"Doctor," I rasped, "how's Duke? Is he going to be alright?"
The doctor placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his touch surprisingly firm. "He's alright. We were able to stabilize him. Duke was brought in just in time. He's out of immediate danger, but we'll need to keep him under observation for the next twenty-four hours."
A wave of relief washed over me. "Thank you, Doctor," I breathed, "Thank you. That's all that matters."
The buzz of my phone interrupted the quiet moment. It was my father. I answered, already bracing for the inevitable.
"Damian!" His voice boomed in the sterile hallway. "Your son is in critical condition! How can you be not at his side? Get to the hospital, now!"
His voice was deafening, filled with an authority that left no room for refusal. It was clear he had reached the limits of his patience with me.
However, without a second thought, I replied, "Dad, Duke needs me. I can't leave."
Hearing this, my dad became even angrier. His voice, usually steady, shook with barely contained rage.
"You're saying Duke is more important than your wife and child?"
He let out a bitter laugh before continuing. "Damian, Wanda is the woman you chased from high school to college, the woman you struggled to win over and marry. On your wedding day, in front of all our family and friends, you swore you'd never let her suffer even a bit of harm."
His words stabbed at something deep inside me, but he didn't stop there.
"And even Duke—he was a stray dog Wanda rescued eight years ago. The only reason you love him so much is because of her! So why is it that your love for Duke hasn't changed, but your love for Wanda has?"
Tears welled up in my eyes and spilled over, rolling uncontrollably down my cheeks. My father's words pierced through my defenses like a blade, cutting straight to the truth I didn't want to face.
I wiped my face roughly and replied in a low voice, "Dad, that's all in the past."
My throat felt tight and my voice came out hoarse. "Duke still needs me. That's all there is to it."
After speaking, I hung up the phone and turned it off, refusing to listen to anything more. The weight of my father's disappointment pressed heavily on my chest, but I pushed it aside. I stayed by Duke's side without moving an inch.
Time crawled by, each second dragging as I waited anxiously for him to wake up. The walls of the pet hospital felt suffocating, but I couldn't bring myself to leave.
Eventually, Duke regained consciousness.
The moment his big eyes met mine and his tail gave the faintest wag, a lump formed in my throat. I gently stroked his fur, whispering words of reassurance.
The next day, after checking Duke's condition and confirming he was stable, the doctor discharged him. I carried him carefully, cradling him in my arms like a fragile treasure.
But as soon as I stepped out of the pet hospital, chaos erupted.
A crowd rushed toward me, their faces twisted with anger and disgust.
"Look, everyone! This is the jerk who's been all over the internet—the guy who chose his dog over his wife!"
"Imagine! His pregnant wife got into an accident and her water broke, but he took the ambulance just to save his dog!"
"His wife suffered severe injuries and their premature baby is in critical condition. Both of them were fighting for survival in the hospital and he didn't even care! He spends the entire night at a pet hospital, coddling a dog!"
The accusations came like daggers, each one sharper than the last.
"Don't forget his face, people! If you see this scum, don't hesitate! Beat him up if you can. And if you can't, make sure he knows exactly what you think of him!"
They held up their phones, live streaming and recording videos, their expressions filled with outrage and hatred toward me. Camera flashes flickered, illuminating the contempt in their eyes.
The commotion quickly drew even more onlookers. As the full story spread among the crowd, their gazes turned sharp with judgment. Some whispered among themselves, shaking their heads, while others openly glared at me as if I were the most repulsive person.
Meanwhile, the livestream's comment section exploded with fury. Messages flooded in, condemning me in the harshest terms imaginable.
It was only then that I realized—everything I had done yesterday had been caught on camera, recorded by bystanders and uploaded online.
Overnight, the video had gone viral. And in a matter of hours, I had become the most hated man on the internet.
The crowd surrounding me wasn't just made up of random people—some were influencers who had come specifically to attack me.
One of them spoke in a loud, deliberate voice. "In yesterday's video, your conversation with your wife has sparked a huge debate. Many believe the footage might've been edited to make you look bad."
He took a step closer, his expression full of mockery. "So now, in front of us, can you answer honestly—do you really think your dog is more important than your wife and child?"
The world seemed to pause for a moment as countless phones and cameras recorded my every move.
