In my tenth year working at the Bureau of Paranormal Affairs, my mother arranged a marriage for me because I was unmarried.

The woman came from a prestigious business family. She had a reputation for being well-mannered, emotionally intelligent and clean in her private life. Most importantly, she was the daughter of my father’s close friend.

Looking at my mother’s aging face and hearing her envy of relatives surrounded by grandchildren, I felt a deep sense of guilt. After all, I had not gone home for several years, so I agreed to the marriage.

When my supervisor heard the news, he even custom-ordered a pair of wedding rings as a special gift.

The wedding day arrived. Guests filled the venue. But before the ceremony began, I discovered my wedding ring hanging around the neck of my fiancée’s assistant’s dog.

Suppressing my rage, I questioned him coldly, “This is a wedding ring. Why is it on your dog’s neck? Do you think that’s appropriate?”

Faced with my questioning, the other party was full of disdain. “It's just a ring. Ms. Dawson said I can put it on whatever I want.”

“Don’t worry, your replacement ring is already prepared.”

I glanced at the plain silver band tossed on the table, let out a cold laugh and dialed Kate Dawson’s number.

“Kate, the wedding starts in two hours. If that ring doesn’t come off the dog’s neck by then, don’t bother showing up at all.”

——

A sense of unease grew in my chest. Some of my colleagues were attending as guests. If they saw the Bureau’s specially made ring on a dog, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Her voice came through the phone, cold and irritated, “It’s just a ring. Can you stop being so dramatic?”

Dramatic?

I took a deep breath, trying to keep calm as I explained, “Ms. Dawson, today is our wedding day. Do you think putting the groom’s wedding ring on a dog is appropriate?”

“Think whatever you want. I don’t have time for your nonsense.”

The line went dead.

I stared at the screen in disbelief. So, this was the woman with the ‘grace and high emotional intelligence’ they talked about?

Andre Hampton, who was standing by, saw this and smirked even more. He spoke in a sarcastic tone, “Hah! Thought you were the apple of her eye? Wake up!”

He gave me a once-over, eyes dripping with contempt.

“Look at you. Other than that tux, do you have anything worth showing off?”

“You think gifting a couple of rings makes you worthy of her?”

“I’ve seen plenty of social-climbing nobodies like you. Even if you get married, she’ll never give you a second glance!”

From his tone, it was obvious—he and Kate had a ‘special’ relationship.

I sneered, “Get the ring off the dog, disinfect it and put it back in the box—or I’ll call the police.”

He burst out laughing like I’d just told the funniest joke he’d ever heard.

“Call the cops? You think they’ll care about your precious little ring?”

I was shaking with anger. 

I’d worked my way up on the toughest cases, even top-level leaders treated me with respect. And now, I was repeatedly mocked by Kate's assistants?

Without another word, I pulled out my phone to call the police.

Before I could hit the dial, he slapped it out of my hand.

His face twisted with fury, eyes bloodshot as he yelled, “You little bastard! You're turning a deaf ear to what I say, aren't you?”

As he shouted, his massive Rottweiler began barking furiously, then lunged straight at me.

It was huge—easily 180 pounds, heavier and stronger than me.

The force of the impact slammed me to the ground. Its two front paws pinned my shoulders down hard and it immediately sank its teeth into me.

A searing pain shot through my body. The metallic scent of blood filled my nostrils. My vision blurred.

"Good boy! Bite him harder, go for his face!"

Andre, who was standing by, was cheering the dog on like it was some kind of sick sport. His voice was brimming with excitement.

The dog seemed to understand his command and lunged straight at my face.

I knew that today it would be either the dog or me who would die. 

I endured the severe pain, instinctively clamped the dog's neck with both hands, exerted force with my waist and abdomen and rolled sideways.

Crack!

The crisp sound of bones breaking suddenly rang out.

The Rottweiler convulsed violently for a moment, then went limp and became silent.

Andre's face, which had been excited just now, suddenly froze. His eyes filled with fury.

“Hubert, how dare you kill my dog?!”

As he said that, he raised his foot and kicked me.

“Have you had enough of this?!”

A woman's voice echoed coldly through the room.

Dressed in a white fishtail wedding gown, Kate appeared, flanked by several imposing female bodyguards.

She was undeniably beautiful, curved in all the right places, seductive and striking.

The moment Andre saw his backer coming, he rushed to her side and began whining like a loyal pet.

“Ms. Dawson, the Rottweiler you gave me was killed by him. You know how much I cherished it, since it came from you."

Kate's eyes swept over the lifeless body of the dog on the floor. Her expression darkened.

She looked up at me with disdain in her eyes.

“You are Hubert Taylor, right?”

Ignoring the pain in my bleeding shoulder, I extended a hand and forced a polite smile.

“Yes, I'm Hubert Taylor. About the dog..."

Before I could finish my words, she waved and her bodyguard stepped forward and kicked me hard in the knee.

“I don't care who you are. Now, apologize to Andre and kneel for the dog!”

The kick struck my already exhausted body and I collapsed onto one knee. The wound in my arm throbbed as fresh blood soaked through my sleeve.

I was stunned into silence by the absurdity of it all.

Then I sneered and broke free from the female bodyguard.

If I weren't bound by the responsibilities of my position—representing not just myself but the entire Bureau—these people would never have had the chance to walk all over me like this.

“Ms. Dawson, you come from a so-called prestigious family. Did no one ever teach you how to act like a decent human being?”

“You're asking me to apologize so indiscriminately, even kneeling before a dog. What kind of logic is that?”

“Logic?”

Kate raised her eyebrows, her eyes full of contempt and ridicule.

“In this city, no one can rule me, especially you. You don’t know what your mother and my grandfather discuss, right? Let me tell you then.”

“If I don't marry you, they’ll make me marry some philandering playboy! That’s why, I agree.”

“You think someone like you would ever have a shot at marrying into the Dawson Family otherwise?”

I listened to her words in disbelief. Was this woman really that clueless?

If her grandfather had arranged this marriage, then he must’ve known exactly who I was.

“Did I ask you to marry me? If you don't want to, you can just go back and tell him you don't want to, instead of using a dog to humiliate me!”

When Andre heard what I said, he couldn’t help but scoff, “Do you even know what you’re saying?”

“There are countless men in Cloverdale who are begging for a chance to marry into the Dawson Family.”

“So, how dare you have this opportunity and not know how to appreciate it?!”

The wedding staff nearby began murmuring.

“Is this guy crazy? Marrying into the Dawson Family is the jackpot of a lifetime!”

“Right? What’s he acting so self-righteous for?”

“I heard he works a regular job—probably only makes a few thousand a month. I bet we make more than him. And he wants to turn down this chance?”

Kate's voice became even colder.

“Now, apologize to Andre, or this wedding is off!”

“Then it’s off!” I snapped. “A woman like you is not worthy of being part of my family.”

“I’ll walk away right now as long as you give me back the rings. I don’t need this farce.”

My voice rang out, calm and firm.

Kate was so stunned that she let out a short laugh of disbelief.

“You... Hubert, are you out of your mind?”

“I am Kate Dawson, the only heir to the Dawson Group! You’re really calling off this wedding?”

“I don't care if you're Kate Dawson or not, I'm not getting married today!”

My voice was calm, without any ripples, making Kate's face flushed red with anger. 

Andre quickly put his arm around her waist and calmed her down, “Ms. Dawson, forget him! Your grandfather loves you, he’d never force you into a marriage you don’t want.”

“You’re beautiful, capable and the only successor of the Dawson Family. Any man would be lucky to have you.”

“Besides, no matter who you marry in this life, the Dawson Family will always belong to you!”

After hearing Andre's words, Kate's expression improved a lot.

His words clearly pleased her. The arrogance returned to her eyes.

“But the guests are already here. Wouldn’t cancel the wedding damage the Dawson Family image? What if Grandpa blames me later?” Kate asked sadly.

Andre reached out and pinched Kate's shoulder, saying flatteringly, “Ms. Dawson, don't worry about that. Most of today’s guests are business partners. They won’t dare offend the Dawson Family just because of this.”

“As the only heir, you do what you want. I’ll always support you.”

Kate was deeply moved by these words. She looked at him with an almost girlish affection.

“You're the best! I wish my future husband could be as considerate and sensible as you.”

“Not some lowlife who pretends to be noble but comes from nothing.”

Blood still trickled from my wounds. I was exhausted—physically and mentally.

I fixed my gaze on her and said coldly, “Since the wedding is off, please return the wedding rings to me, Miss Dawson. They hold special meaning.”

When Kate heard what I said, she looked at the female bodyguard behind her, took out a stack of crisp red banknotes and threw them in my face.

“Special meaning? It’s just a pair of rings. The Dawson Family can afford thousands of them.”

“This is enough to buy ten. Wear them on your hands and your feet if you want.”

Cash fluttered down around me.

I didn’t even blink.

“Ms. Dawson, I’ll say it again. That ring is not something money can replace. Do you get it?”