Chapter 21: Elena Ward's Voice Was Urgent

"Quick! Lay him flat!" Elena Ward's voice was urgent as her fingers immediately found Paul Mercer's pulse.

Martin Reed fumbled to lower the man onto the stone slab at the courtyard entrance. Paul's face had turned ashen, his lips purple, his chest barely rising.

"Heart attack!" Elena's fingers twitched. "If we don't act now, it'll be too late!"

Beads of sweat rolled down Martin's forehead as he shakily checked Paul's breathing. "He's... not breathing!"

A scream pierced the air from outside the courtyard. Helen Reed stumbled in, her face pale. "What happened to my brother?" She lunged toward Paul, but Elena grabbed her arm.

"Don't touch him!" Elena snapped. "Moving him now could kill him!"

Helen turned on Martin, gripping his collar. "You said it was just a drink! How did it turn into this?"

The crowd stirred as Dr. Alan Brooks was dragged into the yard by Amy Miller. Kneeling, he pressed his stethoscope to Paul's chest—then immediately paled.

"It's too late..." Dr. Davis shook his head. "A heart attack. Even if we rush him to the hospital now—"

"Bullshit!" Helen shrieked hysterically. "My brother's only forty!"

Martin suddenly seized Elena's wrist. "You recognized the symptoms—you must know how to help!"

Elena pressed her lips together. "I need acupuncture needles..."

"I have them!" Dr. Davis hastily opened his medical bag but lowered his voice in warning. "Girl, this isn't a game..."

Elena took the needles and scanned the crowd. "Everyone, step back. Get me a curtain."

"Move! Now!" Martin barked.

Within minutes, a thick cloth curtain was rigged up in the courtyard. Before stepping behind it, Elena caught fragments of murmurs:

"Can she really do this?"

"She's Dr. Ward's daughter—maybe she knows something..."

"What if she kills him?"

The curtain fell, shutting out all eyes. Elena took a deep breath, the silver needles glinting in her fingers.

Ten minutes later, the curtain was yanked aside. Elena emerged, her face ghostly pale, lips trembling. "He's... stable..."

Helen was the first to rush in, then burst into sobs. "Paul! You scared me half to death!"

Martin, eyes red, directed the others. "Quick, carry him inside!" He turned and bowed deeply to Elena. "Girl, this debt—"

Elena couldn't speak, only waving weakly. Her hands shook uncontrollably—she couldn't even hold the needles steady.

Dr. Davis took them from her, eyeing her skeptically. "He's really alive?" Without waiting for an answer, he hurried after the crowd.

The courtyard emptied in moments, leaving only Elena slumped against the wall, sliding slowly to the ground. The setting sun stretched her shadow long across the stones.