Chapter 4

My Pomeranian, who had been my loyal companion for five years, was lying on the floor, barely breathing.

There was blood dripping from its mouth, and traces of chocolate scattered nearby.

I looked up at Chloe, who was sitting on the sofa, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Why did you feed him chocolate?! You did this on purpose!"

Chloe put on her signature fragile act, but her voice was dripping with venom. "The dog took after its owner—greedy and stupid. You can't blame me for its own mistake."

Julian walked out of the bedroom holding some blankets. He looked at me with a sigh.

"Come on, Elena. It's just a dog. Chloe didn't know dogs couldn't eat chocolate."

"Stop being so aggressive."

I was being aggressive?

Julian had clearly forgotten why we even had this dog.

When we first started working, we passed by a pet store. I had fallen in love with a tiny, adorable Pomeranian in a cage.

But burdened with debt, I couldn't afford it.

That same night, a group of thugs cornered me on my way home from work. Julian had arrived just in time to save me.

He had been beaten black and blue, but he just grinned at me.

"Let's go home. I have a surprise for you."

When we got back, that very Pomeranian was waiting for me.

Julian had taken my hands, his eyes overflowing with love.

"When I'm not around, let him protect you for me."

Seeing me silent, Julian handed me the blankets he was holding.

"You almost made Chloe lose her baby. For the next few weeks, she'll be staying in the master bedroom. You can crash on the living room sofa for now."

"Let's just consider the art gallery incident settled."

I laughed until tears came out, unable to say a word.

My reaction made Julian uneasy again. But before he could speak, the front door smart-lock chimed.

My mother stood at the entrance, grocery bags in hand. She froze, taking in the sight of Chloe clinging to Julian's arm, while her own daughter stood there pale, bruised, and bleeding.

A nurse from the hospital who knew my family had already warned my mother about Julian's affair. Now, she was seeing the proof with her own eyes.

My mother rushed over and shielded me behind her.

"Chloe Miller! Our family took you in when your father abused you and your mother abandoned you! We paid for your college! Is this how you repay us?!"

Julian's face darkened instantly.

"Your daughter is the one who tried to hurt Chloe first, and you're blindly attacking Chloe without knowing the facts?"