Chapter 4
I took Dexter in when he was just a stray.
I'd saved so many people, but in the end, they couldn't even measure up to a dog!
"Look at that fat dog!"
"Haven't had dog meat in ages!"
As soon as they spotted Dexter, their eyes sparkled with excitement.
Simon Tate, one of the butchers I'd saved, snatched up a hefty stick right away.
Another person quickly fetched a second one.
My heart twisted with dread.
I shouted, "Dexter, run!"
Dexter, always protective, would never turn his back on me.
Even though his legs shook with fear and his tail hung low, he still stood firm, guarding me in front of the prison cart without hesitation.
The sticks rained down on him without mercy.
Dexter was quick on his feet, but there were just too many sticks, and he couldn't dodge them all.
Finally, one of the sticks struck his leg.
Crack.
His leg snapped.
He couldn't dodge anymore.
Those people's eyes gleamed with mad excitement as they swarmed in.
Thud, thud, thud.
The sticks hammered down on him like a downpour, and one of his legs was reduced to a mangled mess!
The sickening crack of breaking bones echoed again and again, shredding my nerves.
My eyes blazed red with rage.
I shouted, "Stop!"
I had never felt this kind of fury, not even when they turned their backs on me.
Because my master always said, nothing in this world was more unreliable than the human heart.
They had no right to do that.
They shouldn't have gone after innocent Dexter.
The mob hesitated for a split second, then all turned to stare at me.
Dexter was lying there, completely motionless in a pool of blood, but even then, he struggled to raise his head to look at me.
"This damn mutt can really take a beating!" one of them sneered.
And then another blow landed. This time, it slammed right into Dexter's head. That awful sound of bone shattering hit my ears again.
Dexter collapsed in the pool of blood, completely still, silent forever.
My heart plunged into an icy abyss.
"Don't you fear retribution?" My voice shook with fury as I shouted.
My words hit them like a splash of cold water in a boiling pot, and the guilty ones instantly lost it.
One of them cursed, "You useless quack! Look at the mess you made of our lives. May God punish you instead!"
Rotten vegetables and reeking eggs came flying at me, twice as many as before.
And this time, they even hurled stones into the mix.
Thud!
A stone smashed squarely into my left eye.
I felt my eyeball rupture.
White fluid mixed with blood ran down my face.
Agonizing pain stabbed into my brain, making every nerve shudder.
"Mother, I finally hit her!" Zane shouted, bouncing with excitement.
Zane was so thrilled that he couldn't help but leap up in joy.
He'd been hurling things with his arms again and again, and this time, he finally nailed it!
Lucia's eyes were cold. There was no trace of guilt left, just pure hatred.
"You cursed my son? You totally deserved it!" she snapped.
Then she turned around and ruffled Zane's hair, her face full of pride.
"That's my boy! So clever!" she gushed.
The guards finally appeared, a bit late, to try to restore order.
I fixed the good eye on every single person who'd hurt me, glaring at them one by one.
Maybe it was the blood streaming down my face that looked so terrifying, or maybe there was still a shred of conscience left in them.
They all took a step back in unison.
A mocking smile tugged at my lips.
"Go tell your magistrate. Whatever charges he pinned on me, I accept them!" I declared, my voice icy and resolute.
No one noticed that, right as my words faded, a single drop of blood slipped from Zane's nostril and landed in the mud at his feet.
My easy confession finally let Ridge, the magistrate, out a relieved breath.
"No need for torture. Good. At least she knows her place," Ridge said coolly.
Ridge truly was the youngest and most fair-minded magistrate in Urako.
That day, I was stripped of everything I owned, paid what I owed, and lost whatever they wanted to take.
Paisley hugged a pouch of silver, eyes shining with gratitude.
"Thank you, Your Honor! Thank you, Dr. Warner! Thank you, Prince Quentin..." she gushed, voice trembling.
Even Lucia, who never paid a single coin for treatment, still received ten silver taels in compensation.
"Son, now I finally have the money to send you to school," Lucia said, her voice shaking with excitement.
Mother and son burst into tears of joy.
Everyone clutched their silver, ten times the usual amount, and rushed over to Tinsley, falling to their knees before her, showering her with thanks.
"Thank you, Dr. Warner, for standing up for us. We'll work ourselves to the bone to repay your kindness," they cried, voices trembling with gratitude.
Tinsley looked genuinely pleased, unable to hide the excitement bubbling up inside.
"Please, get up. I'm just doing what I should," she said softly.
Her noble character and selfless dedication to the people left everyone in awe.
The look in Ridge and Quentin's eyes grew even more adoring. They were her loyal knights, hopelessly smitten.
Tinsley was so sacred, so utterly unique, like nothing they'd ever seen before.
They were determined to stand by her side and help her build the perfect world she'd always dreamed of.
Simon Tate from Novegin not only scored thirty silver taels in compensation, but also got Dexter's body.
He puffed out his chest and told the "victims," "Tonight, my place, dog meat for everyone!"
"Count me in! I'll throw in a silver tael for another dish," someone shouted.
"I'll get a big jug of wine for the folks..." another chimed in.
All the "victims" who'd pocketed my compensation money started throwing their cash around.
Only one person hung back, gripping their silver with a troubled look, clearly torn and unable to join the celebration.