I finally understood that the reporters’ main objective was Anthony, and Anthony only. As for the victim’s relatives, the reporters would likely just snap a few pictures and then try to compete with each other for who could write the most heart-wrenching news article.
I took several thousand out of my purse, telling the female receptionist, “I need you to get someone to buy some fruits and snacks, the more expensive and higher quality, the better. After that, arrange for it to be delivered to them. Buy some toys and give them out to the kids here, too. It would be best if you could start up a conversation with them and find out why they’re going to such lengths, and perhaps ask if they’re acting on someone else’s orders. Also, call up some more reliable reporters and tell them to come over to take pictures.”
She looked shocked as she received the money, nodding numbly. To my surprise, the young woman worked efficiently, swiftly giving out water bottles and snacks to everyone in the lobby. She also instructed some of the other security guards to help with her errands, and they naturally mixed in with the crowd and started talking.
It just so happened to be lunchtime. Reporters filtered in slowly but surely. However, they seemed to have learned from their previous lesson and were acting a lot more reserved than last time.
After a while, the female receptionist ran over to me excitedly. “Mrs. Featherstone, those people aren’t Sasha’s family! Someone is paying them a hundred per day to come here just to make a fuss! All of them are simply retirees who jumped at the chance of earning money, and some even dragged along their grandchildren to make it look more realistic.”
My mouth fell open. I had thought that these people would at least have some relation to Sasha, but it turned out that all they wanted was to cause chaos and confusion.
Falling deep in thought for a minute or so, I then instructed her, “Think of a way to get an audio recording of that confession, then pay them twice the amount of money to send them away. Apart from that, instruct them to tell outsiders that Sasha committed suicide. As for everything else… Let them add as many ‘saucy’ details as they wish, as long as it doesn’t affect Featherstone Corporation negatively.”
She nodded and walked away, leaving me to wonder, who would go to such lengths to ruin Featherstone Corporation’s reputation? What do they want from us?
The lobby was slowly clearing out, and the receptionist approached me to show me that she had recorded a video. “I’ve asked them all to leave, Mrs. Featherstone. The only ones left are Sasha’s actual parents.” She shook her head in awe, exclaiming, “You made everyone calm down and caused the reporters to come all the way here for nothing. You even helped promote our company along the way! You’re amazing!”
I laughed lightly, my gaze settling on Sasha’s daughter out of the corner of my eye. The little girl appeared a little worse for wear, and for some reason, I had a feeling that she wasn’t just an ordinary child.
I turned back to the receptionist. “Thank you for everything you’ve done today. Give me your number so that you can send the video file to me. By the way, what’s your name?”
Her cheeks flushed at my request before shyly exchanging numbers with me. “My name is Stella Collins, Mrs. Featherstone. You can just call me Stella! I’m glad to have been of assistance.”
I smiled politely back at her. Minutes later, she sent me the video file through WhatsApp.
“Help! Someone, help!” Suddenly, the peace and quiet of the lobby was broken by someone’s screams.
Glancing up, I saw Sasha’s parents sobbing and shouting desperately for help. “Go over and see what they need,” I ordered Stella.
She rushed over, pushing through the small crowd that had formed around Sasha’s parents as I followed closely behind her.
The young girl that had just been playing on one of the sofas in the lobby had passed out, her face was as pale as a ghost with blood streaming down from her nose. It didn’t seem like she was suffering from an external injury.
Her grandparents were panicking, cradling the child in their arms as they cried.
At a loss for what to do, Stella turned to stare at me in confusion.
No one had any understanding of the child’s condition. She had stayed here for the entire day, and I had only just instructed people to give her and her family snacks. If anything happened to her, people would find a way to somehow blame it on Featherstone Corporation.
Clearly, the other staff was also thinking the same thing I was. Stella became even more frantic, as she had been the one to personally buy the snacks and hand them out.
The young woman in question was nearly in tears as she stared at me. “What should we do, Mrs. Featherstone?”
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down and think rationally. “Hello, Mr. Brooks, Mrs. Brooks,” I greeted them. “I’m Anthony Featherstone’s wife. If you’re willing to trust me, will you hear me out?”
The old couple was already frozen in shock because of their grandchild. When they looked up at me, it was as if their eyes suddenly lit up with hope. Clutching onto my arm, Sasha’s mother pleaded, “Madam, please help her! I’m begging you, please help!”
I nodded, trying my best to soften my tone in order to reassure her. “Please listen carefully. The most important thing now is saving this child’s life. We will call an ambulance to send her to the hospital, but you have to agree to settle everything else only after we’ve confirmed that the child is no longer in danger.”
The middle-aged couple froze for a second and exchanged glances with each other. After a moment of hesitation, they stared at me and said, “Okay, we believe you, but don’t you try to fool us. No matter what, Featherstone Corporation has to compensate for my daughter’s death.”
I nodded, having no time to think things over. Then, I gave Stella a meaningful look, and she called for an ambulance right away. However, seeing that it would take a while for the ambulance to come over, I had no choice but to drive them to the hospital.
After sending the child to the ER, a nurse approached us and asked, “Who is the child’s family?”
“We’re the child’s grandparents. How is she now?” the middle-aged couple answered in unison.
The nurse nodded politely at them. “We’re unsure of the child’s condition yet. Please go to the first floor for registration and payment. Once the result is out, we’ll inform you immediately.”
The couple was stunned by her words. Seeing the look of embarrassment on their face, I said, “Give me the child’s identification card. I’ll settle the registration and payment.”
The two were dumbfounded. In the next second, their eyes turned red-rimmed as they gazed at me. “Mrs. Featherstone, we can’t thank you enough.”
I didn’t say much. Taking the necessary documents, I headed to the first floor to register and pay the admission fee.
When I came back, I returned the medical records and identification card to them. Staring at me with reddened eyes, the woman thanked me again.
I simply nodded in acknowledgment. My phone had rung several times just now, but I was too busy to pick it up. Now that I was free, I fished out my phone and unlocked it. It was Anthony who called me earlier.
He sent me a few texts as well: Where are you? Why didn’t you answer my calls?
I replied: You should rest more. I’m at the hospital. Sasha’s daughter passed out all of a sudden, so I gave them a ride. Sleep for a little longer. Your health is more important. Don’t worry, I’ll manage this issue properly.
Afterward, I kept my phone in my bag. The woman glanced at me while asking, “Mrs. Featherstone, do you think that we’re too unscrupulous for doing this?”
Stupefied, I gave no comment.
She chuckled dryly. “We’ve never been in such dire straits before. Some children are here to bring joy, while others bring despair. My husband and I have two children. The one who’s here to bring joy has kicked the bucket, while the other is racking up so much debt that it’s forcing us to a corner. Isn’t it funny? Still, no matter how desolate we are, we have to survive. Only then we can hope for better lives and see our granddaughter grow up.”
As I listened to her in silence, a sense of sorrow welled up in my heart. In life, there were many twists and turns. People had only a few reasons to be happy, but there were thousands of instances that could make people miserable. As for the couple who were over their fifties, their granddaughter was their only reason to live.
A few moments later, the ER door opened, and a doctor came out. The couple hurriedly approached him and asked, “Doctor, how’s the child now? Is she alright?”
Glancing at the couple with his brows drew together, the doctor contemplated for a few seconds before saying, “Please come to my office for a discussion.”
I grasped the meaning of his words at once. It seemed that the child had a critical medical condition.
Later, in the doctor’s office.
The couple squirmed nervously in their seat while staring at the doctor. Having experienced similar situations countless times before, the latter sighed and handed a medical report to them.
In a daze, Sasha’s mother took it, but she couldn’t understand the content, so she passed it to her husband.
After a while, the middle-aged man gaped at the doctor in disbelief. His voice quivered as he questioned, “Leukemia? Doctor, did you make a mistake? How can she have leukemia? She’s such an obedient and sweet child. I can’t believe it…”
While speaking, he broke down, and tears started trickling down his face unceasingly.
The woman’s body went stiff at the news. Staring at the doctor with widened eyes, she tried hard to choke back her tears. “Doctor, did you get it wrong? Maybe she hasn’t rested well these days, but there’s no way our granddaughter has leukemia. She’s only four years old. This is impossible!”
Looking at the couple who seemed to have grown much older within seconds, the doctor sighed helplessly. “I wish the child was well as much as you do. We’ve performed a full-body medical checkup for her. Now that the results are out, I hope you can stay rational and positive. You need to be prepared because her upcoming treatment and chemotherapy aren’t going to be easy. Apart from that, a bone marrow transplant is the only way to cure leukemia. I’m guessing that you’re the child’s grandparents? You must talk to her parents and get them ready for the operation.”
All of a sudden, Sasha’s mother burst out crying, wailing so hard that she could barely speak. Her husband quickly consoled her. However, words meant nothing to the couple who were utterly devastated by the news.
I turned to look at the doctor and let out a sigh. “Doctor, other than bone marrow transplant, is there any other method?”
The man shook his head. “Our technology isn’t that advanced now, so there’s no alternative. Besides, the success rate of a bone marrow transplant is only around eighty percent, not one hundred percent. The child’s leukemia is likely an inherited disease, which means either her father or mother carries the gene of leukemia.”
“No! That’s impossible!” Sasha’s mother shouted in a croaky voice. “Both my husband and I have no blood disease, and the same goes for my daughter. How can Renee get it?”
The doctor’s forehead puckered. “It could be her father who has the gene. Nevertheless, the incidence rate of this disease is low. Even if one carries the gene, the disease won’t manifest unless there’re external triggers.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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