Part 1I Neutered My Dog Groom

Tomorrow was supposed to be the day I married Hudson.

But instead of final fittings or rehearsing vows, my world started glitching. Strange, translucent lines of text—scrolling "bullet comments"—began drifting across my vision like a live social media feed only I could see.

The comments called me the "Venomous Second Lead." They said Hudson was so desperate to escape our marriage that he’d literally turned into a dog.

Even worse, they mentioned that in exactly one week, I’d be dead, having fallen from the roof of a skyscraper.

I was still reeling, staring at the empty air, when my parents burst into my room. Their faces were pale, their expressions twisted with a mix of confusion and disgust.

They told me Hudson was gone. Missing. In his place, they found a dog in his bedroom. They were holding it now.

I looked down at the Samoyed in my father’s arms. The dog looked back at me, its eyes narrowed in a look of pure, unadulterated loathing. In that instant, it clicked. The comments were right.

This wasn’t just a pet. This was Hudson.

Without a word, I lunged forward, snatched the dog from my father’s startled grip, and bolted for the door.

"Paige! Where are you going?" my mother shrieked behind me.

I didn't look back. I just threw my voice over my shoulder as I reached the driveway. "To the vet. This dog needs to be fixed. Immediately."

The creature in my arms visibly recoiled, a pathetic whimper escaping its throat.

My vision flared with a fresh wave of comments. The digital crowd was losing its mind, screaming about whether I was actually going to "neuter the male lead."

...

* * *

The moment I peeled out of the driveway with the dog, my vision became a chaotic mess of scrolling text.

[??? Is she actually going to snip him???]

[The villainess has finally lost it. How does she even have the nerve?]

[RIP Hudson’s manhood. This is going south fast!]

[Chill, she’s just bluffing. She’s obsessed with him. She’d never actually go through with it.]

[Exactly. She’s ‘ride or die’ for Hudson. She’ll probably end up pampering the dog because it belongs to his family.]

I glanced at the comments and let out a sharp, cold laugh. I slammed my foot onto the gas, the engine roaring in response.

In the passenger seat, the Samoyed—Hudson—was a mess. His paws were dug deep into the leather upholstery, his white fur standing on end as we drifted around a sharp corner.

He was terrified. Good.

[Poor Hudson! Look at him shaking!]

[My heart is breaking for him! He’s a mess!]

[But honestly, look at how cute he is when he’s scared? Paige’s heart has to be melting right now.]

[Are you guys blind? This isn't 'cute' time! He’s about to lose his ability to produce heirs!]

[Don't worry, he’s the protagonist. He’s got plot armor. Something will stop her!]

I kept one hand on the wheel and reached over with the other to pat his head.

Hudson snapped. He whipped his head around, baring his teeth at my hand in a snarl of pure aggression. He was ready to tear my skin off.

I gave him a wicked, sideways grin. "Go ahead. Bite me. Give me a reason to just skip the surgery and go straight to euthanasia."

His teeth chattered for a second, then he slowly pulled his lips back over them. He slumped into the seat, defeated.

The feed went wild again:

[Damn, she’s cold. Euthanasia?!]

[To be fair, Hudson’s a coward. He couldn't even man up and call off the wedding, so he turned into a dog and left her to die in the original plot. Total trash move.]

[Hey! It’s the plot! He’s a victim of fate!]

[Victim? A real man says 'I don't love you.' He doesn't pull a disappearing act and leave his fiancée to jump off a building!]

[Technically he’s not a man right now. He’s a male dog. LOL.]

By the time the comments peaked, I was pulling into the parking lot of 'Everheart Specialty Vet.'

The moment Hudson saw the sign with the little blue cross, he went ballistic. He scrambled up, front paws scratching frantically against the glass of the passenger window.

"Awoo! Awoo-woo!"

He was howling for help. But tonight, help wasn't coming.

He tried the door handle with his paws, desperate and clumsy. I leaned in close to his ear, my voice a silky, cruel whisper. "Don't fight it, babe. Think of it as a gift. I’m just being a responsible new owner."

His mouth fell open, his eyes wide with a very human sense of despair.

The screen in my head was a blur:

[Oh my god, poor baby!]

[But wait... he IS a dog right now. Neutering a dog is like... basic pet care...]

[Shut up! That’s the Male Lead! He’s going to turn back eventually!]

[Exactly! If she snips the dog, what happens to the man? How is he supposed to have his 'steamy nights' with the True Heroine later?!]

[Wait for it... the original story says the True Heroine is his guardian angel. She always shows up when he’s in trouble!]

[A 'Beauty Saves the Beast' moment! I’m here for it! He’ll fall so much harder for her after this.]

[And the villainess will be one step closer to her rooftop exit! Hahaha!]

I stared at that last comment, a cold lump forming in my chest.

Fine. If I’m destined to fall off a building, I’m making sure your "Golden Boy" falls with me—starting with his dignity. Let's see how he enjoys his "happily ever after" without his favorite equipment.

I hopped out of the car, hauled Hudson out by his collar, and marched into the clinic.