Chapter 1

My husband locked our son in the trunk—just so his childhood sweetheart's cat could have the entire back seat to itself.

My son was terrified, pounding on the trunk lid, crying hysterically.

His desperate banging drew honking warnings from passing cars, but my husband just held his childhood sweetheart in the passenger seat, laughing and flirting.

"What's with all these cars honking? Are they sick or something?"

It wasn't until I scrolled through social media and recognized our car in a video posted by netizens that I called him in a panic.

He finally picked up on the fifteenth call. Through blaring music and girlish laughter, his annoyed voice came through.

"I'm driving! Why the hell are you calling? So annoying!"

"Our son's in the trunk crying so hard he can barely breathe! Pull over now!" I screamed into the phone.

His response was casual, almost bored. "Kids cry. He's not gonna die. I'll let him out when we get home."

"That's ten more hours! It's a sealed trunk—you're going to kill him..."

He hung up. When I tried calling back, I found he'd blocked me.

Almost immediately, his childhood sweetheart posted on social media.

Her cat was curled up in my son's car seat. The caption read:

[Sean said that for 'our son's' comfort on this trip, eliminating unnecessary people was essential. ♡]

I was crying so hard I almost passed out when suddenly, I heard my son's clear voice behind me.

"Mommy! Uncle and I are back from the amusement park!"

I spun around. My son stood in the entryway, clutching his toys.

Then who the hell was locked in that trunk?

***

I pulled my son into my arms, holding him tight until I felt his warmth and heartbeat. Only then could I believe this was real.

But the video, those cries, Cindy's social media post...

None of it could be fake!

"Mommy, why are you crying?" My son wiped my face with his little hands.

"It's nothing, sweetheart." I forced a smile and handed him to my brother.

"Jake, watch Leo for a couple days. I have an emergency to handle."

After settling my son, I got in my car and drove straight toward Sean's hometown.

I had to find out—who the hell was in that trunk!

At a rest stop, I grabbed a hot Americano during a brief break.

A few truckers nearby huddled around their phones, and their conversation drifted into my ears.

"Still hasn't let him out? It's been hours!"

"According to the latest updates, the kid's still in the trunk. The banging sounds are getting weaker. It's terrible!"

"Word is there were several accidents on the highway, massive traffic jam. The cops can't even get through yet."

"Is that father insane? I heard he did it just so his mistress's cat could sit comfortably..."

A chill crawled up my spine. My hand trembled, spilling hot coffee.

How dare Sean! That could be a life!

I couldn't sit still any longer. I rushed back to my car and switched the GPS to take back roads.

Just then, my mother-in-law called.

"Alice, I can't reach Sean. I don't know if Leo gets carsick..."

My throat tightened like I'd swallowed waterlogged cotton.

"Mom, probably bad signal on the road. I can't reach him either."

"Leo's probably asleep by now. You should get some rest."

I hung up quickly, and tears immediately burst out.

What could I say?

That your son would lock your grandson in a trunk to die, all for his childhood sweetheart's cat?

Sean had requested time off a week early to drive Cindy home for the holidays.

I couldn't get away from work, so he suggested taking Leo back first.

How could I have trusted him!

Thank God. Thank God Leo was safe.

Otherwise, I would've dragged Sean straight to hell with me!

The back roads were rough, and I drove with my heart in my throat.

Three hours later, my phone's tracking showed Sean's car stopped at a roadside motel.

Seven hours had passed since I'd first seen that video!

Eyes bloodshot, I switched the GPS and drove like a maniac toward that motel.

I burst into the lobby and pointed at the black sedan parked outside, my voice hoarse.

"The owner of the car with license plate ending in 7X9—what room?"

The desk clerk glanced at me and went back to scrolling on her phone.

"Sorry, we can't disclose guest information."

"There's a child in that trunk! He's been locked in there for seven hours!" I slammed my hand on the desk.

The clerk remained unmoved. "Then contact the guest yourself."

With no other choice, I dialed Cindy's number.

"Ring... ring..."

It rang forever. Just when I thought no one would answer, she picked up.

The first thing that spilled from the receiver was sticky, intimate panting mixed with the creaking of bedsprings.

Then came Cindy's deliberately sweet voice, trembling slightly.

"Sean... shouldn't we... shouldn't we bring Leo up here?"

"It's been seven or eight hours now, and it's pretty cold at night..."

Next, Sean's impatient voice came through, mixed with heavy breathing.

"Bringing him up will just interrupt us. Forget about him!"

"Besides, sleeping in the trunk is the same as sleeping anywhere else, right?"

"Don't waste time, hurry up..."

The call abruptly ended.

Buzzing filled my ears. All the blood in my body went cold.