“Melanie, don’t cry. No one is bullying Mom. Mom doesn’t feel pain.”
“Be careful, sweetheart. Don’t let the bad man find you. Uncle will be there soon…”
I endured the pain and vomited a mouthful of blood.
“Miss, you must go to the hospital at once!”
The police froze in shock at my condition, quickly reaching for the phone to summon an ambulance.
I shook my head firmly, forcing out a few more words of comfort to my daughter before ending the call.
The phone watch could not hold long, and I feared that the lunatic would discover her.
Bowing my head, I hurried to redial my brother’s number.
Yet before the call connected, Aidan emerged with Cassidy by his side.
“Negotiator Aidan, how is it?!”
“Are our children safe?!”
“Please, my child is fine, right?!”
The parents rushed up, panic painted across their pale faces, their questions frantic.
Aidan’s face was dark, while Cassidy spoke softly in comfort, though her trembling legs betrayed her fear.
Their faltering composure was evident, and the parents seized on it at once.
“Let us in! We’ll deal with that lunatic ourselves!”
“My daughter!”
“… what will happen to my child?!”
The parents grew restless, emotions spilling over, when Cassidy suddenly cried out.