Scales''s lips twitched. "Hey, what do you mean, ''you men''? Don''t lump me in with the rest. I''m nothing like that."


    Mamie rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. There''s a saying, you know-''men are all the same."


    Scales protested, "I''m telling you, I''m not like him."


    "I don''t buy it."


    "If you don''t believe me, try me!"


    Mamie was caught off guard as Scales spun on his heel and walked away. It took her a second to process, and then she blinked in confusion. Try what, exactly? Meanwhile, Grace and ter, though spared from expulsion, found themselves in limbo. Their advisor had dropped them, and none of the other professors were willing to take them on. In the end, the school grudgingly arranged something for them, just to get it over with.


    Academics? Ambitions? Those were off the table. At this point, just keeping their heads down and scraping by for a diploma was the best they could hope for.


    On top of that, the university proactively reached out to thepetition organizers to exin what had happened. The grand prize originally awarded to Roseanne''s team was returned, and an official statement correcting the winners was posted online.


    One scandal had unearthed a whole mess beneath the surface.


    As the deep chill ofte winter set in, the end of the year crept closer.


    After spending several days in theb, Carlson left for his hometown with Arkle.


    Duke called more than once, urging Mamie toe home.


    "My darling girl, when are youing back?"


    "It''s almost New Year''s. Your mom and I have packed up and we''re heading to Duskhaven."


    "You''re the eldest daughter of the family, you know. Can''t wait until thest minute to show up! Your great-uncles might not say anything to you, but they''ll definitely give me an earful. Have a little pity on your old man, will you?"


    Mamie sighed. "I know, Dad! I''ll be home tomorrow."


    Duke was so pleased he did a little spin in the living room. "I''ll have Larry pick you up at the airport tomorrow!"


    "No need. He got that new tattoo-he looks like a mobster. I''ll just grab a cab." "Alright, alright, whatever you say."


    The next day, Mamie flew back to her home in the South.


    Once she left, Scales stoppeding into theb too, leaving Roseanne on her


    own.


    ...


    Night had fallen, thick and deep as ink.


    At eight o''clock, Roseanne double-checked the power, locked up theb, and grabbed her bag.


    Her car was out ofmission-she''d noticed a tire pressure warning light that morning and had sent it to the shop with a driver.


    So tonight, she had no choice but to order a ride.


    She put in a request on the app, but the screen kept showing "searching for driver."


    At this hour? That was odd...


    Stepping outside, Roseanne quickly saw why.


    Somehow it had started to snow. Big, feathery kes swirled through the air, gathering on the tree branches until they formed thick, fluffy clumps-almost too cute to be real.


    She couldn''t resist poking the nearest branch, watching as a little hollow formed in the snow.


    Even though it had already snowed several times over the winter, Roseanne still found it fascinating.


    After a while, her fingers stung from the cold, so she tucked her red hands back into her pockets and checked her phone again. Still no driver.


    She tilted her head back just as a snowke drifted down andnded on her eyshes. The icy touch made her blink, and the fragile ke melted instantly.


    Yesterday, Mamie had sighed, wishing for one more snowfall before she left. Roseanne hadn''t expected it toe so soon.


    A car horn sounded-a sharp beep that cut through the quiet night. Headlights


    shed, so bright she had to raise her arm to shield her eyes.


    The re softened as the driver switched to low beams and pulled over.


    The door opened, and a tall figure stepped out.


    He popped open an umbre and, with the snow swirling around him, walked toward her.


    The night felt like a stage set; for a moment, Roseanne had the uncanny sense of watching a scene from a story-a lone travelering home through the snow.


    As he drew closer, she blinked and recognized Owen Reynolds.


    He stopped in front of her, holding the umbre so it shielded her from the falling snow.


    "Professor, what are you doing here?"


    "I was at a conference nearby," he said, his voice gentle. "Saw the snow


    you


    didn''t have your car today. Figured I''d swing by and check on you."


    His tone was calm and even, carrying a warmth that seemed to melt the winter night. The smile in


    his eyes made the snow feel softer, the cold a little less biting.