After three hectic days, everyone was finally able to relax at the banquet in the evening.Cecily agreed to the plan. She thought it was right to express their gratitude to all the staff.During the banquet, she and Austin walked around the venue and expressed their thanks with raised glasses.While Austin indulged in alcohol, she stuck to drinks. With each glass of wine, Austin's spirits soared. Soon, his cheeks flushed red, and he began to feel tipsy.The same went for the photography team members.The only people who remained sober were Cecily as well as Aldus and Wolf, who were responsible for the couple's safety. As the people left the banquet, Cecily asked Aldus and Wolf to help the drunk Austin back to his room.She then returned to her own room alone.She recalled the thrilling and joyful moments of the past few days during the photoshoot.Along with the impending wedding date on the 15th of next month, Cecily found herself too excited to sleep. Knock, knock!Sud
Austin's sudden outburst caused silence to fill the air.Cecily covered her mouth with her hand. She almost shouted.Was this really Austin?Since reuniting with Austin and getting to know Aldus, Cecily had seen their relationship as more of friends than a boss and his employee.Austin even treated Aldus like his brother!He had always treated Aldus with respect and was never proud of his identity.Besides, Aldus wasn't just any servant.In the Campbell household, everyone was treated with equality, even butlers like Ezra.Yet, Austin was commanding Aldus now. It was absurd."Mr. Austin, you've had too much to drink."Aldus' voice came from outside."I did not! Get out of my way!"Austin seemed to be slurring. "You … You servant! Open the door for me. I want to sleep with Cecily tonight!"Cecily was dumbfounded."Mr. Austin, Madam Emerson taught you to respect Ms. Graham. Don't you remember?"Aldus' voice suddenly grew stern. "If you insist on causing trouble tonight, I'
In the haze of near-consciousness, Austin held on to this sole belief.He didn't even care about the ice forming between his legs at this moment.Dignity was nothing in the face of survival!Only by shamelessly clinging to life did he have a chance to turn the tide.Even if he died with dignity, he wouldn't abandon his loved ones."Cecily, Mom... I... I will come back. I promise. I will come back ..."Austin murmured with his purple lips. It sounded as if he was sleep-talking.However, he was resolute!Honk!Suddenly, a deep ship horn blared.Like a clap of thunder, it was deafening.The noise jolted Austin back to his senses.His eyelids fluttered, and the frost from his eyelashes scattered around him.Through the cracks, he saw nothing but the vast sea and sky.He wondered if they were nearing land.Had they finally arrived?Soon, footsteps sounded outside. It was urgent and brisk."Hurry up, all of you. Move faster. Don't dawdle like a bunch of children!"A famil
Swoosh…The biting cold wind pierced through Austin's bones.Hunched over, he wrapped his hands tightly around his chest and struggled to move forward.Each breath he exhaled condensed instantly into a white mist in the frigid air.With the bag of food and the jug of water, he temporarily staved off his hunger. He gained some strength to keep fighting for survival.The ice beneath his feet was slippery. One wrong step could send him crashing to the ground.Looking out, he could only see a vast expense of whiteness.Even the sunlight reflecting off the ice was blindingly bright.He couldn't feel a single bit of warmth. Only the relentless chill penetrated deep into his bones.The weather was hot in Harrington. Austin was wearing nothing but a t-shirt and a pair of shorts when he was taken away. He felt no different from being completely naked in this frozen wasteland."I must survive... I must..."Lips pale, he murmured with unwavering determination."Cecily... Mom... Aldus.
"I can't die, I have to get out of here! If I get buried in this godforsaken place, it's all over!"Austin was filled with desperation. His eyes were bloodshot.But the ground before him was already covered in darkness.Like the gaping maw of a deep abyss, it was about to swallow him whole.He knew that the swirling ice debris had already surged overhead.It was over!Austin smiled bitterly, his despair reaching its peak at this moment.Bang!Suddenly, a gunshot rang out amidst the roaring sound.It was more deafening than the roar of the ice debris."Was that a gunshot? Is someone behind me?"Austin's eyes widened in disbelief."You in front, stop right there!A furious shout suddenly echoed through a megaphone.Someone was indeed behind him!Austin felt a wave of instant relief wash over him. He was overwhelmed with joy and excitement.He turned around abruptly and faced the onslaught of ice debris.There was someone within the debris, and he no longer cared about th
Austin didn't resist.In fact, he wasn't even in the state to resist.Of course, he didn't have the intention to resist either.When a stray dog barely clinging to life wandered the streets, it wouldn't expect whether the one who might take it in was kind or evil.All Austin wanted was to stay alive!The roar of the powerful trucks filled his ears as it moved forward.Outside the window, there was a vast expanse of white snow.Yet inside the car, it was as warm as early spring.The fireplace emitted warmth.It gradually dispelled the cold from Austin's bodyMelodious music filled the air.There were at least a dozen burly men of various races. Holding glasses in their hands, they laughed and danced in the spacious area.The air was filled with the pungent scent of alcoholAlcohol could dispel the cold in a place like this.But Austin remained slumped in the corner.He didn't move or look around because he remembered the conversation these people had just had.He was a p
Austin's eye twitched uncontrollably.Brian's implications were clear to him now.He couldn't tolerate such compromisesBrian gently patted Austin's shoulder and got up to dance with his teammates.Suddenly, Austin asked, "Brian, are we really never getting out of here?""Mm-hmm," Brian replied.Unwillingly, Austin asked, "Has anyone ever successfully escaped?"It was just a simple question, but it made Brian pause in his tracks. His body trembled slightly.After a two-second pause, he suddenly lowered his voice."Ten years ago, someone did manage to escape. That's the only one I know of since I've been in charge."Then, Brian laughed."Of course, if you can escape The Grave Prison, we won't pursue you anymore. But kid, I advise you to stay put in The Grave Prison. Trying to escape is just asking for death!" Austin watched Brian's receding figure.A smile gradually formed at the corner of his lips.A determined gaze flashed across his dark eyes. He decided to live like
Under the escort of the patrol team, Austin staggered toward The Grave Prison.The warmth brought by the alcohol Brian had given him had dissipated by now.His limbs were stiff and numb.Despite this, his gaze remained firm as he looked at the looming prison. He was filled with a surge of determination."I have to stay alive. Since someone made it out alive 10 years ago, why can't I do it?"Mom, Cecily, Aldus, Ezra, wait for me. Wait for me to come home!"Grandma and the Redmonts, your schemes will surely fail. I will stand before you again."…Austin continuously reminded himself. As The Grave Prison loomed closer, the towering city enveloped Austin in its shadow.It felt as if the once-clear skies were being overshadowed by dark clouds.With a rumble, the heavy alloy gate slowly rose.It was nearly a meter thick!Obviously, those high walls and thick gates were not for wind protection. It was to prevent prisoners from escaping The Grave Prison."Brian, I didn't expect