Cedric's face instantly paled. He gritted his teeth, his voice suddenly low and dangerous.

"How is that possible? You must have used some dirty, underhanded trick, you low life!"

I was about to explain when he let out a roar and lunged at me, landing a punch squarely on my face.

The next moment, the fluffy ball of white fur in the corner shot out like lightning and sank its teeth deep into his wrist.

Cedric shrieked in pain and stumbled backward several steps before collapsing onto the floor.

Instinctively, I reached out to help him up, but the front door was suddenly kicked open with a loud bang.

Miriam stood at the doorway, her expression icy. "Quintin, how dare you incite this beast to harm Cedric?"

Her dark eyes swept past Snowball and finally came to rest on me, her thin lips forming a cold, hard line.

"I've said it before—anyone who hurts Cedric deserves to die. What are you all standing around for?"

Her words shattered every last shred of my hope.

"Grab that beast!"

The two bodyguards stationed at the door immediately lunged forward and grabbed Snowball by the scruff of her tiny neck.

Snowball's eyes were filled with terror and fury, her four paws struggling desperately. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free from the bodyguard's thick, powerful arms.

My heart leaped into my throat as I shouted, "Stop this!"

But one of the bodyguards held me firmly in place, preventing me from moving an inch.

One of the household staff, Dorothy Hoover, spoke up indignantly on my behalf. "Ms. Wiley, Snowball only bit Cedric because he came here to insult Mr. Keller!"

"That's a lie!" Cedric whimpered, clutching his injured hand. "He deliberately keeps a rabid dog to harm me."

Miriam shot me a cold, disdainful glance before bending down to help Cedric to his feet.

"Get rid of that rabid dog, now."

Snowball was lifted into the air, her neck visibly contorted, on the verge of snapping.

A chill shot through my heart. Without a second thought, I lunged forward, desperate to snatch her back from their grasp.

"Miriam, Snowball was only trying to protect me! Cedric was the one who started this by throwing the first punch."

But she didn't even glance my way. Instead, she casually tossed Snowball aside.

Snowball struggled weakly on the ground for a moment before her neck went limp, and all signs of life faded away.

I knelt on the floor, stunned, as painful memories from my previous life flooded back.

In that lifetime, Miriam had been just as merciless. She had bribed a vet to use Snowball as a test subject. In the end, Snowball died on a cold, sterile lab table.

I clenched my teeth, forcing the choked sobs back down my throat.

"Miriam, can't you even tolerate a dog I've raised since it was a puppy?" I asked hoarsely, my hands balled into fists.

But Miriam remained unmoved, her expression dismissive.

"Quintin, you should be grateful—sparing your life is already an act of mercy on my part. My heart has only ever belonged to Cedric. If you dare cause him any more trouble, you'll be the next one dead."

With that, Miriam wrapped her arm around Cedric and led him away without so much as a backward glance.

I lowered my head, my nails digging deep into my palms.

Cedric glanced back and shot me a glare, his lips curling into a contemptuous, triumphant smirk.

Miriam probably had no idea that what she had killed wasn't just Snowball, but also her last hope for survival.

Forget about inheriting the family business, for it'd be a miracle if Miriam managed to live another month.

Snowball's body had already turned stiff. With trembling hands, I scooped her up and headed to the garden to dig a grave.

Ever since I was little, Snowball had always been there for me. Even in my previous life, when she was tortured to death, she never let go of my hand.

Tears fell like raindrops onto the soil.

At this moment, I was in so much pain that even breathing hurt.

"Need any help?"

I looked up and met Edwina Simpson's dark, gentle eyes.

At yesterday's banquet, both Miriam and Edwina were struck by snake venom.

In my previous life, I was so fixated on saving Miriam that I slashed my own wrist to give her my blood as an antidote. This caused Edwina to miss the critical window for treatment and ultimately die from the venom.

But this time, I had the foresight to send someone with a special antidote made from my blood to Edwina in advance. She took it immediately after being bitten, which was why she survived.

I wiped the tear stains from my face, then said with utmost seriousness, "Edwina, would you be interested in a partnership? I'll help you bring down the Wiley Group, and you marry me."