After She Crushed My Dog and Stole My Estate, I Took Everything From Her

After my father died, Austin, his illegitimate son living abroad, immediately returned to fight me for our family estate. I was the only legitimate son, with a valid will in my hands. Yet, I still lost the manor. All because my fiancée, Serena Sterling—a ruthless powerhouse who ruled this city—insisted on siding with the bastard against me. Shielding Austin in his wheelchair, she snapped at me with cold impatience: "The payout I'm giving you is enough to buy several estates like this. Don't you have an ounce of sympathy? Why are you picking a fight with a cripple!" Heartbroken, I confronted her: "Picking a fight? That house is the only thing my mother left me!" In the end, Serena still helped Austin win the lawsuit. Looking at my bloodshot, tear-stained eyes with faint guilt, she said: "Liam, I'll make it up to you later." Later? I knew right then, there was no 'later' for us. "I'll add another five million to your compensation. Hand the estate over to Austin." "He was in a car crash overseas and has to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Just take pity on a disabled man, will you?" Serena’s casual words nearly drove me insane. "In your dreams! That place belongs to my mother!" "His mother was nothing more than our housekeeper. She seduced my father while my mother was pregnant with me. Then, she had the audacity to flaunt her swollen belly right in my mother's face. My mother went into shock, bled out during early labor, and died giving birth to me!" "You want me to pity him? Who pitied my mother and me?!" Faced with my hysterical screams, Serena took off her gold-rimmed glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She looked at me, thoroughly annoyed. "Liam, stop throwing a tantrum. I'll add another twenty million. That's enough for you to buy several mansions like this. You should be satisfied now, right?" "Now, sign the transfer deed." I stared at the woman in front of me in utter disbelief. "Serena, I'm your fiancé! How can you take an outsider's side?" "Is this the love you swore when you proposed to me?" Aware that she was in the wrong, Serena went quiet for a moment before softening her tone. "I just feel sorry for him." "Liam, as long as you sign obediently, I promise I will only protect you from now on." She pushed the agreement back in front of me. Without hesitation, I grabbed the papers, ripped them to shreds, and threw them right in her face. "Give it up. I will never sign." "The hearing is tomorrow. If you're still determined to side with Austin, I'll see you in court!" I turned on my heel to leave. Serena’s warning voice rang out behind me: "Liam Vance, don't push me!" My footsteps paused. Then, I stepped forward even more resolutely. Suddenly, a violent scuffle echoed from behind. A familiar, agonized whimper cut through the air. My heart dropped. I whipped around, completely falling apart as I glared at Serena. "Are you out of your mind?!" "You're threatening me with Benny?!" Benny was the dog Serena and I had raised together for five years. He was like our child. Right now, Benny's paws were wrapped in thick iron chains. Two burly bodyguards pinned him flat against the floor. Beside them stood a veterinarian holding a sharp syringe. With just one word from Serena, that lethal injection would pump into Benny's body. Serena sighed, looking at me with weary indifference. "Liam, you forced my hand." "I had my team prepare a duplicate contract. Sign it!" "You have three minutes. Whether Benny lives or dies depends entirely on you." Seeing Benny held hostage shattered my last bit of sanity. I rushed forward, grabbing Serena's sleeve, sobbing uncontrollably: "Serena, that's Benny! The dog we adopted together! How can you be so cruel to him? He's ten years old! He's frail and sick—he can't survive this. He's going to die!" My tears didn't stir a drop of pity in her. She glanced down at her watch and said coldly: "You have two minutes left. The manor, or the dog?" Benny's body was already so weak. He thrashed desperately, his tongue hanging out as he panted for air, letting out sharp, agonizing cries. But the bodyguards only pressed down harder, cutting his cries into weak whimpers. He couldn't speak. He could only cry out with his eyes, begging me to save him. His tail, which used to wag happily, lay limp on the cold floor. His eyes were half-closed, wet with tears, gazing at me in sheer pain. Every second I looked at Benny felt like a knife twisting in my chest. Yet the estate was the only keepsake my mother had left behind. How could I willingly hand it over to the bastard whose mother killed mine? How could my mother ever rest in peace?! "Liam, one minute." Thud! My knees gave out. Forgetting every shred of pride and dignity, I fell to my knees before Serena, begging: "Serena, please, I'm begging you! Let Benny go!" "This is between us! Why drag Benny into it? When he had parvo as a puppy, he almost died, and you cried your eyes out! You loved him so much back then! How can you do this to him?!" "Give him back to me! Can't you see he's barely breathing? Please!" Serena didn't blink. She just stared at her watch, counting down with ice in her voice: "Ten seconds left." "Five seconds." "Doctor, inject—" The syringe went up. Benny was gasping his final breath on the floor. In that split second, I finally realized just how ruthless Serena's heart truly was. Collapsing completely onto the ground, I screamed in defeat: "I'll sign!"My hands trembled violently as I signed the agreement. A satisfied smile finally touched Serena’s lips. She passed the document to Austin behind her. With a smug grin, Austin waved the contract in the air. "Thank you so much, brother." "I'll bring my mother over to live in our family manor officially. She's going to be so thrilled." I was too disgusted to look at him. I turned my head toward Serena. "Now, let Benny go." Serena nodded and signaled the bodyguards to release the dog. She bent down, reaching out to help me up. Suddenly, a panicked shriek erupted from Austin behind her. "Ah! Help!" "Something's wrong with my wheelchair!" As he screamed, his electric wheelchair shot backward at high speed. In the blink of an eye, the heavy wheels rolled directly over Benny’s frail body before slamming into the wall. "Ouch! My legs hurt so much!" Austin cried out. He was still able to cry about pain. Benny, whose paws were still chained, had nowhere to run. He took the crushing weight of the motorized chair straight across his fragile torso. With one muffled whimper, he stopped moving. Serena didn't even look down. She stepped right over Benny's body. Rushing over, she scooped up the pale-faced Austin, soothing him tenderly: "I'm here. Don't worry, I'm taking you to the ER right now." Then, she hurried away. I crawled toward Benny on my hands and knees. Blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth. I grabbed the vet by the arm and roared: "Save him!" "He isn't breathing! Aren't you a doctor?! Save him right now!" The vet checked Benny's nose, then shook his head at me. "Mr. Vance, he's gone." Buzz. A deafening ringing exploded inside my head. I don't even remember how I made it through that afternoon. I carried Benny's limp body to the pet crematorium like a walking corpse. I had no real family left. My mother died early. My father was a cheating scoundrel. All these years, there were only two souls I poured my heart into: one woman, and one dog. Now, Benny was dead, and Serena had betrayed me. Standing beside the blazing incinerator, a chilling frost crept deep into my bones. The phone in my pocket buzzed twice. A text from Serena: [It was just a light bump. I heard Benny whine, so he should be fine, right?] [Austin, on the other hand, was terrified. I need to stay at the hospital with him tonight, so I won't be coming home. Since the agreement is signed, drop tomorrow's court case right away.] [Don't be sad. From now on, I will love you twice as much.] I didn't reply. Holding Benny's urn, my eyes dropped to the ring on my finger. What an absolute joke. Love? To hell with her love. Serena knew full well how much this would hurt me, yet she chose to do it anyway. That wasn't a mistake. That was a choice. Between hurting me and loving me, she chose to inflict harm—deliberate, calculated harm. Some things can never be forgiven. That afternoon, I didn't drop the lawsuit. Instead, I spent the entire night packing my bags and moved out of our shared house. I slipped off the engagement ring that once symbolized our love. I tossed it onto the coffee table. The ring was trash. Serena's love was even worse. My phone buzzed again. A notification from the airline: [Dear Mr. Liam Vance, your booking for Flight UA8785 to San Francisco has been confirmed. Departure: day after tomorrow at 10:15 AM. Safe travels!] Another buzz. An unknown number: [Mr. Vance, we looked into it. Austin was never in any car accident abroad.]I didn't drop the charges, so the hearing proceeded as scheduled. With that signed transfer deed in hand, Serena easily won the case for Austin. When the hearing ended, Serena intercepted me in the hallway. Seeing my stone-cold face, she probed cautiously: "Didn't I tell you to drop the suit? Are you still sulking?" "I'm not playing favorites. Austin was my underclassman back when I was in boarding school abroad. We were very close. Seeing him like this breaks my heart. That's the only reason..." "I saw a new luxury development by the coast. The location and view are much better than that old manor. I'll buy two penthouses for you. I'll take you to see them soon. Think of it as compensation. I promised you, in the future—" Before she could finish, Austin's voice chimed in like an inescapable curse as he rolled up in his electric wheelchair. "Liam, I was just looking for you!" "Serena said she was worried people in high society would look down on me since I just got back. So she organized a housewarming party at the manor tomorrow to introduce me to everyone." "Since you're moving your things out tomorrow, why not join us?" Serena jumped in immediately to back him up: "He's right. Austin's background is a little sensitive. Having you there will legitimize his place in the family." I frowned, laughing coldly: "Legitimize him? How?" "The timeline is clear. He was born while my parents were legally married. What else could he be other than the spawn of a mistress?" With that, I turned and walked away. Austin's face flushed crimson with rage. He swallowed his curse words, turning toward Serena with a pitiful, helpless look. "Serena, is Liam still mad at me?" "It's all my fault. I should have just stayed overseas as a useless cripple and died there. I shouldn't have come back to ruin everyone's mood." Serena patted his shoulder soothingly: "What right does he have to be angry? The compensation I gave him is more than enough." "Stop overthinking. I'll handle things for you tomorrow." Her idea of "handling things" was another threat. The next day, while I was directing movers in the back courtyard, the party in the front gardens was in full swing. Serena pushed Austin's wheelchair through the crowd, patiently introducing him to the city's elite. Their designer outfits were even coordinated in matching colors. From a distance, anyone would think they were the real fiancé and fiancée. I let out a bitter chuckle and looked away. I stayed entirely in the back, making sure the movers worked as quickly as possible. I didn't notice Serena walking up behind me until she spoke, her voice laced with irritation: "I sent you so many texts last night. Why didn't you reply to a single one? He lost the use of his legs; he's already suffered enough. Do you really have to drive him out of high society entirely?" Seeing that I wouldn't even look at her, she stepped in front of me and thrust an iPad into my hands. The live security feed showed a group of men with pickaxes and shovels surrounding my mother's grave. Their intentions were painfully obvious. "Liam, if you'd just cooperate, I wouldn't have to resort to this." I stared at Serena. A numb, hollow pain washed over me. Desecrating my mother's grave. To think Serena could actually stoop this low. It was true what they said: only the person you love the most knows exactly where to plunge the knife to hurt you best. I didn't even have the energy to get angry anymore. Disappointment had drained me completely. My heart went hollow. All I felt was hatred for my own powerlessness. "There's no need to make such a scene, Ms. Sterling." "It's just a few words. Don't disturb my mother's rest." I handed the tablet back to her. Suddenly, she grabbed my wrist and demanded: "Where is your engagement ring? Why aren't you wearing it?""Never mind. Once this is all over, I'll buy you a better one." Serena answered her own question, cutting off the breakup speech on the tip of my tongue. I scoffed, pulled my hand away, and headed toward the garden party. I walked right up to Austin's side, took the microphone, and spoke the hypocritical lines they wanted to hear. "Austin is my half-brother." "His mother wasn't a mistress; she was my father's second wife." "I voluntarily gifted this estate to Austin as a welcome-home present from an older brother." ... Down below, Serena was the first to applaud, officially sealing Austin's social standing. Just as I was about to walk away, Austin caught the hem of my jacket. "Thank you, brother, for clearing my mother's name and mine. Since I got back, we haven't had a chance to catch up properly. Do you have a minute?" With all eyes on us, I couldn't refuse. I followed Austin to a secluded courtyard by the pond. The moment the crowd was out of sight, Austin dropped his innocent act. He sneered at me mockingly: "Did you really think forcing Dad to ship me overseas back then would work?" "The second I come back, everything belongs to me! What if I'm a bastard? With Serena backing me up, who in this city dares look at me the wrong way?" "Liam, soon you'll end up just like that dead mutt—crushed under my feet!" My gaze drifted up toward the hidden surveillance camera mounted beneath the roof eaves. I smirked, deliberately baiting him: "The Sterling family would never allow a crippled man to marry their heiress." Just as I expected, Austin wasn't rattled. Instead, right before my eyes, he slowly stood up from the wheelchair. Smug and triumphant, he sneered: "Surprised? I faked the whole thing." "Just wait and see. The best part is yet to come!" "I stole your family estate. And your woman? She's about to be mine too!" Before the words completely left his mouth, Austin stepped onto the edge of the railing and threw himself into the pond, shrieking: "Help! Somebody save me!" Hearing his cries, Serena sprinted over in an instant. Without a second thought, she dove into the water and pulled Austin out. Soaked and pale, he curled weakly in Serena's arms, crying out in terror: "Liam, why did you push me?!" "I know you hate me, but I'm like this! Pushing me into the water is basically trying to kill me!" Serena wrapped Austin tightly in her arms, glaring at me with murderous fury. "Liam! I thought you were just cold-hearted, but you're vicious! Do you have any idea that if I'd arrived a minute later, Austin would have drowned?! How could you lay a hand on a disabled man?!" "Apologize!" I frowned. I hadn't expected Serena to convict me without even letting me speak. "He jumped in himself!" Serena erupted into a scream of pure rage: "Bullshit!" "Austin can't even stand without a wheelchair! How could he possibly jump in on his own?!" I pointed up at the security camera in the courtyard, my voice firm: "There's a camera right there. Whether I'm lying or not, just check the footage." I turned to call the security staff. Infuriated, Serena lunged forward and shoved me hard into the pond. Splash! I fell backward, splashing wildly in the cold water. "Check what?! Since you were brazen enough to do it, you must have rigged the footage anyway!" "Instead of forcing a half-assed apology out of you, why don't you experience drowning yourself? Let's see if you ever dare touch Austin again!" The pond wasn't deep. I scrambled desperately to find my footing. But Serena was determined to teach me a lesson. The second I broke the surface to gasp for air, her hand clamped down on the back of my head, shoving me violently back underwater. Murky pond water rushed down my throat. My lungs convulsed in agonizing spasms, burning like they were about to burst. Just as I was suffocating, she yanked my head up. Before I could inhale for more than two seconds, she shoved me under again. Over and over. She waterboarded me until every drop of strength drained from my limbs. By the end, I didn't even have the energy to fight back. Consciousness began slipping away into pitch-black darkness. Finally, Serena showed a shred of "mercy" and hauled me out, tossing me onto the muddy grass like a discarded rag, leaving me to cough uncontrollably. "I hope you learn your lesson this time. Go home and reflect on what you did!" "Tomorrow morning at nine sharp, I expect you to be on your knees, apologizing to Austin." With that, Serena pushed Austin away in his wheelchair. The onlookers' eyes lingered on me—pity, ridicule, amusement—before the crowd slowly drifted away. I lay curled on the cold ground, unable to even stand. "Cough... hack..." I threw up a mouthful of stagnant water. Wiping away the tears that had blurred my vision, I let out a hoarse laugh, followed by uncontrollable, silent sobs. Thank God. Thank God Serena was so brutally decisive. Her unquestioning suspicion, her abandonment, her cruelty—they stripped away the very last shred of lingering affection I had for her. In the end, I started laughing out loud. Here's to letting go. Here's to finally being free. At nine the next morning, I stood at the airport boarding gate, my phone blowing up with texts from Serena: [Apologize to Austin! Don't you dare try to run away.] [Where the hell are you?!] [Liam Vance, pick up the damn phone!] I didn't reply to a single one. Instead, I deleted her number and blocked her on every platform. A notification popped up from an investigator: [Mr. Vance, per your instructions, the courtyard surveillance footage of Austin jumping into the pond has been uploaded online. It's expected to hit over a million views within twenty minutes and trend in the top three on Twitter and TikTok.] [Good.] I replied. The plane lifted off into the sky, carrying me away from this toxic city. I silently swore to myself: The next time I set foot here, I will take back everything that belongs to me. Meanwhile, back at the office, Serena stared at the red exclamation mark beside her sent messages, stunned. Assuming I was just being petty and throwing another fit, she reached for her desk phone to call me. Suddenly, her assistant burst through the door, holding up a phone and shouting: "Ms. Sterling! Look at social media! Yesterday's incident... something is seriously wrong!"