He Made Me Bark Like a Dog Before Choosing His Mistress

The next morning at dawn, Adriana's voice pulled me from my thoughts. She was lounging confidently in my chair, as if she owned the place.

When she noticed me, she smirked. "Hey, you little genius, I heard you make great pancakes. How about whipping up some for me?"

I shook my head and tried to leave.

Camden caught my wrist, barking, "Isla, you've been living under the Perry family's roof for two decades. It's one breakfast. Why act like a diva?"

I glanced at Camden, then turned and headed to the kitchen.

In just ten minutes, I had two pancakes ready and placed them carefully in front of Adriana, who was pretending to pour herself a cup of coffee.

Hot water splashed on the back of my hand, and the sting made me wince.

Camden, alarmed, quickly pulled me to the sink to run it under cold water and reached for ointment. He hesitated, though.

Adriana shrieked, "Camden, I'm hurt."

He rushed to her side, gently soothing her finger, though his eyes stayed on me.

"Camden, kiss it and make it better," Adriana cooed, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him possessively. I swallowed the bitter ache in my heart and left to catch a cab to the hospital.

The doctor said I was getting better and needed to meet new people.

I looked down, realizing how much I'd leaned on Camden for the past twenty years because of my illness.

But now...

I touched my chest as my phone buzzed.

Seeing the message, my heart skipped a beat. I gripped the phone tightly.

I rushed out of the hospital.

When I got home, it looked like a tornado had torn through. Family photos were shredded, and my mom's keepsakes were scattered everywhere.

Adriana still had my mother's ring on her finger.

Like a wild animal, I lunged to snatch it back.

Adriana sneered and shoved me hard.

She yanked my hair and slapped my face. "You think I could get into your room without Camden letting me?"

"Give it back..."

My voice was raspy from disuse, blood lingering in my mouth.

"What's all the noise?"

Camden's irritated voice cut through the tension. Instinctively, I looked to him, hoping he'd remember our shared past.

But he didn't intervene.

He just sat there, watching like it was a show. "Isla, apologize to Adriana, and let's end this."

Rage consumed me, and I lunged at Adriana's throat.

Marks appeared on her neck.

Camden dragged me back, his voice chilly, "Isla, apologize."

I took a deep breath, my eyes filled with hatred. "Give me back the ring."

Camden seemed taken aback.

Casually, he took the ring from Adriana, holding it just out of reach. "Isla Mills, kneel and beg."

I bit my lip hard enough to bleed.

Breathing heavily, I slowly knelt, tears streaming down as my forehead touched the floor.

Then Camden gripped my throat, throwing the ring out the window.

His eyes were bloodshot with rage. "Why, Isla Mills?"

"Why mourn something long gone? They were with you only for a few years."

I struggled to breathe, the world darkening.

Then he released me. "Get out!"

I stumbled, half-crawling down the stairs, sprinting toward the pond outside, where there was no sign of the ring.

Exhaustion overtook me, and without thinking, I dove in.

Desperate to retrieve the only thing that truly belonged to me.