I glanced at Daniel’s side, where Olivia stood holding the vicious dog, Rocky.
Olivia shot me a defiant look, then bent down to stroke the dog’s fur.
Sensing my hatred, Rocky bared his teeth at me, snarling.
Olivia put on a pitiful look. “Emily, you’re scaring him.”
“Get out of my way!”
Daniel glared at me, anger flashing across his face. He shoved me aside and crouched down, holding Olivia’s hand as they petted the dog together.
Less than human, less than a dog.
The sight darkened my eyes.
“Anyway,” Daniel said, standing, “Lily is still a child. Whether or not she teased the dog, the fact is she got bitten. As Rocky’s owner, Olivia owes her an apology.”
“So you waited here to take me so she can apologize to Lily?” I asked calmly.
“Not just her. I said some harsh things at the hospital too. I should apologize as well.”
He lifted his chin, as if granting me a favor.
“This isn’t that simple. Lily has always been afraid of dogs. She avoids them. How could she have gone up to it?”
At this, Olivia’s eyes flickered with panic. She snapped, “What are you implying?”
“My Rocky is the sweetest. I love him more than anything. He never bites unless provoked. Your daughter must have bothered him—he had no choice!”
I sneered. “If you love that mutt so much, why are you always clinging to my fiancé?”
“You—!” Olivia’s face flushed red.
“Emily, you’re going too far,” Daniel said coldly. “Olivia already admitted her mistake and sincerely wants to apologize. Lily wasn’t even hurt that badly. Why can’t you let it go?”
“And Rocky is usually well-behaved. Lily must have provoked him. He was only defending himself.”
The words stabbed at my heart.
Even if Lily had survived, was I not allowed to vent my anger at the dog’s owner?
Why, in his eyes, was I the guilty one?
Olivia’s place in his heart was higher than even my daughter’s life—even higher than a dog’s.
“Daniel,” Olivia said tearfully, “if Emily won’t forgive me and just wants to make trouble, then maybe I shouldn’t bother apologizing.”
She turned to leave.
“Apologize to Olivia,” Daniel barked at me, his gaze colder than I had ever seen.
“Now!”
“In your dreams.”
“Emily Carter!” he roared, furious. For the first time, he called me by my full name.
“Why have you become so unreasonable? When someone says the wrong thing, shouldn’t they apologize?”
“If Olivia caused a death, shouldn’t she pay with her life?”
Daniel froze. “What did you just say?”
“Nothing.”
I turned and walked into the building, resignation letter already in my pocket.
The resignation went smoothly. As Vice President, I signed it myself.
The next day, I went to the police department to file a report.
The day Lily was bitten, Olivia had picked her up from my parents, saying she wanted to buy her some clothes.
Less than half an hour later, mall security called the police—Lily had been mauled by Rocky. They drove the dog away, but she was already critically injured and unconscious.
