Chapter 4

"I'm warning you. Know your place. Get on your knees right now and apologize to Kylie. Don't force us to post screenshots of all the things you've done online and let everyone see what kind of shameless old woman you are!"

Looking at my broken phone on the ground, I tried to stay calm, but I couldn't completely suppress my anger.

Just as I was about to speak, Kylie suddenly grabbed my arm. Tears fell from her eyes.

"Ms. Lawson! Please! I know you're a good person. Please, just have mercy on me. Don't take Christopher away from me, okay?"

Her voice sounded pitiful, but her fingernails dug painfully into my skin.

Hammie, who was in my arms, felt my body tense up. With a loud howl, he suddenly leaped forward.

His paws had barely touched the ground. Before he could even steady himself, Kylie acted as if she had been frightened. She screamed and kicked Hammie in the stomach.

Hammie let out a heartbreaking yelp. His tiny body flew backward, rolled several times across the floor, and only stopped after hitting the corner of the wall.

I felt blood surging straight to my head.

"Hammie!"

I ran over and kneeled down. My hands were trembling.

Hammie's eyes were half closed. His little belly rose and fell as he endured the pain.

"Oh no! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Kylie covered her mouth. Her tears fell even harder.

"I didn't mean to! The dog suddenly jumped at me and scared me. I really didn't mean it."

She turned to face the crowd and started crying pitifully.

Amelia immediately stepped forward and put an arm around her shoulder.

"This isn't your fault! Some people have no shame, and of course the dog they raise has no manners either!"

The others immediately agreed.

"Exactly! Why bring a dog to a public space? It frightened someone, and she still acts like she's in the right?"

"Kylie, don't blame yourself. It's not your fault!"

"A shameless woman's dog is just as shameless. It deserves to die!"

Kylie walked over with tears in her eyes and reached out to touch Hammie.

"Don't touch it!"

I slapped her hand away.

Kylie let out a cry and fell onto the ground. She started bawling her eyes out.

"Ms. Lawson, I just wanted to apologize. Why did you hit me?"

She covered her hand and cried uncontrollably.

Amelia completely lost it.

"How dare you hit her?"

She charged forward and reached for my hair.

I stepped back. Her nails scratched across my neck. It stung like hell.

I finally lost my temper.

"Do you know how important this dog is to Christopher? If anything happens to it, forget about marrying into the Graham family!"

Hammie was curled up in my arms and still trembling.

I looked down at it. My heart clenched painfully.

Back then, my husband and I were busy with work, so Christopher was raised by his grandmother.

Hammie was the birthday gift his grandmother had given him when he turned eighteen.

Not long after that, she passed away.

It had happened so suddenly. She suffered from a brain hemorrhage. Christopher never even got the chance to see her one last time.

From then on, Hammie became the one thing that kept his memories of his grandmother alive. He once said he would take care of Hammie for the rest of its life.

He also said that any woman he dated would have to pass Hammie's test first. If Hammie didn't like someone, he would never choose her.

Kylie seemed to remember something. The grievance on her face froze, and she frowned slightly.

Someone nearby whispered, "Mr. Graham really does have a corgi. I think he posted it on his account."

"You're right. I've seen it too. What was its name again?"