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"Michael, how did Lucas get hurt? You said you'd save him first!"
Michael didn't speak. He just shot a subtle, warning glance at me.
Amanda followed his gaze and realized that my son was being attended to by medics nearby.
Her eyes turned red instantly. She lunged at me, trying to scratch my face.
"It was you! You caused my son to almost die! If everyone had gone to save Lucas like they were supposed to, how would he have gotten hurt so badly!"
She was tall and slender, stumbling in her heels.
I, however, had years of CrossFit training.
I caught her wrist and delivered a backhand slap that echoed through the plaza.
"Your son's life is a life, but my son's isn't? Why should Noah burn to death just so my husband can take the entire department to save your kid!
"If you speak another word of nonsense, the next injury won't be on your son, it'll be on you!"
"Emily! Watch your mouth!"
Michael shouted sternly, stepping forward to support Amanda.
I stared him down, my eyes cold as ice.
"I dare you."
Michael froze.
I asked, enunciating every word.
"Whose husband are you, exactly?"
The atmosphere at the scene became suffocatingly awkward.
The crowd of onlookers grew larger. Some people already had their phones out, recording.
"Everyone! Please help us!"
A sobbing cry broke the silence. All eyes turned to Amanda.
Her white dress highlighted her slender figure.
Her makeup was artfully smudged by tears, making her look fragile and pitiful, like a lily trembling in the wind.
Several men in the crowd immediately looked sympathetic.
"Ma'am, what happened?"
"Miss, are you okay?"
She pointed a trembling finger at me, choking on her sobs.
"If not for her diverting the firefighters who were supposed to save my son, my Lucas would be unharmed right now!
"Thank God Captain Miller risked his life to bring my son out.
But now, she's hitting me because of it!
"Every child's life matters! Why does her son require everyone to save him? Does my son deserve to burn to death?"
Her weeping triggered compassion in the bystanders.
"You bitch! Who was the one trying to hog all the resources for her own kid!"
I rushed forward to grab Amanda by the collar.
Just as I raised my hand, a pair of large hands grabbed me from behind, forcibly pulling me away.
Michael used a standard police hold to restrain me.
"Enough! You already stole the resources meant for Lucas! Hitting me wasn't enough?
Now you want to attack the victim's mother too?"
His words instantly ignited the crowd's anger against me.
"Oh my god, she attacked a firefighter!"
"She stole rescue resources and now she's assaulting people? Is this woman crazy?"
"Wait, isn't that Captain Miller? He saved my neighbor in the Bronx fire last month!"
"Captain Miller is a hero! How dare this woman hit him!"
The crowd began to surge. Someone spat in my direction.
Angry women started shoving forward, trying to get close to me.
