THE WOMEN WHO FROZE

Chapter 1 The Woman Who Froze The cold came slowly. Not like a knife. Like punishment. It crept through the cracks in the prison walls, slithered across the concrete floor, and wrapped itself around Seraphina Vale’s bare feet like invisible chains. Water dripped somewhere in the darkness. Drip. Drip. Drip. Each sound echoed through the underground cell like a countdown to death. Seraphina curled tighter against the wall, shivering violently beneath the thin gray blanket that smelled of mildew and blood. Her fingers were blue. Her lips cracked every time she breathed. Three years. Three years in Blackwater Prison. Three years since the world had branded her a murderer. Three years since her husband stood in court and watched her get sentenced without once defending her. Her body trembled harder. Tonight was colder than usual. They had turned off the heating again. Not by accident. Never by accident. A metallic clang echoed through the corridor outside. Footsteps followed. Slow. Measured. The guards were coming. Seraphina lifted her head weakly. Her vision blurred at the edges. One of the guards stopped outside her bars and sneered. “Lucky day, Lady Vale.” His grin was cruel. “You have visitors.” Visitors. A bitter laugh nearly escaped her throat. No one visited prisoners forgotten by the world. No one visited women condemned by their own husbands. The guard unlocked the cell. Seraphina forced herself up, though pain exploded through her frozen joints. Her legs nearly gave out beneath her as they dragged her through the corridors of Blackwater. The prison smelled like rust and rot. Like despair. When they finally shoved her into the visitation room, Seraphina stumbled against the metal table. Then she saw him. Adrian Cross. Her husband. Perfect as always. Perfect black suit. Perfect silver cufflinks. Perfect smile. The same smile that once made her believe he loved her. The same smile that destroyed her life. But he wasn’t alone. A woman sat beside him. Beautiful. Elegant. Draped in white fur. Evelina Hart. The mistress. Seraphina’s stomach twisted violently. Evelina noticed her first and laughed softly while adjusting the diamond bracelet around her wrist. Seraphina recognized that bracelet. It had belonged to her mother. Adrian leaned back lazily in his chair, swirling amber whiskey inside a crystal glass. “Seraphina,” he said warmly, as if greeting an old friend. “You look terrible.” The guards laughed behind her. Seraphina gripped the edge of the table until her numb fingers hurt. “What do you want?” she whispered. Adrian studied her silently for a moment. There was no guilt in his eyes. No regret. Only satisfaction. Evelina crossed her legs elegantly. “Oh, darling,” she purred, “we came to celebrate.” Celebrate. The word struck harder than any slap. Adrian lifted the whiskey glass. “To new beginnings.” Evelina clinked her glass against his. Seraphina stared at them, confused at first. Then she noticed the documents resting beside Adrian’s hand. Inheritance transfer papers. Her inheritance. Her family company. Her shares. Everything. Gone. Adrian smiled slowly. “The board finalized everything this morning.” Seraphina’s blood ran cold. “You…” Her voice cracked. “You planned this from the beginning.” “Of course I did.” The answer came effortlessly. Casually. As if discussing weather. Evelina laughed again. “You were always useful, Seraphina. Rich. Obedient. Pathetic.” Adrian sighed dramatically. “To be fair, I almost admired how loyal you were.” He leaned forward slightly. “Even after I framed you.” The room spun. Seraphina felt her heartbeat stop. “What?” “You really never figured it out?” Evelina asked with fake sympathy. Adrian smirked. “The murder weapon was planted in your studio before the police arrived.” Seraphina’s lungs refused to breathe. No. No. No. “The witness?” Adrian continued. “Mine.” “The judge?” Evelina added. “Also ours.” The world collapsed silently around her. Every nightmare. Every humiliation. Every beating in prison. Every freezing night. All of it planned. Tears burned Seraphina’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Adrian stood slowly and adjusted his cuffs. “I came because I wanted you to understand something before you die.” He stepped closer to the glass separating them. “I never loved you.” The words sliced deeper than prison ever had. “You were nothing but a stepping stone.” Seraphina stared at him through trembling lashes. Then Adrian smiled cruelly. “But do you know the funniest part?” He leaned near the glass. “There actually was one man willing to save you.” Her breath caught. Adrian chuckled darkly. “Lucien D’Arco.” The name sent fear through the guards themselves. Lucien D’Arco. The Devil of Blackwater. The most dangerous man in the criminal underworld. “He offered me billions to release you,” Adrian said softly. “Burned half the city searching for evidence.” His smile widened. “But he was too late.” Why? Why would Lucien D’Arco save her? She had barely spoken to the man in her entire life. Evelina stood gracefully. “Well,” she sighed, “we should leave. The fireworks begin soon.” Fireworks? Adrian checked his watch. “Ah.” His eyes glittered coldly. “Right about now.” Suddenly— The prison lights died. Darkness swallowed everything. Then came screaming. Gunshots exploded somewhere above. The guards panicked instantly. “What the hell—?!” BOOM. The entire prison shook violently. Dust rained from the ceiling. Another explosion followed. Closer this time. Seraphina’s heart pounded wildly. Adrian simply smiled. “He came for you after all.” Then the emergency lights flickered red. And for one brief second— Seraphina saw something terrifying in Adrian’s eyes. Fear. Real fear. A guard burst into the room. “Sir! D’Arco’s men breached the east wing!” Evelina paled instantly. Adrian cursed under his breath. Gunfire echoed closer. Screams filled the prison. Chaos erupted everywhere. But Seraphina could barely hear it anymore. Because the cold was winning. Her body had finally reached its limit. Her knees buckled. She collapsed onto the floor. Dimly, she saw Adrian hesitate. Only for a second. Then he turned away. He left her there. Again. The last thing Seraphina heard before darkness consumed her was the sound of steel doors being torn apart somewhere deep inside Blackwater Prison. And a man's furious voice roaring her name. “SERAPHINA!” Then— Nothing. Cold. Darkness. Death.