Chapter 11
“Where’s the village doctor? Someone get him, now, the kid needs help p>
Pandora was getting anxious too.
Claire moved in, but Cindy blocked her way. Claire didn’t hesitate. “Move out of the way p>
“Claire, stop making things more complicated. We need to get Jim to the hospital, now!” Cindy said, scooping Jim up and getting ready to leave.
Claire acted fast, taking Jim right out of Cindy’s arms.
“You’re the one making it complicated by stopping me p>
Jim’s face was turning blue. He could barely breathe.
Cindy’s eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling. “Claire, how can you say that to me p>
“I don’t have time for this p>
Claire wrapped her arms around Jim from behind, made a fist, and pushed upward into his stomach.
Everyone stared, instinctively turning to Pandora.
“Pandora, what’s Claire doing p>
Pandora, who’d seen a bit more than the others, said, “She’s saving the kid. Still, someone get the village doctor over here p>
“If Claire can’t do it, the doctor can step in p>
“Wow, you really believe in Claire?” Pearce was confused, not sure what Pandora knew that he didn’t.
“Pearce, most girls wouldn’t recognize everything you brought in that basket like it was nothing p>
Pearce went quiet, not knowing what to say.
Cindy, watching Claire, started to panic. “Claire, what are you doing p>
“Even if you don’t like Jim, you can’t just hit him p>
“If you’re upset or something p>
Before Cindy could finish, a meatball flew out of Jim’s mouth.
Cindy, standing too close, got hit right on the leg.
Her face went pale as she leapt back. “Gross p>
“He spat it out! He’s breathing p>
Jim’s mom had been glued to her son the whole time. The moment she saw the blue fade from his face and color return, she burst into tears of relief.
Jim started crying too.
He honestly thought he was about to die.
“Thank you, Young Matriarch! Jim, get down and thank her, she saved your life!” His mom tried to pull him down to kneel.
Claire stopped her, helping them both up. “Please, there’s no need for that. I just did what anyone would p>
“Jim was in real danger, and I didn’t have time to explain p>
“It’s because you trusted me and didn’t get in the way that we could save him so quickly p>
“I wasn’t the only one who saved Jim. You all helped p>
Her words made everyone feel a little ashamed.
Even Jim’s mom lowered her head.
She couldn’t say she completely trusted Claire, not yet. After all, Claire had only just returned to the village To them, she was still amosta stranger.
Especially when Cindy accused Claire of hitting Jim, his mom nearly
lost it and wanted to run over and grab her son back. Patti had held her back, and now she was beyond relieved she hadn’t interfered.
“Claire, seriously. If you knew how to help him, why didn’t you just say so?” Cindy complained, sounding both annoyed and embarrassed. “You had us all worried. I really thought you were hitting Jim p>
Octavia jumped in. “Yeah, Claire. You studied medicine with your grandma. If you’d
said you could save him, Cindy wouldn’t have ended up crying p>
Claire shot Octavia a calm, even look. “Didn’t you already know I studied medicine p>
“When Cindy said I was hitting Jim, why didn’t you say something for me p>
Octavia froze, caught off guard.
Since when did this girl get so sharp with her words? She used to be so sweet and obedient.
“Are you blaming me for taking Cindy’s side p>
Claire almost laughed. Was Octavia seriously trying to act like the victim now?