Page 29 of Bittersweet Revenge

I turned around as the greying, bearded man made his way toward me, adjusting his glasses.

“Dr. Willis,” I greeted. I guess a man who had brought you into this world and saved your life under more than miraculous circumstances, could take some liberty with decorum. Had it only been seven minutes? It felt like it had been seven hours.

“How is she faring?” he asked a paramedic as he came to stand beside me.

“Her pulse is weak, but constant. Her SAT is at 75% which isnot unexpected after a drowning.”

“Why is she so unresponsive?” I asked, not able to hide the worry in my voice.She was still scarily pale, but her lips were not sickly blue anymore. She still looked like a wax doll though.

“It took incredible effort for her body to fight to stay alive. She is exhausted and her body is concentrating oxygen to mandatory functions such as the lungs, brain, and heart. A body tends to shut down and make you sleepy in such circumstances in order to concentrate on the healing part.”

I nodded like I understood it all, but all that mattered was her. “Is she going to be okay?”

“We can’t be sure until we run a full panel of tests. How long was she underwater?”

I shook my head as the two paramedics put her on the stretcher.

Dr. Willis sighed. “We’ll know more once we’re at the hospital and–”

“No hospital. Her room.” I gestured to Benjamin standing by the door, whose worry was making him look even older. “Show them to her room.”

Benjamin nodded and exited, closely followed by the paramedics.

“Are you sure it is–”

“Will it risk her health any further?” I asked, interrupting him.

He removed his glasses, wiping them with the tissue in his pocket, shaking his head. “No, it shouldn’t.”

“Then she stays.”

“What happened?”

“I’m not sure.” And I was not sure I wanted to find out.

He nodded. “I see…”

Do you though? Do you?I wanted to ask, but kept my cool. I was an Astor, detachment was required.

“I will run the tests.”

“Please.” I grabbed his arm as he took the direction of the door.

He turned around, looking at me with expectation.

“I know you have to notify the incident to the Blue Arrow Board,” I said, knowing full well that the head of the board was none other than my darling father.

“Yes, I have to do this immediately after stabilizing Ms. Forbes. It is the procedure. I cannot deviate from it.”

“Fine, but no matter what you find, your assessment will be that she slipped and hit her head. Are we in agreement?”

He frowned. “Caleb, son, if you’ve got anything–”

“I’m not your son, Dr. Willis, and I’m not a child anymore. I’ve not done anything, and I don't appreciate being questioned. Imight not have my father's power yet, but I am powerful enough to destroy you if there is a need.”

He looked at me, almost pained. Seriously, what did he expect? “Very well, sir. She fell and hit her head.”

I nodded. “Glad we understand each other.” I gestured toward the exit, following him silently, reeling as I thought about all the situations that I’d caused which had led to her being face-down in the pool.

---