The training room at Zachery Frost's house echoed with grunts and sticks clashing of men. He was in the wrestling ring as he went two on one with Skull and Raphy when he suddenly sneezed. 'Is someone talking about me?' he mused.
Raphy's mouth fell into an 'o' at the opening they had got. He gave an encouraging look at Skull signaling him to take advantage of it. So he swung his fist towards the man's face in his momentary distraction. But he suddenly felt an iron grip clasp around his fist.
"Dirty play? You asked for it!" A sly smile spread on Zach's lips and his words were full of venom.
Skull's eyes went wide! They had suddenly been summoned by their boss to train not knowing the man wanted to pass time while his wife was M.I.A. Zach wasn't even going hard on them probably because of his good mood but now....
"Raphy..." He looked to his right where Raphy was standing only to find nothing.
Skull looked around with his panicked eyes and found Raphy standing outside the ring with an apologetic expression while holding up placard written:
'GO BIG BROTHER! I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU!'
'When did that punk prepare that? Nevermind', he mused in irritation before he turned to look back at his boss who still held his fist in his grip. There was only one solution.
"Boss, it was a mistake", he pleaded. Forget his dignity. He knew he had no chance alone so he begged. He almost wanted to cry.
Zach stopped and looked around the training room. The men who were stick fighting, catch wrestling, and some who were helping each other lift weights, all stood staring at him and their team leader Skull. Zach released Skull's hand and clasped his own behind his back assuming an authoritative stance.
"Alright! I'll let him go", he announced.
Skull breathed out a sigh of relief. He really thought he would be subjected to torture. However, Zach was not done.
"On the condition that one of you repla-"
He didn't even finish his sentence before everyone else held up a placard each with words similar to Raphy's. Skull's lips twitched at his men. They were quick to betray him! Did they plan this? But he had no time to dwell on that.
"I'll take you on", he resigned to his fate.
"Good man", Zach nodded. He would surely enjoy this.
Back in West Village
Ian stood like a frozen statue as he looked at the two women before him. What did he just hear?
"Ian?" Amy waved her hand to gain his attention. "You dropped your phone."
The young man snapped out of his attention and quickly bent down to pick up his phone.
"I have to take my leave now. See you on your next appointment!" Suzy said to Amy who nodded.
The two waved at each other as Suzy left. The latter was not sure of what to make of Ian so she simply gave him a polite nod and he responded with the same. Ian stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked over to Amy.
"Where's Grandpa?" He looked around at the same time trying not to look at her.
"He's gone to sign a consent form. Stella needs surgery for her hip injury."
He nodded in response. And the two fell in silence. Amy didn't mind the silence since she never conversed much with him anyway. As for Ian, curiosity was gnawing at him but he was fighting it. What she did was none of her business but his heart said otherwise.
"You shouldn't do that", he started.
"What?"
"Leave your husband for that guy", he continued. He may have sounded self righteous but what he truly meant was if she was to leave her husband for another man, he'd rather be that man instead.
Amy fell quiet after his little 'advice' as she put two and two together. Her enchanting laugh suddenly graced his ears that turned the color red even in his confused state.
"That 'man' you're referring to is actually her twelve year old so don't worry, I won't be doing any of that", Amy looked at him with a smile.
He was so mesmerized by her smile but her words snapped him out of her reverie once they sunk in. Amy thought him to be cute for keeping her in check. It kind of reminded her of how Stella would speak her mind so carelessly. She looked in the direction where the two men disappeared and started to wonder what was taking so long.
"Would you ever..... leave your husband for another man?" His gaze remained fixed to the floor. He wished she could take her time to give him time to prepare himself but her answer came falling like a hard rock on his head.
"There's no room for another person", she stated as a matter of fact.
Silence. What he didn't know was that Amy meant she can't afford to fall for another person because of her situation. But another reason was she didn't think there was anyone who could impress her like Zach did even without him being there.
"What's taking them so long?" She muttered. "Shall we go and check?"
Ian nodded and followed after Amy. They weaved their way through the corridors and found themselves at the reception. Richard was not alone. Alex and Nora had arrived and the three seemed to be in a serious discussion.
"Even with yours and mine combined, it won't be enough", he sighed.
"I'll call a few friends", Alex said as she took out her phone and started browsing through some contacts.
"I'll check with mine too", Nora did the same.
"What's going on?" Amy asked as she got closer.
Richard's expression was heavy with worry, much worse than he had been earlier.
"Well.....", The older man scratched his head. He looked at his daughters unsure of how to break the news. He was already embarrassed by himself because of the situation and wanted to sort it without anyone finding out about it. But he forgot Amy was around. Nora saw Alex and her dad's hesitation and chose to tell it like it is.
"Mom's medical plan failed. They can't operate on her without it."
"Nora!" Alex whisper-shouted. But her scolding fell on deaf ears as Nora continued.
"The library isn't doing too well Mom hasn't been able to pay for their medical plan for months now. The money in her account is not enough to cover for her surgery. Even with what we contributed, it's not enough. So we're trying to pull in funds otherwise our other alternative is for her to recover at home but that will take a long time and a lot of painkillers."
'The library is not doing well? Then how has she been paying me?'
Not only that, Stella had practically made herself a caregiver for free as she nursed Amy's pregnancy. Even with the little she had, she went out of her way to look after Amy and her family too. Amy felt her heart ache and her eyes were bloodshot red from suppressed tears.
The family was silent after Nora revealed their reality to Amy. The former didn't see the point of hiding this. If anything she would be grateful if Amy helped and would surely pay her back; she was already agitated that her mother's surgery was being delayed because of this.
"I'll pay", a soft voice spoke gaining everyone's attention.
Everyone looked at Amy in shock. Did they hear her right?
"How much can you chip in?" Nora asked.
"Nora!" Alex scolded again.
"No, I'm paying for everything."
"Emily, we can't let you do this. It's not right", Richard protested.
"Am I a stranger to you? Why are you hesitant? Stella wouldn't hesitate. If anything, we should hurry up and not further delay her surgery", she gave him a comforting smile.
"Emily", both Alex and Richard called out helplessly. They looked at Nora and warned her with their eyes to do the same but she didn't bat an eye and simply looked at Amy with a hopeful look.
Amy chuckled when she saw this. "And did you forget? I have a rich husband!"
Two faces turned grim by that sentence. It was the face of Nora and Ian.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶