Chapter 5

Gregory's POV

I pulled out my phone, ready to call the police. But before I could dial, a stick smashed down hard on my hand. The phone flew from my grip and skidded across the ground.

Brutus lunged forward to attack the men restraining me, but someone quickly threw a sack over his head then clubs came down mercilessly.

Brutus let out a piercing, agonized howl, and my heart clenched violently.

I struggled with everything I had, trying to break free and stop them. But my body was pinned to the ground, completely immobile.

“Let Brutus go!” I shouted desperately. “If you’ve got a grudge, take it out on me! What kind of people torture a dog?”

Giselle gave a cold, twisted smile.

“We were never claiming to be decent people,” she said calmly. “That dog is just as disgusting as you. I’ve hated it for a long time. Before, you were the principal, so we didn’t dare touch it. But now...”

She sneered and continued, “What you did to us has already blown up online. An investigation is coming, and you’ll be fired soon enough. Mr. Miles, your career is over.”

I stared at her, panic burning in my chest. Fighting to stay calm, I forced out my words. “Giselle, do you even know what you’re doing right now? This is a crime. Let me go. Let Brutus go. You still have a chance. Otherwise, the law will catch up to you.”

But Mildred only laughed mockingly and scoffed, “The law? Mr. Miles, do you think we don’t understand the law?"

She then turned to Brutus while pointing at him, and continued, "This vicious dog attacked first. I was just acting in self-defense.”

Turning her gaze back to me with eyes filled with righteous fury, she added, “And as for you, we’re victims breaking out of a cage. These villagers are heroes helping us escape a living hell. You’re the real criminal here. You’re the one who deserves to be judged.”

With that, she kicked me hard in the stomach.

I doubled over in pain, cold sweat dripping onto the ground.

Then, without hesitation, she picked up a wooden stick and slammed it down onto the writhing sack.

“Hand over the keys. Let us leave, and we’ll spare this vicious dog’s life. Otherwise...”

She paused as she struck again and again.

Brutus’s cries grew weaker and weaker until all that remained was a broken, wheezing whimper.

Brutus… my Brutus.

For ten years, he had stood guard beside me, protecting this school. Every inch of this campus bore his footprints.

He was a loyal sentinel, lurking in the shadows, fearlessly exposing countless people with ill intentions.

He played with the children. He was gentle with the teachers.

Only in front of real danger did he bare his fangs.

And now this loyal dog, with his head trapped in a sack, was being beaten to death, branded an “evil beast.”

I watched as bright red blood dripped steadily from the sack, each drop stabbing into my heart like an icy blade.

At that moment, tears surged uncontrollably as I asked myself if it was worth sacrificing my most loyal companion for people this heartless.

The answer was clear. No. It wasn’t.

I sucked in a sharp breath and clenched my teeth.

“Fine,” I said hoarsely. “I’ll give it to you.”