Chapter 1

On the day of my wedding to Dominic Thorne, he called the police and personally sent me to prison.

Three years later, he personally came to pick me up.

He stood before me, his voice coiling around my ears like a malevolent ghost: “Anya Vance, how was your time inside?”

My whole body trembled, and I didn't dare look up.

Until he slowly crept closer, his body brushing mine like a phantom: “Don't rush. It’s not over yet!”

Later, I endured his endless torment until I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, collapsing in a pool of blood, taking my last breath.

But Dominic, the man who had sought to destroy me, clung to me like a madman, sobbing, “Anya, I was wrong. Can you please look at me again?”

The day I was released, a heavy snow fell across the city.

The moment the iron gate creaked open, a bone-chilling wind howled, and I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, the warmth quickly stolen from my body.

I stumbled out, my steps unsteady, the surroundings utterly silent, save for the soft whisper of falling snowflakes.

Standing by the gate, all I saw was a blanket of pristine white.

Behind me, the prison guard's voice faded in and out, barely audible, only Dominic Thorne’s name reaching my ears in a blur.

Dominic Thorne… Dominic Thorne… I mumbled his name under my breath, my steps faltering as I instinctively veered to the right.

And then, I unexpectedly collided with a cold, hard chest.

A dull ache flared on my forehead. I tapped it, then looked up, instantly meeting a familiar face.

It was too clear, and my mind went blank for a second. I rubbed my eyes, but he was still there.

The guard’s words, spoken just moments ago, suddenly pieced together in my mind.

“Anya Vance, just stay by the gate and don't leave. Mr. Dominic Thorne will come to pick you up.”

Dominic Thorne. It was him!

The man who had personally sent me to prison three years ago now stood before me again.

My body trembled. I dared not make another move.

I was terrified he would kick me to the ground like he did three years ago, then drag me straight back to hell.

The prison was behind me. I couldn’t go back inside.

Dominic seemed satisfied with my terrified reaction.

I stood in the snow, dressed in a thin jacket, frozen stiff. Dominic had been staring at me for so long that my limbs were numb and my entire body was shaking.

But I still didn’t dare move.

After a long silence, Dominic seemed to lose his patience and finally spoke.

“Anya Vance, how was your time inside?”

He stood before me, his voice, like a malevolent spirit, coiled around my ears.

My whole body trembled, and I didn't dare look up.

For three years, that voice had haunted my nightmares every single day, impossible to shake off.

I tried my best to curl myself up, to minimize my presence in front of Dominic, hoping he would lose interest and just let me go.

Until he slowly crept closer, his body brushing mine like a phantom: “Don't rush. It’s not over yet!”

That single, airy sentence almost made me collapse onto the ground.