Chapter 181: Snow in Summer

Thelma Zane’s POV It was so cold. Shivering in my sleep, I curled into a fetal position, trying to shield myself from the bone-chilling cold. My groggy mind struggled to make sense of the sensation. *Where is the blanket? Why can’t I feel the blanket’s warmth?* The more I searched for the familiar comfort, the more elusive it became. Reluctantly, I opened my eyes. What greeted me was far from the comforting sight of my room—it was a winter wonderland. A surreal expanse of white engulfed my surroundings, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I might still be dreaming. “What... what’s going on?” I murmured, rubbing my eyes in disbelief. “You’re finally awake,” came Maxine’s faint voice in my mind. “I thought I was going to freeze to death in the middle of summer, thanks to you.” Her words jolted me fully awake. Stumbling to the closet, which was inexplicably dusted with snow, I grabbed a coat and pulled it over my trembling body. My voice cracked as I asked, “What’s hap