Chapter 214
Chapter 214:
Click.
The sound was heavy. Final.
“Just so you don’t wander and eat junk food,” she justified to the empty hallway.
Inside the room, Noah heard the click. He was conscious, but barely. He was paralyzed by a weakness so profound it felt like gravity had increased tenfold.
He tried to call out. “Mom?”
The sound was a whisper, lost in the heavy curtains.
He tried to crawl toward his nightstand where his iPad was. His arm moved an inch, then flopped back down. His fingers were cold. Numb.
The Tea Party was held in the solarium of the Pierre Hotel. It was a sea of pastel dresses and fake laughter.
Monica arrived, breathless and eager. Vivian greeted her at the entrance, holding a glass of champagne.
“Monica! You made it!” Vivian air-kissed her cheeks. “How is the little warrior?”
She asked loudly, ensuring the women nearby could hear her benevolence.
“Much better,” Monica lied. She had to lie. Admitting he was worse would mean admitting Vivian’s advice was wrong. “Thanks to your miracle cure. He’s sleeping like an angel.”
“Wonderful,” Vivian beamed. “Natural is always best.”
Aurora was at the Pierre for a meeting with a potential investor for Pulse. She was walking through the lobby when she saw them through the glass doors of the solarium.
She saw Monica laughing. Drinking champagne.
A bad feeling settled in Aurora’s gut. It was physical—a cold stone dropping into her stomach. Healer’s Intuition.
She checked the time. If the boy hadn’t been to a hospital yet…
Aurora abandoned her investor meeting. She walked straight into the tea party. She wasn’t dressed for tea; she was in a sharp navy business suit. She cut through the pastel crowd like a blade.
She walked right up to Monica.
“Is Noah at the hospital?” Aurora asked. No greeting. No preamble.
The chatter at the nearby tables died.
Monica turned red. “You again? Are you stalking me?”
“Answer the question,” Aurora demanded, her voice rising. “Is he under medical care?”
“He is at home, resting!” Monica yelled, slamming her glass down. “Stop obsessing over my son! You’re creepy!”
“Home?” Aurora’s eyes widened in horror. “Alone?”
“He is safe in his room,” Monica blurted out, defensive. “Locked in, so he doesn’t wander while I’m out.”
The words hung in the air. Locked in.
Aurora grabbed Monica’s arm. Her grip was bruising. “Give me the key,” Aurora commanded. “Give me the key or I call the police right now.”
“Get off me!” Monica shrieked.
Vivian stepped in, signaling the hotel security. “Security! This woman is assaulting a guest! Again!”