Chapter 2

At six in the morning, my Snapchat was buzzing nonstop. I opened my eyes to see 99+ unread messages.

The first one was from a college classmate. It was a link to a TikTok video.

The caption read: Top closer at a tech firm barks like a dog on stage for his year-end bonus. Where is the dignity?

The video was only thirty seconds long. It showed me putting on the dog mask, being led on a chain, and barking.

Braden’s face had been carefully cropped out of the frame. The comment section was a absolute dumpster fire.

"No dignity left for money."

"This company is sick."

"Top closer? More like Top Simp!"

"@everyone, come look at this literal corporate dog!"

I closed the app, my hands shaking uncontrollably.

Then my phone rang. It was Chloe.

The moment I picked up, she was screaming. "Liam! What the hell did you do?!

My coworkers just sent me the video! My mom and my friends have all seen it!"

"Chloe, let me explain—"

"Explain what?! The video is crystal clear! You played dog for a hundred thousand dollars!

How am I supposed to show my face in public? How is our son supposed to go to school?!"

"Leo needed the money for his surgery—"

"So you become a literal dog for money? Liam, you make me sick!"

The call clicked off. I tried calling back, but she had already blocked my number.

Suddenly, a new notification popped up on Snapchat. It was from Leo’s preschool teacher.

I tapped the voice note, and the sound of my son sobbing filled the room.

"Daddy... the kids said you're a puppy...

They won't play with me... they keep barking at me... sob..."

My fingers were stiff as I typed. "Ms. Davis, I am so sorry, please—"

Before I could finish, she replied.

"Mr. Miller, this video is causing a massive distraction.

We suggest you handle your family matters at home. Don't let this affect your child."

I stared at the screen, my eyes burning.

The phone vibrated again. It was my dad.

"Liam!" His voice was trembling with rage. "You... you put your mother in the hospital!"

"Dad, please—"

"All our neighbors saw it! Your uncle just called to ask if we were so desperate for money that we let our son beg like a dog on the street!"

"I did it for Leo's surgery—"

"I don't care!" my dad roared. "We didn't raise a son with no backbone!

Your mother said if you don't make a public apology and get that video taken down immediately, don't bother calling us family anymore!"

Beep—beep—

The line went dead.

I sat on the edge of the bed. The sun hadn't fully risen yet, and the room was swallowed in darkness.

Then, my phone screen lit up again with an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Liam, buddy! It's Braden." Braden's laugh boomed through the speaker.

"Have you seen the news? Our company is absolutely viral!"

I gripped the phone tightly.

"Mr. Cole, that video was edited. That's not how it happened—"

"Who cares?" he interrupted. "Bad press is still press!

Our phones have been ringing off the hook this morning with new leads! It’s free advertising!"

"But my family—"

"Your family will get over it!" he said dismissively.

"Tell you what, at Monday’s morning meeting, I want you to do it again.

We'll record the full version this time, high quality. We'll post it to clarify things for you!"

"Mr. Cole—"

"Alright, I've got a meeting. See you Monday, don't be late!"

He hung up.

I opened Instagram. Chad had posted a photo dump three minutes ago.

It was a slide of photos from the annual party. Right in the middle was a high-def, close-up shot of me wearing the dog mask.

The caption read: Corporate culture! Wolf mentality! Shoutout to our most "loyal" colleague!

Below it, the entire company had lined up to leave likes and thumbs-up emojis.

I scrolled down. I saw that Chloe had liked the post too.

My phone buzzed again. A new text message.

It was from Chloe.

Liam, I can't live like this for another second.

I want a divorce. I’m taking Leo. If you try to fight me for custody, I’ll make sure this video is sent to every single person in this city.

I stared at those words for a very long time.

Then, I stood up and walked to the window.

The sun was up now. Down on the street, people were rushing to work.

A little kid tripped and fell. His mother rushed over, scooped him up, dusted him off, and kissed his cheek.

I turned around, slid my back down against the wall, and sat on the cold floor.