18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 109

Indeed, Max had always been the girl's pet. From a young age, the dog proved extraordinarily clever. When the girl was once threatened by a mugger during a nightly jog, it was Max who fearlessly fought the thug off, sustaining a serious knife wound in the process. Then there was the time this girl dated Hector. If Hector hadn't been allergic to dog fur and if Max hadn't shown such hostility towards him - even biting him once - they might have remained a couple.

But Hector was decisive. It was either him or the dog. She had no choice but to sell Max to a butcher shop, using the $800 she received to buy a shirt as an apology gift for Hector.

She regretted her decision immensely, often crying in secret. She even buried some of Max's toys in the park as a makeshift grave. Little did she know that Max was still alive and had found a new owner.

The girl was heartbroken, but she wasn't foolish enough to admit the truth in front of Officer Evan. Despite everything, Max was hers!

Stella didn't understand why the girl sold Cooper to the butcher shop, but she was sure it wouldn't be the last time if the dog was in her hands.

"Your dog? How are you going to take care of him?" Stella's eyes were icy cold. "I can see your intentions clear as day. You and your accomplices are all the same."

If Officer Evan hadn't been present, Stella wouldn't have bothered arguing with her. She would've taken her knife and ended the girl on the spot.

The girl was furious when Stella exposed her, her voice rising to a shrill pitch. "That's my business, not yours. Give me my dog back."

"Hold on," Officer Evan interjected. "Since neither of you can provide definitive proof of ownership, let's let the dog decide. Whoever he chooses to go to is his rightful owner."

The group was confident, and whatever was on the menu for the people living on the 18th floor, Cooper would eat the same. He was never treated differently, and he even got the most substantial share, not just in terms of meat but bones as well. Stella had to abide by Officer Evan's decision. What was meant to be hers couldn't be taken away by anyone else. If it wasn't meant to be, it would be useless to keep it.

Despite her reluctance, Stella knew that a forced relationship wouldn't be a good one. She was confident that Cooper, who risked his life to save her in his past life, wouldn't become a disloyal dog for his unworthy previous owner. So she let go of the leash.

other girl didn't play fair. She crouched down and reached out her hands to Cooper,

and

took a deep breath, cursing

was agitated, tugging at her brother Jasper's sleeve. "Jasper, I

patted her head. "Rosie, we have to

voice was full of emotion, almost on the verge of tears. Seeing Cooper slowly

dog, but a pot of

step, without looking back, even starting to

couldn't bear it any longer, reaching into her pocket. The dog might be disloyal, but he had saved her life in her previous life. If he wanted to go back to his previous owner, fine, but it shouldn't be in the form of

grabbed Stella's hand, signaling her to calm down. Seeing Officer Evan's gaze sweep over her, Stella took a deep breath and pulled a piece of gum

started to smirk, Cooper suddenly jumped

girl fell hard on the icy

leg and marked her face. She screamed as the pee splashed over her

by Cooper's

sprinted towards Stella, who reached out and comfortably caught the whimpering dog. Cooper clung to Stella's neck, not giving the other girl another look: he had wanted to mark

disgusted by her smell and moved away,

angry and

at Cooper, her gaze was filled with resentment, devoid of any affection from

she wanted to take Cooper back, but Evan spoke up. "Enough. The dog belongs to this lady here. If you continue to make a fuss, you'll all

up, her voice cold. "If anyone dares to touch him again, I'll kill them." Her

looking at Officer Evan for justice. The dog was hers. She had the right to dispose of