Chapter 632: Are You Still Human?
"There is..." smiled Christian, nodding.
But before Wendy could sense relief, Christian’s words made her fall back into despair.
He continued, "She can choose not to eat it. However, that means you lose this game, and the price is the death of your baby..."
Throwing her arms protectively over her belly once more, Wendy glared at Christian.
She knew that Christian was settling scores with them.
Getting Zen to fight with the dog over food was the first step of humiliating them. If she did not comply, Wendy’s child would be in danger.
Even if Zen were to take part in this inhuman game, she would hardly win against a hungry dog.
"What do you think? Would you like to admit defeat or try to fight your way out of this?" Christian’s gaze went from Wendy to Zen.
In mock compassion, Christian said, "Why don’t I give you three minutes to think about it?"
With that, Christian sat on a chair, fingers gently tapping against the table, as though he was really giving them time to think. His stance was clear. There was no room for discussion.
Wendy naturally wished for no harm to befall her unborn child. However, she was well aware that it was almost impossible for Zen, with her injured leg, to win against that dog. It would be difficult even if Zen were not injured. Moreover, such abasement was inhumane.
Christian was obviously targeting her unborn child. Even if Zen won this time, Christian would find other ways to humiliate her.
Before Wendy could say anything more, Zen asked Christian in all seriousness, "So as long as I win, you’d leave Wendy and her baby alone, and no longer find any other way to create trouble for them?"
"Zen!" Wendy shook her head as she tugged urgently on Zen’s sleeve. She evidently did not agree to Zen’s choice as she continued, "You can’t!"
"Wendy, I owe you too much. It’s time I repaid you a little," Zen turned to Wendy and forced a weak smile as she said, "I can’t leave the entire sum of my debt to the afterlife, can I?"
"Zen, do you think you can even win this?" Wendy reasoned, "Can’t you see he’s trying to humiliate you?!"
"Even so, I need to give it a go for the sake of your baby." Zen looked down on Wendy’s pregnant belly as her eyes welled up in tears, "Your child is a life after all..."
As Zen spoke, she stroked her own belly intuitively. She too had a baby once. Her child had been about to come into this world in a month’s time.
At this point, Zen looked over at Christian, her eyes full of repulsion. She knew how it felt for a mother to lose her child. She did not wish for Wendy to experience it too.
Zen closed her eyes as tears trickled from the corners of her eyes.
Wiping away her tears, Zen looked at Christian once more, "Mr. Lucas, I asked you a question. Please answer me."
Zen’s address of Christian had gone from "Christian" to "Mr. Lucas".
She had drawn a line and was now cold towards him.
"Sure, you have my word," Christian mocked, "As long as you win, I won’t create more trouble for Wendy."
"Good," Zen nodded, her eyes flashed in determination as she replied in a businesslike manner.
Wendy pulled Zen back gently and shook her head as she said, "No, I don’t agree to this."
"Wendy, let me do something for you," Zen smiled weakly as she stretched her hand out, intending to push Wendy away.
...
"To protect my child is my duty," Wendy declared before she turned to Christian, "Your aim is to humiliate me, isn’t it? Let me do it, I’ll fight with the dog!"
At Wendy’s words, Christian felt his insides twist. Rising to his feet, he glowered at Wendy and probed, "Wendy, Zen had betrayed you and hurt you. Why are you helping her? I, on the other hand, am willing to sacrifice my life for you. Yet, you did not hesitate to point a gun at me."
Christian could not understand how Wendy could forgive Zen but was so callous towards him. Was he simply not good enough for her?
"Christian Lucas, someone like you will never understand why," Wendy hissed.
Zen and Christian were two entirely different types of people. Christian’s mistakes were impossible to make up for. On the other hand, Zen had given her heart to the wrong person and had been led astray by him. Besides, Zen had already paid a high price for her mistakes. She had lost her child, and at one point, she almost lost her life as well.
Now, to help Wendy, Zen was even willing to be humiliated by Christian. Zen did make many mistakes, but she had since repented and no longer continued down the wrong path.
Christian, on the other hand, never believed that he was in the wrong.
"Hah! Someone like me..." Christian fumed upon hearing Wendy’s words. He knew that he was a criminal. But he had been good enough to Wendy.
He had never treated another person that well. He had even watched a woman who deeply loved him die before his very eyes after taking a bullet for him. Yet, Christian had not even shed a tear for her.
However, he had disregarded his own safety for Wendy. A woman whom he treasured more than his own life referred to him as "someone like you". Inhaling deeply, Christian clenched his fists.
"Wendy, you’re pregnant..." Zen looked upon Wendy with concern as she continued, "You cannot do something like this."
For a pregnant woman to fight with a dog over food, it would highly likely result in a miscarriage. Wendy was also weaker than the average pregnant woman.
"Your leg is hurt. You can’t fight either," Wendy said.
"Wendy, let me do something for you. I can’t forgive myself otherwise," Zen plastered a smile on her face as tears streamed down her cheeks. She assured Wendy, "I will give my best to win this!"
Christian suppressed his rising anger and mocked, "Have you made your choice?
Your three minutes are up."
"Let me do it," Zen positioned herself in front of Wendy and insisted.
"Zen..."
Wendy was about to speak when Zen stopped her, "That’s enough, I’ve made up my mind."
"Good," Christian uttered and with a wave of his hand, he ordered the people behind himself, "Everyone out. Make space for Zen Tanner and the dog."
With this, Christian headed straight for the door.
"Zen!" Wendy called out, but before she could say more, she was ushered out by a bodyguard, "Ms. Stewart, this way please."
Wendy looked over at Zen who remained where she was. Despite the tears in her eyes, Zen continued wearing a smile. Wendy knew that by now, nothing would change Zen’s mind. She pushed the bodyguard away and stood before Zen.
Retrieving the fruit knife from her pocket, Wendy put it in Zen’s hand.
Christian saw this, but he did not protest.
...
Wendy was right. Christian wanted revenge. He wanted to hurt Wendy’s unborn child. Since Wendy dared to kill him, Christian wanted her to live a life that was worse than death. If Wendy lost this child, she would be heartbroken.
Now, everyone had left the dining area. Wendy and Christian stood at the door and could clearly see Zen. With a smile, Christian instructed, "Begin."
At his word, the dog was released from its leash. Zen hurried to stuff the chicken wings into her mouth. But she was too slow. As she ate one, the dog had wolfed down two. So Zen picked up the chicken wings before eating them.
As she picked up two chicken wings, the dog barked loudly at her, "Woof! Woof!"
The loud barks startled Zen as she pulled her hand back. In the blink of an eye, the dog was on its third chicken wing, while Zen was still on her first. That would not do.
If things were to continue at this rate, Zen would lose.
Fighting her fear, Zen reached over to snatch the chicken wings. As Zen picked up the remaining chicken wings, the dog leaped forward and sank its teeth into Zen’s hand.
"Ah!" Zen’s scream resounded between the four walls. The pain shot through Zen’s body. Yet she did not dare to let go. If she did, and the chicken wings fell to the floor, the dog would finish them all.
The dog seemed surprised by Zen’s response. Despite biting her with all its might, she was not letting the chicken wings go. It released Zen and attempted to reach for the chicken wings in her hand directly.
Wendy looked on as Zen was being bitten by the dog. She unconsciously stepped forward, wanting to help Zen. But Christian grabbed her hand.
With a deeply resentful look, Wendy glowered at Christian and yelled, "Christian Lucas, are you still human?"
"Zen herself agreed to this game. Since she gave her word, she needs to see it to the end," Christian spoke expressionlessly, unmoved by what he saw.
Helplessly, Wendy was forced to remain on the spot while Zen continued to fight the dog before her eyes. Zen’s leg had been hurt and she walked with much difficulty. It was impossible for her to run. She hurriedly stuffed yet another chicken wing in her mouth. She had to finish the chicken wing for it to be counted.
Without being able to move away, Zen had to finish the chicken wing where she was. At this point, the dog’s teeth had sunk into her hand that held the chicken wings, and was inches away from reaching them.
This couldn’t go on. Amidst her pain and panic, Zen pulled out the bones of the chicken wing in her mouth out with her free hand and flung them into a corner.
Zen’s abrupt movement distracted the dog. It ran towards the bones.
Zen was relieved momentarily. Yet, she did not let her guard down and continued stuffing the chicken wings into her mouth.
Seeing that she had one last chicken wing, Zen did not waste any time by chewing and swallowed the meat whole. Unfortunately, the dog had returned from gnawing on the bones. Its gaze was fixed upon the final chicken wing in Zen’s hand.
Once more, Zen flung out the bones. However, it seemed to have little effect. The dog glanced at the bones that had been flung, and then rushed for the last chicken wing in Zen’s hand.
This dog was rather clever. After all, chicken wings with the meat intact were more delicious. After going for this one, it could always go for the bones later.
