My Husband’s Son Dreams of a Family Portrait Without Me

Kerry’s POV

“Cronan is still young and naive. It’s normal for him to throw tantrums. I believe once he grows up, everything will be fine. I’ll also have a talk with him about it later.”

As soon as she sat down, Mom began persuading me.

“You’ve sacrificed so much for this family, dear. Are you really willing to hand it all over to someone else? Liv may look like my daughter, but her personality is nothing like hers. I don’t like that woman.”

I didn’t say a word.

Neither did Hurley, though the determination in his eyes made it clear—he was confident in his ability to win this round.

He must have thought I would be just like before: that as long as my mother said a few words, I would obediently stay.

But this time, he was destined to be disappointed.

I opened my mouth, ready to tell Mom that my decision was final.

But suddenly, a sharp, agonized cry rang out from outside.

It was Buddy’s voice!

My heart lurched. I rushed out in a panic—only to see Cronan gripping a baseball bat, striking the dog’s head over and over!

I hurriedly pulled him away and, overwhelmed with rage, slapped him across the face.

Hurley stormed over and shoved me hard.

“Are you insane?! How could you hit your own child?”

My breath came fast and uneven.

“He’s not my son! I don’t have a son like him!”

Buddy was already on the brink of death, yet upon hearing my voice, he still weakly wagged his tail.

Cronan glared at me with hatred in his eyes.

“That beast kept barking at Auntie Liv. If I hadn’t stopped it in time, it would’ve pounced and bitten her! I had to teach it a lesson today!”

At that, Liv revealed a pitiful expression, showing a small wound on her arm.

“It’s fine, really. Just a little scratch. I’ll get a few rabies shots, and I’ll be fine. I’m only a servant anyway. It’s none of Mrs. Beckham’s concern whether I live or die.”

Her voice trembled, soft and weak, but she added, “What worries me is that there’s such a dangerous dog in your house. It’s one thing if it bit me, but if it bit someone else… that would be a much bigger problem.”

Hurley’s expression darkened instantly. He gripped Liv’s injured hand with tenderness, then turned a cold gaze on me.

“She’s fed your dog so many times, yet it still bit her. A dog like that is beyond saving. There’s no reason to keep it.”

My chest tightened. “What are you going to do?”

The very next second, a bodyguard lifted Buddy’s limp form and slammed him hard onto the ground.

My dog… He stopped breathing instantly.

The only memento my parents had left me… was gone forever in that moment.

I staggered forward, clutching Buddy’s body in my arms as my sobs broke uncontrollably.

When I looked up, my tear-blurred eyes met Mom’s. Just moments ago, she had clearly wanted to stop Hurley and Cronan but hadn’t managed to in time. Now, her eyes were red as she looked at me.

My voice cracked and was hoarse as I asked her, “Mom… did you see it? They killed… They killed my dog!”

She knew exactly how much Buddy meant to me. With a weary sigh, she pulled out the divorce agreement and placed it in front of me.

Hurley frowned in disbelief.

“What’s this? A divorce agreement? You’re divorcing me?”

My voice was cold, sharp as steel.

“Right, Hurley. I’ve had enough of you. I want a divorce!”