CHAPTER 689. IN MY NEXT LIFE. SYNOPSISThere was nothing wrong with not falling in love. Peter Ferguson reminded himself of this every day, especially whenever reporters asked about his personal life and gave him concerned looks when he said he didn’t have a partner. No one understood that snow and extreme sports were his true passion, and that he had never accepted any commitment that could take him away from the slopes.But love comes when you least expect it, when you least want it, and sometimes, tragically, when it’s no longer meant for you. The problem isn’t falling for a woman who seems tailor-made for him; the problem is that this woman can no longer love him.The problem is not arriving at the right moment.The problem is knowing the love of your life is no longer yours. But perhaps, just perhaps, in the next life, they’ll be able to find each other again… in time.CHAPTER 1: A Dangerous DealIf there was anyone in the world who was even-tempered and adaptable, it was Peter
CHAPTER 690. IN MY NEXT LIFE. Something Worse Than an AvalancheIt wasn’t flirtation—perhaps that was the worst part. What oozed from that woman’s every pore was determination.Peter frowned as he watched her take a step back. If she wanted to seduce him, pulling away from physical contact wasn’t exactly the best strategy. But instead, the woman walked to the window and gazed at the towering snow-covered peaks that were the true stars of the Winter Games.“I know you’re one of the few people who’ve skied down Skatgan Peak,” she commented. Peter’s brow furrowed.“That was back when I was young, sexy, and reckless—once or twice,” he replied, intrigued, since not many people asked about that.“So now you’re just reckless?” she shot back, raising an arched, playful brow. Peter nearly gave her a murderous glare.“Why are you so interested in Skatgan Peak?” he snapped. “It’s far too dangerous. No competitions are allowed there because it’s too risky. No legal sport can be practiced there, a
CHAPTER 691. IN MY NEXT LIFE. Alone in the StormKim felt every fiber of her being trembling as she ran desperately behind Peter. She knew Skatgan Peak was dangerous, but of all the things she’d considered before making the trip, it had never once occurred to her to check the weather.“Peter... Peter, what is that?!” she screamed, but she knew the wind was so strong around them that he couldn’t hear her.Peter yanked her forward violently, and Kim realized they weren’t heading up or down but sideways, trying to traverse the mountain to the nearest pass. It was like a narrow gap between two rocky elevations—a small area with some shelter.Peter wasn’t reckless enough to climb a dangerous spot without backup options. However, he hadn’t expected to stay so long or for the storm to strike so quickly.All they could do was keep moving until they made it back to the snowmobiles—and from there, things got much more complicated.Kim froze when she saw Peter furiously kick one of the snowmobil
CHAPTER 692. IN MY NEXT LIFE. Trapped"Nothing’s going to happen to us," Peter assured her with a sigh, though deep down, that was just what he hoped. "This cabin is built to withstand worse situations. A storm hits Skatgan Peak every two or three weeks, so don’t worry," he muttered through clenched teeth. The truth was, unfortunately, no one could truly prepare for something like this.The cabin was certainly equipped for such situations, and more, but that wasn’t the real problem. The issue was that a storm could last hours—or days.“Damn it! This could be a total disaster!” he growled in frustration, knowing that if the storm dragged on, he wouldn’t make it to his second Winter Games event.He paced the cabin, running his hands through his hair in frustration, then turned to the girl huddled in a corner.“Come on, get up from there. You’re completely soaked, and so am I. The last thing we need right now is for either of us to get sick.”Peter grabbed some clothes from one of the sh
CHAPTER 693. IN MY NEXT LIFE One Last Hope... ShatteredNow she was truly scared, so scared she felt her knees tremble to the point of buckling. Kim glanced at the snow falling from the top of the door held by Peter, and that could only mean that nearly two meters of snow had piled up outside against the door.She helped him push until they managed to close it again with difficulty, both leaning their backs against the wood, hearts racing.“This can’t be… it just can’t be!” the young woman exclaimed, clutching her head. “God can’t do this to me! I have to get out of here… we have to… you have a championship, and I…! God…!”It seemed she wouldn’t be able to string one thought to another, let alone form a coherent sentence. Peter took a deep breath and tried to reach her, but it looked as if she was on the verge of reaching a point she hadn’t touched even during the worst moments of the storm: hysteria.“Hey, it’s okay. There’s still hope. With the wind out there, I can almost guarantee
CHAPTER 694. IN MY NEXT LIFE. An AdventurePerhaps “calm” wasn’t the right word—maybe “lethargic” was the best term to describe how she felt at that moment.She covered her head with her hands and curled into a ball, but nothing, absolutely nothing, could change the fact that they were trapped there and that she wouldn’t be able to leave. She wouldn’t be able to deliver that photo or earn the money she so desperately needed.Kim cried with the desperation and helplessness of someone who has already taken too many blows from life and cannot bear another. But the truth was that, at some point, she had to accept that nothing was under her control anymore, least of all her own life.She didn’t even know how much time had passed—maybe an hour, maybe six—but the moment the wind began to sound again like a giant, misaligned drum, she felt Peter’s arms lift her firmly and push her back into the cabin, where they once again took refuge from the terrible weather.“I was hoping it would be less
CHAPTER 695. IN MY NEXT LIFE. ScarsPeter breathed slowly. She was so soft, so strangely small compared to him, that it felt as if she had been made to fit as a part of him, ready to latch on like a perfect gear at his side.He couldn’t deny it—what was left of the day and the rest of that night was torturously difficult. Sometimes he could hear her crying softly in the darkness, but so faintly it was as if she genuinely hoped he wouldn’t notice the anguish that was torturing her.But finally, a new day dawned. It was a day when Peter should have been competing in the second round of the championship, and she… God only knew where she was supposed to be. It was obvious neither of them would reach their destinations.Peter got up slowly, leaving her curled up, and went to wipe a bit of frost from one of the windowpanes to look outside. The sky was still dark and gray, and the weather hadn’t improved at all.He made some breakfast and tried to get Kim to eat, but she chose the most child
CHAPTER 696. IN MY NEXT LIFE. An Opportunity“Can I see that picture?”For a second, Peter’s question made Kim feel like she was reliving the realization that all the risk she’d taken no longer mattered. But her camera was intact, sitting in a corner, and there was no real reason not to show him what was on it.She stood up slowly, taking it out of its case and handing it to him, while Peter sat behind her, pulling her against his chest. The small digital screen lit up within seconds, and soon they were both looking at the last photo she had taken.The profile was strange and slightly distorted—the snowboard looked massive from below, with him atop it, his expression a mix of fury and focus beneath his snow goggles. Behind him, the sky loomed dark with the storm, and the terrifying shadow of Skatgan Peak stood out in the background.It was an incredible photo, proof of her expertise as a professional.“Damn it! How old are you, and who else have you photographed in your life?” Peter a