Chapter 4
That afternoon, I had someone contact Derek to come in.
He arrived quickly. But the moment the door opened, a low, growl came through.
He hadn’t just brought Lauren. He’d brought the golden retriever into the Sterling house.
Luna was large. She locked eyes on the strangers inside,
growling low in her throat and straining against the leash.
Lauren acted like she didn’t notice and led the dog into the living room.
Luna just came back. She still needs to be monitored.”
I didn’t feel comfortable leaving her at the animal hospital, so I brought her with me.”
Mom came downstairs. The moment she saw the dog, her
face went pale.
That dog was alive because Grant had lost his only chance to come home.
Mom stared at the dog. Her lips trembled before she forced
out the words, “Get it out of here.”
Lauren’s face immediately crumpled with hurt.
“Mrs. Sterling, I know you’re hurting. But Luna didn’t do anything wrong.”
“She doesn’t understand any of this. It’s not her fault she’s alive again.”
Mom didn’t answer. She turned to go back upstairs.
At that moment, Luna barked sharply and tore the leash
from Lauren’s hand. She lunged at Mom.
“Mom!”
That was all I could get out.
Luna sank her teeth into Mom’s ankle.
Mom screamed and hit the floor hard.
Blood soaked through the hem of her pants.
I ran over and tried to pry Luna’s jaws open, but she clamped
down harder, growling and shaking her head with Mom’s leg in her mouth.
Mom went white with pain, her fingers clawing at the floor.
Meanwhile, Lauren just stood there shrieking, “Luna, let go!”
Oh my God, Luna, stop! Let go of her!”
Luna didn’t listen to her.
When I saw the blood pooling beneath Mom’s ankle, I
stopped caring about anything else[i]. I kicked Luna
as hard as I could. Luna yelped, released Mom’s leg, and
slammed into the coffee table.
Lauren screamed and ran to scoop the dog into her arms.
“Luna!”
Tears were already streaming down her face. “Maren, I know you hate her.”
“You think Luna took your brother’s chance to come back,
and seeing her alive makes it worse.”
“But she’s just a dog. None of this is her fault!”
She held Luna tightly, shaking with sobs.
“Take your anger out on me. Why did you have to hurt her so badly?”
She just came back and hasn’t recovered yet. Were you really trying to kill her?”
I stared at her in disbelief. Mom was still on the floor with a bloody ankle.
Lauren acted like she couldn’t see any of it. Derek stepped forward and shielded Lauren.
“Maren, have you lost your mind?”
He grabbed my wrist, his eyes full of blame. “Luna just came
back and is easily startled. Your mom turned away suddenly.
She probably saw her as a threat.”
“Even if she bit someone by accident, you can’t kick her to death!”
I looked at him, and something inside me broke.
Grant had died to save him.
My parents had loved him like a son for over a decade.
Now my mom was bleeding from a dog bite, and all he cared
about was whether the dog was hurt.
Lauren leaned against his back, eyes red, and said softly,
“Derek, don’t blame Maren.”
“She just can’t accept that her brother didn’t come back
while Luna did.”
“If hurting Luna makes her feel better, I won’t hold it against her.”
Derek just shook his head, more disappointed than before.
Maren, when did you get so cold?”
“Bringing Luna back was my call. You’re mad? Be mad at me.”
“Don’t take it out on a dog. That’s low.”
I didn’t explain myself. Some people aren’t confused about
right and wrong. They’ve just already chosen who they want to defend.
I knelt to help Mom up and told the housekeeper to call for a
car to the hospital.
When I looked at Derek, my expression was ice–cold.
“Don’t worry.”
“Every single debt will be settled today.”
A flash of panic crossed Derek’s face. “Maren, settle what debt?”