Chapter 306

Lillian finally calmed down. She blinked her eyes open, but her vision was blurry; she couldn't see Cynthia's face clearly.

Cynthia looked at Lillian, feeling profoundly empty. An hour had passed since the shooting, yet Cynthia's mind remained a blur. Questions flooded her: "Why was the wedding targeted? It was clear the shooter aimed for me. Why did Lillian recklessly take the bullet?"

Lillian, Cynthia thought, was her enemy. She had repeatedly set traps, falsely accused her, tarnished her reputation, and fought for everything Cynthia possessed. They hated each other, Cynthia believed; every encounter felt like a facade, a smile masking a dagger.

But why? Why had Lillian rushed to protect her? Why risk her life to save her? Cynthia pondered deeply, even suspecting Lillian was unhinged. Yet, seeing Lillian lying there, near death, Cynthia's heart ached.

Surgery was underway, the wounds horrifying. Cynthia could barely look. Lillian, anxious, repeatedly murmured, "How's my child?"

The baby was quickly delivered. The nurse expertly cut the umbilical cord, but the baby didn't cry. Cynthia glanced at the bruised, purple baby, lying still with closed eyes. In her dazed state, Lillian seemed to sense something. "Where's the baby? Is my baby alive?"

A nurse began resuscitation, flicking the baby's foot, turning him upside down, and patting his bottom, but there was no response. The baby was limp, as if a ragdoll. The crowd's anxiety mounted. The mother's water had broken prematurely; the baby had been deprived of oxygen in utero, and the mother was shot. Survival was unlikely.

But the nurse persevered, trying different methods. Lillian strained to catch a glimpse, ignoring her pain. The nurse scolded, "Ms. Sheppard, please stay calm. We can't stitch the wound if you move."

Lillian felt dizzy, her vision blurring. Then, a nurse shouted, "The patient is bleeding heavily; we're starting resuscitation!"

The operating room was chaotic. More people rushed in. Lillian never saw the baby again before collapsing. Her gaze became vacant; she loosened her grip on Cynthia's hand.

Nurses pushed Cynthia out. The medical staff fought to save Lillian. Cynthia stood in shock, her hands bloody, the world spinning.

Machines beeped incessantly; everyone moved in a blur around her as they tried to resuscitate Lillian. Meanwhile, the baby remained unresponsive. The nurse, stressed, firmly patted his back. "Come on, give us a cry, please!"

Chapter 306

Cynthia felt dizzy. Everything overlapped and swayed; afterimages filled her vision. Sounds—the doctor's voice, the nurse's words, the beeping—blurred together.

She stood frozen, her hands and feet icy. She wasn't thinking, just standing numbly, waiting.

Then, a baby's cry pierced the air. The nurse sighed in relief, tears welling. The cry was strong, the baby's face changing from bluish to a healthy pink.

Lillian's condition was critical; severe bleeding wouldn't stop; her blood oxygen and ECG were nearly flatlining. More help was needed.

The nurse swiftly wrapped the baby in a towel and placed him in Cynthia's arms. "Ms. Jones, take the baby to the neonatal department on the 10th floor. He's been deprived of oxygen and needs a thorough examination."

Cynthia walked out of the emergency room, holding the tiny, bruised baby. He wasn't crying, remarkably calm, as if asleep. Premature, he was smaller than a full-term baby, wrinkled like a little old man.

Jonathan and Filip approached as Cynthia emerged. They noticed the baby. Filip hesitated, staring at the baby's bluish skin and lips, the purplish spots. He couldn't believe what he saw.

His lips quivered. "Is he… is he alive?"

Cynthia was confused. She didn't know how to hold a baby; her arms were numb.

Cynthia said mechanically, "He's alive. He was asphyxiated at birth and needs to go to the neonatal unit."

Cynthia tried to hand the baby to Filip. "Filip, you hold him."

Filip instinctively stepped back. "No, I'm too afraid."

Filip was scared. The baby was wrinkled, like a monkey; he couldn't tell who the baby resembled. Earlier, Lilian's use of the child as a bargaining chip had seemed absurd. He never expected this ridiculous situation.

He couldn't leave the child, though. He had eagerly awaited the baby's birth. But now, inexplicable fear crept into his heart. His inner demons had taken form.

This child was born of his greed. He didn't know what consequences awaited—disaster or otherwise. His heart was in utter chaos; he couldn't even look at the child, let alone touch him.

07:43 Tue, Nov 19 GUL

Chapter 306

Jonathan took the child from Cynthia. "I'll take him."

Cynthia, lost, handed the baby to Jonathan. After he left, she slid down the wall, her mind filled with images of Lillian's surgery.

Filip regained some composure. He asked hoarsely, "How is Lilian?"

Cynthia stared blankly. "I don't know."

At that moment, the operating room doors swung open.

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