Early the next morning, Thalia was awakened by a telephone call. She groggily answered, her voice heavy with sleep. "Hello? Who is it?"

"Thalia, you need to come to the hospital to see Drake," James' urgent, worried voice crackled through the line. "Drake nearly died, do you know that?"

The mention of Drake's name filled Thalia with irritation. Exhausted from the previous night and rudely awakened, she thought it must be something important—only to find it was about Drake. Thoroughly annoyed, her temper flared. She responded testily, "If he dies, just arrange the funeral. Let me know when it's happening, and out of respect for our past relationship, I'll send a generous condolence gift to his mother."

With that, Thalia hung up, unconcerned about James' reaction, and silenced her phone. The commotion awakened Asher. From beneath the covers, he tightened his arm around her, his voice deep and magnetic. "Stay and sleep a bit longer with me."

Thalia nestled closer to Asher, like an affectionate kitten seeking warmth. They lay snuggled in the same warm duvet, holding each other close. The world seemed to contain only the two of them. No matter how fiercely the snow and wind raged outside, it was inconsequential.

When James placed the call, Drake was already awake. The call had been James' idea; he knew exactly what Drake was hoping for—an unrealistic hope that Thalia would be concerned about his near-death experience and visit him. He had eagerly anticipated the call, instructing James to put it on speakerphone.

However, when Thalia heard he had nearly died, she offered not a single word of concern, responding with cold-hearted words instead. Drake's hands clenched into tight fists, veins protruding, his face paper-white, his lips drained of color. James put away his phone, swallowing nervously. He expected Drake to explode with anger, but Drake didn't. After a prolonged silence, he simply said quietly, "Leave me alone. I need some time to myself."

As James exited the hospital room, he encountered Sienna, who had traveled to Annecy. Sienna's face was full of concern. "How is Drake?"

James sighed, shaking his head. "Not good at all."

"What happened? How did a simple vacation land him in the hospital?"

James explained, "Last night was freezing, with snow falling, about five or six degrees below zero. He was wandering around in just a thin shirt and collapsed in the snow. A passerby brought him to the hospital."

Sienna frowned. "Why would he do something like that?"

James hesitated. Although Drake hadn't said anything, James guessed the reason: Thalia. Drake had collapsed near their accommodation in Annecy, where Thalia and her boyfriend were also staying. It was a difficult explanation.

When Sienna had returned from abroad, Drake and Thalia were still together. Drake had spent all his time with Sienna, disregarding Thalia's feelings. Now, the tables had turned. James thought Drake's current state wasn't necessarily due to deep love for Thalia—it might be an act to gain her sympathy. He genuinely despised Sienna, who had shamelessly pursued Drake while knowing he was with Thalia.

With this thought, James found it easier to speak. In a neutral tone, he said, "It's probably because of Thalia. You know, Thalia has a fiancé now, and they're quite in love. Drake saw Thalia and her boyfriend in the old town last night, got emotional, and went 'mental.' He wandered around alone until he collapsed."

James sighed deeply, "He nearly died. If that passerby hadn't found him, we probably wouldn't have seen him again." He surreptitiously observed Sienna's expression. The color drained from her face.

She murmured, "For Thalia?"

James sighed. "Yes. Just look at him, isn't he pathetic? Only learning to cherish something after losing it…"

Sienna trembled with anger, her voice rising sharply. "You're saying he nearly threw his life away for Thalia?"

A passing nurse reprimanded her, "Madam, this is a hospital. Please keep your voice down."

Sienna's complexion shifted from white to red. She forcefully opened the hospital room door. "Drake! What's the meaning of this?"

James smirked, peering curiously into the room. "BANG!" The door slammed shut. Heated arguing ensued.

"You're still thinking about Thalia? Drake, how could you do this to me?"

Drake laughed coldly, "Do I owe you anything?"

Sienna asked furiously, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"The things I did with you before—I betrayed Thalia. Now I've sorted myself out, and I can't continue like this. Sienna, don't come looking for me again. I don't want to upset Thalia."

"Ha ha ha ha ha! Drake, are you still living in a dream?" Sienna laughed wildly. "Worried about upsetting Thalia? Does she care about you even a little bit? You're ready to die for her, but has she shown an ounce of concern? Has she even come to see you once?"

These words stabbed mercilessly into Drake's heart.

"Get out! Get the hell out!" Drake roared, humiliated and enraged.

The sound of things being thrown and smashed echoed from the room. Watching Drake lose control, Sienna said mockingly, tears in her eyes, "Drake, you're truly pathetic." She left.

As Sienna opened the door, she encountered James. He awkwardly rubbed his nose. "Er, I left something inside, came back to get it."

Sienna ignored him and hurried away. The hospital room door remained open, and James peered inside. What a mess.