45. Service Charge

"What?! What do you mean 'the dog ate it'?"

Sophia was bewildered.

It was already shocking enough that the necklace had been with her daughter this whole time. And now, she was told that a dog had eaten the necklace.

It was just too ridiculous!

Alexa's lower lip trembled and her big, round eyes filled with tears. "Mommy, I'm sorry..."

Sophia's heart softened. She scooped her daughter up in her arms and wiped her tears away. "Don't cry. Mommy isn't blaming you. Just tell me what happened and why you were with a dog..."

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. "Was it the day you were at summer camp?"

She vaguely recalled seeing a dog in their tent when she was on a video call with the children at the time.

Alexa buried her face in Sophia's neck and sobbed, "Yes... It was that silly dog's fault!"

She was too sad to speak coherently.

In the end, Axel cleared his throat and explained the whole story.