Chapter 375 It's Really Hard to Spend Money Quietly
After Amelia joined the crew, she stayed in the film city around the clock, filming, memorizing lines, and working late at night without a break. When she had free time, she had to work out and practice etiquette. A few days ago, when chatting with her, I heard a lot of reports that made life seem worse than death.
Ashley didn't want to take up her precious rest time.
Amelia also knew she was busy with work and wouldn't disturb her unless it was something important.
But that night, both of them were sleepless for different reasons.
Amelia called via video, lying on the hotel bed, resting her chin on her hand, "Ashley, I miss you so much."
Ashley could tell from the screen that Amelia had lost a lot of weight. Although she was always slim, her face used to be full of collagen, her eyes lively, and her lips soft and plump. Now, she looked utterly worn out.
"What kind of role are you playing this time? Does it require you to look so haggard?"
Amelia pouted, "The role is fine, but there are a lot of troublemakers."
"Is someone giving you a hard time?"
Amelia grabbed a pillow to prop up her chin, lying there with her thin legs raised. "Do you know Jessa Greer? She's the lead actress in our show. She joined the crew with investment, high and mighty, causing trouble all day long, like a lunatic, targeting me every day. Today, there was a scene where she had to slap me. Look at this..."
She moved her hand away, revealing a half-swollen, red face, with the most severe part showing broken capillaries.
Ashley was instantly furious, "Damn it! Did she hit you?"
Jessa was a very popular actress, more famous for her persona than her acting, frequently appearing at major fashion weeks, in fashion magazines, and endorsing brands, with endless resources, inexplicably popular.
Amelia said sullenly, "Yeah, the assistant director praised my emotional performance and subtly suggested she learn from me. As a result, she took me as her mortal enemy."
Ashley was fuming, "Are you just going to let her bully you?"
Amelia pouted, half whining, half helpless, "Ashley, it's not like we're in school anymore. The world is cruel. If I provoke her, the crew might kick me out tomorrow. Even if they don't, my scenes would be cut to almost nothing. Before I succeed, I have to learn to endure. Once I have the power, I'll take them down one by one!"
Before success, one must learn to endure.
This was the painful lesson Amelia, who once feared nothing, learned after being repeatedly ground down by society.
Ashley felt terrible looking at her swollen face, "Find a chance to deal with her. You won't have to wait long. My dear friend, I'll protect you. No one can bully you."
In Rochester City, besides Damian, there was no one Ashley feared.
Amelia's eyes curved, blowing her a kiss, "That made me feel better. Why are you up so late?"
Ashley said, "I've been in a lawsuit with a subsidiary of KM recently and lost."
As soon as Amelia heard KM, she sat up, indignant, "Is Damian bullying you again? When will that bad man stop?"
"Calm down, lie back down. Losing the lawsuit is one thing; there are some other troublesome matters. I'm facing a moral and practical dilemma."
"Tell me about it."
Ashley recounted her troubles, focusing on the situations of several patients in the hospital, "Amelia, should I tell them about Damian's proposal?"
Amelia said, "I understand how you feel. In the past, I would have slapped him to death, but now..."
Before she finished, Ashley suddenly thought of something, "Amelia, tell me the truth, is something wrong at home?"
Amelia hadn't contacted her or Harold recently, using the excuse of being busy with the crew. But even when she was busy filming before, she would complain a bit in their group chat and vent about her parents urging her to get married. Recently, she had been too quiet.
Amelia's eyes quickly reddened, bright tears rolling down her cheeks, "Ashley, my dad's small company went bankrupt. They're currently liquidating debts. The few houses we bought before have been sold, leaving only the one my parents live in, which might also be auctioned by the court."
Ashley's heart ached sharply, as if the things she had experienced were happening all over again, crushing her heavily.
Bankruptcy, auction, debt.
When they actually happen, all seemingly light words meant a catastrophic disaster, a deep, personal pain.
"You silly girl, why didn't you tell us about such a big thing earlier?"
Amelia wiped away her tears, "Telling you would only make you worry. You have enough on your plate. How could I bear to trouble you more? Besides, my parents have a good attitude. A simpler life is fine, but they're in their fifties. Having to live at the mercy of others makes me feel terrible."
Ashley wanted to run over and hug her, feeling even angrier at herself for not caring about her sooner, "Amelia, believe me, we'll get through this! Everything will be fine! I'll visit the set in a few days. Also, I have some money. I'll give it to you first. If you refuse, I'll be really mad."
Amelia nodded gloomily, "Ashley, maybe we were too protected by our families before and didn't understand the hardships of life. When your family had trouble, I thought it would pass and wasn't a big deal. Now that it's my turn, it's really hard."
"Don't overthink it, sweetie. Wait for me to come to you."
Amelia composed herself and regained her energy, "You're torn about using Damian's money. Honestly, I think your clients would want to use it. Compared to saving lives, everything else is trivial. Don't blame me for having no principles or bottom line."
"I love you too much to blame you. Amelia, you have to promise me, no matter how hard it gets, don't make decisions you'll regret. Don't touch or compromise with those dirty, unwritten rules of the entertainment industry."
Otherwise, even if you become famous and successful in the future, the thought of your violated body will make it impossible to live peacefully.
After ending the call, it was already 4:30 AM.
Ashley stared at the dark ceiling, making a decision.
Then, let's bow to life a little.
The next day, Ashley looked haggard, with faint shadows under her eyes.
She applied light makeup to salvage her skin, but it couldn't fix her terrible state.
"Ashley, did you stay up all night?"
Ashley drank half a cup of coffee, forcing herself to wake up, "Is it that obvious?"
Hannah nodded, then shook her head, "Well... not really, if you don't look closely."
"Has Mr. Brin arrived?"
"Yes, he's in the office talking with that two-faced Lynn."
"Really?"
"Lynn seems to be resigning, hahaha, finally!"
Ashley was quite surprised. Last time, even after a big fallout with Hendrix, she didn't leave. Why suddenly resign now? "Did she find another job?"
Hannah whispered in her ear, "She wants to go to Justice Peak Law Firm."
"Your idol's firm?"
Hannah snorted, "Yeah, but does she deserve it? My idol isn't blind."
Ashley remembered Sean's earlier comment about Justice Peak Law Firm forming a new department specializing in corporate restructuring cases and expressed hope that she would join, but she ultimately declined.
Could the new department have been short-staffed?
However, Lynn, who handled divorce cases, wouldn't be able to take on a significant role there.
Also, where did she get the confidence to jump to Justice Peak Law Firm?
Not wanting to disturb Harold for now, Ashley sat in her office, staring at the number on her phone, struggling.
Should she call or not?
How should she start?
Once she made the call, she would put herself in an awkward position.
She downed the remaining coffee in one gulp and saw the cactus on her desk as she put down the cup.
Ashley felt even worse.
Damn it, this is so frustrating!
Just as she was hesitating, her phone suddenly rang.
"Hello?"
"Ms. Astor, thank you! You're such a good person! You saved our whole family!"
The caller was the pregnant woman, her voice filled with joy, almost shouting in excitement.
Ashley was confused, "Slow down, what's going on?"
"Today, the hospital leadership personally told us that a charity organization has covered my husband's treatment costs. We don't have to worry about the subsequent expenses either. Moreover, this charity will give us a monthly allowance, enough to cover the mortgage and even the cost of the child's upbringing. Ms. Astor, you're so kind. You said yesterday you'd contact a charity for us, and it got done so quickly! Thank you, Ms. Astor, thank you! You're our savior!"
Ashley was stunned.
Could Harold have done this on purpose to lower expectations first?
Then, Ashley received two more calls with similar content, all expressing gratitude for the charity's assistance.
Harold was still in a meeting with Lynn, so Ashley called Hendrix first, "Mr. Long, when did you start doing good deeds without leaving your name?"
Hendrix was still having breakfast, speaking unclearly with food in his mouth, "Ashley, are you mocking me?"
Last night, he and Harold had agreed on the aid amount for the patients, fifty thousand dollars per family. Honestly, he felt it wasn't enough.
So he was still thinking of rounding it up to a hundred thousand dollars per family.
Did Ashley hear about it and despise him, mocking him early in the morning?
"I wouldn't dare. The patients' families are moved to tears, and I also thank Mr. Long for his generosity. How much did you donate to the charity so they could pass the review so quickly?"
Hendrix coughed, "What charity? While I don't boast about my good deeds, I don't secretly throw money around either."
"Are you pretending?"
"No, explain it clearly. I don't get it."
Ashley said, "A charity organization covered their medical expenses and provides a monthly allowance to support their living costs. The amount is substantial."
"You must be mistaken. I don't know anything about this."
Ashley couldn't laugh anymore. If it wasn't Hendrix, then the only possibility was Damian?
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