Bertha felt a bit embarrassed by Ellinorâs constant curtsey, and she waved her hands dismissively. âOh, Ellinor, youâre too polite! Your mom and I are best buddies. Iâm just doing what any friend would do.â
Ellinor thanked her again. âAnd thank you for looking out for my mom all these years as well as shielding her from the Howard familyâs harassment.â
Bertha sighed and helped Ellinor up. âAlright, Ellinor. I appreciate your gratitude, but donât stand on ceremony, or Iâll get mad.â
Ellinor nodded and straightened up, not wanting to make Bertha uncomfortable.
She glanced at the black-suited men guarding the door and asked Bertha, âBertha, I saw these men moving my momâs belongings. Is she being discharged? But her injuries donât seem to have healed.â
Bertha looked a bit downcast at this. âSheâs not being discharged. Marlinie insisted on moving to another hospital. I just finished the paperwork for her transfer. If you hadnât arrived, weâd already be on our way to the other hospital.â
Ellinor looked puzzled. âBut this hospital has the best medical facilities; why change hospitals?â
Bertha explained, âYour mother wanted to leave, but I was worried about her injuries and refused.
However, she insisted on transferring at the very least. And itâs all becauseâ¦â
Ellinor seemed to understand. âBecause that Howard man is also in this hospital, right? My momâs afraid of being found.â
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Bertha sighed and nodded. âYes, indeed. I told your mom that as long as Iâm here, the Howard family wonât be able to get to her. But sheâs so scared that she canât sleep at night. Seeing her like this isnât good for her recovery, so I agreed to help her transfer.â
Ellinor understood. âAlright, that makes sense. Letâs let her rest and recover before transferring. But sheâs sleeping now, sò letâs wait until she wakes up.â
Bertha looked surprised. âSheâs asleep? Thatâs great! Sheâs barely slept these past few days. I was really worried. It seems like seeing you has relaxed her a bit; thatâs why she could fall asleep.â
âShe must be exhausted.â Ellinor said with concern etched across her face.
Bertha nodded in agreement.
Ellinor seemed to remember something and asked, âBy the way, how did my mom get hurt? I asked her, but she didnât answer.â
Bertha hesitated, unsure whether to answer this question.
Lea interjected quickly. âEllinor, Ms. Marlinie was stabbed by a woman from the Mendoza family!â
The Mendoza family? Ellinor was surprised. If Lea hadnât mentioned it, she would have completely forgotten about the notoriously unscrupulous Mendoza family.
But why would her mom go to the Mendozas?
âWhat exactly happened?â She asked Lea.
âWellâ¦â Lea was a good storyteller, and she succinctly explained the incident to Ellinor.
After listening to the story, Ellinorâs hands clenched into fists.
Tracy and her daughter really were the worst; even if they didnât welcome her mom, they didnât have to resort to violence.
They must be insane! They dared to stab her mother?!
A flash of fury flickered in Ellinorâs eyes. She turned to Bertha and said, âAlright, I got it! Bertha, could you please accompany my mom to the new hospital and let me know the new room number later? Just call the number I gave you last time.â
âSure.â Bertha agreed, watching as Ellinor prepared to leave. She asked worriedly, âEllinor, where are you going?â