Seeing Everett explode with rage, the people behind him didn’t dare utter another word.”
They silently turned the freezer’s temperature down to negative 100 degrees.}
In an instant, a wave of bone–chilling wind blasted through the air vents, hitting me like knives made of frost.
The cold robbed me of speech–my teeth chattered uncontrollably, and I couldn’t form a complete sentence. Then, through the haze of numbness, a sharp, tearing pain erupted from my lower abdomen.
I forced my heavy head downward–and froze.N
A stream of bright red blood was flowing from between my legs, winding like a small creek across the icy ground.”
In the deathly cold, it steamed against the frost, creating a crimson mist.§
The blood melted the ice around me, seeping through the cracks in the floor.
That’s when it hit me.”
I knew what was happening.§
Clutching my belly, I screamed hoarsely toward the glass. “Everett! Let me out! The baby…. Save our baby!“}
He was still fuming with fury, but the moment he saw the blood–the same blood now melting ice and flowing to his feet–his face drained of all colors.
Panic replaced the cruelty in his eyes.
He grabbed the man beside him, shouting frantically, “Hurry! Get the freezer key! Didn’t we check with the doctor before locking her in? How the hell did this happen?!“}
The man handed him the key.}
But Everett’s hands were trembling so hard that he couldn’t even hold on to it.
The key fell–right at Maeve’s feet.}
He immediately turned and gripped her arm tightly.
“Maeve! Quick, unlock the door! Let Laura out now–hurry!“}
”
Startled by his outburst, Maeve fumbled to her feet, not even bothering to put her shoes on.
She rushed toward the freezer door, casting a glance back at Everett. Then, with her back to him, she slid the key into the lock.
In that instant, I caught a flash of something sinister in her eyes–a look of triumph, malice, and cruelty.
And then–crack!
A sharp sound echoed through the air.}
Maeve turned back around and suddenly dropped to her knees in front of Everett, crying out, “Everett–the key.. it snapped!“}
His face turned ghostly pale.
He stumbled forward, grabbed the broken key and demanded, “What do you mean it snapped?! How could it break? Call someone–get a locksmith now!“}
By now, the blood had spread across nearly the entire freezer floor, glistening warmly against the icy white.
I was groaning in agony, unable to contain the pain.
But Maeve knelt there with crocodile tears in her eyes, voice trembling with false concern. “Everett, she hasn’t admitted her mistake yet… You said it yourself, this was a chance to humble her–everyone here is watching…”
“And what about what I went through in the ICU? Are you really just going to let that go? You promised me you’d give me justice.“} Everett hesitated. He waved off the man who had gone to fetch another key.
Then he turned back toward the glass, slapping the freezer door repeatedly as he called to me–this time, his voice filled with desperation and pleading.
“Laura, please. Just admit you were wrong. For the baby, alright?“}
“Just say it. Say you’re sorry, and I’ll open the door. You don’t want anything to happen to our child either, do you? I’m begging you, Laura- just be a little softer, okay?“}
The blood loss was making my vision blur.}
My body collapsed into the pool of blood, and with a trembling voice I whispered toward the figure outside, “Everett… let me out… If you don’t, my father will kill you…”
Maeve’s eyes glinted with a savage–smile–but her voice remained drenched in that same fake innocence. “Laura… are you really that confused? Mr. Richardson died half a year ago. The Richardson family collapsed months ago! Just admit you were wrong already–no one can save you now!“?
Laughter and jeers erupted outside the freezer.”
“Still dreaming, huh? Gonna have your dad kill Everett? Miss Richardson, your old man’s probably rotting in hell–if anything, he’s the one getting killed all over again!“}
They laughed mockingly while tugging at Everett’s sleeve.}
*Everett, this woman clearly hasn’t learned her lesson! She’s just faking it. The kid is probably fine–let her rot in there a while longer!“}}
>
*
.
“Exactly, Everett! She bullied Maeve so badly–you can’t let her off easily!”
The cold storage was already slick with blood.”
They couldn’t see it, but I could feel it–the faint fluttering inside my belly was growing weaker and weaker.”
I started to wail uncontrollably, screaming in agony.§
Everett paced restlessly outside the door. When he glanced back at me again, there was a trace of helplessness in his eyes.”
“Laura, stop hoping your father is going to come rescue you again. He’s really dead. Just admit you were wrong, okay? Just say the words -I was wrong–and I’ll let you out!”
“My dear wife, give it up. Your father won’t be coming to save you this time!“}
The moment his words fell, the door to the room was kicked open with a loud bang.
A squad of fully armed mercenaries stormed in.§
A deep, commanding voice rang out from beyond the door-
“Who said her father wouldn’t come save her?”
