Chapter 3

Martin rambled on, "If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being too dull and too domineering. Lily is gentler than you, and she understands how to care for a man better than you do. She's different from you.

"Just die in peace. Lily will take good care of everything for you—your career, your love life…"

Feelings of despair wrapped around me like a huge net, trapping me tightly. I slid down against the shelving and sat on the floor, feeling the energy slowly drain from my body.

Just then, footsteps echoed from outside the freezer, followed by a weathered voice inquiring, "Martin, you're still not off work this late? What are you doing in the monitoring room?"

It was Wallace Carr, the night-shift security guard!

A flicker of hope ignited in my heart. I mustered all my strength, grabbed the walkie-talkie, and screamed, "Wallace! Save me! I'm locked in the freezer!"

As soon as my cry for help rang out, Martin's calm voice came through the walkie-talkie, "Hey, Wallace, you're still on duty? We're just working overtime here."

Martin seemed to have switched the walkie-talkie off the public channel, which meant Wallace hadn't heard my plea.

Martin added, "Oh, Sierra is inside doing the final inventory check. It's the final shipment before Independence Day, and she didn't feel at ease, so she insisted on personally supervising it. We're just here keeping her company in case something happens and she needs assistance."

Lilian immediately echoed his sentiments in an overly sugary tone, saying, "Yeah, Wallace. Sierra is so dedicated. We all tried to persuade her to rest early, but she just refused. She even said the freezer is cool and helps her think about work calmly."

Wallace seemed convinced by them, and his tone showed his approval. "Oh, Sierra is really responsible. You've all worked hard, too.

"Alright, I'll leave you to it, then. I'll make my rounds elsewhere."

The sound of footsteps gradually faded away.

My last shred of hope was destroyed by them so casually. I slumped on the floor and stared hopelessly at the tightly shut door.

The walkie-talkie was switched back to the private channel, and Martin's mocking laughter came through clearly.

"Did you hear that, Sierra? Everyone thinks you're a workaholic and a tough woman. Even if you freeze to death in there, you'll just be seen as a model worker who died on duty. You'll even become a positive example for educating new employees."

Lilian's laughter became even more uninhibited. "Sierra, listen. The number one donor just gifted ten more roses! He said if you get on your knees right now and bark like a puppy a few times, he'll have Martin raise the temperature a bit. How about that? You want to consider it?"

This was humiliation, just blatant humiliation. Not only did they want to take my life, but they also wanted to trample and crush my dignity before I died.

I gritted my teeth, and the taste of blood spread in my mouth. My body grew colder, and my eyelids felt as heavy as if they were lead-filled.

I knew these were signs of hypothermia progressing to mid or late stages. If this continued, it wouldn't be long before I fell into a coma, and then my heart would stop.

Was I really going to die here? In a trap carefully designed by my own fiance and his mistress?

I couldn't accept it. I was really unwilling to accept this!

Summoning the last bit of my strength, I gripped onto the shelves and staggered to my feet.

Since they left me no way out, then we could all go down together!

Just as I was about to slip, I used the final ounce of strength in my body to steady my hand holding the gun.

I no longer aimed at that test tube. Instead, I raised it slightly, aiming at the yellow, deadly insulation layer above the shelves.

Martin finally seemed to sense that something was wrong based on my actions, and his arrogant laughter stopped.

"You… Are you being serious?"

For the first time, a hint of genuine panic appeared in his voice.

I didn't answer him. I simply used all my strength to pull the trigger.

A muffled gunshot rang out, and a blinding red flame—like an angry, fiery snake—instantly shot toward that yellow foam!

In the next second, flames erupted with a loud bang.

A heart-wrenching scream from Lilian sounded through the walkie-talkie.

"Fire! Ah!"

Following that was Martin's terrified roar. "Hurry! Put out the fire! Damn it!"

However, it was all too late.

The piercing fire alarm, loud enough to be heard throughout the entire factory floor, was instantly triggered.

That sound drowned out all the maniacal laughter and screams.