"It’s fine. Looking good at home is enough," Suzy said with a laugh.

At the very least, she enjoyed the view.

"Oh, right. Uncle, there are still a few outfits over here. Do you want to try those too?"

She pointed toward several sets of clothing she had already put together.

"Absolutely."

Leonard was clearly enjoying himself. Without hesitation, he gathered up another armful of clothes and headed back to his room.

Soon, Suzy was alone in the living room again.

Although the windows had been shut tightly, she could still feel the temperature inside steadily dropping.

Her safe house was designed with insulation features that kept it warm in winter and cool in summer. If she could feel the cold even here, the conditions outside had to be far worse.

Bending down, she retrieved the safe house remote from a drawer and spent a moment figuring out the controls before switching on the heating system.

Warm air gradually began circulating through the room.

At the same time, approaching footsteps echoed from the hallway.

Suzy looked up... Then froze.

Thomas had emerged from his room. His head was lowered slightly, and there was a rare hint of awkwardness about him.

He was wearing the clothes she had picked out.

The black thermal turtleneck fit closely against his broad chest and powerful shoulders, outlining every contour of his upper body.

The sleek fabric emphasized the hard muscle beneath, tracing the strength of his physique without mercy.

He wore matching cargo pants below, loose enough for movement but fitted at the waist with a black woven belt that accentuated his lean, powerful frame.

Standing beneath the overhead lights, Thomas looked almost unreal.

The illumination cast sharp shadows across his features.

His brow ridge was pronounced. His eyes were deep-set. His nose formed a clean, striking line down the center of his face. His lips remained pressed together in their usual reserved expression.

He was devastatingly handsome.

"Does it look strange?"

Thomas finally raised his eyes to meet hers.

Beneath his calm exterior, there was a trace of nervousness.

He was accustomed to loose clothing.

Something this fitted felt unfamiliar. Restrictive. As though the fabric wrapped too closely around him.

Even breathing felt different.

Meanwhile, Suzy had completely forgotten how to blink.

Her gaze traveled shamelessly from his shoulders to his waist.

From his waist to his long legs.

Then back up to his sharp, imposing face.

Her throat suddenly felt dry.

Thomas’s physique was ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.

"Doesn’t it look good?"

When she still failed to answer, a faint crease appeared between his brows.

He glanced down at himself before looking back at her.

Raising an arm, he rolled his shoulder experimentally.

The black fabric stretched and relaxed with the movement, revealing the clear definition of the muscle beneath.

"Is it that bad?"

"You’re insanely handsome."

Suzy finally found her voice.

The compliment escaped before she could stop it.

She stood up immediately and circled him like a fashion critic examining a masterpiece.

Thomas remained perfectly still, allowing her to inspect him from every angle.

Only the gradual reddening of his ears betrayed him.

His gaze lowered.

His lashes concealed whatever emotions flickered in his eyes.

Yet the corner of his mouth curved upward ever so slightly.

"Do you like it?" he asked quietly.

Without missing a beat, Suzy placed her hand against his chest.

She pressed lightly against the muscle beneath the fabric before nodding enthusiastically.

"Of course I do. It suits you perfectly."

And beyond that, the outfit was practical.

Dark colors. Easy to move in. Difficult to stain. Perfect for surviving the apocalypse.

Suzy grabbed a thick winter jacket and handed it to him.

"Try this one too."

Thomas slipped it on without complaint.

"Well?"

Once again, Suzy raised a thumbs-up.

"You look like a professional model."

A laugh escaped him.

"That’s a little exaggerated."

"No, seriously."

Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him.

"Your physique is better than most models."

Suzy couldn’t help feeling pleased with herself.

Life had finally started treating her well.

Unexpectedly, Thomas hooked a finger around her hand and leaned closer.

His breath brushed her ear.

"Then later, would you like to..."

Before he could finish, another voice interrupted.

"Suzy, what do you think of this outfit?"

Leonard appeared at exactly the wrong moment.

Thomas’s unfinished sentence vanished into the air.

He immediately straightened and turned toward Leonard as though nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, Suzy rubbed her ear.

The spot where Thomas had spoken still felt strangely warm.

Leonard had changed again.

This outfit was somehow even more fashionable than the previous one.

It looked just as good.

Unfortunately, Suzy’s attention was no longer entirely focused on clothing.

"Looks great," she replied automatically.

Leonard continued trying on outfit after outfit.

He practically demanded a fresh round of compliments every time.

Only after receiving sufficient praise did he finally feel satisfied enough to stop.

Time passed quietly.

Outside, the wind grew louder.

Each gust struck the building harder than the last.

Inside, however, everything remained peaceful.

Gradually, drowsiness crept over Suzy.

She glanced toward Leonard. He had already fallen asleep.

Thomas looked equally sleepy.

Unable to fight it any longer, Suzy yawned and curled up on the sofa.

Before she knew it, she had drifted off as well.

She dreamed.

The dream was completely white. An endless expanse of pale emptiness stretched in every direction. There was nothing else.

No sky. No ground. No landmarks. Only white.

Suzy stood alone within it, confused.

Where was she?

As she slowly turned, searching for answers, she noticed a blurry silhouette in the distance.

Someone was approaching.

Step by step, the figure grew closer.

"Suzy! Thomas! Wake up!"

A gentle shake jolted her.

The white world shattered.

Suzy opened her eyes and found Leonard staring at her.

"What happened?" Her voice was thick with sleep.

Leonard pointed urgently toward the window.

"It’s snowing!"

His excitement bordered on alarm.

"There’s snow outside!"

Suzy froze.

Then she sat upright so suddenly that the blanket slipped from her shoulders.

Leonard had already thrown open the curtains.

Following his gaze, she looked outside.

Everything was white.

Massive snowflakes filled the sky.

Heavy snowfall blanketed the world beyond the glass.

The storm was so dense it seemed to swallow the city whole.

Suzy jumped off the sofa and hurried to the window barefoot.

She cracked it open slightly.

A blast of icy wind immediately rushed inside, carrying tiny snowflakes with it. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The cold bit into her cheeks.

She extended her hand and caught several flakes.

They melted almost instantly against her skin.

After a moment, she withdrew her hand, shut the window, and returned to the living room.

The first thing she did was increase the temperature on the heater.

"The deep freeze really did arrive early."

Leonard stared outside thoughtfully.

"You actually called it."

Suzy’s thoughts, however, had already drifted elsewhere.

Derek.

The sudden temperature drop had caught everyone off guard.

How was he handling it?

She had foolishly convinced herself there would still be time before the true cold arrived.

Clearly, she had been wrong.

Less than a single night had passed, and now it was snowing.

Then another thought struck her.

Liam. And Noah.

Did they have enough winter supplies?

"Uncle, I’m heading out."

Suzy turned and hurried toward her room.

Once the deep freeze began, temperatures would only continue falling.

There was no time to waste.

"I’ll get ready too."

By the time Suzy changed into heavy winter clothing and emerged from her room, Leonard and Thomas were already prepared.

"Eat something first," Leonard suggested.

The three of them quickly had a simple meal to fill their stomachs before setting out.

When they reached the thirteenth floor, Suzy’s pace slowed considerably.

She was debating whether she should stop and check on Liam.

Before she could make up her mind, the apartment door suddenly opened.

Liam stood there, looking surprised.

His gaze swept across the three of them.

"You’re going out?" he asked.