Chapter 3

My heart sank instantly after hearing his words.

The nearest engineer would take at least an hour to arrive.

"Mark, you're toying with me?"

"How can you call it toying?"

His voice held poorly concealed triumph, as if he were savoring my despair.

"This is fate. Heaven itself wants you to cool down in there."

Chloe chimed in, feigning fragility.

"Anya, since you can't get out, why don't you just cooperate with our live stream?"

"Everyone in the chat says they want to see the Ice Queen looking pathetic in the freezer."

"The top gifter just dropped another ten thousand in digital gifts, saying if you dance 'K-Pop Shuffle' in there, he'll give another ten!"

I trembled all over, whether from cold or rage, I couldn't tell.

From the very beginning, they never intended to let me out!

The so-called wrong password was just an excuse for them to buy time and continue their cruel live stream!

"Mark, aren't you afraid I'll actually destroy this thing?"

I raised the flare gun again, but this time, my hand shook so violently I could barely hold it.

"You won't."

All trace of panic had vanished from Mark's face. He said with absolute certainty:

"Anya, I know you too well. Your sense of responsibility is so strong, you put the company's interests above your own life."

"Last time, to rush a shipment, you stayed at the warehouse even with a high fever. This time it's the same."

"You wouldn't dare destroy it. You can't."

His words were like a knife, piercing my heart with brutal precision.

Yes, he knew me.

But he was using my sense of responsibility to condemn me to death.

"And, I advise you not to do anything reckless." His voice turned cold.

"I've already reported to Ms. Sterling that you're doing a routine check, and to ensure everything is perfect, you'll be on duty in the cold storage area tonight."

"Ms. Sterling even praised your dedication and said she'd give you a bonus."

"If you dare touch that thing, how will you explain it when Ms. Sterling arrives?"

Shameless!

He twisted the truth, cutting off all my escape routes!

If something happened to me in here, it would be a "dedicated" accident.

If I destroyed the cargo to save myself, it would be "embezzlement and malicious destruction."

Either way, I lost.

A chill rose from my feet, quickly spreading through my entire body, chilling me to the very marrow of my bones.

I felt my consciousness begin to blur, my vision growing dim.

No, I couldn't die here.

I leaned on the icy shelves, forcing myself to stand steady.

"Mark... for the sake of us almost getting married..."

My voice carried a hint of pleading, my last hope.

"Just let me out, and I can pretend today never happened."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the walkie-talkie.

I almost thought he would relent.

However, Chloe's lighthearted remark shattered my illusion completely.

"Oh, Anya, you don't know yet, do you?"

"Mark has already decided to call off the engagement with you."

"He said being with you was too exhausting, like trying to warm up a block of ice that just won't melt."

"And..."

Chloe deliberately drew out her words, her voice full of triumph and smugness.

"I'm pregnant. It's Mark's baby. We're getting engaged next month."

*Boom!* My mind went blank.

Pregnant?

Calling off the engagement?

So all of this wasn't a spontaneous prank.

It was a premeditated murder.

They wanted me dead.

So they could be together, guilt-free.

"Anya, don't blame me."

Mark's voice came again, cold and devoid of any emotion.

"If you have to blame anyone, blame yourself for being so boring, so overbearing."

"Chloe is gentler than you, she knows how to treat a man better. Not like you."

"Just rest in peace."

"Your career, your love life, everything you have, Chloe will take good care of it all."

Despair, like a vast net, trapped me firmly.

I slid down against the shelf, collapsing to the floor, my body's energy draining away little by little.

Just then, I heard footsteps outside the freezer, and a slightly older voice asking.

"Mark, not off work yet? What are you doing in the monitor room?"

It was Mr. Miller, the night shift security guard!

A spark of hope ignited within me. With all my remaining strength, I grabbed the walkie-talkie and screamed.

"Mr. Miller! Help me! I'm locked in the freezer!"