Chapter 244

The torrential rain hammered against the windshield as Evelyn Hartley watched the traffic descend into utter chaos through the fogged-up windows. Nathan Black's fingers tightened around the steering wheel, his knuckles whitening as their luxury sedan remained motionless for what felt like an eternity. The air inside the car grew heavier with each passing minute, thick with unspoken tension.

Evelyn deliberately kept her face turned toward the passenger window, watching raindrops race down the glass like tiny silver bullets. The rhythmic patter of rain against metal filled the suffocating silence between them.

Just when the traffic showed signs of movement, another bottleneck formed barely two blocks ahead. The neon sign of Grandins General Hospital glowed faintly in the distance - a mere ten-minute walk through the storm.

Evelyn turned toward Nathan, about to demand he pull over, when panicked shouts sliced through the downpour.

"Clara! Clara, can you hear me?"

"Someone help! She just collapsed!"

"Call 911 immediately!"

The commotion drew a rapidly growing crowd toward a single spot on the sidewalk. Without hesitation, Evelyn snapped at Nathan, "Stop the car now!"

Nathan swerved to the curb with practiced precision. Before the car fully stopped, Evelyn was already throwing open her door and sprinting into the deluge, her designer heels splashing through ankle-deep puddles.

"Let me through! I'm a doctor!" Her commanding voice cut through the murmuring crowd as she elbowed her way forward.

At the center of the gathering, a middle-aged Latina woman lay motionless on the wet pavement, her floral blouse already soaked through. A distraught man hovered over her, his face twisted in panic.

Evelyn dropped to her knees without regard for her expensive slacks. "Ma'am? Clara?" She gently shook the woman's shoulder while simultaneously checking for responsiveness. Her medical training kicked in automatically as she turned to the frantic man. "Any known medical conditions?"

"She has arrhythmia!" he choked out, clutching at his chest. "Her medication is in her purse but-"

Evelyn didn't wait for him to finish. With swift movements, she loosened Clara's collar and pressed two fingers to her carotid artery. Her expression darkened when she detected no pulse. Leaning down, she listened for breath sounds before immediately beginning chest compressions.

"She's in cardiac arrest!" Evelyn announced, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "I need space to work! Someone call an ambulance and see if there's an AED nearby!"

Her hands found the correct position on Clara's sternum as she began the rhythmic compressions, counting under her breath. The man fumbled with his phone, his hands shaking violently as he dialed emergency services.

Around them, the crowd formed a protective circle against the relentless rain as Evelyn fought to bring Clara back from the brink. Water streamed down her face, mixing with sweat as she maintained perfect CPR form despite the adverse conditions.

Nathan appeared at her side suddenly, holding out a compact AED he'd retrieved from a nearby store. Without a word, he tore open Clara's blouse further to allow proper pad placement, his movements precise and efficient.

The wail of approaching sirens cut through the storm just as the AED analyzed Clara's rhythm. Evelyn's breath caught as the machine's mechanical voice announced: "Shock advised."