chapter 2

"Audrey, are you really breaking up with me? This game of playing hard to get won’t work on me—I hate women like that."

A sharp pain pricked my chest.

I threw away the clay figurines we’d made together at the craft shop, our photo frames, our matching bracelets...

"Julian, I’ve thought it through. I’ll let you and Lila be together."

Julian snorted, swept his arm across the table, and dumped all our memories into the trash.

I stared blankly, not stopping him.

Suddenly, a scream came from the bathroom.

"Ah! Help!

"Stupid dog—just like your owner!"

I rushed downstairs to the bathroom.

There was Lila, holding a Border Terrier. She was shoving the dog into the bathtub, pressing its head under water so it couldn’t surface.

The dog thrashed wildly with its legs, but its struggles grew weaker by the second.

"Milo!"

My eyes burned with rage.

I charged over, pushed Lila aside, and snatched the dog from her.

Milo was soaked through, trembling helplessly in my arms.

"Lila! Why would you do this to Milo?"

The bathroom floor was slippery. Lila stumbled and fell when I pushed her.

Julian helped her up, his face full of concern.

"Audrey, can’t you talk nicely? You pushed Lila. Apologize to her!"

Milo whimpered softly.

I stroked its head, my heart breaking.

Milo was the dog Julian and I had adopted together.

It had gotten sick when it was a year old, and its health had never been good since.

I’d taken care of it every day, giving it all my love.

Milo had become family.

I shuddered to think—if I’d been a minute later, would Lila have drowned it?

Lila looked innocent. "Julian, it’s all this dog’s fault! It ran in while I was showering and barked at me. I got scared, that’s all—I just wanted to scare it a little."

"You’re lying!" I snapped.

Milo was gentle, even shy around strangers. There’s no way it would’ve bothered Lila.

Julian patted Lila’s hand to soothe her.

"Don’t worry. It’s just a dog.

"I’ll teach it a lesson for you."

I glared at him. "What do you mean?

"Julian, we adopted Milo together. You know what it’s like! Lila’s lying!"

A loud slap echoed. My face stung as I turned sideways.

Julian had hit me. "Audrey, I told you—these animals are ungrateful. If it barked at Lila today, it might bite her tomorrow. For safety, we shouldn’t keep it."

My mind went blank.

What was he saying?

Julian snatched Milo from me and tossed it to the floor. He picked up a mop and raised it high over the dog.

"It dared to bark at Lila? It’s asking for it."

Thud!

The mop hit my back instead. I’d thrown myself over Milo to shield it.

"Audrey, get up!"

"No."

I wouldn’t let anyone hurt Milo.

Lila squatted in front of me, watching with interest.

"Audrey, I know the dog didn’t mean it. Apologize to me, and I’ll let it go. I’m not that petty."

"Yeah, apologize to Lila," Julian urged.

Coldness seeped into my heart.

I knew—if I didn’t give in, Julian would never spare Milo.

Even though Milo was innocent. Even though Lila was lying.

Julian would always take her side.

"I’m sorry... Lila. I apologize for Milo. Please, don’t hold it against it." I forced the words out through gritted teeth.

Lila stood up, smirking.

"Julian, your taste is really bad—keeping such an ugly dog."

"I was stupid before. From now on, whatever you like, I’ll treat it like my own kid." Julian said, guiding her away.

I picked up Milo from the wet floor and held it close.

Milo seemed to sense my sadness, licking my cheek with its small tongue.

Three days later.

After I agreed to marry Ethan, Noah threw a party to let us get to know each other.