Chapter 130 Calm in the Face of Danger
Emily's words made Nicole's eyes pop wide open. "Emily, this is straight-up murder. You can't do this," she stuttered, backing away.
"Mom, if we waste any more time, we're toast," Emily said, all serious. "Aurora and Todd are here. If they find the kid, we're done for."
Ignoring everything else, Emily heard the yacht take a hit. She popped open the hatch and grabbed Loren. "Blame Aurora, not me," she muttered.
Loren struggled, scared out of his mind, but he was just a kid. Emily pushed his head down and shoved him into the sea.
Nicole slapped a hand over her mouth in shock as Loren splashed into the water.
"Loren, Loren!" Summer had already jumped onto Emily's yacht, with others closing in.
Since Loren was tossed from the hatch, no one noticed.
Emily glanced at Summer and Aurora outside, then said, "Mom, deny everything later. Cover for me, and we might have a shot."
With that, Emily dove into the sea, too.
Nicole was the one who snatched Loren, not Emily. As long as Aurora didn't see her, Emily would be in the clear.
Emily swam underwater, heading for the shore.
Nicole was frozen for a sec, then quickly shut the hatch. By now, Aurora, Summer, and Todd had boarded the yacht.
Todd kicked open the door and stormed in.
"Loren, Loren!" Aurora rushed in, seeing only a freaked-out Nicole.
"Loren," Summer said anxiously. "I heard my brother's voice just now."
Nicole pulled herself together and yelled, "This is my yacht. What are you doing here? There's no one else here, just me. Get out."
"Where's Loren?" Aurora grabbed Nicole's collar, almost losing it. "Where did you take him? Spill it now."
"Who is Loren? I don't know what you're talking about," Nicole denied. "Aurora, I'm your elder. How can you talk to me like this? Let go. Just because you're tight with the Robinson and Lewis families doesn't mean you can disrespect me."
"Nicole," Aurora growled. "Where is Loren? If you don't come clean, I'll toss you overboard."
"Where is Loren?" Summer's eyes were sharp. "We saw on surveillance that you kidnapped him. Hand him over now."
Todd threatened, "Nicole, if you hand him over, maybe we'll let you go. If you stay stubborn, we'll call the cops."
Nicole was freaking out but remembered Emily's instructions: deny everything.
The kid was already in the sea; they wouldn't find him. She wasn't going to admit anything.
"I don't know. Even if you call the cops, I still don't know." Before Nicole could finish, someone outside shouted, "There's someone in the water."
Aurora, Todd, and Summer exchanged looks and rushed outside.
A small figure floated on the sea. As they got closer, they saw it was Loren.
Loren wasn't moving, eyes closed, looking lifeless.
The sight made everyone tense.
"Loren!" Aurora screamed, her heart shattering.
Before she could jump in, someone else beat her to it.
John dove in and swam towards Loren, making everyone's hearts pound.
Loren's hands and feet were tied, his small body drifting with the waves.
"Loren!" Summer wanted to jump in, but Todd held him back.
"Boss is already in. You can't help."
John reached Loren, held him up, and swam back to the yacht.
Aurora and the others quickly returned to the yacht.
John laid Loren flat, checked his breathing, and said, "He's still breathing."
He started CPR on Loren.
Aurora untied Loren and rubbed his cold hands.
"Loren, don't scare me. Wake up," Aurora's voice was hoarse. She hadn't been this terrified since John almost died.
"Loren, wake up. I'm here. I'm sorry I didn't protect you," Summer cried, usually strong but now heartbroken.
Loren remained unconscious, and Todd, Tyler, and Sam looked on, deeply distressed.
Such a small child, and Nicole had thrown him into the sea.
John's expression was grim as he pressed Loren's chest. Suddenly, Loren coughed up seawater.
Aurora cried tears of joy. "Loren, open your eyes and look at me."
Loren coughed up more seawater and slowly opened his eyes.
"Loren, look at me. Who am I?" Summer asked.
"Summer," Loren's voice was weak. He looked at Aurora and called out, "Aurora."
Tyler brought a blanket to wrap Loren in and handed another to John. "Boss, dry off."
Loren's awakening made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
Loren calmed down, fully regained his senses, and hugged Summer, crying. "Summer, I was so scared. They wanted to hurt me."
Loren had just survived a near-death experience. Such a small child, naturally terrified. After days of continuous fright, seeing his family made his emotions burst out.
John dried himself with the blanket. The brothers finally reunited, and no one interrupted their moment.
Todd walked over to John. "Boss, Loren is a talented kid."
Todd realized Loren had saved himself by floating on the sea.
By holding his breath and relaxing his body, he became lighter and floated with the seawater's buoyancy.
If he had struggled, he would have sunk.
To remain calm and hold his breath to save himself in a life-or-death situation was something even many adults couldn't do, but Loren did it.
John looked at Loren with admiration. "This kid has potential. Even adults facing such danger might not stay calm, let alone know how to save themselves."
Todd grew more fond of Loren, even admiring him.
Summer and Loren, these brothers, often made adults feel ashamed.
Todd asked, "Boss, what should we do with Nicole?"
"Bring her up," John ordered coldly, his voice filled with menace.
Soon, Nicole was brought onto the yacht. As she saw Loren safe, her face changed dramatically.
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