[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-2603134E5B19-21":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},21,3,"Chapter 3: A Test in the Icy Lake","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They descended for dinner, Dante’s usual devil-may-care expression firmly in place.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Only when she confirmed he was unharmed did the knot of anxiety in her chest finally loosen.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante’s parents were long gone, and his grandfather, in the end, was too soft on his only grandson to ever truly discipline him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Prawns graced the table that night. Knowing his preference, Celine scooped a few onto his plate.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante shot her a look. “Not eating prawns. Too much effort to peel them.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The subtext was clear: he expected someone else to do the tedious work.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine set down her fork, her fingers deftly starting to peel.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The maid hovering nearby moved to fetch gloves, but Dante waved her off. “Faster this way.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The maid froze. Celine, however, said nothing, keeping her head down, methodically peeling one prawn after another as if it were a labor of love.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She presented Dante with a full plate of peeled prawns.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her ten fingers were dotted with tiny, raw cuts, yet not a single complaint escaped her lips.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">This woman seemed to accept his every whim with unshakeable devotion.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Perhaps sensing this, Dante found it all rather tiresome. He tossed his fork aside. “Lost my appetite. Not eating.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Without another glance at the meticulously peeled prawns, he turned and left.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Even his grandfather let out a weary sigh and a muttered curse.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After they’d returned from the family estate, Dante didn’t linger. He was off to meet his friends.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine knew she couldn’t control him. Guessing he’d be out drinking, she prepared hangover remedies and stomach medicine at home.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Just as she was about to start simmering some broth, Dante’s assistant called.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Ma’am, Mr. Williams… he’s going racing again.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The word “racing” sent a jolt through Celine. Her expression shifted instantly, and she bolted.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She found him still with his crew, not yet departed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine rushed to block his path.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Dante, you can’t go racing.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her panicked plea was met with a chorus of mocking laughter from his friends.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Look, Dante, your wife’s here to rein you in.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Did your household switch to girl power?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Does your wife always have to ruin the fun? Please tell me she’s not planning to throw herself in front of the car again.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">There was a time Dante went racing, and Celine, terrified by the danger, had literally flung herself in front of his car, narrowly avoiding being hit.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">That incident remained a prime piece of gossip fodder within their social circle.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante’s brow furrowed. “Why should I listen to you?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine’s grip tightened on his arm. “What will it take for you to stay?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante maintained his nonchalant pose. “I need some excitement.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine blurted out, “If you want excitement, I’ll give it to you. Anything!”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante blinked, taken aback for a beat, then burst into laughter.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“You love me that much? Celine, I sometimes genuinely wonder, is there anything you won’t do?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Before Celine could reply, he yanked off his wedding ring. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it spinning into the ornamental lake nearby.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Go on. If you can find that ring in the lake, I won’t go racing tonight.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Whoa! Dante, you absolute legend. Just yeeting a ring worth eight figures like that.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The guys behind him, witnessing this spectacle, immediately deemed it more entertaining than any race.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The lake, though ornamental, was vast and deep.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Moreover, it was winter. Diving into that frigid water for a ring was clearly meant as a cruel test.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Everyone waited for the show to begin.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine stared at the frigid, dark surface of the lake.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She shed her coat and, without a second’s hesitation, plunged in.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The lake water was an icy shock, carrying a faint, murky stench. The recent lash marks on her skin stung ferociously in the cold.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The onlookers on shore watched with avid interest.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Bent double, she scoured the lakebed inch by painstaking inch. One hour, two hours, three hours…\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Until darkness descended.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Just as she was collapsing from exhaustion, her lips tinged blue, her fingers finally brushed against the ring, buried in the silt.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A wave of relief washed over her. Shivering violently, she stumbled out of the water.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“I found it.”\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272931715]