I ran over to greet them, and Master Cox patted my head. "Finally, a good child willing to visit Marcel. Little girl, don't be afraid of his rudeness. He's actually soft-hearted, like a hedgehog."

I earnestly agreed. "I know; he's really kind-hearted."

Marcel scoffed. "Do you know me well enough to say that? Hypocritical."

I turned to him and snorted. "I know. So what?"

Marcel sneered and ignored me, going upstairs.

Master Cox, fuming, tapped his cane and led me. "Come on, I'll take you to find him. How can this child be so ungrateful?"

I followed Master Cox upstairs with a smile. He threw open Marcel's door and said, "What are you doing up here? Why are you hiding when we have a guest?"

He pushed me into the room. I glanced at Marcel's attempt to hide his phone. The screen was displaying live surveillance footage of a living room where a yellow mutt was panting and tearing up the house. The sofa was nearly ruined, and the table legs were about to give out.

Seeing me peek, Marcel quickly put away his phone and shot me a thinly veiled angry look. "Aren't you going to find your ideal partner? Why are you bothering me?"

I shook my finger at him. "Dylan isn't my ideal partner, so stop saying nonsense."

"Then what are you here for?" Marcel's raised eyebrows held a hint of disdain. "You're not out fishing for a catch, are you?"

"Actually, yes, I'm hoping to catch you. Is that okay?" With Master Cox absent, I dropped my obedient facade and walked up to him with a grin, hands behind my back.

Marcel's face flushed red, mixed with a trace of anger. "I'm not a good person. Don't come bothering me—"

"You are." I interrupted him firmly. "You're a great person."

Marcel looked at me with confusion. "Are you having trouble with your eyes or is your brain not working properly?"

I smiled and changed the subject. "Can I see your dog?"

Marcel shook his head firmly. "No."

"Oh." I nodded. "But it looks really cute."

Marcel suspiciously asked, "What kind of dog do you have trouble affording? Why do you care about a mutt?"

"I just like mutts; they're smart and well-behaved." I spoke with genuine affection.

I really do like them.

Marcel's expression softened slightly. Reluctantly, he handed me his phone. "Just take a quick look."

I nodded, watching the video of the yellow dog with undivided attention, as it wreaked havoc in the house. I hadn't seen it for a long time.