Chapter 2

Alvin leaned back on the chair while exhaling. The young man looked glum in the waiting chair in front of the PACU (Post Anaesthesia Care Unit) room. He was sad because his mother hadn't woken up after undergoing surgery last night. Even though Alvin had been sitting waiting for hours, the doctor kept saying that his mother's condition still had to be monitored.

Alvin's teary blue irises then rose to look at the glass door of the PACU room. He could see his mother lying pale on the bed. Many tubes were installed to support his mother's condition and it made Alvin very sad. A single tear finally fell from the corner of his eye.

Alvin immediately wiped it away while whispering hoarsely, "Please wake up soon, Mom.... I miss you so bad...."

Alvin Alexander had never felt this devastated before. Sarah Stone, his mother, had a sudden accident last night when she came home from work. It was a rainy and stormy night in Denver City, and his mother had gotten home later than usual. Alvin was anxiously awaiting his mother's return, then he was shocked when he received a call from the hospital informing him that Sarah Stone had been in an accident and that she needed immediate surgery.

Now, there was nothing Alvin could do but pray and try to find the money to pay for the mounting hospital bills. Sarah only had Alvin in this world, and so did Alvin.

"I'll try my best, Mom," Alvin said as he stood up from the waiting chair. He picked up his backpack and put it on. Then, the young man left there after sending his mother a goodbye smile from outside.

Alvin would return home to immediately search for part-time job info on the internet. After returning from college tomorrow, he would also go around looking for additional jobs.

Yes, Alvin wouldn't just sit around contemplating his fate. He had to make an effort!

Drrt drrt! Drrrt drrrt!

Alvin's phone vibrated in his pants pocket when he entered the elevator. His right hand quickly grabbed the phone, while his left hand pressed the hospital lobby button on the elevator panel.

Glancing at the phone screen, 'My Rose' was the nickname displayed there. Alvin naturally smiled.

Ah, he just remembered! Besides his mother, Alvin also had Rose, his girlfriend! Actually, Alvin also had a best friend in college, his name was Tom. Yeah! That's right! Alvin wasn't really alone with his mother in this world. He shouldn't forget them! They were two good people who were willing to accept him for who he was.

"Hi, Rose!" greeted Alvin cheerfully as soon as he picked up Rose's call.

Unlike Alvin, Rose replied less enthusiastically, "Yes, honey."

Alvin noticed Rose's tone of voice and immediately asked, "Is there a problem? You sound moody."

Rose sighed loudly. "I don't know, honey. I want to tell you about it, but I'm afraid to add more burden to your mind. I know very well that you're struggling with the mounting hospital bills."

The elevator chimed, meaning that Alvin had reached the lobby floor. However, he didn't get out immediately because he was too serious listening to Rose's words.

Alvin was silent for quite a while. When the elevator doors were about to close again, he finally rushed out of there.

"Babe? Did you hear me?"

"Yes," Alvin replied quickly, not wanting to misunderstand Rose. "So, you have a problem with money?"

"Yes. To be honest, I need money right now, but my parents won't give it to me. I'm so sad, honey...." Rose was heard sighing loudly once again. In fact, her voice was hoarse as if she had been crying all along.

Alvin of course couldn't bear to hear it. He then sitting in the hospital garden, trying to listen to Rose carefully. But, he was ultimately at a loss as to what to reply. Alvin felt a dilemma.

"You're being quiet again Alvin." Rose reprimanded. If she had mentioned Alvin by name, it meant she was upset.

Alvin didn't want to upset Rose. So, he hurriedly said, "I have money. How much do you need?"

"Two--"

"Two dollars? I have it!"

Rose clucked loudly. "Two thousand dollars, Alvin! Two thousand dollars! I have two dollars too! Why would I ask you for two dollars, huh?"

Okay, Rose really sounded annoyed. Alvin couldn't sit quietly on the lawn chair. Besides, he was quite surprised at the amount Rose had mentioned. Two thousand dollars was definitely not a small amount.

"Two thousand dollars? What are you going to use it for, Rose?" Alvin asked softly, trying not to offend Rose.

Rose replied casually, "Something. I don't have to tell you, right?"

"Then, when will you going to give it back?"

"What?"

Alvin bit his lower lip in dilemma. He reflexively asked again, "After I give you the money, when will you going to give it back? I just want to make sure. Two thousand dollars is not a small amount, Rose."

"Fuck!"

Alvin glared. He heard Rose swear quite loudly on the phone. Alvin was sure he hadn't heard wrong.

"You-you're swearing at me, Rose? Did I upset you?"

Rose clucked again. "Just tell me, Alvin! Are you going to give it to me or not?! Don't waste my time like this!"

There was no longer any softness in Rose's voice. Her tone was high and harsh, unlike her usual. Alvin really didn't like it. Rose had often borrowed money from him, but this one was quite hard to tolerate. Alvin hesitated a bit.

For a long time Alvin silently considered. But after a while, he finally decided, "Okay. Wait a moment, Rose. I'll transfer it to your account."

"Good boy! Hurry! I'll wait!"

Finally.

Alvin took a deep breath.

Rose hung up unilaterally without saying 'thank you' at all. But, Alvin understood. Rose seemed to be sensitive today. Alvin regretted not being more careful earlier. Besides, he was sure Rose would return the money, because she usually did. Alvin shouldn't have any doubts, right?

Keeping a positive mindset, the young man then switched to opening the fund transfer app on his phone.

"My Goodness! I only have one thousand dollars in my balance?!"

It was a disaster to see the number in his current account balance. Alvin automatically bit his lip again and had a dilemma. The thousand dollars was his mother's medical expenses that he had worked so hard to collect.

Alvin had already paid off his mother's surgery using his mother's savings and his own money. But the hospital bill was still huge. That's why he's still working desperately to earn money. And, that's why he felt bad about lending this thousand dollars to Rose.

Alvin stared at the phone screen intently while thinking. "Should I...?"

"You don't have to, young master."

Alvin gasped in surprise. A voice startled him along with a burly hand that suddenly pulled the cell phone from his grasp. Alvin looked up. A man in a black suit and dark glasses stood towering over him.

"I didn't know you'd be this pathetic, young master. How could the future CEO of Axco Corporation be tricked so easily by a woman?"

The man continued to speak in his flat voice while scrolling through Alvin's phone screen. His behavior made Alvin look at him strangely.

"Excuse me? Who are you? I can't understand what you're saying. So please just give me back my phone!" pleaded Alvin, trying to remain polite.

"I'm John," said the flat-voiced man.

Alvin frowned in annoyance. He certainly wasn't being real when he asked who the man was. Alvin didn't need his name! He just wanted his cell phone back. That was all!

The man named John didn't seem to care about Alvin's request and was instead busy doing something with Alvin's cell phone and his own.

Furious, Alvin finally stood up. "What the hell are you doing, sir?! Give me back my cell phone!"

"Done!" John picked up Alvin's cell phone before Alvin could grab it first. He showed Alvin the phone screen in front of Alvin's own face. "This is just a guarantee, because you can get a lot more than this, young master."

Alvin blinked his eyes. For a moment, he just stood in confusion. But when his eyes caught sight of the account balance on his phone, he immediately glared in shock.

Now, there were an additional three zeros behind his 1000 dollars.

Yes, one million dollars!

His account balance now contained one million dollars!!!

To be continued....