Chapter 4 Inexplicable Connection

• Stuck in a bind, with nowhere to crash for the foreseeable future, Huxley considered buying a house.
• Years of tending to the medical needs of prison inmates had lined his pockets handsomely.
• Even after snagging the crown jewel of Rivervale's prime real estate, a swanky villa, he'd still be financially stable.
• His foster family – parents and sister – had taken one hell of a beating because of him, enduring years of hardship and public shaming.
• Buying the villa and bringing them all together, giving them a taste of the good life, was the least he could do to make up for those five grueling years.
• Huxley hailed a cab and headed straight for Willowbrook Estates, a posh Rivervale neighborhood known for its pristine environment and equally outrageous price tags.
• Little did he know, a major pileup involving a dozen cars had brought traffic to a screeching halt. Still a decent walk from the villa area, Huxley decided to ditch the cab and hoof it the rest of the way.
• He'd just started picking up the pace when a man's anguished sigh pierced the air.
• "Too late. There's no saving her now." Someone said resignedly.
• Huxley froze; his gaze darted across the street, landing on a chaotic scene.
• A crowd swarmed around a doctor in a crisp white coat and a breathtaking nurse. In their midst lay a tiny girl, soaked in crimson, barely four or five years old.
• Fueled by the deep-rooted call of a healer, Huxley didn't hesitate.
• Despite the distance, a powerful premonition gnawed at him – the girl might still be saved.
• He wove through the throng, finally reaching the beautiful nurse's side.
• Crouching low, he grasped the girl's hand, his eyes devouring her wan face. When he looked at her, an inexplicable connection, a profound pull, surged through him.
• "Who are you? Why are you here?" boomed a middle-aged doctor, towering over Huxley like a mountain.
• Huxley, however, remained silent, his entire focus consumed by a grim assessment of the girl's condition. Though a flicker of life remained, her situation was dire. Even the most skilled doctor couldn't promise her survival without immediate action.
• Seeing Huxley's disregard, the middle-aged doctor grew irritated, insinuating maliciously, "Hey, you better not molest her!"
• "What? Molesting! This man's no better than an animal!"
• "She's just a four or five-year-old girl, and she's already gone! Yet here you are, molesting her like some kind of depraved brute!"
• "F*ck off and leave her be, or I'll kill you!"
• The middle-aged doctor's insinuations angered most of the onlookers. Some even began to speak ill of Huxley.
• Observing the situation, the nurse finally intervened, "Hey, let's all calm down! He's probably just checking on this little girl's condition."
• Her words, however, only fueled the mockery from the crowd.
• "Hey, pretty lady, have you got a thing for this guy? How can you say that with a straight face?"
• "Hah, I mean, who wouldn't? The guy's not bad-looking, after all."
• "And come on, the doc just said the girl's gone; what would a nurse like you know?"
• Furious at their pointless mocking, the nurse - Bonnie Rivers - couldn't form a decent comeback.
• The middle-aged doctor, clearly pissed off, turned his attention to Bonnie. "What's your problem?" he snapped. "Are you saying I'm a quack?"
• "I...I..." Bonnie stammered, caught off guard.
• She simply believed Huxley was trying to help the girl, speaking up matter-of-factly, never expecting such a misunderstanding.
• "The girl isn't dead, you misdiagnosed!" Huxley reluctantly jumped in, seeing Bonnie's discomfort.
• "What did you just say? How dare you accuse me of a misdiagnosis?!" The middle-aged doctor scoffed, "Ridiculous! I'm Dr. Roerig, a Ph.D. student at Capital Medical University and head of Emergency Medicine at Rivervale First Hospital. I don't make mistakes. You're just trying to shift the blame, but I'll let it go this time! Get lost now, or I'll call the cops!"
• His words sparked further tension.
• "You sicko, let go, or I'll knock you out!"
• "You're disgusting! I'll end you right here, right now!"
• Several angry young men stepped forward, ready to act.
• "You ignorant fools, open your damn eyes and watch carefully!" Sharp gaze halted the few young men about to act. He smoothly retrieved a silver needle from his pocket and expertly inserted it into the little girl's body.
• Then, he gently tapped the little girl's forehead.
• Cough!
• Suddenly, the little girl coughed, her bright, innocent eyes slowly fluttering open.
• Due to the severity of her condition, her eyes quickly closed, and she lost consciousness again. However, she had regained her heartbeat and breathing, so she was merely unconscious for the time being.
• "She... She's not dead? How is that even possible?" Dr. Roerig was stunned, mouth agape.
• The youngsters about to confront Huxley had their mouths hanging open, all wearing expressions as if they had seen a ghost.
• The onlookers were shocked and embarrassed at the same time.
• Whoa, close call! They'd been totally snowed by Dr. Roerig. That was a near-death experience for the little girl, all because of some quackery.
• Bonnie, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with excitement. "Holy moly, this guy's a lifesaver!" she thought, barely containing her glee. "'Dr. Snobby Roe-the-rig just got schooled! Priceless!"
• "I just kept her from going under for now, bought her some time," Huxley said, heaving himself to his feet.
• "But she's still on borrowed time. Get her to a hospital now! And those nine needles I stuck in her, don't you even think about taking them out until she's all safe and sound, or she's toast. Got it?" He scanned around the crowd, ready to leave.
• "Hey, wait up, handsome! Can I get your number?" Bonnie sprinted towards Huxley, her cheeks flushed pink, her eyes gleaming with admiration and a dash of excitement.
• A young stud like him, with such incredible medical skills and a face like a Greek god thrown in for good measure? Totally her dream guy!
• A couple of male students passing by witnessed the scene, their faces turning the color of envy. Bonnie wasn't just a pretty face. She had a killer figure to match. And right now, she was irresistible in that nurse's uniform, radiating pure allure!
• Dr. Roerig's expression darkened like a massive storm cloud rolling in. Bonnie's shameless behavior was definitely not what his already frayed nerves needed.
• "Sorry, no phone for me," Huxley honestly replied.
• He'd gone straight home after being released from prison and hadn't even had the chance to grab a phone yet.
• Bonnie's smile faltered. Seriously, who in their twenties didn't have a phone these days?
• "Well, can't you at least give me your name and where you live?" Bonnie wasn't ready to throw in the towel just yet.
• "I'm Huxley Sioux. "And regarding the address, I'm currently homeless." Huxley flashed a mischievous grin and walked past Bonnie, leaving her speechless standing there.
• "Homeless?" Bonnie blinked, her body turning instinctively to follow him.
• But just then, Dr. Roerig's icy voice sliced through the air from behind. "Hey you, what are you doing? The patient needs immediate care. What's the hold-up?"
• Bonnie's whole demeanor shifted the moment she heard this.
• With a regretful sigh, she mumbled, "Such a bummer. Finally, find a guy who makes my heart race, only to have him slip away like smoke."