Chapter 25: The Dog's Favorite Person

Fraser frowned in confusion. He had raised this little mutt for years and had never once seen it take a liking to any woman. Has the dog suddenly changed personalities? Or had it finally matured with age?

His gaze darkened as he strode toward the villa, unfastening the sapphire cufflinks on his sleeves. Every step he took carried an air of effortless elegance—highborn, untouchable. The moment he stepped into the back garden, he stopped in his tracks. From a distance, he caught sight of a familiar, slender figure.

So that’s why Pudding had been acting so strangely. It was Summer. She was wearing a fitted gray business dress that hugged her curves. The hem stopped just above her knees, revealing a pair of long, fair legs. With her back turned to him, he couldn’t see her expression, but her soft, clear laughter filled the garden, blending with Pudding’s excited barking.

“Fetch! One, two, three… Pudding, go get it!” She was playing with the dog, teasing it with a ring toy. No matter how far she threw it, Pudding would dash off and bring it back. After three or four rounds, Summer rewarded him with dog treats. Pudding gobbled them up, chewing loudly.

Fraser raised an eyebrow. Lately, the dog’s appetite had dropped significantly. It had barely touched its food—even the expensive gourmet meals he had specially prepared. The only time it ate was when it was starving, or when Fraser lost his patience and snapped at it. He had been planning to call Xavier to check if something was wrong. If Xavier, a top-tier doctor, ever found out he was being asked to diagnose a dog, his pride would be shattered. Fraser scoffed silently. Pudding, is this how happy you get when you see your mom? Well, it had been nearly thirteen years.

She had planned to use Pudding as an excuse to get inside and find Fraser. But after playing for a while, she had genuinely started enjoying herself. The Samoyed was fluffy and affectionate. Its black, intelligent eyes seemed to see right through people. Despite its large build, it loved to act spoiled, licking her every chance it got.

Just a single pat from her, and it wagged its tail happily. It felt so familiar. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought she had raised it before. Samoyeds were known to be deeply loyal to their owners. Still crouching, Summer stroked the dog’s soft fur.

“Why are you called Pudding? You don’t seem like a Pudding at all. Did Fraser name you?”

Woof woof! Woof woof!

Suddenly, Pudding caught a familiar scent. Ignoring Summer completely, it bolted past her. Summer turned around, just in time to meet a pair of dark, deep-set eyes. They were black, yet gleamed with a faint, sharp light—like polished obsidian. He stood there, one hand in his pocket, his tall frame relaxed. The top few buttons of his dress shirt were undone, revealing a sliver of pale collarbone. The reserved, refined aura made him look even more…dangerously attractive. As Pudding leaped toward him, Fraser caught it with one steady arm.

Summer barely looked at him for a few seconds before quickly averting her gaze. She had thought that after weeks of not seeing him, the memory of that reckless night would have faded. But just one glance, and those heated, breathless moments came rushing back. Her ears burned. Fraser carried Pudding effortlessly, walking toward her with slow, deliberate steps. His towering presence completely overshadowed her.

“You looking for me?”

Summer tensed slightly. Just standing in front of him made her hyper-aware of how strong his presence was. Even the way he looked at her made her instincts go on high alert. She inhaled deeply. “Yeah. I need to talk to you.”

Fraser kept one arm around the fluffy dog. Both he and Pudding stared at her intently. His voice was flat, unreadable. “About what?”

Summer hesitated. Discussing business while he was holding a dog just felt…strange. “Can we talk somewhere more private?”

Fraser lazily glanced at Pudding. “Hailey, take Pudding for a bath.” The dog sitter, who had been waiting in the distance, immediately stepped forward to take him. But as soon as Pudding was set down, it flopped onto the ground and refused to move.