Chapter 3 Suspicion

The black mist disappeared when Alvaro slapped Fernando's forehead.

He breathed a sigh of relief. His guess was right. His idea had worked.

But Bella grew furious; her pretty face turned scarlet. She was about to have a mental breakdown.

Her father's unfortunate state had already shattered her, and now Alvaro slapped his forehead, which was disrespectful. She felt he was a lunatic.

"Take him away!" Bella snapped.

The two bodyguards bolted inside and caught Alvaro's arms from either side.

Bella slapped him across his face.

"Why? Why did you insult my father even after his death?" she demanded through gritted teeth.

Alvaro clamped his throbbing cheek.

But he was not angry because Bella's outrage was reasonable. No one would watch a stranger slap their lifeless father.

"Mr. Brown is not dead," said Alvaro.

Bella frowned and turned around to look at her father. He was still lying motionlessly on the bed.

His eyes were closed, and his face was paler than before. He bore no signs of life.

"You are going to jail!" Bella spat viciously.

She regretted saving Alvaro's life, for he insulted his father.

She helped him out of kindness and didn't expect a stranger would disrespect her father for that.

Magnus looked at Alvaro with disdain. "I may not be the best doctor in the world, but I have enough experience to know there is no cure for Mr. Brown's illness. As sad as it is, this is the reality. You cannot bring a dead man to life."

Alvaro didn't bother justifying himself.

He looked like a criminal before Magnus and Bella. They didn't know he was quiet because he had no explanation to offer.

Alvaro felt something had changed within him since the car accident and the weird dream he had. But he couldn't tell what it was.

Soon, the blaring of police sirens followed by the clattering of shoes caught their attention.

Two police officers walked into the room. "Hello, Miss Brown. Did you call the police?"

"I did. Please arrest this man!" She pointed at Alvaro while the bodyguards continued to pin him down. "He pretended to be a doctor and disrespected my father's corpse."

The two police officers exchanged glances in astonishment.

They conveyed their condolences to Bella, handcuffed Alvaro, and dragged him out of the house.

Alvaro glanced at Fernando for one last time before leaving. The man was still lying on the bed. He didn't budge. The back mist had disappeared. He couldn't fathom why Fernando hadn't woken up yet.

If the man didn't return to life, Alvaro would be locked up in jail.

Alvaro sighed in dejection.

But he didn't regret his actions.

It would be heartless to dismiss the chance to save a person's life just because he didn't know if it would work.

A few years ago, Alvaro saw an old man fall on the road and went to help him. But the old man lied that Alvaro tripped him. Ultimately, he not only had to give the old man and his family money but also starved all day because Carmela refused to give him food for what he had done.

Although the experience taught him a crucial lesson, he was still kind and sympathetic. Alvaro didn't stop himself from helping people in need.

In the Brown family's residence

A wave of grief consumed Bella. She slumped to the floor and looked at her father. Fresh tears cascaded down her cheeks. "I guess this is goodbye," she choked with sobs.

Magnus' heart broke to watch Bella cry.

But he couldn't do anything.

As a doctor, he tried his best to save Fernando's life. However, nothing seemed to help.

No one had heard of Fernando's peculiar illness. Bella wouldn't have been able to save her father even if she resorted to the most successful doctor in the world.

Just then, the people of the funeral home came to take Fernando's corpse for the final rites.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Miss Brown," Magnus whispered softly.

Bella got breathless from sobs. "Can you please leave us alone? I need to talk to my father and stay with him for a while."

Magnus nodded in understanding and left the room with the people of the funeral room.

Just then, a loud cough startled everyone.

The leaving group stopped dead in their tracks.

Fernando, who was declared dead, coughed.

Bella was equally stunned.

Her eyes widened before her face broke into a delightful smile. "Dad, you... Are you awake? Do you hear me?"

Fernando's eyes slowly fluttered open. Bella grabbed his hand to support him, and he slowly sat up.

Fernando looked at everyone staring at him and frowned in confusion. "Bella, where am I? What happened?"

Bella cried with joy. She pulled her father into a tight embrace. "Dad, don't you remember anything?"

Fernando wracked his brain and finally remembered he had a sudden illness. He had passed out when Bella left to call Magnus.

It all made sense now. He wondered if Magnus had cured him.

Fernando quickly got up from the bed and grabbed Magnus' hand. "Dr. Archer, thank you for saving my life. Thank you so much. You are indeed the best doctor in the city. You have extraordinary medical skills!"

"Err... I..."

Magnus' face flushed with embarrassment. "You don't have to thank me, Mr. Brown. I didn't cure your illness."

"What?" Fernando recoiled in shock.

"Well, Dad..." Bella told her father about Alvaro and his strange treatment.

Fernando froze when he heard that. His eyes widened as something occurred to him. "So the police have arrested the young man who saved my life?"

Bella felt guilty. She immediately called the police, asked them to release Alvaro, and bring him back.

Alvaro returned after a few minutes.

He was confused at first. However, he saw Fernando and understood everything.

His guess was right, after all.

He wondered if Fernando was alive because he eliminated the black mist.

Alvaro clenched his fists to suppress his excitement.

But he still didn't know what the black mist was.

Alvaro seemed to have acquired immense knowledge after the bizarre dream.

Bella walked to him, grabbed his hand, and led him to Fernando. "Dad, he is the one who saved you," she said, beaming.

Alvaro's face turned crimson.

Although he was married to Carmela for five years, he hadn't touched even her hand.

But he was now close to Bella; their arms brushed as she held his hand tightly.

Her palm was soft.

Moreover, Bella was prettier than Carmela.

He couldn't help but wish he had married Bella instead of Carmela.

Alvaro's stomach flipped when he realized what he had been thinking. Why would the daughter of the Brown family marry a mediocre man like him? It was a stupid thought.

Fernando pursed his lips and looked at Alvaro, sizing him up.

He felt Alvaro looked like an ordinary man. He was neither tall nor looked sophisticated.

However, Fernando never judged a book by its cover. Besides, Alvaro had saved his life. He would be grateful to him all his life. "Thank you, young man. You saved my life." He bowed respectfully.

Alvaro was flattered. "You're welcome, Mr. Brown. I didn't know I could save you."

"You didn't know?" Fernando frowned.

"Mr. Brown, this young man is not a doctor," Magnus gently reminded him. "He has no medical knowledge."

"Then, how did he cure me?" Fernando asked in surprise.

"Perhaps it was just sheer luck and coincidence. After all, this young man didn't know he could save you." Magnus smiled.

Although Magnus was shocked to see Fernando was back to life after Alvaro slapped him on the forehead, he was still unconvinced.

How could someone with no medical knowledge save a person's life by slapping their forehead? On the other hand, Magnus couldn't find a cure even though he was an experienced doctor.

If he wasn't close to the Brown family and knew them well, he would have assumed Fernando and Alvaro were tricking him.

Therefore, after hearing Alvaro's words, Magnus was convinced it was just a coincidence. It was nothing but dumb luck.

"Dad, it doesn't matter whether it's a coincidence or not. Alvaro saved your life. We have to repay his kindness," Bella suggested earnestly.

Fernando nodded and looked at Alvaro. "What do you want, young man? Don't hesitate to spill."

"No, no. I don't need anything," Alvaro hurriedly answered. "Miss Brown saved my life. We have mutually helped each other. So it's all good."

Fernando looked at his daughter. Bella told him about the accident and how Alvaro had cheated death.

Fernando nodded, smiling.

"Oh, I see. Don't worry. Us Browns are not mean. You saved my life. Ask me anything. Don't be shy. Anything you want."

"That's unnecessary. I'm glad you're conscious and back to health now. But..." Alvaro wanted to say something but decided against it.

"But what?" Bella asked.

"Err... I don't think Mr. Brown's illness is fully cured. He may need follow-up treatment," Alvaro suggested.

Bella and her father were shocked to hear that.

Magnus was annoyed. He felt Alvaro was pretending to seem professional when he had no medical knowledge.

The follow-up treatment seemed like an excuse to remain in touch with the Brown family. Magnus felt Alvaro would eventually milk money from them. He was disgusted.

Magnus walked up to Fernando and whispered something in his ear.

Fernando's eyes widened, and his face turned taut. He nodded in understanding and turned to look at Alvaro. "Don't worry about my illness, young man. I'm asking you this for the last time. Are you sure you don't want anything?"

Alvaro shook his head.

"Okay. Bella, please see him off." Fernando waved his hand.

A frown lined Bella's forehead. Although she had no idea what Magnus told her father, she sensed it was something bad about Alvaro. "Dad, considering you haven't fully recovered, why don't you give Alvaro a chance?" she protested.

"Dr. Archer has already contacted the best doctor in Wildevale for me. A layman needn't handle my follow-up treatment. You see him off," Fernando said coldly.

Alvaro's heart sank.

After saving Fernando's life, he still considered Alvaro untrustworthy.

Actually, Alvaro had heard what Magnus told Fernando.

Although Alvaro was clueless about his exceptional hearing skills, he could hear their conversation.

Magnus said Alvaro was a layman and a liar and that he saved Fernando because of dumb luck.

He also said Alvaro was using the follow-up treatment as a pretext to establish a relationship with the Brown family.

Alvaro never thought Magnus would be so narrow-minded.

Meanwhile, he was disappointed in Fernando for doubting him when he saved his life.

However, this wasn't new to Alvaro.

He was used to unfair treatment.

He bid goodbye to them and left.

Bella hesitated for a moment and followed him out.

She sensed Alvaro wasn't as simple as he looked.

Outside the Brown family's villa

"I'm Bella Brown. Thank you very much for everything. If not for you, my father wouldn't..."

Alvaro shook his head and stopped her. "You don't have to thank me. You saved my life. I merely repaid your favor."

"No, I owe you a big one. By the way, can you give me your phone number?" Bella smiled.

Alvaro's brows furrowed.

He wondered why Bella asked for his number when the Browns assumed he was a liar.

After a moment's thought, Alvaro exchanged numbers with Bella and bid her goodbye.

Bella offered to drive him back, but he refused.

After all, he didn't have a home now. He had nowhere to go.

He couldn't ask Bella to drop him at the Douglas family's residence.

Alvaro sighed and walked to the empty street. The place was eerily calm.

The knowledge he had acquired after the dream was etched in his mind.

He closed his eyes and felt the night breeze against his skin. A smile stretched across his lips.

The Douglas family had kicked him out of the house.

The Brown family regarded him as a fraud who was after them for money.

However, Alvaro was neither upset nor disappointed.

If the fighting techniques and supernatural powers he acquired proved useful, Alvaro could conquer the world if he practiced them to the perfection.

He smiled to himself and decided to find a place to test it.

Just then, several men surrounded him.

They looked at him like a pack of animals waiting to hunt their prey.

"Are you Alvaro Clifford?" one of the men asked in a stern voice.

Alvaro looked at them in confusion.

He couldn't fathom what was going on. He had neither offended or hurt anyone in his life.

Just as Alvaro was about to deny it, another man shouted, "I've seen his photo. It's him!"

The men immediately took out their batons and pounced on Alvaro.