Chapter 374 An Unexpected Encounter at the Hospital
Harold said, "No matter how rich you are, you don't need to support others for life. It's not about money; the road is long. Can you help everyone? You're too extravagant! I'll contact the foundation to see if we can get some assistance."
"Don't even think about it. They don't meet the foundation's aid criteria. You might as well try crowdfunding."
Harold felt like he had been slapped. "Damn it, I'm from a wealthy family too! Who are you mocking?"
Ashley rubbed her forehead. These two sounded like they were both extravagant.
The next day, she visited the patients at the hospital again.
Before entering the ward, she took a long time to prepare, repeatedly considering what to say, but she couldn't even come up with a suitable opening line.
"Ms. Astor? Why are you sitting here?"
Ashley looked up from her thoughts and saw a pregnant woman with a big belly. She quickly composed herself and smiled, "Just came to check on you all."
The pregnant woman, holding a lunchbox, looked worried. "My husband heard about the loss and became very depressed. He just told me to list the house online to see if we can sell it. Otherwise, in a couple of months, we won't have money to pay the mortgage. The baby is due next month, and I... I really don't know what to do. Ms. Astor, why is life so hard? We want to live well, why is it so difficult?"
Ashley's heart felt like it was filled with lemon juice, which was sour and painful. She wanted to say everything would be fine but thought it was too insubstantial. "How are the results of the chemotherapy? He's still young; his treatment should be better than others."
The pregnant woman shook her head, her face full of bitterness and sorrow. "He vomits whatever he eats, has lost over twenty pounds. The targeted therapy is too expensive, using costly drugs. He means to stop the treatment and save the money..." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. "He wants to leave some money for me and the baby."
Ashley's heart ached. This might be the thought of many people; unwilling to spend money on treatment when diagnosed with a serious illness, wanting to leave the money for the living. "I'll see if I can help you apply for charitable donations."
The pregnant woman lowered her head, tears falling. "We can't get it. Our situation doesn't pass the review."
To outsiders, they seemed like winners in life, with a car and house in a major city, but such families had no foundation and were fragile and weak. Once hit by fate, they would return to the starting point overnight.
Ashley handed her a tissue. "I'll try. Maybe there's still hope."
After visiting all the patients, Ashley walked out of the inpatient department. As she got off the elevator, she heard a familiar voice.
"Ashley?"
Ashley, holding her phone, was about to call Harold. She looked up and saw Hayden in casual clothes.
"What are you doing here?"
The hospital where the patients were treated theoretically shouldn't have him.
Hayden, with one hand in his pocket, flicked his hair confidently. "This must be fate, meeting you here, the one I always think about."
Ashley felt a headache coming on. "So, are you here on business?"
Hayden followed her steps outside, talking non-stop. "Evergreen Valley Hospital & Wellness Center has an exchange meeting with the orthopedics department here. I'm here as a representative. Don't I look different without the white coat?"
Ashley glanced at him. "Very average."
"Don't be so sharp-tongued... But what are you doing here? Visiting a patient?"
Ashley guessed Hayden didn't know the relationship between Infinity Enterprises Group and Quantum Innovations Tech, so she ignored all the background. "Yes, visiting a friend."
"What's their name? Which ward? I'll find someone to help take care of them."
With his mention, Ashley thought of something. "Does the hospital have any subsidies for leukemia patients?"
Hayden, hearing leukemia, immediately stopped joking. "Cancer... Your friend has such a serious illness? Do you want me to take a look? Public hospitals generally don't have additional subsidies besides insurance. Maybe the lab has research projects or new drug trials. If the patient is willing, they can apply for trials, but the risk is high. But your friend is different; I can ask."
The three patients weren't people Hayden knew, and Ashley didn't want to trouble him to use his connections. "I see."
Hayden thought about asking Ashley's friends if they still needed money, but then he realized it might be unethical. "Wait, I'll make a call."
He was efficient, made a call, and after a few minutes, smiled apologetically. "Ashley, I asked the dean. There's no leukemia research project this year."
"You're quick. Thanks."
It seemed she could only wait for Harold's news.
Seeing her disappointed look, Hayden reassured her, "Medical advancements have been significant in recent years. It's not like before when cancer was terrifying. With proper treatment and a positive mindset, patients can live another ten or twenty years."
Ashley nodded, accepting his comfort. "You have things to do, right?"
"Yes, there's a discussion meeting later. I won't see you off. Be safe on the road."
They said goodbye. Hayden watched her walk to the parking lot through the glass door, then called Damian.
"I saw Ashley at the Hospital of Healing Light."
Damian, unfazed by the revelation, said, "Okay."
"She seems to have a friend with leukemia hospitalized, probably not in good financial condition. She asked if there were any medical subsidies."
Damian's tone was calm. "So?"
"I asked the hospital. There's none this year. The hospital's budget is limited, and cancer research funding is not significant. Progress is slow, and there are no results. You understand. But Ashley seemed a bit disappointed."
Damian said, "Okay."
Hayden sensed his bad mood. "What's wrong? Ashley's friend is sick, and you're sad too? That's not like you, Mr. Hearst."
"Are you still at the hospital?"
"Yes, I just wanted to let you know. Am I not loyal?"
Damian said, "Do me a favor."
That night, Ashley asked Harold about the progress of the charity application.
Harold couldn't bear to say it directly. "You know, sometimes our charity management process can be quite frustrating."
Ashley understood what he meant. It seemed impossible for all three patients to get medical aid simultaneously. "Not even one? The older patient has kids in school, elderly parents, and a mortgage."
"Age, occupation, illness, family conditions, none meet the requirements. They are indeed pitiful, but there are many more pitiful than them."
Ashley nodded. "It seems we have to take Mr. Long's advice and donate some money to help them through this tough time."
"To be honest, no one's money comes easily. Hendrix is willing to be generous because of you, but it also means he might get entangled. So, the money won't be much. Even if he wants to do it, I have to stop him. Getting too deep might backfire."
"I understand. He's done enough."
Ashley didn't ask Hendrix again, not wanting to seem like she was eagerly asking for money.
From a purely practical perspective, using Damian's money to treat them and letting KM take responsibility for their future seemed like the wise decision.
But Ashley couldn't get over it, feeling it was Damian's charity.
As long as they took the money, KM would feel no guilt.
And Ashley didn't want Damian to feel at ease just because he spent money.
Why should they feel at ease? They should feel guilty, sleepless, and uncomfortable, eventually confessing their mistakes due to their conscience.
But what about the future of these three families?
Should they fight for dignity or bow to reality?
In the face of survival, was dignity still that important?
She could talk to the three patients and their families to see if they were willing to accept it.
So annoying! Why was it always KM!
After thinking about it for a long time, Ashley couldn't sleep.
At three in the morning, she found her phone and sent a Facebook message to Amelia, [Amelia, are you done with your night shoot? I miss you.]
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