While inspecting my company’s cold-chain operations, my wife, Mandy Snow, and the college boy, Jonas Leedon, who I’d been sponsoring suddenly vanished.

As I passed the cabinet storing the research supplies, a stream of floating comments suddenly flashed before my eyes.

[That was way too close! Jeff Miller almost caught them. Good thing Mandy reacted fast and dragged her boy toy into the storage cabinet.]

[But that cabinet is about to be locked up and shipped to the Antarctic research station. Are those two trying to turn themselves into ice sculptures?]

I froze.

My wife was cheating on me right under my nose?

I was just about to pull open the cabinet door when my wife’s assistant, Patrick, hurried over and forced a smile, blocking my way.

“Mr. Miller, the seal on this cabinet was just waxed and hasn’t dried yet. Careful, or you’ll get your hands dirty.”

The floating comments appeared again.

[That was so close! The assistant’s pretty sharp. Once Mandy gets out, she totally owes him a car.]

[No wonder she’s the lucky heroine. She always gets out of trouble. I seriously can’t wait to watch her sweet romance with her boy toy.]

Looking at the comments in front of me, I let out a cold laugh.

“These are critical supplies for the research team. To make sure nothing goes wrong, seal the cabinet right now.”

“Go get a welder. Weld the door shut.”

The assistant froze, and so did the floating comments.

[What the hell? This evil male character is brutal. The two people inside aren’t wearing a thing.]

[Help! If the door gets welded shut, the male and female leads are going to drift at sea for a month and freeze into specimens!]

Patrick’s face turned pale. He spread his arms wide and blocked the cabinet door.

“Mr. Miller, you can’t do this! Ms. Snow hasn’t signed off on the inspection yet. This isn’t proper procedure!”

I looked coldly at the beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

“I’m the chairman of the Miller Group.

“It’s my cargo. I don’t need an outsider to sign off on it.”

After saying that, I gave the bodyguards behind me a look.

Two burly men immediately stepped forward and dragged Patrick away.

He kicked wildly, trying to shout something, but one of the guards drove a fist into his stomach. The air rushed out of him and he went silent.

The engineering crew clearly only took orders from me.

They stepped forward quickly and pulled down their protective masks.

“Zzzzt—”

The harsh buzz of electricity filled the air.

Sparks from the welding torch burst along the seam of the cabinet door, lighting up the dim harbor in flashes of orange.

Almost at the same moment, violent banging came from inside the container.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

The sound of flesh slamming against thick metal.

Clearly, the pair of lovebirds inside had heard what was happening and were panicking.

Unfortunately for them, the specialized freezer container was built for long-distance shipping.

Its soundproofing was excellent.

The noise coming out sounded no louder than distant thunder.

Under the crackling of the welding torch, it was barely noticeable.

The floating comments exploded across my vision.

[They’re already shivering inside, but they’re pressing even closer together. Guess they can’t bear to separate!]

[The male lead is cuddling Mandy right now, whispering that it’s so cold. No kidding. If you’re naked against freezing metal, of course it’s cold.]

[Mandy left her skirt in the car earlier. Bet she’s regretting that now.]

Reading the comments, I could almost picture the scene inside.

Then I calmly took out my phone and called Mandy's father, Vincent Snow.

“Vincent, the big surprise Mandy prepared for you is at the harbor.

“You might want to bring the media and come take a look.”

On the other end, my father-in-law’s sharp voice came through.

“A surprise? What kind of good intentions could you possibly have?

“Jeff Miller, don’t tell me you’re trying to find another way to annoy me.”

He snorted, his tone turning even more cutting.

“And Mandy is just as ridiculous. Always running around after you, no sense of dignity as a woman.

“You’re nothing like that boy Jonas Leedon. Such a thoughtful kid. Just a few days ago he even made me smoothie himself.”

Hearing the name ‘Jonas’, my grip on the phone tightened slightly.

Jonas Leedon.

The college kid I’d sponsored for four years. The one who I always treated like a younger brother.

The first time I met him, he was wearing a faded school uniform, and one of his shoes had a hole in the sole.

His eyes were timid, but full of hope.

“Mr. Miller, I want to stay in school. I want to get out of this small village.”

Those eyes moved me.

I paid for all his tuition and living expenses. I bought him new clothes and showed him the world outside.

After he graduated, I even made an exception and brought him into the Miller Group.

I thought I was nurturing a young tree reaching toward the sun.

Instead, I had raised a snake that would bite its master.

And how had he repaid me?

By wearing my pajamas and climbing into my wife’s bed while I worked late into the night?

Or by acting obedient in front of my father-in-law while quietly poisoning his opinion of me?

“Dad, you’re right,” I said, forcing down the nausea rising in my throat.

“Jonas really is a good kid.

“That’s why Mandy made sure to invite him too.

“She said this gift was prepared by the two of them together.

“You have to be there to unveil it yourself. Otherwise it wouldn’t mean anything.”

The moment Vincent heard Jonas was involved, his tone changed immediately.

“Well then. Since it’s Mandy’s way of showing filial respect, I suppose I’ll make the trip.

“Tell Mandy to wait for me. And don’t let Jonas overexert himself.”

After hanging up, I looked at the container door that had now been completely welded shut.

Overexert himself?

That was very possible.

After all, exercising in temperatures dozens of degrees below freezing could be quite exhausting.

While waiting, I turned to the operator at the control panel.

“Start the pre-cooling system.

“The trip to Antarctica is long. The internal temperature needs to be lowered to minus twenty degrees first.

“Switch it to preservation mode.”

The operator hesitated.

“Mr. Miller… shouldn’t we check what’s inside first?”

My gaze turned sharp.

“Didn’t you hear what I said?

“The cargo inside is extremely valuable.

“If we don’t lower the temperature immediately, it’ll spoil.”

The operator shivered and didn’t dare argue again.

“Rumble—”

The massive compressors roared to life.

On the temperature display outside the container, the bright red numbers began dropping rapidly.

25°C… 15°C… 5°C… 0°C…

The floating comments exploded across my vision.

[They’ve completely lost it! They don’t even have clothes on. They’re fighting the cold naked!]

[Holy crap! This is wild. Mandy is already clinging to Jonas and screaming from the cold!]

[Doesn’t matter. Jonas is freezing too!]

[They’re practically biting each other just to stay warm. I can’t even imagine what that looks like!]

[Won’t their skin stick to the metal? If they pull away, it’ll rip a layer right off!]

Patrick, who had been thrown to the side earlier, stared at the falling temperature on the display.

His eyes nearly popped out of his head.

He collapsed onto the ground, struggling desperately as he tried to shout something.

But a security guard clamped a hand over his mouth. All that came out were muffled whimpers.

Inside the container, the pounding grew even more violent.

Now and then you could even hear the harsh scraping of fingernails clawing against metal.

But with the thunderous roar of the compressors, it all blended into what sounded like ordinary mechanical vibration.

Anyone else would assume it was just the machinery running.

I dragged a chair over and sat down gracefully in front of the container.

Watching the temperature continue to drop on the screen was strangely relaxing.

On my phone was the last message Jonas had ever sent me.

“Jeff, thank you for supporting me all these years. I’ll repay you someday.”

He’d even added a polite little bowing emoji.

Repay me?

Sure.

Then repay me with your life.

I’ve always been the type who never forgets a grudge.

If you did it, don’t be afraid of me finding out.

Because once I do—

you’d better be ready to die.

Half an hour later, several luxury cars sped into the harbor and screeched to a stop.

The doors opened.

Vincent stepped out wearing an elegant jacket, absently adjusting his vintage watch as camera flashes went off around him.

Several financial reporters followed behind.

Anyone who didn’t know better would think a president had arrived on tour.

“Jeff! Where’s Mandy?”

Vincent scanned the area. When he didn’t see his precious daughter, his expression darkened immediately.

“She said she prepared some kind of surprise for me. Where is she?”

I stood up at once, looking troubled as I sighed softly.

“Mandy said she went to prepare the final part of your surprise gift.

“She asked me to keep an eye on things for her.

“She said this project is her biggest contribution to the family business, and she wanted you here personally to witness it.”

Hearing that, his expression softened slightly.

He immediately turned toward the cameras and put on the smile of a proud father.

“Mandy really is thoughtful.

“She’s always trying to make me happy. Doesn’t matter how much work it takes.”

Then he glanced at me, his eyes still full of criticism and dislike.

“Look at you. Always dressed so stiff and serious. Cold as ice. No warmth at all.

“No wonder Mandy always prefers going out instead of staying home.

“A man should be more like Jonas. Gentle and considerate. Knows how to treat his woman right.”

In front of all the reporters, he didn’t bother giving me the slightest bit of respect.

I forced down the nausea rising in my chest and walked over, respectfully holding his arm.

“You’re right.”

My voice sounded obedient, almost flattering.

“I’ve been too busy with work and neglected Mandy’s feelings.

“She always tells me that you understand her best and care about her the most.

“That’s why she said this time she wanted to dedicate the entire achievement to you.”

I pointed toward the massive container behind me, white frost vapor drifting from its sides.

“This shipment uses Mandy’s newest ‘Rapid Fresh-Lock’ preservation technology.

“She said only you starting the system personally could bring good luck to the company.

“And she also said the inspiration for the name came from something you always say—keeping love fresh.

“She and Jonas came up with the name together. They thought it would make the perfect gift for you.”

Vincent was completely swept up by all the flattery.

He stared at the massive container, greed flashing in his eyes.

This was a perfect chance to make headlines.

Not only could it show off his daughter’s talent, it would also highlight his supreme status in the family.

“Wonderful!”

Facing the cameras, he adjusted his collar and grinned from ear to ear.

“I really am blessed. I have such a capable daughter and such a thoughtful godson.

“Unlike certain people who throw their weight around just because they were born rich. Can’t even leave behind an heir and only know how to drag others down.”

Once again, he used me as the punchline in public.

If this had been any other day, I would have shot back coldly.

Or just turned around and walked off, too disgusted to deal with the old man.

But today?

I wasn’t angry.

Not even a little.

Then he waved a grand hand and declared, full of swagger,

“Since Mandy put so much thought into this, I’ll personally preside over the launch ceremony for her!”

The floating comments in front of me instantly turned into a wall of panic.

[Oh my God! Her father is here! He’s really about to personally send his naked daughter and his first love’s son to their deaths!]

[So that’s why this old man supports them so much. Jonas’s mother was his first love!]

[I knew it! No wonder he was always so fond of Jonas. He’s the son of the woman he never got over!]

[This old man is unbelievable. Helping his daughter cheat and trying to push his illegitimate son into the family!]

[Help! Mandy heard her dad’s voice from inside!]

[She’s slamming herself against the wall like crazy! Too bad she’s half frozen and doesn’t have the strength anymore. Her hands are probably wrecked by now!]

[Where’s Patrick? Why isn’t he coming out to stop this? Oh right, his mouth’s covered. Never mind then.]

As I read the comments, the last trace of hesitation inside me disappeared.

So that was it.

Jonas was the son of my father-in-law’s first love.

My wife and the college boy I had sponsored had been sleeping together behind my back for a long time.

And even her father had been helping them cover it up, even encouraging it.

In this entire family, I was the only fool.

I was the only one kept in the dark, pouring in money and effort while feeding a nest of ungrateful parasites.

I forced down the violent hatred surging in my chest.

With a polite smile still on my face, I stepped in front of Vincent and walked to the control panel.

“Vincent, you really shouldn’t touch this. Once this button is pressed, the temperature inside will drop instantly to minus two hundred degrees.”

I pointed to a bright red button on the panel.

Next to it were the words: Liquid Nitrogen Flash Freeze.

“You’re not familiar with this kind of equipment. Since Mandy isn’t here yet, let me handle it for you.”

But the moment I finished speaking, Vincent shoved me aside and snapped,

“Get out of the way! What are you trying to do? My daughter specially prepared this ceremony for me. I’m doing it myself.”

Off to the side, Patrick shook his head frantically, but Vincent didn’t even glance at him.

He reached out and pressed the red button.