When Deanna finished the paperwork and returned to the hospital room, Old Ashley was already awake.
She lay in bed, her head wrapped in thick white bandages and an IV drip attached to her hand, struggling to sit up.
Deanna hurried over, helping her up and placing a pillow behind her.
"Grandma, you're awake. Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?" she asked with concern.
Old Ashley held her forehead and replied, "Just a slight headache, nothing else. The doctor came by and said it's nothing serious, just need some medication."
Deanna breathed a sigh of relief and sat down in the chair next to her.
"Deanna, let's leave the hospital after this drip is done. It costs so much to stay here, and my condition is just a minor issue."
Old Ashley collected herself and looked at the nearly empty IV bag hanging above her head, suddenly saying this.
"Grandma, I've already paid for the expenses for today's treatment. If we leave now, we won't get a refund. Your condition is unstable, so it's better to stay in the hospital for another day to observe. If nothing happens tomorrow, then we can leave."
Deanna reached out and comforted Old Ashley. She had known that her grandmother would say this, so she had taken care of the hospital admission procedures in advance.
Money was a small matter compared to the well-being of an elderly person.
Old Ashley understood her intentions and reluctantly lay back, leaning against the pillow.
She let out a long sigh and held onto her granddaughter's hand, filled with self-blame. "Deanna, you have been taking care of me all these years. I have been a burden to you."
Deanna tightly held onto her grandmother's hand. "No, Grandma, don't say that. How could you be a burden? When the Jones family kicked me out and I had nowhere to go, if it weren't for you taking me in, I wouldn't have the life I have now."
Mentioning the Jones family reminded Old Ashley of Emily's words today. After hesitating for a moment, she asked, "Deanna, are you going back to the Jones family?"
Deanna's expression froze for a moment before she smiled lightly. "Why would I go back?"
The Jones family meant nothing to her anymore.
But Deanna and Raphael, who were once childhood sweethearts, were now like strangers.
Old Ashley knew that he was like a scar in Deanna's heart.
If the two of them were to meet, perhaps everything could turn around.
"Raphael is getting married now. He probably has his reasons for what happened back then. What about you two-"
Deanna interrupted her words, sounding somewhat helpless. "Grandma, Raphael and I did have a past relationship, but that is all in the past now. Besides, I have carefully considered his situation. When I went through that ordeal back then, even if he had no choice but to do what he did, he should have come to explain things to me instead of choosing to be with Emily directly. If he didn't come find me, it means he gave up on me. Now that he's getting married, if I rush over there to find him, wouldn't it be humiliating for myself?"
Old Ashley thought for a moment. "You're right. The Jones family kicked you out back then and ignored you all these years. They were so heartless. It's better for you not to go back. Aren't we living well now?"
Deanna nodded. She didn't want to talk about these things anymore. She stood up as her grandmother needed rest.
"Grandma, take a rest for a while. I'll go out and buy some lunch. Don't fall asleep and remember to call the nurse when the IV is finished."
Old Ashley nodded as Deanna left the room.
At that moment, Emily had just returned to the Jones family.
She looked aggrieved, throwing her limited-edition bag on the ground as soon as she entered, not caring that her phone was inside.
She didn't even change her shoes and pouted as she sat on the sofa. "Hmph!"
Her mother Mia Harris heard the sound and came out of the kitchen, looking at her. "Emily, what happened? Who made you so angry?"
Garrett, who was reading the newspaper on the sofa, also put it down and showed concern. "Yeah, what happened? Weren't you happily going to deliver the wedding invitations?"
"It's all because of that Deanna! After being away for a few years, she has truly become a village woman with no manners! Dad, Mom, you have to stand up for me!"
Emily looked aggrieved as she began twisting the truth: "I'm getting married, and I thought of her as my sister and kindly went to deliver the wedding invitations to share some joy and improve our relationship. But she and that old hag kept insulting me and saying that you are heartless! I didn't stoop down to their level and tried to reason with them politely. But they actually kicked me out! That bitch Deanna even pushed me and I hurt my leg. It hurts so much! Look at my clothes, they're dirty too."
She trembled as she went to hold her mother's hand. Pouting, she seemed ready to cry and make a scene if Garrett and Mia didn't support her.
"Oh my goodness, Garrett, look at this! Emily's clothes are covered in dirt. How could that Deanna be so cruel?!" Mia felt deeply sorry for her daughter, full of righteous indignation.
Garrett looked at Emily who had suffered such injustice and also became angry. "That ungrateful girl doesn't know what's good for her!"
"Deanna grew up outside and lacks manners, which is understandable."