Punished in Ice

Ronan sat at Celine’s bedside, carefully tucking the blanket around her. She leaned weakly against his chest, her pale face delicate and pitiful.

"Ronan, I’m feeling much better. Please don’t be angry anymore," she said softly. "Vesper didn’t mean it. You should let her out. It’s so cold in the cellar, and she’s pregnant. If something happens, it wouldn’t be good."

"Let her out?" His expression turned cold. "She made you suffer like this. How could I let her off so easily? She needs to reflect properly. Otherwise she’ll dare to bully you again."

A flicker of satisfaction passed through her eyes, though she quickly masked it with concern.

"But I really am fine now. And she’s carrying your child. If anything happens to the baby, you might regret it later."

"Regret?" He let out a scornful laugh. "If I want a child, there are plenty of women willing to give me one. As long as you’re fine, nothing else matters."

Inside, she was overjoyed, yet she continued to feign reluctance.

"You shouldn’t say that. The child is innocent. How about this — once I’m completely recovered, you can let her out and have her kneel and apologize to me. Then we’ll consider the matter settled."

He thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Fine. We’ll do as you say. Once you’re fully recovered, I’ll bring her to apologize to you."

He had no idea that, at that very moment, inside the ice cellar, I was on the verge of collapse.

The pain in my abdomen grew sharper and sharper, like countless knives twisting through my insides. My body felt colder with every passing second. My thoughts blurred.

I thought of my parents. If they knew what was happening to me now, they would be heartbroken. Back then, when I insisted on marrying him, they had opposed it but ultimately respected my choice. Looking back now, if I hadn’t married him, perhaps I wouldn’t have ended up like this.

"Baby… I’m sorry. Mommy couldn’t protect you." Tears streamed down my face, despair filling every corner of my heart. "If there is another life, I won’t be this foolish again. I’ll take you somewhere safe… to someone who will love us."

After an unknown amount of time, I felt a sudden warmth spreading beneath me.

My water had broken.

Despair crashed over me like a tidal wave. In such freezing conditions, there was no way the baby could survive.

I tried with everything I had left to hold on to that tiny life, but the cold and the unbearable pain made me powerless. I could feel the child’s presence fading bit by bit, and my own consciousness slipping away with it.

In the final second before darkness swallowed me, I thought I saw his face — the cold indifference in his eyes like a blade piercing straight through my heart.

Ronan Blackwood… I hate you.

I will never forgive you.