New York University Medical Center.
"Code 99!"
As Adam pressed the emergency button beside the hospital bed while performing CPR on the boy, the ICU doctors and nurses rushed in, taking over from him.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
Leonard stood frozen nearby, taking deep breaths while frantically using his asthma inhaler.
It was too intense, too terrifying.
When Esther pushed him aside and escaped earlier, he was so scared he almost wet himself.
Of course, part of the reason was how ruthless Esther was, but even more so, it was the aftereffects of the experiments his mother, Dr. Beverly Hofstadter, had conducted on him.
His urinary tract was… unnaturally smooth.
Meanwhile, in the waiting area—
John's wife, Kate, was still arguing with him, insisting that Esther be removed from their home and kept away from their children. But no matter what she said, John wouldn't listen.
To him, Esther was obedient and sweet, always speaking so gently. How could she possibly be the demon his wife described?
The real demon was his wife—an alcoholic prone to depression and rage, who always blamed others for everything.
Their deaf daughter, Max, grew increasingly anxious after Esther left under the pretense of buying a soda.
Even though she feared Esther, her love for her brother, Danny, ultimately overcame her fear. When she didn't find Esther at the vending machine, she realized something was very wrong. Panicked, she ran to her parents and tugged at Kate's clothes.
"What is it, sweetheart?"
Kate looked at Max with concern.
Before Max could sign anything, the hospital's Code 99 alarm blared through the halls.
"Danny!"
Kate immediately realized what was happening and sprinted toward the ICU in terror.
"His heart has stopped! You can't go in!"
A nurse blocked Kate and the others from entering.
"Danny!"
Kate collapsed against the glass window, watching in anguish as the doctors and nurses worked desperately to save her son.
"It was that little girl!"
Leonard, who had been forced out of the room, couldn't help but blurt out a warning.
"Esther?!"
Kate, who had long since seen through Esther's act, didn't hesitate for a second. She didn't even stop to ask for more details—she just shoved past John, who had been holding her back, and went after Esther like a madwoman.
"Kate!"
John quickly chased after her.
**In the waiting area—**
Esther hadn't actually run away. Instead, she had bought a soda from a vending machine and was casually drinking it, standing there as if nothing had happened.
"What did you do?! What did you do to him?! You bitch!"
Kate screamed as she charged at Esther, slapping her with all her strength and knocking her to the ground.
"Security! Security!"
The nurses immediately called for help.
John arrived just in time to grab Kate before she could attack again.
"She tried to kill my child!"
Kate struggled, still trying to go after Esther.
"Daddy~!"
Sitting on the floor, clutching her face, Esther sobbed in a voice far too innocent for her true age, crying out to John—the one who adored her the most.
As hospital security rushed over and restrained Kate, John's first instinct was to run to Esther, helping her up and glaring at his wife with disgust.
Holding Esther protectively, he led her away.
Kate, now furious beyond reason, thrashed even harder. Two more medical staff arrived and injected a sedative into her arm.
Within seconds, Kate lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital room by the medical staff and security.
Leonard, who had followed along to watch, could hardly believe his eyes.
Then, as John carried Esther away, she turned her head and looked at Leonard—her gaze chilling, wicked, and full of warning.
Leonard shuddered violently and lowered his head, not daring to meet her eyes.
"Leonard, did you see that little girl?"
Adam, having finished treating Danny, walked over and asked.
"Adam, let's just go," Leonard whispered, on the verge of tears. "Forget about her…"
"No way!"
Adam, who had been hesitant before, was now resolute. "If you don't kill a snake, it'll bite back. We caught her red-handed—who knows if she'll come after us next? You can never fully defend against a thief, so we have to expose her!"
"But… but she's terrifying…" Leonard's voice trembled.
A teenager being this scared of a girl who looked only eight or nine years old? Compared to this, all the bullying he had suffered in the past seemed insignificant.
"That's exactly why we have to expose her!"
Adam was firm. "Do you really want to face her alone?"
"No!"
Leonard cried out in horror.
"Then let's go."
Adam grabbed Leonard and pulled him along.
Esther was still wrapped around John's neck, enjoying his comforting embrace.
When she saw Adam and Leonard approaching, her eyes flashed coldly, instantly freezing Leonard in place.
Adam's heart pounded.
In the past, whether it was his ex-girlfriend, the mysterious Amy, or Juno or Karen, he always had some idea of what they were capable of—most of the fear was just in his head.
But Esther was different.
Her gaze was truly vicious and eerie.
It was real intimidation.
It felt like a scene straight out of a horror movie.
But reason told Adam that now was the time to confront her—to eliminate the danger before it could grow.
"Mr. Coleman."
John frowned at Adam, clearly annoyed. "What do you want?"
First, he didn't want anyone interrupting him while he was comforting his "sweet daughter." Second, Adam had already witnessed him in humiliating situations multiple times, and John was running out of patience.
"Your son went into cardiac arrest because she smothered him with a pillow!"
Adam pointed straight at Esther, speaking clearly and deliberately.
"Leonard and I saw it with our own eyes!"
"What?"
John was stunned.
He immediately pulled Esther away and stared into her eyes. "Esther, is this true?"
"Daddy~!"
Esther, an expert actress, widened her innocent and pitiful eyes. With a hesitant voice, she murmured, "Did… did Mommy send them? Are they Mommy's friends?"
"You know Kate?"
John, already melting at Esther's "Daddy~," instantly turned hostile.
"Did she put you up to this?" he demanded, glaring at Adam and Leonard.
"Mr. Coleman, open your eyes and think!" Adam said coldly.
"Not only do we not know your wife, but even if we did—why would we risk committing a crime just to help her frame your daughter for trying to kill your son?
"Don't let a few 'Daddy's cloud your judgment. That boy lying in a hospital bed—barely alive—is also your child. And he's your biological son!"
John hesitated.
Because Adam was right.
No matter whether they knew Kate or not, they had no reason to throw themselves into such serious legal trouble.
In the U.S., anything involving children was a big deal.
People avoided those cases like the plague—why would two people willingly get involved?
Could Esther really be the problem?
"Daddy~!"
Esther shot Adam and Leonard a venomous glare before turning back to John with a look of pure helplessness and dependence.
**(End of Chapter)**