Chapter 1
Claudia's POV:
While I was working at the coffee shop, my coworker complained, "A guy just ordered an ice cream sundae and left a note saying it was for his puppy, so no chocolate. I took out the Oreo pieces, and then he asked why I hadn't put any in. I told him Oreos have chocolate in them, too. Guess what he said? By 'puppy,' he meant his girlfriend."
I smiled. "His poor girlfriend. Imagine dating someone who doesn't even treat you like a person."
Just then, my boyfriend, Malcolm Beckett, sent me a message.
Malcolm: Almost done with work? It's your birthday today, so I bought you your favorite ice cream sundae.
A moment later, he sent a photo of a sundae with no Oreo pieces.
I froze, then asked my coworker for the customer's phone number. It was Malcolm's.
My head spun. The unlucky girlfriend I'd just been talking about was me.
Anger and hurt surged through me. I immediately took a cab home.
The moment I walked through the door, a crowd cheered, "Happy birthday!"
A second later, someone shoved a cake into my face. Sticky frosting clogged my mouth and nose, cutting off my air.
I frantically wiped away the frosting and saw a brand-new dog bed in the middle of the living room.
My breath caught. "What's this?"
Malcolm's childhood friend smiled. "It's Malcolm's birthday present for you. Aren't you his puppy? You won't be sleeping in a bed anymore. You'll sleep in this."
The whole room erupted in laughter.
Malcolm looked at my pale face, ruffled my hair, and said with a smile, "Nadine's just joking. Don't take it personally, puppy."
At that, I snapped.
I stepped forward and flipped the table laid out for my birthday dinner.
Food scattered across the floor, and grease splattered on Malcolm's bespoke suit.
For a moment, the room fell silent. Every pair of eyes turned toward me.
I stared Malcolm down and said slowly, enunciating every word, "Malcolm, I'm your girlfriend, not your pet."
A bitter ache spread through my chest.
We'd been together for 3 years, and he loved calling me his puppy.
I'd always thought it was a term of endearment. Only today did I realize he didn't see me as a person at all.
Malcolm's expression darkened. Without a word, he walked over to a gift box and lifted out a fluffy puppy.
"You've got it all wrong, Claudia," he said slowly. "It was just a joke." He glanced at the dog bed. "That's for the puppy." Then he held the puppy out toward me. "Don't you like animals? This puppy is your actual birthday present."
I stared at the puppy, shaking all over. "Malcolm, I've told you so many times. I'm allergic to dogs."
He went rigid, confusion flickering in his eyes.
He'd clearly forgotten.
Nadine Mercer came over with a smile and took the puppy. "If Claudia doesn't want the puppy, let me have the little one." She turned to Malcolm, her smile widening. "Your puppy's got quite a temper today, Malcolm. I'm not used to seeing her like this." After a pause, she looked back at me. "Don't be so sensitive, Claudia. Malcolm's the Beckett Group heir. A coffee shop girl like you ought to count herself lucky. He's taken this relationship seriously for 3 whole years."
"Exactly," someone chimed in. "We joke around all the time. Don't be so thin-skinned. Making a scene like this just makes you look childish. Malcolm arranged this dinner well in advance. Don't you think flipping the table was going too far? You owe him an apology."
My nails dug deep into my palms as I listened.
I looked at Malcolm. He didn't contradict them. He just pinched the bridge of his nose, looking weary. "All right, that's enough. It's my puppy's birthday. Don't upset her." He smiled and ruffled my hair again, like an owner soothing a sulking pet. "Come on. Don't be angry."
"Don't touch me." My voice was ice-cold. I knocked his hand away, turned, and hurried into the bathroom.
The moment I shut the door, I couldn't hold back the hurt I'd been bottling up. Tears poured down my face.
I bit my arm to keep myself from sobbing aloud.
After a long while, I pulled out my phone with trembling hands and dialed a number I hadn't called in 3 years.
