Chapter 5 I am not here for visitation

"What's the matter, Angela?" Edward inquired, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Please, Edward, be candid with me," Angela began.

"Where did you acquire such a substantial sum of money?"

The question caught Edward off guard.

He hadn't anticipated such an inquiry, especially after spending only a modest amount.

It wasn't unusual for a security guard to have $10,000, and it hadn't seemed suspicious until now.

Angela's question shed light on how others perceived him, assuming he had no means.

"I-I have been saving since I commenced my tenure as a security officer," Edward replied, his face tinged with sadness.

"Hey, I didn't mean it that way," Angela consoled, patting his shoulder. "I was merely concerned that perhaps you had become involved with a high-paying but perilous endeavor, like joining a gang. I care about your well-being, Ed."

Ever since Edward had moved into their shared apartment seven years ago, Angela had held him close.

She saw no distinction between them, both hailing from humble backgrounds. The only stark contrast was Edward's lack of family.

Thus, she embraced him as kin and worried about him as if he were her own brother.

"No need to worry, Angela," Edward reassured, offering a comforting smile. "I have no affiliations with any gangs. This money is the fruit of my labor." He playfully ruffled Angela's hair to lift her spirits.

"Promise me you won't entangle yourself with any gang-related matters," Angela implored, holding onto Edward's hand.

"I promise," Edward affirmed. "Now, let's gather our provisions. I need some groceries, a new bed, chair, and carpet.

Ten thousand dollars should cover it, right?" Edward inquired.

Angela gave a nod in reply.

The duo commenced their shopping, Edward orchestrating the store's personnel with an air of authority.

He directed them to bring forth a selection of couches, ultimately settling on the first one.

After a brief shopping spree, they procured all they required.

Edward generously covered the cost of Angela's mother's groceries and supplied her and her father with a substantial stockpile.

"How do you plan to transport all this to your apartment?" the proprietor inquired, eyeing the goods Edward had acquired.

"That's why you employ over thirty workers, isn't it?" Edward retorted with a smug grin. "They'll be responsible for ferrying it to my apartment!"

Edward's assertive declaration drew the ire of the store's staff, who shot him disdainful glares.

"We can dispatch our truck to deliver it to your residence, free of charge," the proprietor offered.

"Nah, the road leading to my apartment is quite rough. I wouldn't want a bumpy ride to damage these delicate goods," Edward replied, casting a mischievous smirk toward the workers.

"Very well, then. I'll dispatch some of my personnel to facilitate the transfer," the proprietor declared, turning his gaze to the employees nearby, who hastily averted their eyes to evade contact.

"Pedro, Johnson, Matthew, David, assist this young man in transporting his goods to his apartment."

The selected workers were on the verge of voicing their discontent but managed to stifle their ire, opting instead to comply, fearful of a fate akin to Kate's.

"Will you wait for me, or shall I meet you there once I'm finished?" Edward inquired.

"Meet me there once you're done. I'll be expecting you," Angela replied with a smile, exiting the supermarket with her sizable bag of provisions.

Edward issued precise instructions to the workers on the handling of his goods, ensuring that they bore the brunt of the burden.

"Are we there yet?"

"We've been at this for hours!"

"Are you certain you provided the correct address?!"

The workers grumbled as they toiled under the relentless morning sun, perspiring profusely.

After a few more minutes of laborious progress, they finally reached Edward's building.

"All right, leave them here and depart immediately," Edward commanded, the workers vanishing in an instant to evade additional tasks.

Edward managed to maneuver the chairs and provisions into his abode before securing the entrance and departing.

****

Brickwoods General Hospital stood prominently at the heart of Brickwoods, a towering edifice adorned with modern architectural accents and a prominent red cross.

The hospital was perennially bustling with an influx of people and patients.

Given the elevated rate of criminal activity in Brickwoods, new patients arrived daily, having endured gang-related assaults.

Within one of the wards, Angela sat vigil beside her mother, nestled within a bed swathed in pristine white linens.

Her mother's eyes were open, yet she remained unresponsive to her surroundings.

Immobile and voiceless for the past three years, Angela clung to her mother's hand, weeping fervently.

She had always strived to conceal her tears in the presence of others, but within the depths of her being, she was profoundly wounded.

Angela's tears flowed freely, a manifestation of her frustration at her inability to alter their circumstances.

Angela had undertaken numerous occupations within Brickwoods, but the meager earnings fell far short of the $500,000 demanded by the doctor.

While Angela grieved, an observer lingered at the partially ajar door.

"I can't stand by while she endures this. I must use my resources for good, even if it leads to my exposure," Edward resolved, exiting the ward and heading down to the doctor's office.

The doctor's office was located at the top floor of the hospital, accessible via either staircase or elevator.

Edward walked towards the elevator, pressed the button, and the elevator's door slid open, allowing him to step inside.

The elevator conveyed him to the top floor effortlessly.

Ding*

The elevator chimed, and the door slid open. Edward stepped out and approached the door before him.

Before knocking, he ensured his hoodie obscured his head and part of his face, to avoid unnecessary questions.

Knock* Knock*

"Come in!" A mellifluous female voice emanated from within the office. Edward straightened his faded attire before entering.

"How may I assist you, Sir?" The lady inquired. She wasn't lacking in looks, with long blonde hair cascading to her waist, a face with features akin to a heart, and a figure that commanded attention, even beneath her white coat.

"Uh... I'm here for the patient known as Caitlyn Alvarez," Edward replied, his gaze directed downward to avoid eye contact.

The doctor extracted a substantial ledger and perused its pages for a few moments, finally alighting on a specific entry.

"Alright. Do you wish to visit her? You could have simply gone to the receptionist instead of coming up here," the female doctor remarked politely.

"I'm not here for visitation. Instead, I'm here to settle the debt for Mrs. Caitlyn Alvarez," Edward asserted confidently, prompting the doctor to assess him from head to toe.

How on earth could this ostensibly impoverished man, with his tattered hoodie and worn shoes, afford such a sum? That was the doctor's bewildered thought.

"Please, I have pressing matters to attend to. I don't have time to waste, young man," the doctor replied, slightly annoyed, observing the enigmatic figure before her as he produced an unfamiliar credit card and placed it on the table.

****

Angela had finished weeping and was now sharing with her mother about recent events and her father's efforts to raise the required funds.

Suddenly, the entrance door of the ward swung open, and a team of nurses and doctors rushed in, each carrying various medical instruments.

"What's happening?" Angela asked, her expression a mix of confusion and concern.

"You'll have to excuse us, young lady. We need to begin the operation immediately," a doctor explained, securing a white mask over his face.

"What do you mean?" Angela inquired, her worry mounting.

"Somebody has paid your mother's bills. She will receive treatment immediately," the doctor stated, his voice carrying a note of relief.