They Wanted My Mom to Take the Blame, but the Animals Told Me Everything Chapter 04

They Wanted My Mom to Take the Blame, but the Animals Told Me Everything Chapter 04

I ignored her threat and kept my eyes fixed on Orion. “The golden window for treating venomous snakebites is within two hours. I’m sure the Ashford family has more than enough manpower to sweep the perimeter of the estate quickly.”

“But if you inject the wrong anti-venom, there’s no turning back. Whether you search or not is your decision.”

I had made my point perfectly clear. If they still insisted on using only the standard anti-venom, it would have nothing to do with my mother anymore.

I just hoped this man wouldn’t let a future stepmother blind him to his own son’s survival.

Orion stared at me for several seconds before pulling out his phone. “Search the estate grounds. Find the snake.”

I had barely exhaled a sigh of relief when his voice cut through the air again. “Miss, the golden window might be two hours, but anti-venom works best the sooner it’s given.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. If my son suffers any permanent damage because of this delay, you won’t like the consequences.”

I was trying to save a life, and I was getting threatened for it?

But knowing a child’s life hung in the balance, I forced myself to nod. “Fine.”

Now, all I could do was pray that the stray cat actually won its battle against the king cobra.

The minutes that followed felt ten times longer than usual.

My mother checked Leo’s blood oxygen levels over and over.

Dr. Harrison paced back and forth, muttering under his breath. “We’re dead. If the Ashfords blame us, the entire ER… no, the entire hospital is finished.”

Mrs. Ashford turned her rosary beads between her fingers, whispering silent prayers, while Callie glared at me with pure venom.

The Pomeranian lay flat on its stomach at my feet, its ears pressed to the floor, its tail thumping occasionally.

Coco definitely handled that snake. I just hope those bodyguards aren’t completely blind…

Ten minutes later, Orion’s phone rang.

As he listened, his brow gradually furrowed into a tight knot.

He hung up and turned his gaze back to me, his eyes flashing with sudden rage. “My men searched the entire estate grounds three times and covered a ten-mile radius. Aside from a few stray cats, there is no king cobra.”

Impossible! Coco wouldn’t just let that snake get away!

The Pomeranian grew incredibly agitated, and my heart sank.

Did the cat lose?

Tears immediately streamed down Callie’s face. “Orion, I told you she was just stalling… Please, let the doctors give Leo the anti-venom before it’s too late.”

The warmth drained entirely from Orion’s gaze as he looked at me.

He raised a hand, signaling his guards. “Take her to the police station.”

Two massive bodyguards stepped toward me.

The Pomeranian let out a desperate whine. We’re done for. Leo is dead…

The guards grabbed my arms and began dragging me toward the exit, but I refused to give up. “You can’t just give him one anti-venom! It won’t work! You’re going to kill him…”

A sharp slap cracked across my face.

“Shut up!” Callie screamed. “King cobras? Stray cats? You spun these ridiculous lies just to waste time! Tell me! Who sent you? Was it one of the Ashford family’s corporate rivals?”

Her voice grew increasingly hysterical, and she raised her hand to strike me again.

My mother tried to push past the guards holding her back, her voice cracking with panic. “Don’t hit my daughter! She has never been a liar…”

Callie whipped around and shrieked at her. “She claimed it was a king cobra without ever seeing a trace of it. If that isn’t a lie, what is? You two are obviously in on this together!”

“This whole incident felt suspicious from the start. It seems she won’t tell the truth until she learns a real lesson. Take her to the Hanish estate. I’ll question her myself!”

“And her mother too! She’s probably an accomplice. Take them both!”

She watched with smug satisfaction as the guards pulled me toward the door.

The Pomeranian desperately bit down on the hem of Orion’s trousers.

It’s not true! She didn’t lie! Don’t let them take her to the Hanishes! That evil woman will beat her to death!

Orion looked down at the dog tugging at his leg, his brow furrowing slightly.

Before he could speak, a blur of calico and brown fur shot through the emergency room doors.

A massive, six-foot-long, dark brown snake slammed onto the linoleum floor.

The stray cat sat down right next to the carcass and calmly licked its paw.

“Meow.”

I’m exhausted. Took me forever to track down the hospital. Hope I’m not too late!

The moment Callie saw the dead king cobra on the floor, the color completely drained from her face, leaving her white as a sheet.