CHAPTER 4: I DID IT!

She hit the floor hard and was instantly dragged out by security.

A sharp gasp escaped my throat, my hands flying to my mouth.

The second lady stepped forward, terror written across her pale face. She approached the bed with agonizingly slow, calculated steps.

Unexpectedly, the dog curled his massive body and began to wiggle his thick tail, as if he had finally recognized an owner.

A proud, victorious smile lit up her face. She snapped her head back toward the rest of us, giving a haughty shrug.

But a split second later, a loud, sickening thud echoed through the room.

The beast had struck without warning.

She passed out instantly from the impact and was carted away.

My heart skipped a violent beat.

I thought a wagging tail meant a dog liked you. How could he attack her right after wiggling his tail? How incredibly cunning was this beast?

The third lady stumbled forward, shaking uncontrollably, with tears already spilling down her cheeks.

“I don’t want to die,” she whimpered.

Her legs wobbled with every step. At a single, deep howl from the dog, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed unconscious from sheer terror.

The fourth girl tried her luck and was rushed out seconds later after being knocked against the molding.

The fifth barely made a move before the dog lunged at her.

The same violent fate met the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth contestants.

Not a single one could get close to the comatose man on the bed.

Then, the tenth lady—the famous actress—stepped up.

Her hips swayed smoothly as she glided forward, oozing confidence. For the first time, the dog merely raised his massive head without launching an immediate attack.

I wouldn’t have been surprised if the beast chose her. She was so breathtakingly beautiful that even the floor seemed lucky to be stepped on by her.

She closed the distance between them entirely. Confident in her charm, she reached her hand out to stroke his thick fur.

In a flash, the dog lunged.

A bloodcurdling scream rented the air, echoing off the high ceilings.

My eyes nearly bulged out of my head as I watched the scene unfold.

“Someone do something! It’s going to kill her!” I cried out, unable to watch the brutality.

But no one listened to me.

The Vances and the guards just stared, completely emotionless.

After an agonizing moment, the dog forcefully shoved her away, and the sobbing actress was carried out of the room.

Next was the lady in the ivory gown.

When her turn came, she snapped her fingers, stretching her hand out like a spoiled princess demanding an order. A personal maid instantly placed a wrapped package into her palm.

She tore it open to reveal a sleek, high-end dog toy shaped like a bone.

Walking elegantly toward the beast, she squeezed the toy, letting out a sharp, high-pitched squeak.

The dog's tail began to wag, his mouth opening as thick saliva dripped onto the floor.

“You like it, don't you?” she cooed, wiggling it through the air. “Go get it!”

She threw it toward the far corner of the room, expecting him to fetch it.

Instead, the dog lunged directly at her.

She crashed against the marble, and her unconscious form was quickly gathered by her panicked maids and dragged out.

Now, I was the only one left.

It was my turn.

I released a deep, trembling breath as I stepped out of the lineup.

Every pair of eyes in the room—including the billionaire's parents—centered entirely on me.

I was their absolute last resort.

My pulse hammered against my ribs. I walked forward slowly, my legs shaking with every step.

After a few paces, I came to a halt.

Instead of standing over him aggressively like the others, I gently knelt down on the floor in front of the hound, making sure to keep a respectful, safe distance between us.

I cleared my dry throat.

The beast raised his massive, wrinkled head, staring at me calmly, as if he hadn't just terrified a room full of women.

“Hi, Bruno,” I whispered, offering a tiny, shaking wave.

He looked away, seemingly indifferent.

“I know you love your boss,” I said softly, pointing a finger toward the billionaire's parents. “They care about him. I want to help care for him, too. So... please, let me pass.”

Nothing changed.

The beast remained still.

Swallowing the massive lump in my throat, I took one slow step closer.

No reaction.

I took another step.

Still, he didn't move.

But on my very last step, the hound suddenly snapped his head directly toward my face.

My breath froze solid in my throat.

My eyes squeezed tightly shut in anticipation of the pain, and my hands instinctively shot out in front of me to shield myself.

“Please don't hurt me...” I whimpered out loud. “If you break my bones, my family won't even pay to take me to the hospital. No one will care for me...”

My desperate words abruptly halted when I felt something warm, soft, and wet press firmly against the center of my open palm.

A collective, thunderous gasp erupted from the back of the room.

“She did it!” someone screamed.