Declan expertly held the baby, preparing to hand it to Nora.
But unexpectedly,
eyes welled up with tears, which fell onto the baby’s face.
Declan was taken aback, gently wiping Nora’s tears and softly reassuring her:
“Don’t cry right after childbirth; the little one will sense your distress.”
Nora grasped Declan’s hand, the one wiping her tears, and sorrowfully said:
“Declan, I want to stay at your place for a few
- ys. I want the child to know how their father lives.”
“Don’t worry, I understand my boundaries. I won’t touch anything at your place, and Nora won’t find out I’ve been there!”
Declan pressed his lips together, visibly conflicted.
Lydia clutched her chest, her eyes filled with tears,
and weak
pleaded:
“Declan, I don’t have much time left. There aren’t many opportunities for us to be together as a family. Can you give me this chance?”
After a long silence, Declan finally nodded slowly.
Lydia’s face showed a subtle satisfaction.
I lowered my head, managing a bitter smile.
Declan had once promised me he would never bring outsiders into our home.
Yet here he was, letting Lydia in.
She had always been the exception.
As soon as the door opened, our little dog rushed up to greet Declan.
Noticing a stranger, it barked protectively, standing in front of Declan.
The baby’s cries were triggered by the barking.
Declan frowned and said:
“Buddy, calm down!”
Lydia, however, smiled gently, though it didn’t reach her eyes:
“It’s okay, Declan. I like small dogs, too,”
She crouched down and patted Buddy’s head.
SH
Buddy, usually gentle, was only barking to scare off strangers and did not bite Lydia’s hand.
Declan sighed:
“Lydia, you’re still as kind as ever.”
Only I noticed the handful of yellow and white fur in Lydia’s palm.
Buddy must have been in pain!
Hearing Buddy’s pained whimper, Declan’s expression shifted, and he coldly remarked:
“This dog, like its owner, can change its nature and betray at any moment!”
He took Lydia’s hand and left with the baby.
Buddy remained at the door, biting the bouncy ball I used to play with him, seemingly waiting for me.
I felt a sting of emotion.
Buddy was just a mi
breed dog, but Declan and I had rescued him during our relationship.
He was abandoned right after birth, and we painstakingly raised him, like our own child.
He didn’t know that his mom would never come back.
After going upstairs, Declan handed the baby to the nanny and called the housekeeper, giving detailed instructions:
“Uncle John, Lydia doesn’t like spicy food and avoids onions, ginger, and garlic. Make sure the kitchen knows. Also, she only sleeps on silk sheets, or she’ll break out in a rash…”
Declan murmured on, remembering Lydia’s preferences as if they had lived together for a long time.
I had always been envious of their childhood connection, but now it seemed I had underestimated it.
Unaware of this, Lydia used the excuse of going to the bathroom to sneak into Declan’s and
my
bedroom.
Buddy, seeing a stranger enter our room, tilted his head and followed Lydia upstairs.
Lydia looked mockingly at the wedding photo of Declan and me on the table and picked up a craft knife to slash my face in the picture.
Noticing Buddy biting her skirt, Lydia was startled.
The next second, her face twisted with malice as she kicked hard.
Buddy, being just a ten–pound dog, was kicked hard against the wall and fell down.
He twitched a few times, with blood spreading from his lips, whimpering softly.
I was heartbroken, rushing to Buddy’s side, but could only pass through his body over and over.
Lydia’s delicate, cute face twisted with malice.
She sneered:
“A loyal dog, huh? Then I’ll send you to meet your owner in heaven! This house’s mistress can only be me!”
I stood frozen.
Lydia knew I was already dead.
Was my assistant her ally?
Recalling my assistant’s disdain and relentless slandering of me, I clenched my fists.
Just then, vecian came into the room, alerted by the noise.
He immediately saw Buddy still twitching slightly at the base of the wall.
Lydia immediately acted, crying and trembling in Declan’s arms:
“I’m sorry, Declan. The dog bit me, and in my shock, I accidentally kicked it. It’s all my fault! The dog will be okay, right?”
Declan pursed his lips, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from Buddy.
“As long as you’re okay, how do you feel now? Where did it bite you?”
“There are bacteria on pets, they’re dirty. I’ve wanted to get rid of it for a while. Now you’ve done me a favor.”
After saying that, he pushed Lydia away and instructed the housekeeper to take Buddy to the vet.
Lydia wasn’t too pleased, biting her lip and twisting her dress with her fingers.
But she quickly adjusted her expression, tugging at Declan’s sleeve:
“As long as the dog is okay. If Nora finds out, I won’t be able to compensate her even if I die!”
To the unknowing, it would seem like I had bullied her.
Declan fell for it, his eyes showing pity, soothing her softly:
“If she dares, I’ll make her know what ‘worse than death‘ means.”
Lydia paused, then tentatively asked:
“Declan, my parents want to see the little one more. Will
Declan nodded:
TRAW he with me to visit them tomorrow?”
“Of course, the child is meant to be raised by your parents.”
Lydia’s smug expression froze, jealousy and resentment flashing in her
She reached for Declan’s hand, acting coy:
“Declan, why do you feel more distant from me? We-”
But Declan avoided her, lost in thought.
eyes.
