CHAPTER 150

**WINTER**

I looked down at his hand gripping my wrist, my skin burning from the unwanted contact. With a sharp jerk, I tore myself free, stepping back instinctively.

Zion mirrored the movement, stepping toward me, but I immediately retreated, my body tensed like a live wire. He stilled, his throat working as he swallowed hard, his dark eyes raking over me like he was afraid I’d disappear.

“Snowflake,” he murmured, his voice rough, almost desperate.

"I've been calling you, but you kept disconnecting."

"Exactly. That should've been your first clue that I don’t want to talk, Zion."

His jaw tightened, his hands flexing at his sides like he was physically restraining himself. His dark eyes, usually sharp and unreadable, now held something raw—

“I know,” he admitted, his voice rough, almost unsteady.

“I know you’re angry. You have every right to be.” He swallowed hard, raking a hand through his hair before letting it drop uselessly.

“But please, just give me a few minutes. That’s all I’m asking. Just… hear me out.” His voice was low, rough with desperation.

I shook my head, stepping back like distance alone could make this easier.

“No… no, I can’t. I don’t want to.” My voice wavered, but I meant it.

His hands curled into fists at his sides, his jaw clenching before he exhaled sharply, forcing himself to soften.

“Please…” His voice cracked slightly.

“We don’t have to do this here. Just let me take you somewhere—anywhere. You decide. Just to talk. Please, Snowflake.”

He took a small step forward, his gaze searching mine, desperate.

"I know I don’t deserve it, not after everything I’ve done. But I need to say something—something that matters. Something I should have said a long time ago." His voice was raw, unsteady like he was fighting to keep control.

"Please, Snowflake... I just need you to hear me. Just this once."

I shook my head, but before I could step back, he closed the space between us in an instant.

“Snowflake,” he breathed, his voice a raw whisper, his lips just inches from mine. His hand curled around my arm—not forceful, but firm like he was terrified I’d disappear if he let go.

*Something I should have said a long time ago?*

What did he mean?

What was he up to?

My mind raced, alarms blaring in my head, every instinct screaming at me to step back, to put as much distance between us as possible.

Because this—Zion looking at me like that, standing so close, his breath warm against my skin—none of it made sense.

Not after everything.

But for a split second—just one—doubt slithered in.

What if…

No. No way.

Oh my God…

Was this just another game?

Another cruel trick?

My chest tightened.

I shoved him back—just enough to put space between us—as my eyes darted around, searching for the inevitable crowd, the hidden cameras, the waiting laughter.

“This… is this some new joke...a bew prank?” My voice trembled, but I forced myself to hold his gaze, daring him to flinch.

“A new way to humiliate me?”

Zion’s entire body tensed like I’d just struck him. His brows pulled together, his eyes darkening with something close to devastation. He shook his head so fiercely it was almost frantic.

“No—God, no, Snowflake.” His voice was raw, almost desperate.

“I know I fucked up. But this? This isn’t some joke. You’re not a joke to me.”

“Liar,” I cut in, my chest heaving.

"I'm not--"

“What do you have planned for me now, huh?” My voice rose, anger clawing its way up my throat, drowning out the ache beneath it.

“Oh, let me guess,” I spat, eyes burning.

“You’re going to stand here, pretend to be sorry, look at me like I actually matter—lure me in, make me believe every fucking word—only to turn around and post some bullshit video of me falling for it? Let everyone laugh at how stupid I am all over again?”

He shook his head frantically.

My chest heaved, my nails digging into my palms.

“Go on, Zion. Tell me. What’s the next move in your little game?”

“No—Fuck Snowflake.” His voice was raw, almost desperate.

“That’s not—how could you even think—?” He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair, his frustration evident.

“I would never —not like that, not ever again.” Zion’s voice was hoarse, thick with something almost unbearable. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his eyes pleading.

“I know I fucked up. I know I hurt you. But, Snowflake, I—”

A sharp, bitter laugh tore from my lips before he could finish. I shook my head, taking a step back, putting space between us, between his words and the part of me that almost wanted to believe them.

“Hurt me?” I echoed, my voice laced with disbelief, a cruel edge to it.

“That’s funny, Zion. Really fucking funny. Because guess what? You did. You didn’t just hurt me—you destroyed me.”

I angrily wiped a stray tear from my cheek.

“Tell me, Zion—what’s the grand finale? Do I get a round of applause when I finally break?”

Zion’s face twisted as my words had physically struck him. His jaw clenched so tight I swore I heard his teeth grind, his breathing uneven, ragged.

“Snowflake, no—” His voice was raw, desperate, but I didn’t want to hear it.

I saw the way his hands trembled, how his eyes—furious, pained—searched mine like he was trying to make me see something.

But I couldn’t.

I wouldn’t.

“I know I’ve screwed up more times than I can count, Snowflake,” Zion said, his voice raw, almost pleading.

“But do you really think I’d do that to you again? Never. Not after I found—”

I didn’t let him finish.

“I know you would.”

Zion exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair, his eyes pleading as they searched mine.

“I know you’re mad—hell, you have every right to be—but if you’d just give me a second to speak, to explain, I swear I—”

“Oh, wait a minute.” I cut him off. I took a step back, glaring at him as realization twisted like a knife in my gut.

“Is this Cindy’s idea?” My voice dripped with venom.

“Did she put you up to this? Tell you to sweet-talk me, reel me in, just so she could have the last laugh when you go running back to her?”

“Fuck! No, Snowflake,” he ground out, his voice raw.

“You really think she has that kind of hold on me? That I’d listen to her for anything?” His nostrils flared, his hands curling into fists at his sides.

“I don’t give a fuck about Cindy. I never have. And I sure as hell wouldn’t let her tell me what to do. ”

“Right. Because you and Cindy are such honest people.” I took another step back, my arms locking around myself, like I could hold in the fury and hurt clawing at my ribs.

“Spare me the bullshit, Zion. I’m fresh out of gullible.”

I exhaled sharply, shaking my head.

“Anyway, I’ve had enough drama for one day,” I muttered, turning on my heel.

“I’m done with this. I’m done with you.”

I barely took two steps before a solid wall of heat blocked my path.

Zion.

He moved fast—too fast—his broad frame cutting off my escape. His chest rose and fell with uneven breaths, his eyes locked onto mine with a fierce intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

“You’re not going anywhere.” His voice was low, firm.

I scoffed, crossing my arms. “Watch me.”

I tried to step around him, but he shifted, mirroring my movement. My pulse spiked.

“Zion, move.”

He didn’t.

His eyes burned into mine, dark and unreadable, but there was a desperation there, a storm raging just beneath the surface.

“Not like this. Not with you thinking the worst of me.” His jaw clenched, and he took a step closer, forcing me back.

“I won’t let you walk away angry, thinking I—” He exhaled sharply, shaking his head like he couldn’t even bring himself to say it.

“Thinking I planning to hurt you again....”

A bitter laugh bubbled up before I could stop it.

“That’s funny because hurting me seems to be the one thing you’re consistent at.”

“Snowflake, for fuck’s sake, please.” His voice was low, rough, fraying at the edges.

“Why are you making this so damn difficult?” He exhaled sharply.

“I just want to talk. That’s it. Just give me a chance to explain.”

His hands twitched at his sides like he was fighting the urge to grab me. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.

“Please, Snowflake. Just listen to me.”

I could hear the frustration in his voice, the desperation barely contained beneath it. But I wasn’t going to fall for it. Not again.

I lifted my chin, my heart pounding. “You don’t get to decide when I listen, Zion. And you sure as hell don’t get to keep me here. Move!”

I moved to step around him again, but he shifted quicker this time, his breath uneven.

“Goddammit,” he gritted out. “I’m not letting you leave.....”

I opened my mouth, ready to hurl something sharp—something that would cut him the way he’d cut me—but before the words could leave my lips, a voice rang out.

“Zion?”

The sharp clack of heels echoed down the garden pathway, each step deliberate, confident. My jaw clenched as I turned, my eyes narrowing just as a tall blonde sauntered into view, her expression dripping with smug satisfaction.

Cindy.

Of course.

“There you are,” she purred, her lips curling in amusement as she strode up to Zion.

“I thought we were going upstairs,” Cindy purred, her voice dripping with false sweetness,

“But I see you haven’t finished with Autumn.”

I clenched my jaw, refusing to give her the satisfaction. She could call me whatever the hell she wanted—I didn’t care.

Cindy gasped, a dramatic hand fluttering to her chest, her pout so exaggerated it was almost comical.

“Oh… oops,” she drawled, tilting her head like she wasn’t enjoying every second of this.

“Did I just ruin your little moment? My bad.”

She didn’t look the least bit sorry.

If anything, she looked like she was savouring this, feeding off it, like a vulture circling its next meal.

"Did I just walk in and ruin your new little scheme for her Z?" Cindy gasped, pressing a hand to her chest like the very idea pained her.

Her eyes flicked between us, glinting with amusement as she crossed her arms, her smirk betraying any pretence of innocence.

"Damn, Zion," she tsked, shaking her head in mock disappointment.

"You barely let the last one settle, and you're already setting up another? Tsk, tsk." She sighed dramatically, biting her lip like she was trying to hold back a laugh.

"Ugh, I feel awful for interrupting."

Then she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice just enough to sound conspiratorial.

"Not that I would’ve stopped you," she added with a wink, her voice dripping with faux sympathy.

"I mean, when you're scheming, you look so fucking hot," she practically purred.

"And it really gets me in the mood to fuck."

She let out a breathy little sigh, tilting her head so her blonde hair spilt over one shoulder.

"So hurry up and deal with her already," she said, flicking a dismissive glance at me before stepping in closer to Zion, her lips just shy of his ear.

"Because I’m dying to christen one of those bedrooms with you."

“Cindy!” Zion hissed, his voice sharp, laced with warning.

But she didn’t even flinch.

If anything, his irritation only seemed to amuse her.

She ran a slow, deliberate hand down his chest, her nails grazing the fabric of his shirt as she pouted up at him.

“Oh, don’t be like that, babe,” she cooed, completely ignoring the fury tightening his jaw.

“Watching you tear her apar.. Huge turn-on.”

Zion’s nostrils flared, his body tensing like he was seconds away from snapping.

“Cindy, I swear to—”

She pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him.

“Shh,” she whispered teasingly, her eyes gleaming with cruel delight.

“Just finish up whatever this is, and then we can get to the real fun.”

My stomach twisted, my fingers curling into fists at my sides.

It happened in an instant. Zion shoved her away so hard she stumbled back a step, her eyes widening in shock.

“What the fuck, Cindy?” he growled, his voice like gravel, dark and furious.

“Get the fuck out of here. Now.”

But Cindy only smirked, completely unfazed.

“Oh, I love it when you’re angry,” she purred, licking her lips.

“The fuck is even better when you’re aggressive.”

I scoffed, shaking my head and turning away, done with all of it—done with them.

But before I could take a step, Zion’s hand shot out, gripping mine. My breath hitched.

"Where are you going?" he muttered, his grip firm but not forceful.

"Wherever the hell I want," I snapped, yanking my arm, but he didn’t let go.

"Wait," he said, his voice low, steady. "I’m coming with you."

Cindy let out a breathy laugh, tilting her head with a smirk.

“What, you’re leaving me here all alone, babe?” she pouted, her tone dripping with mock hurt.

“Oh, I get it… you don’t want me there when you finish tearing her apart. Afraid I’ll ruin the fun?”

Zion’s entire body went rigid.

Cindy tapped a finger against her chin, pretending to think, her smirk widening.

“Or maybe… you’ve already broken her enough?” Her voice was sickly sweet, cruel amusement flickering in her eyes.

“I mean… she does look a little fragile tonight.”

That was it.

Zion snapped.