Chapter 5

"Why don't you design something for me and let me use it for the competition? Then, when you're the main judge, just vote for me. I'll finally get to be the champion! I've never been first in anything since I was a kid," Natasha said.

Dayana couldn't help but twitch her lips. She'd met shameless people before, but Natasha was on a whole new level. 'Seriously, how could she even say that out loud?' Dayana thought.

"No way. I've got what I needed. You can leave now," Dayana said.

As she was about to close the door, Natasha was quick. She shoved Dayana aside and squeezed past her into the room. Without realizing it, she plopped right down on the dog, who yelped and started barking.

Natasha scrambled around the room, freaking out because she was scared of dogs.

The more Natasha ran, the more hyped up the dog got. It wouldn't let up, chasing her all over the place until it finally sank its teeth into her thigh.

Dayana muttered a curse under her breath, scooped up the dog and tried to calm it down. Natasha was lying on the floor, wailing.

"Natasha, what happened?" Spencer's voice rang out before he even appeared, and then he strode into view, passing right by Dayana.

Natasha pointed at her leg, then at the dog in Dayana's arms, complaining, "Spencer, I was just here to deliver the card, and she let her dog bite me! You've got to back me up here!"

Spencer shot Dayana a sharp, disapproving look. "Dayana, didn't I say no furry animals in this house? Are you just ignoring everything I say? Now look, this mutt went and bit Natasha! Care to explain yourself? Apologize to Natasha, and get rid of that dog. If you actually mean it, maybe we'll think about letting this slide."

Dayana couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. 'Seriously, after spending so much time with Natasha, Spencer's brain must've turned to mush. They're both nuts,' she thought.

Spencer didn't even bother to ask what really happened. He just told her to apologize to Natasha. Dayana was speechless. 'This is next-level absurd. If ridiculousness had a home, this would be it,' she thought.

Seeing Dayana just stand there, Spencer and Natasha exchanged a glance. The next second, Spencer pinned her down while Natasha yanked the dog right out of her arms.

Outnumbered, Dayana didn't stand a chance. Natasha gave a hard pull, making Dayana stumble. Her freshly bandaged knee wound splitting open again. She didn't even have time to cry out before the dog was ripped from her grasp and thrown to the floor.

Its fierce barking faded into a pitiful whimper, barely clinging to life as it looked up at her with pleading, helpless eyes.

Dayana's eyes burned with rage and desperation, her breath coming in sharp, ragged bursts. She grabbed a fruit knife from the coffee table.

"Get the hell out of my house, or don't blame me if I do something you'll regret," she snapped.

Natasha was clearly freaked out by Dayana's outburst. She hobbled over like a total coward, hiding behind Spencer and tugging at his sleeve.

"Spencer, my leg hurts so much! Let's go to the hospital, please," she whined.

The two of them bolted out, the knife hitting the floor with a loud clang. Dayana didn't give a damn about anything else. She scooped up her dog and raced downstairs, grabbed a cab, and sped straight to the animal hospital.

The vet totally tore into Dayana, scolding her, "If you can't even take care of a dog, then don't own one! Look at this mess. Now the poor pup's suffering, and your wallet's crying too."

Dayana muttered a quiet apology. When she got home, she found Spencer already there, standing with a confrontational air, waiting for her.

"Dayana, we need to talk," Spencer said.

Dayana kept quiet, put the dog in the bedroom, and pulled out the first aid kit to take care of her own injury.

"You got hurt too? Wow, what are the odds. Are you playing the victim just so you don't have to apologize to Natasha? Even if you are, you're still the one at fault here. Why bother keeping that stupid dog anyway?" Spencer sneered.

Dayana thought, 'Spencer's never got anything nice to say. For a second, she almost thought he cared, but of course, it was all about Natasha as usual.'

Seeing Dayana stay silent, Spencer's anger flared even hotter. He snatched the iodine from her hand and tossed it straight into the trash.

"Seriously, talking to you is like talking to a brick wall. You never say a damn thing. God knows what I was thinking when I picked you. No wonder nobody in this house can stand you. Honestly, if anyone actually liked you, I'd be shocked," he snapped.

Dayana froze. Back then, Spencer used to pity her, always saying he was the only one who cared about her, that he'd be her family and love her forever. Now, he was throwing cruel words at her, and just like that, he stabbed her right in the heart.

Spencer was boiling with rage, swinging at nothing but air. Frustrated and furious, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

The next morning, Dayana went out for an early workout. When she got back, she spotted Natasha lounging on the couch, inspecting a piece of ruby, turning it over in her hands.

Dayana marched over and snatched it away, her face stormy. "Is this what your mom taught you? Just helping yourself to other people's stuff? Ever heard of manners?"

Natasha's face changed when Dayana brought up her mom. She scrambled up, looking flustered. "Dayana, I'm sorry. I've never seen a carving like this before.

"I just wanted to take a closer look. Please don't be mad. My mom passed away years ago, so honestly, I never had anyone to teach me this stuff."