Faith clung to Julian’s chest, her makeup smudged from crying.
“What are you trying to do?” I stood in front of Brady, trembling with fear.
What if Julian brought the anesthetic syringe again? What if he knocked me out like yesterday and took Brady away?
If that happened, I’d truly have nothing left.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!”
Brady’s agitation grew, as though he sensed the danger.
“Angeli, just hand over Brady, and I won’t do anything to you,” Julian said as he approached, step by step, trying to snatch Brady from my hands.
Brady was my only companion now. No matter what, I couldn’t let them take him away.
Tears welled up, but I forced myself to stay calm. “No. Brady is mine. You can’t take him.”
Julian’s voice turned icy. “This vicious dog has already harmed someone. If you keep it, it’ll just hurt others again. Give him to me, and I’ll find a shelter for him.”
“As long as Faith doesn’t have to see him, I won’t harm him.”
I laughed bitterly. Hand him over to Julian?
What would happen to Brady then? His life would be in jeopardy!
I stepped in front of them, refusing to budge. “You’ll have to step over me first.”
Slap!
Julian struck me hard across the face without hesitation. My right cheek burned with pain.
“Angeli, don’t push your luck. Today, Brady has to leave.”
Faith stepped forward, pretending to comfort me. “I understand how much you love this dog, but it’s dangerous. I’m worried it might harm you one day.”
She sniffled as she spoke, her tears falling like raindrops. “Julian, I can’t take it anymore. I’ve been having nightmares about this dog attacking me.”
Her acting was so flawless she could’ve been a star in an opera troupe.
I stared at her in disbelief, letting out a cold laugh.
Brady, the gentlest golden retriever in the world, had somehow become a “vicious dog” in her narrative.
Julian’s face darkened. He struck me again, harder this time. “Angeli, step aside. Or else.”
I watched helplessly as Julian led Brady away, and Faith flashed me a triumphant smile.
Brady was loaded into a dog transport van, his sorrowful eyes fixed on me. His paws scratched at the door as he whimpered pitifully.
A light drizzle began to fall, and I ran after the van with all my might, desperate to catch up.
“It’s just a dog,” Julian said, trying to calm me down. “What does it matter if it’s gone?”
That was the breaking point.
“You heartless man!” I screamed, my voice hoarse with rage. “This is the dog you gave me. You said if you couldn’t be there, it would keep me company. Brady is all I have left!”
For a moment, Julian hesitated, his expression conflicted.
I kept running, rain soaking me to the bone. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t catch up to the van.
Unbeknownst to me, Julian followed me closely, his face betraying a flicker of concern. He reached out as if to stop me, a glimmer of guilt in his eyes.
“Stop running,” he murmured.
Ignoring him, I kept chasing until exhaustion overtook me. After ten kilometers, I collapsed, unable to go any further.
Julian helped me up. “It’s raining harder. Let me take you home.”
I shoved him away, my eyes bloodshot. “I don’t need you. Get out of my sight!”
Back home, I took a long, hot shower. The warmth didn’t ease the pain in my chest.
It was time to leave.
I placed a memory card on the table—containing all the evidence I had recorded—and pulled my suitcase to the door.
Finally, I was leaving the place that had trapped me for eight years.
