The wind didn’t just howl; it tore through the ruined fabric of Leonard’s winter gear like broken glass, biting straight into his bleeding flesh.Every breath felt like swallowing crushed ice, even though it was cold.He slumped against the shattered metal frame of the snow crawler, his lower body completely pinned under two tons of mangled steel. Heavy dark blood seeped into the white snow beneath him, turning it to slush. Just a few hundred meters away, the massive, rogue corpse of the mutant snow beast lay still, its steaming blood freezing instantly in the sub-zero air.Ten years. Ten long, brutal years since the Great Freeze stole the world. He had built the Asgaurd Harbour from nothing. He had fed over two thousand families. He was their shield.And now, he couldn’t even feel his legs.Thump... thump... thump…The deep and heavy rumble of snow crawler vibrated through the frozen ground.Leonard forced his swollen eyelids open. A pale hand trembled as he raised it into the blindi

“How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t want cheap things?!” Susan shouted, her face flushed with rage as she pointed a manicured finger at the ring on the floor.In his previous life, Leonard had offered that very ring to her as an anniversary gift. It was his family’s most sacred heirloom, and he had known its true worth. But back then, blinded by a pathetic, desperate love, he had foolishly believed Susan deserved something just as precious.Fortunately, her own greed and snobbery had saved him. She had rejected it back then, calling it costume jewelry.Leonard didn't say a word. He simply bent down, picked up the cool gold band, and slipped it safely into his jacket pocket.“Look at you!” Susan continued to scream, putting on a wounded, pitiful expression as though she were the true victim in the room. “Why would I even want to stay with someone like you? You can’t even give me the life I deserve! My friends’ husbands buy them diamonds and yachts, and what do I get? Che

The private DNA testing clinic on Millfield Road offered expedited, same-day processing for an exorbitant premium fee. Leonard didn't even blink as he swiped his card and paid it without hesitation.He sat in his car in the parking lot, carefully swabbing the inside of his own cheek, sealed the sample into the tube, and handed it directly to the technician.After that, there was nothing left to do but wait.He spent the entire rest of the afternoon sitting in the clinic’s quiet waiting area, holding a small paper cup of cold water, left alone with his thoughts. Every minute felt like an eternity, but his heart remained eerily still.At exactly seven o'clock in the evening, the phone vibrated heavy in his pocket.BZZZ.A new email had arrived. Attachment: Expedited_Genetics_Report_Ref8821.pdf.Leonard’s fingers didn't tremble as he tapped the file open. The report was only a few pages long, filled with complex medical charts and allele matching tables. He skipped past the technical jar

He woke before sunrise, showered, changed into fresh clothes, and headed straight for the finest restaurant he could find.Sitting by a sunlit window, Leonard ordered without so much as glancing at the prices. Prime steak, fresh seafood, delicate pastries, and the restaurant’s most expensive single-origin coffee were laid out before him.By the time he set down his fork, a deep, comforting warmth had spread through his entire body.So this is what it feels like, he thought, letting out a quiet, relaxed breath.Spending money on himself without an ounce of guilt felt... so damn good.After breakfast, he called a car and headed straight to the state lottery center.The moment the security guards and senior staff learned why he was there, their entire attitude changed instantly. Smiles replaced stiff formality, and a senior executive personally escorted him into an executive private reception room. His physical ticket and identity were verified through several meticulous rounds of securi

At the mention of twelve million dollars in cold hard cash, Michael, Joseph, and Magret suddenly found a remarkable burst of energy and shot straight out the front door, leaving Susan straggling behind.Michael and Joseph made it across the street to the estate first, only to find a large crowd of neighbors already gathered outside.The massive property sat behind an elegant, tall wrought-iron fence, with a pristine landscaped front yard separating the quiet street from the main house. Since no one could get inside through the locked electronic gates, curious neighbors had clustered along the iron bars, craning their necks for a better look at the luxury villa.“Michael!” someone in the crowd spotted him immediately and yelled out.Then came the loud, envious congratulations from every direction.“Michael, your family really made it big this time!”“You lucky bastard! Where on earth did Susan find a husband like that?”“Seriously, Michael, you never told any of us Leonard was this loa