Chapter 4

Buddy let out a heart-wrenching yelp, his body curling into a tight ball.

"Matty! What are you doing?" I instinctively reached out to stop him.

Instead, Matty lunged forward and sank his teeth into my wrist. A child's teeth were surprisingly sharp. He clamped down with all his strength, refusing to let go.

Pain shot through my arm, and I gasped. Instinctively, I flung him away.

Matty landed on his butt and immediately let out an ear-piercing wail.

"Grandma! She hit me! She hit me!"

The moment Dolores heard her grandson crying, panic swept across her face.

"Oh, my precious baby!" She scooped Matty into her arms, carefully checked his mouth, then whirled around and glared at me.

"You cursed little witch! If my grandson chipped a tooth, I'll make you pay for it!"

Dr. Warren watched the entire scene with cold amusement, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Miss Moreno, not only do you lack even the most basic medical knowledge, but you've also abandoned every shred of professional ethics."

Turning toward the livestream camera, he spoke in a heavy, sorrowful tone, "Everyone watching, because of this assistant's reckless interference, Buddy missed his best chance for a peaceful end.

"His nervous system is now enduring unimaginable agony. If he dies here today, the responsibility rests entirely with her."

The livestream comments exploded.

[Doxx her! Find out who this evil woman is!]

[She even hit a three-year-old? She's a complete psycho!]

[That poor dog. Imagine ending up with someone this desperate for attention.]

I looked toward the camera, unable to defend myself.

Just then, Naomi rushed over and shoved me away. "Paige, just leave! Haven't I suffered enough already?"

Her eyes were bloodshot as she glared at me as if I were her worst enemy. "Are you really not going to stop until you've destroyed my family? I'm begging you... Please stop making things worse."

I froze.

I'd been slapped, bitten, and dragged through the mud by millions of people online.

And after everything, she was telling me to leave.

A crushing sense of helplessness washed over me.

Buddy convulsed violently in my arms. His voice had grown so weak it was almost impossible to hear.

"Don't worry about me anymore... Mom doesn't want me anymore... I'm so cold..."

I lowered my head and looked into his fading eyes. If I let go now, he was going to die.

I bit the inside of my tongue hard enough to taste blood, forcing myself to stay focused. I couldn't back down.

I lifted my head and met everyone's eyes. "Naomi, you can keep kneeling if that's the life you choose. But today, I'm saving this dog."

Then I turned to Dr. Warren. "Dr. Warren, didn't you say he was beyond saving? How about we make a bet?"

He frowned at me as though I were completely insane. "A bet?"

"Give me ten minutes." I pointed toward the restroom nearby. "If I can't save him, I'll pay Mrs. Bishop a million dollars. But if I do save him, you'll admit in front of everyone watching that you're a quack."

The entire set fell silent.

Over my earpiece, Flint had stopped yelling altogether. All I could hear was his ragged breathing.

Dolores' eyes lit up like Christmas lights.

"A million dollars? You mean that?"

She eagerly stepped forward, no longer even bothering to hold onto her grandson.

"You all heard her! Hundreds of thousands of people are watching this livestream as witnesses! If you can't save the dog and don't come up with a million dollars today, I'll call the police and have you arrested!"