Leashed by the Man I Loved

On my twenty-second birthday, I confessed my feelings to my brother.

He said I had lost my way.

Then he turned around and handed me over to Adrian Blackwood.

Adrian Blackwood was his business partner, and rumors said his temper changed without warning.

Dont kill him.

I grabbed him, hoping he would take me away.

The toe of a black shoe stepped on my fingers.

Be good, fix yourself properly, and dont disappoint me.

In one month, I became a dog.

Adrian Blackwood trained me into a dog.

He led me to the villa gate and unlocked the collar.

The iron gate seemed like the checkpoint between heaven and hell.

From crawling on the ground to slowly straightening my back.

Sunlight fell across my face.

It was like being reborn.

My brother did not come to pick me up.

Thinking back to the day I impulsively confessed to him, it was as if I had committed some unforgivable sin.

I had actually developed feelings for my stepbrother...

He sent me into the hands of the dog trainer, Adrian Blackwood.

Adrian Blackwood crouched down and pinched the back of my neck. Such lively eyes. I havent seen eyes like these in a long time. Youll definitely become the most obedient dog.

I know I was wrong. Ill never come near you again. Dont send me here!

I knelt on the ground and begged bitterly.

I hoped he would feel even a little pity and not give me to a demon.

I tried to grab the hem of his pants.

I was only a little short before he stepped on the joints of my fingers.

Dirty!

He casually spat out that icy word, frowned in disgust, and walked away.

Dont kill him.

I tried to stand up, but Adrian Blackwood had looped something around my neck and pulled me back, and I almost touched his fingertips.

He frowned, pulled out an alcohol wipe, and slowly cleaned his hand.

Ethan, I was wrong... Please, Im begging you, let me go! Ill stay far away from you.

Adrian Blackwood was notorious in the elite circles of New York, and everyone said he was moody and unpredictable.

I did not want to fall into his hands.

I watched helplessly as the door closed, and my heart shattered with it.

Adrian Blackwood tugged the leash and leaned close to me. Look at you. Youre so cute when you cry...

Dont worry, youll become my finest work.

Have you gone stupid?

Ethan knocked on the dining table in the breakfast room, frowning in displeasure.

His sharp presence made me freeze, and I unconsciously dropped to the ground.

I could not control my body.

I was wrong. I lay on the floor. Please tell me what I need to correct.

I did not know what to do to please him so he would not despise me.

That sharp gaze swept over me, making me even more afraid to move.

It hurt so much, but as long as I behaved, I could get a reward and would not be beaten.

Ethan frowned, and I carefully tried to guess his mood while thinking back on whether I had done anything excessive just now.

Where had I gone wrong?

His expression changed, and I could not guess anything at all.

I lowered my head, not daring to face him, and whispered, ...Ethan, please tell me what I did wrong. Ill fix it.

The air fell silent.

Ethan did not speak, only stared blankly at me.

Not bad. Adrian Blackwood knows what hes doing.

Ethan crooked a finger at me. Sit.

I forced myself to sit up and chose a seat farther away.

He was still like a god descended to earth, handsome and heartless.

There were three seats between us.

I lowered my eyes, knowing my place.

I was nothing but a lowly dog.

The first room on the second floor is yours. He spoke briefly and calmly while eating breakfast.

Now that youve been fixed, dont do anything brainless again. I dont want to send you back a second time.

So my impulsive confession had been something brainless.

I pushed open the bedroom door and looked at the brand-new room.

I touched the soft, large bed, and the pillowcase smelled faintly of grass and wood.

My ribs ached dully, and I did not dare lie on the bed.

As a dog, I did not deserve to get on a bed at all.

I chose to curl up and sleep in the gap.

I liked rolling myself into a ball.

Only that gave me a sense of safety.

This new villa was luxurious and spacious, and I did not know what I was supposed to do.

If I had not been sent to Adrian Blackwood, I would still be on campus, continuing my college life.

Carefree.

The floor was a little hard, so I wrapped my clothes into a nest.

I was afraid of causing trouble, so I endured my hunger.

Until

There was a knock at the door.

Youve got some nerve now?

Hearing the words charged with anger, I crawled out of my nest.

I realized...

Fine sweat broke out on my forehead, and I staggered as I opened the door.

After making those movements by instinct, I realized the invisible shackles could no longer be removed.

I opened the door and showed half my face. Mr. Sterling...

Get out here.

Ethan stood at the door.

He was only two fists away from me.

No, I pushed the door open and tried to walk out, then retreated again, and my knees went weak by instinct as I dropped down.

Adrian Blackwood would kill me.

The tightly locked collar was being yanked hard, and I could not breathe.

I could not move freely.

My eyes filled with blood as I pulled at it, trying to tear it off and throw it away, but that suffocating chokehold tightened more and more.

Collapsed on the floor, it felt as if Adrian Blackwood was kicking me to the brink of death.

Maybe only death could free me.

Noah, whats wrong with you? Ethan crouched down and lightly patted my cheek.

Looking at his frown, it seemed like there was worry in his eyes.

My blood sugar is low.

I quickly crawled back beside my nest and kept a certain distance from him.

I let out a turbid breath, felt a sense of safety, and trembled as I clung to the edge of the bed and stood up.

He was only about three feet away from me.

The person who once lived at the very tip of my heart was now someone I did not dare get close to.

Lets go. Theres a dinner. Ethan went downstairs first, impatient.

He watched me tremble down the stairs and snapped, Is your brain broken? You hid in your room all day and even made yourself a dog bed. Do you really think youre a dog?

He saw it.

The nest I made.

I covered my face, bloodless. I was wrong. Im sorry.

Giving in did not bring sympathy.

Ethan was irritated. Im tired of hearing that. Since you came home, all youve done is apologize or lie on the ground apologizing. Youre part of the Sterling family, and you have responsibilities youre supposed to fulfill.

I know I was wrong. Ill change...

What I want is action, not you standing here saying sorry over and over again.

Facing the sharp and aggressive Ethan, I dropped to the floor, held my head in both hands, and trembled all over, pulling at an old injury on my elbow that throbbed with pain, a fear response from electric shocks.

I will fulfill the responsibilities expected of a member of the Sterling family.

The Sterling family was a large family, and it needed heirs and marriage alliances.

I understood.

I also would not mention the fact that I had once liked Ethan.

Ethan fell silent.

Lets go.

He walked ahead of me, wearing a crisp black suit and carrying a powerful aura.

How could I still have the face to like him?

Adrian Blackwood knew my feelings, and he knew best how to punish me.

I followed Ethan into the restaurant.

Just as he was about to open the private dining room door, a waiter suddenly called Ethan away.

He nodded and instructed me, I have something to handle. Ill be over in a bit.

I stayed where I was, still hesitating over whether I should open the door.

The waiter on the right pushed it open.

I froze in place, then turned and wanted to run, while the man inside the private room looked at me with a smiling face.

My legs went weak, and even the strength to turn vanished.

A coppery sweetness rose in my throat.

Whats the first thing you do when you see me, hmm?

Youre not being good.

Adrian Blackwood smiled.

My heart fell into hell.

Who had arranged this dinner?

I thought in fear that I had fallen into a trap and would be dragged back to that man-eating villa again.

My chest felt tight, and my heart hurt too.

Adrian Blackwood shook the dog leash.

I instantly dropped down, tilted my head up, and waited for him to put the leash on me.

Lying on the floor, I pressed my palms to the ground and shook them at him from time to time, as if I had a tail.

I obediently crawled to his side and raised my head.

Adrian Blackwood smoothed my raised strands of hair, the corners of his mouth lifting, and I could tell he was in a good mood.

You should thank your brother for this meeting. I helped him discipline your bad habits, so he specially arranged this dinner.

My body stiffened, and my heart, already like a sieve, was stabbed a few more times.

You forgot what to do when you saw me. Looks like your heart has grown wild.

The corners of Adrian Blackwoods mouth lifted, and I wanted to escape the private room.

Im the young master of the Sterling family! I brought out my status.

I was fighting the trained reactions of my body with sheer willpower, bracing myself against a chair as I tried to stand.

That dark month was already over.

I had been reborn.

Adrian Blackwood would not allow that to happen.

Young Mr. Sterling is still too naive. All it takes is one sentence, and youll be sent back to my side. Want to try?

His playful words and smug posture made my scalp prickle and my blood run cold.

You know what I like.

The slight lift at the end of his sentence carried a hint of threat.

I thought of todays dinner.

I had no choice but to admit Adrian Blackwood was right.

I closed my eyes, accepted my fate, lifted the tablecloth, and crouched down.

Everything was fate, and I had no room to choose.

I, this dog, could no longer straighten my back.

Why was I the one suffering?

Why did I have to suffer just because I confessed to my stepbrother?

Under the tablecloth was another dark world.

His favorite method.

This was the mandatory way I had to please him every day, and if I failed to complete it on any day, I would be denied food and water, whipped with a braid soaked in salt water, and shocked with electricity too.

I had already done this thirty times.

I was horrifyingly skilled at it.

The door to the private room was pushed open again.

Ethans voice came from above.

Where is he?

He left right after coming in. Hes getting more and more shy. Maybe he still needs more training for a while. Adrian Blackwood spoke calmly and raised his wineglass. About the company...

After a few casual words, the topic shifted back to business.

Ethan frowned in confusion. Hmm? Theres a sound!

The sound came closer and closer, as if from below.

How could there be a strange sound in the private room?

The tablecloth was suddenly yanked open.

Ethans face darkened, and he had not expected this live performance to be...

The table was overturned.

Noah Sterling? Do you have no shame?