He Chased His First Love Through the Snow-and Lost Me Chapter 10
The truth was, Garett had harbored a deep, toxicÂ
resentment toward my mother and me for aÂ
decade.Â
He believed that when my parents divorced, ourÂ
family had chosen to keep him around solely toÂ
act as a corporate slave to salvage our failing family business. In his twisted mind, he was just a stray dog my mother threw scraps to, eventuallyÂ
using a forced marriage to chain him to our familyÂ
asset permanently.Â
But reality was far more tragic. When our parents. separated, my biological father had stripped theÂ
estate bare to fund his life abroad, completelyÂ
abandoning Garett on the streets. It was myÂ
mother who had fought to keep him fed andÂ
clothed.Â
Garett possessed an undeniable, brilliant commercial intellect. That was the precise reason my mother had trusted him to take over our legacy. Under his direction, our small familyÂ
company expanded into a massive corporate juggernaut.Â
Later, when the powerful Vance family officially reclaimed him as their legitimate heir, heÂ
systematically merged our family business intoÂ
the Vance conglomerate. Back then, believing weÂ
were a unified family, I saw no issue with himÂ
managing the assets. But now that the illusionÂ
was shattered, it was time for a financialÂ
reckoning.Â
Separating two massive corporate entities was an incredibly messy financial operation. For the nextÂ
two weeks, I spent every single day inside Garett’sÂ
executive suite, analyzing spreadsheets. YearsÂ
ago, I couldn’t even pass the front security desk.Â
without his written permission; now, I movedÂ
through his office like a ghost.Â
Garett quietly signaled his assistant to place aÂ
gourmet lunch tray on the mahogany desk, his voice soft. “Eat something before you continue,Â
Vivian. There’s no rush.”Â
I didn’t look up from the financial ledger. “TheÂ
sooner the separation is finalized, the better. I have no intention of lingering around your space.”Â
His entire frame stiffened. “There’s really no needÂ
to extract the asset completely. Leaving it mergedÂ
ensures you receive massive quarterly dividendsÂ
without lifting a finger. Wouldn’t that be easier?”Â
“No, thank you, Mr. Vance. I appreciate yourÂ
stewardship over the years, but I prefer totalÂ
separation.”Â
A broken, tragic smile crossed his lips. “Vivian…Â
it’s been so many years since you last called meÂ
brother.”Â
I slowly raised my eyes to look at him.Â
I still remembered the day of our high schoolÂ
prom. I had spent weeks writing a delicate loveÂ
letter, preparing to confess my devotion. I hadÂ
clutched his sleeve, my heart racing as IÂ
whispered, “Big bro… I have something to tell you.”Â
But Garett, having already deduced my feelings,Â
cut me off with total disgust, “Don’t ever call meÂ
that again. It makes me feel utterly nauseous.”Â
The love letter remained crumpled in my palm,Â
never to be sent. From that exact second, theÂ
word ‘brother‘ was permanently erased from myÂ
vocabulary.Â
Snapping back to the present, I looked at hisÂ
devastated expression. “Don’t ever call me VivianÂ
again. It makes me feel utterly nauseous.”Â
Garett’s face went entirely pale as his ownÂ
historical cruelty was thrown back at him. BeforeÂ
he could speak, the heavy office doors wereÂ
suddenly pushed open.Â
It was Natasha. “Garett, aren’t you supposed toÂ
escort me to the gala? Why are you still-” SheÂ
froze as her eyes caught me sitting at the desk.Â
Garett immediately looked at my expression, hisÂ
eyes filled with anxiety. I ignored her completely.Â
and picked up my fork.Â
Garett’s brow furrowed into a deep, irritated scowlÂ
as he glared at Natasha. “Why are you here?”Â
Natasha’s perfect smile cracked slightly. “Well…Â
because you’ve been blacklisting my personalÂ
number for the past two weeks…”Â
It was true. Over the past fortnight, wheneverÂ
Natasha’s contact flashed on his screen, GarettÂ
would deliberately press the disconnect buttonÂ
right in front of my face.Â
Garett pinched the bridge of his nose with deepÂ
exhaustion. “I’m in the middle of an executiveÂ
restructure. Return to your apartment. I willÂ
contact you when I have time.”Â
Instead of leaving, Natasha walked straight overÂ
and slid into the leather chair right next to Garett,Â
picking up a spare set of utensils. “I happen to beÂ
quite hungry as well. Let’s enjoy lunch together.Â
My dear sister won’t mind a little company, willÂ
she?” The malice in her eyes was barely masked;Â
Garett’s recent cold shoulder had clearly made herÂ
desperate.Â
I laid my fork down flat. “Actually, I mindÂ
immensely. The sight is entirely ruining myÂ
appetite.”Â
Natasha’s delicate facade fractured completely,Â
her eyes turning watery as she looked at Garett forÂ
support. “Garett… it seems my presence isÂ
unwelcome here.” She fully expected him to putÂ
me in my place.Â
Instead, Garett simply nodded flatly. “Then I willÂ
have my assistant escort you out immediately.”Â
The moment the doors sealed shut behind aÂ
stunned Natasha, Garett rushed over to my side,Â
frantic to explain. “Vivian, there is absolutelyÂ
nothing between us! The only reason I providedÂ
her with lifestyle assets over the years wasÂ
because she claimed she was the one whoÂ
convinced our parents to rescue me from theÂ
riverbanks when we were children…”Â
I froze, a cold shock rippling through my chest.Â
She claimed she saved him?Â
Garett clutched my hand, his eyes burning with intense devotion. “As long as you say the word, I will utilize the upcoming Vance corporate gala to officially announce our formal wedding to theÂ
public.”Â
“Vivian, please grant your brother one finalÂ
chance,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “LetÂ
me remarry you. I will provide you with the mostÂ
spectacular, historic celebration this city has everÂ
seen.”Â
I calmly pulled my hand from his grip. “No.”Â
What’s dead is dead. Between us lay the silentÂ
ghost of my Andy; I could never forgive him.

