Chapter 8: His Name

Byron returned to their cramped rental in a rundown inner-city neighborhood and found his parents and sister waiting anxiously, looking worried and fidgety. "Bro, are you okay? They didn't do anything to you, did they?" Amber hurried up, breathless. Byron smiled and ruffled her hair. "Relax. I'm fine." Oliver and Amy finally let out the breath they'd been holding. Byron added, his voice steady, "I taught that man a lesson, and I made him pay you for all the trouble he caused." Amber's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Bro, you're amazing." Oliver asked carefully, "Byron, how much did Eugene and his people pay?" Byron kept his tone light. "Three hundred thousand dollars." The room went still. Oliver and Amy stared, stunned. Oliver stammered, "Th-three hundred thousand? Byron, that's not pocket change." Amy clapped a hand over her mouth, disbelief all over her face. It took her a long moment to find her voice. "Byron, we can't take that money. Eugene is some kind of crime boss. If we accept it, who knows how much trouble we'll bring down on ourselves. Give it back right away. We can't afford to cross people like him." Byron's brow furrowed. "Mom, what's there to be afraid of? He owed us. His daughter bullied Amber; I just made him pay what he should." Amy gripped his hand, her voice urgent. "You don't understand. Men like that are ruthless. They'll do anything. We can't risk your life for some money." Byron sighed and met her gaze. "Mom, please don't worry. I can protect our family. Eugene won't dare try anything. If he tries to retaliate, I'll make sure he pays an even higher price." Amy still looked uneasy. "Byron, listen to me. Give the money back. Peace and safety matter more than anything." Seeing her refusal to budge, Byron relented. "Okay. I hear you." He decided not to touch the money for now and see how things play out. "Hey, sis, did you save me some food?" "Right here. Plenty left." Amber brought the dishes from the cupboard. Byron picked up a bowl and his cutlery and sat down to eat. Amber watched him from the side. His face had barely changed from three years ago, but the feeling he gave off was completely different. He carried himself with confidence, as if he were completely in control. While eating, Byron remembered something. "Amber, who did we sell the house to?" "Why do you ask?" "If there's a chance, I want to buy it back." Amber thought, then said, "We didn't sell to outsiders. We sold it to Mom's younger sister for seventy thousand." "Oh… seventy thousand. That sounds low. I remember, before I went to prison, our place could fetch one hundred eighty thousand." "It was low. And…" "And what?" "She only put down a ten-thousand-dollar deposit, then moved in with her whole family. She never paid the rest. Mom went to collect and got cursed out…" Byron's brows knit. "What? How could she do that?" Amber's voice was strained with helplessness. "She said their family was struggling and had no money for us. She also said Dad was finished and treating him would just be throwing money away, and tried to talk Mom out of paying for his treatment…" Byron's face darkened. He set his cutlery down and looked at his mother. "Mom, is that true?" Amy frowned and, after a pause, said, "Don't listen to your sister's nonsense. Eliana has been good to us. She may just be having a hard time and can't come up with the money…" "If she can't pay, how does she have the nerve to buy our house?" Byron's tone sharpened. "Doesn't she know we need that money to save a life?" Amy opened her mouth, then let it close again and sighed. "No." Byron straightened. "Mom, tomorrow I'm going with you to collect the rest of the money." Amy hesitated. "Byron, that's not right. She's family. Doing this might cause bad blood." Byron's voice stayed firm. "Mom, after the way she treated us, why are you still worried about keeping the peace? This is what we're owed. We need to get it back." Oliver nodded. "He's right. We're not greedy; we're just asking for what's ours." "Mom, Byron's not getting any younger. If we don't get the house money back, do you expect him to stay single forever?" Amber chimed in, indignant. Seeing everyone stand together, Amy had nothing more to say and agreed to take Byron to see Eliana the next day. ***** Holiti Hospital was Zerton's finest private hospital, with serene grounds, advanced equipment, and a staff whose professionalism drew the rich and the famous. Kara Thubron, CEO of Thubron Group, stepped in on high heels, led by her assistant through the gleaming lobby. Under the soft lights of the ward corridor, her tall figure cast a long shadow, her silhouette tracing elegant curves that spoke of poise more than allure. She rode the elevator to her father's VIP suite. Through the window, a gaunt man lay on the bed with eyes closed, tubes threading from his body. He was Monty Thubron, chairman of Thubron Group, a tycoon who once dominated the business world, now racked by a baffling illness. "Ms. Thubron, you're here." Several doctors waited in the hallway. The most striking among them wore a traditional suit. His name was Scott Helwick. He looked about sixty, but his face bore few lines. His silver hair was perfectly in place, and an air of pride hung about him. He was rumored to be the 37th Generation Descendant of Master Helwick, famed for extraordinary skill. Kara had pulled many strings to bring him in. "Dr. Helwick, how is my father?" Kara asked. Scott said, "Ms. Thubron, your father's condition isn't good. You should prepare for the worst." "How could that be…" Kara's gaze sharpened. "Doctor, you're the most renowned healer in Jenos." "Your father's illness is very rare. I've done all I can." Scott spoke coolly. "By the way, I have used quite a few of my rarest medicinal ingredients during his treatment. You should be ready for the bill." Kara's brows pulled together. "How much do you need, Dr. Helwick?" He held up one finger. "One." "A million?" "A million? I wouldn't even lift a finger for that. At least ten million. I have been using the rarest medicines and treating him personally. That price is already generous." Kara's secretary, Aliana Sabey, stared, eyes wide. "Dr. Helwick, that's outrageous. You didn't cure the chairman, and you still dare to demand ten million?" Scott's face cooled. A hint of displeasure flickered in his eyes. He lifted his chin slightly. "Hmph. Ignorant fool. Do you know who I am? I'm the most celebrated physician in Jenos. The medicines I use are rarities, worth their weight in gold." "Treating Mr. Thubron in person is already me doing him a big favor. If not for Ms. Thubron's sincerity, I wouldn't have bothered." Aliana started to protest, but Kara raised a hand to stop her. "Dr. Helwick, don't worry about the fees. If you can cure my father, no amount is a problem. Please, try everything. I don't want to lose him." Scott glanced at Kara and gave a small nod. "I understand. I'll consider further options. Still, you'd best prepare yourself." He turned and left, with Kara and Aliana standing quietly in his wake. "Ms. Thubron, that Helwick guy seems like a fraud. Are you really going to give him ten million?" Aliana fumed. "Money isn't the issue. Even a hundred million doesn't matter." Kara looked through the glass at her father. "He raised me, and I haven't repaid him yet. I can't watch him slip away." Her phone vibrated. Kara frowned, then answered. "Ms. Thubron, I have important news!" The caller's voice buzzed with excitement. "There was a miracle at Beverly Hospital. A patient declared paralyzed was cured right in front of everyone. The man who cured him was a real miracle doctor!" Kara's cool expression actually brightened. "Really? What's the healer's name?" "Word is, it's Byron Qualls…" "Byron Qualls…" Kara repeated softly, then said, "Track down his address. I'm going to pay him a visit tomorrow."