Chapter 633:
Herbert looked at Anne for a moment, ensuring she was okay, then turned back to the water. He swam toward the middle of the river again.
I patted Anne’s back twice before turning to look at Herbert. I shouted after him, “Herbert, please come back safely!”
Although I was still worried about Betty, my concern for Herbert grew stronger. But Betty had jumped of her own accord.
I didn’t want anything to happen to Herbert while trying to rescue her.
I didn’t know if Herbert heard me. I could only pray in my heart: I hope Betty will be safe. I hope that my child’s father will come back safely. About ten minutes later, I finally saw Herbert swimming over from a distance while pulling someone. When I saw that he had finally saved Betty, I was so excited that tears filled my eyes.
At this moment, two ambulances arrived. My mother, who had fainted, and Anne were taken away by one of the ambulances. Another ambulance was waiting for the person who was about to be brought to the shore. Soon, Herbert pushed Betty to the shore. I looked at Betty, who was coughing, and knew she should be fine. Then, my eyes fell on Herbert. He frowned, and his face was twisted with exhaustion. It was clear he was struggling.
The people on the shore wanted to pull him up, but suddenly, a wave came and pushed him back into the water. His body hovered, half-submerged. He no longer appeared as relaxed as before. He began to struggle in the river. Seeing this, I stepped into the water and shouted, “Herbert, come on up, come to the shore!”
However, when Herbert looked at me while I was shouting, he only gave me a pale smile. He shook his head, as if he had given up.
“Help! Help him! He’s in great danger!” I screamed.
“He doesn’t have any strength left!” I cried out.
Herbert was being pushed further away by the current, and gradually, all I could see was his head. The people around me shook their heads and said, “We have to be good swimmers to go into the river and save him. I think he’s too tired and he has a cramp!”
“This situation is very serious. He won’t be able to swim because of his cramp.”
Hearing the people talk behind me, I became even more frantic. Panic surged over me like an overwhelming tide.
No! I couldn’t let anything happen to Herbert. I couldn’t live without him, and neither could Lucas and Lucky live without a father. Without thinking, I ran as fast as I could toward the middle of the river. As I ran, I cried out, “Herbert, come back!”
Although I knew how to swim, I had only ever swum in an indoor pool, and I wasn’t a strong swimmer. I didn’t know what I was facing, but at that moment, only one thought raced through my mind.
“Save Herbert, I have to save him…”Hank ran to me and stopped me from moving forward.
“Bella, don’t go any further. You’ll die!”
“I’m going to find him!” I cried and shouted.
Hank hugged me tightly.