From behind came a deep, menacing growl. I saw the Mastiff moving closer.

I gripped the door with all my strength, unwilling to let go. My face was streaked with tears of terror.

"Let me out! Let me out! You have no right to do this!"

Daniel stepped forward and kicked me to the ground. The hard tip of his shoe drove down on my fingers, sending waves of pain through them. Tears ran freely from my eyes.

I bit my lip hard, refusing to lower my head. From above came words that were harsh and unrelenting.

"Louise, have I been too lenient with you? I gave you a chance to back down. Why are you still playing games? Do you honestly think I'll show you mercy? If so, think again.

"You live off Taco's scraps every single day. Can't you see? You don't even measure up to Callie's and my dog. You'd better take good care of Taco."

As the cage door crept shut before my eyes, I backed away in terror. At that very moment, something cold pressed against my back.

Taco lunged at me. Before I could react, it ripped a piece of flesh from my leg.

A harsh laugh rang out from beyond the cage.

"Go, Taco! Show your strength!"

"Dan, this show is incredible! I'm completely thrilled!"

"If it's worth watching, I'll make sure you get a front-row seat next time."

I wailed in torment. I had always been thankful for the one time Daniel had saved my life. No matter how often he caused me pain, I endured it all.

Yet now, their lively chatter was quietly fueling my hatred for him.

Sensing my terror, Taco began tearing at my clothes as if it were a game.

Overwhelmed by fear and pain, my body shook uncontrollably. I felt cold sweat sliding down my temples. Each drop burned sharply as it hit my eyes.

My garments were slowly being ripped apart. Every so often, my skin ached from being pulled and torn.

Within moments, every inch of my skin was left raw and exposed. With my teeth clenched, I sank into the corner, hugging the folder to my chest.

The voices outside the cage carried on relentlessly.

"Dan, it's clear that your wife is utterly devoted to you. They're just a few sheets of paper with your signature. I can't believe she'd rather get hurt than let them go."

Daniel sneered. "If that's the kind of pathetic love you're looking for, be my guest. I don't need it!"

"Dan, there's so much blood. I'm scared."

"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."

Perhaps Taco had grown tired of playing; its eyes now burned with a feral hunger. I bit my bloodied lips and silently lifted its food bowl.

As the dog lunged at me with its gaping jaws, I slammed the bowl hard onto its head. It let out a painful whine and collapsed to the ground.

I finally caught my breath, but in the next second, I was kicked to the floor.

Daniel's voice exploded with fury. "How dare you hurt Taco!"

Callie held Taco tightly, and tears were streaming down her face. "Dan… I'm terrified! Is Taco going to die? We've had him for eight years. I can't lose him! Please, save him! I'm begging you!"

Visibly shaken, Callie turned to me and snapped, "Louise, Taco was only playing with you. How could you be so cruel to him?"

Cradling Callie, Daniel fixed me with a cold, piercing stare. "Louise, protecting papers bearing my signature doesn't give you the right to harm Taco. If anything happens to him, I'll throw you in a cage with a feral dog!"

With that, they left, taking Taco along with them.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and forced my broken body upright. Grabbing a coat, I drove straight to the hospital for treatment.

My body was covered in countless wounds, and blood dripped steadily from my right leg.

Upon seeing me, the doctor couldn't help but ask what had happened. I gave a curt explanation and turned to leave.

Reaching for my phone, I typed and sent a message: "The divorce papers have been signed, but I left them at the Savoy residence. I'm going home now. Come pick me up at my place."

"Really? Hang on, Louise. I'm on my way!"

"Yes, I'm serious."

The man fired off several messages. I chuckled softly. After all these years, he still wanted to stay close to me.

In the hospital lobby, I saw Callie clinging to Daniel. Tears streamed down her face. "Taco's head is swollen with a big bump. The doctor said he narrowly avoided a concussion. It's heartbreaking."

"Shh, don't cry. Rest assured, I'll make Louise pay for what she's done."

Spotting me nearby, Callie sneered, "Dan, putting her in a cage with a feral dog is just too cruel. I heard that medicine from the other day works really well. Why don't we have Louise try it out with someone else first? That way, we can confirm it works before using it later."

"I'll do as you say, Callie. Thanks to your kindness, Louise has been spared. Otherwise, I would've certainly locked her in a cage with a wild dog. Only then would she experience the real agony of being mauled."

Hearing this, I hurriedly tried to leave. However, after only a few steps, a devilish whisper drifted from behind me.

Without warning, I was restrained and dragged into a dark alley. As a cold liquid was injected into the back of my neck, a searing heat shot through my lower body.

My eyes burned with rage as I glared at Daniel. "What did you do to me?"

Daniel smirked. "Relax. You're going to feel pleasure." With that, he dragged me into a car and took me to a hotel room.

When I saw the homeless man inside, I fought with all my strength. "Daniel, let me go!"

Daniel shoved me onto the bed. His voice carried a teasing note. "Relax. You're not going to get hurt. No matter how worthless you are, you're still mine. I won't let anyone else screw you."

With that, he turned to the man and warned, "You're not allowed to take it all the way. Do you understand?"

The man's lecherous gaze roamed over me. He nodded repeatedly.

Upon hearing this, Callie shot me a glare. She clung to Daniel's arm, swinging it back and forth. "Dan, I booked the room next door too. The staff went out of their way to have it ready for you today. Aren't you curious to check it out?"

"Absolutely."

He shut the door firmly. I watched the homeless man inch toward me. I snatched the ashtray from the bedside table and slammed it over his head. He collapsed immediately.

Panicked, I fled through the door. Every step sent my wound gaping open again. Despite this, the sting only heightened my senses.

I quickly hailed a cab to the Savoy residence. Seeing the familiar figure at the door, I rushed straight into his arms. "I've been drugged! Help me!"

Daniel was hardly ever around, and I couldn't be bothered with his absence. It was just me at home.

Without saying a thing, Owen Zelensky carried me into the bedroom. Piece by piece, our clothes slipped away.

The drug's effects made me far more restless than usual. As things escalated, he couldn't hold back and whispered in my ear, "Louise, you're driving me crazier than before."

Waves of pleasure kept crashing over me without pause.

After it was over, I lay curled up in bed. Owen knelt at my feet, carefully tending to my wounds.

He held my pale calf in his broad hands. Every touch from him was soft and tender.

The room was thick with a palpable tension, and clothes lay scattered by the bedside.

Just then, Daniel's furious voice echoed from downstairs. "Louise! Where are you? If it wasn't that homeless guy, then which stranger are you hooking up with? You'd better show yourself!"

Beside me, Owen stiffened. There was a hint of grievance in his gaze. He started getting dressed, clearly preparing to leave.

I grabbed the shirt from his hands and pulled it over my head. "You wanted some recognition, didn't you? Consider it yours today," I said casually.

Owen smiled, then his eyes flashed. He leaned down and pulled me into his arms. "I've been waiting for this moment."

The footsteps outside grew closer. Without warning, Daniel barreled through the door. His eyes turned red at the sight before him.

"Louise, how could you betray me? I was right on my way to help you, and you didn't even spare a thought for me! I can't believe you would throw yourself at some random man like that!"