Chapter 509 Little Damian Who Resembles Damian
Outside the door, Thomas reported, "Mr. Hearst, Mr. Collins is back."
Ashley got up to greet him and saw an elderly man with a white beard walking slowly but steadily into the living room. Perhaps it was because the elderly don't change much over time, but he looked the same as he did two years ago.
She smiled brightly, "Mr. Collins, you look very well and in good spirits!"
Damian felt that her smile lit up half the sky.
Martin immediately recognized Ashley and smiled kindly, "I've been waiting for you!"
There was a deep meaning in his tone.
Ashley wanted to explain but thought better of it. What good would an explanation do? She would be coming and going often, which might lead to more misunderstandings. So she smiled and said, "Mr. Collins, you must be tired. Come in and sit."
A moment later, Jasper came running with shopping bags, "Ashley?"
Jasper looked at Ashley in disbelief and pinched his thigh to make sure it was really her.
Jasper had grown a lot in two years, now much taller, with a youthful vigor, a clean and lean face, and clear eyes.
Ashley patted the back of his head, "You've grown a lot! And gotten more handsome!"
Jasper scratched his head with a silly smile, "Ashley, where did you go? Why are you only back now? If you had come back earlier, you could have..."
Damian cleared his throat, and Jasper quickly shut his mouth, "Ashley, where did you go?"
Ashley replied, "I went abroad for work and just got back."
"Oh, I see!" Jasper laughed awkwardly and then turned to see Natalia with wide eyes. He got excited, "Ashley, is this your daughter? She looks just like you!"
There were a few seconds of silence.
Damian's eyes showed a hint of pleasure. Everyone could see it, and you think I didn't notice?
Ashley ignored Damian's look and said, "She's not my daughter; she's my niece. It's normal for my niece to look like me. I look a lot like Dorian, and Natalia looks like Dorian."
Jasper responded with a bit of disappointment but quickly turned his attention to Natalia, a cute little girl with a sweet smile.
He found a whistle in his pocket and offered it to Natalia, "Here, if you ever get into trouble, blow this. It's very loud and can be heard from far away!"
Natalia blinked curiously, put it to her mouth, and blew hard. The whistle made a loud sound.
The noise made everyone in the room laugh.
Damian's lips curved slightly. She looked a lot like Ashley, very cute.
Ashley handed Martin a letter written by Albert and detailed Natalia's condition. Martin immediately decided to give her a thorough diagnosis.
Natalia sat obediently on the sofa, looking even more fragile as she sank into it.
She was already thinner than her peers due to her poor health. When she extended her arm for the diagnosis, her thin arm looked like it could break with a gentle snap.
The diagnosis process was particularly long, with a silence so deep you could hear a pin drop.
Ashley was so nervous she was almost peeling the skin off her fingers.
Damian gripped the armrest of his chair, his heart pounding. Several times he wanted to hold Ashley's hand to give her some strength, but in the end, he just watched her deeply.
This moment was even harder than when he first heard the doctor say he might never walk again.
After about half an hour, or maybe longer, Martin finished the diagnosis.
He then asked Ashley and Damian to stay.
"Natalia's condition is very rare. I've never encountered anything like it before. It seems like sepsis, but not quite. You mentioned she needs blood transfusions to survive, so it might be a genetic issue."
Ashley remembered the doctor saying it could be due to one parent not quitting smoking or taking antibiotics while trying to conceive, leading to an unhealthy child.
Damian frowned deeply, "Is there a way to treat it?"
Martin stroked his beard, looking worried, "Let me think about it. I'll prescribe some medicine tomorrow. I think Natalia is very lucky, so don't worry too much."
Ashley gratefully held Martin's hand, babbling, "Thank you, Mr. Collins. If Natalia can get better, our whole family will be forever grateful. We'll leave everything to you!"
Damian watched from the side, feeling a pang of pain, "Mr. Collins, whatever you need, just let me know. No matter how hard it is to find, I'll get it."
Ashley glanced at him and quickly looked away.
That day, Ashley didn't stay for dinner but went directly to the place Thomas had found for her.
It wasn't far, just a ten-minute walk.
Since it was a villa area, it was no surprise that the rented house was also a villa. It was smaller but very well-designed, with all the necessary facilities, elegant and cozy.
It might sound funny, but at that moment, Ashley felt that this house had a homely feel.
Thomas said, "My friend immigrated and didn't want to rent to strangers. They don't need the money; they want someone to take care of the place. The rent is cheaper than the market price. Just live here comfortably, and if you can, help feed the cat."
Natalia, unlike Ashley, wasn't as focused and soon spotted a white cat. Children always love animals, and she exclaimed happily, "Auntie, look, such a cute cat!"
Ashley had never had a cat, but the white, soft creature was very endearing, "It's very cute. Now Natalia can play with the cat every day."
Natalia happily went to play with the cat.
Ashley turned to Thomas with a smile, "You have a lot of friends, selling cars, renting houses. It seems like whatever I need, you have. Are you omnipotent?"
Thomas laughed, "Isn't it because of Mr. Hearst? A bunch of people want to please me, so they help each other out."
Ashley smiled, "That car was bought with Mr. Hearst's money, and this house was arranged by him, right?"
Not knowing much about cars, she had believed it at the time. Later, when she went abroad and the car was idle, Amelia borrowed it for a while and then told her that not only was it the latest model, but the parts had also been upgraded to the highest specs, costing at least $1.5 million, definitely a luxury setup.
That's when she realized that the whole car-buying process had been orchestrated by Damian, which explained why it had gone so smoothly, almost unbelievably so.
Thomas, caught off guard by her revelation, smiled awkwardly, "Regardless, Mr. Hearst's intentions were good, and you deserve it."
Ashley looked at the beautiful little yard, feeling very conflicted.
She didn't want to accept favors, didn't want to owe anyone, and didn't want to accept any of Damian's kindness.
But he always managed to find her weak spots.
"Maybe he thinks this kind of compensation will make him feel better. If he couldn't do anything for me, he might feel guilty. But I doubt someone as strong-minded as Mr. Hearst would have such a complex emotion as guilt."
Thomas wanted to explain, but as an outsider, it wasn't his place to meddle in Damian's feelings. He could only smile awkwardly, "Mr. Hearst has it tough too. Everything is ready. If you need anything, just call me."
Was it Damian's instructions or his initiative?
Ashley smiled, "Why are you so nervous? Right now, I want to get Natalia treated, so I won't refuse what he gives me, but I won't thank him either."
"I understand."
After seeing Thomas off, Ashley checked the kitchen and bedroom. Even the vegetables and fruits were bought, making it truly a move-in ready place.
Late at night, due to the time difference, Natalia couldn't sleep and snuggled in Ashley's arms, "Auntie, is that uncle Happy's daddy?"
Even a five-year-old could see that Happy looked like Damian.
She and Natalia only had a slight resemblance, but Happy looked exactly like Damian. As Happy's face matured, the resemblance would be even more striking. By the time he was five or six, he would be the spitting image of young Damian.
Fortunately, Damian hadn't seen Happy, or he might have gone crazy!
Ashley gently patted her stomach, coaxing her to sleep, "Natalia, don't tell anyone about Happy, okay?"
Natalia nodded, deep in thought, "Do you like the uncle? It seems like the uncle likes you."
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