Chapter 14

It was Neuee and Anne. Elle barely choked out, "What do you want?"

Clutching a Hemnes hay bale worth millions, Renee stepped forward with the confidence of a seasoned businesswoman. "You know perfectly well why I'm here, you bitch!"

"Sorry, but I couldn't care less about the Holts' trashy drama. Frankly, I'm not in the mood for this."

Renee swallowed her anger. "Anne told me you went to Donovan's private villa the other day. I'm here to explain what you were doing there."

"Constructing hum, obviously. What else? Your future son-in-law is handsome, charming, and successful. He's every woman's dream."

Renee took a deep breath, her jaw tight as she hissed, "You bitch! All these years, you've pushed me around, and I let it slide because I thought you were just throwing childish tantrums, and I felt sorry for you for losing your mother so young. But now, you're interfering with Anne's happiness? I'll make sure you learn how to be a decent person."

The mention of Rebesvastakkanerve pierced Giselle's calm composure.

"Oh, really?" she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You nasty old hag! Thirty years ago, you slept with your own sister's husband just to get ahead. So, tell me, how is it unfair if I follow your example so many years later and steal my sister's man?"

"How dare you?"

Renee's face turned pale; her anger was caught in her throat, leaving her speechless.

Anne stepped in to defend her. "Giselle, nobody can beat you when it comes to starting drama. Mom and I didn't come here to fight. We just came to let you know that your rebellious, psycho act might work with your low-rent crowd, but if you're dumb enough to mess with the Kanes, you'll be the one paying the price, so watch yourself!"

Giselle sneered at the threat. "Oh, Annie, a few stolen moments with him, and you're already this rattled? You even dragged yourself here to threaten me? Doesn't exactly scream confidence in whatever you and Donovan have, does it?"

Anne's face went rigid; Giselle had struck a nerve.

"Out of the way! Just remember this: Donovan and I are getting engaged next month. And if the Kanes catch wind of a notorious bitch like you sniffing around him, they won't just sit on their hands!"

Giselle turned away from Anne, her arms crossed. She was tired of her pretense. "Anne, if you're so worried, here's an idea: keep your man on a tighter leash. Or just cut off his little pinkie finger and carry it around with you."

"Strutting around in front of me is pointless. You know how this goes; I've got nothing to lose, unlike you."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? So now you're openly picking a fight with me?" Renee snapped and stepped toward Giselle, her hand raised as if to slap her.

But before she could strike, Giselle's shepherd dog lunged at her, its claws tearing into her clothes.

Renee shrieked, flailing wildly at the dog, while Anne screamed beside her, too scared to help in case she got bitten. The whole scene quickly spiraled into chaos.

Just as the dog was about to lunge at Renee's face, Giselle shouted, "Eastin, come here!"

Eastin immediately stopped his attack and trotted back to Giselle's side.

Although Renee hadn't been bitten, her top was torn across the chest. She was badly shaken, her heart still pounding long after the incident.

"Mom, let's go. That dog's vicious. It's dangerous!"

Anne was equally scared. She glared at Giselle and Eastin before pulling Renee out the door.

As the two troublemakers drove off, the veterinary clinic finally settled down. Giselle crouched and patted Eastin's head affectionately, murmuring words of praise.

Eastin wasn't the kind of dog to attack without reason. His loyalty belonged solely to Giselle. Sharp and perceptive, he acted as her personal bodyguard, always at her side, keeping watch at the clinic.

In the days that followed, Giselle didn't dwell on the argument with Renee and Anne, dismissing it as idle chatter; she kept her focus on her usual work at the clinic.

But a week later, as she was napping at home, one of her clinic managers called in a panic. "Ms. Holt, something terrible has happened!"