Chapter 1
Eight months pregnant and writhing with severe contractions, I begged Ryan Johnson, my husband, to take me to the hospital, but he ordered me to endure it all because Olivia Wallace, his widowed elder brother's wife, was delivering the same day.
To prevent my child from becoming the Johnson family's heir, Ryan locked me in an industrial freezer at minus four degrees Fahrenheit.
"The firstborn must belong to Olivia. She has nothing, while you have all my love. You will leave the inheritance to her child. This freezer will delay your labor. You can give birth when it's your turn."
The pain of the contractions made me want to die. I lost all dignity, kneeling and begging him to take me to the hospital.
Ryan responded by kicking me to the ground.
"You think I don't know what game you're playing? You just want to deliver early so you can claim the property my father left behind. How can you be so vicious? Willing to force a premature birth to compete with Olivia? Show some decency for yourself and your child!"
My explanation was weak and fragmented.
"My due date is any day now. The baby could come at any moment. I swear the child will never fight for the inheritance. I'll write a blood oath if I have to—I just want my baby to be safe!"
Ryan pulled away the hem of his pants that I had desperately grabbed and let out a cold snort.
"You're so calculating. Who knows if you're trying to trick me again? I'm the child's father, and I want the baby safe more than anyone. After Olivia gives birth, I'll come back for you."
Later, when he saw the wailing newborn in Olivia's arms, he finally remembered me and sent James Davis, his secretary, to bring me to the hospital.
But James's teeth chattered as he spoke.
"Madam and the baby... They're both... gone...."
I struggled to crawl toward the freezer door. Just as it slammed shut, my fingers were crushed between the iron frame. The c***k of breaking bones echoed sharply.
The intense contractions made me scream in pain, but Ryan was too distracted to even hear me.
Then I felt warm liquid gush from below. The baby was slowly descending.
Terror flooded my entire body. I forced myself to calm down, pulled out my phone, and dialed for help.
However, Ryan had removed my SIM card!
My belly twitched and writhed with each kick from the baby inside, as if it might burst open at any moment.
Whether it was sweat or blood, my entire body was drenched, and I could feel the warm fluid freezing into icy shards on my skin.
I screamed with all my might. Even the slightest hope, I wouldn't give up.
Finally, footsteps sounded outside the door.
I desperately cried out, "Please, help me! I'm locked in the freezer and about to give birth!"
I repeated those words over and over. Just as I thought I might be rescued, the person spoke.
"Jessica, look at you now. Ryan should have taught you a lesson long ago!"
It was Ryan's younger sister, Clara Johnson!
I shut my eyes tightly, struggling to speak clearly. "Clara, please get me out first. I'm about to give birth. I can't wait any longer!"
Clara suddenly became furious, kicking the door hard, her voice shrill.
"You just want to interfere with Olivia's childbirth, don't you? Ryan sent me here today to make sure you don't cause trouble. Jessica, stop making things harder for my brother. He's already so busy, and you still want to cause trouble? Our family's wealth goes to its rightful heirs—how dare you covet it!"
A sudden contraction made me scream. Panting, I tried to promise her.
"I won't take a single penny of your family's property. Tell Ryan the situation and let me out. I swear I'll never show my face in front of your family again."
Clara winced at my screams, her face twisting in irritation as she snapped, "What the hell's wrong with you? As if you're the only one who can yell! Keep it up, and I'll have your mouth sewn shut!"
She snatched up her phone to make a call.
The bone-deep cold and searing pain made me wish for death.
"Yeah, don't worry, Ryan. I've got her under control."
When I heard Ryan's voice on the phone, a desperate hope flared inside me.
I screamed myself hoarse.
"Ryan! The baby's coming now! Tell Clara to take me to the hospital—please!"
By then, I couldn't stop crying out.
Clara hesitated, whispering uncertainly, "Ryan... She might really be in labor. This sounds too real to be fake. Should I take her to the hospital first? This is your only child, after all. If something happens..."
Ryan fell silent for a beat, then softened his tone.
"Just get her..."
A honeyed voice suddenly cut in from the other end. "Ryan, I'm craving pizza. The doctor says I need to eat to keep my strength up for delivery. Is Jessica giving birth? Oh, don't worry. Childbirth's nothing! I barely felt a thing. Look, I can even dance for you right now! I'm sure Jessica's just fine, too."
Of course, she felt no pain. Ryan had booked her a private hospital room costing fifty thousand dollars a day. She was well taken care of in every way.
