Chapter 5

"Max, Max..."

Usually, when I called for him, he would always come running to my side, his tail wagging. But today, the sprawling Beverly Hills mansion was utterly silent.

I ran frantically through the entire mansion, but I still couldn't find him.

An ominous feeling welled up inside me.

"Where's Max? What have you done to him?"

Daisy's cousin was now the housekeeper. She avoided my eyes, her gaze shifting.

"Max? I haven't seen a thing."

The others quickly chimed in with their agreement, but I had already arranged for the previous housekeeper to look after Max while I was in the hospital, and besides, Max never wandered off.

Just then, Derick returned with Daisy and walked in on the scene. My eyes were bloodshot as I frantically demanded to know where Max was.

"Are you going to tell me or not? If you don't, get out of my house! I'll make it so you can't even beg for scraps on the streets of Los Angeles!"

Daisy pretended to be startled and took the opportunity to burrow into Derick's arms.

"Derick, what's wrong with Lidia? She isn't upset that I brought my relatives here to work, is she?"

"Don't worry, she's not."

Derick comforted her, while looking at me coldly, as if I were some hysterical madwoman.

"What are you hysterical about now?"

"Max is gone! Derick, what have you done with him?"

I broke down, tears streaming down my face. Derick's expression froze for a moment, and the arm he had wrapped around Daisy slowly retracted.

"He's just a dog. Where could he have gone?"

Derick turned to question Daisy's family, and they didn't dare to stay silent.

Her cousin stammered, "That dog... it ran up to my feet and tried to bite me, so I..."

"I ended it!"

A tremor shot through my heart, and my entire body felt as if it had been plunged into an ice cellar.

"Where is he?"

"In the freezer... in the kitchen..."

As I stumbled toward the kitchen, my vision was flooded with images of Max.

And just like that, there was Max, lying in pieces inside the freezer.

Derick followed me in, remaining silent for a long moment, quietly watching me break down completely.

I cried all afternoon. When I had finally calmed down enough to hold them responsible, Derick stopped me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Lidia, he was just an animal. Can't we just get another one?"

"Daisy's family just arrived today. They don't know the rules of the house yet."

My Max had waited for me for two weeks, only to meet a vicious end right before he could see me. I hated myself for taking so long to get better.

Daisy sidled over, stammering an apology, "Lidia, my cousin didn't mean to..."

"Enough!"

It was as if all my strength had been drained away, and the last shred of my love for Derick was utterly spent.

I turned my head toward Derick, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Derick, let's get a divorce."

A flicker of shock crossed Derick's face, only to be replaced by that insufferably arrogant expression of his.

"Lidia, I know you're grieving, but that's no reason for you to be so willful."

"You want to divorce me over a damn animal? I think you've gone insane!"

I couldn't take it anymore and slapped Derick hard across the face.

The crisp sound echoed throughout the entire room, leaving everyone stunned.

Derick was too stunned to react, but Daisy immediately rushed to him, stroking his face in distress.

"Lidia, how could you be so cruel? Derick's face is already swelling up."

"Quick, get some ice for Derick's face! Quick!"Daisy commanded the servants as if she were the lady of the house, and everyone instantly flew into a flurry of activity.

I met Derick’s gaze, refusing to back down in the slightest.