Chapter 2

Inside the sauna, the high temperature and Anna's fear had reached a critical point.

The banging sounds were growing weaker, and Anna's cries had turned into intermittent moans.

Due to the high temperature, these leeches burrowed into Anna's body. Anna jumped frantically and tried to pull them out with her hands, but it was useless. Instead, the leeches drilled deeper and deeper.

Suddenly, a piercing scream cut through the air, shattering the silence and stabbing through everyone's eardrums.

It was a sound no child could fake. It seemed that some leeches had already crawled into her body.

Austin jolted, his expression changing. He was about to say something when Rosita interrupted him. "Austin! If you open the door now, all our efforts will be wasted. If Katy finds out, none of us will escape. Thinking about our parents, they've worked hard their whole lives and are counting on you to bring them happiness."

Her eyes gleamed as she turned her accusations towards me. "Besides, do you think Gwyneth has been faithful for the past four years? When you weren't home, who knows how many men she dined and drank with, always dressed to the nines when she went out. Who knows what she was up to? A daughter raised by such a woman can't be any good. She deserves a harsh lesson."

Austin's gaze darkened instantly, glaring at me.

I couldn't help but snort with derision.

My family was the richest in the country. Six years ago, I was going to marry Austin, a poor and useless boy. My parents were so angry that they cut off all ties with me.

We hastily got our marriage license five years ago without even holding a ceremony.

He felt guilty for me, holding me as he cried, promising to give me a good life.

After I got married, my parents and brother couldn't bear to see me suffer, so they secretly gave me some start-up capital.

Austin used this money to build his fortune, but when his company went bankrupt due to poor management, he vanished without a word.

Everyone thought he had fled or been killed by enemies, urging me to abort and remarry. It was I who returned home to plead with my brother to introduce me to investors, helping his family thrive.

But Rosita actually slandered me for cheating?

"Austin, open the door! Don't you believe me?" I suppressed my anger. "Who managed the household during the years you were gone? Have you forgotten who stood by you when you were at your lowest?"

Austin's eyes flickered, as if touched by memories, but Rosita interrupted again.

"Austin. Don't listen to her nonsense! She's just trying to excuse herself. This kind of cheating woman should be..."

"Enough." I pulled a document from my bag and slammed it in front of him.

"Let's divorce. I had the lawyer draft the agreement right when you brought that child back."

Austin stared at me, wide-eyed in disbelief. "Gwyneth! You wanted a divorce all along? You even prepared an agreement?"

"What do you think I should do? I'm your legal wife. Did you think you could go to Slaka and make the Queen your mistress? Do you think if the Queen's family knew about this, would they treat you like a guest of honor, or would they punish you hard?" I sneered.

"That's not a big deal. You can go as my cousin, and we can still secretly meet."

What a lunatic!

I spat at him.

Austin hesitated for a while, but finally snatched the pen and signed his name heavily.

"You'll regret this!" he shouted, tossing the pen down.

"Give me the key," I demanded, extending my hand.

He snorted and walked away.

Watching his retreating figure, I quickly scribbled a note in Slaka language and slipped it through the door crack. "You can crawl out through the vent."

It was a hidden exit I had accidentally discovered when I brought Joanna here for a bath.

A faint voice in Slaka language came from inside, "Thank you..." followed by the soft sound of crawling from the ventilation duct.

My heart pounded as I moved quietly under the duct's exit, ready to help.

Just when I thought she was about to come out, a chilling scream from Anna echoed through the duct, followed by a heavy thud.

"Are you trying to escape through here? No way!" It was Rosita.

She appeared out of nowhere, holding a long stick, and pushed Anna back inside.

Triumphantly, Rosita ordered the servants to nail the vent shut. "I've told you, all the locksmiths in the city and all the tools for breaking or prying open doors have been hidden by Austin. Don't try any tricks. Your precious daughter had better finish writing 'I'm sorry' ten thousand times."

I couldn't bear it anymore and slapped her hard. "Are you crazy? A child could fall and die."

That slap enraged her.

She had always acted obedient in front of me because the whole family relied on my support.

But now that Austin was back, she thought she had a new pillar and revealed her true self. "You dare hit me? Who do you think you are to control me? You stop me from using my phone or going out with my boyfriend? Who do you think you are?"

Seeing her hysterical state, I finally understood the ungrateful person I had been caring for.

I stopped her from using her phone during class because the teacher had warned her many times that she would be expelled if she did that again.

I stopped her from seeing that boy because he was a convicted rapist, just out of juvenile detention. I showed her the doctored news reports, but she thought I had photoshopped them to deceive her.

"Catch her!" Rosita ordered the servants.

Those two servants hesitated but eventually held my arms.

Rosita stepped forward and slapped me hard. "Apologize! Kneel and apologize!"

I was not convinced, but when I thought of Anna inside, who was being eaten by leeches and whose life or death was unknown, I lowered my head in humiliation. "... I'm sorry."

Only then did Rosita smile in satisfaction.

"See? If you had been obedient from the start, it wouldn't have come to this. Remember, in this house, be humble!" After she said that, she turned and left arrogantly.

I broke free from the servants, looking at the completely sealed sauna, my heart sinking.

Inside, there was no sound at all.