Chapter 140

The first sign that something was wrong was the dramatic wheezing sound coming from the living room.

Lisa walked in after practice, dropping her bag beside the couch, only to freeze at the sight before her.

Mochi-their once athletic little corgi-was laying on his back in the middle of the carpet like a fallen loaf of bread.

Not sleeping.

Not relaxing.

Just… stuck.

His tiny legs kicked helplessly in the air.

“Mama…” Ruby whispered beside him with sparkling eyes. “He became a potato.”

Lisa blinked slowly.

“Mochi,” she called carefully.

The corgi looked at her with the expression of a man who had accepted his fate.

Then he wheezed again.

From the kitchen, Jennie walked out holding a plate of sliced apples and gasped dramatically. “BABY!”

She rushed over and scooped Mochi into her arms like he was a wounded soldier.

“Mochi-ah, are you okay?!” Jennie kissed his forehead repeatedly while the corgi simply melted against her chest.

Lisa narrowed her eyes.

“…Why is he heavy?”

Jennie froze.

Ruby froze too.

The room suddenly became suspiciously silent.

Lisa pointed at the corgi. “Why does our dog look like he swallowed another corgi?”

Ruby immediately defended him.

“He’s fluffy.”

“He’s round,” Lisa corrected.

“He’s cute round,” Ruby argued.

Jennie nodded proudly. “Exactly.”

Lisa looked between her wife and daughter-the two biggest enablers on earth.

Then realization hit her.

Slowly.

Horribly.

“…You two are feeding him behind my back.”

Jennie gasped offensively. “Behind your back is such a harsh phrase.”

Ruby raised her tiny hand proudly. “We feed him in front of Mommy too.”

Traitors.

Lisa stared at them in disbelief.

“Mochi can’t even stand up properly!”

As if on cue, Jennie placed Mochi gently on the floor.

The corgi tried to rise.

His little legs pushed.

His body lifted exactly one inch.

Then he flopped back down dramatically like a sack of rice.

Ruby clapped excitedly.

“POTATO MODE!”

“Mochi!” Jennie cried, immediately kneeling beside him. “Who made my baby struggle like this?!”

Lisa pointed at her so fast. “YOU!”

Jennie ignored her completely and started rubbing Mochi’s cheeks.

“My poor son… were you starving?”

The corgi wagged his tail weakly.

Lisa looked genuinely betrayed. “Jennie. I watched you feed him grilled chicken by hand yesterday.”

“He asked.”

“He barked once!”

“That’s asking.”

Ruby crawled beside Mochi and hugged his giant fluffy body with effort.

“Mama,” she whispered seriously, “he’s not fat.”

Lisa crossed her arms.

Ruby squished Mochi lovingly.

“He’s family size.”

Jennie burst into laughter while Lisa covered her face.

“This household is impossible.”

But honestly?

Lisa should’ve noticed sooner.

Every morning Jennie made “special breakfast” for Mochi.

Tiny pancakes.

Cut-up fruits.

Boiled chicken.

Rice bowls.

Sometimes even homemade dog-safe cupcakes because, according to Jennie, “Mochi looked sad.”

And Ruby inherited every bit of Jennie’s dramatic nurturing.

“Mochi needs emotional support snacks,” Ruby would say while sneaking treats under the table.

The worst part?

Mochi weaponized his cuteness perfectly.

One sad look at Jennie and suddenly he had steak.

One tiny paw on Ruby’s knee and he got cheese.

Meanwhile Lisa-the only responsible parent in the house-became the villain.

“Mama said no treats,” Ruby would whisper sadly to Mochi like Lisa was separating soulmates.

That night, Lisa finally decided enough was enough.

Family meeting.

“Mochi is going on a diet.”

Silence.

Jennie looked horrified.

Ruby gasped so loudly she nearly fell off the chair.

Mochi sneezed.

“No,” Jennie said immediately.

“Yes.”

“He’ll be sad.”

“He’ll be alive longer.”

Ruby hugged Mochi protectively. “Mama wants him skinny.”

“I want him mobile.”

Jennie narrowed her eyes. “You’re body shaming our son.”

Lisa almost choked.

“He’s a DOG!”

“He’s sensitive.”

Right then Mochi attempted to jump onto the couch.

Attempted.

He bounced once against the cushion and slid down slowly like melting butter.

Ruby wheezed laughing.

“Mama look!! Potato fell!”

Even Lisa failed to hold back her laugh.

Jennie sighed dramatically and picked Mochi up again, cradling him like a giant baby.

“You’re lucky you’re cute,” Lisa muttered.

Jennie kissed Mochi’s nose. “He got it from me.”

Ruby nodded seriously. “And from Mommy.”

Lisa stared at her wife and daughter cuddling the world’s roundest corgi together on the couch.

Mochi looked absurdly happy.

Ruby rested on Jennie’s shoulder while using Mochi’s belly as a pillow.

Jennie softly stroked both of them with the gentlest smile.

And honestly?

Lisa knew she lost this battle already.

Because five minutes later she walked into the kitchen…

…and caught herself cutting apples into tiny corgi-sized slices.

Jennie peeked around the corner with a smug grin.

“Awww. Mama loves Potato Mochi too.”

Lisa sighed deeply.

“…Don’t tell the vet.”