Chapter 274
Barnard and Davina stood close to Camilla. As the big dog squeezed in next to Camilla, it stepped right onto Davina’s toes. She yelped, pain etched across her face.
Staggering backward, Davina crashed into a nearby box that hadn’t been taped shut. Everything inside tumbled out—dog toys and clothes, all of them clearly for the Malamute.
She landed right on top, flattening the box and sending the dog stuff everywhere. One of the little dog sweaters landed at Barnard’s feet. He glanced down and saw his own name embroidered across the front.
That’s when the pieces clicked together. Both times the dog had freaked out—he finally understood why. He bent down to pick up the sweater for a better look, but the Malamute instantly snarled, furious.
Lance’s dog was fiercely protective. The second it saw Barnard touch its things, it lunged straight at him.
Barnard tried to defend himself, bracing with his leg, but this Malamute was nothing like Jasper’s gentle Snow.
The huge dog’s jaws clamped down on Barnard’s ankle before anyone knew what was happening.
Everything dissolved into chaos. Davina screamed, Daisy started to cry, and the racket echoed in the yard.
Barnard instinctively tried to shake the dog loose, but the Malamute just tightened its grip.
Davina could barely breathe from terror. She was too scared to get close, so she looked helplessly at Camilla. “Camilla, please, get your dog off him! Barnard and I are about to get married! He can’t be hurt now… What if something happens? What if he can’t walk? How are we supposed to have the wedding p>
Her eyes shone with tears, but her concern was all about the wedding, not Barnard himself.
Barnard’s face was a dark red, nearly purple, with anger and pain. He glared straight at Camilla. “Camilla, are you just going to stand there? Call your dog off, or I swear I’ll p>
“Barnard!” Camilla shouted his name. The Malamute snapped out of it, turning to look at her with big, confused eyes. Then it finally let go and rushed over to Camilla, tail wagging.
Barnard crumpled onto the ground, struggling to breathe through the pain.
Blood dripped steadily from his ankle, soaking into his sock. His eyes stayed locked on Camilla, sharp with rage and accusation. After two episodes in a row, he finally understood.
“Camilla, tell me,” he growled, “what’s this dog’s name p>
Barnard.
He had guessed it. Every time Camilla called his name, the dog lost control.
Davina hadn’t followed the logic at all. She crouched by Barnard’s side, still eyeing the dog with suspicion, then wailed, “Barnard, why are you even asking about the dog right now? You’re bleeding, for god’s sake! Daisy, what are you waiting for? Go get the driver, we need to get him to the hospital p>
Her cries filled the air as she snapped at Daisy. Daisy just shot her a glare, lips trembling, then ran inside to get the driver.
Barnard’s whole body trembled with pain, veins bulging under his skin. Still, he stared at Camilla, gritting out his question again. “Tell me. What’s this dog’s name p>
Camilla looked uncomfortable, searching for a way to answer. She remembered Lance had ordered pet stuff recently, but this was her first real interaction with the dog. She never imagined it would respond so strongly to the name Barnard… and now, the coincidence had hit her right in the face.
Lance just shrugged, not bothered at all. “Didn’t you already hear it? What’s the big deal p>
Barnard felt a hot ball of frustration press against his chest. Naming the dog after him, and they still acted like he was being unreasonable.
Finally, Davina realized what was going on. She pressed her hand to her chest, voice shaking with outrage. “You two really went too far! Barnard and a dog sharing the same name? How could you? It doesn’t make any sense p>
She was practically speechless with anger. Barnard wanted to explode but just snapped at Davina. “Enough already! Do you have to say it again and again p>
There was no point making more of a scene. The more she yelled, the more people would know he shared a name with a dog.
“But, they’re just… out of line…” Davina started again.
Barnard shot her a look and she finally shut her mouth.
He clenched his jaw, trying and failing to calm down. He didn’t want to keep hearing Davina repeat it, but he couldn’t stop replaying everything in his own head.
Just then, the driver from the Carter family pulled up. Barnard let Davina help him to the car, but not before shooting Camilla one last, icy glare.
As the car pulled away, his stare was fixed on Camilla, full of cold anger.
So that’s how it was. Not only did she team up with some other guy to provoke him, but she even gave a dog his name. He swore to himself that she’d pay for this.