Chapter 7 - The Angry Crowd
The blood completely drained from Brad’s face as Sam’s words echoed across the pool deck.
Over two million people had just watched a powerful politician and his girlfriend attempt to frame a mother with a cancer-stricken child.
The crowd of resort guests realized exactly what had happened and began to close in on Brad and Cassandra.
Angry shouts erupted from all sides, calling them monsters, criminals, and cowards.
People pulled out their own phones, recording Brad’s panicked reaction from every possible angle.
Arthur Sterling stood beside me, shielding Mia from the escalating chaos with his walking cane.
Brad grabbed Cassandra by the arm, aggressively pulling her toward the exit to escape the furious mob.
Cassandra was completely hysterical, screaming at the crowd to get out of her way.
She swung her heavy designer beach bag wildly, trying to hit anyone who dared to block her path.
The police officers were struggling to maintain order, calling for immediate backup on their radios.
A large man in a bathing suit stepped in front of Cassandra, demanding that she apologize to my daughter.
Cassandra shrieked in absolute terror, blindly shoving the man out of her way with all her strength.
The violent shove sent Cassandra stumbling backward, completely losing her balance on the wet concrete.
She desperately flailed her arms, trying to grab onto anything to stop her fall.
Her manicured hand caught the edge of Mia’s small towel, pulling it hard.
The sudden force violently yanked Mia forward, ripping her small hand entirely out of my grip.
Everything seemed to happen in agonizing slow motion.
Mia tripped over the lounge chair leg and fell face-first toward the hard edge of the concrete planter.
I screamed her name, diving forward with my arms outstretched, but I was entirely too late.
Mia’s head struck the sharp stone edge with a sickening, hollow crack.
She collapsed onto the wet ground, completely limp and motionless.
The entire pool deck went dead silent, the anger of the crowd instantly replaced by pure, unadulterated horror.
I fell to my knees beside my little girl, my hands shaking violently as I saw the dark pool of blood forming beneath her head.
Cassandra scrambled to her feet, looking at my unconscious daughter with wide, terrified eyes.
May you like
Instead of trying to help, Cassandra turned around and sprinted toward the parking lot like a coward.
I pressed my hands desperately against the wound on Mia's head, screaming at the top of my lungs for someone to call an ambulance.
