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Novel Catalog
Chapter_7
The tension was palpable as Vivienne worked quickly to treat the little girl, despite the protests and confusion around her. Arabella’s words and the crowd’s growing doubts didn’t faze her; she was entirely focused on saving the child’s life. The girl’s condition worsened, and Vivienne knew that time was of the essence.
With steady hands, she inserted the silver needles with precision. The crowd watched in silence, the earlier chaos turning into an uneasy stillness. Vivienne could feel Arabella’s eyes on her, but she refused to be distracted. Every second counted.
As the little girl’s breathing steadied, and her color returned to her cheeks, Vivienne felt a flicker of relief. The worst had passed, but she still needed to be vigilant.
Arabella, standing off to the side, looked furious but helpless. She was still trying to process what was happening, her mind racing to find a way to regain control over the situation.
“Vivienne,” she said, her voice trembling with frustration, “this is reckless! You can’t just treat people like this without proper qualifications. What if something goes wrong?”
Vivienne finished her work and carefully placed the last needle. “She’s going to be fine now,” she said, her tone cold. She stood up and stepped back from the girl, whose breathing was now steady, her face no longer as pale as before.
The middle-aged woman, who had been so frantic moments ago, looked down at the girl in her arms, relief washing over her face. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, overwhelmed with gratitude.
Vivienne turned toward Arabella with a glare that sent a chill down her spine. “I didn’t ask for your opinion,” she said, her voice sharp. “You’re lucky she’s not dead, or I’d have no patience for your interference.”
Arabella’s face twisted in anger, but she didn’t dare challenge Vivienne further. Instead, she turned on her heel, muttering under her breath as she stormed off, leaving the crowd to watch in stunned silence.
Meanwhile, Percival’s car screeched to a halt at the mall’s entrance, the black sedan blending into the chaos of the parking lot. He stormed out, his tall figure cutting through the crowd, his sharp eyes scanning the area. His focus was singular: Isolde.
Leopold, trailing behind him, quickly updated him. “The doctor is on her way, but Percival, we need to find her first.”
Percival’s eyes narrowed as he took in the scene around him, searching for any sign of his sister. He knew she had a fragile disposition, but the pressure of her insecurities had driven her to this breaking point. He couldn’t let her get lost in the crowd.
In the distance, he saw Isolde standing alone, her shoulders shaking with suppressed emotion. The sight of her, vulnerable and fragile, sent a pang of guilt through him. He had promised to protect her, and yet here she was, alone and exposed.
Percival moved toward her, the weight of his responsibilities bearing down on him. Isolde turned as she heard his approach, her eyes widening in surprise.
“Percival,” she whispered, her voice trembling as she reached out for him. “I—I didn’t mean to… to cause trouble.”
He enveloped her in his arms, pulling her close, his anger melting into concern. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.” His tone was gentle, but underneath it lay the tension of a brother who would do anything to protect his sister.
Leopold stood a few paces away, watching with a mixture of respect and apprehension. He knew Percival’s soft spot for Isolde, but he also understood the pressure that came with it.
“Percival,” he said cautiously, “we need to get her out of here. It’s not safe.”
With a firm nod, Percival turned, guiding Isolde out of the crowd, his protective instincts kicking in. As they made their way back to the car, he couldn’t help but glance back toward Vivienne, who had been at the center of the earlier commotion. Her presence in the mall wasn’t a coincidence, and he knew that their paths would cross again soon enough.
In the back of his mind, he wondered what Vivienne was really up to—and why she had been so quick to intervene in something that didn’t concern her. But for now, he had to focus on Isolde and getting her out of this mess.
As they drove off, Percival’s mind lingered on the events that had unfolded. There was more to this situation than met the eye, and he was determined to uncover it all, even if it meant facing Vivienne and the Hawthorn family once again.
