Chapter 124
Meanwhile, Marvin found himself sprawled out on the ground, thanks to a hefty shove from Rachel.
“What the heck are you doing?!”
Marvin had landed on his backside, the little bottle of spray he was holding skittering away across the floor.
Rachel glared down at him, her brows knitted tightly. “This is not the place for your antics, Marvin!”
Sitting there, Marvin glanced at his arm, which was now sporting a nasty scrape. He scrunched up his small nose in defiance. “I’m trying to help.”
Rachel wasn’t having it. “Oh, really? You’re always picking on Keen at preschool, and now when he’s having an episode, you come and cause more trouble? Do you actually want something to happen to him?”
Her tone was stern, and Marvin couldn’t help but feel the weight of her words. “I didn’t mean to hurt Keen,” he murmured.
Haynes, who had been quietly observing, now fixed Marvin with a piercing stare. “Then what exactly were you doing?”
Marvin shrank back, his voice a whisper. “I was trying to help Keen.”
Rachel crossed her arms, skepticism written all over her face. “Lies!”
“It’s not a lie! I was doing what Stella told me to.”
Rachel’s laugh was razor-sharp. “You’re ignoring a licensed physician for her amateur opinion? Unbelievable.”
“But Stella is Keen’s mom,” Marvin insisted, “She knows him better than anyone, even a doctor.”
Haynes’ eyes flashed with a mix of disbelief and something else—a hint of fear, perhaps. “If anything happens to Keen, I won’t let it slide.”
Just then, a ripple of surprise swept through the onlookers.
“Hey, look! Keen seems to be getting better!”
Haynes turned to see for himself. Sure enough, Keen, who had been flushed and struggling to breathe, seemed calmer now. Although his face was still speckled with a few red splotches, his body had stopped its alarming spasms.
The doctor, who’d been standing by, looked momentarily stunned. He picked up the spray bottle from the floor, examining it. It definitely wasn’t something you’d find at your local pharmacy. The air was tinged with an herbal scent-not your typical medicine, but something more bespoke.
Seeing Keen’s condition stabilize, Stella finally allowed herself to breathe, her body sagging with relief. She crumpled to the floor, utterly spent, gasping for air.
The crowd, previously ready to pass judgment, now exchanged uncertain glances. The hands that had been holding Stella just moments ago released their grip.
Maybe, just maybe, she hadn’t been lying after all.
Right on cue, the ambulance arrived, sirens blaring. The paramedics quickly assessed Keen, fitting him with an oxygen mask.
As they prepared to transport him, one of the paramedics remarked, “There must’ve been a professional on site, the response was spot on. Any delay or incorrect measures could’ve been fatal.”
“Everyone can relax a bit,” he continued, “Thanks to the quick and precise intervention, the boy’s condition is stable. He’s going to be fine.”
His words hung in the air, leaving a charged silence in their wake. All eyes turned to Haynes and Rachel.
The paramedic, oblivious to the conflict but recognizing the urgency, motioned to Haynes and Stella. “Parents, ride with us, we’ll need your consent for treatment.”
Rachel felt as if she’d been slapped, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She had her own reasons for being there, sure, but this was humiliatingly swift justice.
Desperate to escape the staring eyes, she hurried after the paramedic, eager to make a quiet exit.