Chapter 7
Blaine's grin faltered in an instant.
Across the room, his eldest son, Patrick Lewis, and Daniela bristled with outrage.
"You've got a lot of nerve, Nadine! Who do you think you are, running your mouth like that?" Patrick's voice rang out, sharp and accusing. "You're only pretending to be brave because you have no idea how to save your own father! If anything happens to him, the blame lands squarely on you!"
Before Nadine could even open her mouth, chaos swept through the crowd.
A terrified scream cut through the music. "Help! Mrs. Ballard just collapsed!"
In the middle of the gathering, a woman fell to the ground, her face rapidly turning purple as she gasped for air, clawing at her throat in panic.
"Somebody call for a doctor! Hurry!"
Charles Ballard, known across Sheftol as a top-ranking police officer, rushed to his wife's side, panic written across his face as sweat gathered at his brow.
Blaine's eyes darted around the hall, then he gave a subtle nod. A man in a doctor's coat emerged from the crowd and knelt beside Mrs. Ballard. He listened for a pulse, checked her eyes, and worked with frantic urgency. When he finally looked up, his face had lost all color.
Nothing in his career had prepared him for a crisis like this.
Dozens of specialists had already given up hope for Emily Ballard, saying no treatment could save her now.
No one expected her to collapse here, of all places, during the Lewis family banquet.
With so many powerful families watching, the pressure was crushing. If he failed to help her, both the Ballard and the Lewis families would make sure he paid for it.
The doctor's voice shook as he said, "Warden Ballard, your wife is suffering from severe throat swelling. It's closing off her airway at a dangerous rate. I'm not sure she'll survive long enough for the paramedics to get here..."
The color drained from Charles's face and he staggered, barely able to keep his footing.
Inside, panic clawed at Blaine.
If tragedy struck at his event, the Lewis family's reputation in Sheftol would never recover.
All he could do was shout at the physician, "Don't just stand there! You're a doctor, aren't you? Save her!"
From nearby, Daniela's eyes narrowed as she raised her voice, dripping with false concern. "Nadine's got healing hands! She managed to pull my father back from the brink—surely she can fix this too!"
Daniela couldn't hide her eagerness to see Nadine fail in front of everyone.
One mistake from Nadine, and that would spell disaster for the Clark family.
Blaine seized on the opportunity, his tone overly enthusiastic as he pushed the spotlight away from himself. "She's right! Nadine's famous for her talents. Come on, Nadine, step up and help Mrs. Ballard. People would kill for a chance like this."
Nadine gave them both a steady look and replied, "I don't treat just anyone. If the family wants my help, they'll have to ask me directly. I don't perform miracles for strangers."
The crowd broke into raucous laughter.
Someone shouted through the commotion, "Is this a comedy show or what?"
"Who does she think she is, some kind of miracle worker?"
Unbothered by the laughter, Nadine locked eyes with Charles. "Your wife's illness runs deep, Warden. This started in her heart and lungs when she was a baby. Am I right? It's been haunting her for nearly forty years, hasn't it?"
Shock spread across Charles's face. He stared at Nadine, disbelief giving way to desperate hope.
He hurried to her side, voice trembling. "Miss Clark, please. If you can save Emily, I'll be forever in your debt!"
Nadine looked up and met his gaze. "If you mean it, then I'll do what I can."
With everyone watching, Nadine reached into her bag and pulled out a scalpel. She didn't hesitate. In one swift motion, she made an incision in Emily's throat.
A jet of blood shot out, causing gasps all around.
Daniela's shrill voice rang through the chaos. "She's killing Mrs. Ballard! That's not treatment—she's committing murder!"
Charles turned ghostly pale. "Officers! Apprehend this killer. Now!"
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