The maid saw Leland rushing past the door, the iron gate outside was closed, and it could not be opened without the owner’s instructions.
Leland stood outside without calling for anyone, and knelt directly on the ground.
The maid, who was far away, was startled by his actions and hurried back into the house.
It was only six o’clock in the afternoon, not yet time for dinner. The chef was cooking in the kitchen, and the smell of seafood porridge and A5 grade steak wafted from inside. For the Dawson family, this was just an ordinary meal, worth thousands of dollars.
Winifred just came down and the maid told her that Leland had returned. She followed Mr. Hamilton, who was a little surprised at the news.
They went out to see the dog Winifred was about to raise. It was a bit cold outside, but they didn’t feel it with the heater on inside. Winifred’s eyes were sharp, and she saw Leland kneeling in the distance, like a stray dog.
Winifred stood inside the gate, pretending not to know anything, and asked, “Trash, why are you back again?”
Leland raised his head, and his forehead, covered by his bangs, revealed a large bruise. Winifred glanced at it and ignored it. She knew Leland would come back.
“Let’s go see the dog I’m going to raise,” she said, leading the way. The maid followed, and Mr. Hamilton gave instructions to the kitchen to delay cooking the steak. It might take a while outside.
Outside, the temperature felt unusual, and Winifred realized it was probably the start of a new season.
Leland, struggling, finally asked, “Do your words from earlier still count?”
“What words?” Winifred pretended not to know.
Leland didn’t immediately answer. It seemed like he was in a struggle, trying to maintain some dignity.
His hands hung by his sides, unable to grasp anything.
“Miss Dawson, I’ve decided to sell myself and voluntarily be your dog,” Leland said, struggling to speak.
“Be a dog? Then bark twice for me,” Winifred said, crossing her arms.
Leland tried to make a sound but couldn’t. It seemed like the “bark” was stuck in his throat, and the wind outside made his ears numb while his face felt hot with shame.
Winifred didn’t react to his expression. To her, Mr. Hamilton’s dignity and pride were a joke. Despite being poor, they had life-saving money. Abandoning his mother or earning more money were his only options.
Leland could have abandoned them long ago if he wanted. But he didn’t. And he couldn’t earn more money. So, he had no choice but to kneel in front of her and give up his dignity to be a dog.
Meeting her was his fortune.
“Can’t bark?” Winifred turned to Mr. Hamilton and said, “Let’s go back. Let him kneel here alone.”
Mr. Hamilton looked at Leland complexly. Just as he was about to go with Winifred, they heard a bark.
“Woof-”
Winifred turned back, smiling at Leland. “Bark again.”
“Woof woof woof…” Leland knelt with his head down.
Unsatisfied with him not looking at her, Winifred enthusiastically stood by the gate and ordered Leland to lift his head.
Although she wasn’t very tall, Leland felt like she was towering above him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t reach her.
Some people’s starting point is where others stop. It seemed like he would never reach that point.
Winifred, feeling nothing from his gaze, squatted down and picked up a stone, asking him to fetch it from afar.
Mr. Hamilton frowned, caught off guard. Winifred had always been spoiled at home, and at this moment, if he pleaded for Leland, it might make things worse.
Winifred thought of a dog training video she had seen before. She remembered that rewarding dogs with treats when they completed tasks was effective.
She understood now…
Taking money from Mr. Hamilton, she pulled out a thousand dollars. “Fetch this, and it’s yours,” she said.
Leland finally moved. He knelt again, bit his teeth, and crawled towards the stone. It wasn’t difficult.
The money in Winifred’s hand was his hope for a new life, a chance to leave his home and take his mother to the hospital.
Crawling forward felt like stepping on thorns, and his back felt heavy. The sense of shame was crushing his pride.
Finally reaching the stone, he remembered Winifred’s words. He bowed down, bit the stone with his teeth, and blood trickled down his lips.