Xo Novel
Chapter 826
Lizetta understood that when Andrea mentioned "mom," she was indeed referring to Eartha. She had suspected as much, especially since she had video chatted with her grandpa earlier that morning while stretching for her dance practice. He was up early practicing Tai Chi and hadn't mentioned Andrea at all, clearly unaware of her return. With Jerome hospitalized last night due to illness and still under medical care, it obviously wasn't him who had arranged for Andrea's return. And since Andrea had changed her last name, it was clear she was following Eartha's lead. Lizetta nodded at Andrea and immediately pulled out her phone to call Eartha.
Within ten minutes, she and Eartha had arrived at the CEO's office. Eartha rose from behind her desk as soon as she saw them enter. Even in her fifties, she had maintained her elegance, a testament to a life of comfort and joy. Her vibrant beauty, accentuated with meticulous makeup, hinted at a content life, though fine lines around her eyes revealed her age, making her seem younger than she actually was.
"Liz, Andrea, I was just about to ask my secretary to book a table for us. Thought we could have lunch together. I'm pleasantly surprised you came to me first," Eartha said as she led Lizetta and Andrea to the sitting area, holding each by the hand. Letting go, Andrea affectionately clung to Eartha's arm again.
"Mom, can we have sushi for lunch? I heard from a colleague that there's an authentic Japanese restaurant right across from the office," Andrea suggested, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and mischief.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
"You're too spoiled, little miss," Eartha chided gently, then turned to Lizetta. "How about you, Liz? What would you like to eat?"
They seemed so close, just like a real mother and daughter. Indeed, Eartha had raised Andrea after her own mother passed away. The Porters and the Maddens were old family friends. Mr. Porter had been a business partner with Nelson Madden, sharing a brotherly bond. Eartha, being the daughter of the Porter family, grew up closely with the Maddens, holding significant shares in the Madden Group alongside her brothers who now held executive positions within the company.
This connection meant Eartha and Elsa Madden, Nelson's daughter, were as close as sisters. When Elsa's health declined post-childbirth, Eartha didn't hesitate to donate one of her kidneys to her, further deepening the bond between the families. After Elsa passed away, Eartha, having been divorced for two years, eventually developed a relationship with Conrad West, Elsa's widower. Their love led them to seek the blessing of Nelson and Mrs. Bernice Madden, despite the initial discomfort it caused.
Even Andrea, the granddaughter, had tearfully insisted on Eartha becoming her mother, going as far as staging a hunger strike to get her way. Given the circumstances and the elder Maddens' eventual consent, Eartha officially became part of Andrea's life in every sense. Lizetta might not know how her grandparents felt about all this at the time, but seeing Eartha and Andrea together, so affectionately close, certainly stirred some discomfort in her.