Chapter 4

Elias' reasoning was that because he'd turned into a dog while he was with me, he had to stick to me all the time from now on, in case there was a chance he could turn back.

I couldn't talk him out of it, so I had no choice but to take him to work. I left him in the break room and warned him not to run around.

By the time I finished my work and remembered him again, I returned to the break room to see a whole crowd of female employees packed inside.

I followed their line of sight and saw a little white fluffball standing on one hind leg on the table in the center of the room. Then, wobbling, he stretched his front paws wide like he was doing a big eagle pose.

The women closest to him let out wave after wave of squeals.

"He's so cute!"

"I can't handle this. I'm literally going to pass out from how adorable he is! Someone, hold me up."

I… was speechless.

Soon, Elias spotted me. He let out a bark and launched himself at me, his tail wagging wildly with smug satisfaction. I didn't need any translation to know exactly what he was saying.

"See? I'm freaking awesome."

I pressed a hand to my forehead and sighed. That cocky attitude of his was exactly the same as before. Ever since he turned into a dog, he'd actually started acting more and more like the version of him I used to know. It looked like there really was something off about Maisie.

I called my secretary, George Sloan, over and handed him Maisie's details. "Help me look into Maisie Sadler, and make sure she doesn't find out."

"Got it, Ms. Knight." He took the file with a smile. "You've been smiling a lot more lately."

I froze for a moment.

"Ever since Mr. Forrest fell out with you, you've looked so cold and imposing. Everyone here was too scared to even breathe around you." He pointed at Elias, who was currently chasing his own tail in circles. "I'm guessing this little angel is the one who's made you happy again."

I couldn't help but laugh. If these people knew that the "little angel" was actually Elias, their jaws would probably hit the floor.

Still… had I really been smiling less ever since things went bad with Elias?

I fell deep into thought.

…

A week later, Maisie suddenly showed up at my company. My first instinct was to look at Elias. He didn't react at all and continued playing with the light-up ball I'd bought him.

Maisie's gaze, though, kept drifting toward him. And the moment she appeared, the barrage of comments that had been gone for a long time suddenly flooded my vision again.

[Maisie's so smart that she's finally noticed something's wrong!]

[It's all the villainess' fault for butting in. The male and female leads should already be getting all affectionate by now.]

[It's fine. The plot's about to get back on track. Just hang in there, everyone.]

What was considered back on track? The way things were before?

Thinking of the cold, unfamiliar look in Elias' eyes from back then made my chest tighten.

Maisie suddenly squatted down and pulled out a bag of treats. "Hey there, cutie pie. Want a bite?"

Before I could react, Elias had already rushed over and swallowed one whole, his eyes shining with desperate longing.

Maisie's eyes crinkled with a smile, and she reached for another treat to feed him.

"My dog doesn't eat things from suspicious sources," I said coldly, stopping her.

The comments instantly exploded with insults about how vicious I was. Maisie merely smiled regretfully without pushing it. Then, she left.

I stayed on edge for a long time afterward, holding Elias and checking him over and over. I couldn't find anything wrong, though.

Just when I was starting to think that I'd overreacted, Elias suddenly started howling in pain that night. He curled up into a tight ball in the living room.

I called his name over and over, gathering him into my arms and frantically drove him to the hospital. "Elias, hang in there!"

All of a sudden, Elias suddenly sank his teeth hard into my hand, his black eyes full of a stranger's hostility.

I froze. The comments flashed across my vision again.

[The female lead mixed her own blood into the treats and fed them to the male lead, all to awaken him.]

[Elias is about to return to Maisie's side!]

[And then, he'll finally see how much she's suffered all this time and get revenge on the villainess.]

Did that mean… Elias was going to turn back into his old self?

A dense ache spread through my chest.

Elias let out another sharp howl of pain. He released my hand, then stared at my bleeding palm, panic and guilt flooding his eyes. As he struggled, he suddenly bit down hard on his own leg.

"Elias!"

At that moment, blinding headlights flared from the opposite lane. I saw a runaway truck barreling straight toward us. There was no time to swerve. We were about to be hit head-on.

On instinct, I threw myself over Elias, shielding him with my body.

There was a loud crash, and the world spun wildly. In the chaos, I seemed to glimpse a familiar figure wrapping their arms tightly around me.