Chapter 1

The graduation trip I had looked forward to turned into a cold, lonely nightmare. My boyfriend, Trevor Sterling, who usually spent every waking hour in the chemistry lab, suddenly surprised me with a trip to Iceland.

He was so attentive, packing my bags and planning every single detail of the itinerary. He had always been the perfect, thoughtful partner.

My heart was bursting with happiness, even though he seemed a bit distracted throughout the journey. The morning after we finally saw the Northern Lights, I woke up to an empty bed.

My heart sank when I realized my wallet, phone, passport, and even my clothes were missing. The only thing left was a handwritten note on the nightstand.

"Mindy's research was constantly interrupted by your clinginess. You almost cost her the chance to secure her PhD spot. Since you love traveling so much, you can stay here and play to your heart's content. I'll come get you once Mindy is safe in the program."

The reality hit me like a bucket of ice water. Trevor had abandoned me in a foreign country with nothing.

I stood by the window, watching the biting wind whip against the glass. I picked up a hidden communication device he didn't know I had.

"Three hours," I said into the line. "Get to Iceland and pick me up."

1

At exactly noon, a sharp knock echoed against the hotel door.

"Excuse me, ma'am? Do you need to extend your stay? Late checkout is fifty dollars per hour," the receptionist called out.

Panic flared in my chest. I had absolutely nothing. Trevor had even taken my spare outfits.

"Can I pay when I check out later?" I asked, my voice trembling with embarrassment.

"I'm afraid not, ma'am," she replied. I could hear the skepticism in her tone.

I paced the room for a long time, feeling the walls close in. Eventually, I had no choice but to put on the complimentary hotel bathrobe.

I opened the door, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. "I won't be staying."

As I turned to leave, I heard the staff members whispering and snickering behind my back.

"Some women are really nothing without their men," one of them sneered.

My pace quickened as heat crawled up my neck. The moment I stepped outside, the fierce Icelandic wind lashed at my face.

The thin bathrobe offered zero protection against the freezing air. I felt like my skin was being sliced open by tiny blades of ice.

I noticed a man in a black hiking jacket watching me, occasionally glancing in my direction. In a place so far from home, seeing someone from my own country felt like a lifeline.

I didn't hesitate. I walked straight up to him.

"Hi, I'm so sorry to bother you. Could I borrow your phone to make a call? I've lost everything," I pleaded.

The man stared at me for three seconds without saying a word. Just as I thought he was going to refuse, a familiar voice crackled from the phone in his hand.

"Don't waste your energy, Leila. I've already talked to everyone around there. Nobody is going to help you."

It was Trevor. His voice lacked the warmth it once had. It sounded colder than the wind.

It felt like a physical blow to my chest. I realized then that this man wasn't a stranger. He was Dexter Mills, one of Trevor's lab mates.

Dexter looked at the phone, sounding a bit hesitant. "Trevor, man, isn't this a bit much? What if she actually freezes out there?"

"That's exactly why I asked you to watch her, isn't it? If she's actually dying, you can take her to the ER. Otherwise, let her sit," Trevor replied coldly.

"Right, right. You're always one step ahead, Trevor," Dexter said, his guilt quickly vanishing.

"Leila, consider this a lesson. I'm giving you a chance to experience Iceland for real. You should be thanking me."

I turned my back on them. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the one thing Trevor hadn't taken―my vintage pocket watch.

It wasn't just a timepiece. It was a high-tech communication device my father had custom-made for me.

"Three hours. Iceland. Come get me," I commanded into the watch.

"Quick! Grab that watch!" Trevor screamed through the phone. "I forgot she could use that thing!"

Before the person on the other end could even respond, Dexter lunged at me. He snatched the watch from my hand.

He threw it onto the frozen pavement and stomped on it until it was nothing but crushed metal and glass.