Chapter 2

I waited and waited, but not even a shadow of the rescue team returned.

Every time I tried to dash after them, desperate to follow, the other rescuers stopped me cold, no matter how much I struggled.

My tears wouldn't stop, no matter how hard I tried, as I stared at the raging waves crashing against the shore.

"Zick, please, you had to be okay," I murmured. "God, please, just let Zick come back to me alive."

About fifteen minutes later, the walkie-talkie finally crackled to life. "We found him. But he's been in the water for too long; he's hypothermic. Is the ambulance here yet?"

"Not yet," a guy replied.

I was so frantic that I snatched the walkie-talkie right out of one of the rescuers' hands, my voice hoarse with desperation. "I know first aid. Where are you? I'm coming right now."

As soon as I finished, I was about to bolt toward the water, but Gavin barked out a sharp order, stopping me dead in my tracks. "We're already giving first aid, but the patient can't breathe on his own. We need an oxygen mask. ASAP."

"Copy that." One of the rescuers nearby rushed to the ambulance to grab the equipment.

Outside, a wave of cheers erupted.

I wiped my tears and looked over.

Kevin, soaked to the bone, was carrying a boy in his arms.

Just one glance and I could tell it was Bella's kid.

Things dragged on a bit longer this time, and Bella's kid looked a little pale.

Seeing him breathing just fine, all I felt was bitter irony.

There was absolutely nothing wrong, but Kevin was freaking out like the kid was on his last breath.

I turned away, barely able to breathe, just waiting for Gavin to show up with Zick.

Suddenly, I heard a shout behind me as Kevin grabbed the oxygen mask straight out of the rescuer's hands.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing? That's for Mr. Wilde," the rescuer yelled.

Kevin shoved the guy aside with an impatient scowl.

"It's all for saving lives. What's the big deal?" Kevin shot back. "Are you really telling me we should ditch the kid who's right in front of us, just because the other one's still missing?"

With that, Kevin wasted no time, strapping the oxygen mask onto the boy.

"Do we have any more oxygen masks?" I asked, my voice tight with worry.

The rescuer looked uneasy, not sure what to say.

"We did have extras, but Kevin said one kid wouldn't need more than one, so he left the rest behind," the rescuer explained.

Hearing that, I rushed over and shoved Kevin aside as he was still putting equipment on Luke. Kevin stumbled, nearly losing his balance.

"He doesn't need the oxygen mask at all. Give it here," I shouted.

When I tried to grab it back, Kevin batted my hand away, his face twisted with anger.

"Seriously, what's your problem? Zick's not even here. Why shouldn't Luke get it first?" Kevin shot back.

When I watched Luke's face get all swollen and blotchy from the oxygen mask, it just made my heart ache with how unfair it all was.

Anyone could see plain as day that Luke didn't need the oxygen at all, but Kevin just pretended not to see it.

When I saw Gavin bringing Zick back after he'd been resuscitated, I didn't bother with Kevin anymore. I hurried over.

The stretcher was set down on the ground, and Zick, still unconscious, would twitch every so often.

Gavin was pressing down on Zick's chest, but there was no reaction at all.

When I saw Zick like this, it felt like my heart was being torn apart.

"Where's the oxygen pump?" Gavin glanced over after finishing the chest compressions.

One of the crew members gestured toward Kevin, who was standing off to the side. "He's got it."

I forced myself to stay calm, dropped to my knees on the sand, cleared the water and sand from Zick's mouth, and started giving him rescue breaths.

After a chest compression, Zick coughed up a mouthful of water and started to wake up a bit.

"Mom, where's Dad?" Zick asked, his voice weak. "D-Did Dad get hurt trying to save me?"

Tears streamed down my face, and Zick reached out with a shaky hand, gently touching the corner of my eye.

"Don't cry, Mom. I-It's all my fault. I didn't wait for you like I was supposed to," he said, his voice full of guilt.

When I saw Zick doing his best to comfort me, my body shook uncontrollably.

I clung to him, then quickly let go, afraid he couldn't breathe.

"It's not your fault, Zick. It's all my fault," I said, my voice shaking. "I'll never leave you by yourself again, I swear."

Suddenly, Kevin burst out laughing nearby.

"It's a relief. Luke's alright. Otherwise, I'd have no idea how to face Bella," he said.

I turned to look. He was holding Luke, whose cheeks were rosy, gently comforting him.

I felt a cold chill settle in my chest.

Even though the oxygen pump wasn't being used anymore, no one bothered to bring it over for Zick, who was still in danger.

Kevin didn't even spare Zick a glance. He was too busy fussing over Luke.

Was this really the man I'd chosen after all that effort? I must have been out of my mind.

Zick barely regained consciousness for a moment, and when he heard Kevin's voice, he started to cry. "I-Is Dad comforting another girl? D-Did he save him?"

"D-Dad's a hero. I want to be a hero like him, someday." After saying those two sentences, Zick fainted from lack of oxygen.

"Zick?" I shouted, my voice cracking with panic.

I rushed over to grab the oxygen pump, but Kevin snapped at me impatiently. "What are you doing? You're scaring Luke."

I looked at Luke in his arms, then at Zick, still unconscious, and it felt like knives were twisting in my chest. Tears poured out as I screamed.

I snapped, "You're worried about scaring Luke, but what about Zick? Zick thought you were the one who saved him. But you didn't even try to help, not even a single glance."

"Who's really your son? Do you even care about Zick at all?" I yelled, my voice shaking with anger.

Kevin just stood there, looking kind of guilty.

But when he noticed Luke cowering in his arms, he backed away a few steps and snapped at me, "Alice, what the hell is wrong with you?"

One of the crew, seeing the tension rising, quickly stepped in to try and smooth things over.

"Come on, Alice, don't be upset. Kevin really couldn't do anything about it," he said. "The kid's mom still isn't here, and he's a timid one. He only feels safe with Kevin."

I looked at Kevin, still comforting Luke, and couldn't help but let out a hollow, bitter laugh.

The crew member just stared, stunned by my laughter mixed with tears, and for a moment, he didn't dare say a word.

"Isn't that just perfect? He only cares about the kid who clings to him, ignores his son, and somehow gets to play the selfless hero," I spat.

"Alice?" Kevin called out, his brows knitting together. "How long are you going to keep making a scene? This kid is autistic. He can't handle being upset. Shouldn't I be taking extra care of him?

"It's my duty as a member of the rescue team."

"Duty and obligation?" I demanded. I stepped forward, grabbed Kevin by the collar, and looked him in the eye.

I snapped, "As a member of the rescue team, was it really your duty and obligation to tell everyone not to try to save Zick when you knew he might still be in the water?

"And as a father, is it your duty and obligation to turn your back on your own son when he's still fighting for his life?"

Kevin soothed Luke with gentle pats, shooting me a cold look.

"Stop making a scene," he snapped. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?"

A foot slammed into the back of my knee, and my leg buckled. I fell hard to the ground.

The fresh scent of perfume lingered in the air as Bella hurried over to Kevin, looking panicked.

"Kevin," she called out, her voice trembling.