He Abandoned Me On Snowy Mountain Chapter 06

He Abandoned Me On Snowy Mountain Chapter 06

Munich’s winters were long, dark, and freezing.

I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, taking the last sip of my black coffee.

My assistant knocked and walked in, handing over an itinerary.

“Ms. Hazel, your flight to New York City for tomorrow evening is confirmed.”

“The launch gala for the East Coast corporate acquisition is scheduled for the following night.”

I took the papers and gave a slight nod.

Three years.

The winter I left the Rockies, I landed in Munich with a busted leg.

For three years, I poured every single drop of my energy into my work.

I fought my way up from a standard project manager to Executive Vice President of the East Coast division. It sounded glamorous, though I usually left out the part where I worked myself into a bleeding stomach ulcer.

The old Hazel-the one whose entire world revolved around Ethan, giving up her career for him-had died

inside that falling SUV.

The plane touched down at JFK just as the city lights were blinking on.

Dressed in a tailored blazer and sharp heels, I walked out of the VIP terminal.

A private car was already waiting outside.

The next evening, the acquisition gala took place at a premier luxury hotel in Manhattan.

Linked arm-in-arm with our global CEO, I stepped smoothly into the ballroom.

Flashbulbs popped, and countless eyes locked onto me.

I smiled, mingling effortlessly with high-profile executives and investors.

As I turned toward the bar to grab a glass of champagne, a familiar figure caught the edge of my vision.

Ethan.

He had lost a massive amount of weight, his eyes sunken, looking completely hollowed out.

The once-untouchable heir of Sterling Holdings looked like a total wreck.

His eyes were pinned completely on me.

The glass in his hand tilted, spilling red wine all over his suit jacket, but he didn’t even notice.

I looked away, took a sip of champagne, and smoothly resumed my conversation with the investor beside

Moments later, hurried footsteps stopped right behind me.

“Hazel.”

The voice was raspy, stripped of its usual arrogance, trembling uncontrollably.

I turned around, meeting Ethan’s bloodshot eyes.

He reached a hand out, wanting to touch my arm, but froze mid-air.

“It really is you…”

He reached out again, then stopped himself.

“Three years. You finally let me see you.”

I took a half-step back, establishing distance.

“Mr. Sterling, long time no see.” I flashed a polite, corporate smile.

“But this is a business event. Catching up seems a bit inappropriate.”

That cold ‘Mr. Sterling’ made his entire posture freeze.

He closed his eyes in evident pain and took a ragged breath.

“Hazel, back then I…”

“Ethan!” A sharp voice cut through the air.

Amber pushed through the crowd, wearing a completely gaudy evening gown.

She grabbed Ethan’s arm, glaring suspiciously at me.

“Hazel? You’re alive?”

The second the words left her mouth, Ethan spun around and delivered a vicious slap across her face.

A loud crack silenced the entire ballroom instantly.

Amber clutched her cheek, staring at him in sheer shock.

“Ethan, you hit me?”

Ethan didn’t even look at her, his eyes locked entirely on me.

“Get out,” he snarled at Amber.

Amber burst into tears and fled the ballroom.

Watching the drama unfold, I found it entirely exhausting. Well, mostly exhausting-the slap was loud

enough to be somewhat satisfying.

“Mr. Sterling certainly knows how to make a scene,” I said, setting my glass down.

“But if you’re here to put on a show of tragic devotion, you’ve got the wrong audience.”

I turned to leave.

Ethan lunged forward, grabbing my wrist tight.

“Hazel, don’t leave!”

His voice cracked with desperation, almost sobbing.

“I was a bastard back then. I was completely blind.”

“I’ve spent the last three years looking for you every single day. I’m losing my mind…”

I looked down at his white-knuckled fingers gripping my wrist.

“Let go,” I said, my voice dropping to a freezing chill.

“No! I’m never letting go!” Ethan’s eyes were wild, his grip tightening.

Right then, another hand reached in, clamping down on Ethan’s wrist with crushing force.

Brooks stood there in a bespoke tuxedo, his gaze dead and lethal.

“Mr. Sterling, didn’t you hear my fiancée tell you to let go?”