At that moment, Eric Dawson looked like he was speaking up for me, but in truth, he was savoring my misfortune.
Sophia Bennett gave a cold snort. “Eric, stop defending him. A malicious man like that doesn’t deserve it. You’re great in every way, but you have one fatal flaw—you’re too kind.”
Too kind? Ha!
Sophia turned her head to give me a frosty glare, clearly waiting for me to lower mine.
When I stayed silent, she sneered, “Ungrateful mutt.”
With a wave of her hand, the wild dogs charged into the octagonal cage, their target obvious—me.
The vicious animals, brimming with feral energy, leapt high into the air, one sinking its teeth precisely into my arm.
I drew in a sharp breath—injury on top of injury—pain that pierced straight to the bone.
The other dog lunged, knocking me to the ground, its teeth tearing into my flesh.
Eric Dawson shouted, “Nathan’s a renowned performer! If the nerves in his hands are damaged, he’ll never be able to play again—that’s a loss to everyone. Ms. Bennett, this is too cruel. Stop it!”
Oh, he knew, all right.
He even knew about the nerve damage—clearly, he’d studied my vulnerabilities well.
Stopping them would take nothing more than a single word from him. These dogs had been his for years, trained to obey his every command.
So why the fake chivalry? Disgusting.
I knew my hand was already done for—that I’d never perform again, never set foot on a stage.
And Sophia knew exactly how much the stage meant to me. She’d once claimed she admired me, loved the way I looked when I performed, and that was why she had pursued me so relentlessly.
At first, I rejected her advances outright, but she chased me like a moth to a flame. Under her constant persistence, I finally accepted her.
I never imagined there would come a day when she would trample my dream so mercilessly.
Sophia said coldly, “A performer? Don’t make me laugh. If it weren’t for his brother’s influence, who would ever fawn over him?”
“It’s only brainwashed little fangirls, fooled by paid publicity, who’d like him.”
“Everyone should see the real him.”
My skills were solid—I had won countless awards both at home and abroad, been invited to perform in numerous countries, and my concerts were always sold out. Sophia had no grounds to deny that.
I wrenched my arm violently to shake the dog loose.
Eric called out loudly, “Ms. Bennett, please let Nathan go! Those rabid dogs are going for his vital parts. If he can’t have children, that’s a serious matter.”
Sophia snorted. “Who would want to carry his child? The thought alone makes me sick.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Her brows shot up, her voice sharp. “What’s so funny?”
It was very funny, actually.
The day we officially became a couple, she couldn’t wait to climb into my bed. She told me she had prepared herself as a gift—choosing seductive lingerie, bathing in scented oils, even doing full-body care so she’d be in her best condition.
From that day on, she repeatedly expressed her desire to have my child, saying that having a baby with me would be the most beautiful thing in the world.
She wanted not just one, but at least three—both boys and girls—and promised to raise them well.
She clung to me every day during that time, especially during her ovulation period, physically keeping me from leaving the bed.
When she couldn’t get pregnant, she eagerly sought out traditional medicine, adjusted her health, and even suggested IVF without fear of harming her body.
Now she had conveniently forgotten all that obsession and was full of nothing but disgust toward me.
Women could truly be fickle.
