The Long-Awaited Heir

Chapter 06 An Unforeseen Event

Walter finishes eating his snack and gestures to Patricia.

“Yes, Walt?”

“How much is the snack? Bring the bill, please.”

“Yes... oh, damn!” Patricia looks in the direction where David is approaching.

Walter turns his head in the same direction and his eyes narrow in discomfort.

Especially as he sees an uncomfortable Cindy being forced by the bully to approach the kiosk.

Thinking that David wants to cause another scene with Matthew, Walter stands up and greets them ironically, “David Rocha! What a pleasure, I didn’t need to drive Cindy here. As my best friend’s girlfriend, she would come here voluntarily.”

David smiles evilly, “She was running away, I don’t know why. Maybe she can explain it to us.”

Patricia still doesn’t know that Cindy and Matthew have broken up. Therefore, she goes inside the kiosk.

Matthew is idle and is drying his hands on a threadbare handkerchief.

“Matt!” Patricia exclaims, “David is outside, pushing Cindy here. I think he’s up to something!”

“What an idiot! I knew he wouldn’t leave the matter alone.” Matthew throws the cloth away.

“Does this have to do with you not getting kicked out of here?” Patricia’s eyes widen.

“Of course! Mr. Sterling must have spoken to him.” Matthew takes off his apron.

“I still think it’s amazing that you were so lucky.” Patricia smiles, “Congratulations.”

“Thanks, Patty. Let me see what the idiot wants.” Matthew leaves the kiosk.

He is surprised by David wrapping his arm around Cindy as if they were an item. Cindy is horrified and trying to get away.

“David, let me go, I don’t want to stay here! Matt is working, I don’t want to disturb him!”

“Does this mean you’ll meet somewhere else, more romantic?” David insists on grabbing her, “Of course, you’ll pay the bill!”

Matthew strides towards them, “Let go of my girlfriend, you idiot!”

The other university students who are having a snack are surprised that Matthew dares to raise his voice to David. Everyone starts to observe the scene.

Cindy doesn’t have the heart to correct everyone that she is no longer Matthew’s girlfriend. As long as he comes to save her...

“What’s going on here?” Matthew snatches Cindy from the spoiled rich guy’s clutches, “You can’t get to me, so you need to bother a woman, is that it? You’re nothing like what I read about your older brother!”

David drops his snobbish smile. Comparing him to the current president of Rocha Constructions is always his weak point.

“And how do you know the difference?” David fumes, “Do you read Maggiezine?”

“No, I just understand that successful men in the business world don’t behave like you.” Matthew wraps his arm around Cindy, protecting her.

Cindy begins to feel mental confusion. It should be Ricardo who protects her. Why is she feeling comfortable and safe in Matthew’s arms?

“I just want to know what’s going on between you two.” David smiles evilly again, “Everyone is saying Cindy Cardoso isn’t the devoted girlfriend she should be.”

“That was never your business!” Cindy screams.

“Cindy, don’t waste your saliva on this indigestible being.” Matthew says sweetly, “Let’s go inside. I’ll make you an all-natural sandwich on the house.”

Matthew takes Cindy safely inside. Walter turns to David.

“Instead of chasing another male, you should do like my friend and get a girlfriend.”

“I’ve never had a shortage of chicks around me, boy!” David retorts with offended masculinity.

“I’m talking about girlfriends, not one-night stands,” Walter answers and walks away to the counter.

Patricia follows Walter to receive payment for the snack. If she is alone with David again, maybe something bad will happen to her, so Patricia thinks.

Meanwhile, inside the kiosk, Matthew finished the natural sandwich for Cindy.

“I’m not going to let this sandwich go for free, Matt.” Cindy smiles gently, “Tell me how much it costs, and I’ll pay you.”

“I told you it’s a treat that I do—” Matthew cuts himself off. He was going to say ‘to my girlfriend’.

Cindy chews and swallows, then continues, “Matt, I’m sorry. Remember, we’re not dating anymore. Thank you for defending me from David Rocha, but I think everyone should know the truth.”

Matthew swallows hard and hangs his head, “Is this happening, Cindy?”

“Yes, that’s what I want.” Cindy sighs, “Matt, we have different goals and visions. I want to be a journalist, and Ricardo is helping me a lot. I can get hired at LCN and climb the company ladder. You, on the other hand... I don’t know what you want, or what you are doing to get what you want.”

“I’m trying, Cindy.” Matthew narrows his eyes.

“But you’re not trying hard enough,” Cindy complains.

Patricia opens the back door and holds out a piece of paper, “Sorry to interrupt the lovebirds’ conversation, but Matt has to make two cheeseburgers.”

“I’m leaving.” Cindy smiles yellow, “Thanks, Matt.”

Cindy leaves. Matthew takes the piece of paper with a grim expression.

Patricia ventures, “She doesn’t sound like the girlfriend who’s grateful to have been saved.”

Matthew sighs deeply and leans against the grill, nodding his head, “The truth, Patty? We haven’t been dating since yesterday.”

Patricia is stunned and open-mouthed, “What did you say? How did that happen, Matt? What did she do?”

Matthew smiles bitterly, preparing the ingredients for the snacks, “I thought you were going to ask ‘What did I do’.”

“I’m not a feminist.” Patricia frowns, “I don’t believe that a broken relationship is always the man’s fault. And I know you well enough to believe that you didn’t have the initiative to break up the relationship. Your willingness to defend her just now proves my point.”

Matthew chuckles awkwardly, “You should go to law school instead of just working here, Patty.”

“I have no academic aspirations.” Patricia retorts, “So what did Cindy do? Wait, I don’t need to guess: she concluded that you two are different.”

“Like this.”

“How insensitive of her,” Patricia complains, “You’ve always been different socially and financially. Why would she care about that just now? Unless we’re talking about another man in the picture.”

“You’d better see if any more customers have arrived, Patty.” Matthew tries to end the conversation before admitting Patricia’s hypothesis.

But Patricia walks away with a smile, concluding that that’s exactly what happened.

******

At the Rectory, Abner is unhappy with the news he just heard from Evan.

“What did you say?” He’s shaking, his fists clenched.

“Calm down, Mr. Sterling. You can’t be stressed.”

“I’ve already heard all this advice from the doctors who treat me, Evan.” Abner gestures disinterestedly, “But how am I not going to get stressed if I keep hearing the same news? Call Meirelles immediately!”

“Yes, Mr. Sterling.”

Evan leaves. Abner goes to one of the large windows which allows him to observe the panorama of the campus. In the distance, trees adorn his view, while students walking through the square interact with each other or study leaning against a tree or on the scattered benches.

Meirelles enters, somewhat aloof, “Mr. Sterling?”

“Please, I want David Souza Rocha’s entire file.” Abner orders him, still staring at the landscape, “I want to know what this young man is doing here besides causing trouble among the students.”

Meirelles gulps, “Yes, sir. I’ll ask the secretary to arrange everything.”

He leaves and closes the door to the room that belongs to him, but now, Abner Sterling has used it as if it were something claimed.

******

Walter accompanies Matthew to his house. Matthew is embarrassed that the son of the Andrade family is traveling on the streets of Lion’s Den.

“Walt, you don’t need to walk through the favela. I’m afraid you’ll be robbed!”

“Don’t worry, man. I want to know how your mom is. Maybe I can help with some medicine.” Walter smiles in camaraderie.

“I don’t deserve a friend like you.” Matthew lowers his head.

“Of course you deserve me. You have a girlfriend on the same level as me.” Walter taps his friend’s shoulder.

“Sometimes I would rather you two date. It would make more sense.” Matthew remains crestfallen.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Well, here... we are?” Walter’s eyes widen.

Matthew is horrified by what he sees.

They were arriving at Matthew and Sheila’s house when they saw an ambulance parked at the door and several neighbors curious about what was happening.

Two paramedics push a gurney with Sheila lying down, weakened and coughing non-stop.

“Hey, what’s going on here? Where are you taking my Mom?” Matthew approaches, trying to stop the paramedics.

A neighbor holds Matthew and informs him, “Matt, I’m glad you came! We called an ambulance to pick up your mother. From outside I could hear her coughing! When I walked in, she was on her knees on the floor, holding her neck as if she were suffocating!”

“Does she have COVID?” A teenager asks curiously.

“Mom...” Matthew despairs even more. Yes, he realized that his mother was in a bad way, but not to that extent! He thought that a pack of pills or syrup would be enough...

“Matt, don’t worry. They’re taking her to where she can be treated.” Walter puts his hand on his friend’s shoulder.

Matthew swallows hard. He knows very well that the ambulance will take her to Blue Cove Public Hospital, a hospital with a bad reputation among residents due to the city’s lack of resources.

Ricardo Montegrande has already written numerous articles denouncing the precariousness of the city’s hospital facilities. It’s reported that some patients died in this hospital due to a lack of instruction and unprepared doctors.

“I’m useless!” Matthew enters the house. He observes a shattered cup of tea in the living room, “My mother deserved to be treated in the best hospital in town, But because of me, she’s going to the Public Hospital!”

“Matt, how is this your fault? It’s not your fault you were born this way.” Walter enters the house and looks around, noticing the poverty and precariousness.

“But I should provide what’s necessary for my mother. I’ve been the man of the house since my father died!” Matthew talks and cries at the same time. Tears cascade from his eyes, “Cindy’s right! I’m a conformist!”

“Cindy?” Walter frowns.

Matthew turns to him, “We broke up just yesterday. I pretended everything was fine between us just to save her from David Rocha.”

“Oh, Matt, I’m so sorry!” Walter reaches into his pocket and takes out his cell phone, “I can help—”

“No, Walt, I don’t want to abuse your generosity!” Matthew sits on the couch.

Walter chuckles, “Did you forget that my family runs a chain of clinics for everyone? I’m still amazed to know that you’re not my clients.”

“It’s just that we don’t even have money to pay the monthly fee, man.” Matthew buries his hands over his face, trying to soften his despair.

“With one call, I can help.” Walter shakes his cell phone.

Matthew feels a touch of envy when he sees the latest model of the cell phone in his friend’s hand. He stands up, “Put that cell phone away before you get robbed. Let’s go with the ambulance to see how my mother is doing first.”

Walter takes a deep breath and puts away his cell phone. Matthew has never been one to accept help, but he thinks now would be the time.

******

In the corridors of the Public Hospital, Matthew and Walter wait for information in one of the lobbies. Around them, there is the coming and going of doctors, nurses, and family members. Suddenly, a family receives the news that a member has died and begins to cry in pain and despair while the doctor tries in vain to explain why he was unable to save him.

Matthew stands with his back to the scene, refusing to witness it, “That won’t happen to my mother.”

Walter tries to comfort him, “Of course not, man. Have faith.”

Suddenly, another doctor, a lady in her forties, approaches them, “Excuse me, Mr. Silva...”

“Yes?” Matthew widens his eyes in anxiety...