence. We met again.

"Are you here for our engagement party? Oh, that's my oversight. You declined our wedding invitation, so I assumed you wouldn't attend the engagement party either."

Jason patted Freya's hand. "It's not your fault. Some people are just strange. They refuse an invitation when it's offered, but they show up when they're not invited. How ridiculous."

I hadn't expected them to hold their engagement party there and was about to leave.

Freya stopped me. "Ms. Moyer, since you're here, why don't you come with us to see some old friends?"

I clutched the blanket around me. "No, thank you. I only came for a stroll. I had no idea you were holding your engagement party here today."

Jason scoffed. "Is it that you didn't know or that you don't have the nerve to see your old friends? Last time we met, you said you had a cold. This time, you claim that you've sprained your ankle, yet here you are at the golf course.

"Janice Moyer, have your lying skills really gone downhill? Or is all this constant misfortune and illness just karma catching up with you?"

Each word he uttered felt like a knife, repeatedly tearing open my wounds that had long since begun to heal.

My already pale face turned even more ashen. Zayne finished his call and hurried over to stand in front of me. "Mr. Thorne, Janice never wronged you—"

Fearing that Zayne might say too much, I tried to reach out and stop him. But my body betrayed me, and I fell forward.

Fortunately, Zayne reacted quickly. He caught me around the waist and carefully set me back into the wheelchair.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Jason take two hurried steps toward me. But once I was seated, his expression returned to its usual detachment. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, someone interrupted him.

"Janice Moyer! It really is you!" a familiar male voice rang out.

I looked up and saw Shawn Torres, Jason's best friend. He walked over with a golden retriever, glaring at me with contempt.

He said, "You didn't contact any of us after you came back to the country. Is it because things are going so badly for you that you're too embarrassed to face us?

"Come to think of it, we should thank you for heartlessly leaving Jason all those years ago. Otherwise, he and Freya wouldn't be living their dream life now with just the two of them and their dog."

The golden retriever seemed to understand Shawn. Once he finished speaking, the dog trotted over to Freya and Jason, nuzzling their legs affectionately.

Jason lowered his gaze and bent down to pat the dog's head. He loved dogs, but I was allergic to dog fur, so he had never mentioned keeping one before. It truly was best for him that we separated.

Seeing that I remained silent, Shawn stepped closer and lowered his voice. "Back then, Jason waited for you in the snow for three days and nights, ignoring his own injuries just to beg you to stay. In the end, you left the country without a word.

"If it wasn't for Freya, he would have ended up disabled for life!"

Shawn stood up for his best friend, brimming with anger. "Janice Moyer, why did you have to come back now, just when Jason is at his happiest? Can't you stand to see him doing well?"

I didn't have the energy to deal with the encounter. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and I longed to get away as soon as possible. Just as I was about to speak, a dark figure lunged at me.

Janice's POV

The golden retriever knocked me down, covering my face in dog fur and sending a glass of water on the nearby table crashing to the floor.

Sharp pain surged through my body, and my breath caught from an allergic reaction to the dog's fur. Zayne immediately lifted me up, his eyes filled with distress.

Jason and Freya rushed to check on the dog.

Freya said, "It's soaked from the water. It still hasn't recovered from its cold these past few days. I hope it doesn't get sick again. Oh, no, it's bleeding! It must have been cut by the glass."

A worried look crossed her face as she turned to accuse me. "Ms. Moyer, even if you dislike me, you didn't have to take it out on the dog. You provoked it on purpose and got it hurt!"

I was bewildered, but Shawn quickly pulled several bags of dog treats from the back of my wheelchair. "You used these to tease the dog, didn't you? Are you trying to get close to it so Jason will look at you again? Keep dreaming!"

The concern in Jason's eyes vanished completely, replaced by profound disgust.

"There's a limit to your lies! Why would we even bring dog treats when we go out?" Zayne tried to defend me, but no one believed him. They were all focused on the dog.

My breathing became increasingly difficult. I grabbed Zayne and whispered, "I want to go home."

Zayne shot them a glare and pushed me toward the exit, but Jason blocked our path.

He said arrogantly, "The dog was supposed to bring us the rings at the wedding, but now, it's injured because of you. To make up for it, why don't you deliver the rings for us instead, Janice?"

Zayne clenched his fists. "How could you humiliate someone like this?"

Jason's eyes were my favorite part of him. He used to look at me with such focus and intensity, as if I were the only person in the world worthy of his devotion. But now, when he looked at me, his eyes were filled with nothing but hatred.

He said, "Otherwise, I must ask you both to stay until the dog has recovered. Ms. Moyer, if you need anything, just let me know. You don't look particularly well."

Did he remember that I was allergic to dogs?

But I wanted nothing more to do with him. "I… I'll do it."

I agreed without thinking. All I wanted was to leave as soon as possible.

The people around me burst out laughing.

Some said that I had come back because I couldn't make it abroad. Others claimed that I returned to win Jason back now that he was about to get married. In their eyes, I had become the desperate ex-girlfriend who was willing to do anything to please Jason.

It didn't matter. Soon, I wouldn't hear any of it anymore. They could say whatever they wanted.

Zayne was furious. "You know full well that your body can't handle long flights, so why did you agree to such an unreasonable request?"

I had taken my allergy medication and regained some strength. "It's not for him. I just want to go see that snow-capped mountain again."

Zayne said nothing more and turned to arrange a private jet to Selvaria.

I closed my eyes as the sprawling snow-capped mountains of Selvaria drifted into my mind, along with a small cabin glowing with warm yellow light at the foot of the mountains.

I remembered racing Jason down the ski slopes. After having our fill, we returned to the hotel to shower and change, then went down to the bar for a drink and sat there the entire evening.

Jason had also invested in a ski club in Raveth, where a photo wall was dedicated to documenting our moments.

Once, he was emboldened by the alcohol and asked me, "How about I propose to you in front of this wall someday?"

I laughed and pushed his face away. "Who said I'd marry you?"

Back then, I had always spoken the opposite of what I felt. In my heart, I had already decided that I would marry him or no one. Looking back now, it seemed that I hadn't broken my word.

The plane landed smoothly in Selvaria, and Zayne gently woke me up. "We're here. I'll have someone to take you to the residence first. Dr. Barnes will arrive in an hour. I'll wait for him at the airport."

William Barnes had been my attending physician while I was abroad and was also a close friend of Zayne's. He was familiar with the hospitals in Selvaria.

I nodded and followed the staff toward the car, but before we reached the exit, Shawn blocked our way.

"Ms. Moyer, you're right on time," he said.