“It doesn’t bite.”
Callie slowly squatted down and petted Pepper’s head. Surprisingly, it didn’t shy away. “For a dog, living over ten years is already quite long.”
“Yes.”
Pepper had waited from a young age to old age, just to wait for its little master to come back…
Feeling Callie’s touch, Pepper rubbed its head against her hand and made a whimpering sound. The sound grew louder until it started barking loudly, startling even Sienna.
Callie remained still, letting it move as it wanted. She wanted to hug it with both hands.
At that moment, Charlotte’s voice came from outside, “Where is Mother?”
A servant replied, “Inside.”
Charlotte pushed the door open and walked in, immediately hearing the almost frantic barking of the dog. She was startled and instinctively hid behind the servant. “What? What’s that? Where did the dog come from?”
The servant quickly protected her. “Miss, it’s okay, it’s Pepper!”
“Pepper? What Pepper?”
Charlotte’s scream also frightened the dog. It became restless in Callie’s arms and would have rushed over if she hadn’t held it down.
Pepper started barking at Charlotte.
“It’s okay, it’s okay! Pepper, it’s okay!” Callie hugged it, trying to calm it down.
Charlotte’s face turned pale. Seeing Pepper gradually calm down, she finally breathed a sigh of relief but still didn’t dare to get close. She asked Sienna, “Mother… where did the dog come from?”
Sienna looked at her with a frown, finding it strange. “It’s the dog you raised when you were little.”
Charlotte’s face turned even paler upon hearing this. She showed a bit of confusion and fear. “When I was little? I don’t remember.”
Callie saw clearly that amidst her confusion, there was also panic and fear.
Sienna turned around and saw Callie and Pepper snuggling together.
Charlotte hurriedly stepped forward, her hands trembling. “Mother, you know I’ve forgotten many things. I didn’t expect… that I’d be afraid of dogs when I grew up.”
She tried to approach Pepper, but the latter was very resistant, as if seeing an enemy.
“Alright, it’s normal to be afraid. People change.” Sienna spoke, stopping her from getting closer.
“Why did you come over? Where’s Nelson?”
Charlotte realized belatedly. “He had something urgent come up. His secretary picked him up.”
Sienna nodded. Charlotte forced a smile. “I had a dog before? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Your father is allergic to dog hair. After you went missing, we kept it in the backyard. Only a few old servants knew; even Marilyn didn’t know.”
Charlotte nodded slowly and lowered her head, trying hard to find a topic.
“Miss Marsh… doesn’t seem to be afraid of dogs. Have you raised one before?”
“No.” Callie calmed Pepper down and handed it back to the servant.
“Never? Then just now… you were quite brave.”
Callie looked directly into her panicked eyes and smiled. “Maybe I’m just naturally not afraid of dogs. But it’s strange for Miss Ellison; you liked dogs when you were little but don’t like them now. It doesn’t seem right.”
Such love for animals is usually innate and doesn’t change.
It was clear that Charlotte was trying hard to stay calm. “I was just startled. Maybe after spending more time with Pepper, I won’t be afraid anymore.”
Callie kept smiling and handed over the drawing she had been holding. “Your drawing skills are good. Here you go.”
Charlotte was surprised. Seeing the content of the drawing, she frowned slightly but forced a smile. “Thank you.”
Callie took off her gloves and said goodbye to Sienna. As she walked out of the exhibition hall, Pepper kept looking in her direction and whimpered again.