Chapter 3

What can you imagine when you suddenly have a million dollars in your account?

If you ask Alvin, he'll be honest. When John showed him the one million dollars in his account, he immediately imagined that the hospital bill would be paid off immediately, and his mother's medical expenses would no longer be a long-term worry for him. Then, the shabby apartment in the suburbs where he and his mother had been living all this time could probably be replaced with a luxurious apartment in the city center.

Alvin would also not have to worry about college tuition fees because a million dollars is more than enough to make it all happen. Oh, and maybe, Alvin would be able to give two thousand dollars for free to Rose. Not just two thousand dollars, he could even give twenty thousand dollars for sure!

"How is it, young master?"

Alvin gasped. He finally came back to reality after being mesmerized by the one million dollars in his cell phone account balance. John's deep voice made him blink and look back at that man.

"Wha-what? What do you mean 'how'?" Alvin said. "And, please stop calling me 'young master'! I'm not your master."

John's thick lips lifted slightly. "You are my master, young master. You need to know that."

Alvin frowned strongly, he was very confused at that moment.

But, without a signal, John suddenly passed Alvin's cell phone to Alvin who wasn't ready for that move. Alvin panicked as he caught his cell phone.

"Wha-what? What about the money? You have to take it back! It's not my money! Why did you give it to me?!" Alvin panicked while chased after John who was now walking away.

John took off his glasses and stopped. He turned back to Alvin. "Oh! I haven't told you yet?" He remembered something, but his tone remained flat as always.

"Told what?"

"Mr. Alvin Alexander Cooper, you need to come with me and return to your home. Your 'real home'."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Alvin snorted. "Anyway, my name is Alvin Alexander. 'Cooper'? What surname is that?"

John took a deep breath. He seemed to be getting tired of Alvin not understanding everything he said. John began to doubt Albert's decision to want Alvin Alexander Cooper back home, because Alvin was in fact very unreliable.

Meanwhile, Alvin kept blinking in confusion with an innocent look. He was still waiting for John to give him an explanation. Thus, John centered his whole body on Alvin and placed his hands on Alvin's shoulders. He looked at his young master with seriousness.

"Listen, young master. You are the son of the Cooper family who disappeared twenty-two years ago. You are Henry Alexander Cooper, the only son of Albert Cooper and Dianna Cooper. So, you must come with me to the Cooper family's mansion right now to meet your--"

"Wa-wait! Stop!"

Alvin interrupted while stepping backwards. He forced John's hands off his shoulders to rejecting everything John had just said. Now, he looked at John much more strangely.

"Sir, I really don't have time for all the nonsense you're saying. Is this a prank? Is there a hidden camera recording us?" Alvin's head immediately turned around the hospital garden to look for the camera he was referring to. But, he didn't find it anywhere.

"Anyway! What I'm trying to say is, please take back this money!" He then pointed again his cell phone at John.

"It's not mine and you don't have to give me this fantastic money for free! I'm not a beggar. I can find it myself," he added in a confident tone and showed the eyes of a gentle man who didn't want to take something that didn't belong to him.

Actually, Alvin was just afraid that this money was dirty money and John was setting him up. Let's just think about it. How could someone who met you for the first time give you a million dollars for free? Then, what was that? 'young master'? 'The Cooper family'? Alvin is 'Henry Alexander Cooper'?

Okay, Alvin now remembers who the Cooper family is. The Cooper family is one of America's most prominent conglomerate families in Denver City. They run a large manufacturing company called Axco Corporation. Alvin had only heard about them on the television. Other than that, he knew nothing else about them. That's why he had never imagined that there was a 'Cooper' behind his name.

Oh please, who would like a nonsensical storyline like that?!

Alvin snorted at the thought. However, when he refocused his eyes on John, John's expression remained serious. John showed that his words from earlier were not a joke. Alvin reflexively got rid of his snort because of that.

"Wha-what? What are you looking for? Hurry! Take my phone and transfer back your money! Don't waste my time like this!" Alvin urged, getting annoyed.

He kept pointing his cell phone at John to get it, but John didn't budge. At that moment, Alvin was then startled by the ringing of his own cell phone. He automatically hissed in panic when he saw who was calling him.

"Oh, God! I forgot!"

Rose must be upset waiting for the money he had promised. Alvin forgot he hadn't transferred it yet 'cause John's presence distracted him. Rose must be furious right now!

"Arggh! What should I do? What should I tell Rose?!" Alvin scratched his head.

In the midst of his panic, John suddenly did something again. Something that made Alvin squeal in shock. How could he not be shocked? John had suddenly pulled a strand of hair out of his head!

Alvin immediately groaned in pain at that moment. He retreated back again while rubbing the traces of pain on his scalp.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, SIR?!"

John smiled slightly. He put a strand of Alvin's hair into a plastic clip he took from his pants pocket.

"HEI!" Alvin shouted for John to answer him.

"You won't believe me until I bring you valid proof, right?" John finally spoke. He put the plastic clip--which had Alvin's hair in it--back into his pants pocket. Then, he put his dark glasses back on. "So, I'll bring that valid proof to you. Just wait." He continued for a moment before turning to leave Alvin alone.

Alvin stood stunned in disbelief at what had just happened and what he had just heard. He was even too stunned to speak.

What an incredible experience! How could he meet someone as crazy as John tonight? In fact, it was already midnight! It seemed like Alvin's life hadn't been tiring enough all day that he had to face a crazy incident like this.

Wait, maybe John is a ghost disguised as a human to be the new burden on his life?

"God...." Alvin held his dizzy head while breathing hard. "I've lost my mind tonight," he muttered.

The young man slowly looked back at his cell phone which was still on. The call from Rose earlier had ended because he hadn't picked up.

What was left now was his account balance app. The display was still the same as before. There was one million dollars there. For real!

To be continued....