From Pathetic Loser To A Potent Legend

Chapter 003: Tragic News

Early the next morning, Gilbert woke up at his usual time, 8 a.m. After getting ready for work, he sat in the grand living room, waiting for his wife. It was part of his routine to drive her to work before heading to his own job. But today, his mind was elsewhere, filled with thoughts of his sister’s health and how he could help her.

As the minutes ticked by, Gilbert’s restlessness grew. He kept glancing at the clock, anxiously waiting for Vivienne to wake up.

When she finally stepped into the living room, Gilbert’s relief turned to surprise when he saw Vivienne already dressed and ready to leave.

Yet, Gilbert sensed something was off; she didn’t acknowledge his presence, not even a glance in his direction.

Concerned, Gilbert said, “Viv, you’re up early. Is everything okay and how was your night?”

Silence met his question as Vivienne moved toward the door, making Gilbert spring to his feet and rush after her, calling her name.

Just as she reached the door, she stopped abruptly and turned to face him. “What do you want, Gilbert?” she snapped, her face slightly glum.

Her cold tone caught him off guard. “I... I thought I’d drive you to work. Like I always do.”

Vivienne gave him a slow, almost dismissive blink, then pointed to the driveway where a sleek, unfamiliar sunset-orange BMW was parked. “You don’t need to worry about it. I’ve hired a new driver.”

“A new driver?” Gilbert’s voice was barely a whisper, his heart sinking with disbelief.

"Mm-hmm," she hummed, shrugging it off.

As Vivienne turned and walked toward the waiting car, he stood frozen, unable to say a word.

The BMW was unlike any car the Astor family had used before. Before he could process what was happening, she climbed in, and within seconds, the car pulled away.

With his heart racing faster than it already was, Gilbert stood frozen, staring at the floor as he tried to make sense of the unfolding situation. Could their argument from the night before really have led Vivienne to hire a new driver this quickly? It didn’t seem possible. The whole situation felt off, almost unreal. Now, more than anything, he was determined to find out who was driving the unfamiliar BMW.

Instead of dwelling on the morning’s tension, Gilbert quickly shook it off. He couldn’t afford to waste time. His thoughts shifted to his sister, Megan, as he locked the door behind him. The warehouse was waiting, and so was the meager paycheck he would collect at the end of the day—not enough to ease his worries, but at least it was something.

Later in the evening, after collecting his paycheck, Gilbert managed to make it to the hospital where his sister was admitted, eager to check on her.

He met a tired-looking nurse at the front desk, who recognized him from his frequent visits. Without wasting time, she referred him to the doctor overseeing Megan’s care.

Approaching the doctor, Gilbert greeted her with anticipation, “I’m here for Megan.”

“Oh, Gilbert, you’re here,” the doctor sighed. Her eyes met his with a grim look that sent a jolt of panic through him. He felt something was off.

“Uh, she’s stable, but there have been complications,” the doctor said, getting straight to the point.

“What complications?” Gilbert asked, his voice sharp with rising anxiety.

The doctor hesitated as a colleague leaned in to whisper something, too low for Gilbert to catch. After a quick response, she turned back to him, her expression more serious.

“I’m sorry to tell you this,” she said, “but we had to transfer your sister to another hospital a few hours ago. Her condition has become severe.”

Gilbert raised his voice out of shock. “Another hospital?” He could barely believe it, but the doctor wasn’t finished.

“Yes,” she said, her voice heavy. “I need to be honest with you. The medical bills are skyrocketing. The new facility specializes in critical care, and the cost... is much higher. We’re talking around $3 million for her treatment from now on.”

The number hit him like a punch to the gut. “Three million?” he cried out in frustration. “How am I supposed to pay that?”

Gilbert’s legs nearly gave out as he gripped the desk for support. Three million dollars. His throat tightened, panic rising. He had already begged Vivienne’s family, and since they refused, it now seemed every option, every lifeline, was slipping away.

Tears welled up, but he blinked them back. The crushing weight of Megan’s situation hit him like a freight train. No savings, no one left to turn to.

Regaining composure, Gilbert demanded, “Alright, no problem. Where is the hospital she was transferred to?”

The doctor hesitated, then handed him a slip of paper. “Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. The specialists there will take over her case.”

She sighed, “If you have any questions about your sister, you can always call this number.”

“Okay doc,” Gilbert replied, taking the paper with trembling hands. He nodded curtly and left the hospital.

Mount Sinai is not only one of the best hospitals in New York City, but also one of the most expensive. Gilbert didn’t have enough to cover her current bills, let alone the exorbitant costs of the new facility.

While waiting in front of the hospital, Gilbert glanced at the small amount of cash he had left. It wasn’t enough for Megan’s mounting bills, but could serve another purpose.

Desperately, he remembered tomorrow was his father-in-law’s birthday. He decided to gamble on buying a gift, hoping it might sway him. Even if it meant postponing his visit to Megan, winning his father-in-law’s favor might be his best shot at securing the help he needed for the hefty hospital bills.

As the thought of not seeing his sister haunted him, Gilbert quickly dialed the number the doctor had given him.

The line rang a few times before a voice answered.

“Mount Sinai Hospital, how can I help you?”

“I’m calling about my sister, Megan. She was transferred here earlier today,” Gilbert said, his voice filled with worry.

There was a pause on the other end. “I’m sorry, but Ms. Megan is gone.”

Gilbert’s face went pale. “Gone? What do you mean, gone?”

His breath caught in his throat. “What? No, that’s impossible! She was stable when I left her. I was just told she was transferred a few hours ago!”

“I understand this is hard to hear,” the voice continued, “but Ms. Megan has indeed passed away.”

In shock, Gilbert’s phone slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground. Everything felt surreal, like a terrible nightmare.