Chapter 1
“Mr. Langston, sign me up for the cryonics experiment,” Sebastian Lowell said calmly.
Howard Langston’s voice came through on the other end of the line. “Are you sure about this, Sebastian? I know the cancer diagnosis hit you hard, but there’s still hope for treatment—”
“It’s stage four of lymphoma,” Sebastian interrupted. “There’s no cure.”
Howard let out a long sigh. “But the research team’s cryonics technology is still far from perfect. They’ve never tested it on a living person. There’s a high chance you’ll die the moment you’re frozen! Please, think it over.”
“I’ve made up my mind, Mr. Langston,” Sebastian replied with a smile.
With that, he hung up.
His phone screen displayed a headline from a few minutes ago.
In the photo, Keith Jefferson and Cassandra Yeager were holding hands. On Keith’s ring finger was a blue diamond ring.
Even through the screen, the gemstone’s brilliance burned Sebastian’s eyes.
He bit his lip hard, but it wasn’t enough to stop the tears. They streamed down his face uncontrollably.
It was Cassandra’s birthday today. She was the person he loved most in the world. Yet, she had just given the ring he designed to someone else.
Why must Cassandra do this? Sebastian wondered if she hated him that much.
The steaming food slowly cooled. As he sat at the table, his heart grew cold as well.
…
At 2:30 am, the front door finally creaked open. Cassandra stepped inside, bringing the icy night air with her.
“You’re still awake?” When she saw Sebastian, her expression grew colder. “Didn’t I tell you I’d be with Keith tonight? I said I’d be back late.”
Sebastian kept his head down, silent for a long moment before mumbling, “…Happy birthday.”
It was already past midnight. The day wasn’t even her birthday anymore.
“Why are you doing this, Sebastian?” Cassandra snapped. “Keith is my boyfriend. It’s only natural for him to celebrate with me. Who do you think you are?
“We’re not even related by blood. I’m at most your guardian! Know your place! There’s no chance between us. The thoughts in your head just disgust me!”
With that, she slammed the door and left again.
She was probably going to find Keith. After all, she’d just said he was her boyfriend.
Sebastian kept his head lowered and stared at his feet. His voice was barely a whisper as he said, “I’m sorry, Cassie. It won’t happen again. This is the last birthday I’ll ever spend with you.”
The room was freezing.
Sebastian wondered if the cold of a cryogenic chamber would be worse than this empty place.
He hated the cold ever since he was a child. In winter, he would walk barefoot with a stuffed rabbit and go to Cassandra, asking to sleep next to her.
Back then, Cassandra had been nice to him. She had never spoken to him harshly. Instead, she’d pull him into bed with a smile and tell him stories until he drifted off.
Keith posted a picture on Instagram of him and Cassandra holding hands. He was wearing “Mermaid’s Heart”, the ring Sebastian had designed.
In the caption, Keith proudly announced, “We’re engaged!”
Just then, Sebastian received an email from the cryonics research team. He opened it to find the consent form for the experiment attached.
He didn’t sign it right away. Instead, he picked up his phone and called Cassandra.
The call went to voicemail. Undeterred, he dialed again and again. After five attempts, she finally picked up.
“What now, Sebastian?” Cassandra’s voice was laced with irritation.
Sebastian pressed his lips together before saying softly, “I just wanted to say congratulations.”
Upon hearing that, Cassandra scoffed. “Let’s hope you actually mean that.”
Sebastian fell silent for a moment, staring at the floor. Then, he asked, “When’s the wedding?”
“December 12th,” she replied coldly.
That answer felt like a dagger to his heart.
December 12th was his birthday.
