Chapter 5 Eavesdropping

• "Indeed," Fellis nodded quickly, and then said to Joy with seriousness, "Joy, do you comprehend? In this vast world, every individual possesses their own thoughts. However, within these thoughts, there are many misconceptions that people are unwilling to rectify. They even go as far as pressuring others to conform to their flawed thinking. Our duty is to not be swayed by their erroneous beliefs."
• Observing Joy's bewildered expression, Fellis realized that her words may have been too perplexing. Therefore, she explained with a smile, "Joy, all you need to remember are the words of the people you love."
• "I understand!" Joy finally smiled. "The person I love is my mother, so I must heed her words. Grandma is elderly, and I should respect her, but I must not adhere to her misguided words."
• "Darling, you are exceptionally intelligent!" Fellis kissed Joy's tender face. "I believe Mami Stella must be anxiously awaiting us. Let's hurry."
• "Yes!" Joy nodded quickly, then placed his small hand in Fellis's hand, and they walked forward together.
• Under the sun, individuals of all ages held hands, taking joyous steps as they moved forward.
• Stella Lucas's House...
• "Fellis, you have arrived." Stella hurriedly greeted Fellis and Joy at the door, her expression slightly awkward.
• Stella observed Fellis's countenance and deduced that Linda had insulted her downstairs. It appeared that Linda's words were undoubtedly exaggerated.
• However, Stella was a discerning individual. She understood her mother-in-law's nature and whispered in Fellis's ear, "Fellis, my mother-in-law is elderly. Please do not take her words to heart."
• "I comprehend." Fellis also gave Stella an assuring look, indicating that she was unaffected.
• Stella felt relieved. She squatted down to look at Joy and said, "Joy, you have been playing downstairs for quite some time. I'm certain you must be hungry. I have prepared your favorite sweet and sour meat. Come, wash your hands!"
• Linda, who was seated nearby, expressed her dissatisfaction upon hearing Stella's words. She glanced at Gabriella with amusement and remarked, "Hey, hey, I wonder how your mother takes care of you. Look at you, you're becoming so thin!"
• Linda extended her hand and squeezed Gabriella's chubby arm.
• Stella felt momentarily embarrassed. She shifted her gaze towards her husband, Aiden Walton. However, her husband remained fixated on his cellphone, completely oblivious to Stella's awkward situation.
• Fellis also sighed softly, then looked at Gabriella, who was being held by Linda, and said with a smile, "Gabriella, look at what I brought. Your favorite Barbie doll! It's a complete set!"
• "Wow, my favorite Barbie!" Gabriella's eyes lit up upon hearing those words. She immediately wriggled out of her grandmother's arms and ran towards Fellis.
• "Quick, Mami Fellis, give it to me!" Gabriella ran to Fellis, jumping up and down in excitement.
• "Gabriella, what should you say before receiving a gift from Mami Fellis?" Stella looked at Gabriella and said seriously.
• "Thank you!" Gabriella's childlike voice sounded incredibly adorable.
• "Gabriella is so clever!" Fellis handed Gabriella a set of Barbie dolls. Despite the significant expense, Gabriella appeared immensely happy, and Fellis believed it was worth it.
• Gabriella gleefully picked up the Barbie dolls and ran to her room to play. Stella said sheepishly, "Hey, Fellis, you spent money on gifts for Gabriella. Look, her room is already overflowing with gifts!"
• "It's alright, as long as Gabriella is happy." Fellis said with a smile. "Joy is causing trouble here, I apologize," Fellis said, walking towards Linda with a supplement in her hand. "Auntie, this is a health supplement I purchased to help you maintain your well-being. I hope you like it."
• Linda accepted the gift coldly, without a smile. "Ah, thank you. Please refrain from spending your money in the future."
• "Naturally." When Fellis witnessed Linda's polite acceptance, she knew she had chosen the appropriate gift. She felt relieved.
• She also hoped that Linda would become more receptive towards her after this.
• Stella also felt somewhat awkward on the side, so she approached Fellis and said, "Fellis, there are a few dishes I haven't finished cooking. Please assist me in the kitchen."
• "Alright!" Fellis nodded, then squatted down to pick up the gift and looked at Joy. "Darling, you can play with Gabriella. I bought this train for you."
• "Yes." Joy hugged the train and went to his room, playing with his toys alone.
• Linda observed Joy entering his own room, while Gabriella played. She slowly approached Aiden's side.
• Aiden had been lying on the sofa the entire time, paying no attention to anything.
• "Hey, son!" Linda glanced towards the kitchen, lowering her voice, and said with a choked expression, "that woman named Fellis Andy left her child at our house. How much does she pay us monthly?"
• Linda snorted, as Fellis did not appear to be an ordinary individual at first glance. She did not seem to lack money. Why would someone who is financially strained generously purchase gifts for the entire family? She must have ulterior motives.
• "I don't know. The important thing is that Fellis always pays us on time for Joy's school fees and living expenses. The payments are never less than what is owed." Aiden stared at the screen of his cellphone, seemingly engrossed in a conversation that brought him joy. His eyes sparkled, and he did not feel like responding to his mother's words.
• "Oh, I see!" Linda nodded. It turned out that Fellis was reliable and paid everything on time.
• However, it was not easy for her son and daughter-in-law to care for Joy. Linda wondered if Fellis had taken that into consideration.
• Contemplating this, Linda glanced towards the kitchen once again. She observed Stella and Fellis engaged in a cheerful conversation while busily working in the kitchen.
• Linda quietly approached them.
• Aiden, who was engrossed in his cellphone, glanced at Linda, who was attempting to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two women. He paid no mind and continued chatting.
• Linda tiptoed towards the kitchen door, pretending to retrieve something, and gradually approached the entrance.
• In the kitchen, Fellis and Stella were engaged in a conversation, unaware that Linda was eavesdropping outside the door.
• "Stella, I am truly grateful to you for taking care of Joy. My work is currently demanding, and I apologize for burdening you with Joy," Fellis expressed while holding a plate filled with chopped green peppers.
• "It's not troublesome at all!" Stella tasted the chicken soup and smiled, saying, "Just focus on your work, and I will take care of Joy."
• "Yes, thank you very much," Fellis paused in her work, feeling deeply appreciative of Stella's support.
• When Fellis arrived today, she had transferred all her savings to Stella's bank card. However, it still wasn't enough.
• During their cooking session, Stella informed her that the money had been returned. She insisted that Fellis should use it for her own needs.
• Fellis realized that Stella seemed to understand the predicament she was facing and offered her assistance. Having such a wonderful friend, Fellis considered herself incredibly fortunate.
• "Stella, thank you once again, but you must accept the money. I promise to repay the shortfall next month..."
• "Alright, let's not discuss that anymore!" Stella quickly interrupted Fellis. She used a soup spoon to serve the chicken soup into a large bowl and then looked at Fellis, saying, "Fellis, apart from being overly polite, you have no other shortcomings. We have been good friends for a long time, and as Joy's adoptive mother, it is my responsibility to take care of him."
• "But..."
• "There are no 'buts'." Stella looked at Fellis earnestly. "I truly understand your nature. You dislike inconveniencing others, but you need to realize that I am your best friend, and it is only natural for me to support you. Focus on saving for Joy's living expenses and kindergarten fees. Once you secure a promotion, marry a successful and wealthy man, and reach the pinnacle of your life, then you can repay me!"
• Witnessing Stella's sincere demeanor, Fellis couldn't help but feel grateful. She made a firm decision in her heart: as soon as she found a job, she would promptly return the money to Stella. After all, Stella's husband's income is not high, and he has the responsibility of supporting two children and elderly parents.
• "Don't dwell on it any longer. Come and taste the chicken soup I made!" Stella noticed that Fellis was still lost in thought and handed her the soup spoon.
• Fellis accepted the spoon from Stella's hand and took a sip of the chicken soup, exclaiming, "Wow, this soup you made is incredibly delicious. You should consider opening a restaurant!"
• "Eat more. You've been looking thin lately!" Stella smiled at Fellis, observing her friend who had come a long way in the past few years, feeling a tinge of sadness in her heart.
• "This is your cooking, so of course I must eat plenty!" Fellis seemed to only be able to savor homemade meals like this at Stella's house.
• Fellis and Stella continued their cheerful conversation in the kitchen, unaware that Linda was overhearing their every word.
• Linda snorted, displaying a dissatisfied expression on her wrinkled face. "As I suspected, Fellis doesn't strike me as someone who would suffer a loss. No wonder she can afford to buy gifts. It seems that all the money intended for Joy's living expenses has been returned to her!"
• "Grandma, are you playing hide and seek?" Gabriella, who had appeared beside Linda unnoticed, raised her head innocently, gazing at Linda.
• Stella and Fellis heard Gabriella's words coming from the kitchen door and noticed that Linda still had her ear pressed against the wall.
• Linda noticed Stella and Fellis's confusion and quickly smiled at Stella, saying, "I'm searching for a cloth. The table is too dirty, and you never clean it. Hey, where is the cloth?!"
• Linda spoke and walked away as if she were genuinely searching for a cloth.
• Gabriella, holding her Barbie doll, looked at Linda and remarked, "Hmm? Grandma was squatting there. It didn't seem like she was looking for a cloth!"
• Upon hearing Gabriella's comment, Stella and Fellis realized that Linda had been eavesdropping on their conversation.
• Stella smiled awkwardly and apologized to Fellis, "Fellis, my mother-in-law can be quite peculiar at times. I apologize for her behavior."
• "Of course, it's alright," Fellis quickly shook her head. "It's not a problem."
• Although Fellis wasn't bothered by it, she suddenly realized that her dear friend was in a challenging situation, living with a conservative and demanding mother-in-law. Stella's husband was truly putting her in an uncomfortable position.
• At the dining table...
• "Come on, my Gabriella, eat these large prawns. They will help you grow tall!" Linda pinched the shrimp and placed it in Gabriella's bowl.
• "Here, your favorite meat!" Stella also served Joy a piece of sweet and sour meat.
• "Oh, is Gabriella really your biological daughter? It's quite peculiar to take care of someone else's child in front of your own daughter," Linda muttered softly before taking a bite of her food.
• Even though her voice was low, everyone at the table heard it.
• Aiden paid no attention and continued eating. Stella simply smiled awkwardly, pretending not to hear.
• Fellis couldn't help but feel uneasy. Did Stella's mother-in-law always treat her this way? Was Stella not feeling distressed? Moreover, from her mother-in-law's attitude, it seemed like she didn't approve of Joy living there. What should Fellis do?
• Just as Fellis was pondering this issue, Linda spoke again, "Miss Andy, have you paid for your son's living expenses and school fees? You are aware that my son's income is not high, and he has to support Gabriella and take care of me."
• Fellis bit her lip, realizing that Linda had overheard her conversation with Stella in the kitchen. Fellis wasn't angry that Linda had heard them; she simply felt a twinge of guilt.
• Her current situation was making things even more difficult for her best friend.
• "Auntie, I will transfer the funds to Stella's bank card immediately," Fellis calmly stated.
• "Very well," Linda nodded in satisfaction upon hearing Fellis's response. She politely said, "Miss Andy, please understand that I am not being unreasonable. It is important to be clear about these matters. Being overly polite is of no use these days, so..."
• "Auntie, I understand, and I will make the payment right away," Fellis smiled at Linda and reassured her once again.
• "Fellis, there's no need..."
• "Stella, please don't say anything!" Fellis quickly interrupted Stella, hoping to prevent her from arguing with her mother-in-law. After all, resolving the issue with her mother-in-law was a difficult task, and Fellis didn't want Stella to face any trouble because of her.
• Observing Fellis's stern expression, Stella became filled with anger. This mother-in-law of hers had been ordering her around since she arrived last week, constantly criticizing her and using inappropriate language. She wasn't even allowed to help her own best friend!
• Stella glanced at Aiden, who continued to pretend not to hear anything, eating his food in silence.
• The atmosphere at the dining table suddenly became tense, and even little Joy sensed the seriousness in the air.
• Gabriella suddenly said, "Grandma, I want to eat shrimp."
• "Alright, grandma will..."
• Linda was interrupted before she could finish speaking as Aiden slammed his hand on the table, causing the plate and cutleries in his hand to fall to the ground.
• "What's wrong with you, son?" Linda quickly put down her cutleries and inquired.