Chapter 3

I didn't raise my head, nor did I stop the movements of my hands.

"I'm just organizing things. I don't like these anymore, so I want to replace them."

Killian strode forward, gently gripping my wrist, his actions tender as if soothing a frightened cat.

"Halen, don't be like this."

He sighed, pulling me into that embrace that carried a cold pine scent, his chin resting on the top of my head.

"I know that freezing your supplementary card makes you feel insecure, but that's life-saving money. Elena's situation is critical; I can't just stand by and do nothing."

"You know, I'm not that kind of irresponsible husband."

"After these few months pass, I'll restore all your credit limits, okay?"

He was always like this.

Even when depriving me of my rights and interests, he could speak so righteously, so affectionately.

As if my refusal meant I was being unreasonable, that I was making a scene without reason.

I broke free from his embrace and looked at him calmly.

"Killian, who you want to give money to is your own business."

"You don't need to explain to me."

Killian's brows furrowed slightly, seemingly confused and hurt by my cold attitude.

Just as he was about to reach out and touch my cheek, the exclusive ringtone suddenly rang.

That was the special alert tone set to prevent missing any news about Elena's condition.

He glanced at the screen, his expression instantly becoming solemn.

"Sorry, Halen. There's an emergency meeting at the company."

He adjusted my collar for me, his tone carrying a hint of apology:

"I'll be back early tonight. Stop cleaning up; leave this kind of rough work to the servants."

After speaking, he turned and left.

His steps were steady, his back straight, as gentlemanly as ever.

Even though he was rushing to see another woman.

---

Less than ten minutes after Killian left, my phone vibrated.

It was a WhatsApp message from Elena.

Just a photo.

In the photo, Killian was kneeling on one knee beside the hospital bed.

Those hands that had just embraced me were now holding Elena's pale ankle, fully focused on putting a diamond-encrusted Tiffany anklet on her.

His expression was focused and devout, as if what he was holding was a rare treasure.

The text that popped up afterward stung my eyes like needles:

[I said my feet were cold, so he went and bought this anklet, saying it could lock in my body temperature.]

[Halen, look, even if I don't fight or grab, his love always subconsciously flows towards me.]

I turned off my phone and looked at the gray sky outside the window.

The last trace of expectation in my heart was finally completely extinguished.

---

For the next two days, Killian didn't come home.

It wasn't until the third night, at the family dinner held for Elena, that I saw him.

The banquet hall of Smith Manor was resplendent.

Killian pushed the wheelchair slowly into the venue.

Elena had an expensive cashmere blanket covering her legs, her face pale, looking precarious.

Every time she coughed lightly, Killian would immediately stop, asking in a low voice if she needed water or if she felt cold.

That meticulous care made all the guests present cast admiring glances.

Everyone said that Killian Smith was a good man who valued relationships and loyalty.

The dinner began.

The long table was filled with exquisite French cuisine.

As the "hostess," according to custom, I served the final dessert—a mousse cake I made myself.

Elena looked at the tray in my hand, a glint flashing in her eyes.

"Halen, did you make this yourself?"

Her voice was weak, carrying a hint of fawning.

"It looks delicious. Can I taste it?"

Killian glanced at the cake, frowning slightly, seeming somewhat worried about her physical condition.

"Elena, the doctor said you need to watch your diet."

"It's okay, Killian."

Elena smiled and interrupted him, but her gaze was locked tightly on me.

"Halen made this specially for me. If I don't eat it, she will be sad. And I also really want to taste my sister-in-law's cooking."

Killian hesitated for a second, but eventually nodded, even considerately picking up the spoon for her.

"Just one bite then."

I watched them.

Watched Elena dig a large spoonful of mousse and unhesitatingly put it into her mouth.

"Cough... cough cough!"

Less than half a minute after eating it, the spoon in Elena's hand suddenly dropped.

She clutched her neck tightly with both hands, her breathing instantly becoming rapid and wheezing, her face flushing red.

"Elena!"

Killian reacted extremely quickly.

He didn't scream in panic but quickly got up and grabbed the sliding Elena.

He reached for her carotid artery and calmly assessed the situation:

"It's anaphylactic shock. Bring my first aid kit, it's in the car."

He gave instructions to the butler beside him, his voice steady and powerful.

Subsequently, he skillfully fished out the EpiPen carried with her from Elena's handbag and unhesitatingly injected it into her thigh.

The whole process was smooth and professional, shockingly so.

As the medicine was pushed in, Elena's breathing finally smoothed out a bit, but she still went limp in his arms, looking like she was on her last breath.

Killian wiped the cold sweat from Elena's forehead with a handkerchief, then slowly raised his head.

In those deep eyes, there was no longer the warmth of the past.

Only a suffocating coldness and disappointment remained.

"Halen."

He didn't shout loudly; his tone was even calmer than usual.

"What did you put in the cake?"

I stood there, still holding the tray.

"Elena is severely allergic to peanuts."

Killian looked at me.

That look was like examining a criminal.

"I... I didn't..."

"She trusted you, Halen."

Killian interrupted my defense, his voice carrying a painful moral condemnation.

"She treated you as family and ate what you gave her without any guard."

"And you used this trust."

He shook his head gently, as if utterly disappointed in me.

"I know you care about those two tickets to Iceland, but I didn't expect you to take revenge in this way."

"Elena doesn't have much time left, why do you still want to hurt her?"

"I... I didn't..."

"Enough, I'm so disappointed in you."

Killian stood up and picked up the weak Elena horizontally.

He adjusted Elena's skirt to ensure she wouldn't be exposed, his movements still impeccably gentlemanly.

The guests around whispered, and my father rushed up wanting to reprimand me.

But I couldn't hear anymore.

I only saw the man I wanted to spend my life with holding the woman who plotted against everything I had, trampling my dignity to pieces in the most decent way.

He didn't even give me a chance to explain.

Because in his logic, a gentleman should protect the weak.

And at this moment, Elena was the perfect victim persecuted by a "vicious wife."

After settling Elena, Killian took me to the private wine cellar underground in the manor.

Here it was constant temperature and humidity, displaying priceless Bordeaux wines, the air filled with the aroma of oak barrels.

"Halen, you've disappointed me too much."

Killian stood outside the heavy oak door, looking at me through an iron grate. His expression was still that suffocating calm and disappointment.

"You need a quiet place to reflect properly on your actions."

"I don't want my wife to be a woman who hurts others out of jealousy."

After speaking, he turned to leave.

"Killian, don't go!"

I grabbed the iron grate, my fingertips turning white from the force.

"I didn't do it, it was Elena herself..."

Killian interrupted me, looking at me with heartache.

"Think about it properly in this room. When you've figured it out, when you've admitted your mistake, I'll personally come to pick you up for breakfast tomorrow morning. I still love you, Halen. So don't hurt Elena anymore."

With a dull sound, the heavy soundproof door was closed.

The world fell into a dead silence.

I sat in the corner hugging my knees.

Until half an hour later.

The central air conditioner overhead suddenly made a huge roaring sound.

Immediately after, piercing cold wind poured down from the vent like knives.

The numbers on the thermometer started jumping crazily.

15 degrees... 10 degrees... 0 degrees... minus 5 degrees.

In just ten minutes, this place turned into a giant freezer.

I was shivering from the cold, my breath turning into white mist.

I realized something was wrong and rushed over to pound desperately on that heavy door.

"Open the door! Is anyone there?! Turn off the air conditioner!"

"It's too cold... it's too cold here!"

The sound of碎碎 high heels came from outside the door.

It was Elena.

She had bought off the servant in the control room.

"Halen, save your energy."

Elena's voice came through the door panel, carrying a trace of malicious pleasure.

"This is Killian's meaning. He said you need to 'calm down'."

"You're lying! Killian wouldn't treat me like this!"

"Really? Then you can try calling for help."

A sharp cramp suddenly came from my abdomen.

That pain wasn't unfamiliar, carrying a falling sensation of life being stripped away.

I clutched my belly, slid down the door panel to kneel on the ground, the cold sweat on my forehead instantly freezing into ice.

"Killian... Killian, are you outside?"

I pounded on the door panel with all my might, my voice changing tune due to fear and pain.

"Help... let me out..."

"I'm pregnant... Killian, I'm pregnant with your child... my stomach hurts so much..."

Silence outside the door for a few seconds.

Then came Killian's steady footsteps.

He was right outside.

He had been there all along.

"Halen."

Killian's voice penetrated the door panel, still as magnetic, yet terrifyingly rational.

"I thought after this half hour, you would have learned honesty."

"Killian, I'm not lying! It's really cold... I'm really pregnant... please open the door..."

I cried out, my nails scratching bloodstains on the door panel.

"Oh my, how can Halen be like this..."

Elena's weak and surprised voice sounded timely.

"To escape punishment, she even made up such a lie about being pregnant? She even drank champagne at the dinner just now... what pregnant woman drinks alcohol?"

"And this is a constant temperature wine cellar, how could it be cold? Is she... trying to win your sympathy?"

Killian fell silent.

Through that door, I could almost see him frowning and shaking his head.

"Halen."

After a long time, he sighed, his tone full of helplessness towards a naughty child.

"To get me to open the door, you actually told such a clumsy lie."

"You hurt Elena, and now you're trying to kidnap me with 'pregnancy'. This behavior is not decent."

"No... it's true..."

I curled up in pain, a stream of warm liquid gushing out from below, instantly frozen cold by the cold air.

"Everyone has to bear the consequences for their mistakes."

Killian stood outside the door, like a strict godfather teaching his erring believer.

"Since you are so scared, I will shorten the time."

"Tomorrow at dawn, I'll come to pick you up."

"Tonight, just stay inside and reflect properly on what honesty is."

Footsteps faded away.

This time, he really left.

He still maintained his principles, his "justice", his gentlemanly demeanor.

He thought he just confined me.

He didn't know, he personally locked me into hell.

"No... don't go..."

My voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz.

The abdominal cramps reached their peak, followed by an empty numbness.

Blood.

Lots of blood.

Thick blood carrying body temperature soaked through my evening gown, spreading on the floor, and then quickly coagulating into dark red ice residue.

I lay in the biting cold, looking at the vent overhead that was still roaring.

My consciousness began to scatter.

Killian.

If you knew that your so-called "punishment" killed your own flesh and blood.

Would you regret it?

A tear slid down the corner of my eye, freezing into ice before it hit the ground.

I thought.

Between us, it's completely over.