Chapter 4

The moment I left the funeral, I immediately started drafting the divorce papers.

Clutching the divorce agreement in my hand, I hurried home.

I wanted to end this dead marriage as quickly as possible and finally free myself.

But when I pushed the front door open, I wasn't greeted by the usual excited, furry little shadow—my dog, Cookie.

Cookie always looked at me with his bright, intelligent eyes, warming my soul with his pure loyalty.

Today, there was no sound of tiny paws rushing to jump into my arms.

My stomach dropped. A terrible feeling washed over me.

I searched the entire house, checking every room and corner.

He was nowhere to be found.

Finally, I ran out to the balcony, and my heart shattered into a million pieces. Cookie was lying there, his eyes glazed over, his breathing incredibly shallow. He was on the verge of death.

In that moment, I felt like my chest was being ripped open.

Cookie wasn't just a pet; he was my savior.

Three years ago, we had a gas leak in our apartment. If Cookie hadn't desperately dragged me awake, I would have died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Cookie had saved both my life and my wife's life.

Without a second thought, I scooped Cookie up and ran to the nearest emergency vet.

The entire drive, I prayed frantically, begging God to let Cookie make it through.

But when the vet pulled me aside and told me Cookie had suffered a massive overdose of sleeping pills, my mind went entirely blank.

Sleeping pills? How was that even possible?

A thousand horrific scenarios ran through my head.

Right then, Chloe and Julian rushed into the clinic.

Chloe looked incredibly guilty. She was muttering under her breath, "I do this all the time and he's always fine. How did he get poisoned today?"

"It must be an accident... yeah, just an accident..."

Hearing her mutter those words, I lost control. I lunged forward and grabbed her collar.

"What did you say?! Tell me what you did to him!"

Chloe flinched, but then she shrieked back at me, trying to mask her guilt, "Stop yelling at me! How was I supposed to know? I just gave him a few sleeping pills. It's not the first time! Who knew he was so fragile?"

"He kept barking and barking, and it was giving Julian a headache. So I gave him some pills to quiet him down. I didn't think it would kill him!"

All of this because Julian didn't like dogs barking.

Just to please Julian, Chloe had drugged my dog with sleeping pills.

Cookie was already old and frail. His body couldn't handle that dosage, and it had killed him.

I was so consumed by rage that I nearly blacked out.

I glared at Chloe and Julian, wishing my eyes could burn them alive.

They stood there—one looking down guiltily, the other acting completely indifferent. The contrast made my blood boil.

"How could you do this?!" I screamed. "Cookie saved our lives! You poisoned him just because Julian doesn't like barking?!"

Chloe looked away, unable to meet my eyes.

Julian, however, scoffed coldly. "It's just a dog. Is it really worth making such a dramatic scene? You're terrifying Chloe."

His words pushed me over the edge.

"Shut your damn mouth! This has nothing to do with you!" I roared.

Chloe frowned, defending him.

"Ethan, you're being ridiculous! It's just a dog. I'll buy you a new one! Is this really worth screaming over? Cookie was old anyway. Honestly, I did him a favor by putting him out of his misery."

She brushed off her horrific cruelty so easily. That was the moment I completely gave up on her.

I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to stop shaking.

I looked Chloe dead in the eyes and said, "Chloe, we're divorcing."