Chapter 4 A Spam Call
1283 Words
Upon reopening her eyes, Ashley was holding her baby in her arms. She looked down without saying a word.
The nurse looked at her helplessly. She was there to remind Ashley about the hospital fees. Ashley had paid, but it was far from enough.
Head lowered, Ashley found herself at a loss for words.
She knew this was shameful, but she really had no more money...
Digging into her bag, Ashley pulled out her phone.
After eight long months, she dialed Gabriel's number once again.
As soon as the call connected, a familiar female voice beat Ashley to speak. It was Kaitlyn!
"Is Ashley speaking?"
Kaitlyn's voice, light and breezy, carried a hint of amusement. "Do you wanna talk to Gabriel? He's not available now. You can just tell me whatever you need. It's all the same."
Could she really be so kind-hearted?
But at that moment, Ashley couldn't afford to be suspicious.
She was out of options.
With a hint of desperation, she asked, "I was wondering... could he possibly lend me some money?"
She didn't dare to ask outright anymore but framed it as a loan instead.
"Please, I'll pay him back as soon as I have the money!"
"I see," Kaitlyn responded, her voice still pleasant. "Alright, I'll let him know. Gotta hang up now."
"Thank you..."
Ashley's voice trailed off, but the line had already gone dead.
She clutched her phone, and her heart was in her throat.
Just then, Gabriel came out of the bathroom. He casually asked, "Whose call was that?"
Without a change in her expression, Kaitlyn replied with a smile, "Oh, just a spam call. I blocked it for you."
He always trusted her and didn't think much of it.
Meanwhile, Ashley, oblivious to these developments, harbored hope. Maybe Gabriel would lend her the money, considering their grandmother's sake, or perhaps because they weren't officially divorced yet...
But as the days passed, Ashley was left waiting in vain.
Two days later, she found herself standing at the hospital's gate, with her backpack on her shoulders and her child in her arms.
Unable to pay the hospital fees, they were turned away.
She looked up at the sky. The warm sun stung her eyes, making tears well up and overflow.
"No crying," Ashley bit her lip, silently warning herself.
"What right do you have to cry? You're a mother; you have a child to take care of! No crying!"
Now penniless, with their slum dwelling burned down, she had nowhere to go...
*****
Two weeks later, Ashley appeared on the street.
She ran forward with all her strength with her child in her arms.
"Thief! Catch that thief!"
"Hurry! Catch her!"
The sound of footsteps grew closer behind her.
She realized escape was futile.
All of a sudden, Ashley stumbled. As she fell, she turned, protecting her child in her embrace.
"Got you!"
Before she could rise, the pursuing shop clerk pinned her down.
"Where do you think you're going? What did you steal? Give it back!"
Her bag was seized and emptied on the ground by the clerk.
"Baby formula? Diapers? Why steal these?"
"Look! She has a child with her!"
Feeling ashamed, Ashley closed her eyes, wishing she could just perish then and there. Her dignity was utterly lost.
Yet, as she held her child close, she realized she didn't even have the right to die...
*****
Three years later, at Kennedy International Airport.
Ashley came out of the arrival gate with luggage in her hands. Accustomed to going makeup-free, the heat didn't bother her, only causing a slight sweat on her fair cheeks. She turned to look in the crowd and finally spotted Patrick, the driver, holding a sign that read "Ashley Watson."
Approaching him, Ashley offered a small smile. "Hi, Patrick."
Patrick looked at Ashley, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Madam, you've changed so much over the years."
He took Ashley's suitcase and led the way.
"Yeah," Ashley responded with a light nod. She was aware of her transformation. She had lost weight and even grown taller.
"Please follow me." Patrick guided Ashley toward the exit.
Sitting in the car, Ashley noted the Watson family had only sent a driver to pick her up. Gabriel hadn't come... Eventually, they arrived at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital.
Ashley returned to her homeland for two main reasons. Firstly, Maria was facing heart surgery due to her heart condition. Aware of the risks, Maria couldn't miss the opportunity to bid farewell to Ashley, fearing it would leave her with lifelong regret. Secondly, Ashley needed employment as her poor daughter, Chris, had been diagnosed with a congenital genetic disease. Ashley was compelled to leave Chris at a facility for treatment in London. The doctor showed immense compassion for Maria and Chris, trying to seek a suitable donor. Yet meanwhile, Ashley had to return home to find work and raise funds for her daughter's costly surgery.
Patrick knocked on the door. "Come in!"
Ashley entered the ward.
"Ashley?"
Maria peeked out, spotting the girl at the door.
"Grandma."
"It really is you, Ashley!" Maria extended her hand, her excitement unmistakable. "Come here. Let me have a good look at you."
Ashley obediently allowed Maria to pull her close for a careful inspection.
After spending some time talking, Maria grew tired and needed to rest.
She said to Ashley, "I won't keep you any longer. I'll have the driver take you back early so you can get some rest."
After saying goodbye to Maria, Ashley had Patrick drop her off at Silver Beach Mansion, her and Gabriel's home.
After arriving home, she unpacked her toiletries and clothes from her suitcase. She only planned a temporary stay here until she found a place of her own.
Maria's sudden request for her return had caught her off guard, leaving her without a place to stay.
After taking a shower in the bathroom downstairs, Ashley entered the kitchen and found a pack of spaghetti and a few eggs in the fridge. The house appeared to be lived in, but the food in the refrigerator was not fresh, as if it hadn't been restocked in a while.
Ashley had just started to eat the spaghetti she had cooked when she heard noises from the entrance.
Was Gabriel back?!
As Gabriel entered the door, he immediately noticed the smell of food.
Frowning, he wondered, "What's that smell?"
The lights in the living room and the kitchen were on. Was someone in the house? How could that be? Could it be a burglar?
Impossible. Leaving the thief's nerve to cook here aside, just the high-level security of the house would deter even the boldest of intruders.
"Who's there?!" Gabriel's face darkened.
"Coming!"
Hearing the call, Ashley trotted out to stand in front of him, hands clasped in front of her.
Gabriel loosened his tie, spreading a scent of alcohol. His suit jacket was unbuttoned; he placed his belongings on a cabinet and relaxed his shirt collar.
Upon seeing her, Gabriel froze for a moment.
The girl before him was tall and slender, perhaps too thin, but undeniably beautiful, especially her vibrant blue eyes, which were reminiscent of a serene lake.
Gabriel was stunned, unsure who the girl was, yet felt a strong sense of familiarity that overwhelmed him.
His mood darkened as he disliked strangers entering his personal space, and the house's security was supposed to prevent such intrusions.
"Who are you?" Gabriel frowned. Ashley paused, and her laughter carried a hint of sarcasm. As expected, he didn't recognize her.
She pursed her lips and replied, "I'm Ashley."
"Uh..."
Gabriel nodded absentmindedly, and then suddenly got shocked. Wait! Did she say she was Ashley?
- Writer
