Chapter 13 - The Paramedic's Assessment
"Mr. Bennett, what is the situation here?" the police sergeant asked, his voice steady, professional, and entirely immune to Victoria's hysterics.
"This woman, Victoria Bennett, violently assaulted my daughter Clara beside the fountain," Arthur stated with crystalline, unshakeable clarity.
"She pushed her over the stone rim into deep water with the clear intent to drown her, and then attempted to strike her a second time."
"That's a lie! It's a conspiracy!" Victoria wailed, but two officers immediately stepped up to flank her on both sides, cutting off her movement.
"Paramedics, attend to the young woman immediately," Arthur ordered, stepping aside slightly so the medical team could reach Clara.
Two paramedics in reflective jackets moved swiftly to Clara’s side, kneeling down onto the wet pavers beside her.
Clara sat trembling on the dry terrace chair where Arthur had gently guided her, her hands still clutching the lapels of his tuxedo jacket.
"Clara, sweetie, my name is Sarah," the female paramedic said softly, unpacking a medical kit with calm, practiced efficiency.
"We’re going to take care of you. Can you tell me if you swallowed any water while you were submerged?"
Clara nodded weakly, a small shudder passing through her delicate frame as tears tracked through the dried water on her cheeks.
"I... I breathed in some of the pool water before Elena reached me," Clara whispered, her voice rough and strained.
"My chest feels heavy, and it hurts when I take a deep breath."
The paramedic quickly wrapped a warm, thermal emergency blanket around Clara’s shivering shoulders, covering the wet satin dress.
She placed a pulse oximeter on Clara’s finger and slid a stethoscope beneath the wool jacket to listen to her lungs.
"There are crackles in her lower left lung," the paramedic announced to her partner, her face growing serious.
"She has aspirated pool water. We need to administer oxygen right now and transport her to the hospital for observation."
Arthur knelt instantly beside Clara, taking her cold, trembling hand between both of his large, warm palms.
"You're going to the medical center, Clara. I am coming with you, and I will be by your side the entire way."
Clara looked at him with tear-filled hazel eyes, squeezing his fingers with all the strength left in her slender hand.
"Dad... Elena jumped in after me," Clara whispered, pointing toward the soaked housemaid standing quietly nearby.
"I was under the water, and my dress was pulling me down... She saved my life."
The lead paramedic turned toward Elena Morales, inspecting the young woman's soaked black-and-white uniform.
"Are you experiencing any shortness of breath or dizziness, miss?" the medic asked with immediate professional concern.
"No, ma'am, I am uninjured," Elena replied steadily, though her teeth clicked slightly from the cold night air.
"I only did what had to be done to pull Miss Clara out of that fountain."
The police sergeant looked at Elena with profound respect, writing her name down at the top of his official incident report.
"You acted with extraordinary courage tonight, young lady," the sergeant said, nodding firmly at the brave housemaid.
Arthur stood up, his towering presence commanding the attention of every officer, paramedic, and guest on the terrace.
"Elena Morales is under my personal protection from this night forward," Arthur announced, his voice ringing with absolute finality.
"She will be rewarded beyond her wildest dreams, and any person who attempts to retaliate against her will answer to me."
Victoria let out a bitter, strangled sneer from between the two officers holding her, her venomous jealousy refusing to die.
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"She's a servant!" Victoria hissed under her breath. "A common maid in an apron, and you treat her like royalty!"
"She is ten times the human being you could ever hope to be," Arthur fired back, his gray eyes flashing with icy fury.
