Chapter 10: Worth Less Than a Dog
588 Words
“Hmm.”
Keith believed her words sounded truthful, so he didn’t press further. But his cold eyes narrowed slightly. “Then you’d better get used to it.
Now that they’re close by, we’ll be seeing them more often—maybe even every weekend for dinner.”
His tone was neutral. After speaking, Keith turned and left. Before going downstairs, he stopped by the study and stuffed the divorce papers into a drawer.
That simple sentence hit Dora like a bombshell, shattering her heart into pieces. ‘Wha… what?’
For a moment, she stood frozen, as if a flock of crows had flown over her head. She didn’t move until she heard the sound of the car engine starting. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined such a twisted turn of fate amid the tension.
Shaken by Keith’s words, memories flooded her mind. Dazed, she suddenly felt a strong urge to eat. Remembering she hadn’t fed Duo Duo, she headed downstairs.
Manor Heights was a small, standalone villa on the outskirts of the city, nestled between mountains and water. The environment was elegant and secluded—a semi-natural garden stretched behind it, covered in red and white roses. In early summer, butterflies fluttered around, like a fairyland.
After their marriage, they’d lived here alone—or more accurately, two “pets”: her and Duo Duo, a white poodle. Duo Duo… Dora. She didn’t know if it was a coincidence or a mockery of her situation, but sometimes she felt she was worth less than this white poodle.
When she first moved in, the dog only followed Keith, eyeing her with disdain and refusing to let her touch it. Only three people frequented Manor Heights: her, Keith, and Housekeeper May. May usually arrived at 10 a.m. to clean, shop for groceries, and feed the dog, leaving by 3 p.m. Occasionally she stayed overnight, but most days, Dora was alone in the sprawling mansion.
Over time, a routine formed—May fed and checked on the dog during the day; Dora gave it a small evening snack, more out of habit than necessity.
As expected of Keith Fu’s dog, it had its nose in the air. In the beginning, Duo Duo had been very hostile toward her. Despite being a beautiful, intelligent dog, it would bark whenever she approached. The standoff lasted three months before she finally managed to take it for a walk.
Once, they’d driven far from home. On the way back, the dog jumped out of the car without her noticing. Unfortunately, Keith had come home early that day. Finding Duo Duo missing, his face darkened to storm clouds. He summoned a team to search, spending over an hour hunting with flashlights until they found the puppy and carried it back in a fuss—leaving Dora stranded by the road.
That day, she walked half an hour in wind and rain, umbrella in hand, until she was drenched to the bone. By the time she reached the door, Keith had only just realized she was gone and stepped outside to look for her—after already bathing the dog!
She’d never forgotten that incident. It was the only time in three years she’d made a mistake and endured Keith’s cold shoulder.
She didn’t dare imagine what would have happened if the dog had been hurt—would she have been forced to pay with her life for a dog?
Privilege breeds coldness. Sometimes, a person could be worth less than a beloved pet.
- Writer
