Chapter 2: A Crate of Money Falls from the Sky
1223 Words
Chapter 2: A Crate of Money Falls from the Sky
The man spent the whole night watching social and financial news.
Isabella Gomez didn't find it odd, assuming he was just keeping up with current events.
As long as he didn't cause any trouble, everything was manageable.
Early the next morning.
Isabella Gomez was jolted awake by a scream!
Startled, she sprang out of bed like a carp leaping from the water and hurriedly got up.
She opened the door and rushed out, only to see her neighbor Lucy Murphy from 302 standing at her doorstep, screaming with her hand over her mouth, eyes wide open, staring at the man who had opened the door for her.
Lucy Murphy had come to find Isabella Gomez, but the one who opened the door was a man!
And not just any man, but a bare-chested, muscular, and strikingly handsome one!
"H-he..." Lucy Murphy glanced at Isabella Gomez in her pajamas, then at the man's bared shoulders.
It was obvious that the man had spent the night there!
Lucy Murphy was still a college student living with her grandmother next door. Such a sight in the early morning was too much for her young heart to handle.
"Put on some clothes, you're scaring people!" Isabella Gomez quickly turned to the man and said.
She was mortified, her bangs, which were sticking up from just waking up, fluttered with her frantic movements, adding to her embarrassment.
She had no idea this man had the habit of sleeping naked!
This scene made Lucy Murphy think all sorts of things. She giggled, pulling Isabella Gomez, wiggling her eyebrows, and giving her a suggestive look.
"Isabella, he's so handsome, is he your boyfriend?"
They had a good relationship as neighbors. Isabella Gomez was always kind and gentle, like an older sister. If she could find happiness, Lucy Murphy would be the first to wish her well!
"No!" Isabella Gomez denied firmly.
But she didn't know how to introduce the man, so she said, "I don't know..."
"Don't know? This..." Lucy Murphy looked at Isabella Gomez, eyes wide, "Isabella, I always thought you were the conservative type, I never imagined you'd be into something so exciting!"
By this time, the man had put on a shirt and, glancing their way, wheeled himself to the bathroom to freshen up.
Lucy Murphy, caught up in her surprise, only now noticed that the man was in a wheelchair!
Her mouth dropped open in shock, and then she suddenly remembered something, leaning in to whisper in Isabella Gomez's ear, "Isabella, I heard that if a man has one weakness, he makes up for it in another area. If his legs are weak, then maybe he's really good in other ways..."
"Lucy!" Isabella Gomez interrupted, "You're just a kid, what kind of nonsense are you thinking? I'm just letting him stay for a few days, there's nothing between us!"
Interrupted, Lucy Murphy pouted, but her curiosity was still burning.
Unwillingly, she tiptoed to get a better look at the man, "But Isabella..."
A single woman letting a handsome man stay overnight, both looking so relaxed in the morning, one half-naked and the other in pajamas, it didn't seem like there was nothing going on.
"Did you come here for something?" Isabella Gomez tried to change the subject.
Lucy Murphy finally remembered, nodding quickly, "Yes, yes, the landlord came by yesterday to collect rent. You weren't home, so he asked me to tell you to transfer the next quarter's rent to his account by the 20th."
At the mention of rent, Isabella Gomez's expression darkened.
Lucy Murphy noticed her reaction, "What's wrong, Isabella? Is the rent a problem?"
"No," Isabella Gomez forced a smile, "I just remembered I have to go to the comic company later, so I can't chat with you right now."
Seeing that the man had finished washing up and come out, to avoid more shocking comments from Lucy Murphy, Isabella Gomez quickly saw her off.
Lucy Murphy waved goodbye to the man as she backed away, "Handsome, come visit Isabella when you have time!"
Isabella Gomez closed the door and leaned against it, but she couldn't relax.
The next quarter's rent... it was indeed a problem.
If she hadn't saved this man and paid for his medical bills, she would have been able to manage.
But after paying his medical bills, the next quarter's rent was very difficult!
Feeling anxious, Isabella Gomez's gaze met the man's eyes, and she realized he had been watching her from the bathroom door.
"What are you looking at!" For some reason, Isabella Gomez was in a bad mood.
She walked past him, into the bathroom, and closed the door, blocking his view.
All because of him!
After breakfast, Isabella Gomez sat at her computer with her bank card and ledger.
Frowning, she planned to sort out her finances.
When she saw the balance in her account, Isabella Gomez sighed deeply.
Now, even tightening her belt wouldn't be enough...
Suddenly, a head appeared behind her. Turning around, she saw the man's sharp eyes fixed on the balance displayed on her phone...
"What are you doing! You scared me!"
Startled, she quickly covered the balance.
She had her pride, after all, and a three-digit balance was embarrassing to show anyone.
The man slowly shifted his gaze from her phone, lowered his head in thought, and wheeled himself out.
Isabella Gomez: "..."
She wondered if he had seen it.
She had to go to the comic company during the day, so before leaving, she instructed him, "Stay at home and don't go out. If I'm not back by noon, I'll order takeout for you."
With that, she left.
The man watched her leave, his dark eyes following her, then he leaned back in his wheelchair, his deep-set eyes narrowing slightly.
Isabella Gomez returned late in the evening, tired from the rain that had lasted all day.
Just as she put down her bag, without a chance to catch her breath, she noticed a large box on the coffee table.
Her small apartment was usually tidy, so the sudden appearance of a large box was quite conspicuous.
Moreover, the box was silver and high-quality, standing out on the table.
"What's this?" Curious, Isabella Gomez instinctively opened the box.
When she saw what was inside, her eyes widened in shock, and the box slipped from her hands with a loud thud.
Stacks of pink banknotes rolled across the floor!
Stunned, Isabella Gomez stared at the scattered money, unable to process what she was seeing.
Oh my God, a box full of cash?
She rubbed her eyes, confirming she wasn't dreaming, and nervously paced in front of the box, her mind racing.
There was only one person in the house, so the money must be his.
But where did a mysterious, mute, and disabled man suddenly get so much money?
Isabella Gomez quickly scanned the living room, finding no one. The balcony and bathroom were empty. Finally, she opened the bedroom door and found him lying on her bed...
"Hey, wake up, why are you sleeping in my bed?" Isabella Gomez walked over and shook his arm, startled by the heat of his skin.
His temperature was unusually high!
"Do you have a fever?" Panicked, Isabella Gomez reached out to feel his forehead.
- Writer
