Martha Anderson

In the blink of an eye, a month has passed. Ellie became busier with her job as her residential was about to end. She almost has no time to visit her mother.

However, there was some relief her best friend, Callie often took her place to see her mother and report Diana's progress.

As she walked to her office, Ellie carried a stack of patient medical reports, to re-enter them into the computer and study them.

"Dr. Lynn," greeted the nurses who passed her. One after another greeted her too.

Well, Ellie became increasingly famous in The Anderson Hospital after accidentally replacing Dr. Holmes to operate on an emergency patient. Of course, with her mentor's permission.

The major surgery was a success, even with a time record that no other doctor after Dr. Holmes himself had.

It also made her the target of hatred by her colleagues. Her moves constantly became an object of rumor.

Just was about to enter the office, a nurse approached her. "Dr. Lynn. The director asked you to go to his office."

"The director's asked me to his office?" With her brow furrowed, Ellie asked. The nurse nodded and walked away.

Ellie's colleagues who were heard her started to look at her suspiciously with wild guesses.

Belle, Ellie's collegue, squinted her eyes at Ellie. She lowered her voice and said to another doctor in front of her, "You heard that? I smell something fishy. Last time, it was Dr. Holmes, now..."

Despite noticing the stares she was given, Ellie wasn't the least bit bothered. She calmly put all the reports on her desk and walked away.

Knock! Knock!

"Come in!"

After hearing permission from inside, Ellie immediately opened the door.

"Ellie, my dear!"

Ellie didn't have time to fully close the door when a woman's voice pierced into her ears, followed by a tight hug.

"Mis... M-mom?" Ellie was about to address her mother-in-law as Mrs. Anderson, but she quickly corrected herself. Not surprising, given that Noah had forbidden her from calling her mother-in-law in such an intimate manner.

The glamorous woman smiled broadly and immediately pulled Ellie onto the sofa to sit beside her.

"Honey, how have you been all this time? Sorry for not being able to contact you for the past five months. I went to Africa, and there-"

"Africa?"

Martha nodded firmly. "Mm. I went around…"

Martha happily began to tell her journey to the continent was also known as "Mother Continent" or "Alkebulan" (the original name of Africa Continent).

Ellie drew her smile at the transformation of that woman, Martha Anderson, her lifesaver.

Yes, Martha was her life's savior.

When she was seven years old, her adoptive father got addicted to gambling. They had to mortgage their family's house to her paternal uncle because of it.

On the same day, they got evicted and had to live in a small rented house. Her adoptive father, who felt guilty, then left without a word.

She then had to relive the hard life she experienced before her mother married her adoptive father, Tom Lynn.

Three years later, when she no longer expected a good life, she saw a luxurious car actually parked in front of her lousy rented house.

An elegant woman, she was then known as Martha Anderson, conversing with her mother in their small living room. Ellie couldn't understand what they were saying, but she saw her mother sobbing and holding Martha in her arms.

At Diana's request, Martha introduced her to Callie, and since then, Ellie and her mother, working in Callie's family as maids.

However, tragedy struck Callie's family soon after they began working there. Callie's parents divorced and abandoned her with her grandmother. They lost their four years jobs.

Martha then took her and her mother. However, her mother refused to be a freeload. So, she gives them a job as a cook and a maid.

When Diana was diagnosed with kidney failure, Martha was the one who bore the costs but still paid for her schooling.

In other words, since Martha appeared in her life, she no longer has to worry about her school fee nor her mom's treatment.

"Hahaha... I was so preoccupied with my story that I forgot you hadn't told me anything about yourself, honey." Martha laughed and closed her mouth with her palm.

Ellie chuckled. "As you see. I'm good, mom."

"Yeah, that's right. You look fuller now. Hahaha...."

Ellie gasped. But she quickly changed her expression and scratched her non-itchy head with a smile.

"The cafeteria has delicious food. So—"

Martha laughed even more. She gently patted Ellie's cheeks without letting go of her daughter-in-law's hand. "Hahaha… you are such glutton!" Seems to remember something, she asked again, "Ah, how's your mother? Is she getting better?"

"Yes, she is."

"Ah ... that's very good to hear. When I was still in Africa, I always thought of you both. If anything happens to her, I don't know how I should answer my husband later in the afterlife."

"You provide the best medical treatment for mom. How could she not be better now?" Ellie said calmly, but if one listened carefully, the tone of her voice held hidden meaning.

Martha sighed and smiled. "That was what I was supposed to do, dear."

As Ellie saw into Martha's eyes, she saw no deception, hatred, or anything other than sincerity and relief.

Ellie arched her eyebrows. 'It's strange. It seems mom didn't know about the bills.'

After convincing herself that she would look into this matter, Ellie gently patted Martha's hand.

"Mom, you and uncle are too kind." Ellie looks gratefully at Martha. Truthfully, she can not imagine her life without Martha and her husband, Nicholas. They not only help them in finance but treat them as a family also.

Martha fixed her gaze on Ellie. She knows that what Ellie caught in this conversation was far from what she meant, knowing that the guilt in her heart grew even more.

"Ellie, it wasn't us who saved your life, but you... you should know that."

Ellie raised her head. She was bewildered by what her mother-in-law had said. That was the third time Martha had said it.

"Mom–" Ellie was about to ask when a cough interrupted her.

Cough! Cough!

Martha and Ellie immediately turned their heads. Unknowingly they had ignored Prof. Stanson's presence, the hospital director who was also Martha's older brother.

"Oh, Brother! You're still here? Sorry, we didn't see you... hahaha... " Martha cracked a joke.

"Hey! This is my office! "Prof. Stanson grumbled and scowled at Martha.

"I rented it, so please give us some privacy, will you?"

Prof. Stanson widens his eyes. "Rent? When? Where's the payment? "

Martha pointed at the box on her older brother's desk with her chin and said, "Can't you see? The box was in front of you! You want Jacob & Co's cufflinks, don't you? It's $620,000 more than your hourly rate, right?"

$620,000?

Wow! Fantastic!

Ellie gave a faint smile when she heard that. She remembered Noah's gift as an offer for the divorce. Total savings, including the house and car, was about $350-$380 thousand.

Her ancillary relief turns out less expensive than cufflinks? She was dying to laugh right now.

Even though she refused all the gifts, still, she felt pain when realizing how worthless she was in Noah's eyes.

"Diamond Art Deco Cufflinks by Jacob & Co?" Prof. Stanson exclaimed with delight after opening the box. He then took the cufflink and immediately put it on. "Hehehe... thank you, my dear sister. I'll go first. Feel free to use my office for the next two hours." Prof. Stanson left with a smile all over his face.

"Ck! Stinky! " Martha muttered before returning her gaze to Ellie. "Ellie, my birthday is coming up in three days. And you, my one and only pretty daughter-in-law, should accompany me as the hostess. "

Ellie was stunned. "Ho-hostess? But I, I—"

"Ck! Don't worry, I have a gown ready for you. I'll have it delivered to your house later. " Martha seemed to know what Ellie was thinking and abruptly cut her words.

House? That means... Noah's house?

'Oh no! Mom will know that Alexandra lives there too! '

After pondering for a while, Ellie then said nervously, "Uh, Mom. Wh-where is the gown? I'll bring it home myself."

"It's still at the boutique. It will be ready by tomorrow. Why? Can't wait to try it on, are you?" Martha teased, not knowing that Ellie's mind was now in a mess. Worry that Martha would insist on coming to Noah's mansion.

Ellie nodded quickly. She smiled sweetly and hoped Martha would believe her.

Martha chuckled. "Okay, then. I'll send you the address. "

Ellie breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy weight had lifted off of her shoulders.

"Oh, honey. How about you and Noah? Is there any good news, hum?"

Ellie froze. She gulped down her saliva, then turned around and smiled awkwardly. She didn't expect Martha to ask this so soon after she had felt some relief.

Ellie blinked her eyes and tried to make a reason. "Eh... hehehe... Why so rushed? We—"

"Ellie..." Martha interrupted Ellie's words and looked suspiciously at her daughter-in-law. Her eyes were as sharp as an eagle looking at its prey. She knew something was not right, judging by Ellie's reaction.

"Tell me the truth. You don't live together, do you?"