The Return Of Lee Young

CHAPTER 2

Lee stormed off to his old car, his feet dragging like lead. His legs felt like they were betraying him.

He'd had to promise himself he'd shield Cathrine from pain – wasn't that what he was good at? He spent hours agonizing over his closet, picking an outfit he thought did him justice. He made a great effort trying to look presentable not just for Cathrine's sake, but to win the Wales family favor. And this was the thanks he got... This!

The more he replayed it, the more his heart shattered. He had skipped an appointment with Mrs Adams' doctor, and still ditched her... all for this humiliation.

He'd pegged Lady Wales as selfish and an attention-seeker, so he'd played to that, asking for five hundred dollars – thinking she'd swallow her pride, write a cheque, and bask in the drama of it all, if only to feed her unsatisfiable need for the spotlight. But he'd thought wrong big time, spectacularly wrong.

He knows she's got way more than that – one gift she had gotten today could've easily cleared Mrs. Adams' hospital bill five times over, without any strain at all. Turns out she didn't just have an ego, she had a full-blown animosity towards Lee.

She didn't like his presence; it disgusted her, repulsed her even. His existence itself seemed to eat away at her, like he had a bad taste in her mouth.

Catherine had always been attractive enough to gain a trail of suitors clamoring at her heels since college days. If only she'd set her eyes and given her hearts to one of those wealthy aspirants contesting for her attention, maybe she'd have been treated like every other member in the Wales family, maybe she'd have earned their respect.

But no, she'd insisted on marrying her childhood crush, Lee, and like a lovesick teenager, she'd refused to listen to anyone. Yet, amidst the constant turndown from the Wales family, Grand Master Wales insisted on marrying him to their daughter, Catherine.

No one knew his reason for marrying Catherine to a penniless dirt he took from the street. But one thing was clear to everyone, he had always wanted his daughters to be happy, and Catherine always seemed happy whenever she talked about Lee. He was glad he could find Lee and witness them get married before he passed away.

Lee couldn't think straight all through his drive. Aside from the trouble going on with Wales' family, there's an unpaid bill waiting to be settled.

Where was he supposed to scrape together that kind of cash? Mrs. Adams was dying, and all he had to do was cough up half a million for the hospital, but he was just a nobody, a loser without a penny to his name.

He would kneel at anyone's feet if that could pay the hospital bill, but he'd rather dive into a lake with weights tied to his feet than beg Catherine for help – he wasn't that delusional. But if there was any other way, any chance to save Mrs. Adams without involving Catherine, he'd leap at it in a heartbeat.

Lee arrived at the hospital and went straight to the front desk.

“I'm here for Mrs Addams.” He said. “I have an appointment with Dr Kristen.”

The nurse picked up a phone on her desk and placed a call.

“Dr Kristen has been trying to reach you for hours, you can go in.” The nurse said to Lee.

He paced towards Dr Kristen's office.

Lee nudged the door open, displaying a forced smile as he stepped into the doctor's office. “Hey Kristen,” he said, his voice having a mix of remorse and nervousness.

Doctor Kristen forced a tight smile in return. “Hi Lee.”

Lee slid into a chair, guilt washing over him as he dropped his gaze. “Sorry, Kristen. I should've been here sooner. My phone was silent l.”

Doctor Kristen sighed heavily. “You should be sorry for Mrs. Adams, not me. She had a severe heart attack at noon. We almost lost her.”

Lee felt her words strike him like a hammer.

“A… heart attack?”

“Yes. Her condition has become unstable. We need to prepare her for surgery.”

His heartbeat quickened. “Is she.. ?”

“Yes she's still alive,” doctor Kristen said. “But the surgery needs to be done as soon as possible if she's going to survive.”

Lee swallowed hard. “When will the surgery begin?”

“As soon as the payment is made.”

He stayed quiet for a while, lowering his head slightly. If guilt could describe a person, that would be Lee. “I should've been here.”

“Yes you should've. She asked for you when she …”

Lee shot up from his chair, leaving Dr Kristen word hanging as he sprinted to Mrs Adams room. There she was – fragile, lying undisturbed. Her frail body tangled in tubes.

Lee didn't notice a nurse standing close to Mrs Addams bed. All he could see was Mrs Addams. He'd left her all on her own. He couldn't imagine what she must have gone through, with no one by her side.

The thought of her struggling alone in pain stabbed at him relentlessly, twisting deeper as memories of her crossed his mind. This was the woman who'd stepped in to care for him when his mother had passed away, who'd donated her blood to him and spent weeks by his side when he was still recovering from a major surgery, who'd sacrificed everything for his happiness.

But he'd repaid her by agonizing over a stupid suit for a worthless occasion. He felt like the lowest form of scum, a selfish, ungrateful wretch.

Lee dropped to one knee beside the bed, gripping Mrs. Adams' hands like she'll disappear if he doesn't hold on to her tightly.

The nurse's awkward cough broke the silence. “Uhm, excuse me,” she said.

“Thanks, nurse…,” Lee's voice cracked. “For staying with her when I couldn't.”

The nurse smiled warmly. “No worries. She needs enough rest – this shouldn't take long.”

Lee nodded faintly. “Sure.”

As the nurse slipped out, he heaved almost loud enough to wake Mrs Adams. His eyes were wet, but no tears came out of it.

“I'm sorry,” he whispered. His voice’s barely audible, gently cradling her hands in his and pressing a kiss to her crinkly skin.

Her eyes slowly opened. “Lee…”?

“Yes I'm here.”

Mrs Adams cloudy grey eyes searched Lee's face and she was heartbroken by what she saw. It was as if she was meeting him for the first time.

“You look troubled.”

Lee's throat tightened. “I'm sorry I wasn't here when you needed me.”

“That's alright,” she said softly.

“No it's not.” He lowered his head slightly beside the bed. “I should've been here.”

“Oh sweetie, don't be too hard on yourself. Come here, come give mama bear a hug.”

Lee was scared of doing that, scared that he might hurt her but he couldn't resist the look in her eyes. They were pleading and cute. He embraced her warmly, her body feeling light–boned in his arm.

“I've missed you honey. You look stressed out.”

“Stop worrying over me, you should think about yourself Grace.”

Mrs Adams cupped Lee's chin, her gaze so soft and warm. “Look who's talking, hmm? You shouldn't be worrying about an old lady like me.” She managed to chuckle, but weakly.

“I won't be able to make it if anything happens to my old lady,” Lee said, his voice teasing but it still sounded worried.

Mrs. Adams smiled wistfully. “Nothing's happening to me. You forget who you're talking to.” She paused, a hint of sadness creeping in. “Once I'm out of this... cage…”

“It's not a cage,” Lee interrupted gently. “It's a place to get you better. And once you are, we'll go fishing by the river like you love.”

Mrs. Adams' eyes lit up slightly. “Promise?”

“Scout's honor,” Lee said, tickling her gently.

He hurried off to the cashier's department to confirm how much the surgery would cost.

“Patients' names?” A petite, light-skinned nurse, crisp in her white uniform, asked. Her neatly packed bun was topped with a tiny cap, and two pens peeked out from her chest pocket.

“Mrs Grace Addams.” Lee replied anxiously, his right hands resting on the front desk.

“Guardian's name?” She asked, her bright blue eyes holding Lee's gaze.

“Lee Young.” He replied with a flat voice.

After typing something on a laptop for some minutes, she raised her head, glaring pitifully at Lee. “The bill cost two million dollars.”

Lee's eyes went wide with panic – Two million dollars?! He was screwed. He'd have to sell a kidney, maybe two, and still come up short. He was lucky to get kicked out for asking for one million dollars, no way he'd ask for two.

“Can I see Dr. Kristen, pls?” he asked with a pleading eyes.

The nurse shook her head, tapping away on her laptop. “Not possible, she's with a patient. Her schedule's tight this week, but I can try to fit you in somehow.”

Lee slumped in defeat, his tie already loose. He trudged to his beat-up car, collapsing onto the driver's seat. His head was a mess with different thoughts spinning in. He dropped it into his hands, leaning against the hood.

A car behind Lee blasted its horn nonstop, but he was too sleepy to respond. Soon, a tall handsome man and a woman by his right emerged from behind, annoyance written all over their faces. The man tapped on Lee's dusty windscreen with a disapproving knuckle, like he was dirtying his hands.

“Get your fucking scrap heap out of the damn parking lot.” He yelled loudly, startling Lee instantly.

Lee rolled down the window, apologizing sincerely, with his eyes still drowning in sleep. “Sorry about that, I was just leaving.”

“Lee, is that you?” Bianca's sarcastic tone cut through the air, jolting him awake.

“Oh it's him. Would've blinked first if I had seen you sooner.” Cole sneered, his face twisting into a nasty grin.

He gave Lee's car a once-over, and his expression turned sour at the sight of it. “What's trash like you doing here? Drive all the way to the hospital in a garbage can just to see a dying woman?”

Lee's anger flared up; he flew the door open with his eyes blazing at Cole. “You mean the woman who raised me? Guess that says more about your mother than mine.

Cole's face darkened, his fist clenching beside him like he was itching to swing. As Bianca tried grabbing his arm to stop him from punching Lee, it flung towards his side mirror, crashing it completely.

Bianca darts her eyes around the hospital parking lot and says to Cole. “We're at the hospital. We can deal with this fool later. Don't dirty your name for this nobody. Let's go.”

“Let's get out of here, I can't breathe the same air as this loser.” Cole pouts, holding Bianca's arms.

“Hey not too fast,” Lee grabbed Cole's arm from behind. “How do you intend to pay for the damages you caused?”

“I'm not paying a dime. Do you have proof against me?” Dev bluffed.

“Don't waste your breath on him.” Bianca said worriedly as she had noticed a camera at a hidden spot in the parking lot. If anything happens and the police should go through the footage, they'll be caught.

“Give him whatever he wants.”

“My insurance company will cover the damages.” Dev says furiously.

He dipped his hand into his pocket, and after pulling it out, he chucked a C-note at Lee. “That's for the stress. Keep the change, you need it more than I do.”

Bianca cackled at the sight of a smear look on Lee's face.