“Don’t you dare use my daughter to manipulate me!” she snapped, raising her voice. “Does she really feel lonely with teachers and classmates at school and family around her at home? And if we get a dog, who’s going to take care of it? In the end, it’ll be my responsibility, won’t it?”
“Is that how you raise a child? Giving in to their every whim, only to raise an entitled brat? You, a grown man, jealous and picking fights—why not spend that energy making more money? With a father like you, what kind of future does our daughter have?”
As I looked at the spiteful woman in front of me, I couldn’t believe how blind I’d been before.
I said coldly, “No matter what, I’m taking this dog today, and no one’s stopping me.”
I stepped forward, pushed Nora aside, and grabbed Julian by the collar.
“Put the dog down,” I demanded.
Julian hadn’t expected me to get physical. Panicked, he tried to stay calm and said, “Nora, is your husband always this rude? How did you end up marrying someone like him in the first place?”
Nora slapped me hard across the face, her eyes blazing with fury. “Ian, have you lost your mind? How dare you hit someone!”