Chapter 404 Spam Call
Joe finished his call, went downstairs to complete the discharge procedures, and returned to the room to find Aurelia already dressed in her own clothes.
She had been eagerly awaiting her discharge.
She had promised Dorothy to tell her a story that night, and if there was no traffic, she could still make it in time.
Neatly arranged on the floor were some boxes and packages, gifts from her colleagues who had visited her.
Joe carried two boxes in one hand, while Aurelia held a bouquet, following Joe out the door.
They exited the elevator and reached the first-floor lobby.
Normally, discharge procedures wouldn't be done at this time. Joe had pulled some strings, and perhaps because it was a quieter time at the hospital, the lobby was less crowded than usual.
The sound of a conversation at the payment counter caught Aurelia's attention, and she turned to look.
Amy was leaning low at the window, "Can you give us a few more days? My son can't go without his medication. If he stops, he won't survive. His father will send the money in a few days, and we can pay everything then."
The nurse at the counter sounded helpless, "I'm just an employee, following the rules. I can't do anything about it. Maybe you should talk to the director? You said last week that the money was coming, but it's been a week, and I really don't have the authority."
Amy pleaded softly, "I'll talk to the director. Please, can you also put in a word for me? My son really can't stop his medication. I'm begging you..."
Aurelia slowed her pace. Joe noticed she wasn't keeping up and turned to ask, "Do you know her?"
Aurelia replied honestly, "An old colleague."
She didn't mention the past incidents, partly to avoid worrying her family and partly because she knew her brother's temperament. If he found out someone had bullied her, he would definitely seek retribution.
She wasn't a saint, but she didn't want to take revenge on Amy. She was trying to let go of the past and didn't want to dwell on it.
After speaking, Aurelia continued walking, but Joe stopped and moved to the window, "How much is she short? I'll cover it."
Amy looked at Joe gratefully and then noticed Aurelia waiting not far behind him. Realizing that this stranger was helping her because of Aurelia, she felt a lump in her throat.
Shame prevented her from looking directly at Aurelia, "Sir, let me write you an IOU. I'll repay you as soon as I can."
Joe swiped his card and replied indifferently, "No need. Since you're Aurelia's colleague, it's only right to help you out."
After all, the amount was nothing to him, not even as expensive as a part on his car. It was a small gesture.
Amy's eyes welled up, "Then I'll repay Aurelia. I have her on Facebook."
Joe raised an eyebrow, "That's between you two."
He picked up the boxes on the floor and handed them to Amy, "Take these back with you."
Without waiting for Amy to respond, he walked over to Aurelia, took the flowers and gifts from her, and said, "Let's go home."
Aurelia snapped out of her thoughts and followed Joe out the door.
Amy watched them leave the hospital building, her heart in turmoil.
She never expected that in her time of need, the person who would help her would be the woman she had once bullied at work.
She had borrowed from friends and relatives without success, and yet Aurelia had paid what was a significant amount for her.
Thinking about how she hadn't even thanked Aurelia, she felt a pang of guilt.
Amy picked up her phone and sent a message to Aurelia on Facebook: [Thank you for today. I'll repay you as soon as I can.]
She waited a long time without a reply.
Holding her phone, she picked up the items on the floor and returned to the hospital room.
Inside, her small child lay asleep on the bed, tubes attached, looking frail and thin.
Amy walked over quietly, pulled the blanket up to the child's chest, and tried calling the child's father again, but as usual, there was no answer.
She wondered if that heartless man had blocked her.
Feeling despondent, Amy left the room quietly and went to the attending doctor's office, knocking on the door.
"Doctor, I still haven't been able to reach the child's father. How long can his condition be maintained with medication?"
The doctor sighed, "What kind of man would abandon his own son? You should know how hard it is to find a matching kidney donor. Close relatives have a high success rate. You need to find the child's father for a match. Prolonging this will only worsen the patient's condition."
Amy looked exhausted. The past few years had worn her down, her only focus being her child's treatment. Initially, the child's father would occasionally send a few thousand dollars, but after hearing about the need for a match and potential donation, he disappeared.
Amy wiped away her tears, "Doctor, I'll find a way. Thank you."
Aurelia and Joe got into the car. Her old phone number was no longer in use, so she didn't receive Amy's message.
They sat in the back seat. Aurelia asked, "How much did you pay just now?"
Joe, busy with work on his phone, replied nonchalantly, "Not much."
"Actually, we're not that close. I wouldn't normally pay for her."
If Amy had asked to borrow money, she would have considered it seriously. But her family wasn't a bank, and she wouldn't proactively offer to pay for someone.
Her brother, however, was generous.
Joe looked up, "I thought you were close."
Aurelia pouted and asked, "Do you often do charity work?"
"I do, but usually in the name of the company. I'm not stupid. If she wasn't your friend, do you think I'd be so accommodating?"
Aurelia fell silent. Fair enough.
At that moment, Aurelia's phone rang. Sitting next to Joe, she felt nervous, fearing it was Nathaniel.
It was indeed Nathaniel.
Joe saw her expression and guessed, "Why aren't you answering?"
Aurelia hesitated, "Spam call."
Joe smirked, "It is spam. You should block him. Don't let these calls disrupt your life and work."
Aurelia understood the underlying message in Joe's words and didn't dare respond. Fortunately, Nathaniel didn't call back after the ringtone ended.
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