Chapter 473: Innate Brutality
Chapter 473: Chapter 473: Innate Brutality
"Sasha, no!" Brother Gus held Sasha down firmly. "Ms. Jennings is here to help you!"
"Bad person!" Sasha screeched, flailing its forelimbs. "She’s a bad person! I’m going to bite her!"
Renee Jennings watched Sasha’s frenzy and said calmly, "It says it wants to bite me."
"We can’t have that," Hilary said quickly, worried about an accident. "Brother Gus, should we move somewhere safer to talk?"
’If Sasha accidentally hurt Renee, it would be terrible.’
For the first time, Renee Jennings felt a sense of disgust toward an animal. In the System Mall, she spent 100 points to redeem an item: the Soul of Ten Thousand Beasts.
She gazed coldly at Sasha. "No need to move. It won’t dare do anything to me."
The item took effect almost immediately. The moment the frenzied Sasha met Renee Jennings’s eyes, it fell silent. Its body trembled, and it shrank back into Brother Gus’s arms.
Brother Gus could clearly feel the change in Sasha and was utterly shocked.
’It just suddenly became docile?’
Renee Jennings glared at Sasha, her voice low. "Sasha, you said Sparkle was misbehaving, so you and Layla bullied Sparkle every day. You made it so Sparkle couldn’t sleep or eat, until it didn’t even want to live anymore. Is that right?"
Sasha wanted to argue, but looking into Renee Jennings’s eyes, it suddenly lost the courage to lie. "Layla and I did bully Sparkle, but Sparkle was the one who didn’t want to live. It had nothing to do with me..."
"So when Sparkle died, were you happy?"
"I..." Sasha averted its gaze. "I was a little happy."
It lowered its head guiltily.
Brother Gus and Hilary’s breathing grew heavy, and a terrible feeling washed over them.
’How could this be happening?’
’So Sparkle died because it was bullied by Sasha and Layla...?’
"Why would Sasha bully Sparkle?" Hilary’s voice was thick with tears.
"Sasha bullied Sparkle because it wanted Sparkle to obey it and hand over all the things humans gave it." Renee Jennings’s expression was grim. "Sasha also bullied Layla. Layla only obeyed because she was afraid of being bullied, too."
"Oh my god." Hilary covered her mouth in disbelief, the rims of her eyes turning red. "So Layla was bullied into being so obedient."
She had always thought Sasha and Layla were close, and that’s why Layla was willing to share her treats with Sasha.
But that wasn’t the truth at all.
Layla wasn’t sharing; she was surrendering her things.
Hilary looked at the little creature in Brother Gus’s arms, her eyes filled with disappointment. "How did Sasha turn out like this?"
Renee Jennings’s voice was soft. "After seeing what happened to Sparkle, Layla was even more afraid to defy Sasha."
Hearing this, Sasha’s brow furrowed. "Did Layla tell you all this?"
"Yes. Layla has already apologized to Bonnie. They’re good friends now." Renee Jennings told Sasha this deliberately, wanting to see its reaction.
Sasha grew agitated again, letting out a low growl. "Layla, that traitor! How could she do this? I’m furious! I won’t let her get away with it!"
"You won’t let her get away with it? What are you going to do to her?" Renee Jennings asked, probing. "Turn her into the next Sparkle?"
Sasha gnashed its teeth and barked in a low voice, "Layla die! Layla die!"
Renee Jennings’s brow tightened. She could sense that its nature was truly malicious.
She pressed her lips together and looked at Hilary and Brother Gus. "Can you help me contact Director Stone? I’d like to speak with her."
Hilary nodded. "Of course, Ms. Jennings. I’ll call the director right now."
"Thank you." Renee Jennings turned back to Sasha, trying to reason with it. She softened her tone. "Sasha, do you know that bullying Layla, Sparkle, and Bonnie was wrong?"
"I do not!" Sasha replied defiantly. "They didn’t listen, so I taught them a lesson. I did nothing wrong!"
Renee Jennings’s expression was serious. "Well, I’m telling you now that you are wrong. Every orangutan has its own mind. They don’t have to listen to you, and you don’t have to listen to them. If you can play together, then play. If you can’t, then play by yourself. Do you understand?"
"I don’t understand," Sasha said, clearly unhappy.
’This terrifying human! Not only does she not give me more presents than Bambi, but she also says all these things I don’t want to hear!’
’I really want to bite her.’
But that was just a thought. Renee Jennings’s presence was so terrifying that it took all of Sasha’s courage just to glance at her.
’It’s really stubborn,’
Renee Jennings sighed internally and asked one last question. "Are you willing to apologize to Bonnie and Layla? And to get along with them and be good friends from now on?"
"No way," Sasha huffed. "I did nothing wrong, so I’m not apologizing. I don’t want to be their friend, either. They have to listen to me."
The implication was clear: Layla and Bonnie couldn’t be its friends, only its lackeys.
Renee Jennings looked away and stopped trying to communicate with it.
Hilary hung up the phone and came back over. "Ms. Jennings, Director Stone asked me to bring you to her office."
"Okay." Renee Jennings nodded. After a few steps, she added, "Let me call Michelle and Zachary to see where they are. We can all go together."
Hilary replied, "Sounds good."
After her call, Renee Jennings opened a photo Michelle Fuller had sent her. "Hilary, this is where they are."
"I know where that is," Hilary said after a glance at the photo. "This way, Ms. Jennings."
The two of them soon found Michelle Fuller and Zachary Conway. Bonnie and Layla were playing together on a swing.
Hilary was surprised to see them. "Huh? They’re willing to play together now?"
Renee Jennings briefly explained how Layla had apologized to Bonnie, then remarked, "Layla isn’t bad at heart, but Sasha... it’s hard to say."
It seemed as though Sasha still retained the innate cruelty and savagery of a wild animal. As soon as its interests were threatened, that savagery would emerge without restraint.
"Sasha used to be so well-behaved," Hilary sighed with regret. "I don’t know why it changed so much."
"Sasha is too smart," Renee Jennings said, watching the two innocent little orangutans. "Would it be a problem to bring Bonnie and Layla with us to the director’s office?"
"Not at all," Hilary nodded. "Lots of the little animals visit the director’s office to get snacks."
Hearing this, Renee Jennings smiled. "Then Bonnie and Layla can go get some, too."
KNOCK KNOCK—
The door to the director’s office was already open in welcome, but Renee Jennings knocked politely on the doorframe. "Director Stone."
Jude Sherman was boiling water to prepare tea. She looked up at the sound of Renee’s voice and smiled warmly. "Ms. Jennings, you’re here. Please, come in."
Her smile widened when she saw the two orangutans clinging to Renee. "And you two came along as well."
Bonnie and Layla stared with wide, dark eyes, curiously taking in their surroundings in the office.
Jude Sherman handed the two little ones some treats before bringing hot tea to her guests. She smiled apologetically. "I’m so sorry, I’m out of coffee and haven’t had a chance to buy more. I hope you don’t mind tea?"
"Not at all," Renee Jennings said, taking a sip of her tea. "This black tea is very aromatic."
When they heard her say it was aromatic, Bonnie and Layla wanted to try it, too. Forgetting the fruit in their hands, they stared eagerly at the teacups.