Chapter 6
At Aspen Ridge Lodge’s banquet hall, Kieran lounged on the sofa, glancing at his phone screen every few
minutes.
That text he’d sent Sage was still sitting there from two hours ago.
She still hadn’t replied.
Was she pissed?
But SHE was the one who’d rammed into Mia first.
Falling in the snow pit was her own damn fault.
What was there to be mad about?
Kieran felt irritated and sent a second message:
[Sage, don’t be a brat. You’re supposed to be the older one here. You can’t let the younger crowd see you acting like this.]
After thinking for a while, he added:
I saved up enough for Iceland. Come apologize and we’ll leave right after Christmas.]
He sent it and waited patiently, but still-nothing.
“Tch, spoiled bitch!”
Kieran shoved his phone deep in his pocket and coldly lit a cigarette.
Mia sidled up to him: “Kieran, Sage’s still not here?”
Their friends craned their necks toward the entrance: “Think she’s throwing a tantrum and won’t show?”
Kieran blew out a smoke ring: “Can’t you wait a few more minutes?”
Everyone laughed awkwardly, confused by his sudden anger.
Mia wrapped her arms around his: “Kieran, we agreed, remember? When Sage gets here, you’ll reveal your
Kieran mumbled agreement, unconsciously rubbing the credit card in his pocket.
Five hundred grand. That should cover what she’d done for him.
If she was willing to apologize, he wouldn’t mind throwing in some extra compensation.
After all, a pathetic, penny-pinching woman like Sage had probably never seen that much money in her life.
The party was half over and Sage still hadn’t shown.
Kieran’s mood kept souring.
One rich kid whispered: “Think she’s actually stuck in that snow pit?”
Mia laughed: “It wasn’t that deep. She should’ve been able to climb out.”
The others chimed in:
“I bet that bitch is just playing victim!”
“Exactly! Kieran, keep ignoring her!”
Slam!
Kieran banged his glass down hard.
“I’m going out for a smoke.”
Mia stood up: “I’ll come with-”
“No need.”
Kieran waved her off and walked outside alone.
Mountain wind rushed through the hallway, bone-chillingly cold.
Kieran scrolled through his contacts and video-called Sage. Still no answer.
He checked the time-already 9 PM.
The temperature outside had dropped below zero. Kieran couldn’t help feeling worried.
What if she’d actually hurt her foot in the fall?
What if her phone broke and she couldn’t call for help?
Kieran decided to find Sage himself.
Consider it his last responsibility before the breakup.
