Chapter 98
Chapter 98
Time was far spent and soon Ethan reluctantly said his goodbyes to Daisy acknowledging that it was
time to return to the demands of his office…
Besides that, the thought that Hazel would be arriving soon added urgency to his step.
He had spent the day playing with Daisy so he had a mounting pile of work awaiting him back at the
company.
There was the prospect of working late through the night to make up for time wasted, but the weariness
was met with a genuine sense of fulfillment. He had been there for Daisy when she needed him, that
was all that mattered. The prospect of a night with little sleep seemed a small sacrifice he was willing to
pay.
However, as Ethan adjusted from the comforting world of the hospital to the impending tasks awaiting
him at the office, his satisfied countenance morphed into one of contemplation and concern. The
weight of his thoughts manifested in the furrowed lines on his forehead.
His mind drifted back to those families at the hospital. The desperation of those people, he could see
and feel it. Money was all they need to save the life of their loved ones. Money which to him happened
to be measley sums.
There and then he made up his mind. His companies money could be put to better uses.
“This year, let’s direct our corporate social events toward the hospital,” Ethan proposed.
The corporate social event was something they did every year. It was actually an event used to aid the
company’s public image-a means to give back to the city in order to maintain a positive reputation.
However, a transformative shift was now underway.
“We can take care of the hospital bills and surgery for children in needs,” Ethan suggested, his gaze
reflecting a newfound commitment.
Previously, the customary routes of sponsorship and charity events, had previously been funneled
resources into what now seemed to be worthless endeavors. Being at the hospital it dawned on him,
those other things that had seemed to be important were actually useless.
“You mean like a medical sponsorship?” Axel asked.
“Exactly.” Ethan affirmed.
“This year’s event was supposed to be…” Axel began, the project of the year had already been
decided.
“Cancel it,” Ethan responded, interrupting him. He knew fully well that the proposed event, was likely
involving mundane projects like remodeling or reconstructing a bridge, which was nothing compared to
the pressing needs he had witnessed during his time at the hospital. Life was primary to all those
things.
“Okay,” Axel affirmed, acknowledging the shift in priorities.
The hospital stay had been an eye-opener for Ethan. Witnessing the struggles of numerous families
who could barely afford basic healthcare for their children weighed heavily on him. He had met parents
grappling with the fear and anxiety stemming from their inability to secure proper medical attention for
their kids, it was very sad, he could sense the feeling of helplessness they felt.
The thought of losing a child simply because of a lack of financial resources was heart-wrenching.
Today’s hospital experience had stirred a deep sense of empathy within Ethan.
“When is the social event?” Ethan inquired.
“Not until a couple of months from now,” Axel replied.
Ethan sighed, that was too far off. There were kids In need of surgery urgently. They couldn’t wait for
months.
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“While we wait for that, arrange a routine check at the hospital for me. Compile a list of kids awaiting
surgery, starting with the most pressing and urgent cases, and include the estimated bills. I’ll take care
of it,” he declared.
Axel, caught off guard, nearly stepped on the brake from the shock of Ethan’s unexpected directive.
The notion that Ethan wanted to personally oversee the medical care of children was stag gering, there
were so many kids but It wasn’t merely about having the financial means; Ethan obviously had it, but
was the sheer humanity and selflessness embedded in Ethan’s request that left Axel in a state of
disbelief. The fact that Ethan could think of something so selfless came as a shock to Axel.
Born into wealth, both Ethan and Axel had lived lives untouched by want or lack.
The concept of doing anything out of sympathy was foreign to them, an aspect of life that had never
crossed their minds. However, as they delved into the realm of hospitals, their eyes were opened to the
struggles and needs of ordinary people.
The trips to the hospital had opened not just Ethan’s but Axel’s eyes as well. Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
“Understood,” Axel replied in understanding.
“Okay. I’ll inform the public relations team…” Axel began stating, philanthropic acts like this usually got
publicized.
“No, no. Let’s keep the media out of this,” Ethan interrupted. His desire for discretion was evident. “Just
take care of the bills, those kids in need of surgery and pending health issues. Like Loulou,” he
emphasized.
“Okay,” Axel affirmed, recognizing the personal nature of Ethan’s directive. The decision to do this
without the public knowing or commending him confirmed his suspicion, Ethan was really doing it for
personal reasons.
“Have that done tomorrow. The kids with pressing surgery needs should get prepped for surgery as
soon as possible,” Ethan instructed.
“And bring your puppy tomorrow,” Ethan suddenly added.
“What?” Axel asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice as he tried to make sense of Ethan’s unexpected
request. ‘ I probably misheard him.’ he concluded.
“Your dog.” Ethan repeated, his gaze steady on Axel.
“Or did you already get rid of it?” Ethan probed, a frown forming on his brow as he scrutinized Axel’s
reaction.
“No,” Axel replied.
“I’ll bring it tomorrow, then,” he assured, though confusion lingered in his expression.
Back at the hospital ward, the little girls had been discussing about puppies. One girl had mentioned
having a dog that recently had lots of puppies and immediately puppies fast became the focal point of
discussions through the rest of day.
Ethan sat watching the kids with their little discussions. The mere mention of puppies set Daisy into a
frenzy, she was excited describing how she would hug and cuddle one and give it lots of k*sses if she
ever saw one.
Recalling her infectious excitement, Ethan’couldn’t help but smile. While he would have loved to get her
a puppy, the circumstances prevented it. He sighed, sinking back into his seat with a mixture of
frustration and resignation.
He hated the hide and seek games he had to play, always having to visit Hazel’s kids discreetly without
her knowing. Although he hated doing all of that behind Hazel’s back, his mind was made up, if that
was what he had to do to continue spending time with her kids, so be it. He wouldn’t stop now.
Still he found himself wanting and yearning more.
“Bella was at the company,” Axel informed him.
“Bella?” Ethan questioned, his initially smiling face contorting into seriousness. He had explicitly
instructed her not to make random appearances at the office.
“Why?” he asked, a note of concern coloring his voice.
“Apparently, she went to see you. She asked why you have been frequently visiting the hospital,” Axel
explained, detailing the sequence of events. “Someone saw you and informed her,” he added.
“You should be more careful,” Axel suggested, his advice resonating with the weight of prudence.
Ethan sighed, acknowledging the validity of Axel’s point. He couldn’t afford the risk of people
discovering his regular meetings with his ex-wife and her children. While there was no deceit in his
actions, the delicate nature of his relationships demanded discretion.
Concerns about Bella lingered in his thoughts. He needed to ensure she wouldn’t show up
unannounced at his company. It wasn’t about hiding anything, but rather preventing any potential
clashes, especially with Hazel being present most time at the company.
Knowing Bella was prone to causing a scene, it would be best she stayed away, he couldn’t afford any
confrontations.
“Axel,” Ethan called, a firm resolve in his voice. “Look into someone for me.”
unwarranted