Chapter 323
“Is he not breathing p>
Harlan’s not breathing?
The words hung in the air, and for a moment, both Liam and Yara were stunned.
Yara was the first to snap back, her voice sharp and trembling. “Mae, what nonsense are you talking about? How could Harlan not be breathing? He’s just trying to scare us, that’s all p>
Yes, that had to be it.
He’s just playing a prank on her-her own son!
He took his Heartsteady Elixir every single day; he was perfectly healthy.
Yara clung to that thought, desperately trying to reassure herself.
Mae’s voice broke, thick with emotion. She had watched Harlan grow up, too. “Ma’am, I’m not making things up. I really think Master Harlan isn’t breathing. If you don’t believe me, come see for yourself p>
Liam dropped to his knees, scooping their son into his arms. “Harlan, Harlan, wake up p>
But Harlan didn’t move-not a twitch. He was limp, like a broken ragdoll.
Panic seized Liam. He pressed his cheek to Harlan’s mouth, feeling desperately for a breath.
Just as Mae had said nothing.
No breath. No sign of life.
His son wasn’t breathing.
“Harlan,” Liam’s voice cracked as fear crashed over him. “Son, it’s me, Dad! Please p>
Yara’s composure shattered. Her face had gone paper-white as she pleaded, “Harlan, Harlan, please wake up! If you keep this up, Mommy’s going to be very angry p>
Liam whipped his head toward her, voice raw and frantic. “What are you standing there for? Call an ambulance! Now! Call them, now p>
Harlan was his only son-his world.
He couldn’t even begin to imagine what he’d do if anything happened to him.
“Okay, okay!” Yara fumbled for her phone, hands trembling so badly she could barely dial the number.
Liam clung to Harlan, pacing in frantic circles, helpless. “Harlan, don’t scare Daddy like this! Please, Harlan, please p>
Harlan’s eyes stayed shut, unresponsive to even his father’s desperate pleas.
Yara hung up the phone and rushed to Liam’s side, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Harlan, it’s Mommy! I’m right here, I’m so sorry, I was wrong-I should never have said you were faking. Please, just open your eyes, baby, please!” She had never imagined her son would stop breathing.
What now?
What could they do?
She couldn’t lose him. She just couldn’t.
Panic rose until it threatened to choke her. “Liam, let me hold him. Please, let me hold Harlan p>
“Get away!” Liam snarled, transformed by terror and grief. “Don’t touch my son! Get away from us p>
The blood drained from Yara’s face. Her knees gave out and she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
Oh God.
What do we do?
God, please-please keep our son safe.
Please, don’t let anything happen to him!
Wailing sirens split the night.
Liam latched onto the sound like a lifeline, cradling Harlan as he bolted for the stairs.
Yara stumbled after him, barely able to keep her footing.
Downstairs, the paramedics met them at the door.
Everything became a blur. The ambulance roared to life, racing through the city streets. Within minutes, they reached the nearest hospital.
Harlan’s condition was dire. The moment they arrived, the doctors rushed him away, hooking him up to a defibrillator.
Liam and Yara stood outside the emergency room, powerless.
Yara pressed herself against the heavy doors, her cries echoing down the
corridor. “Harlan, please! Mommy was wrong, I was so wrong! I shouldn’t have said you were pretending! Please, just come back to me, please p>
“My baby boy p>
She was sobbing so hard it hurt to breathe.
Liam’s face was ashen, his eyes rimmed red, every muscle in his face tense with dread.
After a long while, Yara turned to him, desperate for hope. She clutched his hand tightly, her voice trembling. “Liam, Harlan’s going to be okay, isn’t he p>