Chapter 508 I Will Take Care of You from Now On
Thomas was stunned after answering Ashley's call.
He was worried about how to arrange a meeting between Damian and Ashley, but the opportunity fell from the sky.
"Mr. Hearst, Mrs. Hearst's flight is coming to Rochester City tonight."
Damian wasn't as surprised as Thomas had imagined. Instead, he calmly said, "Prepare a place for her to stay nearby. She probably doesn't want to stay at the villa."
Nearby?
Thomas wondered if Damian was being too optimistic. Ashley only mentioned coming to Rochester City to see him, not staying nearby. Maybe Ashley just had some work-related matters?
When the plane arrived in Rochester City, Thomas sent someone to pick them up.
Seeing the well-behaved and adorable Natalia, Thomas's heart melted. My God, no wonder Damian was so happy. Anyone would be over the moon to have such a sweet and cute daughter!
Natalia sweetly called out, "Hello, uncle."
Natalia's voice was crisp and pleasant.
Thomas was very excited, "Hello, Natalia. You're so good. This is a gift for you."
Thomas had specially bought a doll, beautifully packaged.
Natalia sweetly said, "Thank you, uncle. It's my favorite Barbie doll."
Thomas was overjoyed.
Ashley felt extremely complicated. If she could, she would turn around and leave right now, never to see Damian again!
Soon, the car arrived at Damian's villa in the suburbs.
This was Ashley's third time here. Similarly, she saw women's slippers at the entrance. Similarly, with a woman's intuition, she smelled the scent of women's perfume in the air.
The memory of the scent was stubborn. Almost instantly, she thought of Jessica.
Of course, she was the mistress of this place.
Ashley held Natalia's small hand, and the two stood in the empty living room. Not far away, behind the tea table, sat the calm Damian. He was wearing a comfortable wool sweater, with a shirt collar peeking out. He wasn't dressed up but still looked meticulous, exuding the elegance of an upper-class elite with every casual movement.
Natalia clung tightly to Ashley, intimidated by the presence of the unfamiliar man, and instinctively kept quiet.
Damian asked, "When did you come back?"
Ashley smiled, "As if Mr. Hearst didn't know."
Damian looked at Natalia gently. No one knew that his hand holding the teacup was gripping tightly. "What's your name?"
Despite his attempt to be gentle, Damian still scared her. She timidly replied, "Hello, uncle. My name is Natalia."
Uncle?
Damian frowned slightly and nodded, "How old are you?"
Natalia pursed her lips and answered, "Five years old."
Five years old. When they divorced, this child was already in Ashley's womb, and he had been damnably unaware.
Ashley glanced at him, then softly rubbed Natalia's head and said, "Natalia, go play over there. I'll come find you in a bit."
Natalia nodded, "Okay."
So well-behaved.
Damian's frown deepened. After the child left, he stared at Ashley and asked, "Whose child is she?"
Ashley didn't plan to lie to him. If the worst happened later, she would find a way to remedy it.
"My brother's daughter. I came back this time mainly to take her to see a doctor."
The words "Liar, Natalia is my daughter" almost slipped out, but Damian held back. He had finally seen her again and couldn't risk driving her away. "You came to see Mr. Collins?"
Ashley didn't waste time, "I went to Coastal City and found out that Mr. Collins came to Rochester City and is staying with you. Is your insomnia cured?"
Ashley meant that if he was cured, he should let Martin go.
Damian's eyes carefully scanned Ashley's face. She didn't know? She was unaware of the car accident two years ago?
So be it.
Damian said, "Mr. Collins is indeed with me, but I can't let him go just yet."
Directly refusing her?
Ashley took a deep breath and tried to talk to him calmly, "Natalia's condition is very urgent. During my pregnancy, due to special circumstances, I didn't get timely prenatal checkups. It wasn't until she was born that we found out she had developmental issues, leading to congenital illness. We've done all the possible tests, but couldn't find the cause. The treatment abroad involves bloodletting and transfusions two to three times a week, but the doctors said that after five years of continuous transfusions, antibodies have developed. Continuing this will only worsen her condition rapidly, and she might not survive this year. I had no choice but to bring her back to seek help from Mr. Collins."
As she spoke emotionally, Ashley's throat tightened, and she continued to negotiate, "Mr. Collins doesn't easily see patients. Mr. Hearst, you must have put in a lot of effort to get him to come out. I know it's a bit much to ask, but I hope you can plead with him on my behalf to see Natalia, for the sake of saving a life."
Hearing her calmly explain the situation, Damian felt like his heart was undergoing a prolonged torture!
Special circumstances prevented prenatal checkups... congenital illness... all possible tests done... five years... blood transfusions...
How did she survive those five years? Taking care of a child who had to fight death in the hospital every week, while also facing the pressures of the Astor Group.
When she needed him the most, not only did he not offer any help, but he also added insult to injury, giving her endless humiliation and torment.
He deserved to die!
Damian almost crushed the teacup in his hand, his blood roaring, threatening to tear apart all his blood vessels.
However, no matter how turbulent his inner emotions were, Damian remained outwardly calm, "Mr. Collins and Jasper went to the clinic to get medicine. They'll be back soon. Don't worry, he won't let her die."
He restrained himself, suppressed his eagerness, forced himself to remain calm, and not show any inappropriate emotions that might pressure Ashley and make her resistant.
Ashley nodded gratefully, her eyes bloodshot, "Does Mr. Collins usually stay here?"
"Yes, he and Jasper stay on the first floor."
Ashley responded, "How long has he been here?"
Damian answered every question, "A year and two months."
Ashley was a bit surprised. Damian hadn't recovered after such a long time? Was Martin's medical skill exaggerated, or was Damian's condition too stubborn?
After some awkward small talk, the atmosphere became a bit stiff. Damian took the initiative, "Since Natalia's condition is serious and difficult to cure in a short time, what are your plans?"
Ashley said, "I'll find a place nearby to stay, to take care of her and for convenience in seeking treatment."
Damian said, "I'll have Thomas handle it. Natalia's illness is urgent."
Since he gave this reason, Ashley couldn't refuse, and besides, she didn't have much energy to deal with trivial matters, "Thank you, Mr. Hearst. I'll cover the costs."
"Okay." Damian didn't insist.
Damian looked at Natalia, his Adam's apple moving, "Is Natalia being taken care of by your parents?"
Ashley answered truthfully, "My mother's mental state isn't good. For the first two years, she was mostly in a sanatorium and couldn't take care of a child. Natalia's condition is very special, so she mostly stayed in a local children's sanatorium, with Blair accompanying her. Later, when the family got busy, Blair went out to work, and the child was left with caregivers. She hardly ever came home throughout the year."
She told the truth to elicit Damian's sympathy, to prevent him from getting angry and driving them away, but she carefully omitted the part about Natalia being kidnapped. At least for now, it wasn't suitable to tell him too much.
Who knew how long his goodwill would last?
The veins on the back of Damian's hand were already taut.
His daughter had suffered so much and grown up this way!
Swallowing the bitterness in his throat, he said hoarsely, "From now on, I'll take care of you."
Seeing his sincere expression, as if he really wanted to take responsibility, Ashley's trust in Damian had long since hit rock bottom.
Ashley showed a grateful expression, "We'll try not to trouble Mr. Hearst. Natalia, come over and thank uncle."
Natalia's big eyes were clear and innocent, and when she smiled, she looked just like Ashley, "Thank you, uncle."
How strange, is uncle someone that aunt dislikes?
But uncle looks so handsome and seems very nice. Why does aunt dislike him?
Damian raised his hand, his long fingers almost touching Natalia's head, but at the last moment, he pulled back, "You're welcome."
As he spoke, there was a commotion outside the door.
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