Chapter 1 She Kneels until She Dies

• The snow in Riverton fell all night, and Daphne Steele was forced to kneel in the snow all night too.
• Her knees were nearly frozen to the icy ground.
• At dawn, Hudson Jackman arrived.
• The man listed as Daphne's husband on the marriage certificate placed a large bouquet of lilies before Evelyn Steele's grave. His voice was hoarse. "Eve, I miss you so much."
• Through the thick snowflakes clinging to her lashes, Daphne watched the man's deeply affectionate silhouette. Her heart felt colder than this winter.
• For three years, she had been married to him, always putting his needs first and trying to win his favor. Yet, he had never shown her a shred of tenderness, only to pour his emotions out to a tombstone.
• "Eve, don't worry. I'll make the person who killed you pay."
• Hudson said this while looking straight at Daphne.
• The anger and hatred in his eyes made the two men holding Daphne down tremble slightly.
• Feeling his gaze, Daphne lifted her head.
• She looked at him with mockery, disdain, and indifference, none of the passion she once had for him remaining.
• When he married her three years ago, Daphne had known he was only trying to gather evidence.
• Back then, she naively believed her sincerity could move him, could soften his heart. She thought he would one day realize he had misunderstood her.
• But three years passed. She humbled herself again and again, lowering herself into the dust, yet she still couldn't warm his stone-cold heart.
• He was convinced she killed Evelyn, and nothing could persuade him otherwise.
• "Daphne," Hudson growled her name, the hatred in his dark eyes cutting into her like knives. "Eve treated you like a sister and gave you everything the best she had. And what did you do? Three years ago today, you killed her and left her with no remains!"
• Daphne felt waves of heat rise from her body. She knew she had a fever, and it wasn't mild.
• Still, she forced herself to stay composed. She raised her head coldly, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "As I've said before, show me the evidence. If I kill someone, prove it."
• Her eyelids grew heavier, and she murmured to herself with a bitter laugh, "I didn't sleep all night. I really am a bit tired."
• "Daphne!"
• Her indifferent attitude thoroughly enraged Hudson. In one swift motion, he stepped forward and grabbed her neck, his grip so tight it nearly crushed her bones. "Tired? Aren't you afraid Eve will come into your dreams and take your life while you're asleep?"
• "Cough! Cough..."
• Daphne's face turned dark purple as she coughed violently. It took her a long time to force out a full sentence. "Can't find evidence to prove I killed her, so you're resorting to foul play now?"
• Hudson's face darkened instantly.
• Daphne didn't doubt that he wanted to kill her at that moment.
• After a long pause, he released her, his gaze colder than the winter air.
• "Sonny!" A soft, feminine voice called from a distance.
• It was Natalie Parker, Hudson's childhood friend.
• "What are you doing down here?" The tall, imposing man frowned slightly and spoke sharply. "Get back in the car! It's freezing out here. What if you catch a cold?"
• Though his tone sounded scolding, it was more laced with concern.
• "I…" Natalie hesitated. "I wanted to see Evelyn too. She was such a wonderful person. How could she…"
• Hudson's chest burned with anger and grief again. He glared at Daphne coldly and instructed the two men holding her down, "Make her keep kneeling. She stays until she confesses!"
• "What if Mrs. Jackman doesn't confess?"
• "Then she kneels until she dies!"
• At that moment, Daphne felt he truly wanted her dead.
• Years ago, she had carried his unconscious body on her back, walking more than ten miles through the mountains to save his life. Now, he wanted her to kneel in front of another woman's grave until death.
• Clutching her chest, she let out a bitter laugh. The pain of a shattered heart could be no worse than this.
• The man walked past her, striding toward Natalie. He opened the car door for her. "Get in."
• "But…" Natalie glanced in Daphne's direction, a flicker of fake concern flashing in her eyes. "Sonny, won't Daphne end up dying if she keeps kneeling like this?"
• "Her?" Hudson sneered. "She deserves it!"
• As soon as he finished speaking, a loud thud came from behind him.
• "Mr. Jackman! Mrs. Jackman has fainted!"