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CHAPTER 1
Isabella let out a harsh sigh, then dropped the cigarette she failed to light onto the asphalt.
"I hate winter."
Not only because Isabella would have trouble lighting her cigarette, but also because winter was the season when she lost her best friend, the best person in her life, Alisa Horrison.
"Hey!"
Isabella turned around and stuffed both hands into the pockets of her black fur coat.
"Do you think you can do that?"
One of Isabella's eyebrows lifted when suddenly a man-who she didn't even know where he came from-walked toward her. Isabella observed him. He was tall and muscular, wearing a fur coat and a gray scarf with yellow polka dots. He was masculine and adorable at the same time.
"This." Suddenly, he picked up the cigarette butt Isabella had thrown away and showed it with a displeased look. "You can't just throw trash around like this. Plus, this is a campus area. A public place. A place where smoking is prohibited. I'm going to punish you."
"Are you a professor?"
"No."
"Then?"
"I'm Zach."
"I wasn't asking, anyway."
Zach adjusted his coat, then lifted his chin arrogantly. "I'm a teaching assistant here. I work with Mr. Brown. Nice to meet you, Naughty Girl." Zach offered the cigarette to Isabella. "Throw this in the trash, or you will-"
"Or I'll what?" Isabella interrupted.
Seeing Isabella's boldness, Zach got provoked. He pointed at her face, ready to bombard her with a thousand insults. But before he could, a voice from the other side interrupted their attention.
"Miss. Moore? Mr. Troll?"
Isabella and Zach both turned to the voice at the same time.
An older man with white hair stood there. He smiled and waved his hand before walking toward them. Up close, the man adjusted his glasses that had slipped down his nose. He was still smiling and said, "People these days really don't know manners. Shouldn't you be the ones approaching the elderly, not the other way around?" Isabella and Zach exchanged confused looks, suddenly being judged. The old man, Bennedict Cullan, quickly assessed the situation between them. "Ah, forget it. By the way... I'm Uncle Ben. Hi! Nice to meet you both."
Uncle Ben extended his hand, and Zach accepted it promptly, while Isabella just stared, not returning the handshake. This made Ben lower his hand, slightly disappointed and awkward.
"The snow will get heavier, you both should come inside with me."
Zach nodded. "Sure."
"Should I walk with this patrol guy?"
Isabella's words made Zach and Ben go silent. Ben tried to say something, but Zach quickly raised his hand to the air.
"He's a police-"
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