【Just got an alert on my phone. You spent some money?】

【It's not that I mind you spending. It's just that my salary's going toward saving up for our wedding fund. If you spend too much, how am I ever going to be able to marry you?】

Pretty vigilant.

I typed back：

【Just replaced a few things the dog broke.】

【It won't eat into your savings. If anything, I'll be spending more on her.】

No response for a long time. He was satisfied, apparently.

The on-screen comments kept rolling.

【Classic wants-it-all guy. Total ick. "Saving for your wedding fund"? That's not generosity, that's a leash on your wallet.】

【He's the type to eat your food, live off you, and then demand emotional damages when you break up.】

I thought the comments were spot-on.

That evening, after dinner, the Beagle started howling again.

Sidney messaged me.

Said he was too busy, told me to walk the dog.

【Don't go. If you walk her, she'll lunge forward and drag you all over the place until you fall and break a bone on the spot.】

【You'll get treatment afterward, but it won't heal right. Your leg will be permanently lame, and that illegitimate daughter will have stolen your ability to walk.】

That settled it.

I turned around and hired a professional dog-walker to come to the apartment.

Booked the mid-tier package: three hours.

“My dog's clearly overweight just looking at her. Walk her longer, and I'll pay extra.”

“Also, she might bolt. Handle her however you need to. I don't mind.”

The dog-walker took the deposit and grinned ear to ear.

“Don't worry, Miss Sanchez. I'm a pro.”

“I'll keep a video call going the whole time. This Beagle's in good hands.”

I recorded a few clips from the walk and sent them to Sidney.

He replied with a string of praise stickers.

By the time he got home from work, the dog was sprawled flat on the floor, completely wiped out.

Sidney's expression went stiff. “Since when do you have that kind of stamina? She's dead on her feet, and you look like you barely broke a sweat.”

“I don't remember you being this athletic.”

“You're right, I wasn't.” I didn't bother hiding it.

“I hired a dog-walker. I'm not used to her yet, and she's obviously heavy. I was worried she'd run off, so I got someone who could handle her.”

Sidney's face twisted：

“Why would you hire someone? I told you, Tutu's well-behaved.”

“If you keep pawning her off on other people, when are you ever going to bond with her?”

He caught himself almost immediately, reining in his tone：

“Maddie, that came out wrong. I'm not blaming you. I've just been swamped at work lately.”

“The company's sending me on a business trip. You'd be home alone with Tutu, and a lot of those dog-walkers are guys. I'd worry about you.”

“How about this: walk her yourself for the next few days, and once I'm back, I'll take over from then on……”

Sidney pitched it like a compromise, eyes locked on me without blinking, as though he was afraid I'd say no.

“Sure.”

Sidney finally relaxed.

He picked up his phone and sent me a whole list of shop names, one after another.

“You're not working anyway. Tutu could use a bath and some grooming. These places have good reviews. Just take her in.”

“And load a prepaid card while you're there. It'll save money in the long run.”

The Beagle stared at me, greedy and expectant, waiting for my next move.

I pretended not to notice and nodded yes.

After Sidney left, my online orders arrived.

The Beagle watched the delivery guy set everything up.

Only to discover the bed was cat-sized, the toy was a cat climbing tower, and every treat bag had a cartoon cat face printed on it.

For the first time, I saw genuine disbelief in a dog's eyes.

The Beagle charged at the bags, trying to rip them open with its teeth. I stepped forward and shoved it aside with my knee.

After two or three rounds of this, it collapsed on the floor howling in fury.

I locked it in the crate, grabbed a handful of cat treat sticks, and headed out.

I made the rounds of the neighborhood strays, handing out treats like flyers, asking them to spread the word for me.

This was another move the on-screen comments had suggested.

“Hey, kitties. I need you to find someone for me. Your boss cat.”

“I want to hire him. Food, water, full benefits, plus one free dog to take his frustrations out on.”

By that same afternoon, I heard the clang of a glass bottle smacking against the front door.

I opened it and there he was: the infamous Bruiser, the terror of the entire gated community, dragging a glass bottle behind him as he strolled up.

I stepped aside and let him in.

Then I opened the pet room I'd set up just for him.

“Your Majesty Bruiser, I'm hiring you to beat up a dog.”

“Unlimited treat sticks and canned food, plus full-service grooming at a professional pet salon.”

Bruiser looked satisfied. He dragged his glass bottle across my foot in approval.

A tabby, only slightly smaller than the Beagle, but built like a tank—every inch imposing.

The Beagle's world collapsed.

Its whining shrank from loud wails to terrified, high-pitched keening.

I opened the crate door.

Then I pulled up the grooming salon link Sidney had sent me.

I picked one of the shops, called them, and loaded the prepaid card online.

I told the shop owner: if anyone calls asking about the card, tell them the money was loaded for a pet dog.

Once everything was done that night, I sent Sidney the screenshot：

【This place looks great. Good reviews too.】

No reply from his end. But the shop owner called me.

【Miss Sanchez, someone just called asking whether you'd loaded the card. Is that someone you know?】

Couldn't even wait, could he.

【Someone I know. Also someone with bad intentions.】

【Ignore him.】

The Beagle's cries had gone quiet by now. I put my phone away and settled in to admire Bruiser's handiwork.

His Majesty was perched on the cat tower, rubbing a paw, then nibbled a few more bites of kibble. Only when he'd had his fill did he allow the Beagle anywhere near the bowl.

The Beagle was terrified of him, but the sight of the picked-over food still drew it forward, one trembling step at a time.

In Bruiser's eyes, that hesitant approach was pure insolence.

He lifted a paw and slapped the dog across the face. Again. And again.

Thwack, thwack——

After a few solid hits the Beagle's eyes nearly rolled back in its head. It took a long moment to recover, then staggered forward and face-planted into the food bowl.

The on-screen comments were losing it.

【The illegitimate daughter is absolutely losing her mind. She never dreamed she'd get beaten up by a cat AND be forced to eat its leftovers.】

【This is SO satisfying. Schemes backfiring on the schemer is the best kind of karma. Why should anyone have to give up everything they have for someone like her?】

I nodded.

But this was only step one.

The ones trying to hurt me and my mother weren't just this dog. There were people too.

If they loved their precious child so much, they could spend their own money on her.