(Michelle POV — Entering Winter Paradise)
The moment the heavy doors of the ski villa opened, warmth flooded out like a welcoming exhale.
Not just heat — but light, scent, and sound. The soft crackle of a massive stone fireplace filled the grand lobby, orange flames licking upward behind tempered glass. Wooden beams arched overhead, carved with elegant winter motifs, while fairy lights draped along the railings twinkled like they had personalities of their own.
Snow viewed through panoramic windows framed the whole scene like a curated travel catalog.
Vince's voice echoed before the rest of him came into view.
"WELCOME, INNER NINE, TO THE KHÔ DOMINION OF FESTIVE DELUSION!"
He stood with both arms flung open dramatically at the top of the staircase, wearing an absurdly expensive winter coat over a sweater that absolutely did not respect seasonal colour coordination.
