Just as the ice was about to touch my stomach, a thunderous voice roared from outside the freezer, filled with authority:
“Let’s see who dares touch her!”
Light spilled through the door crack, outlining a tall figure. Against the glow, I couldn’t see his face, but his presence tore through the icy despair surrounding me.
Through blurred vision, I recognized that once-familiar face. Michael Anderson stood in the doorway like a warrior of light, instantly shattering the darkness around me.
Daniel’s face flushed purple as he snarled, “Michael Anderson! This is Miller Corporation’s turf—you have no right to meddle!”
Michael didn’t even blink. Behind him, more than a dozen security guards in black suits filed in, their imposing presence filling the freezer with overwhelming pressure.
He strode quickly to my side, removing his suit jacket and carefully draping it over my frozen, soaked body.
As he lifted me into his strong arms, I felt the faint tremor in his muscles. The eyes that usually carried warmth and quiet smiles now brimmed with tears, burning with anger and heartbreak.
“You finally came…” My voice was barely a whisper, my eyelids heavy as lead.