Chapter 1 Chapter 1

I'd come to the mountains with my husband, Randall Hamilton, for an ice fishing trip, but things quickly took a turn for the worse. A blizzard hit, and the hail pounded against the car windows, making my nerves spike. I was behind the wheel, with our four-year-old daughter, Belle Hamilton, sitting next to me in the front passenger seat. In the backseat were Randall, and his former boss, Tessa Sinclair. "Speed up, Elsie! The hail's getting worse! If we get stuck out here, we're done for!" Tessa lifted the damp hem of her pants and rested her fair feet in Randall's arms while trembling. They had chosen the ice fishing spot. After the hail started, the original route became impassable, so they handed me the wheel and asked me to find a way through. When we finally reached a mountain villa, the car sputtered to a stop. The engine shut off because of the freezing temperature. "This cursed weather! How did it change so fast? And this villa doesn't even have power? Not even hot water! What kind of place did you find?" Randall grumbled as he stormed back to the living room after circling the place. I pulled out a thermos and carefully gave Belle a sip of hot chocolate. "Stop wandering, honey. Try calling for emergency help. Belle's catching a cold." Randall started toward us but was stopped midway by Tessa calling his name. "Randall, I'm so cold." Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, and tears glistened in her eyes. She looked helpless and pitiful. Randall anxiously grabbed the thermos from my hand, spilling hot chocolate onto the back of my hand. It was scalding, then quickly cooled. He fed the only bottle of hot chocolate to Tessa. "It's so cold. Why is there no heating system?" she whined. "Maybe the hail knocked out the power. Let me warm you up," Randall comforted her. The two of them embraced each other. They were oblivious to everything around them. It was so obvious there was something off about their relationship. But right then, all I could focus on was Belle, who was sick. "Randall, Belle's not feeling well! Take care of her first!" I slapped his arm urgently. The owner of the villa sold the house at a low price due to debts and moved everything out. Because of the harsh weather, the power was out. The only thing keeping us warm was the bottle of hot chocolate Randall was holding. "It's still freezing, Randall. Is there any other clothing here? Am I going to freeze to death?" Tessa asked. Randall scanned the room, then his eyes locked on me. He noticed my bulky, puffy down jacket which was clearly designed for warmth. He reached out to unzip my down jacket. "What are you doing?" I stared at him in disbelief and took several steps back in shock. "Grow up, Elsie Bennett! Tessa got her pants wet saving me. She's my lifesaver. Be more understanding. We can't just ignore her!" he said. I was furious and heartbroken. Belle, his daughter, was freezing and sick, but all he could think about was this so-called lifesaver? This ice fishing spot was formed by the rugged terrain, which created an ice lake. I felt uneasy driving over, but they assured me it was safe because they'd been here for company events before. The ice was thin in some places, and thick in others. Randall, who was always the risk-taker, stepped onto it and nearly fell through. I was setting up the tent by the shore, holding Belle, when Tessa pushed Randall and ended up stepping into the puddle herself. They were wearing tall boots, yet the splashed icy water soaked their pants. What had Tessa really done to deserve being called a lifesaver? "Get off, Randall! Do you want me to freeze to death? Can't you see who your wife and daughter are?" I yelled while struggling. "You always say she can help you get a promotion and a raise, but did you actually get a raise?" I shouted. We'd fought about Tessa last week, and here he was, ready to throw me aside to cater to her. In a moment of distraction, Randall quickly stripped off my mint green down jacket and draped it over Tessa's legs.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

"Fine, you've got the jacket. Now, give me the hot chocolate. Belle will feel better if she drinks some," I said. I reached out angrily to grab it, but Randall used his elbow to block me and shoved me away. When he told me he wanted to bring us ice fishing, I made two bottles of hot chocolate. He didn't like the taste of chocolate, so he left his at home. I never intended to bring Belle, but he insisted it would be a fun family activity and a way to get Belle interested in something new. Now, though, Belle was being ignored, while he was fully focused on taking care of Tessa, who had suddenly appeared. He glanced at Belle with a pained look. Just as he was going to check on her, Tessa sneezed loudly twice, and he immediately handed the bottle of hot chocolate to her. "Elsie, you have Belle practice dancing every day. She's strong and healthy. She'll be fine. Tessa's weak. She needs this more." I was shivering in my thin sweater, but the chill from his words cut deeper than the cold ever could. When he saw me standing there, dissatisfied, he apologized with a frown. "I'm sorry, but I have no choice. You're so plump. You've got plenty of fat to keep you warm. Tessa saved my life. If something happened to her, I'd feel guilty for the rest of my life. You wouldn't want that, would you?" It wasn't fat. I was pregnant. Just a week short of three months. I had planned to surprise him once the pregnancy was stable, but now? Was it even worth it? Even if I made it out of here alive today, I wouldn't give birth to this child only to give him a broken home. I glanced at the hail outside the door. The temperature on the mountain was unpredictable, and the hail had grown as large as Belle's fist. It seemed like we wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. I'd tried calling for help three times, but there was no signal up here. I scooped Belle into my arms and walked around the villa while looking for something useful. While I was wrapping Belle in a thin blanket and hugging her tight to help her sweat it out, Randall and Tessa finally wrapped up their intimacy. Randall sat anxiously by the bed. He kept checking Belle's temperature and kissing my forehead. He kept apologizing and reiterating that he didn't know Belle would be so fragile. He'd just wanted to take her out for a break from the dancing. If he'd known, he never would've brought her. "Belle's a tough kid. She'll be fine," he said. "By the way, there's an opening at HQ next month. I've been waiting for this opportunity for years. Tessa said she'd help connect me. Please, bear with it a little longer, and don't hold it against her," he explained to me after comforting Belle. But Tessa was just his former boss who'd already been let go. How could she help him? His relationship with Tessa seemed off. Calling it a professional connection felt like an understatement. It looked more like an affair. I suspected something, but given the situation, I didn't want to confront it just yet. "Bear with it? What exactly is going on between you two? Is she your boss or mistress?" The words were barely out of my mouth when the sound of voices outside interrupted us. Over the years, I knew better than anyone how capable Randall was at work. But eventually, he lost sight of what truly mattered and became consumed by social connections. He even brought his work projects home and asked me to help finish them. "Randall, why hasn't Elsie come down to make dinner?" Tessa asked. She was wearing my down jacket. Its loose fit drew attention to her slim waist. Randall smiled awkwardly and reached for Belle. "Elsie, I'll take care of Belle. We're all hungry, and you're the only one who knows how to cook here. "We've already checked. There's no canned food or gas, but there are some potatoes left. Try to start a fire. Maybe find some wild vegetables, and you can make a simple potato stew." He shot me a look, silently asking me to endure it for his future. I pressed Belle closer to my chest and turned away. Disappointment and anger were swelling in my chest. "Skipping one meal won't kill us," I muttered. Tessa pouted. "Elsie, you're a stay-at-home mom, right? If you don't cook, who will? And you were the one who brought us to this villa. You're responsible!" Belle let out a soft whimper in my arms. I didn't want to engage with them, so I tried to move to another spot. Randall's face darkened. He pretended to scold me in anger, yet he held onto my hand to plead with me. Meanwhile, Tessa kept stirring the pot. "Do you not have hands? If I poison the food later, would you still dare to eat it?" I swatted his hand away. These two were disgusting. "What's your problem? I work hard to support this family, and I finally get some time to take you all out, and you're giving me attitude?" Randall snapped. He was frustrated that I didn't appreciate his efforts. He snatched Belle from my hands while ignoring her cries. "Go! Making dinner is your job!" He shoved me toward the door. I couldn't believe this man was the one who had sworn before our marriage to love and cherish me forever. It wasn't until he pushed me outside the villa and the cold wind hit me that I realized he was serious.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

I shouted from outside, "Open the door, Randall! I'm going to freeze to death! Let me in! The hail is still coming down! I don't even have my jacket now! This is murder!" The hail was falling around me. I quickly stepped aside to avoid being hit. With only a thin blanket wrapped around me, the cold wind made my body tremble uncontrollably. Randall hesitated for a moment. "What's the big deal? We've been out fishing on the ice for hours, and we're fine. She's been in the tent this whole time. She's so fat. How could she be cold?" Tessa's voice could be heard even through the door. "And I can hear the hail getting quieter. I'm sick. All I want is a bite of potato stew. Are you going to give it to me or not?" I couldn't hear Randall's response. I just pounded on the door again and again. My palms quickly swelled with pain from the force. Just then, the door cracked open slightly. I felt a glimmer of hope. Just as I was ready to rush inside, Tessa blocked the doorway and pushed Belle out. "Belle!" I caught her, but my knee hit the ground hard. Pain shot through me. "Here! In case you forget your place and don't focus on foraging for wild vegetables. Take Belle with you! Come back when you've gathered both the vegetables and firewood.""Mommy…" Belle was bleeding from her nose. I scrambled to wipe it clean, knowing that if I delayed even a little, the cold would freeze it. "Don't go to sleep, Belle," I said. "Mommy, the lady is so bad. Daddy's bad too…" Belle's body arched, and her neck stiffened. I panicked, not knowing what to do. My willingness to back down hadn't made them realize their mistakes. Instead, they'd only become more ruthless. Tears froze on my face, and I screamed at the villa, "Randall Hamilton, Belle is your daughter! She's only five! If you push her out here, she'll freeze to death!""Blame yourself for raising her to be so evil and arrogant. She's just a child, yet she dares to challenge adults? She needs to be taught a lesson in manners! "Tessa has helped me more than anyone. Without her, I wouldn't be where I am today. I won't let anyone hurt her!" Helped him? I held Belle, whose body was burning with fever. My anger was so intense it almost consumed my sanity. He always said that Tessa had helped him get ahead in his career and was his mentor. I admired Randall's ambition and supported him in maintaining that relationship. I bought her dinner, sent gifts during the holidays, and went shopping with her when she was upset. I wasn't sure if he saw her as a boss or something else entirely. Every time we argued, he'd turn to Tessa for advice, like she was his guiding light in life. Now, that light was pushing his wife and child toward the abyss and leading him to the brink of ruin. Yet, he was blindly following her. What a joke! That shameless couple! The wind and snow stung my face, but it only sharpened my mind. What Randall didn't know was that I had been watching them closely ever since he got involved with Tessa. I'd already realized she wasn't a good person. I'd planned to talk to him about it after the trip, but it seemed there was no need for that now. If I survived this, they'd both have to pay the price. I wrapped Belle tightly in the blanket, trying to share whatever warmth I could with her. She began to vomit. The mess landed on my clothes. The wind blew again, and the wet fabric froze solid. I found a new spot and held her close. "Just sweat it out. Stay awake, Belle. Talk to me. Don't fall asleep." The cold wind tore at my face, and hail continued to fall around me. I cradled Belle in one arm and used my other hand to shield my head while trying to find tools. "They're set on killing us both. You can't die, Belle." I spotted a flowerpot in the corner of the yard. The plants inside were frozen and lifeless, leaving only the stiff branches standing. I emptied the soil and used the pot to shield my head from the snow and wind. Inside the villa, just a wall away, they were discussing what food I might be able to bring back.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Tessa asked, "Randall, do you think Tessa will be mad at me?""She can't be. Since she got pregnant, she hasn't worked a single day! All she does is cook and look after Belle. Now, she won't even cook, and she can't even teach Belle properly. Did you hear what Belle just said? She called you a tramp! You can put up with it, but I can't!""Maybe we should just let them in. It's not a big deal if we're a little hungry. It's still snowing outside. What if something happens? You'll regret it," Tessa said softly. Noticing Randal's hesitation, Tessa immediately grew upset and was ready to stand up and leave. He quickly tried to calm her down. "I won't regret it! All you want is a bowl of potato stew. What's so hard about that? She's getting more and more difficult! Are you still cold? Let me warm your feet.""I'll do what I promised, but you need to keep your promise too." Tessa playfully kissed his cheek. Through the glass window, I could see their figures entwined. Randall bent down to take off Tessa's shoes and socks and held her feet against his chest. The dimly lit room was filled with tension, while outside, the storm raged. I could feel my lower abdomen cramping. He was still so practiced at warming feet. Back then, I was sensitive to the cold. He would do the same for me. He would warm my hands and feet when we were dating. After we got married, he gave me tonics to help with my cold body, so I could get pregnant. With more heaters and heating pads, the intimacy between us dwindled. I used to think this was a good thing. The improvement in our economic status freed us from much of the repetitive labor. But now, it just disgusted me. I used the flowerpot to shield my head. Holding Belle close, I took a detour toward the underground parking lot, where there was a camper van with some supplies inside. Before leaving, I took everything useful from the villa. If they wanted that potato stew, they'd have to make do without the cookware and utensils. Let them eat the cold wind instead. I left the potatoes, though. They had already become moldy. That shameless couple could have them all. Randall had no idea that I knew this villa very well. I had scouted it countless times in preparation for a surprise I wanted to give him. Randall and I met in college. When I confessed my feelings to him, he was thrilled. He eagerly shared the news in the campus group chats. It was as if he wanted the entire world to know. He said I was his moon in the sky, that I would always be bright and beautiful. When he proposed, he promised to love and pamper me forever, to never let me be trapped by housework or social obligations. When I was pregnant with Belle, he said that we would be his whole world and that everything he worked for would be for us. Yet, he did none of it. After seven years of marriage, we were still living in a cramped three-bedroom apartment. We could barely fit the three of us, and we had to constantly accommodate his parents. Now, with another baby on the way, I had planned to find us a better place. The villa's previous owner was a friend I met through work. Her husband had accumulated debt and needed cash, so they sold the villa and everything inside for a pittance. That was why the villa was so empty. I bought it not only to help my friend but also to give Randall a surprise. Our anniversary was in a week, and the baby would be stable by then. It would be the perfect time to decorate the villa together and make it our new home. But now, it was clear I wouldn't be able to keep the baby. I prayed that the heavens would let Belle survive. The hail hit my hand. At first, it stung, but my limbs were growing numb. I couldn't feel anything. Belle's breathing was becoming rapid. It was as if she were struggling to breathe. Finally, we reached the basement. I climbed into the camper van, turned on the heater, and then massaged Belle's body. She woke up and wanted to cry, but she seemed too shy to do so. Instead, I was the first to break down. "It's okay, Belle. Good girl. Don't open the door for anyone. There are snacks and bread in the van. If you're hungry, just eat something." I gave her a reassuring smile, but a wave of warmth surged below me. I finally couldn't hold on any longer. My eyes closed, and I lost consciousness.