Chapter 255: Donation Website
"Super cool! Mr. White, you're a real artist!" Jesse Pinkman burst into the house around midnight, clearly excited.
Looks like Jesse's friends were very impressed with the new product Walter had cooked up using his improved formula.
"Mmhmm." Walter replied with a tired grunt. He slumped on the couch, holding a beer, visibly exhausted.
The side effects of his treatment had drained his energy. Even climbing stairs left him winded. He had long since lost interest in intimacy.
"It's Friday. I've got all day tomorrow. We can do a few more batches—cough cough—" Walter started to say, before breaking into a fit of coughing.
"Forget it. With your condition, once a day is already pushing it. You should start training Jesse to do it on his own. You supervise," Frank said.
"Alright." Walter nodded reluctantly. He knew his body couldn't handle much more.
"By the way, what did you do with all that money? How are you explaining it to Skyler?" Frank asked.
"I haven't figured that out yet," Walter admitted.
"I might have a solution for the treatment costs," Frank offered.
"Hm?" Walter looked at him, puzzled.
"Remember what I told Skyler about that chemical company job? It's all set up. Here's your business card." Frank pulled a card from his pocket.
"Chief Consultant?" Walter read the title aloud.
"It's just a shell company. But it works as a front—you can claim your treatment is covered by company health insurance. Reimbursement, benefits, whatever. The money's really yours."
"That's perfect!" Walter's eyes lit up. He had been stressing about how to justify the money to Skyler.
"But I can only explain $90,000—the exact cost of your treatment. The other $110,000… you'll have to figure that out yourself."
"Or, you could give it to me. I'll launder it for you and later pay it back to you as salary from the company. I'm already holding Jesse's money," Frank suggested again.
"No… I'll handle it myself," Walter said after a pause, ultimately declining.
Walter preferred to keep control of the money himself. He didn't trust others with it—like people who hoard cash in bank accounts, reluctant to spend or invest, finding peace just from seeing the balance. A small-minded sense of security.
"Suit yourself." Frank dropped the matter.
The weekend passed in a blur. Walter dragged his tired body back home.
"How was the sauna cabin?" Skyler asked, handing him a bottle of juice.
"It was… a unique experience," Walter replied.
Something felt off. He noticed her mood immediately.
"What happened?"
"Remember the crown Marie gave us? I tried to return it and found out it was stolen. I nearly got arrested," Skyler said.
"You're okay?" Walter sat up straight, alarmed.
"I'm fine. But Marie's denying everything. She won't even apologize. I don't know what to say anymore…" Skyler sighed.
"Sometimes, people do questionable things for the sake of family," Walter said, hinting at something deeper.
"What? So stealing is justifiable now?" Skyler raised an eyebrow, thinking Walter was defending Marie.
"No, I mean… hypothetically, what would you do if it were me?"
"If I stole something—or broke the law… would you divorce me? Turn me in?"
"You don't want to know the answer to that." Skyler kissed him on the cheek and walked into the kitchen. "Want something to eat?"
"No, thanks…" Walter replied, his expression unreadable.
"Oh! Walter—" Skyler suddenly remembered something.
"What is it?"
"Walt Jr. prepared a surprise for you. It's… a pretty incredible gift." She smiled.
"A surprise?" Walter looked confused.
"You'll see when he gets home."
Later that evening, when Walt Jr. came home, Skyler pulled Walter into their son's room.
"You told him too early! I'm not even finished yet," Walt Jr. said shyly.
"Honey, it's already amazing. Just show him." Skyler encouraged him warmly.
"What is it?" Walter asked.
Walt Jr. opened his laptop. A webpage popped up. A huge picture of Walter filled the screen, alongside some family photos.
Walter's smile slowly faded as he stared at the screen.
"Walt Jr. posted your story online. The site's called Help Walter. Louis helped set up a payment account so people can donate. A few dozen dollars have already come in," Skyler said, clearly touched.
"No. We can't take other people's money." Walter's voice hardened.
"!?" His reaction startled both Skyler and Walt Jr., who stared at him.
"Cough cough." Walter softened his tone. "It's just… taking money doesn't feel right. But you did a great job. I'm really touched—thank you, son." He hugged Walt Jr. and left the room.
Even though he said the right things, Walt Jr. could see his father's resistance. His excitement turned to disappointment.
"He came up with the whole idea himself. He put a lot of heart into it. Just let him help—he wants to do something, anything," Skyler said quietly in the hallway.
"This is the first time he's ever taken initiative to finish something on his own. If you shut him down now, it'll crush him."
"But it's begging! It's charity! We're not internet panhandlers!" Walter hissed through clenched teeth.
He was a proud man. This felt like a direct blow to his dignity.
"Why are you making it sound so shameful? It's a good thing!" Skyler couldn't understand his reaction.
Seeing that Walter wasn't budging, she sighed in frustration and walked back into the room to comfort her son.
Walter stood in the hallway, breathing deeply, trying to contain his fury.
The next day, he vented all of that pent-up anger to Frank.
"This is insane! I've got all this cash—but I can't use it. I can't show it. I can't tell my family. Everyone thinks I'm broke!"
"Walt Jr. even made a website—'Help Walter'—begging strangers online for money! They have no idea how that makes me feel!" he shouted, pacing the room and jabbing his finger at his chest.
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