The Magic Black Card

Bloody Thief

Chapter Four

“Are you certain this is my card?” Ethan asked, his voice filled with disbelief. He couldn't fathom that the card in his hand was actually real. 

“Yes, sir. The card is yours,” the manager replied, his expression confident and friendly. 

“But… But,” Ethan stammered, struggling to find words. 

He was unable to shake the feeling that this whole situation was too good to be true. This amount of money, he had never seen before. He doubted himself, wondering if he was being deceived. 

“So I am an heir, my life has changed. Is this how someone's life transitions from good to bad?” he pondered to himself silently.

“How much did you want to withdraw, sir?” the manager inquired, bringing Ethan back to reality. 

“$2000,” Ethan replied, the words escaping his lips with a hint of disbelief. 

He struggled to regain his composure, his mind racing with different thoughts.

“Alright, sir,” the manager replied, his voice calm and professional. Ethan watched as the manager handed him a card and a stack of money. 

“Here's your card and money, Sir,” the manager continued, his voice polite and genuine. “Thank you for your patronage. We look forward to serving you in the future.” Ethan's response was a simple shake of the head, his mind elsewhere. 

Collecting the money and card, he swiftly made his exit from the bank. Rushing out into the street, he hailed a cab and quickly conveyed the address of the hospital to the driver. As they sped through the City, different "What if" thoughts kept parading Ethan's mind. 

The manager, hurriedly made his way to the office. His heart raced as he reached for his phone, with trembling fingers, he dialed the director's number, each digit feeling like an eternity. 

As the call connected, the manager took a deep breath to steady himself. 

“Hello, sir,” he greeted, his voice laced with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. 

On the other end of the line, the director patiently waited, ready to hear what the manager had called for. 

“I have some good news for you, sir,” the manager finally revealed, his words brimming with anticipation. 

“Spill it out already, I am very busy,” he curtly replied. Undeterred by the director's impatience, the manager plowed ahead.

“One of the Smith family members came to withdraw with their card today, sir. I was pleasantly surprised,” he says, hoping to share his excitement and triumph.

“What? Are you being serious?” the director asked, surprised.

“Yes, sir,” the manager responded, his voice filled with a mix of astonishment and awe. “I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the amount of money he had in his account, sir. It was quite substantial.” 

The director's tone softened, a hint of pleasure creeping into his voice.

“That's fantastic news! I'm genuinely happy to hear this. Did you ensure that they were served with care and professionalism? Please send me their contact information immediately.” 

“Er...I...I...un..." he paused swallowed an imaginary lump in his throat. "Unfortunately, sir, I failed to collect their contact details. It completely slipped my mind amidst the excitement and unexpected nature of the visit.” 

Regret seeped into the manager's voice as he sighed inwardly.

“Stephen, you mean you didn't collect his number? Are you suggesting that you neglected such a crucial task? Do you even know the gravity of your what you just did? By failing to obtain their contact information, you have essentially caused us to miss a valuable opportunity to establish a closer relationship with the Smiths,” the director says, his voice laced with disdain and frustration. 

“I am deeply sorry, sir.” The manager said.

“Save your apologies because, in my eyes, you have demonstrated nothing but incompetence. I'm giving you a strict 48-hour ultimatum to rectify this situation, or face the consequences,” he declared before abruptly ending the call.

****

Arriving at the hospital, Ethan hastily walked through the bustling lobby, and headed straight for the doctor's office. Each step he took was mixed with hope and anxiety.

“Oh, Mr. Ethan, it's a good thing you're here,” the doctor said immediately Ethan entered his office, his tone a mix of relief and excitement. “I wanted to tell you that a lady came here to pay for your mother's hospital bill just a few minutes ago.” Ethan's mind spun with confusion upon hearing the doctor's words. 

A lady had paid for his mother's hospital bill? The thought seemed incomprehensible, leaving him unable to fathom the identity of this kind-hearted stranger. 

He quickly ruled out the possibility of it being his wife, as well as the notion that Claire's parents would never have allowed her to do that kind of thing. 

“Did the lady tell you who he is?” he asked, his voice filled with curiosity. The doctor, a kindly man with greying hair, nodded his head and offered a warm smile in response.

“Yeah, she said she's your wife,” the doctor replied gently, his voice reassuring. 

Ethan's face broke into a wide and relieved smile, knowing deep down that his wife is a kind and caring woman. After all, her parents were her only problem.

“Thank you, doctor. How's my mother? Where is she?” Ethan asked, concerned. 

“She's still inside her ward,” the doctor replied. “We will be starting her operation in a few minutes' time.” Ethan's heart sank momentarily at the mention of his mother's impending surgery. 

 “Can I see her?” he asked, his request laced with a mix of hope and fear. The doctor nodded affirmatively, understanding.

“Thank you,” He said softly, expressing his gratitude before standing up from the chair. 

With a mixture of hope and trepidation, he walked into his mother's ward. As he gazed at her lying there, vulnerable and helpless, tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to spill over. 

Nonetheless, he held on to the belief that she would recover soon. Taking a deep breath, he settled himself down beside her, seeking solace in her presence. Just then, two nurses entered the ward, pushing a stretcher. 

“Can you excuse us, sir? We need to commence her operation quickly,” one of the nurses politely requested. 

Ethan nodded his head in understanding before rising from the chair, giving them the space they needed.

“The doctor said you shouldn't wait for us. You can go, and the doctor will inform you when the operation is done,” one of the nurses informed him. 

Ethan simply nodded in acknowledgment before making his way out of the ward. As Ethan walked down the hallway, his phone suddenly rang, its sound filling the air. 

A smile instantly lit up his face when he saw his wife's name displayed on the screen. Without hesitation, he swiftly tapped the answer button and brought the phone closer to his ear.

“Hello, how are you? I called to inform you that tomorrow is one of my friends's birthday, and everyone is going with their partner. So, I'll need you to go to the party together and come back home earlier, so we can search for what you will wear tomorrow,” she says. 

Ethan can't contain his smile, he finds himself smiling widely, feeling somewhat incredulous that his wife wants to go out with him.

“No, I can't go home without getting anything for her. She has done a lot for me, and I need to appreciate her. After all, women do love gifts.”

“What should I get her? Perhaps a necklace would be a nice gesture,” he mused, contemplating the perfect gift, as he walked out of the hospital and made his way towards the nearest shop. 

The anticipation of finding the right piece brought a joyous smile to his lips. Entering the jewelry shop with a sense of excitement, he greeted one of the workers politely.

“Good morning.” He couldn't help but notice the disdainful look he received in return. 

Undeterred by her manner, Ethan chose to ignore her and focused on his purpose.

“I'm here to get a necklace for my wife,” he replied, and the sales girl scoffed loudly.

She pointed him towards a shelf where the necklaces were displayed. Ethan carefully examined the assortment before selecting one of the most expensive pieces. 

He made his way to the cashier to complete the purchase, but instead of a warm exchange, he was met with the stifled laughter of the cashier. With confusion.

“Did you check the price?” The cashier couldn't help herself but ask, 

“Are you sure you can afford this? This particular necklace is not in the range of $20, $30, or even $100.” Determined to proceed, Ethan calmly requested,

“Please ring up the necklace and tell me the final price. I'm in a hurry to leave.”

“This necklace is a limited edition piece, priced at $6000,” the cashier informed Ethan. 

He calmly handed her his card, causing a noticeable shock to spread across her face. It was the first time she saw a black card of such prestige. She inserted the card into the machine and heard a confirming beep. 

“Here's your card, sir,” the cashier said, attempting to regain her composure with a polite smile. 

Both the cashier and the other workers couldn't hide their surprise at the transaction. 

Ethan gracefully accepted his card and the necklace, feeling a sense of fulfillment. With the new gift in hand, he eagerly stepped out of the shop, ready to present it to his wife and see how happy she would be.

Walking inside the house, Stephen noticed his mother-in-law engaged in a lively conversation with someone, both of them sharing laughter. 

His wife sat beside them, wearing a subdued expression, as though she had been embarrassed or uncomfortable by something. 

“I'm home.” His mother-in-law abruptly turned her attention towards him, her face contorted with anger. She stood up, pointing an accusing finger directly at him while yelling.

“You bloody thief!”