Chapter 1

The call ended in my ear.

Behind the door, my two children were crying louder and louder, their sobs broken by coughing.

"Daddy! Open the door!"

"It's so hot, Daddy. We're sorry!"

I pounded on the sauna door like a madman.

"Don't be scared, babies! Daddy's here!"

The door was custom-built, the lock reinforced. No matter how hard I struck it, it did not move.

The thermometer on the wall had climbed into the red. The alarm screamed again and again, each shriek hammering straight into my heart.

I called Evelyn Hart again.

"What do you want from me?" My voice was already breaking.

"Victor's foot was burned. What do you think I want?"

"I'll apologize. I'll apologize for the kids. Please come back first, okay?

"Please. Let them out first."

A cold snort came through the line. Then the call ended.

I collapsed in front of the door, helplessness swallowing me whole.

Every cry from inside was a knife twisting through my body.

I did not know how long passed before I heard a key turn at the front door.

I thought Evelyn had come back. I struggled to my feet, hope barely rising on my face.

The door opened. Evelyn walked in.

There was someone beside her.

Victor Wells.

He leaned into Evelyn's arms, his face arranged into the perfect expression of concern.

"Evelyn, is this going too far? They're still children."

Evelyn supported him without even looking at me.

"Showing mercy to a monster's children is cruelty to you."

Then she looked at me with eyes colder than ice.

"Why are you still kneeling there? Trying to look pitiful?"

I stared at her, at the woman I had loved for so many years, and she felt like a stranger.

Victor gave a soft hiss, tears gathering in his eyes.

He lifted his foot and pointed to a tiny red mark near his ankle where soup had splashed him.

"Daniel, I know you didn't mean it. The children didn't either. But they really do need to learn a lesson. Otherwise, what will they become later?"

The coldness in Evelyn's eyes deepened.

She believed him.

Then she gave me an order.

"Kneel down and wipe Victor's shoes clean."

I froze.

"When he's satisfied, I'll consider opening the door."

Inside the sauna, my daughter's coughing was growing worse.

"Daddy, I can't breathe."

My son's crying had also faded into weak little whimpers.

My heart felt as if it were burning alive.

I remembered the first time Evelyn held them after they were born. She had been so careful, so gentle.

She had sworn she would treasure our children and make them the happiest children in the world.

The vow was still ringing in my ears.

Yet the person in front of me was as cruel as a demon.

Victor extended his leather shoe toward me.

There was only a speck of dust on the toe.

"Daniel, hurry. The children are still waiting."

His voice was not loud, but it was full of provocation.

I looked at Evelyn. She was watching me coldly, waiting for me to submit.

For my children.

I closed my eyes and forced the overwhelming hatred down into the deepest part of my chest.

I knelt on the floor and crawled to Victor.

Then I raised my sleeve and wiped his shoe, inch by inch.

Tears of humiliation mixed with sweat and ran into my mouth, bitter beyond words.