My cousin, Kaylee Langford, pushes me down the ski slope when there's an avalanche.

My boyfriend, Atlas Ferguson, lifts her into his arms and leaves.

He seems to have forgotten that I'm buried underneath the snow mountain.

He leaves me stranded at the valley for seven days.

He's furious when he finds me. "You should be glad nothing went wrong with Kaylee's arms. Otherwise, the only way you could atone would be to die on this mountain! Our wedding is canceled—we'll have it once you realize what you did wrong."

He thinks I'll cry or kick up a fuss, but I merely nod and say, "Okay."

He doesn't know that I've made a deal with the Moon Goddess.

In six days, I'll be giving up the things that mean most to me—my love for Atlas and my memories of him.

Once that happens, I'll forget everything about him and start afresh somewhere new.

What does a wedding matter when the Ember Sloane who loved him is now dead?

Ember Sloane was shoved down the snowy mountain by Kaylee Langford during the avalanche at the ski resort. Kaylee had only dislocated her arms and fell in place, while Ember plummeted to the bottom of the mountain.

Ember was stranded in the Aneira Mountains for an entire seven days. She probably would never have been found if it hadn't been for the branch that pierced her foot, leaving a trail of blood stark against the pure white snow.

Crimson blood spread across the snow, resembling a blooming red flower. Ember leaned weakly against a tree stump, and she was so frail and lifeless that she seemed to be on the verge of dissolving into the snow.

When the security team spotted her, they immediately used their walkie-talkie to notify Atlas Ferguson. "Mr. Ferguson, we've found Ms. Sloane!"

Soon, a helicopter descended from the sky. The gust of wind from its blades nearly prevented Ember from opening her eyes. Even so, she caught sight of Atlas at first glance. However, trailing behind him was Kaylee.

Atlas rushed toward her. He unleashed a torrent of abuse upon seeing her staggering figure.

"Why are you always running off and making trouble? I had to mobilize thousands of people to search for you!

"If you'd just stayed where you were, we wouldn't have spent five or six days looking for you! The security team's been working around the clock because of you!

"Can't you go a single day without causing trouble?"

It was November, and the mountain was sealed by snow in the bitter cold of sub-zero temperatures.

Initially, Ember feared getting lost and only dared to stay put. She endured the freezing cold while anxiously waiting for Atlas to rescue her. She thought to herself that Atlas surely wouldn't leave her here to die.

But as night fell, darkness enveloped everything. Glowing green eyes stared menacingly from the shadows, and the distant roars of unknown beasts echoed all around her.

Terrified, Ember trembled uncontrollably. She clutched onto a torch all night, unable to close her eyes.

As her last bit of food ran out, she was forced to search for wild vegetables and fruits. However, her fingers became raw and numb from digging in the harsh winter, yet she still struggled to find enough to stave off hunger.

One day passed. Then two, then three. The small flicker of hope in Ember's heart was extinguished, like a candle snuffed out by the relentless wind.

She simply lowered her head in silence as she listened to Atlas' reprimands, too exhausted to respond.

Atlas always found her annoying—too noisy, too unreasonable, or too manipulative. No matter the situation, no matter how much she explained, his response was always the same.

"Are you making things up again? What kind of tricks are you trying to pull this time?"

That was why she no longer wanted to argue with him. She'd just let whatever he said to be it.

A bodyguard nearby sneezed from the wind and muttered quietly, "Wolves are common in these mountains. If she'd stayed put, she'd probably be a pile of bones by now."

"Oh?" Kaylee covered her mouth in feigned surprise. "Ember, is this your friend?"

The bodyguard was caught off guard by the question, and he shook his head in confusion. "No, I don't know her."

It was his first day on the job. He hadn't even memorized all his coworkers' names yet, let alone know Ember.

Kaylee gave a knowing smile. "I see. You seemed to care about her so much, so I thought you knew each other.

"Or maybe it's just Ember's charm—she gets people speaking up for her within minutes of meeting them."

As expected, Atlas' face darkened instantly. "Ember, can't you control yourself for once?"

He then turned to the bodyguard who had spoken and said coldly, "You. Don't bother coming back to work. And let me make one thing clear: I'm your boss. If anyone else doesn't know their place, you can all leave as well!"

Upon hearing this, everyone stepped back cautiously as they were terrified of losing their jobs.

Kaylee was the first to approach Ember. "Ember, are you okay?"

She even reached out as if she wanted to help her up.

"Atlas, Ember didn't intentionally dislocate my arms. She's just been spoiled and headstrong since she was little. Maybe she didn't like me and acted out. That's all.

"Atlas, don't be mad at Ember anymore… My arms have been healing for days, and Ember's been stuck on the snowy mountain all this time. She must be homesick. Let's just leave."

Atlas' voice turned icy. "You should be grateful that Kaylee's arms are fine. Otherwise, the only way you could atone would be to die on this mountain!

"The wedding that's a week from now is canceled. It'll happen when you realize your mistakes."

Atlas' expression grew even more severe.

"God! Everyone knows this natural ski slope is dangerous and unprotected. How could you be wandering around just for a good photo? That's on you!

"Ember, I would've ended our engagement long ago if it weren't for the debt I owe your parents!"

Three years ago, Ember's parents died in a car accident while saving Atlas' parents. Her relatives quickly divided up the Sloane family's assets, leaving nothing behind for her.

Atlas' grandfather, George Ferguson, took pity on Ember and brought her into the Ferguson family. He wanted to ensure she wouldn't end up on the streets.

George then arranged a marriage between Ember and Atlas as he was afraid she might be mistreated, intending for her to become his granddaughter-in-law.

Thus, the two naturally became a couple.

Atlas, however, was extraordinarily popular. Everyone in the capital knew about the dashing eldest grandson of the Ferguson family, whose charm and good looks drew admirers from one end of the city to the other.

Ember seemed insignificant in comparison.

Desperate to hold onto him, Ember resorted to every tactic imaginable. Crying, throwing tantrums, and making dramatic threats became a routine for her. Any girl who got close to Atlas was driven away by Ember's schemes.

Everyone said Ember was a possessive girlfriend and a master of jealousy.

She often posted pictures of herself and Atlas on social media to assert her claims, flaunting their relationship for all to see.

But now, Ember simply lowered her head and replied softly as Atlas berated her, "I understand."

Atlas was taken aback by this.

Ember would have burst into tears in the past. She'd thrown a tantrum and insisted that it wasn't fair. She would have clung to him while pouting and acting cute, just as she had countless times before.

Now, she finally behaved as he always wished—submissive and quiet—yet something about it felt deeply unsettling.

"Ember, think this through. If you can admit your mistakes and beg me…"

"I've thought it through," Ember interrupted with a faint smile. She knew the bride of this wedding would likely never be her.

In six days, she planned to forget everything about Atlas. That included her love for him, and she would start over in a new place.

When the bodyguards lifted Ember onto a stretcher, they noticed her lower leg was severely frostbitten, with the flesh completely ulcerated.

She had trekked through the snow, which was above her knees, for a long time.

She couldn't stop—she dared not stop. She knew that if she did, the wolves trailing behind would catch up to her.

The snow was so deep that she slipped and fell at one point, and a sharp tree branch pierced through her foot. Blood gushed out instantly, staining the surrounding snow a vivid red.

At that moment, Ember thought she might bleed out and die there on the snowy mountain.

Ironically, these people likely wouldn't have found her at all if not for her blood staining the white snow.

Her wound was a mangled mess, with blood frozen onto her bruised and swollen skin, creating a horrifying sight.

When Atlas saw it, his eyes filled with urgency. "Doctor, is it serious? Can it be treated?"

The accompanying doctor looked troubled. "I'm not sure. For now, we can only clean the wound. The rest will have to be assessed at the hospital."

"Ember, does it hurt…"

Despite everything, Atlas still felt a twinge of compassion. Noticing Ember's fingertips were red and frozen stiff, he moved as if he wanted to warm them with his hands.

Suddenly, Kaylee, who was standing beside him, let out a faint, suppressed sigh. Her face even showed a hint of pain. "Ouch, my hand…"

Atlas immediately dropped Ember's hand and turned. His attention snapped to Kaylee as he anxiously pulled her into his arms.

"Kaylee, what's wrong?"

Kaylee's eyes reddened, and her tears threatened to spill over. "I'm fine. It's just that my arm aches after being exposed to the cold wind for so long. You should check on Ember first, she…"

Atlas sighed while looking at her helplessly. "I should've insisted you stay in the hospital to recover properly. You're always worrying about others before yourself. What would you do without me?"

As he spoke, he gently massaged the spot where Kaylee had previously fractured her arm. Though his words sounded harsh, his tone was overflowing with tenderness.

Not once did he glance back at Ember. Then, he carried Kaylee onto the helicopter without hesitation.

Ember staggered slightly from the push, and she nearly collapsed. Her palm scraped against the muddy ground, leaving several bloody scratches in its wake.

When they finally arrived at the nearest hospital, the doctor examined Ember and delivered the grim news with a heavy expression.

He told Atlas that Ember's foot injury was extremely severe, and the only solution was amputation to remove the necrotic tissue. If the infected and festering wound was left untreated, there was a high risk that she could lose her entire leg.

Moreover, the severe starvation she endured had caused significant damage to her digestive system. The doctor explained that a full recovery might take at least 10 to 20 years.

Atlas froze at the words, as if he was struck by a heavy blow. It took him a long moment to recover, and his fury erupted when he did. He kicked over a chair with a loud crash.

"How is that possible? It's just a minor injury! How could it lead to amputation? You're nothing but a quack—don't you dare spout nonsense!"

Kaylee quickly stepped in to calm him down.

"Atlas, don't get upset. It's probably because the doctors in small towns like this aren't skilled enough. Once we take her back to the capital, there will definitely be a way to fix this!

"My brother is a top-tier surgical specialist. Let him take a look first, okay? If that doesn't work, we can even find international experts."

Though he was still tense, Atlas began to rein in his anger. Nonetheless, traces of agitation remained in his eyes.

"Right. You're right. Let's have your brother take a look first," he muttered while clenching his fists anxiously. "We'll find the best doctor—there has to be a way to heal her."

They then rushed Ember back to the capital without delay. The doctor who examined Ember there was Spencer Langford, Kaylee's brother and the best trauma specialist at the city hospital.

After reviewing Ember's injuries, Spencer spoke to Atlas with an air of nonchalance.

"It's nothing serious. Ember's injury is just a superficial wound. It'll heal as long as she rests for a while.

"As for the internal damage? Absolute nonsense. She's just a little malnourished, that's all.

"If you ask me, this is probably one of Ember's usual tricks. She's still trying to gain your sympathy."

Atlas couldn't shake his doubt. He glanced back at Ember, and the image of her horrifying wound was burned into his memory.

Was it really not as serious as it looked?

Kaylee quickly clung to Atlas' arm. Her tone was sweet and coy as she said, "Atlas, stop worrying. My brother's medical skills are top-notch."

Spencer shot Atlas a disapproving look. "I haven't even held you accountable yet! Didn't you promise to protect Kaylee? So, why is her hand still injured and not healed by now?

"Instead of worrying about that troublemaker Ember, you'd better focus on Kaylee. Her hands are meant for painting—if anything happens to them, I'll hold you responsible!"

Kaylee shot him a gracious smile. "Spens, don't say that. Ember didn't mean to hurt my hand. She was just momentarily blinded by anger and acted out.

"And besides," she said while looking at Atlas with a sad yet resilient smile, "even if I can never paint again… I'll be content as long as Atlas stays with me."

"How could that happen?" Atlas' attention was immediately drawn to her, and he grasped Kaylee's hand firmly. "Kaylee, don't worry. I'll make sure you can pick up a paintbrush again!"

The sibling duo's perfectly coordinated act successfully shifted Atlas' focus entirely away from Ember. Ember, however, was no stranger to their skillful manipulation.

A week ago, she had actually managed to avoid the avalanche when it struck. But then Kaylee had shoved her down the mountain during an argument. In the scuffle, Kaylee dislocated both her arms, while Ember tumbled to the bottom of the slope.

She had crashed hard against a rock when she fell, and her entire body was wracked with pain as if all her joints had been dislocated. The agony left her unable to move or make a sound.

As Ember plummeted, she clearly heard Kaylee's venomous curses.

"Why don't you just die here and save everyone the trouble of dealing with you?

"There are plenty of wild animals in these mountains. At least you'd have done something useful for once if you can be their food supply."