Chapter 194
Chapter 194:
She positioned her hands for compressions, but before she could start, a hand clamped down on her shoulder.
It was Vivian.
“Stop right there,” Vivian said, her voice loud enough for the crowd to hear, but laced with a dangerous calm. She didn’t physically block the body, but she placed a restraining hand on Monica, playing the role of the concerned protector.
“Monica, don’t let her touch him,” Vivian warned, her eyes gleaming with malice. “She has no medical license. She’s not a doctor. If she breaks his ribs, or punctures a lung… the liability falls on you. Think about it p>
Aurora looked up, disbelief warring with rage. “He has no pulse, you idiot! He needs CPR now p>
“We have Dr. Shaw on call,” Vivian countered smoothly, turning to the security guards. “It is against protocol to allow unlicensed guests to perform medical procedures on the estate. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. Security! Remove her. She is hysterical and endangering the child p>
Monica looked between them, panic making her irrational. She saw Aurora—the stranger, the “wild” girl Vivian had warned her about. And she saw Vivian—her friend, a Kensington, speaking of rules and doctors.
“Get away from him!” Monica screamed at Aurora, shoving her back. “Don’t touch my son! Wait for the doctor p>
“He doesn’t have time for a doctor!” Aurora shouted, her eyes wild with desperation. “His mitral valve is failing! Look at his lips! He needs oxygen now! Every second is brain damage p>
Vivian stood firm, crossing her arms, creating a wall of bureaucracy between Aurora and the dying boy. “We are handling this properly, Aurora. With dignity and professional oversight. Not with your trailer park theatrics. You are making a scene p>
Two burly guards stepped forward, grabbing Aurora by the arms.
gⱯlnσν𝓮ℓs．c𝗈𝗺, a world of tales
“No!” Aurora struggled, watching the boy’s face turn a deeper shade of grey. “He’s going to die! Let me go p>
But the guards held firm. Vivian smirked, adjusting her shawl.
Seconds ticked by like hours. The boy, Noah, convulsed once, a horrible, gurgling sound escaping his throat, and then went completely still. The blue tint on his lips deepened to grey.
Sirens wailed in the distance. The paramedics burst through the doors, carrying a stretcher and a defibrillator. They pushed the crowd back. They pushed Vivian back.
“Status?” the lead paramedic shouted.
“He collapsed two minutes ago!” Aurora yelled from the grip of the guards. “Possible mitral valve prolapse leading to cardiac arrest! He’s cyanotic p>
The paramedic looked at the boy, then at the monitor as they slapped the pads on his chest. Flatline.
“Charging!” the paramedic yelled. “Clear p>
The body jumped.
“Again! Clear p>
Another jolt. A faint rhythm appeared on the screen.
“We have a pulse! Weak, but it’s there. Let’s move p>