Chapter 3

When I woke up in the hospital, the doctor regretfully informed me that not only had I lost the baby, but my uterus had suffered severe damage—I would never be able to conceive again.

I couldn't hold back my cries any longer. Tears streamed down my face as I broke down completely. Hatred spread from the depths of my heart.

Desperate, I shared my experience online, pleading for help. The post quickly gained traction, drawing immense public attention.

Realizing the severity of the situation, the police launched a citywide search for the rabid dog. But it was as if the dog had vanished into thin air. Days passed, and they found nothing.

In the end, it was an online user who provided a crucial lead. Using surveillance footage from the location they mentioned, the police tracked the dog to an abandoned chemical plant.

It was aggressive and classified as a banned breed under national regulations. The officers had to break one of its legs before finally restraining it to capture it.

A photo of the captured rabid dog quickly spread online, and the public cheered in unison.

"They caught the dog—now they can find the owner!"

"Keeping an illegal breed without a leash? The owner should be jailed too!"

That very day, Willow had just given birth when she came across the news. Tears streamed down her face, making Hunter's heart ache unbearably.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying like this?"

"Hunter, I… I just feel so sorry for the dog. Renee used it to fight for your attention, and now she's making it take the blame. They even broke its leg… It's so cruel…

"They found it at an abandoned factory, which means it was a stray. A stray dog is like a child without a mother—no one to speak up for it."

Her tears fell onto Hunter's hand, burning into his heart.

He immediately pulled her into his arms, whispering soothingly. "Willow, you're just too kind. No one could compare to you."

Little did they know, her tears caused her milk supply to dry up. Their newborn refused to drink formula and cried out in hunger, even wailing desperately. Willow was heartbroken, and she was unable to bear the sight.

Furious, Hunter stormed into my hospital room, kicking the door open.

Willow followed closely behind, pretending to hold him back, but there was a sinister glint in her eyes when she looked at me.

Hunter dismissed the nurse administering my IV, then rushed toward me, jabbing a finger in my face as he exploded in rage.

"How could you be so vicious? All this just to fight for attention—even using a dog!

"You claimed you miscarried because of a dog attack, that you were bleeding out—yet here you are, perfectly fine!

"Renee, you weren't like this before. When did you become so manipulative? If people find out you're lying, their words alone will drown you!"

After the uterine curettage, I survived on nutrient injections. Just as I finally started to regain some color, he dismissed it as an act.

Even though days had passed, the image of my stillborn baby, its tiny body tinged purple, continued to stab at my heart like a thousand needles.

Fixing my gaze on their intertwined hands, I forced myself to stay composed.

I met his eyes calmly and let out a soft scoff. "Once they find the dog's owner, you'll know whether I was lying or not. I just hope someone won't be too scared when the truth comes out."

I deliberately shifted my gaze to Willow. Her innocent-looking face turned deathly pale in an instant, and she nearly fainted.

"Willow!" Hunter immediately caught her and helped her into a chair.

Though his words carried a hint of frustration, his concern was unmistakable.

"I told you not to come. Yet you're still worrying about her at a time like this?"

"Hunter, just talk things through with Renee. As long as she feels better, I don't mind." She stole a timid glance at me before quickly lowering her head, looking every bit the helpless victim.

Her act only fueled Hunter's rage. He had never been able to stand seeing her like this.

In the past, whenever I so much as expressed discomfort about their closeness, he would explode in anger.

I had swallowed my grievances again and again for the sake of my child, convincing myself that I was just overthinking things. But now, with no child to hold me back, my mind was suddenly crystal clear.

They had been involved all along. They even had a child together.

Lost in thought, I didn't see it coming when a hard slap landed across my face. Hunter had struck me, and his eyes were swirling with fury.

"Get up and withdraw the case immediately! I won't be humiliated like this! And figure out a way to heal that dog. Willow's worried sick about it."

When I didn't move, his patience snapped. He stormed over, grabbed me, and threw me to the floor.

"Sir, you can't treat her like this! She just had a uterine curettage—you can't be so rough with her!"

The nurse, who was unable to bear it any longer, mustered the courage to push him away. With the blanket no longer covering me, Hunter's gaze fell on my now-flat abdomen.

His eyes suddenly widened, his breath hitching. Then, his voice trembled with horror.

"You… Your stomach… Where's the baby?"

The last few words were almost a roar. But even that wasn't enough to vent his fury—he even lashed out, kicking me hard.

"Renee, you're getting back at me, aren't you? You're a heartless woman! You aborted my child just because of some petty jealousy!"

"Hunter! She set the dog on me! That's how the baby died!" Curled up on the floor, my body was wracked with unbearable pain.

His kick landed on my abdomen, and I felt a warm gush of blood flowing down my legs again.

"You're still lying—you—" Hunter couldn't tolerate Willow being accused.

Losing all reason, he grabbed my collar with a murderous look in his eyes. Then, suddenly, his gaze dropped to the pool of blood beneath me.

For a fleeting moment, he hesitated. And right then, two police officers walked in.

They brought the rabid dog with them, its broken leg dragging behind. The dog bared its teeth, growling in a low, menacing tone.

Yet the moment it saw Willow, it immediately calmed down. It was wagging its tail at her obediently.

"Looks like we've found the real owner."