Chapter 19

Valeria quickly went over and helped Lucy sit on the couch, gently patting her back to help her breathe easier. Lucy was a bit chubby and had long-standing health problems—asthma and high blood pressure. After a while, she finally caught her breath, grabbing Valeria's hand and gasping, "I'm… I'm fine…" Selena stood nearby, on the verge of tears. Lucy patted the girl's cheek. "It's okay, Selena. I'm fine. I scared you, huh?" She slowly started to calm down, but she still looked pale as she leaned back against the couch, breathing heavily. Valeria picked up a phone from the table, ready to call an ambulance to get Lucy checked at the hospital. Lucy was stubborn, and with her son not around, it was even worse. Her husband had passed away, and she'd been living alone in this place for over ten years. She always avoided hospitals unless absolutely necessary. The moment Valeria reached for her phone, Lucy waved her off firmly, her face stern. "I'm not going to the hospital. It's the s