Chapter 2

2.

Cold iron chains bit into my wrists and ankles, pinning me to a stone pillar in the center of the vault.

The piercing chill surged from the soles of my feet, cutting through my thin dress and settling in my marrow.

The vault was empty, save for the rhythmic dripping of melting frost and the chattering of my teeth.

I curled into myself as much as the chains allowed, trying to shield my belly with my own body heat.

"I'm so sorry, little one. Mommy messed up. I'm so sorry you're suffering."

I choked on my sobs, my tears hitting the frozen floor and turning into tiny beads of ice.

"You have to be strong. Mommy will protect you. We're going to get out of here..."

But the cold was a hungry beast, devouring every bit of warmth I had left.

My hands and feet grew numb, and my mind started to drift.

I remembered when I first met Callum. He was distant then, but he wasn't this cruel.

Our marriage was a deal between families―his needed the Miller family's backing.

But I had loved him from a distance since I was a teenager.

I thought marrying him would be the start of a dream, but it was actually the beginning of a nightmare.

Vivianne was always there, like a thorn between us.

She was a master at acting weak, constantly whispering lies about how I bullied her.

Callum never gave me a chance to explain. He just pointed fingers and screamed.

The last time, Vivianne broke his mother's antique vase and cried, saying I pushed her.

Callum didn't say a word; he just slapped me and locked me in a room without food for two days.

And now, just for opening a window, he was willing to let us freeze to death.

I don't know how much time passed before the vault door cracked open.

A sliver of weak light hit my eyes. I thought Callum had changed his mind.

I struggled to stand, but instead of my husband, I saw Vivianne.

She was wrapped in a thick, expensive down parka, looking down at me with a smirk.

"Oh, Mindy. Look at you," she cooed, her voice dripping with fake pity.

"Callum was just so worried about me. He acted on impulse. You can't really blame him, can you?"

Watching her act made a fire of rage burn in my chest.

"You did this on purpose!" I rasped, using every bit of strength I had. "You aren't even that sick! you just wanted him to hurt me!"

"How could you say that?" Vivianne's eyes welled with fake tears.

"I only came here to check on you because I was worried. I didn't know you were so ungrateful."

She turned to leave, but stopped at the door to toss one last comment over her shoulder.

"It's so cold in here. You should really take care of yourself, Mindy. You wouldn't want to worry Callum."

The door slammed shut, plunging me back into the silence of the grave.

I knew then that she only came to twist the knife. She wanted to watch me suffer.

The cold intensified, and a sharp, pulling pain started in my lower abdomen.

I knew it was the baby. He was crying out for help.

I thrashed against the chains, desperate to break free, but the iron wouldn't budge.

"Callum, save me... save our baby..."

I screamed until my voice was a jagged whisper, but only the frost answered me.