Sealed in Ice, Bound by His Madness

The moment my husband, Nathan Grayson, walked through the door, he asked, "It's been a few days since I left for my trip. Has that despicable woman finished writing her letter of apology yet?"

The housekeeper, Wanda Poole, shook her head. "Not yet, Mr. Grayson. Today's already the eighth day. Don't you think it's time to let Mrs. Grayson out?"

Nathan's fingers stiffened on his loosened tie. He let out a sound of contempt.

"What's the rush? Keep her in there a couple more days. Let her suffer a little and learn how to behave. That's the only way she'll remember her lesson. By the way, is the soup I ordered for Annie ready?"

"It is."

"Bring it out."

Wanda sighed quietly to herself but didn't dare say another word.

Just then, Annie Quinn came padding down the stairs in her pajamas, her voice soft and delicate as she called out, "Nate."

Nathan noticed her long hair hanging wet and loose around her shoulders and frowned. "Why didn't you dry your hair after your shower? What if you get sick?"

He immediately told Wanda to fetch the blow dryer. When she brought it over, Nathan took it from her and began drying Annie's hair himself. The look in his eyes, patient and tender, was one I had never once seen him direct at me.

"Nate, please let Sherry go. Stop being angry with her, okay?"

The moment I was mentioned, the warmth on Nathan's face gave way to irritation.

"Annie, stop pleading for her. If she hadn't deliberately pushed you, you wouldn't have gotten hurt. She nearly killed you. She deserves everything coming to her. It's the only way she'll ever change. Every time I think about what she did to you, I feel like wringing her neck."

When I heard him say he wanted to punish me, my soul trembled involuntarily. I was already dead, and yet the memory of everything I had endured before my death still filled me with fear.

Annie's expression fell. "But I don't want my presence to ruin what's between you two. You and Sherry are still married. As long as I can stay by your side, that's enough for me."

Nathan leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Annie's forehead. "If she hadn't used such underhanded tricks to force you to break up with me and drive you out of the country, we never would have spent so many years apart.

"Don't worry. Once I've cleared up my current workload, I'll file for divorce and then give you the grandest wedding imaginable. You'll walk down that aisle the way you always deserved to."

Annie ducked her head, a shy smile playing on her lips. Nathan seemed to feel a stir in his chest at the sight of her and was just leaning in when Wanda came hurrying over.

"Mr. Grayson, I just passed by the wine cellar downstairs and noticed a strange smell coming from inside. It smelled like blood. Don't you think you should go check on it? I'm worried something happened to Mrs. Grayson..."

I stared at Nathan, searching his face for any trace of concern. There was none. He let out a dismissive scoff.

"It's obviously another one of that woman's tricks. Don't bother. There's a vent in the fridge and plenty of food inside. She won't die. Wanda, if you say another word on her behalf, pack your things and get out."

I smiled bitterly to myself.

Had he forgotten? After he shoved me in there, he sealed my mouth with packing tape. How was I supposed to eat anything?

Besides, I could barely move in there, let alone eat. Even drawing breath had been a struggle.

The thought of it sent a searing ache through me. Why, even in death, did the pain still feel so unbearably real?

Annie's soft voice broke the silence. "Nate, maybe you should let Sherry out after all."