Many people in Y City had heard about the stabbing Sheffield was talking about.
But, his apprentice did it? Bullshit! Sheffield was a busy guy. He had no time to recruit an apprentice, let alone train one. But the goons didn't know that.
It didn't take longer than a heartbeat for the goons to lose their bravado and run off in fear.
A hint of mockery flashed in Sheffield's eyes. 'Idiots! Run home to mama!'
He had believed the thugs were professional assassins. But they were just hired muscle. Suddenly, they could see flashing lights approaching, along with the whine of a police siren.
Some of the mooks who didn't run were spooked by the sudden appearance of police cars.
Sheffield jumped from the hood of his car and chased the thugs down. As one of them was getting into his car, Sheffield grabbed the guy by his clothes and forced him prone. The young doctor had just caught the leader
Everyone saw the altercation, including the other goons. However, the police cars were closing in on them. They had no time to help their leader, so they got in their cars and sped off.
Five police cars showed up at the scene. Four of them kept driving, chasing after the gangsters. One of them pulled alongside Sheffield's car. Three police officers got out to start questioning witnesses and suspects.
The man in the mask lay in the dirt. He couldn't get up and run away, so he lay there, frustrated, groaning in pain.
A policeman came over and asked, "Sir, we're from the Ministry of Public Security. Did you call the police?"
Sheffield was stunned. He looked at Matthew, who was in the car, and wondered if it was him. Sheffield nodded, "Yes, I did. These men attacked us, but some of them got away. But I did manage to nab the leader. He's all yours."
Two policemen handcuffed the man on the ground, to take him back to the police station for interrogation.
After making his statement to the police, Sheffield got back into his car.
Back leaning against the seat, Matthew was still focused on his phone.
"You're a pain in the ass, you know that?" Sheffield said to him sourly
Matthew had heard what the thugs had been shouting outside the car. And he also knew that they were after him. Instead of standing up to them, he let Sheffield face the group of hoods alone. So, out of guilt, he said calmly, "I'll buy you a new car." Matthew was the designer of the car Sheffield drove. He didn't want to see it wrecked either, but he never volunteered that information to Sheffield.
"I don't want a new car. I want a wife."
"Really? What kind of woman are you looking for?" Matthew asked, pretending not to know what he meant.
"Someone like your sister." Sheffield started the engine and drove off with Matthew riding shotgun. His left tail light had been shattered in the fight.
Matthew tried to steer the conversation away from that topic. Together or apart, he didn't want to be involved. "That's actually none of my business. Good luck, though."
"I knew you'd say that," Sheffield said with a snort. He had never expected any help from the younger man.
It was past two o'clock in the morning when they arrived at Sheffield's flat. He would never forget this New Year's Eve
When they entered the apartment, he sat on the couch and heaved a huge sigh of relief.
"Make yourself at home," he told Matthew. Matthew opened the shoe cabinet and changed into a pair of packaged disposable slippers.
"Where is your study?" he asked.
Sheffield pointed to the room behind him and said, "Back there."
Casting him a quick glance, Matthew said calmly, "Come with me."
"Okay. Get me a glass of water first. I'm bone dry." Sheffield was parched.
Eyebrows knitted in a frown, Matthew stood stock still and said, "This how you boss my sister around?"
"Not even. I wouldn't ask her to do that. She's my one and only. You, on the other hand…" Sheffield chuckled.
"Do it yourself!" Matthew snapped. Few people in Matthew's life would ever give him orders. Sheffield really had some nerve.
Hearing the anger in Matthew's tone, Sheffield heaved a sigh and said, "Fine, I'm going to bed. You're on your own."
Matthew wasn't bothered by what he said. He took out his phone and pretended to make a call. "I think Calvert would be a better brother-in-law…"
His words successfully drew Sheffield's attention. He immediately jumped up from the sofa and ran to the fridge. He took out two bottles of water and handed one to Matthew, smiling obsequiously. "Here, Matthew. Drink up. I'm sorry. I don't get many guests, so there's not much in the fridge."
Matthew shot him a cold stare. "Cut it out!"
"Too thick?" "Yeah," Matthew said. Sheffield placed the bottles on the table, unscrewed one and gulped down the water. Then he led the way to the study. "Let's go! You know, I think I have my second wind…"
Matthew entered the young doctor's study. There was a computer for each of them.
They kept working on the computers until it was dawn.
It was New Year's Day. Soon after Matthew came back to the manor, he and his sisters went out with their parents to greet the elders and their friends. Sheffield had to work. The sick didn't take holidays off.
Sheffield went to the hospital alone after he got up in the afternoon. Not long after he reached his office, Nova came in and whispered to him, "Dr. Tang, may I ask you something?"
Knowing that the woman was not a good wife, Sheffield was very cold to her. "If I said no, would you go away?" Shock shuddered through her. She was not used to being treated like that. "What did you want to ask me?"
"How much is Evander's bill?" Evelyn had sunk $200, 000 into treatment for Evander upfront. Nova wondered if it was enough for her husband's treatment.
A hint of mockery flashed through Sheffield's eyes, and he said, "A dialysis visit is $500 a pop. The drugs are extra. He needs dialysis every two days. Do the math."
"Five hundred a visit? " Nova's shock sent her voice soaring. Everyone in the office could hear her.
"Well, you got him insurance, didn't you? It should cover most of that—say, 80%. So it will be relatively little if you did that."
Hearing that, Nova was relieved. Even so, she still thought it was too much. She wondered if she'd have any money left over after paying her husband's medical bills. "Then how long will he live?"
Knowing what was on her mind, Sheffield replied coldly, "I'm just a doctor. I don't have control over that. I could ask the King of Hell. No, I've a better idea: go there yourself!"
Nova was so embarrassed her face was flushed and pale.
The doctor sitting beside Sheffield couldn't help but snicker.
As soon as Nova left, Sheffield asked the doctor next to him, "Did she take care of her husband last night?"
Pursing his lips, the doctor said, "No, she left when she saw we were there. We told her the medical staff was only responsible for the dialysis machine; patient care was up to the family. But she didn't listen to us and wasn't back till this morning."
"Tell the nurses to take good care of this patient," he said with a frown.
"Okay. You know this guy, Dr. Tang?"
"Yeah, he's a friend." Anything concerning Evelyn was his business.
"Okay."
On January 5th, according to the Lunar calendar, Langston and Ally took their kids to the Huo family manor to celebrate the New Year. This would be an ideal time to nail down the date for the engagement ceremony.
With a smile, Ally asked, "So, Evelyn…what do you think of having an engagement party on the 20th?" In fact, she really didn't want Calvert to marry this woman. After all, her previous boyfriends were dead. But both Langston and Calvert were for the marriage. As a stepmother, she was helpless.
