Crystal Foster rushed into Otto's bedroom.
Inside, two people were already present: Martin Riley, whose face was as dark as a storm cloud, and Hazel Morgan, who was holding Otto and on the verge of tears.
As for Otto, he was unconscious in Hazel's arms, with foam at the corners of his mouth.
"What happened?" Crystal asked, bewildered. Otto had been peacefully asleep when she had left just moments ago.
"You're asking me what happened?" Martin's gaze was as sharp as a knife, and the tension in the room was suffocating.
Crystal was confused, watching Otto's eyebrows furrowed like two caterpillars, his face pale and pained. She hurried over, "Let me take a look!"
"Get away!"
Martin grabbed her wrist with precision and forcefully pushed her away, his eyes filled with hatred. "I warned you, if you hurt Otto again, you'll end up in jail!"
With Martin's forceful shove, Crystal's body flew like a kite with a broken string, crashing to the floor.
She clutched her elbow in pain as the butler burst into the room, suddenly realizing, "Was it something Madam fed the young master earlier?"
As the saying goes, it's hard to guard against a thief in one's own home!
Martin Riley's eyes were filled with rage as he let out a bitter laugh. "I thought you had changed. How ridiculous!"
"I didn't..." Crystal Foster was in disbelief. How could she harm Otto, such an adorable child? She couldn't even bear the thought!
Her innocent eyes showed no hint of deceit, but Martin's disgust only deepened. In the past, she had hit and scolded the child, but now she was accused of trying to take his life!
Even a tiger doesn't eat its own cubs. A woman like her deserved to go to hell!
"Remington, take her to the police station!" Martin was resolute. Reputation, scandal—none of it mattered compared to Otto's safety!
Several bodyguards rushed into the room. Crystal knew this was bad. She quickly grabbed a lamp, holding it high above her head. "Stay back! The police need evidence to arrest someone. Did any of you actually see me poison Otto?"
"You're still trying to deny it? Tonight, who else was with Otto besides you?" Martin's anger surged, his voice a low roar, veins bulging at his temples.
Who else...
Of course, it was Hazel Morgan.
Crystal's suspicious gaze locked onto the woman holding Otto. Dressed in a black-and-white business suit, Hazel gently caressed the child's cheek, her demeanor as worried as a real mother's.
Hazel Morgan was Martin Riley's partner and had always been kind to Otto. If she wanted to harm Otto, why hadn't she done it before? Why now?
Crystal Foster couldn't understand what Hazel would gain from hurting a child.
With her mind racing, Crystal noticed Otto's small hand twitching, and her heart felt like it was being squeezed. She gripped the lamp tightly. "I need a chance, a chance to prove myself. After that, you can do whatever you want with me."
"Prove yourself? Haven't you done enough to harm Otto?" Martin Riley clenched his fists angrily. If not for his upbringing, he would have punched Sylvia Byrne right then and there.
"Move aside!"
Crystal had no other choice. She pushed Hazel Morgan aside, holding the lamp in one hand and supporting Otto's head with the other. "I don't mind dying with this child!"
"You!"
Martin was furious. Even though there were several bodyguards in the room, they were hesitant to act, fearing for Otto's safety.
Crystal couldn't worry about anything else. Even knowing that Martin wanted her gone, she continued with her plan. With one hand holding Otto's jaw, she used her phone's light to check his mouth.Two rows of gleaming white teeth, gums a light pink, and a small tongue curled between them.
Wait, what is that?
Crystal Foster noticed something in Otto's mouth besides the froth.
"Grab her!"
Before she could take a closer look, a man's patience snapped, and with a command, the bodyguards swiftly restrained Crystal.
What was it?
As the bodyguards roughly dragged her away, Crystal was left puzzled, not resisting as they pulled her toward the door.
"Wait! I know!" Just as they reached the door, she suddenly grabbed the doorframe, a spark of realization in her eyes. "Otto ate chocolate, liquor-filled chocolate!"
Martin Riley frowned. What was this woman talking about? Could liquor-filled chocolate be poisonous? That was ridiculous!
"Otto took a medicine that reacts with alcohol, there's no time! Martin, there's no time! Get him to the hospital, now!" Crystal nearly shouted, fearing any more delay could put Otto's life at risk.
Martin stood frozen, and Crystal broke free, rushing to the child's bed. She scooped up the little one and ran, repeating urgently, "To the hospital! To the hospital!"She dashed past him in a frenzy, and the man quickly picked up his pace to follow her.
In the hospital corridor, a doctor emerged after performing an emergency stomach pump. "It was indeed the interaction between cefalexin and alcohol. How could you as parents be so careless, giving the child cefalexin and then letting them consume something like this?"
"How is Otto?" Martin Riley was most concerned about his child's safety.
"He's out of danger now. If everything goes well, he can be discharged after two days of observation," the doctor said sternly, emphasizing, "This must never happen again!"
Crystal Foster nodded to the doctor's warnings, and after seeing him off, she turned to find Martin glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Don't look at me like that. It wasn't me who fed him," Crystal said sincerely. "You can have Remington investigate. The herbal tea I made only had carrots, pears, and fritillaria."
Martin's eyes were cold and suspicious. Otto loved sweets and had even visited the dentist for cavities caused by them, so they didn't keep sweets at home, let alone liquor chocolates!
If Crystal had been responsible, she wouldn't have needed to check, nor would she have been so anxious to rush Otto to the hospital.
"It was me."
The crisp sound of high heels on the floor grew closer as a woman in professional attire approached, clutching her handbag. "I gave Otto the chocolates. I'm sorry."
Hazel Morgan wanted to say something, standing in front of Martin Riley, but words failed her. "I... I don't know, I'm sorry..."
Apologizing twice, Martin was left speechless, surprised by her reaction.
"See?" Crystal Foster sighed, giving Hazel a knowing look as she waved the receipt in her hand. "I'll go pay the bill, you two can talk."
Hazel watched Crystal walk away, a shadow passing over her eyes.
Wasn't that woman supposed to be out of her mind?
How could she so clearly clear her own name?
Hazel had heard from Remington that Otto was on medication, and she intended to frame Crystal. But her plan backfired. Even if she didn't admit it, Martin would find out eventually. It was better to own up now.
However, she could clearly feel the icy gaze of the man above her.