Have I misunderstood Byron all along? Maeve wondered. Stunned into silence, she felt as if a thick fog had rolled into her chest, clouding her thoughts and draining her emotions.

Alexis continued, "I'm not telling you this to pressure you, but I think you're very lucky. Byron takes after his grandfather, not his father. After you left, he not only called off his engagement party with Lynn, but he's also been searching for you ever since. Despite his father's threats and coercion, Byron refused to marry Lynn; even now, she's only his fiancée."

At this point, Alexis understood why she disliked Maeve. Maeve had also married into the McDaniel family, but she was far luckier than Alexis. Byron's business acumen was on par with his grandfather's—a true master of strategy. However, unlike his father, Byron lacked his emotional detachment and indifference; he valued his wife deeply.

Maeve struggled to regain her composure. The thought of Byron's upcoming wedding to Lynn gradually steadied her. Even if Alexis's words were true, it was impossible for her and Byron to reunite. Therefore, there was no point in saying more. Besides, Maeve hadn't forgotten how Byron had pressured her into having an abortion. However, she couldn't deny the immense happiness—a feeling she'd never known—at learning Byron had always been on her side and trusted her unconditionally. But that was all; it was over between them.

Maeve stood to get some fresh air in the hallway and felt a slight pain at the corner of her mouth. She must have bitten it; she headed to the restroom. Suddenly, her phone rang. After drying her hands, Maeve retrieved her phone and saw an incoming call from Byron. Her lips tightened slightly; a mix of nostalgia and hesitation made her reluctant to answer. Maeve took a deep breath, preparing to answer when a gust of cold wind swept past. Before she could turn, a sharp pain pierced her neck, and darkness engulfed her. She collapsed, her phone thudding to the ground as Byron's voice echoed, "Maeve? Are you there?" There was no response.

After an unknown period, Maeve awoke to a dull ache in her neck and a heavy fog in her head, the chilling cold seeping into her bones. She wiggled her stiff fingers and slowly sat up, only to find the floor coated with ice. She surveyed her surroundings, shocked to discover she was in a cold storage room. A few empty shelves, trash, and an unconscious figure lay nearby. "A person?" Maeve thought.

Her mind suddenly cleared. She rushed to the figure, turned it over, and was shocked to see Lynn. "Hey, are you okay? Wake up!" Maeve called, gently pushing her, but receiving no response. Lynn's face was pale, and her body temperature was alarmingly low. Maeve felt cold despite her warm clothes; she couldn't imagine how cold Lynn must be in her thin velvet dress. With effort, Maeve positioned Lynn against the wall, removed her coat, and immediately shuddered from the icy air. She sat beside Lynn, wrapping them both in her coat and zipping it up. Lynn's body temperature began to rise, and she slowly opened her eyes. "Where are we?" Lynn asked.

"In a cold storage room," Maeve answered curtly. "Did you see who brought you here?"

"No," Lynn said, her voice trembling. "I was at the hospital for a checkup and woke up here." She closed her eyes, shivering.

Maeve frowned. If she guessed correctly, Neville was responsible. But he was in police custody. How did he do it? she wondered. There was no time to dwell on it; the cold intensified. Gripping her coat, she said to Lynn, "Get closer. Huddling together will slow heat loss. We need to hold out until someone finds us." Her teeth chattered, her words slightly slurred but coherent.

Lynn trembled violently, barely hearing Maeve. All she sensed was warmth emanating from Maeve. As Lynn opened her eyes, she saw Maeve's slightly quivering, frosted eyelashes and tightly pressed lips. Lynn was stunned by Maeve's beauty. She instinctively wanted to move, but the coat was too small, leading her to brush against Maeve's waist. (Please remove the website promotion.) "Don't move," Maeve said, her voice tired from the cold.

Lynn's cheeks burned, her limbs stiff as she tried to avoid contact, but it was hopeless. "I-I'm uncomfortable. Why can't we sit separately?" Lynn asked.

"Suit yourself. Freeze at the side if you like," Maeve retorted.

Lynn fell silent. She was in a freezing room, yet her body felt on fire. Maeve couldn't sense Lynn's abnormality, but felt the heat. She looked at Lynn in confusion. "Don't tell me you have a fever?"

"N-no," Lynn stuttered. "I'm naturally hot, but it wasn't obvious before."

Normally, Maeve wouldn't believe it, but the cold was affecting her judgment. Besides, as Lynn's temperature rose, Maeve unconsciously moved closer, seeking warmth. Lynn froze, sneaking glances at Maeve.

"There's a ventilation window," Maeve pointed to a high window. "This wouldn't be a cold storage room if it had a window." The fluctuating temperature indicated someone was controlling it.

Lynn looked skeptically at the high, sealed window. "It's too high. Even with the shelves, we can't climb out."

"How would we know if we don't try?" Maeve unzipped her jacket. "I'd rather fight for a chance than wait to die. Whether you help or not is up to you." She moved to get her blood flowing, then dragged a shelf to the window and climbed onto it, using a broken stool to smash the window. The shelf creaked, but held. Maeve looked down, surprised to see Lynn watching silently. "Maybe this spoiled princess isn't so unbearable after all," Maeve thought. "When she's quiet, she's somewhat tolerable."