She Called Me Cold, So I Gave Her The Rabid Dog

Chapter 3

At 3 p.m., I heard a flurry of footsteps in the hallway.

I pulled up the feed from my entryway camera. The property manager stood outside Emily's door with two security guards and Linda from the HOA board.

Emily opened the door with red-rimmed eyes and the aggrieved look of someone who had been deeply wronged.

Behind her, the living room was a disaster. The rug was covered in stains, and deep claw marks scarred most of the furniture.

"Emily, we're not trying to be heartless," the property manager said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Other residents filed complaints. We have no vaccination or health records for the dog, and keeping him here violates the building's safety rules."

Emily raised her voice at once, and her eyes filled with tears on cue.

"He's just scared! Buddy is a living creature. Was it that heartless Audrey Blake who complained? She won't contribute a cent to help him, so now she wants him killed!"

Linda immediately backed her up. "Exactly. Young people these days have no empathy. Emily is such a kind girl. Building management doesn't have to be so rigid."

With someone taking her side, Emily became bolder. Instead of backing down, she took out the phone she used for livestreaming and pointed it at the property manager and Linda.

"Everyone, look at our building management! And look at that vicious woman hiding behind her door! They actually want to throw Buddy out!"

Then she addressed someone on the livestream. "You said you wanted to join, right? Tell everyone what you think!"

A man's voice came through the livestream. "Emmy, don't cry. I've got your back. Who does this Audrey woman think she is? If building management lays one finger on that dog, I'll have people protesting outside your building every day!"

The property manager clearly didn't know how to deal with such blatant intimidation.

That was when I opened my door and stepped into the hallway.

Every eye turned toward me.

Emily reacted as though she had seen her worst enemy. She shoved the camera in my direction.

"Audrey! You actually have the nerve to come out here? Look at what you did. You think calling building management on me proves anything?"

I ignored the camera and walked straight to the property manager. From the folder under my arm, I pulled out a printed document.

"I just checked this with a friend who knows the law. Since Ms. Dawson insists on keeping an unidentified dog that may be ill, we need something in writing to protect every resident in this building."

I handed the paper to the property manager and held it where Emily's camera could see the bold title.

Sole Adoption and Liability Agreement

"Emily, you keep insisting that Buddy isn't sick and that he's completely safe. Fine. Sign this agreement stating that you are his sole adopter and that if he bites a neighbor, transmits disease, causes serious injury, or kills someone, you alone will bear the legal and financial liability. Building management and the other residents on this floor will not be responsible."

I met her eyes, my voice calm.

"Sign it, and I'll withdraw my complaint immediately. From then on, Buddy is yours for good, and no one will interfere."

Emily froze.

Linda leaned over to look at the document. Her face tightened, and she quietly edged backward.

No one wanted to be on the hook for damages.

"What... what kind of outrageous agreement is that?" Emily stammered.

"Why? Are you afraid to sign it?" I raised an eyebrow and gave the camera a mocking smile. "You just swore that Buddy was gentle and would never bite anyone. If he's truly that safe, what are you worried about? Or does your compassion disappear the moment you might have to pay for the consequences?"

Some viewers turned against her immediately.

A: The neighbor has a point. If you're adopting him, why not sign the agreement?

B: The streamer just said she'd take full responsibility. Why is she hesitating now?

The top donor quickly shouted through the livestream, "Sign it! Emmy, don't be afraid. I'll back you up. If you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear. Don't let that vicious woman look down on you!"

With hundreds of thousands of followers watching, Emily had nowhere to retreat.

She clenched her teeth, and something vicious flashed in her eyes.

"Fine. I'll sign! You think I'm scared? I'll show you what real compassion looks like!"

She snatched the pen from the property manager, scrawled her signature across the agreement, then initialed the final page.