Chapter 3
Anthony’s face darkened as he ordered the other six men: “Lock her in Henry’s doghouse. Don’t let her out until after the college application deadline passes.”
I struggled desperately, shouting: “Anthony, are you insane? You know I’m terrified of dogs! How dare you do this!”
Anthony snatched my phone away and gently patted the top of my head.
He said: “Henry’s well-behaved, he won’t bite you. Once we’re in college together, I’ll take good care of you.”
Without hesitation, they locked me in the doghouse. Everything was pitch black around me, with only Henry’s glowing green eyes staring at me intently.
When I was little, I went with Lillian to do charity work in the countryside and got bitten by a dog. Fortunately, Anthony happened to pass by and saved me. But ever since then, I’ve had a psychological trauma whenever I see dogs.
He knew about this perfectly well, yet to prevent me from ruining his and Sarah’s plans, he deliberately locked me up with a dog.
Over the next few days, they seemed to completely forget about my existence. Henry was howling from hunger, and I kept staring fearfully at this increasingly vicious dog in front of me, Hot daring to close my eyes.
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lunged at me to bite. The pain was excruciating, but I had no choice but to fight back to save myself.
When they opened the doghouse door, they found me biting down hard on Henry’s neck. Fresh blood-whether mine or the dog’s-was splattered all over the doghouse.
I finally couldn’t hold on any longer and passed out.
When I woke up again, I was already in the hospital. My whole body ached, wrapped in bandages, with no one by my side.
That’s when Sarah walked in and said: “Looking for Anthony? They’re busy preparing a celebration party for me.
“Ariana, so what if you have good grades? You’ll still end up at a vocational college just like me.
“Anthony said once we’re in college, they’ll have you work as my
nanny.
“Oh, and let me share a secret with you. I heard you really like Anthony. But what can you do? Anthony already belongs to me.
“If you don’t believe me, look. Anthony said he can only experience the joy of being a man with me.”
She then opened her phone and played an intimate video of her and Anthony. The disgusting scene nearly made me throw up bile.
Suddenly Sarah’s expression changed. She slapped herself arɔ̃ss the face and collapsed softly to the ground.
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She cried out: “Ariana, I came to visit you out of kindness, why did you hit me?”
The first person to rush in was Samuel. He lovingly pulled Sarah into his arms.
Anthony frowned, looking at me with displeasure.
He said: “Ariana, I thought after staying in the doghouse for a few days you’d learn to behave, but you’re still as cruel and
vicious as ever.
“If you keep this up, you won’t be invited to our celebration party.”
Sarah immediately “pleaded” for me: “Anthony, don’t be so harsh. We agreed to go to college together-how can Ariana be
absent?”
One of the men chimed in: “Sarah’s so kind, unlike some people who are as wicked as old witches.”
Before I knew it, the day of the celebration party arrived. I pushed open the banquet hall doors and saw Sarah standing radiant in the center.
She wore layers of elaborate gown, diamond-studded high heels, and limited-edition jewelry around her neck, looking like a proud princess.
My breath caught as I rushed forward.
Pacmanded: “Sarah, where did this dress and jewelry come
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from behind me.
Anthony said: “I gave them to Sarah. You have so many dresses and jewelry pieces-lending one to Sarah is no big deal.”
To show off in front of Sarah, Samuel pulled out a stack of bills and threw them in my face.
He said: “Yeah, why are you being so petty? It’s just a dress. How much does it cost? I’ll pay you for it.”
I shouted excitedly: “This dress and jewelry are Christmas gifts my mother left for me! How can you just give them away to someone else?
“Taking my things without my permission is stealing! I’m calling the police right now!”
A flash of guilt crossed Anthony’s and the other six men’s eyes. After all these years together, they all knew how much I treasured the things Lillian left behind-even Weston wasn’t
allowed to touch them.
Anthony looked at Sarah and said: “Sarah, you…”
Before he could finish, Sarah interrupted him. Her eyes filled with tears as she yanked off the crystal necklace around her neck and smashed it hard on the ground.
The necklace Lillian had made for me by hand instantly shattered into several pieces.
Sarah cried: “I don’t deserve to wear these things. I just
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about being a princess for once, even if only for a short time.
“Ariana, I know you rich girls look down on us poor people, but you don’t have to use the word ‘stealing’ to insult my character, do you?”
After saying this, she angrily tore off the dress. The seven men quickly took off their jackets to cover Sarah’s body.
Meanwhile, the dress Lillian left me was carelessly trampled underfoot by them, torn like a rag.
I was still in a daze when I suddenly heard shouting from a waiter in the distance. The chandelier above my head suddenly exploded and came crashing down.
The seven men who should have protected me all rushed to save Sarah instead.
They knocked me down as they pushed past, and the chandelier landed right on top of me.
