Chapter 1

The mountain had collapsed. My mother-in-law, Helen, and I were trapped inside the crushed car.

But when the rescue team arrived, I didn't cry out for help. Instead, I quietly searched for an exit on my own.

Because I knew my husband would never choose to save me.

In my past life, I had screamed frantically inside the deformed car cabin. My husband had dug through the rubble with his bare hands until his fingers bled to get us out.

But after we were rescued, his childhood friend, Chloe, ran back into the danger zone out of jealousy.

She was buried in the second landslide.

After her death, my husband held me as I shook with fear, whispering that everything was fine as long as I was safe.

He even took me on a hiking trip to help me clear my head.

Yet, when we reached the peak of the mountain, he suddenly pushed me off the cliff.

"It's your fault I lost the love of my life! Go to hell and rot!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in that dark, suffocating space.

"Jane, hang in there! I'm going to get us out!"

I woke up in a cold sweat at the sound of that familiar voice. The moment I opened my eyes, I saw the crushed car door, deformed by falling boulders, scraping against my face.

Panic surged through me. I immediately pulled Helen into the safest corner of the cabin.

"Helen, don't try to push the door. Any movement could trigger another collapse."

I scanned our surroundings and found a dropped water bottle. Pouring the last drops of water onto a small towel, I handed it to her to cover her nose and mouth from the thick dust.

Outside, the sirens of rescue vehicles echoed. Helen's face lit up with hope.

"Don't worry, Jane. Ethan is here with his rescue team. We're going to be okay."

Looking at her hopeful eyes, I lowered my gaze and remained silent.

The air in the car was growing thin. The temperature was dropping fast, and the muddy ground beneath our feet was freezing.

Just as I got Helen settled, Ethan's voice boomed from outside.

"Chloe! Chloe, are you in there?"

"Don't worry, I'm coming for you!"

As the sound of clearing rocks grew louder, a sliver of light pierced through the cracks. Through the swirling dust, I couldn't see clearly, but I could hear Chloe's pathetic whimpering.

"Ethan... I'm under the big rock ahead. Save me... I'm so scared..."

"Everyone, follow me! Don't waste time searching this area. Move up to the front!" Ethan commanded.

Hearing their conversation, Helen suddenly clutched her chest, gasping for air.

"That bastard... How could Ethan do this..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she fainted from oxygen deprivation and sheer shock.

Through the cracks, I watched Ethan's retreating back as he carried Chloe away.

The cold seeped into my bones. Tears welled up in my eyes, cutting clean tracks through the dust on my face.

In that moment, I choked back the scream for help that almost escaped my throat.

*Ethan, in this life, I don't owe you anything anymore.*

As Ethan disappeared with his muse, I adjusted my mask. I shifted my position to shield Helen, trying to find an escape route on my own.

All the straining sent a sharp, agonizing pain through my ribs. It took everything I had just to stay upright.

I was shielding Ethan's mother.

And there we were, trapped in the dark ruins of the landslide, listening to their voices fade into the distance.

"Chloe, is there anyone else in that car?"

"No, Ethan. Jane... she had a fight with me and suddenly grabbed the steering wheel. The car hit the cliff and triggered the slide. She jumped out and ran away..."

"That despicable woman! When I find her, I'll make her pay for this!"

My body went limp. The physical and emotional pain made it almost impossible to breathe.

A second later, another rescuer's voice echoed:

"Captain! I think I heard something over there."

"I feel like someone might still be trapped under here. What if Jane is in there?"

"Chloe already said Jane caused this! Do you think a murderer would stick around to die?" Ethan snapped.

"Everyone, move out! Chloe has external injuries. Our priority is getting her to the hospital!"