Chapter 3

On the other end of the line, Curtis's gentle voice came in right on cue.

"Ms. May arranged a private jet to bring over the sheepdog I'd raised since childhood. The timing's perfect, really. Back home, it's tradition for a sheepdog to help drive bad luck away from the sick."

My heart clenched as I asked, trembling, "How does it drive it away?"

"Simple," Curtis answered calmly. "The sacred dog eats the part where you're sick. That way, your body can grow fresh blood and flesh."

I froze as my throat felt crushed shut. I couldn't force out a single word.

Eden paused, then added with a sneer, "What? Too touched to speak? The makeup artist is prepping the dog right now. Curtis never bothers with things like that, but he's taken steps to make the ritual feel extra special."

"I won't let you do this!" I shouted. "I'm not sick! It's actually your…"

"I knew you'd hesitate," Eden cut me off, cold and impatient. "That's why I made sure you wouldn't have time to stop it. The ritual is starting soon."

I bolted for the door, panic ripping through me, but the guards outside raised their arms and blocked me without expression.

The next second, a massive black dog, nearly as tall as a man, lunged straight at me.

Blood sprayed. Pain tore through my body, making me shake uncontrollably.

"Eden… You'll regret this…"

When she heard the desperation in my voice, her tone softened a little.

"Stop resisting. I'll give you 10% of the company, okay?"

I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood. I would rather be torn apart than spend even one more second with people like this.

I took a slow breath. When I spoke again, my voice was frighteningly calm.

"Fine."

This was the second time Eden transferred shares to me.

The first time was after Curtis messed up the marriage appointment for the 98th time and booked a divorce instead.

I lost it and kicked the door open.

"Ms. May, are you so desperate to keep your personal assistant around?" Curtis had stood off to the side, eyes wet. "I'm sorry, Mr. Stone. Where I come from, love is blessed by the gods. We don't need cold paperwork. Marriage isn't meant to be a cage."

That was the first time Eden slapped me in public.

"When your heart's rotten, you think the worst of everyone. Curtis is pure and kind. He's nothing like you, someone who plots behind people's backs!"

She had forgotten something.

Without me, her company would never have been what it was today. Because she said she loved freedom, I gave up my dream of art and buried myself in dull finance work.

I quietly tapped "Accept" on the stock transfer email.

My phone rang. It was HR.

"Mr. Stone, your resignation has been fully processed."

"Alright," I replied.

Everything I gave up before, it was time to take it back myself.

The next second, Curtis's social post popped up on my screen.

In the photo, Eden was curled against his chest, smiling as she hugged a sheepdog with blood still smeared at the corner of its mouth.

The caption read:

[Mr. Stone probably stashed plenty of food in his hospital room. After the dog did the cleansing ritual, it stayed there for quite a while. This time, whatever was wrong with him should be completely taken care of. I wonder how he'll thank me later?]

Pain stabbed straight through my chest.

I staggered toward the hospital room.

Harvey's body…was gone.

I clenched my fists until my hands shook. I only hoped that when she finally learned the truth, she wouldn't regret it.

That night, I prepared the farewell venue to say a proper goodbye.

The next morning, I pushed the door open and froze.

The floor was soaked in red. Every white flower had been splashed with glaring crimson.

"Perfect timing, Mr. Stone," Curtis said, gently stroking the belly of the sheepdog. "The sacred dog finished cleansing the bad spirit yesterday, and today, we found out she's pregnant."

Smiling, he pulled me toward the main seat.

"Come sit. I’m so excited. Maybe the puppy inside her belly is the reincarnation of half the dark spirit that was in you."

I clenched my fists so tightly that they trembled.

Harvey was a decorated soldier. He didn't deserve this kind of desecration.

I looked at Eden, whose gaze never left Curtis.

I finally snapped. I grabbed her collar and forced her to face the memorial stand.

"Open your eyes and look. I wasn't throwing a tantrum. Your brother was the one who suffered a relapse! He's dead now because of your assistant!"