Richard Paige: They Chose the Wrong Enemy

003: New Beginning

The helicopter whooshed through the night. Inside, bright lights shone over Richard.

"Blood pressure dropping!"

"Keep him awake! Richard! Can you hear me?"

Richard's eyelids trembled; everything sounded distant. He could barely make out the worried faces leaning over him.

The only face he recognized was the elderly man sitting beside him.

The old man's hand never left his shoulder. "I'm here."

"You came..." Richard whispered weakly.

"I promised your father I always would."

Richard tried to speak again.

"Marcus… I couldn't save him..."

The old man's voice remained calm. "Now you must honor him by living."

The lead doctor finished examining Richard and looked toward the elderly man.

"Sir."

The old man looked up immediately. "I'm all ears."

The doctor took a slow breath.

"His condition is critical. We've stabilized him for now, but his injuries are far beyond what we can treat here due to the damage caused by the acid thrown at him."

The cabin fell silent.

Another doctor quietly added, "He has suffered severe chemical burns; the damage is extensive. We'll do everything we can, but he needs highly specialized reconstructive care."

The old man controlled his shaky hands. "Where?"

The doctors exchanged glances. Finally, the lead surgeon answered.

"India. There is a private medical center there with one of the world's best reconstructive teams. They've handled cases that many hospitals believed were impossible."

The old man reached for a satellite phone.

"Prepare my jet. We're flying to India tonight!"

****

[Forty-eight hours later]

Richard was rushed directly from the airport to a secluded medical center. Doctors and nurses were already waiting.

One by one, the specialists introduced themselves: a reconstructive surgeon, a burn specialist, a rehabilitation physician, and a voice specialist.

No one wasted a second.

The chief surgeon studied Richard's medical scans for a long time.

Then he looked at the elderly man. "Saving his life is our first goal."

"And after that?"

The surgeon answered honestly. "It will take time, months, perhaps longer."

"There will be several operations. We'll rebuild what we can and help him speak normally again."

"But… he will never look exactly the way he once did."

The old man nodded. "Do whatever it takes. Money is not the issue."

"I want him to live."

***

The months passed after a successful plastic surgery. Richard spent long weeks surrounded by bandages.

Some days, he couldn't speak or even leave his bed. The old man visited regularly. Sometimes they simply played chess.

One afternoon, Richard looked quietly at the chessboard. "I lost everything."

The old man moved a knight.

"No, you still have Little Bean and… me."

"You only lost the first battle."

Richard looked at him with a determined expression as the death of Marcus flashed through his eyes

“I'll never let them win!”

***

More months passed.

Richard learned to walk comfortably again. His strength is slowly returning

His voice became deeper and calmer, but different. Every morning, he exercised, while he studied more in the afternoons on business strategy, global markets, leadership, and negotiation.

During evenings, he played chess with the old man who had become like a father to him.

***

Nearly two years after that terrible night. The chief surgeon, Dr. Chen, entered the room carrying a small mirror.

He smiled warmly.

"Congratulations. The final reconstruction has healed beautifully."

"The man who walked into this hospital, and the man leaving today, are no longer the same."

Richard looked at the mirror. He remained silent for a long moment.

Then he smiled faintly, not because he recognized the face. But because he recognized the man inside it.

The old man walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Richard Paige died on that lonely road."

He paused.

"From today, the world will know you by another name."

Richard turned to face him.

The old man smiled proudly.

"Welcome home..."

"...Morgan Vance."

Richard looked through the window toward the lively street. His old life was gone.

His new one was about to begin.