bChapter /bb35 /b

The little one had a sudden attack. His body convulsed as he copsed to the ground.

“Adamb?/b” Skr reacted faster than her mind–she caught the falling boy in one swift motion.

Adam weakly moved his lips, his soft little hand clutching tightly at the cor of Skr’s shirt.

Skr leaned in and heard him whisper, “Mommy, don’t be afraid. I will protect you.”

Her eyes welled up. “You don’t be afraid either. I’ll cure you.”

Yosef rushed over, trying to take Adam back.

Although unconscious, Adam’s grip on Skr’s clothes remained strong. He wouldn’t let go.

Helpless, he made ba /bcall while keeping his eyes on Skr.

“Skr, Adam is having a heart attack! If we don’t save him, he’ll die! Give him to me!” Elianna shouted with heartbreak, putting on the act bof /bba /bbdevoted/b, selfless mother.

Skr had long seen through Elianna–she didn’t truly care about Adam. She seemed to be using him more than loving him. No wonder she could be with a scumbag like Yosef.

Skr ignored Elianna’s cries and carried the child to the couch,ying him down and checking his heartbeat.

Elianna pulled on Yosef, “Stop her! Don’t let her mess around!”

Yosef ignored herb, /bstaring fixedly at Skr as she knelt down and inserted silver needles into Adam. “Didn’t you say she saved Adam once before?b” /bhe

asked.

Skr was swift and precise–clearly honed over many years. He’d never known she had medical skills. His emotions were tangled.

Skr took out a newly developed CalmPulse Capsule and asked Sophie to get a cup of water. She dissolved the pill in the water and fed bit /bbto /bAdam to

ease his pain.

“Yosef, how can you let her give Adam random medicine?” Elianna protested.

Yosef frowned. Adam’s condition required strict dietary controls. He wasn’t supposed to ingest anything without a doctor’s approval.

Although he believed Skr had some skill, he couldn’t fully trust that she wouldn’t take this chance to harm Adam.

“What did you give him, Skr?” he asked.

“Rx. I’m not as dirty–minded as you think. It’s just something to ease his chest pain.”

With a life at stake, Skr had no time for idle talk. “When’s the ambnce getting here?”

“Soon.”

“I’ve already stabilized him with acupuncture and gave him something to relieve the pain. He should wake up soon.”

Yosef looked at her. “You’reing bto /bthe hospital with us.”

bKnowing /bhe feared she might harm his precious son, Skr agreed without hesitation. “No problem.”

When the ambnce arrived, Yosef and Skr got in with Adam. Elianna, worried about leaving them alone, tried to be /balong toob, /bbbut /bbthere /bbwasn’t /benough room. She had bto /bride with Hudson and Sophie in ba /bseparate vehicle.

b1/3 /b

At the hospitalb, /bthe doctors examined Adam on the way to the ward and arranged more detailed checks once they arrivedb. /b

Skr and Yosef sat on opposite sides of the VIP room’s couch, a wide gap between them.

Skr lowered her head to text Sophie, who was worried about her.

Her continuous messaging annoyed Yosef. “Who are you texting?”

“Who are you to me? Who I talk to is none of your business.” She didn’t even look up.

“Skr, can we talk civilly?” Yosef replied.

b“/bThere’s no ‘civil‘ between us,” Skr shrugged.

Yosef’s face darkened. Seeing his displeasure only improved Skr’s mood. Her fingers flew across bthe /bscreen.

Neither of them spoke again. The room was so quiet that could hear their breathing.

The peace was broken by the arrival of èliannab, /bnow bandaged, making a dramatic entrance.

“Yosef, where’s Adam?” she asked, red–eyed. “Is he… is he really bad?”

“Skr, is your amateur medical knowledge even reliable?” she cried. “My poor Adam…”

Skr calmly watched her rant.

Yosef scolded, “Why are you yelling in the hospital?”

“I’m just worried about Adam! I’m scared!” Elianna said, leaning toward him.

Yosef abruptly stood up, nearly making her fall over. She was confused. “Yosef?”

“Nothing,” Yosef moved away from her. “I just sat too long–need to stretch my legs.”

Skr chuckled aloud.

TH

Elianna flushed red, then pale. She stopped crying and sat down, head bowed, nervously picking at her dress hemb, /bcursing Skr in her heart.

The three sat in awkward silence. Finally, Adam was pushed back into the room. Elianna jumped up to check on him.

Yosef asked the doctor, “What’s my son’s condition?”

“He’s fine,” answered the doctor, Zander. “In fact, he’s doing great. He’ll wake up soon. Did someone treat him before you brought him in?”

Zander looked up at Skr. “Ms. Lambert… no wonder. I thought his condition seemed remarkably stable—it was you!”

Zander could recall. Skr’s treatment of Carlos had already made her famous at Chestbee. Everyone admired the young doctor with remarkable skills.

He’d always hoped to meet her. After Carlos was discharged, she never appeared again. He didn’t expect to brun /binto her today.

“Ms. Lambert, can you tell me how you stabilized his condition?” Zander loved to study medicine and boften /binvited colleagues over for discussions. He looked at Skr with eager eyes.

Skr nced at Adam and, seeing he was fineb, /bnodded. The btwo /bleft the room together.

Yosef’s face turned dark.

bDid /bbshe /bsee him as invisible? he thought. Walking boff /bwith another man right in front of him–was she not afraid bof /bbeing taken badvantage /bbof/bb? /b

He wanted to follow, but Elianna grabbed him. “Yosel, aren’t you staying with me to take care of Adam?”

Yosef stopped. “Fine. I’ll stay with you.”

Though he stayed, his eyes kept drifting toward the door.

Elianna sneered inwardly. That Skr–always seducing people, she thought. She’d worked so hard to get where she was. No way was she letting that woman take it all away.

+28

“Thank goodness Adam’s okay. I was so scared today,” she spoke up. “Yosef, you can’t me Skr for this–it was all my fault. If it weren’t for me, none of this would have happened…”

bAD /b