After the Breakup, She Refused His Apology

“You cruel, crazy bitch! You convinced Dale to bring my dog back to your house just to kill him. Give him back. Give me back my dog!” She pulled my hair in frustration.

The flame inside me churned and flared. I gritted my teeth and lowered my head, clenched my fist and slammed it hard against her wrist, forcing her hand to slip away.

Then with the back of my hand, I slapped hard towards her face. I was so angry the dog hadn't died by my hand. I had been patient enough to tolerate her affair with my husband, how dare she question me? Who did she think she was?

The fire inside me surged and blazed. I gritted my teeth and lowered my head, clenched my fist and struck her wrist hard, forcing her hand to release. Seeing me fight back, no one around dared to stop me. I slapped her again in the face like a maniac.

“If you love your pet so much, why don't you just die and join him in the underworld?” I snarl at her.

Eileen was skinny and she was weak from lack of exercise. After I slapped her, she staggered backward and stumbled. She fell on the ground, staring at me wide-eyed, while holding her red face.

Dale, bewildered by the escalating conflict. He noticed Eileen wincing in pain and swiftly stepped in to intervene before things escalated further.

Blinded by rage and on the brink of losing control, I raised my hand, intending to strike Dale across the face. He hesitated, momentarily stunned by the intensity of the situation unfolding before him.

“Harper Fields, what the fuck is wrong with you?” In a sudden burst of self-defense, Dale reacted instinctively, his fear giving way to a surge of adrenaline. Without a second thought, he delivered a forceful kick to my stomach, aiming to protect himself and diffuse the escalating confrontation. The impact knocked me back, gasping for air and momentarily stunned by the unexpected retaliation. An excruciating pain came from my stomach, making me bend over and unable to stand up straight.

When she saw Dale coming to her aid, Eileen took the opportunity to crawl toward me and grab my hair. That's when I saw the rock I'd dropped before. I dropped down to pick up the rock, I picked it up to smash it into her head. I didn't care. If I had to die, I would take her with me. As I raised my hand, Dale quickly caught my arm. He gripped it firmly, took the stone by force and threw it far away and I screamed at the top of my lungs.

“Dale you fucking asshole! Her dog bit your son to death and you still defend her? Are you even human?” My eyes welled up as I uttered the final words.

But Dale didn't seem to believe it at all. His chest was rising and falling and his eyes stared at me with disappointment.

“I thought you were just mad because Rex bit Liam. I didn't think you were so vile that you would slander someone like that. So this is your true nature?” He paused for a moment.

“Torturing dogs, cursing your child to die and abusing people like they’re some rats, that's your true nature? Let's get a divorce.”

Before I could open my mouth to give an explanation from my side, Eileen seized the opportunity to grab a brick and hit it on my head.

The intense pain lodged in my head was palpable. I could feel warm fluid flowing slowly down my forehead into my mouth. I swallowed inadvertently and it tasted fishy.

Dale looked so terrified but he froze in place. There was no one in sight was offering any help. Eileen lifted her hand again and I closed my eyes.

“Stop!”

The baritone voice of a man sounded from afar. The anticipated pain didn't come. Then I heard the sound of something heavy falling with a loud thud and it rolled. It wasn't Dale's voice. I strained to look towards where the sound came from and saw a person in a police uniform approaching.

Eileen stood up hurriedly and pointed at me. “Officer, this woman has committed violence against animals. She tortured my boy to death. If you need more, he can be my witness,” she said, then glanced towards Dale.

Dale fell silent as his eyes swirled with the police officer's. He quickly averted his gaze, looking nervous. “Good evening, Officer Fields,” Dale greeted after clearing his throat.

That was right. This man and I share the same last name. The officer in front of us was Ryan Fields, my brother, Dale's brother-in-law.

Dale pointed towards the stiffened dog in the corner, explaining frantically, “You know how much I love this dog. I raised him like my own child. Today, Harper tortured him to death. She deceived me to take him back from my ex-girlfriend's house. Isn't that crazy? Look, Ryan–”

Without warning, Ryan punched him hard in the face. He staggered back, clutching his nose. He appeared deeply shocked by both the punch and my brother's anger.

“Are you fucking out of your mind? Your son died because of that mad dog and you're still trying desperately to defend him. You're an asshole!” Ryan took a step back and unclutched his fist. Blood dripped from Dale's nose. He was stunned. I didn't know if he was stunned from the punch or from hearing my brother's words.

“By the way, my shift ended half an hour ago. I was on my way home when Dispatch notified me of a disturbance at my sister's house. I hitched a ride with a friend who was on duty just to check. I never imagined the report was about you.”

“What?” After a moment, he snapped out of thought and immediately took out his phone. He dialed my mother's number frantically. He called her to confirm.