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?” 

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience burst into laughter.

The staff sneered openly now.

“Unbelievable.”

“Does he really think that a cheap little ring matters to the Dawson Family?”

“If I were him, I’d take the money and disappear. What a joke.”

Kate sneered and said sternly, “Hubert, don't be so shameless! I’ve already given you money, what else do you want?”

“You think this so-called ‘special meaning’ isn’t just some sob story about your mom scraping together a dowry with dirty money?”

She paused deliberately, her tone sharp and venomous.

“Oh, right. Speaking of your mother, she's been raising you since you were three years old. Bet she had to cozy up to quite a few men to survive, huh?”

“I heard your father died early and wasn't often at home before he died. Who knows, maybe your father isn’t even your real father.”

“If that’s the case, those rings are dirty too. Melt them, now!”

The moment she insulted my parents, all the blood in my body rushed to my head.

My father, like me, was involved in a top-secret project. When I was three years old, he died in the line of duty.

After that, the Bureau supported us. I got scholarships and government help all through school. After earning my master’s degree, I followed in his footsteps without hesitation.

We, the Taylor Family, had never wronged anyone. Never shamed our country.

And now, we were being insulted by a spoiled brat who only knew how to throw money around.

I raised my head and stared at Kate as I questioned coldly, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Kate sneered and raised her chin arrogantly, “What? Do you think I don't dare?”

“Even if you die here today, no one would dare to say a word!”

Right then, the door to the dressing room opened.

Three staff members in professional uniforms pushed in a cart carrying a high-tech smelting machine.

Kate gave her command immediately, “Hold him down and make him kneel on the ground to watch those rings melt into liquid!”

Several bodyguards grabbed me. Their sharp nails dug into my wounds and a steel rod cracked against my shin, forcing me to my knees.

Pain roared through me, cold sweat soaking my back.

I struggled, my voice hoarse, “Kate, stop this! If you melt those rings today, your family will never recover.”

Andre snatched the rings off his dog’s neck and tossed them straight into the machine without a second thought.

Then he walked up to me, sneering and slapped me hard across the face, “Still acting tough? You think anyone will save you?”