Chapter 1

“I’ll add another $5 million to your compensation. Give Alma the mansion.

“She got into a car accident overseas. She’ll spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. Just treat it as an act of charity toward someone disabled.”

Wayne’s words, which were so casually spoken, nearly drove me insane.

“Absolutely not! That house was my mother’s dowry!

“Her mother was nothing more than a household maid back then. That maid climbed into my father’s bed while my mother was pregnant with me. Later, she shamelessly strutted around in front of my mother, showing off her belly. My mother went into premature labor from the shock and hemorrhaged badly. She died shortly after giving birth to me.

“If I’m supposed to pity her, who will pity my mother and me?!”

As I raged and cried out at him, Wayne removed his gold-rimmed glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Then, he shot me an impatient look.

“Jocelyn, stop making a scene. I’ll add another $20 million. That’s more than enough for you to buy several houses like that one. Surely you’re satisfied now.

“Come on. Sign the transfer agreement.”

I stared at the man in front of me in disbelief as tears slipped uncontrollably from the corners of my eyes.

“Wayne, I’m your fiancée! It’s one thing not to help me, but it’s another to actually side with her against me!

“Is this the undying love you swore to me when you proposed?”

Wayne knew he was in the wrong.

His tone softened after a long silence.

“I just feel sorry for her.

“Jocelyn, sign it, and I swear I’ll protect only you from now on.”

He pushed the agreement toward me again.

There was not even a moment’s hesitation.

I ripped the papers into pieces and flung them straight into his face.

“Give up. I won’t sign them.

“Court starts tomorrow. If you’re still determined to side with Alma, then we’ll meet in court.”

I grabbed my bag and stood up to leave.

Behind me came his warning.

“Jocelyn, don’t force my hand.”

I paused for a fraction of a second.

Then, I walked away even more decisively.

Suddenly, there was the sound of something struggling as they were dragged violently from behind.

“Woof!” A familiar bark reached my ears.

My heart sank. I turned around and collapsed at the sight before me, screaming at Wayne, “Are you insane?!

“You’re threatening me with BunBun?!”

BunBun was the dog Wayne and I had raised together for five years like our own child.

Now, BunBun’s limbs were tightly chained with iron shackles. Two burly bodyguards pinned him to the ground while a veterinarian stood nearby, holding a sharp syringe. All it would take was a single word from Wayne.

Then, the euthanasia drug would be injected straight into BunBun’s body.

Wayne let out a sigh and looked at me helplessly.

“Jocelyn, you forced me to do this.

“I had another agreement prepared. Sign it.

“You have three minutes. Whether BunBun lives or dies depends entirely on your choice.”

Seeing BunBun held hostage, I was on the verge of a breakdown.

I rushed forward, clutching Wayne’s sleeve, crying and begging, “Wayne, that’s BunBun. He’s the puppy we adopted together! How could you bear to hurt him? He’s already ten years old. He’s weak. He can’t take this. He’ll die!”

My tears stirred not even a trace of pity in him.

He glanced at his watch and said calmly, “You have two minutes left. The house, or the dog?”

BunBun’s body was already weak.

He struggled violently, his tongue hanging out as he gasped for air. His cries were sharp and desperate. The bodyguards only pressed him down harder until even his cries faded.

He could not speak. He could only whimper, begging me to save him.

The tail that once wagged so happily now lay limp against the ground. His eyes could barely stay open as tears streamed down his face. He looked at me in agony.

Every extra second I looked at him made it feel like another knife had pierced my heart.

However, the old house was the only thing my mother ever left me.

How could I willingly hand it over to the illegitimate daughter whose existence had destroyed my mother? How could my mother rest in peace if I did?!

“Jocelyn, there’s one minute left.”

Plop!

With a dull thud, I dropped to the floor. I no longer cared about pride or dignity as I knelt before Wayne and begged.

“Wayne, I’m begging you. Please let BunBun go!

“Why does BunBun have to be dragged into what’s between us? When he had parvovirus as a puppy and nearly died, you cried too. You used to care about him too! How can you be so cruel now?!

“Give BunBun back to me. He’s barely holding on. Can’t you see that? Please!”

Wayne did not respond. He only stared at his watch and counted coldly.

“Ten seconds.

“Five seconds.

“Doctor, you may…”

The syringe was raised high. BunBun lay on the floor, barely breathing.

At that moment, I finally understood just how ruthless Wayne truly was.

I collapsed to the ground, screaming in despair.

“I’ll sign!”