My Eight Years Marriage Almost Killed Me

Eight months pregnant, I went to Everetts office to deliver some documents.

The temperature inside was scorching 46C. Just as I reached to turn on the air conditioner, his secretary stopped me.

Maam, she said sweetly, Im on my period. I get cold easilyplease dont turn it on.

I glanced sideways at her. My baby was growing inside me, and the heat could cause a heatstroke. Without saying a word, I turned the AC on anyway.

That evening, Everett came back from a business dinner and burst through the door, already furious.

"Laura, Maeve is on her period! Do you even realize those 38 minutes and 19 seconds of cold air sent her to the ICU with severe cramps?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Everett, are you mocking me just because I dont have a period? Im eight months pregnant! And if I get heatstroke, thats not just discomfortit could be fatal! Are you drunk?"

He curled his lips into a mocking smile and nodded. "You're right. That was foolish of me."

That night, he comforted me as usual, whispering sweet nothings until I drifted off to sleep.

But when I woke up, I was no longer in my bed. I was in a walk-in freezersurrounded by walls of glass on all sides.

Outside the glass, a group of second-generation elites laughed and pointed at me. Everett stood among them, his arm was wrapped around Maeves slender waist. They looked at me and chuckled.

"Afraid of heatstroke?" he sneered. "Then lets cool you down properly tonight."

My heart sank.

Calmly, I pulled out my phone and snapped photos of everyone outside. Then, I dialed a number.

Dad, I said coldly, I dont want any of these people to see the sunrise tomorrow.

There was silence. Then I hung up.

The laughter around me exploded.

"Laura, your dad was thrown into the open sea and was fed to sharks six months ago. Have you frozen your brain? Or were you always this stupid?"

"Still pretending to be the Richardson familys heiress? Even in your wildest dreams, you wouldnt dare imagine that anymore."

Everett watched proudly as his cronies mocked me. He took off his fur coat and draped it gently over Maeves shoulders, then walked slowly toward the freezer.

He tapped on the glass with his index finger and smiled coldly.

Laura, are you cold now? Do you realize your mistake?

The red thermometer outside reads -50C.

I was shivering from the cold, still dressed in the thin pajamas Id worn to bed the night before. My skin, where it touched the icy ground, had turned blue and numb. The cold pierced like knives.

Shivering violently, I stumbled to the glass wall and slammed a fist against it.

Everett, what did I do wrong?! It was 46C insideI just turned on the air conditioner! Pregnant women are more vulnerable to heat. If I had collapsed, it wouldve been two lives lost!

Suddenly, a sharp pain twisted through my abdomen.

I clutched my belly and crouched down, eyes bloodshot as I glared at him.

Everett, let me out! You know exactly how much Ive suffered to carry this child. I cannot lose him!

A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes.

He, of all people, knew the pain Id gone through.

An accident years ago left Everett infertile. For eight years, I endured thousands of hormone injections the length of my forearm just to extract viable eggs. Only after all those years had we finally conceived.

Eight months of careful bed rest. I had done everything to protect this baby.

I still remember how furious he was once when a servant brought me brown sugar water that wasnt warm enough, he broke her arm.

But now, for Maeves period, he didnt hesitate to lock me in a freezer.

My chest tightened with bitter despair. Just as I opened my mouth to speak again, Maeve pulled off the fur coat Everett had just given her and clung to his arm with tears brimming in her eyes.

Everett, let your wife out, she said softly. Shes delicate and frail. She wont survive this... Unlike meIm just a poor girl whos used to hardship. Ive fainted in freezing rooms before, and I didnt even dare complain...

Fainted from the cold?

All I did was turn on the air conditioner for thirty minutes. When I left Everetts office, Maeve was still smiling, making plans with her girlfriends to hit the bar that evening.

I opened my mouth to explainbut Everetts expression became indifferent in an instant. His voice dropped several degrees colder.

Someone get in there and strip off her coat! Isnt she supposed to be delicate and pampered? Then let her experience how kids from poor families suffer!

He bent down to pick up the fur coat.

With a gentle touch, he draped it over Maeves shoulders and glanced at me with icy contempt.

You can come out when you finally realize your mistake. The doctor said our son is perfectly healthy. Dont think you can use that baby as an excuse to escape punishment.

With that, he swept Maeve into his arms. His voice softened, dripping with tenderness.

Maeve, youre on your periodyour feet must stay warm. Just stay in my arms. Lets see who dares complain now.

As soon as he sat down with her in his lap, a group of men walked toward me with cruel smiles.

I shrank into the corner, clutching my thin nightgown tightly. But no amount of resistance could match the strength of several men.

Seconds later, the thin fabric was torn into two.

In an instant, a rush of cold air pierced through my skin, seeping into every pore.

Laughing excitedly, they stripped the rest of my gown. When they walked out, they laughed with Everett as if they'd just come from a game.

Damn, Everett, you really know how to enjoy life. Your wifes figure is incredibleshes not shy at all!

Thanks for letting us take such good care of her!

I was left wearing only my undergarments, curled up on the freezing ground. The warmth of my skin clashed with the ice beneath me, tearing at my flesh with every move.

Blistering pain pierced through meraw skin ripped open, blood slowly seeping out.

Bright red against the glowing white of the freezer floor.

Everett noticed it. He gently set Maeve down and stepped forward, eyes locked on the growing bloodstain trailing toward his feet.

Before he could speak, Maeve rushed over and pressed her hand against the glass, trembling as she saw the blood.

Please, Laura... just admit you were wrong, she pleaded, her voice shaking. There are so many of Everetts friends watching... if you dont, he wont be able to let you off easily.

I stared daggers at her.

Why should I apologize? I saw how comfortable you were under the AC that day. You even made plans with your girlfriends to go out

Everetts gaze flicked toward Maevethere was a flash of doubt in his eyes.

But before I could finish, Maeve slapped herself across the face with a loud smack, then dropped to her knees with a dramatic thud.

Grabbing Everetts hand, she sobbed, Everett, I just cant bear to watch her suffer like this... If she still wont admit her mistake, then Ill kneel here outside with her!

The moment Maeve knelt down, all traces of suspicion vanished from Everetts eyes.

He bent quickly to lift her up, his face twisted in disgust as he turned back to me.

Laura, youve really been spoiled rotten. Maeve has always endured your arrogance in silence. Now youre clearly in the wrong, yet shes still worried about saving face for meand shes willing to suffer for you!

You dont deserve her compassion.

Tonight, Im going to crush that pampered temper of yours. If you dont admit you were wrong, dont even think about coming out!

He turned and gestured to the men behind him.

Bring in more ice blocks. Surround her with them. Pour water over her tooI want her frozen to the very walls!

He hadnt even finished speaking when...

Just then, a girl tugged nervously at Everetts sleeve.

Everett, pouring water over ice will make it stick to skin like glue, she said timidly. If she moves even a little, her flesh will tear. Shes due any day nowsomething terrible could happen...

His hand, mid-gesture, paused in the air.

He hesitated.

But before the moment could shift, a soft, pitiful voice came from behind him.

Everett... let it go. My time in the ICU wasnt as unbearable as you imagine...

Maeves words instantly turned his hesitation to stone. His gaze darkened.

The hand he had paused slowly lowered as his voice turned cold again.

Do exactly as I said.

The young girl opened her mouth to protest again, but Everett waved her off.

What shes going through is nothing compared to what Maeve suffered. I already have an ambulance waiting outsidewhat could possibly go wrong?

With that, she fell silent.

Now emboldened by Everetts command, the men returned to the freezerthis time, carrying even more blocks of ice.

One of them grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking me upright. They surrounded me with slabs of ice, building a wall around my body.

Then, a basin of icy water was dumped over my head.

The next second, my skin adhered to the ice like gluebonded by freezing water. Each breath burned my throat. Each pore pulled tight with searing pain as the cold seeped into my bones.

I glanced at the clock.

Id been trapped in the freezer for over five hours.

My limbs had turned dark purple from the cold.

To shield my unborn child, I tried to shift my body slightlyto find a posture where my stomach might retain some warmth.

But every tiny movement ripped more of my flesh from the ice.

The babys movements inside me had grown faint. Alarmingly faint.

I gritted my teeth, ignoring the raw pain as chunks of skin tore away. Slowly, I maneuvered my body to shield my belly as best I could.

Bright red blood began to smear across the crystal-clear ice.

By the time I managed to reposition myself, the once-clear ice around me was stained a ghastly crimson.

The laughter outside died.

Even the jeering men, who had earlier mocked me, fell silent at the sight.

Through the blur of blood and frost, I glared at Everett and screamed hoarsely, Everett! If anythinganythinghappens to this baby, then you, his biological father, are his murderers! I swear Ill pray day and night to his spiritso that you never know peace!

His expression wavered.

The steel in his eyes faltered as he stepped closer, peering through the blood-fogged glass.

Then a shout rang out behind him.

Everett! My dad just saidtheres a plane on the Richardson familys private air route!

Everetts face drained of color. His expression twisted with panic and fury.

He pounded his fist against the glass, roaring at me. Laura! What the hell is this?! You think you can scare me with your Richardson family name forever?!

Before I could answer, Maeve rushed to his side, gently rubbing his back and shooting me a look that combined hurt with quiet blame.

Laura, if you wont admit your mistake, that's fine. But why must you torture Everett like this? she said, tears glimmering in her eyes. You know how much suffering he endured back when Mr. Richardson was alive. Now hes gone, and the Richardson familys wealth has long been sold off. Whats the point of staging this farce?

Then she gently tugged Everetts hand, her voice like a breeze as she added, Let it go, Everett. Let her out. If something really happens to the baby, well be the ones blamed. Its not like she ever cared about us lowly nobodies anyway.

Her words didnt soothe himthey only fanned the flames.

His eyes lit with renewed rage. He spat out a curse, then snapped toward his men with a roar. Turn the freezer down to negative 100 degrees! Do itnow!

Seeing Everett explode with rage, the people behind him didnt dare utter another word.

They silently turned the freezers temperature down to negative 100 degrees.

In an instant, a wave of bone-chilling wind blasted through the air vents, hitting me like knives made of frost.

The cold robbed me of speechmy teeth chattered uncontrollably, and I couldnt form a complete sentence.

Then, through the haze of numbness, a sharp, tearing pain erupted from my lower abdomen.

I forced my heavy head downwardand froze.

A stream of bright red blood was flowing from between my legs, winding like a small creek across the icy ground.

In the deathly cold, it steamed against the frost, creating a crimson mist.

The blood melted the ice around me, seeping through the cracks in the floor.

Thats when it hit me.

I knew what was happening.

Clutching my belly, I screamed hoarsely toward the glass. "Everett! Let me out! The baby.... Save our baby!"

He was still fuming with fury, but the moment he saw the bloodthe same blood now melting ice and flowing to his feethis face drained of all colors.

Panic replaced the cruelty in his eyes.

He grabbed the man beside him, shouting frantically, "Hurry! Get the freezer key! Didnt we check with the doctor before locking her in? How the hell did this happen?!"

The man handed him the key.

But Everetts hands were trembling so hard that he couldnt even hold on to it.

The key fellright at Maeves feet.

He immediately turned and gripped her arm tightly.

"Maeve! Quick, unlock the door! Let Laura out nowhurry!"

Startled by his outburst, Maeve fumbled to her feet, not even bothering to put her shoes on.

She rushed toward the freezer door, casting a glance back at Everett. Then, with her back to him, she slid the key into the lock.

In that instant, I caught a flash of something sinister in her eyesa look of triumph, malice, and cruelty.

And thencrack!

A sharp sound echoed through the air.

Maeve turned back around and suddenly dropped to her knees in front of Everett, crying out, "Everettthe key.. it snapped!"

His face turned ghostly pale.

He stumbled forward, grabbed the broken key and demanded, "What do you mean it snapped?! How could it break? Call someoneget a locksmith now!"

By now, the blood had spread across nearly the entire freezer floor, glistening warmly against the icy white.

I was groaning in agony, unable to contain the pain.

But Maeve knelt there with crocodile tears in her eyes, voice trembling with false concern. "Everett, she hasnt admitted her mistake yet... You said it yourself, this was a chance to humble hereveryone here is watching..."

"And what about what I went through in the ICU? Are you really just going to let that go? You promised me youd give me justice.

Everett hesitated. He waved off the man who had gone to fetch another key.

Then he turned back toward the glass, slapping the freezer door repeatedly as he called to methis time, his voice filled with desperation and pleading.

"Laura, please. Just admit you were wrong. For the baby, alright?"

"Just say it. Say youre sorry, and Ill open the door. You dont want anything to happen to our child either, do you? Im begging you, Laurajust be a little softer, okay?"

The blood loss was making my vision blur.

My body collapsed into the pool of blood, and with a trembling voice I whispered toward the figure outside, "Everett... let me out... If you dont, my father will kill you..."

Maeves eyes glinted with a savage smilebut her voice remained drenched in that same fake innocence. "Laura... are you really that confused? Mr. Richardson died half a year ago. The Richardson family collapsed months ago! Just admit you were wrong alreadyno one can save you now!"

Laughter and jeers erupted outside the freezer.

"Still dreaming, huh? Gonna have your dad kill Everett? Miss Richardson, your old mans probably rotting in hellif anything, hes the one getting killed all over again!"

They laughed mockingly while tugging at Everetts sleeve.

Everett, this woman clearly hasn't learned her lesson! Shes just faking it. The kid is probably finelet her rot in there a while longer!

Exactly, Everett! She bullied Maeve so badlyyou cant let her off easily!

The cold storage was already slick with blood.

They couldnt see it, but I could feel itthe faint fluttering inside my belly was growing weaker and weaker.

I started to wail uncontrollably, screaming in agony.

Everett paced restlessly outside the door. When he glanced back at me again, there was a trace of helplessness in his eyes.

Laura, stop hoping your father is going to come rescue you again. Hes really dead. Just admit you were wrong, okay? Just say the wordsI was wrongand Ill let you out!

My dear wife, give it up. Your father wont be coming to save you this time!

The moment his words fell, the door to the room was kicked open with a loud bang.

A squad of fully armed mercenaries stormed in.

A deep, commanding voice rang out from beyond the door

Who said her father wouldnt come save her?