Carpent

, desperate cough. His small chest lifted, a full, albeit ragged, breath expanding his lungs. The purple tinge b

, the other still resting near the boy. A wave of profound exhaustion wash

e mid-action, his eyes fixed on his son. The raw fear in his e

ween him and me. "Baby, are you okay? What did that woman do to you? Did she give you somethi

me, his young mind trying to process the chaos. "She... she gave me a shot

a child, scared and confu

d him! She's trying to get back at us, trying to make us look bad!" She turned to the crowd,

thers hardened into judgment. "The boy said she poked him..." "He was fi

on, stepped forward tentatively. "But, Mrs. Walter, the boy was choking

d, his voice low and vibrating with menace, "you promised me you'd wait. You promised you'd always love me. And now you come here, publicly humil

a year, Angela. I was generous. And you repay me with this?

ally so demure, now held a glint of triumph as she glared at me. She lifted

e his child, his life! You think you can ruin everything? You think you can destroy his career, his family, just because you couldn't keep hi

ed, a cold, satisfied expression on his fac

elming. But it was the bitter taste of their betrayal, their unwavering belief in my malice, that

hrieked at the top of her lungs, her head whipping around to scan the room. "Someon

Sirens, faint at first, then grow

's hysterical cries, sharp and authori

t of their weapons sent a fresh wave of panic through the guests. C

y girl who tried to poison my son!" she shrieked, clearly expecting the officers to immediately

looked at me, her gaze sweeping over my disheveled appearance, my torn dress

he room, his gaze resting on the chaos, t

on. She looked at Christin, then back at me. Her eyes hel

d, her voice filled with

in confusion. "Carpenter?

e, then at Byron and Christin. Her eyes narrowed. "Byr

ze locking with the offic

d my hair in her grasp. "Let her go, Mrs. Walter. Slowly." His voice was calm, but deadly serious. "You