Thorne 
The atmosphere was filled with joyous music, drums that made the guests mingle with each other. Laughter echoed in the places. Chatter filled the room. I was on the Mezzanine tasting the bitter sweet in my tongue.My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for her—the beauty with hair as white as freshly fallen snow, nearly silver in its shimmer. Her pale skin and light blue eyes mirrored the frost-kissed elegance of winter itself, perfectly matching the snowflakes cascading gently from the sky.
“My Lord” 
I glanced at Johnson, the butler who walked towards me wearing his tuxedo, his usual slick back hair as he looked so elegant on what he did. 
“Johnson, Happy Birthday” I greeted him. 
“Thank you, but I thought we'll be having a simple dinner celebration together with your partner,” he said. 
“It is a simple celebration” I said looking at the party below. 
“I wasn't aware that you invited 150 guests for a simple birthday celebration, a famous band to perform for my birthday,” he said. 
As I've told him that he deserves to have a party like this we talked about to make it simple. But I guess we don't have the same definition of simplicity. 
I smiled at him. “Come on Johnson! it's your birthday it is at least I could do for you, you were there all my life!” I said putting an arm on his shoulder and pats him. 
“It was my job to take care of you,” he said. Johnson hides his soft side towards everyone. 
“Of course,” he smiled. 
He sighed “I guess I have to get going, I think the only guest you've waited for just arrived” he bowed as he joined with some guests. 
My eyes scanned the whole area and there she was—Her pale skin and white hair glistening with the lights of the dancefloor with that teal dress of hers hugging her upper body. I descended to the stairs with my eyes fixed on hers. 
Guests tried to catch my attention, eager to spark another conversation, but to hell with them. My eyes were locked on one person and one person only—my woman.
As her eyes roamed around as she finally locked into mine, her lips curled into a smile, as I gently grabbed her waist placing a kiss on his forehead. 
“Glad you can make it today, sweetheart,” I said to her. 
She remained smiling, “I thought we were just having a simple dinner celebration?” she asked, confused. 
“It is a simple dinner celebration,” I said confidently. 
She hummed. “More than a hundred guests and a live band, you calling that simple Mr. Ackerman?” she asked, raising a brow. 
I release a chuckle. “I over envisioned it, I guess” 
“Let's not talk about how you look lovely today,” I commented, still my eyes fixed on hers. 
“I'm a little anxious, what if someone knows me here and it'll spread to the Academy” 
“Flower, you don't need to worry about that, the guests are Johnson's friends and family. I didn't even invite Blackwell for today” I said to her. 
I can tell that she's still anxious so I gently pulled her to me with my hand still on her waist. “You just have to trust me,” I said. 
I approached Johnson as he chatted with his friends in the village. The moment he saw me, his eyes locked onto mine, and without hesitation, he excused himself and started walking toward me.
“Do you need anything, my Lord?” he asked. 
Still working in his birthday 
I shook my head. “Johnson, this is Zaira Coffey, my partner” 
He looked at her, then back at me. I’ve always told him how impressive Zaira is as one of my students. What he doesn’t know is that she’s more than that—she’s mine. The shock in his eyes when he realized it was almost satisfying.
He bowed as he looked at her. “I heard some interesting things about you, my dear,” he said with a smile. 
“You are certainly the one who has captured Thorne's interest with your vast knowledge about so many things. Truly, the mind of a chirurgeon.”
Zaira glanced at me surprised but I remained calm and smiled at her. He wasn't really wrong. Zaira is the only one who caught my interest. 
I let them carry on their conversation as I sipped my wine, quietly listening to Zaira and Johnson. It was the first time I’d seen Johnson so talkative—he only gets like that when he truly likes someone. With Zaira’s depth of knowledge and Johnson’s sharp wit, the two of them could keep a conversation flowing endlessly.
The crowds were slowly getting quiet when a gentle and delicate acoustic guitar, setting a reflective and intimate mood. Some of the guests were dancing on the dance floors gently and softly. 
I glanced at Zaira who was looking at the dance floor and I smiled. “Excuse me Johnson, but I'll steal my beloved for a dance,” I said. 
“Of course, My Lord,” Johnson bowed.
I took Zaira’s hand and gently led her to the dance floor, my gaze never leaving hers. Her light blue eyes met mine, and in that moment, words felt useless—there was nothing that could fully capture how stunning she looked, nothing that could express the depth of what I felt. 
Slowly, I placed my hands on her waist, and we began to move, swaying with the music. The world around us seemed to fade as I focused on the subtle rhythm of her breath, the soft press of her body against mine. Every step, every turn, was a quiet conversation without words, a shared moment of connection that made time feel like it was standing still.
As the melody built, so did the intensity between us, a quiet storm that simmered just beneath the surface. Each movement, each breath we shared, felt more like a promise than a dance. My heart raced with every step, every touch, and I could feel hers echoing in time with mine. The music swelled, and the space between us grew smaller, as though we were the only two people left in the world.
But as the song neared its end, everything slowed, and the world came back into focus. The soft, gentle rhythm of our dance lingered in the air, and for a heartbeat, I thought time itself had stopped. Then, with the final notes fading into the silence, we were still. Our eyes held the moment—unspoken, undeniable—and I knew that this was a memory I’d carry with me forever.
I didn't stop myself caressing her cheek, as I placed a tender and soft kiss on her forehead. “You're mine, remember that” I whispered. 
As I've said, a shadow appeared in the corner of my eye. I glanced around, as irritation hunted mo—mother fucker, North! 
“Is something the matter?” I looked at Zaira looking at me so worriedly. 
I just gave her a soft smile. “Nothing Flower, I thought I just saw something” I said. “In fact, I have something for you. Can I get it for a while?” I asked. 
“Of course” she said, I gave her a last forehead kiss as I approached Johnson tapping his back. 
“Make her busy for a sec, I have something to deal with” I whispered as I marched towards my office. 
Zaira 
I was happily making conversation with Johnson's stories along with his friends and family. They talked about personal experiences and stories from their village. I wandered through the crowd looking for Thorne but he wasn't here yet. I looked at my champagne glass and excused myself to get another one. As I walked towards the table looking for champagne. 
“Can I help you?” The bartender asked, her curly hair and those sweet smiles greeted me. 
“Just a glass of champagne please” I said. 
“Coming right up!” he exclaimed As I waited I glanced at him pouring me some. 
“If I am not mistaken, you're Thorne's partner” he said.
“I am” I smiled.
“Who would've thought Thorne Ackerman would come to this day?” I heard him. 
“People tend to bring surprises to everyone” I smiled at him, enjoying the view of the party. 
As I took the glass from him, the bartender's gaze lingered for a moment longer than expected. His smile, though friendly, seemed to carry an unspoken weight, a subtle flicker of something hidden behind his eyes. The glass felt unusually cool in my hand, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a casual conversation.
He leaned slightly as he cleaned up some glasses from his area. "You know, in this world, secrets have a way of making their rounds," he said, his tone shifting, almost imperceptible, but there.
I tilted my head with the feeling of suspicion, mystery, my heart pulsed quickly. Unexpectedly. “Secrets tend to get around, don't they?” I replied, keeping my voice light but laced with an edge.
He met my gaze for a moment, a flicker of recognition flashing in his eyes before he straightened, his demeanor returning to its usual friendly professionalism. 
"Just enjoy the party," he said smoothly, returning to his task of pouring another drink.
But the weight of his words lingered in the air, and as I looked around the room, the shadows seemed a little deeper, the whispers a little louder. 
Something was off. 
The game had changed, and I was starting to wonder just how far Thorne's reach truly went. I scanned the area where Thorne is, I tried to look around pretending that I wasn't bothered at all but deep inside me I was. 
I didn't know his words looked casual but the weight of it makes me shiver, more nervous the feeling that there's something inside the place that I need to look at. 
“Zaira” 
I jumped out of nowhere and immediately glanced. Thorne was confused and worried as he looked at me. Seeing him felt a sense of relief and comfort, I wanted to run towards him hugging him to shake off this feeling. But I couldn't. 
The important thing is he is here.
“Are you alright?” he asked. 
“Y-yeah, I was looking for you” I said. 
He smiled as he released a chuckle. “I was just gone for fifteen minutes, sweetheart,” he said. 
“It feels longer,” I said. 
“Come here, let's take this conversation somewhere private,” he said. He led me towards a balcony as he locked the glass sliding doors for us. 
The full moonlight greeted us as the cold air breeze kissed my skin. His presence beside me felt like a silent promise, an unspoken reassurance that everything was right in this moment. The world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us, wrapped in the stillness of the night. 
“Where were you?” I asked him. Didn't break our gaze. 
“I went to my office, an unexpected visitor came but I took care of it” he said. 
“I see” I glanced at the view, where the landscape stretched endlessly before me. The trees stood like dark silhouettes against the vast night sky. 
“And also, I have to get this” he said, as he showed me a medium sized, white velvet box. 
I looked at him as he gestured to me to get it “Open it” he said. 
I was hesitant yet as I'd held it with my hands and opened it. My eyes widened in surprise. A bracelet with a snowflake pendant greeted me, adorned with numerous small, clear stones. This was the same bracelet when I was captivated from the Academy's festival.  
I looked at him. “Thorne, how did you—” 
“I saw you at the festival captivated by the accessories, I bought this bracelet yet replaced it with original diamonds, crafted by their craftsmen as well” he said. 
“You didn't have to do that, it's the same value” I said my face softened. 
“Flower you are worth more than any diamond.” he said smiling 
“May I?” he asked. I nodded in response. He gently removed the bracelet from the box as he put it on my wrist. 
“From all the bracelets you saw, this is the one I'd picked. You reminded me of snowflakes” he said as he locked the bracelet on my wrist..
I soft chuckle released from me “Why is that?” I asked. 
“You’re like a snowflake falling from the sky, graceful and perfect. You’ve made winter feel like no other, turning every moment into something unforgettable.” he said gently, giving my hand a kiss. 
“You do know how your words function, don't you, Mr. Ackerman” I said teasingly. 
“I do” he said, “come here” 
With no hesitation I went to him feeling the warmth of his touch melting my worries, my icy nightmares from my childhood. Because of him, I am able to forget my worries. 
“Mommy!” 
“Hide and do not come out!” 
Fire, Stones, Screams. 
“You brat! use your common sense!”
“Again!” 
 
The pain of a whip slashed my back. 
“Again!” 
I can feel my back bleed. 
“Again!” 
I hugged him tightly as I buried my face to him, I wanted his comfort and it melted the nightmares of my past. I need him, I already knew that he is part of me as my strength to face those icy moments from my aunt. 
His soft kisses calmed me down. Everything about him calms me down, my shallow breath escapes me. 
“Thank you…”