She raised her foot to kick me again, when suddenly, a terrified scream rang out.
Then chaos erupted.
“Where did this crazy dog come from? Kill it!”
A familiar warmth pressed against my face. Through blood-soaked eyes, I saw Lucky, standing in front of me with fierce determination.
Baring his teeth, he lunged at Sophia.
Sophia froze. She remembered—Lucky was the puppy Dad had once given her, the one she’d scorned and thrown away to me.
I didn’t know how such a timid dog had crossed half the city to find me. I wanted to shout for him to run.
But brakes screeched at the alley’s entrance, followed by heavy footsteps.
When Sophia saw Richard, she burst into tears, “Dad, help me! She’s letting her dog kill me!”
Two trained bodyguards rushed forward with clubs.
I struggled to rise but was pinned to the ground, forced to watch as Lucky was beaten down again and again.
His blood stained the ground, yet he still tried to crawl toward me, eyes wet and pleading.
Sophia hid in Richard’s arms, crying out in fear. “Dad, he’s still trying to bite me. I’m scared.”
Richard patted her back soothingly, then personally snatched a club from a bodyguard’s hand.
“Dad, no! Please don’t—”