Daisy glared at Benjamin, her eyes darting to the pills scattered across the floor. "You little brat, stealing medicine now? You're not getting away with this."
Benjamin anxiously gathered the medicine bottles, his neck tense with defiance. "I didn't steal anything. Dad bought these meds for us; why can't I use them?"
Daisy sneered, gripping his chin tightly, her fingernails digging cruelly into his skin. Blood trickled from the scratches, pooling on the floor.
I tried to intercede, desperate to pull Daisy away to protect my son, but my hands passed right through her, powerless and frustrated.
Benjamin struggled and managed to push Daisy, causing her to stagger back and fall onto the ground.
"It's all because of you. If it weren't for you, Mom wouldn't have gotten hurt."
Daisy shot Benjamin a look filled with venom before turning her attention to the nearby Pomeranian. The dog lunged at Benjamin.
In an instant, Buddy, Benjamin's golden retriever, barked fiercely and leapt to defend him. Buddy seized the Pomeranian with his jaws, and after a few sharp yelps, the small dog lay silent.
Daisy's face paled at the scene. "Where are the bodyguards? What are they doing? Get over here and handle this animal!"
Just then, Shane entered the fray.
Benjamin saw his father arrive, and hope flashed in his tear-filled eyes, spilling over in a flood of relief.
He sprinted towards Shane, crying out, "Dad, help Mom!"
Seeing my son’s blood-stained hands made my heart clench painfully.
I approached with a stern expression, asking, "What's going on here?"
Benjamin opened his mouth to explain, but Daisy rushed up to Shane, cradling the lifeless Pomeranian and sobbing.
"Shane, it's not Benjamin's fault. He only wanted the medicine; Fluffy thought we had a thief and tried to protect us, and Benjamin's retriever got the better of it."
Benjamin shouted out, "That's not true, Dad. I only wanted the medicine to help Mom."
Shane's expression turned stern, his voice cold. "Benjamin Wallace, Ronin told me this morning that Reign is fine. Who's been teaching you to lie? Is your mother stirring up trouble again?"
Benjamin felt a sharp pang of betrayal, staring at Shane despondently.
Shane felt the sting of Benjamin's gaze, his words harsh as he spoke, "Your retriever killed Daisy's Pomeranian. There has to be a consequence. Take Buddy away and put him down."
The security guards moved to take Buddy, and Benjamin's face turned ghostly pale.
Benjamin clung to Shane's trousers desperately, his hands sticky with blood.
"Dad, I'm begging you. I'll take the punishment, lock me up if you have to. Just don't kill Buddy. He's my friend, Mom left him for me. Please, I'm begging you."
Benjamin turned to Daisy, bowing and pleading, asking for mercy for Buddy.
Shane hesitated but upon seeing Daisy's tearful and pitiful expression, he steeled his resolve once more.
He gestured to the security guards to take Buddy away.
As Buddy was dragged off without resistance, Benjamin cried out in anguish, his heart breaking.
Shane walked over to Benjamin and snatched the box of medicine.
Benjamin, frantic, reached out to retrieve it, but his strength failed him, his voice raw with emotion as he shouted,
"Dad, I hate you. I'll hate you forever."
Shane paused, struck by the words, then carefully led Daisy back to her room.
He turned to Ronin, directing him, "Take Benjamin down to treat his wounds and confine him to reflect."
I screamed at Shane, pleading with him not to leave Benjamin with Ronin, knowing the man would harm him.
But Shane remained oblivious, his attention entirely on Daisy.
