It happened one Winter

Zaira Silva and Ibrahim Mirza shared two things: their close group of friends and their lifelong dream of becoming neurosurgeons. Both were driven to be the best, but neither expected that their shared ambition would turn them into bitter rivals.

To Zaira, Ibrahim was nothing more than the cocky, overconfident right-wing for Dalton Technical University's soccer team. While others saw his charm, she only saw him as an arrogant obstacle in her way.

To Ibrahim, Zaira was an exceptional competitor—intelligent, fiercely stubborn, and unrelenting. Her determination intrigued him, even if it led to constant clashes. If their rivalry was the only way to keep her attention, he was ready to play along.

The rivalry escalated into an all-out war when they found out they wanted the same thing: that spot in the summer medical program. Only one could have it, and neither would back down. Their feud became so disruptive that the professor overseeing their applications issued an ultimatum: if they couldn’t work together and demonstrate civility, neither would be chosen for the program they had been dreaming of.

With their futures on the line, Zaira and Ibrahim were forced to call a truce. Over winter break, they found themselves spending time together in close quarters, hoping to prove to their professor that they could cooperate. As their bitter rivalry began to ease, something else started to thaw. Feelings they could no longer ignore. This newfound tension and intimacy could have jeopardised their progress, yet they chose to take the risk.

‘It happened one winter’ is a steamy college romance with elements of rivals-to-lovers and forced proximity. It’s the second book in an interconnected romance series but can be read as a standalone.