Drama

Six figures in white coats descended from the helicopter on fast ropes, landing with swift precision before sprinting straight toward Benjamin and me.

The lead doctor took a convulsing Benjamin from my arms and examined him with practiced ease.

"Infant in acute anaphylactic shock—heart rate falling, oxygen saturation below 70 percent."

"Prepare epinephrine, 0.1 milligrams, IV."

"Defibrillator charged—20 joules, ready."

I watched in agony as the doctor pressed on Benjamin's tiny chest. Each compression lifted his fragile body slightly off the ground. 

When the defibrillator discharged, Benjamin's body jolted violently. I almost lunged forward, but a nurse gently held me back. "Please trust us, Ms. Smith."

Just then, a familiar figure broke free from the crowd. My father rushed toward us, his eyes burning with rage when he saw my bloodstained clothes and the limp child.

"Who dares 

The dog lovers who had been acting so arrogantly earlier fell silent. 

Dad gazed at a small silver button on my car's dashboard—an emergency distress switch he'd had installed. Ever since I was kidnapped as a child, he'd secretly built these lifelines into everything I owned. 

Amid the struggle earlier, my elbow must have hit the button. That was how he received the precise signal of my whereabouts and arrived out of the sky with the helicopter.

Nancy clung to Isaac's sleeve and said in a panic, "I-I was just concerned about Rocky. A dog's life matters, too."

Dad walked up to me, took a sterile wipe, and gently cleaned the blood from my face. Then, he lifted a bottle of water to my lips. When he saw the dog's bite mark on my arm, his eyes reddened. 

"Don't worry. I'm here." Dad smoothed my messy hair and rubbed my back gently. 

"Benjamin is going to be fine. Tell me if you feel any

A surge of rage and terror ripped through me so hard that I could barely breathe. No matter how I opened my mouth to let air in, I felt like a fish gasping on dry land. 

"Hurry! Call an ambulance!" Nancy shrieked, leaning against Isaac. "I think my ribs are broken. If they've punctured my lungs, I might die here."

Isaac rushed to hold her steady as they made their way to the traffic police. "Sir, my girlfriend's injured. She needs a doctor right away."

The policeman glanced at me, confused as he took in my disheveled state. 

Nancy cut in, "I'm sorry for causing everyone so much trouble. I just borrowed a little of the baby's formula to feed my dog, and Eliza got upset and hit me."

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she continued, "But I'll forgive her. She still has a child to take care of, after all…"

Everyone started whispering in agreement after hearing Nancy speak. 

"What an angel. She's so kind after being attacked."

"Who fights with a dog over baby formula? Such a petty mother."

"Honestly, what's the big deal? It's just a can of formula."

Nancy deliberately stepped forward and shook my hand to make peace. However, when she turned her back to the crowd, her expression turned cold and vicious.

I tightened my grip on Benjamin and stepped back. Suddenly, she pinched the poodle in her arms. The dog winced in pain and sank its teeth into my hand. Blood started oozing out of my arm. 

Nancy screamed and staggered back. "Eliza! I tried to make peace. Why did you attack Rocky?"

Isaac strode over and slapped me hard across the face. "You live on junk food. Your blood's probably toxic. If Rocky falls sick, I'll make you pay for it!"

Pain burst across my cheeks. Benjamin's cries turned into whimpers, and his face now had a bluish cast.

Some dog lovers threw their half-eaten burgers at me and snapped, "Picking on a dog? What's wrong with you?"

"An evil woman like her should be arrested."

"Sir, you need to punish her."

I bit my tongue until I tasted blood. Then, I mustered whatever strength I had left and pleaded, "Please, someone call an ambulance. My father is Adrian Smith. I'll pay you 100 million dollars if you help me."

The crowd erupted in laughter. 

"You're the richest man's daughter? How many zeroes are there in 100 million dollars?"

"She's experiencing post-partum depression and needs to be sent to a mental hospital."

"Maybe look in the mirror before spinning fairy tales."

Nancy pretended to be concerned and said gently, "Eliza, stop it. You can be sent to jail for impersonating someone."

Isaac grabbed my hair and yanked me to the ground. "You're not going anywhere until you get on your knees and apologize to Nancy 100 times. I won't let you off so easily."

Benjamin's body began to jerk, and foam gathered at the corner of his mouth. 

"Benjamin!" I screamed in agony.

Suddenly, a helicopter zipped over us in the sky, its deafening roar drowning out all the noise.  

A furious voice boomed from the loudspeaker, "Who dares to hurt my daughter?"

 

Six figures in white coats descended from the helicopter on fast ropes, landing with swift precision before sprinting straight toward Benjamin and me.

The lead doctor took a convulsing Benjamin from my arms and examined him with practiced ease.

"Infant in acute anaphylactic shock—heart rate falling, oxygen saturation below 70 percent."

"Prepare epinephrine, 0.1 milligrams, IV."

"Defibrillator charged—20 joules, ready."

I watched in agony as the doctor pressed on Benjamin's tiny chest. Each compression lifted his fragile body slightly off the ground. 

When the defibrillator discharged, Benjamin's body jolted violently. I almost lunged forward, but a nurse gently held me back. "Please trust us, Ms. Smith."

Just then, a familiar figure broke free from the crowd. My father rushed toward us, his eyes burning with rage when he saw my bloodstained clothes and the limp child.

"Who dares to hurt my daughter and grandson?" he yelled.

Everyone went still and lowered their heads, retreati

Chapter 5