2. Don't Test My Patience

Smiling crookedly, Mister Cold poured tea from the pot into the cup. There was absolutely no remorse on his face. The look in the man's eyes even looked satisfied.

"Stupid woman," he mumbled faintly. “No one can disturb me. You should know that."

After taking a sip, Mr. Cold carried his cup to a chair by the window. From there, he could see snow falling from the sky and strong winds starting to stir the pines.

"Will there be another storm tonight?”

Raising an eyebrow, the man enjoyed his tea. He was happy for restoring peace. However, the more snow fell, the more distant his gaze became. At one point, an anxious sigh escaped his mouth.

“That woman … can she survive?”

After a brief contemplation, Mr. Cold shook his head quickly. The image of Amber shouldn't stay long in his mind.

"Why am I thinking about that disturber? She's nobody."

Nodding, the man raised his cup again. However, before the tea touched his lips, he froze.

"But if that woman dies, I'll be the one in trouble," he thought before placing the cup by the window. After tapping his fingers, Mr. Cold finally went to get his coat and flashlight.

"Tsk, why are women always causing trouble?" he grumbled while pulling the door. Without thinking, the man walked along the trace of Amber.

"Hmm? Where did she go?” Mister Cold thought when he saw that there was no one standing on the side of the road. While furrowing his brows, he quickened his pace.

Five meters from the shoulder of the road, the man's steps suddenly stopped. After a firm blink, he turned his head to the right. A second later, his expressionless face turned tense. Someone in a white coat was lying surrounded by thick layer of snow.

"Damn!" Mr. Cold sighed as he tucked the flashlight into the pocket. Quickly, he checked the woman's condition. "Miss? Miss!”

Even though she was patted a few times, Amber didn't answer. Her cold body was still like a stone. Not wanting to be accused of being a murderer, the man rushed to pick up the woman. With great difficulty, he carried her through the snow.

Arriving at the cottage, Mr. Cold immediately laid Amber near the wood heater. Only then he could see how blue her lips were. Once again, the man tried to wake Amber up.

"Miss? Miss!”

Unfortunately, the shake he gave wasn't enough to bring Amber to her senses. Feeling desperate, Mister Cold sighed deeply. "I shouldn't have crossed the line. Look at the consequences! She has hypothermia."

After nagging himself, the man pulled Amber's glove off. Squeezing those icy pale fingers, he expected a change.

“Come on … wake up! Don't make me a murderer! It's your own fault for bothering me on a winter night."

Seconds passed, Amber didn't move either. Her breath was barely even detectable. Not wanting to be late, Mr. Cold rushed to strip off her clothes.

"There’s no other way. I have to do this. Don't blame me, Miss. This is for your safety.”

After a while, the two people were no longer wearing clothes. Without hesitation, Mister Cold pulled the blanket off the couch. While stretching that thick cloth, he cupped Amber's back with his body. A second later, the man began to hug the woman tightly and moved his hands spreading warmth.

***

As soon as she opened her eyes, Amber was greeted by sparks behind the wood heater glass. Seeing that unusual sight, she gasped. Wide-eyed, the woman recalled the events of last night.

"I'm still alive?" she concluded, half believing. After blinking quickly, she let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God .... Who saved me?"

While holding the heaviness in her head, Amber straightened up. Just at that moment, the cloth covering her body fell down. In an instant, the joy on her face faded. In a flash, the woman wrapped herself in the blanket again.

"Where are my clothes?" she sighed while staring around. Not finding what she was looking for, Amber spontaneously grimaced. "Gosh. What has happened to me?”

While the woman was confused, someone put the dishes into the sink. The sound echoed through the entire room. Knowing the whereabouts of "the culprit", Amber got up. Dragging the blanket wrapped around her, she walked towards the kitchen.

Finding Mister Cold, Amber spontaneously opened her mouth wide. The gratitude that had grown before, suddenly disappeared. All that was left was immense irritation and anger.

"You ...!" she cried, pointing her index finger. Her eyes were already red and watery. "I understand now. No wonder you left me cold out there. You must be hoping that I fainted, so you could do anything to me!”

Hearing Amber's loud voice, the man suddenly frowned.

"You're ungrateful, apparently. I saved you, but you shouted at me instead?”

With one hand, Amber gripped the shirt of the man who was much taller than her. "You think I don't know? You've slept with me!"

Instead of being afraid, Mister Cold raised his chin. "Stop making it up. I didn’t do it," he said in a low, even tone.

“Make it up?” Amber asked in a trembling voice. "Isn't the evidence clear? I woke up without a single string attached!”

The man snorted sinisterly. "What’s wrong with it? Don't you want to be safe? You won't be able to put up with that wet coat."

After bringing his head closer to Amber, Mister Cold deepened his voice. "You had hypothermia last night. The only way to save you is to share warmth ... skin to skin. That's why, I took off your clothes," he explained with a cold expression.

“Then, you make it an excuse to get inside me? Is that so?" Amber interrupted, looking up. The hand that gripped the man's shirt tightened.

Unexpectedly, the corner of Mister Cold's lips lifted higher. "You think I'm attracted to you?" While shaking his head, the man narrowed his eyes. "Absolutely not, Miss. I actually hate to touch your dirty body.”

A sigh suddenly escaped from Amber's mouth. "Dirty? You call me dirty?"

“Please don't act like an innocent girl. I know a woman like you must have slept with a lot of men."

In a split second, a slap landed on Mister Cold's cheek. With burning eyes, Amber pointed her index finger again. "Watch your mouth! I'm not that kind of woman. You can't just touch me, let alone get inside me!"

While pressing the inside of the cheek with his tongue, Mister Cold returned Amber's cold gaze. "I told you, I did not do it."

"You think I believe? What normal guy doesn't do it when he's with a nude woman? Are you impotent, huh?”

In an instant, the man's eyes filled with hatred. Gritting his teeth, he pushed Amber's shoulder against one of the walls. Without the slightest bit of pity, Mister Cold gripped the woman's chin.

“It is your mouth that should be guarded! If I had known you were this annoying, I would have let you die out there.”

Even though she was scared, Amber still maintained her fretful expression. With a slight bow, she glared at Mister Cold.

"Oh, so it’s true. You're impotent," the woman mumbled without thinking.

A second later, a fist landed on the wall, right next to Amber's head. Witnessing that spontaneous action, the woman spontaneously screamed. Closing her eyes, she gripped the blanket tightly.

"Don't test my patience," Mister Cold said in a low voice that made Amber shudder in horror. "You should be grateful I didn't eat you."

After giving a warning, the man walked away. A moment later, there was the sound of a door slamming from the front. Knowing that Mister Cold was no longer in the cottage, Amber immediately fell down on the floor. She had been holding back the shaking knees for too long.