He Caged Me, Just to Guard His Lover

Chapter 7

I never thought Winnie would dare scheme against me right in the Carter family's backyard—the audacity!

The garden lay eerily silent as a muscular man pinned me down. My legs flailed wildly as I screamed, "Julian... help!" Please, I begged silently, just this once—save me!

Sean's calloused hand smothered my cries as he dragged me deeper into the bushes. "You shameless b***h!" he snarled, his breath hot against my ear. "Your precious uncle's too busy flirting with Winnie to care about trash like you!"

I fought like a cornered animal, desperation clawing at my throat—until a deafening bark shattered the night.

Kuro!

The aging black dog burst free from his chains, charging at Sean with bared teeth and a guttural growl.

When Julian finally arrived, I sat numbly in the dirt, cradling Kuro's broken form. My clothes hung in tatters, my hands trembling.

Nearby, Sean knelt howling, his face a grotesque mask of blood.

"Mia!" Julian rushed toward me, concern flashing in his eyes. Despite his injuries, Kuro managed a feeble tail wag, letting out a soft whimper—begging for one last touch from the man he'd once loved.

But Winnie struck first. "Mia!" she shrieked, clinging to Julian's arm. "How dare you sick your dog on Sean just because you hate me?!"

Sean latched onto the lie. "Yeah! What kind of psycho sets a dog on an innocent man?"

Julian's outstretched hand froze. Ignoring Kuro's pleading gaze, he turned to me, his voice cold. "Explain yourself."

"Are you seriously blind?" My voice cracked. "He was trying to r**e me! Kuro broke free to protect me!"

Julian's eyes narrowed as Sean's guilty gaze darted away.

Seizing the moment, Winnie collapsed into dramatic sobs. "Brother, she despises me, slanders my family—I should just disappear!"

Instinctively, Julian pulled her close. "Apologize to Winnie," he ordered, his voice like ice.

The world spun. My ears rang, my chest hollowed out. Tears streamed down my face, too thick for words.

Sensing my anguish, Kuro hauled himself forward with a weak but defiant growl at Winnie.

Despite the distance, Winnie shrieked as if attacked, burrowing into Julian's chest. "Brother... I'm scared!" she whimpered.

Julian recoiled, shielding her like I was contagious.

Then...

CRACK! Sean's boot connected with Kuro's ribs. A piercing yelp tore through the night. "Damn mutt! That'll teach you!"

"Kuro!..." I lunged forward, ignoring my own pain, but when I gathered him close, his body felt... shattered.

Yet at my voice, he summoned his last strength to lick my hand—one final comfort—before the light in his eyes faded forever.

Thunder rumbled in the distance as rain began to fall, icy sheets of water weeping with me.

Julian loomed over me, his voice icy. "That aggressive dog had it coming—you shouldn't have let it loose to attack people." He'd forgotten. Forgotten how he'd cradled the palm-sized puppy when it was first born, all tender awkwardness. I covered Kuro's cooling ears, shielding him from the cruelty, and whispered, "You didn't deserve this. You were the best boy, my brave little protector." With my own hands, I buried him in a hidden corner of the Carter estate.

Through the tangled weeds, I could just make out the steps leading down to an abandoned basement. Visions flashed through my mind—handsome young men, tormented by a hunched, gnarled figure. Just then, my phone buzzed. A message from Leo.

Leo: Boss, everything's set—documents and team are ready to go. We can submit whenever you say.Running my fingers over the six scars on my arm, I clung to the cold, freshly turned soil. "Just two more days, Kuro. Then sister's getting you out of here for good." Only when the Carter family's power crumbled would the monsters lose their shield. Only then would the secrets buried in that basement finally come to light. I typed my reply.

Mia: File it all. End this now.