Hearing what Martha said, Nicole and Samuel exchanged glances.
If Maia really wanted to harm Martha, she would not have taken Martha away at that time. Since she
could take her away, it meant that she still had Tim in her heart, or she even had known something, so
she would secretly protect Tim's mother.
Thinking of this, Nicole whispered, "Forget it. Let's wait and see how things will go."
"That's the only way."
Martha nodded.
After seeing all of this, Samuel said, "I will go look for her with Alina, and I will sent people here. If you
need anything, please tell me."
Seeing Samuel's worried expression, Nicole couldn't help but say with a smile, "I got it. Don't worry
about me. I'm fine. At most, I'm going to see Tim."
"OK, be careful. I'm gonna go."
Samuel waved his hand and left with Alina.
Martha looked at Alina's back and sighed, "The children with divorced parents are the most pitiful. I'm
so worried about Alina. She has no parents. How is she going to do with her life?"
"She only said that her father was gone. She didn't say that her mother was also gone, right?"
Nicole's words stunned Martha.
"Didn't she say that?"
"No, she never said anything about her mother."
Martha frowned and said, "Forget it. Her mother is not important. This child reminds me of my
childhood though."
"Your childhood?"
"Yes, when I was young, my parents were divorced. My father wanted my sister instead of me. I didn't
know why he didn't like me. It seemed that since I was born, he had never liked me, and my mother
has always listened to everything he said. Every time my father lost his temper, my mother would hug
me tightly in her arms. But my sister was especially doted by my father. Although my mother also liked
her, she favored me more, perhaps because my father's attitude towards me. I've always felt that my
sister and I lived a pathetic life. When my parents divorced, I was eight years old and my sister was
twelve. At that time, she had already left home for school. I didn't see her when I left, and when I
wanted to see her, my father didn't allow me to. It's been decades since then."
As Martha spoke of her sad past, Nicole listened quietly.
She never thought that her mother, Audrey, would have such a childhood.
"When Grandpa died, didn't they call you back?"
Martha shook her head.
"No, I didn't even know when my father passed away. It was my sister who told me that. However, my
uncles didn't allow me and my mother to come back home. Mother didn't tell me why my father hated
me so much even on her deathbed. She just told me not to disturb my sister's life and not to meet my
father. I can see my sister only when I live in dire poverty."
Martha looked at Nicole with a forced smile and said, "Do you think I'm very pathetic?"
"How could this be? Why would Grandma said so?"
"I don't know. When my mother died, Ballard comforted me and helped me. After my mother got
divorced, she didn't take anything from the Shaws. For so many years, in order to support me, she did
many part-time jobs. Finally, she worked as a housekeeper in the Louis family so that she was able to
afford my tuition. Who would know that such a woman from a wealthy family would work as a
housekeeper for someone? But my mother didn't allow me to say that I was a child of the Shaw family,
let alone tell others about my relationship with the Shaw family. In so many years, Mother worked like a
horse. In the end, she was sick. I didn't have enough money to treat her. It was Ballard who paid for my
mother's medical bills and helped me with her funeral. After my mother died, he married me regardless
of the family's objections. I thought that my happy life would begin, but I didn't expect that after giving
birth to Tim, I discovered that something was wrong with Ballard. He seemed to have cheated on me."
The forced smile remained on her face.
It still hurt her to bring it up now, but she felt much better than it was back then.
Nicole knew that if one person treated another person as his everything, then once he discovered that
person had betrayed him, he would suffer a fatal blow. For Nicole, it was just like how she felt when she
mistakenly thought that Samuel had betrayed her five years ago.
She held Martha's hands tightly and said in pain, "Martha, it's all over."
"Is it really over? Because of this thing, I have ruined half of my life and even the growth of my child.
And I even missed the chance of companying Tim when he was young. I have been trapped in my own
sorrow. I would ask myself every day that why the heavens wound treat me like this? But I never had
an answer. Now I've finally let it go, but I've really missed too much. There's no way to start over. I feel
guilty about my son. Nicole, you know what? Only when a woman becomes a mother can she
understand how much her parents love her. I owe Tim something that I might not be able to pay back in
this lifetime."
"Martha, don't say that. Tim has never blamed you."
Looking at Nicole, Martha said helplessly, "I know that he is a good child. When I was conscious, I
could always see him taking care of me by my side. He was the one who needed attention and care! I
didn't give him a happy family, nor did I give him the maternal love he wanted. For so many years, he
had been growing up alone. To be honest, I really hope that he can find a beloved woman to spend his
life with. At the very least, that kind of love can heal the wounds caused by his family. But now, Maia
has given Tim another heavy blow. I can tell that Tim has feelings for her. As this incident has
happened, if Maia is crippled, he will definitely not give up on Maia. Nicole, I'm a mother. I can't watch
my son's life being ruined like this."
Martha looked straight at Nicole.
Nicole was stunned, as if she had already guessed something.
"Martha, you'd better not interfere in this thing. This is Tim's own choice. You can't...."
"I can! Because I'm a mother! Nicole, think about it. If he were your son, would you like him to marry a
cripple? How can she carry on our family line? Doesn't Tim need to have a child of his own in this
lifetime? He was healthy and wealthy. He has many choices. Why must he marry such a woman? "
Nicole didn't know how to reply.
At this time, it was obvious that nothing would change Martha's mind. She would try her best to plan
everything for Tim.
"Martha, I don't know how to put it, but I still think you should listen to Tim."
"Listening to him? Although I didn't watch this child growing up, I know my son. Even if he has no
feelings for Maia, as long as he knows that Maia has become like this because of him, he will take care
of Maia for the rest of his life. And he will even marry her. However, Nicole, is this real love? Tim told
me that the person he loved the most in his life was you. Although I didn't know you were my sister's
daughter before, if Tim makes a decision, it will never be changed. But he gives up on you. I don't think
it is because of your marriage. There must be another reason, right?"
Martha's question stunned Nicole.
She couldn't help but think that when Tim was planning to be with Maia, it was because Maia was badly
injured for saving him.
Could it be that Tim had only gratitude to Maia, as Martha said?
"No, Martha. Tim has feelings for Maia. I can see that."
Nicole hurriedly said.
Martha nodded.
"Yes. If he didn't have feeling for her at all, he wouldn't bet on his entire life like that. But having feeling
for someone is not the same thing as falling in love with someone. I admit that love at first sight does
exist, but Tim and Maia are definitely not that. I think you should know the reason why he agreed to be
with Maia. Nicole, if Maia is really a good woman, then I can accept such a daughter-in-law. But now,
please tell me, is she a good woman?"
Nicole was unable to answer this question.
There are too many suspicious things about her. Although her original intention was good, and
although she did a lot of things for Tim, Nicole could not deny that Maia was indeed not a simple
woman.
Seeing Nicole's expression, Martha forced a smile and said, "Look, you also think she is not simple,
right? Who knows what is behind her? I am worried that she will bring countless troubles to Tim in the
rest of her life. Nicole, you and Tim are not just friends now. You are also siblings by blood. Can you
just watch as Tim's life is buried in Maia's hands?"
Nicole remained silent.
Even if she didn't know the relationship between her and Tim, she wouldn't watch as Tim fell into an
abyss. However, she was confident that Tim would be able to solve these problems.
"Martha, please believe in Tim. Although he seems casual, he knows what he wants more than anyone
else does. It’s better for you to stay out of this."
"So, Nicole, you mean you don't want to help me anymore even if I beg you, right?"
Martha's earnest gaze and words immediately put Nicole in a dilemma.
What should she do?
woman.
Seeing Nicole's expression, Martha forced a smile and said, "Look, you also think she is not simple,
right? Who knows what is behind her? | am worried that she will bring countless troubles to Tim in the
rest of her life. Nicole, you and Tim are not just friends now. You are also siblings by blood. Can you
just watch as Tim's life is buried in Maia's hands?"
Nicole remained silent.
Even if she didn't know the relationship between her and Tim, she wouldn't watch as Tim fell into an
abyss. However, she was confident that Tim would be able to solve these problems.
"Martha, please believe in Tim. Although he seems casual, he knows what he wants more than anyone
else does. It’s better for you to stay out of this."
"SO, Nicole, you mean you don't want to help me anymore even if | beg you, right?"
Martha's earnest gaze and words immediately put Nicole in a dilemma.
What should she do?
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