Ean Smith glanced at his watch, irritation etched on his face. "Three days, and Madeline still hasn't admitted her mistake?"

"That woman is so stubborn!" He paced the room, frustration boiling over.

Helen Roberts walked in at this moment, carrying a bowl of chicken noodle soup. "Ean, let it go. She didn't do it on purpose. Three days is more than enough time."

Ean's expression softened as he looked at her. "You're just too kind-hearted. If Madeline had even a bit of your understanding, it would be great."

"Don't be mad at her. She just cares too much about you," Helen said gently.

Ean sighed and pulled out his phone, dialing his subordinate's number. "Any word from Madeline?"

"No, sir. There's been no sound from inside. Could something have happened?" The voice on the other end sounded uneasy.

"What could have happened? If she doesn't admit to her mistake, let her stay in there!" He snapped, hanging up the call with a resolute click. His cold demeanor returned.

Helen stood beside him, feeling a sense of triumph.

I rolled my eyes. Ean would never get my response because I was already dead!

I died three days ago.

After he left, the abandoned freezer powered on. I was alone inside, shouting for help, but no one answered.

At first, I could still hear voices outside. Desperately, I banged on the door and pleaded, but the guards were indifferent.

"Mr. Smith said you should reflect inside, Mrs. Smith. Don't make this harder for us," one of the guards said coldly.

"No! Please, the freezer's on! Someone, help me!" I screamed until my voice cracked with panic.

The voices faded away, though. They had left me.

I tried to stay calm, searching frantically for a way out. As the temperature dropped, my thoughts became sluggish. I started running in circles, trying to stay warm. My breath came out in visible puffs.

Eventually, my legs gave out. I could barely move as I had been frozen stiff. I curled up in a corner, praying for some warmth.

This place used to store frozen seafood. Now, it was just empty shelves and icy air. I stacked the shelves around me, a futile attempt to block the cold.

It was useless.

When I realized I was dead, a wave of despair washed over me. Seeing my frost-covered body, eyes wide with terror, and bloody nails, I felt a bone-chilling shock.

Just as I was about to take a closer look, a force pulled me away, and I found myself standing next to Ean.

His actions were almost laughable. "I hope I don't meet you wherever I end up after this," I muttered bitterly.

I stood aside, watching Ean and Helen. Helen handed him her phone. "Ean, I got tickets for the art exhibition. Will you come with me tomorrow?"

"Sure. It's getting late. You should go rest now," he replied, not even glancing my way.

Helen clutched Ean's hand, her voice trembling, "I'm afraid of the dark. Can you stay with me?"

Ean sighed but got up reluctantly. I had nearly forgotten Helen was staying at our house.

The moment she came back from abroad, she contacted Ean, saying she needed a place to stay because she was unfamiliar with the area.

It was ridiculous—she was a local. Five years abroad and suddenly, she couldn't navigate her own hometown?

When I voiced my objections at the time, Ean snapped, "Madeline, her parents aren't here. Do you even understand how unsafe it is for a woman to live alone?"

Of course, I knew. I had lived alone before we got married.

Back then, Ean had told me, "Madeline, a woman must have self-respect. I don't want to live together before marriage."

Now, I saw how hypocritical he was.

Ean walked Helen to the guest room, which was supposed to be our future nursery. Helen had claimed she liked the light in that room, so Ean gave it to her.

I watched coldly as Ean led Helen to the guest room. Just as she was about to enter, a flash of lightning lit up the sky.

A loud crack of thunder followed, and she shrieked, throwing herself into Ean's arms.

Ean stiffened, but Helen clung to him. "Ean, I'm so scared. Can you stay with me tonight?"

His hand lingered on her back before he gave a reassuring pat. "Alright."

At that moment, I felt like a fool, because I, too, was terrified of thunder.

I remembered that stormy night I spent alone. Thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and then the power went out. I was so scared that I nearly cried. Desperate for comfort, I called Ean.

"Ean, the power is out and the thunder… I'm really scared," I had said, my voice shaking.

"Madeline, you need to learn to handle these things on your own. Seriously? You're still scared of thunder at your age?" Ean's voice was cold as it cut through the phone. "Stop using this to get my attention. Grow up. You're an adult now. Deal with it."

The call ended abruptly. That night, I cocooned myself in my blanket, the phone's flashlight my only comfort. Sleep was elusive, and dawn brought no relief.

It had been years now. When I looked back at that memory, I felt only bitterness. Ean never cared. There was always an unbreachable wall between us.

I let out a hollow laugh. Even in death, thunder still terrified me. Hugging myself, I watched Ean console Helen. She nestled into his arms, her eyes glinting with triumph.

To Ean, Helen was always the special one. What was I to him? I shook my head and stared out the window. Even now, the rumble of thunder made me shiver.

Thankfully, the storm passed quickly. An hour later, the thunder ceased, and Ean left the room. Helen's gaze followed him, her smile smug. "Ean, you'll always be mine. No one can take you away from me."

Her words stunned me. She was still hung up on him. Why did she leave in the first place? And Ean—if he couldn't get over her, why did he marry me?

When Ean returned to his room, he did something uncharacteristic. He looked at my photo on his phone and muttered, "Madeline, I hope you've learned your lesson. Apologize, and maybe I'll let you out."

I could not help but laugh. Apologize? For what? I wasn't the one who locked Helen in the office.

However, Ean would never have believed me. Helen, with her innocent act, said she did not blame me, so Ean was convinced it was all my fault.

He locked me in an abandoned freezer, and now, he expected me to admit to something I did not do? It was absurd.

Ean was sharp—he did not become the president of a company by being an idiot. However, when it came to Helen, he was blind.

The next morning, the guard at the cold storage felt uneasy and nervously approached Ean. "Mr. Smith, should we let Mrs. Smith out? There's no noise from inside, and that bowl of water won't last five days."

…

Ean hesitated before replying coldly, "A bowl of water can last a person ten days. If she's so stubborn, let's see how long she can hold out."

"But... there's no sound from inside at all. We're really worried about Mrs. Smith..."

"Don't worry, Madeline's just pretending."

With Ean's words, my fate was sealed, and the guard said nothing more.

Helen walked in just then. Hearing his words, she smiled. "Ean, let her go. It's been several days, and I'm fine."

"No, she locked you in the office for so long. She deserves to be punished."

Smiling, she said, "Ean, isn't that a bit extreme? After all, she's your wife. It's my fault too. I'm always troubling you and making her jealous. Just let her go."

Helen's words seemed to help me, but each sentence dug me in deeper. Ean fell for it.

"Helen, you're always so kind-hearted. Fine, for your sake, I'll give her a chance."

Helen's expression froze. She did not expect him to say that.

"What's wrong?" Ean asked, noticing her change in expression.

"We haven't seen her in days, right?" Helen's voice was tinged with concern. "Maybe we should get a doctor to check on her?"

I eyed Helen suspiciously. Was she really this compassionate? She had a point, though. A doctor would confirm my death, and they could avoid future troubles.

Ean sighed deeply, taking Helen's hand. "If only she were as understanding as you."

Helen gave a tight smile. "Ean, she's still Mrs. Smith."

Ean's eyes flickered with uncertainty. I could not help but sneer from my hiding place. This was going to be interesting.

I never wanted to fight with Helen over anything. Mrs. Smith? That title was a joke. I had been planning on divorcing him. I had had enough. It was just... I felt so sorry for that little life. My hand instinctively went to my stomach, my heart aching.

Ean's expression darkened, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. "Don't bother pleading for her. Madeline's just being dramatic!"

"There's always something with her—some pain or another, or some excuse. I've seen through her!" He glared around the room. "None of you are allowed to plead for her! Until she apologizes, she stays inside!"

Helen sighed in relief, stepping aside without a word. Meanwhile, I stood there, stunned. So, this was what he thought of me. My heart ached, but it did not matter anymore. I was already dead—both in body and in spirit.

Ean finally acknowledged me and led the group to the abandoned freezer. When we arrived at the door, the guards were visibly trembling.

"Mr. Smith, Madeline hasn't given in yet," one guard stammered,

Ean's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"W-We asked through the door, but there was no response from inside," another guard said, his voice shaking. "Could something have happened to Mrs. Smith? I'm worried..."

Ean snorted. "She's just putting on an act! Open the door. I want to hear her apologize in person!"

Helen smirked, and the guards quickly moved to open the freezer's door. As it swung open, everyone froze in shock.

"Bring her out!" Ean barked.

One guard hesitated. "Mr. Smith, the freezer... It seems to have turned on."

Ean's expression twisted in anger. "What do you mean turned on? Are you trying to shirk responsibility?"

He stepped forward, the cold air hitting him like a physical blow, sending chills down everyone's spine. His face went pale. "Madeline, don't think that this will make me forgive you. Get out here!"

There was only silence.

Everyone exchanged confused and tense glances. Furious, Ean hesitated before saying coldly, "Bring her out for me!"

A few guards rushed in. Moments later, their horrified gasps echoed as they found my frozen body curled up in the corner.

"Mrs. Smith... She has frozen to death!"