I turned down my husband, Kaleb Tarnley's, request to deliver caramel coffee to his childhood friend—I was in a hurry to get home and take care of his mother.

On the phone, Leah Chelver's voice trembled with emotion.

"Nicole, you're really not going to bring me something to drink? I'm feeling faint—my blood sugar's dropping."

"Can't you just order delivery yourself? Is that so hard?" I replied, confused, then hung up.

That night, Kaleb scolded me.

"She skipped dinner to save money and fainted on the roadside."

I was completely baffled.

"Couldn't she just ask someone else?"

"You're right," Kaleb replied softly, handing me a pastry.

I took a bite—and instantly lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I was locked inside a sealed basement.

Kaleb's face appeared on a surveillance monitor. He was gently feeding Leah caramel coffee as she nestled in his arms.

"Didn't you say ordering delivery was easy? Go ahead, show me how you'd do it."

My phone had been confiscated. I had no way to contact the outside world.

Through the camera, my weakened state was broadcast for all to see. "The Mrs. Tarnley Hunger Challenge" became a trending topic online.

Everyone online was mocking this twisted soap opera of the rich.

I leaned against the wall, calmly watching him.

"Kaleb, I hope you enjoy this meal—because it might be your last decent one."

The livestream chat exploded.

"This spoiled wife is all talk. Last meal? She should worry about herself!"

"Right? She won't even buy a cup of coffee for someone—how cold-hearted can Mrs. Tarnley be?"

"These rich folks have no idea what real life is like."

"I bet she'll be begging on her knees in less than three days!"

I lost track of how many days I'd been locked up. Dizziness and the burning pain of hunger blurred together, making my vision go black in waves. My lips were cracked from dehydration, and every pitiful detail was captured by the unblinking lens.

Leah daintily speared a piece of cake, putting on a show.

"Kaleb, fainting from low blood sugar felt awful.

"But maybe Nicole didn't mean it. What if she really starves?

"Let her have my coffee—there's still a little left."

I remembered how strong Leah's voice had sounded on the phone—not at all like someone about to faint from low blood sugar.

Kaleb sneered.

"No need to give her anything. You're too considerate—that's why people take advantage of you.

"You fainted, and you're still worried if she's hungry?

"She's used to gourmet meals. A few days without food won't kill her.

"If she doesn't apologize to you, she won't get a single bite."

Watching Kaleb's gentle, attentive care for Leah on the screen, even the gnawing pain in my stomach felt numb.

There was a time when that tenderness was mine.

He used to get anxious if I so much as frowned, doing everything he could to make me smile.

He remembered all my favorites, always surprising me.

He'd skip out on every obligation just to spend more time with me.

He once promised I'd never suffer a single grievance.

But now, he could stand by and watch me starve, all to defend another woman.

Maybe it was the lack of water, but my eyes burned, though not a single tear would fall.

On screen, Kaleb glanced at me, his brow barely twitching.

Leah seized the moment, her eyes shimmering with tears.

"Kaleb, when I fainted on the roadside, I thought maybe Nicole was just too busy to help me.

"Then I found out she was fine—she just didn't want to buy me anything..."

Whatever softness had touched Kaleb's expression vanished in an instant.

"Nicole Silven, you're stingy even though you have money. If you can't admit you're wrong, then keep starving.

"We're eating well over here, but don't worry—I'll make sure you get a good whiff too."

As soon as he finished, the ventilation kicked on, flooding the room with a wave of stench—sewage, rotten food, sour decay—an unbearable, indescribable mix.

I gagged, retching on the floor, but with nothing in my stomach, all I could do was dry heave bitter, green bile. The acid scorched my throat, and tears streamed down my face.

On screen, Leah was savoring her meal, laughing sweetly.

"Kaleb, this steak is amazing. And this cake—so rich, but not too sweet. No wonder Nicole loves it."

Those were the treats Kaleb once painstakingly prepared for me whenever I was upset.

Now, someone else was enjoying them.

I closed my eyes. I couldn't bear to look anymore.

Kaleb's icy voice echoed through the speaker.

"Nicole, you still have a chance. Apologize to Leah. Admit you were wrong.

"If you behave, I'll let you eat."

Slowly, I opened my eyes and stared straight into the surveillance camera.

"Kaleb, I just hope you never regret what you're doing now."

Kaleb shrank back under my gaze, then quickly lashed out in anger.

"Nicole, you still dare to glare at me?!

"Looks like you haven't learned your lesson! Don't even think about getting any of this food!

"I'd rather throw it all away than let you have a single bite!"

With that, he grabbed the steak from the table and tossed it straight into the trash.

I watched helplessly as the food was wasted, the pain in my stomach twisting even deeper.

"Kaleb, let the dog have it. Nicole can't eat it, but at least an animal can," Leah suggested.

Soon, a golden retriever was led in, wagging its tail as it licked up the scraps from the floor.

Leah looked at me, feigning sympathy. "Nicole, all you have to do is say you're sorry and promise that next time I want something, you'll deliver it to me.

"If you just say the words, Kaleb will let you out. Why put yourself through this?"

I let out a cold laugh.

"I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize to a manipulative brat like you?

"And you want me to be your delivery girl? Who do you think you are?"

My words completely set Kaleb off.

Leah instantly put on an innocent face.

"Kaleb, don't blame Nicole. She probably just can't understand how weak and helpless I felt when my blood sugar crashed. That's why she thinks she did nothing wrong."

"Fine. Perfect," Kaleb said, the last trace of warmth vanishing from his face.

He turned to the camera, his voice icy.

"If she wants to be tough... Someone, draw her blood!

"Let her really feel what Leah went through!"

The door swung open.

Two people in white lab coats walked in, carrying syringes and blood bags.

"Don't touch me!"

I used every bit of strength to fight back, scrambling backward on hands and feet.

But there was nowhere to run in this tiny room. Hunger had left me weak, and soon I was pinned to the floor, unable to move.

A thick needle pierced my vein.

One bag. Two bags. Three bags...

My vision blurred, the world spinning out of control.

The livestream chat went wild.

"Damn! Mr. Tarnley is ruthless! Let's see if she keeps running her mouth!"

"Serves her right! Women like her need to be taught a lesson!"

"Drain her dry! Make her beg!"

But some started to worry.

"Isn't this going too far? What if she dies?"

Kaleb read the chat and replied.

"Relax, she's wearing a vital signs monitor. If anything happens, we'll know right away.

"I'm not going to let her die. I just want her to remember this."

My lips were drained of color, darkness closing in at the edges of my vision. My whole body trembled, barely able to stay upright.

On the screen, Kaleb frowned as he watched my pitiful state, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

Leah immediately clung to his arm, tears brimming.

"Kaleb, when I fainted from low blood sugar, this is exactly how I felt—completely powerless...

"Nicole should understand now. Next time... maybe she'll show a little compassion."

Just a few words from her snuffed out any trace of doubt in Kaleb's mind.

His gaze hardened again.

"Nicole, this is just the beginning. If you won't apologize, I've got plenty of ways to deal with you.

"We'll see which lasts longer—your stubbornness, or my patience!"

I collapsed onto the cold floor, too weak to even lift a finger.

The needle marks on my arm still throbbed with pain.

I couldn't help but remember a time long ago, when I'd accidentally cut my hand slicing fruit—a tiny little nick.

Kaleb had panicked, scooping me up and rushing to the ER, shouting at the doctor to hurry.

He said he couldn't stand to see me hurt, not even a little.

And now?

Turns out, the line between love and indifference really is that clear.

I closed my eyes, unwilling to let anyone see my vulnerability.

The chat was still full of mocking comments, scrolling by in a frenzy.

Everyone was convinced I wouldn't survive the night.

Just then, an anonymous user suddenly sent a billion "Bits" in a row.

Line after line of animated messages dominated the screen, drowning out every other comment.

"I believe Mrs. Tarnley will make it through this."

The special effects nearly swallowed up Kaleb and Leah's faces on the screen.

The chat exploded.

"Holy crap, who is this legend? Dropping a billion Bits just like that?"

"This just got interesting—Mr. Tarnley's face is turning green."

"Has to be one of Nicole's secret lovers, right? Damn, Mr. Tarnley just got publicly humiliated."

"Bullshit! Maybe it's just some rich dude who can't stand Kaleb's crap. Hey, big spender, send me ten bucks and I'll roast him too!"

The tide of the livestream was slipping out of Kaleb's control.

He stared at the relentless scroll of comments, his face shifting from pale to livid, then from livid to pitch black.

Those eyes—once so gentle when they looked at me—now drilled through the lens, sharp with accusation.

"Nicole, just how many men do you have on the side?"

I tugged at my bloodless lips, not even strong enough to force a smile.

My silence, to him, was as good as a confession.

"Fine."

The last shred of reason in Kaleb's eyes was consumed by fury, his whole demeanor radiating a dark, dangerous madness.

"Tough girl, huh? Let me help you—let's see how tough you really are.

"Turn the AC all the way down!"

As soon as he spoke, cold air blasted from the vents, and the temperature in the basement plummeted.

My blood loss had already left me freezing—now it felt like I'd been thrown straight into a walk-in freezer.

I curled up on the floor, my teeth chattering uncontrollably.

"Kaleb."

Leah clung to his sleeve, her voice full of concern.

"Nicole's health has always been fragile. She'll get hypothermia like this."

She sounded worried, but the look she shot the camera was pure satisfaction.

Kaleb shook off her hand, his voice colder than ice.

"Didn't she want to act tough?

"I want to see how long it takes for her to admit she was wrong!"

Hunger. Blood loss. Bitter cold.

The triple torment blurred my senses.

The world doubled before my eyes.

Kaleb's twisted face and Leah's triumphant smile danced and merged in my vision, then faded into a shapeless haze.

Beep—beep—beep—

The medical monitor attached to me started shrieking an alarm.

On the other side of the screen, Kaleb finally panicked.

"What's happening? Doctor! Check the numbers, now!"

A doctor's frantic voice came through the stream.

"Mr. Tarnley! The patient's vitals are plummeting!

"Her heart rate's crashing, blood pressure is dangerously low, and her body temperature's below the critical threshold.

"She's in severe hypothermia and hemorrhagic shock—she needs energy, immediately!"

Kaleb fumbled for the sweet tonic he'd prepared, nearly spilling it as he rushed for the door.

"Kaleb, let me help!"

Leah cried, jumping up to follow.

She reached for the cup—then "accidentally" slipped, pitching forward.

Crash!

The warm tonic splattered across the floor, not a drop left.

Kaleb stared at the mess, rage exploding across his face.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Leah lay sprawled on the floor, her eyes brimming with tears, her shoulders trembling delicately.

"I'm sorry, Kaleb, I didn't mean to," she whimpered.

"I just wanted to hurry and bring Nicole her drink, but I tripped..."

She finished with a soft sob.

Kaleb froze for a moment, then sighed, gathering her into his arms and murmuring gentle words of comfort.

Watching their little performance, I braced myself against the wall and slowly sat up, catching my breath.

As soon as Kaleb saw that I was "fine" again, the worry in his eyes vanished, replaced by a mocking sneer.

"Nicole, you really are something," he scoffed.

"You look perfectly healthy to me. Why don't we keep going?"

Leah, clinging to him, added fuel to the fire.

"Kaleb, I told you Nicole's faking it. She just wants your sympathy."

I stared at his two-faced expression and let out a laugh.

"Kaleb.

"When I get out of here, we're getting a divorce."

His smile froze, and then a blazing fury erupted in his eyes.

"Divorce?"

He let out a cold, incredulous laugh, his whole presence radiating menace.

"Alright, Nicole. You've got guts."

He clapped his hands, his voice icy and venomous.

"Someone bring up that late-night snack I specially prepared for Nicole. Didn't she say she was hungry?"

A bodyguard quickly arrived, carrying a covered tray.

Kaleb lifted the lid himself, and a wave of foul stench filled the room.

"These are your favorite BBQ chicken wings. I made sure to get them just for you."

The livestream exploded.

"Holy shit! You sure that's chicken? Looks like something fished out of a sewer."

"Has Kaleb lost his mind? This is live! What the hell is he thinking?"

"That's disgusting—I'm gonna puke! And Leah's just standing there laughing!"

Kaleb grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at the tray.

"Eat.

"I tried to be nice, but you just had to push it.

"Tonight, you'll learn what happens when you cross me."

The bodyguards pinned my shoulders, holding me in place.

Leah sauntered in on her 10-centimeter heels, "accidentally" grinding the stiletto into the back of my hand.

"Nicole, hurry up and eat.

"See how much Kaleb cares about you? He's making sure you don't go hungry, even feeding you himself.

"Unlike me—so unlucky, I don't even get a bite."

The sharp heel crushed my knuckles, sending pain shooting through my body. I couldn't even make a sound.

One of the bodyguards moved to force my mouth open.

With the last of my strength, I clenched my teeth tightly.

"Still resisting?"

Kaleb lost his patience and roughly pried my jaw open himself.

"Don't hold back! Force it open!"

There was no way my weakened body could fight off three adults.

They wrenched my mouth open, and those hairy "chicken wings" were shoved inside, one after another.

One, two, three...

I couldn't stop gagging, blood trickling from the corner of my lips.

"Boss, her mouth's full," one bodyguard said, finally hesitating.

Kaleb had completely lost his mind.

"If her mouth's full, shove it into the other one!

"She's already been with who knows how many men—what's a few more 'chicken wings'?"

As he spoke, right there on the livestream, he started tearing at my dress.

I clutched it desperately, shaking with terror.

Was I about to become the first woman in the country to be force-fed "chicken wings" on a livestream?

For a moment, the chat went silent—then erupted in a frenzy.

"Mr. Tarnley, you're wild! You're a legend!"

Boom!

The basement door burst open, violently kicked in from the outside.

"Kaleb!

"Have you lost your damn mind?"